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MLB Power Rankings: Freddie Freeman leads Dodgers, the Cardinals and Twins are rolling

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, Tarik Skubal is close to perfect, Jasson Dominguez makes history, the Cardinals and Twins are streaking, the Jung brothers square off on Mother’s Day Weekend, and the Pirates and Rockies change managers.

Let’s get started!

(Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook)

MLB: Chicago Cubs at New York Mets
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Cade Horton is here, Evan Carter is back
Eric Samulski breaks down some of the top waiver wire adds for the upcoming week of fantasy baseball.

**Rankings are from the morning of Monday, May 12**

1) Los Angeles Dodgers

Last week: 1

Freddie Freeman is the hottest hitter on the planet right now. Despite an ankle injury that isn’t 100 percent, the 35-year-old is hitting .475 with five homers and 22 RBI over his last 16 games. He has 10 multi-hit games during that span and has raised his season batting average from .250 to .376 along the way.

2) San Diego Padres

Last week: 2

On Saturday night, Stephen Kolek threw a shutout at Coors Field as the Padres crushed the Rockies 21-0. It was the largest margin of victory for the Padres in franchise history and one of the most lopsided shutout wins of all-time.

3) Detroit Tigers ⬆️

Last week: 4

After running away with the Cy Young Award last season, Tarik Skubal has been even better so far this season. The southpaw owns a 2.08 ERA through eight starts and carried a perfect game into the sixth inning in his most recent start against the Rangers on Friday.

4) New York Mets ⬇️

Last week: 3

New York sports talk radio was having a cow over the first few weeks of the season, but it turns out that Juan Soto is going to be just fine. What a concept! Soto is slashing .282/.383/.718 with five homers through 10 games this month.

5) New York Yankees ⬆️

Last week: 8

Joe DiMaggio was the youngest player in Yankees history to hit three home runs in a game…until Jasson Dominguez pulled off the feat against the Athletics on Saturday.

6) Chicago Cubs ⬇️

Last week: 5

The Cubs have cooled a bit over the past week having lost back-to-back series. Their high-powered offense has been held to two runs or fewer in three of out their lost four games, but the back-end of the bullpen is the real concern here.

7) Philadelphia Phillies ⬆️

Last week: 9

I already deemed Freddie Freeman as the hottest hitter on the planet, but Kyle Schwarber is in the middle of something special right now. After his two-homer game on Sunday against the Guardians on Sunday, he’s now reached base in 46 consecutive games. That’s the longest such streak by a Phillies player since Bobby Abreu from 2000-2001.

8) San Francisco Giants ⬇️

Last week: 6

The Giants were swept by the suddenly red-hot Twins over the weekend despite Heliot Ramos’ best efforts. The 24-year-old has homered in back-to-back games and is slashing .419/.500/.767 over his last 13 contests.

9) Cleveland Guardians ⬆️

Last week: 10

Awesome moment from the Mother’s Day edition of the Sunday Night Baseball broadcast, as Stephen Vogt’s wife, Alyssa, asked him a very important question.

I so felt that pause and momentary panic from Mr. Vogt. Also, how cool is it that the manager also gets the sunflower seed treatment from his players/coaches? It’s good to be humbled.

10) Kansas City Royals ⬆️

Last week: 12

The Royals remain one of the hottest teams in the majors despite dropping back-to-back games to the Red Sox to close out the weekend. Led by a pitching staff with the second-lowest ERA in the majors, Kansas City is 16-4 over their last 20 games.

11) Seattle Mariners ⬇️

Last week: 7

The Mariners were swept by the Blue Jays over the weekend, including another distressing start from Bryce Miller. The good news is that George Kirby is inching his way back to the Mariners’ rotation as he returns from shoulder inflammation. He made his second rehab start on Saturday and could be back with the Mariners next week.

12) Boston Red Sox ⬆️

Last week: 13

In the wake of his very public and awkward rejection of playing first base, Rafael Devers is 9-for-15 (.600) with two homers and eight RBI over his last four games. He slugged an absolute bomb of a go-ahead homer on Sunday as the Red Sox cooled down the Royals.

13) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 23

Our biggest riser of the past week, the Cardinals have won eight straight to surge into second place in the NL Central, just one game behind the Cubs. Victor Scott II has been right in the middle of it, as he’s hit safely in 11 straight games. With his elite range in center field and his top-tier speed, the Cardinals have found themselves a keeper.

14) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬇️

Last week: 11

It was great to see Corbin Burnes bounce back after his recent shoulder scare, but the biggest news to start the week is that top prospect Jordan Lawlar is reportedly on the way to join the big club. The 22-year-old has been quiet with the bat this month in Triple-A, but still owns a healthy .336/.413/.579 batting line with six homers and 13 steals across 37 games on the year. He’ll presumably bounce around the infield to start, giving breathers to Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo, and Eugenio Suárez.

15) Atlanta Braves

Last week: 15

The Braves have had a couple of chances over the past week to reach the .500 mark, but have fallen short. Still, they are 19-14 since that 0-7 start to the season.

16) Minnesota Twins ⬆️

Last week: 24

The other big riser of the week, the Twins have also won eight straight to climb over .500. Am I a jinx for saying that Byron Buxton is on pace for a 30-30 season? Unfortunately for the Twins, everyone else in the AL Central (outside of the White Sox, anyway) have also been playing well.

17) Houston Astros

Last week: 17

The Astros have yet to be more than three games over .500 or two games under .500, so they continue to sit in the middle of the pack. Getting a healthy Yordan Alvarez back could help push them back into contention. Alvarez, who is working his way back from a muscle strain in his hand, could potentially return from the injured list this week.

18) Texas Rangers ⬇️

Last week: 14

In a fun scheduling quirk, the Jung brothers (Rangers third baseman Josh Jung and Tigers infielder Jace Jung) squared off on Mother’s Day weekend. The brothers were both playing third base on Saturday, so naturally they played a game of Tic-Tac-Toe. Josh homered on Mother’s Day, so he gets the edge this time.

19) Oakland Athletics ⬇️

Last week: 16

After giving up seven runs or more in all three games against the Yankees this weekend, the Athletics now have a 5.81 ERA (28th in MLB) at home this season as opposed to a 3.74 ERA (sixth-best) on the road.

20) Milwaukee Brewers ⬇️

Last week: 19

In a 4-for-39 slump going into Sunday’s action, Christian Yelich decided to switch it up by using a pink bat to honor his mom. And sure enough, he went yard. Sources say that if he doesn’t keep using it, he’s grounded.

21) Toronto Blue Jays

Last week: 21

The Blue Jays might have something in Addison Barger. While it isn’t apparent from his results so far, the 25-year-old hits the ball extremely hard. Among players with at least 25 batted ball events, he ranks third among hitters in average exit velocity, behind Shohei Ohtani and Oneil Cruz, and ahed of Aaron Judge, Rafael Devers, and Pete Alonso. Not too shabby.

22) Cincinnati Reds ⬇️

Last week: 18

The Reds have lost seven out of nine, as well as their ace Hunter Greene due to a groin strain. Fortunately, the injury shouldn’t keep him on the shelf for long.

23) Tampa Bay Rays ⬇️

Last week: 20

Give the Rays some credit for their creativity. They gave out commemorative ponchos for their first-ever rain delay on Saturday.

The Rays took two out of three from the Brewers this weekend, giving them their first series win at home since April 11-13.

24) Washington Nationals

Last week: 24

While the final line didn’t show it, Michael Soroka pitched well in his return from the injured list last Wednesday against the Guardians, striking out eight before running out of steam late. This week, he’ll face the Braves (his former team) for the first time in his career.

25) Baltimore Orioles

Last week: 25

Things aren’t looking a heck of a lot better here even after taking two out of three form the Angels over the weekend, but one bright spot has been the recent progress from 21-year-old Jackson Holliday. With a recent change in his batting stance, he’s hitting .324 with two homers and a double over his last 11 games. He’s starting to earn a more prominent place in the order for a team who needs a boost in the worst way.

26) Los Angeles Angels

Last week: 26

No team has struck out more often than the Angels this season (27 percent). And making matters worse, they also have the lowest walk rate (six percent) in the majors.

27) Miami Marlins ⬆️

Last week: 28

Sandy Alcantara has been speculated as an obvious trade candidate this summer, but the results haven’t been there so far. He actually looked great on Sunday against the White Sox until serving up a go-ahead three-run home to rookie slugger Tim Elko. Still, a step in the right direction for the former Cy Young Award winner.

28) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬇️

Last week: 27

Derek Shelton took the fall last week for the Pirates’ miserable start to the season. The failure goes well beyond anything Shelton did, but ownership can’t fire themselves. The club took two out of three from the Braves over the weekend under interim manager (and former bench coach) Don Kelly, so the Pittsburgh-area native is off to a good start.

29) Chicago White Sox

Last week: 29

The White Sox have Pope Leo XIV on their side, which should provide some hope to fans, no?

30) Colorado Rockies

Last week: 30

The Rockies made a managerial change of their own this weekend, as they parted ways with longtime skipper Bud Black. The change comes on the heels of an embarrassing 21-0 loss to the Padres on Saturday night, though at least Black got to go out as a winner on Sunday.

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Mavericks win NBA Draft Lottery and Cooper Flagg sweepstakes with 1.8% odds

Mavericks win NBA Draft Lottery and Cooper Flagg sweepstakes with 1.8% odds originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Dallas Mavericks have hit the post-Luka Doncic jackpot.

They’ll have their chance to draft Doncic’s potential successor — Duke star Cooper Flagg — as the new face of the franchise after winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery on Monday despite entering with just a 1.8% chance of doing so.

Flagg — a 6-foot-9 forward who averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in his lone season with the Blue Devils — is the consensus No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft.

The 18-year-old from Maine is expected to be join a Dallas team that had a tumultuous season. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison orchestrated one of the most stunning trades in NBA history by dealing Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and other pieces. Davis then suffered an injury in his first game with Dallas, causing him to miss the majority of the regular season. The team then lost Kyrie Irving for the season after he suffered a torn ACL.

The Mavs finished 39-43 and were eliminated in the play-in tournament.

The ping-pong balls then bounced the Mavericks way in stunning fashion as they won the lottery for the first time in franchise history.

The Mavs winning the lottery drew a wide range of reactions on social media, including LeBron James posting a laughing emoji. Others complained of NBA conspiracy theories, with some joking about Harrison and the Mavs trading the pick to the Lakers for Bronny James.

The Jazz, Wizards and Hornets entered with the best odds of winning the lottery, each with a 14% chance. That was followed by the New Orleans Pelicans (12.5%), Philadelphia 76ers (10.5%) and Brooklyn Nets (9%).

The San Antonio Spurs — already with back-to-back rookies of the year in Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle — landed the second pick in the draft and are likely to add Rutgers guard Dylan Harper.

The Sixers, whose pick was top-six protected as part of a previous trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, got the No. 3 pick in the draft. The Hornets dropped to fourth, the Jazz to fifth and the Wizards to sixth.

Those teams will likely select from a group of top-five projected prospects that includes Ace Bailey of Rutgers, V.J. Edgecombe of Baylor and Tre Johnson of Texas.

The NBA draft will be held on June 25 in New York.

What is the NBA draft order?

Here is the full draft order for the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft:

1. Dallas

2. San Antonio

3. Philadelphia

4. Charlotte

5. Utah

6. Washington

7. New Orleans

8. Brooklyn

9. Toronto

10. Houston

11. Portland

12. Chicago

13. Atlanta (via Sacramento)

14. San Antonio (via Atlanta)

15. Oklahoma City (via Miami)

16. Orlando

17. Minnesota (via Detroit)

18. Washington (via Memphis)

19. Brooklyn (via Milwaukee)

20. Miami (via Golden State)

21. Utah (via Minnesota)

22. Atlanta (via Los Angeles Lakers)

23. Indiana

24. Oklahoma City (via Los Angeles Clippers)

25. Orlando (via Denver)

26. Brooklyn (via New York)

27. Brooklyn (via Houston)

28. Boston

29. Phoenix (via Cleveland)

30. Los Angeles Clippers (via Oklahoma City)

How does the NBA draft lottery work?

Teams in the lottery need more than just a lucky bounce to get the top pick. They need four lucky bounces.

A series of 1,000 four-numeral lottery combinations are divided among the 14 teams that failed to qualify for the postseason, including those who were eliminated during the play-in tournament.

Each team is assigned a collection of four-number combinations, with the teams owing the three worst regular-season records in the league receiving the most with 140 each. The number of combinations assigned to the remaining lottery teams decreases gradually based on record.

Those combinations are used to determine the first four picks in the draft during the lottery. The remaining lottery picks (5 through 14) are then assigned in inverse order based on regular-season records, meaning the team with the worst record in the league can pick no later than fifth.    

