Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

Red Sox positional preview: Who will anchor the bullpen in 2025?

Red Sox positional preview: Who will anchor the bullpen in 2025? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The bullpen was the Boston Red Sox’ biggest weakness in 2024. All signs point to that being the case again in 2025.

Boston lost veteran relievers Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin in free agency. The duo will be replaced by offseason addition Aroldis Chapman and fellow veteran Liam Hendriks, who’s set to return after missing all of last year recovering from Tommy John surgery.

That duo is competing for the closer role along with second-year reliever Justin Slaten, one of the club’s bright spots out of the ‘pen last season. After them, it’s anyone’s guess who will be stepping up in high-leverage situations for the Red Sox this year.

More Red Sox positional previews:

Here’s a closer look at the bullpen arms who will look to turn the club’s weakness into a strength in 2025:

Aroldis Chapman, LHP

2024 stats: 3.79 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 98 SO, 39 BB, 61.2 IP (68 games for Pittsburgh Pirates)

Age: 37

Contract status: Signed one-year, $10.75 million contract in free agency.

Outlook for 2025: Chapman’s days as a shutdown closer are behind him. The hard-throwing southpaw walks too many batters (at least 5.0 BB/9 in every season since 2020) at this stage of his career to be considered a truly trustworthy option in high-leverage situations.

That said, the Red Sox will lean heavily on him in 2025 after losing veterans Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin in free agency. While Chapman is no longer his dominant self, the seven-time All-Star showed last season with Pittsburgh he can still be effective and miss bats at a high rate.

Liam Hendriks, RHP

2024 stats: N/A

Age: 36

Contract status: Signed two-year, $10 million contract in 2024. Mutual option for 2026.

Outlook for 2025: After missing the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John recovery, Hendriks is battling Chapman and second-year reliever Justin Slaten for the closer role. His spring training numbers suggest Boston may be best suited going in a different direction to begin the new campaign.

Hendriks, a three-time All-Star, has allowed six earned runs on 12 hits over five innings (five appearances). Perhaps he’s simply shaking off the rust with only five regular-season games played since 2022, but throwing him straight into the fire to start the season seems unwise.

Justin Slaten, RHP

2024 stats: 2.93 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 58 SO, 9 BB, 55.1 IP (44 games)

Age: 27

Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2027.

Outlook for 2025: Slaten, a Rule 5 Draft pick last winter, was an underrated bright spot for Boston during the 2024 season. The right-hander’s impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio suggests he may be the team’s best current option to close out games in 2025. If he struggles out of the gate, manager Alex Cora shouldn’t hesitate to hand the keys over to either Hendriks or Chapman.

Garrett Whitlock, RHP

2024 stats: 1.96 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 17 SO, 7 BB, 18.1 IP (four starts)

Age: 28

Contract status: Signed four-year, $18.75 million contract extension in 2022. Club options for 2027 and 2028.

Outlook for 2025: Whitlock will presumably pitch exclusively out of the ‘pen following another injury-plagued campaign. The right-hander made only four starts in 2024 before suffering a season-ending elbow injury.

If Whitlock regains his 2021/2022 form, it’ll go a long way toward helping Boston’s bullpen enjoy a bounce-back season. He notched a 1.96 ERA across 46 relief appearances during his breakout 2021 rookie season.

Justin Wilson, LHP

2024 stats: 5.59 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 51 SO, 13 BB, 46.2 IP (60 games with Cincinnati Reds)

Age: 37

Contract status: Signed one-year, $2.25 million contract in free agency.

Outlook for 2025: Wilson joined the bullpen this offseason as another experienced left-handed option, though his leash likely isn’t long. The veteran