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Sixers get some light at end of tunnel, land No. 3 pick in draft lottery

Sixers get some light at end of tunnel, land No. 3 pick in draft lottery  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

There’s suddenly some light at the end of the Sixers’ tunnel.

Following an injury-ruined, 24-58 season, the Sixers snagged the No. 3 pick in Monday night’s NBA draft lottery. The Spurs got the No. 2 pick and the Mavs have No. 1. 

The Sixers entered the lottery with a 63.9 percent chance of keeping a top-six pick and a 10.6 percent chance of landing at No. 3. 

Any selection below No. 6 would have conveyed to the Thunder as a condition of the Sixers’ 2020 trade with Oklahoma City. The Sixers’ first-rounder will now be top-four protected for 2026 and, if necessary, 2027. In the unlikely event the Sixers have not conveyed a first-round pick to OKC by 2027, they’ll owe the Thunder their second-rounder that year. 

In addition to No. 3, the Sixers hold the No. 35 overall pick in the 2025 draft.

No one expected a tense, meaningful lottery night for the Sixers at the start of the 2024-25 season. Led by three All-Stars the prior year in Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, the Sixers believed a championship was possible. They set an all-time NBA record by using 54 different starting lineups. 

Who might the Sixers take at No. 3? While Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper are widely projected to be the first two picks, there’s much less agreement among experts after that. 

Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey’s philosophy is to draft the best player available, though it would be surprising if the team selected a center with superstar big man Joel Embiid on the team. It’s also notable that, if the Sixers re-sign Quentin Grimes in restricted free agency, the team will have several guards 6-foot-4 or under in key roles. One of them is 21-year-old Jared McCain, who represented the Sixers at the lottery. 

At the moment, Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe, Rutgers wing Ace Bailey, Texas guard Tre Johnson, Duke wing Kon Knueppel and Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis are prospects generally viewed in the No. 3 through No. 10 range.

The Sixers have not held a lottery pick since 2018. The team drafted Mikal Bridges at No. 10 but traded him to the Suns in exchange for No. 16 pick Zhaire Smith and a 2021 first-rounder. 

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Has a city with an NBA and WNBA team won the draft lottery in the same year?

Has a city with an NBA and WNBA team won the draft lottery in the same year? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Dallas basketball has the potential to be set up for the foreseeable future.

The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery delivered a twist, predictable or not, that saw the three worst teams in the league — the Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards — not rewarded for their failures.

Instead, the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks surpassed them to form the top three. In the end, Dallas landed the first pick and the chance to take Duke star prospect Cooper Flagg, a versatile forward who can change any team for the better.

The Mavericks’ luck — conspiracy theories and all — timed well with its WNBA counterpart. The Dallas Wings had also won the draft lottery earlier in the year, putting them in pole position to take UConn star Paige Bueckers, which they did.

Following the NBA and WNBA lotteries, Dallas is set to be the second city to draft first overall in the same year. Of course, the Mavericks could still trade the pick, but that won’t be known until late June when the draft is held.

In 2003, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Rockers became the first. The Cavs infamously took LeBron James, while the Rockers selected LaToya Thomas before folding operations the season after due to ownership issues.

The Mavericks endured a turbulent year full of injuries, but the main story involved Luka Doncic. Before the February trade deadline, Doncic was stunningly dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

Dallas fans understandably had all sorts of feelings — sadness, anger, anguish and insert any other emotion here. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison held multiple press conferences — publicly and privately — to attempt to justify his decision.

Mavericks fans rightfully didn’t want to hear it after losing a drafted star they fell in love with, off the heels of an NBA Finals run, among other memories.

But Harrison now has the opportunity to take Flagg and form an intriguing trio with Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and more if the rest of the roster is filled out properly and health isn’t as unfavorable.

Whether Harrison is ever vindicated for the trade is unknown. Perhaps it could be if he’s still in the front office and Flagg helps deliver a championship.

Bueckers has the same opportunity on the women’s side, as the Wings are seeking a fourth championship having been on a drought since 2008. Their other two wins include 2003 and 2006.

Not many cities have the luxury of a young men’s and women’s basketball star embarking on parallel journeys. But after the seasons both the Wings and Mavericks had, at least the future is bright.

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Golden Knights' McNabb Good To Go After Maintenance Day; Stone Considered Game-Time Decision For Game 4

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates with Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone will be a game-time decision after suffering an upper-body injury in Game 3, and defenseman Brayden McNabb should be good to play after receiving a maintenance day.

Stone did not play the final two periods of Game 3, which saw the Golden Knights miraculously score with 0.4 seconds remaining. He likely suffered the injury in the first period when he fell to the ice and collided with Edmonton Oilers' Corey Perry's leg. In this morning's practice, the 32-year-old skated in his usual spot on the top line and the first power play unit.

Stone's participation is an indicator that whatever he is hampered by will not keep him out of the lineup, despite his listing as day-to-day.

McNabb was a surprise addition to the lineup for Game 3. The 33-year-old was the victim of a gruesome-looking fall after he was tripped by Viktor Arvidsson in overtime. He did not practice beforehand, and all signs pointed towards his absence. It was a major shock when he appeared on the ice for warmups. 

The Golden Knights are once again in need of a win, and retaining these two veterans should help them feel more secure defensively. With the series lead cut in half, the Golden Knights aren't in a do-or-die situation or must-win territory, but falling behind three games to one is never the situation a team wants to be in. Finding any way to secure a win should help shift the momentum back into the hands of the Golden Knights. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

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Latest on Tatum's scary leg injury late in Celtics' Game 4 loss to Knicks

Latest on Tatum's scary leg injury late in Celtics' Game 4 loss to Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jayson Tatum’s brilliant performance at Madison Square Garden on Monday had a nightmare ending for the Boston Celtics.

Tatum suffered a painful right lower leg injury with 2:58 remaining in the fourth quarter of Boston’s Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks. The injury was non-contact, as Tatum went down on his own while diving for a loose ball.

The Celtics star appeared to be in significant pain and couldn’t put any weight on his right leg as he was helped off the floor. ESPN’s cameras showed Tatum being transported through the MSG tunnel in a wheelchair.

Tatum will get an MRI on his right leg Tuesday, according to Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who called Tatum’s ailment a “lower body injury” after the game.

“Obviously you’re always worried about someone’s health, so the fact that he had to be carried off — he’s the type of guy that gets right up,” Mazzulla told reporters. “He didn’t, and we’ll know tomorrow exactly what it is, but it’s tough to watch a guy like him get carried off like that.”

The injury put a damper on a terrific night for Tatum, who contributed 42 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks in nearly 40 minutes of play.

In the short term, the Celtics face a 3-1 series deficit and will have to win Game 5 at TD Garden on Wednesday without their best player to keep their season alive. But Tatum’s injury, if it’s as severe as it looked, could have significant long-term ramifications for a Celtics team that’s already deep in the luxury tax.

Wednesday’s Game 5 is set for 7 p.m. ET, and in the meantime, all eyes will be on Tatum as the team awaits the results of his MRI on Tuesday.

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Rockies at Rangers prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 12

Its Monday, May 12 and the Rockies (7-33) are in Arlington to take on the Rangers (20-21). Chase Dollander is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Tyler Mahle for Texas.

The Colorado Rockies won yesterday, ending their game losing streak. The nine runs the Rockies scored yesterday are the most since the middle of April.

The Rangers won their series against the Tigers 2-1 with a win yesterday. Nathan Eovaldi was phenomenal on the mound. He didn't give up a run in the 7.0 innings he pitched and only walked one batter, and struck out seven.

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.

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

Game details & how to watch Rockies at Rangers

  • Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
  • Time: 8:05PM EST
  • Site: Globe Life Field
  • City: Arlington, TX
  • Network/Streaming: Rangers Sports Network, Victory+

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 Rockies at the Rangers

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Rockies (+228), Rangers (-281)
  • Spread:  Rangers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Rangers

  • Pitching matchup for May 12, 2025: Chase Dollander vs. Tyler Mahle
    • Rockies: Chase Dollander, (2-3, 7.71 ERA)
      Last outing (Detroit Tigers, 5/7) : 3.0 Innings Pitched, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 0 Strikeouts
    • Rangers: Tyler Mahle, (3-1, 1.48 ERA)
      Last outing (Boston Red Sox, 5/7): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 0 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rockies at Rangers

  • The Rangers have won 3 straight home games against the Rockies
  • The Rangers have failed to cover in their last 3 games against the Rockies

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 Rockies and the Rangers

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 Monday's game between the Rockies and the Rangers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Texas Rangers 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 recommending 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

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

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Dave Roberts isn't happy. Rockies fired Bud Black, last limb on Mike Scioscia coaching tree

26 May, 2015: San Diego Padres manager (20) Bud Black on the field with Angels manager (14) Mike Scioscia during batting practice before a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim played at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
San Diego Padres manager Bud Black, right, on the field with Angels manager Mike Scioscia in 2015. Black, the Angels' pitching coach when they won the World Series in 2002, was fired on Sunday as Colorado Rockies manager. (John Cordes / Getty Images)

When Bud Black was fired as manager of the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, the last limb of the acclaimed Mike Scioscia coaching tree was snapped off and stacked on the mulch pile.

Joe Maddon remains out of work after being fired by the Angels in 2022. Scott Servais was canned by the Seattle Mariners last year. Ron Roenicke hasn't managed since 2020.

Black, who managed the San Diego Padres for eight-plus seasons before lasting another eight-plus seasons with the mostly hapless Rockies, boasts his own coaching tree. And one particular branch has become strapping and sturdy: Dave Roberts.

Black mentored the Dodgers manager from 2011-2015 as a Padres coach, and they remain close friends.

But the winds of change in Colorado caused this particular branch in Blue to rattle and sway.

“I'm bummed. I'm disappointed. I don’t think Casey Stengel could change the outcome of that ballclub,’’ a perturbed Roberts told reporters Sunday. “That’s not the manager’s fault. Obviously, they felt they needed a change in voice or direction, but for me, there’s not many people that are better than Buddy Black. It’s very disappointing. It’s certainly not his doing.’’

Read more:Plaschke: Dave Roberts is Dodgers’ real MVP? New contract removes all doubt

The Rockies sent Black out a winner, defeating the Padres 9-3 on Sunday, but remain historically bad, posting a 7-33 record that includes three eight-game losing streaks and projects to a finish of 29-133 that would be the worst by any team since 1899. Only four other teams lost 33 of their first 40 games: the 1904 Washington Senators, 1928 Philadelphia Phillies, 1932 Boston Red Sox and 1988 Baltimore Orioles.

Roberts disparaging the Rockies was a bit surprising because it was akin to someone telling Mother Teresa to take a hike. A visit from Colorado cures ills. Struggling pitchers are revived. Slumps stop. But Roberts' mentor and friend had devolved over two decades from Angels' World Series champion pitching coach to Dodgers punching bag.

Case in point: The Dodgers hosted the Rockies for a three-game series in mid-April after they'd lost six of the previous nine games, including an embarrassing 16-0 defeat to the Chicago Cubs two days before Black and Co. arrived. Et voila! The Dodgers won all three, jump-starting a 16-8 stretch that continues with a homestand beginning Tuesday.

They don't play Colorado again until June 24, when presumably Warren Schaeffer — the Rockies' third-base coach until today — will remain interim manager. It is doubtful that his purple-clad charges will be much better than they were under Black.

Black, 67, led the Rockies to playoff berths in 2017 and 2018, but they haven’t had a winning season since and are well on their way to a third consecutive 100-loss season. They are already 19.5 games behind the first-place Dodgers in the NL West, and their minus-128 run differential is nearly double that of the next closest team. They are batting a dismal .219, and the ERA of the starting rotation is an MLB-worst 5.77.

“Our play so far this season, especially coming off the last two seasons, has been unacceptable. Our fans deserve better, and we are capable of better,” Rockies owner Dick Monfort said Sunday in a statement.

Read more:Tony Gonsolin, Freddie Freeman help Dodgers complete successful trip

Some of the underachieving Rockies players don't blame Black, whose even-keel temperament, attention to detail and empathetic communication skills made him a respected leader. And everyone knows the first to go in troubled times is the manager.

“It’s tough, I don’t think it was Buddy’s fault, much,” Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon told the Denver Post. “We didn’t play to our capabilities, but this is the direction the organization decided to go, so we’ll roll with it. …

“Hey, it might be a kick in the ass. Like, heads up! We’re in a spot where we need to make some moves and start doing some stuff, or things like this are going to happen.”

Black had a strong track record when he took the Rockies reins in 2017. He was the Angels' pitching coach when they won their only World Series in 2002 and made the postseason three times in his six years. He was the National League Manager of the Year in 2010 with the Padres. A left-handed pitcher for five teams in 15 years, posting a 3.84 earned-run average over more than 2,000 innings, he won a World Series with the Kansas City Royals in 1985.

Colorado made the postseason in Black's first two years as manager, but did not come close to .500 since then. He approximated his mentor, Scioscia, in managerial longevity but not in accomplishments. Scioscia, the Angels manager for 19 seasons, stepped down in 2018 and hasn't returned to a major league dugout, although he was head coach of the bronze-winning USA team in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Read more:Remembering Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda

Nobody can adequately explain why so few pitchers become managers, let alone successful ones, but Black lasted longer than just about any other. Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda is easily the most decorated. California native Bob Lemon won a World Series with the Yankees.

Hall of Fame pitchers Walter Johnson,Christy Mathewson and Ted Lyons were much less successful as managers than with a baseball in their hands. Roger Craig finished exactly one game over .500 in 10 managerial seasons and Clyde King five games over .500 in short stints with three teams. Marcel Lachemann, Ray Miller, Larry Rothschild,George Bamberger and a few others failed to win half their games.

Black's tally stands at 649-713, a .477 winning percentage. He didn't address the media on Sunday, but his players ducked into his office one by one to say goodbye. Left-handed starter Kyle Freeland was probably closest to Black; his rookie year in 2017 coincided with the manager's arrival.

“I have a lot of different emotions right now,” Freeland said, referencing fired bench coach Mark Redmond along with Black. “I have been with Buddy and Red my entire career. Both are great guys, and they have been in my corner my entire career. I love both those guys."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Mets prospects Jonah Tong, Ryan Clifford earn Eastern League weekly honors

A pair of Mets top prospects are taking home some hardware, as Rumble Ponies right-hander Jonah Tong and first baseman Ryan Clifford have been named Eastern League Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively.

Tong, 21, earned his second Pitcher of the Week award after delivering 6.2 spotless innings in what turned into a combined perfect game on Saturday against Reading. Tong, SNY contributor Joe DeMayo’s No. 7 overall prospect in the Mets’ system, struck out 13 batters and leads all Eastern League pitchers with 51 punchouts on the season.

Tong now has a 2.57 ERA over his six starts this season, in what has been his first taste of Double-A ball.

As for Clifford, the mashing first baseman went 9-for-19 in the series against Reading, launching three home runs with nine RBI, five runs scored, and a 1.500 OPS over the five games.

Clifford, SNY’s No. 4 Mets prospect, now has six home runs on the season, tied for fourth most in the Eastern League.

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Former Hurricanes Forward Fined For Dangerous Hit

Max Domi (© Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images)

NHL Player Safety has announced that former Carolina Hurricanes forward Max Domi has been fined $5,000 for boarding Aleksander Barkov during the Toronto Maple Leafs' Game 4 matchup against the Florida Panthers on May 12. This is the most Domi could have been fined under the current CBA.

The incident occurred in the final seconds of Game 4 between the Maple Leafs and Panthers. While both teams were battling for the puck, Domi hit Barkov from behind into the boards. For the hit, Domi was handed a five-minute major for boarding at the 20:00 mark of the third period.

Domi is known for being a gritty player, but the former Hurricanes forward took it too far with this hit on Barkov. Because of it, he has now been fined.

Domi, 30, was acquired by the Hurricanes from the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2021-22 season in a three-team trade involving the Panthers. In 19 regular-season games with the Hurricanes following the move, he posted two goals, seven points, 18 penalty minutes, and a plus-8 rating. He also appeared in 14 playoff games for the Hurricanes in 2022, recording three goals, six points, and a plus-6 rating.

Domi's time with the Hurricanes ended during the 2022 NHL off-season when he signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in free agency.

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Leafs AHL D-Man Signs With German Club

Nicolas Mattinen playing a pre-season game for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024. © Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Canadian defenseman Nicolas Mattinen, 27, has signed a one-year contract with Adler Mannheim, the DEL club announced on Monday.

It will be Mattinen’s second tour of duty in Germany after spending last season in the AHL.

“I’m thrilled and honored to be wearing the Adler jersey next season,” Mattinen is quoted in a club press release. “It feels great to be returning to Germany. I want to do my part to contribute to what will hopefully be a successful season and am very excited to meet everyone and start working in August.”

“We are grateful that Nicolas has decided to return from North America and join our team,” said Dallas Eakins, Mannheim’s sports manager and head coach. “He’s a proven scorer in the league and brings size and attitude. We look forward to seeing him on the ice in our colors soon.”

A native of Orleans, Ont., Mattinen played junior hockey for the London Knights, Flint Firebirds, Hamilton Bulldogs and Oshawa Generals, winning two OHL titles along the way and was a member of London’s 2015-16 Memorial Cup championship team, although he missed the final tournament with an injury.

The 6-foot-5, 216-pound Mattinen was drafted in the sixth round, 179th overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He went on to play three years for the University of Ottawa, however, before finally turning pro in 2022 at age 24.

Former Leafs, Lightning D-Man Returns Home To SwedenFormer Leafs, Lightning D-Man Returns Home To Sweden Swedish defenseman Andreas Borgman, 29, has signed a three-year contract to play with HV71, the Jönköping-based SHL club announced on Tuesday.

Mattinen played for Villacher EV in 2022-23, winning the ICEHL’s top defenseman award, and then played for the DEL’s Straubing Tigers in 2023-24, where he won the league’s top defenseman and MVP awards. Mattinen signed a contract with Mannheim in the summer of 2024 but exercised an escape clause when he had the chance to sign with Toronto.

Last season, Mattinen played only 22 games for the Toronto Marlies, recording four assists and eight penalty minutes. He has seven points and 12 penalty minutes in 30 career AHL games.

Toronto retains his NHL rights.

Last season, Mannheim finished fourth in the DEL regular season and was swept by eventual champion Eisbären Berlin in the semifinals. In addition to Mattinen, Mannheim also has ex-NHLers Tom Künhackl, John Gilmour, Kristian Reichel and Marc Michaelis under contract for the 2025-26 season.

Kristian Reichel leaves Winnipeg for Adler MannheimKristian Reichel leaves Winnipeg for Adler MannheimKristian Reichel is moving on from the Winnipeg Jets organization where he’s spent the past six seasons, signing a three-year contract with German club Adler Mannheim.
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MRI reportedly shows Donovan Mitchell aggrivated old injury, game-time decision for Game 5

The one game the Cleveland Cavaliers won in their second-round series — the one game they looked like the 64-win juggernaut from the regular season — was when Donovan Mitchell scored 43 in Game 3.

Whether Mitchell will play in Game 5 will be a game-time decision after re-aggravating an old injury in Game 4, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. Mitchell had an MRI on his bothersome ankle Monday, but the team has not formally released the results from that test yet.

Mitchell appeared to injure his ankle while just shooting to warm up for the second half of Game 4, and it was a non-contact injury. Mitchell went back to the locker room and did not return due to what the team called an ankle injury.

With the Cavaliers down 41 points at the half, there was logic in not risking anything further to get Mitchell on the court Sunday night. He was seen leaving the arena in regular shoes, not a walking boot.

Mitchell is averaging 34 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists a game through the first four games of this series. If he is out for Game 5, a lot more falls on the shoulders of Darius Garland and Evan Mobley to extend the Cavaliers' season.

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Rafael Devers named AL Player of the Week amid first base drama

Rafael Devers named AL Player of the Week amid first base drama originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Boston Red Sox designated hitter Rafael Devers’ wild week ended with a reminder that he remains one of MLB’s premier sluggers.

On Monday, Devers was named the American League Player of the Week. The three-time All-Star has gone 10-for-21 at the plate with two home runs, eight RBI, and a 1.386 OPS over the last seven days.

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman earned the honor in the National League.

Devers capped off his red-hot week by going 6-for-7 with a homer and five RBI over the last two games of Boston’s series in Kansas City.

That Royals series started with Devers making headlines for his words rather than his bat. After the team’s series finale against Texas at Fenway Park, the 28-year-old called out the Red Sox front office for asking him to move to first base in the wake of Triston Casas’ season-ending injury. His comments prompted team owner John Henry and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to travel to Kansas City to meet with their disgruntled star.

While the plan is to keep Devers at DH for the foreseeable future, Breslow and manager Alex Cora have left the door open for Devers to make the switch. The club has yet to find a permanent solution for the void at first base.

After taking two out of three against the Royals, the Red Sox will begin a three-game set in Detroit on Monday night.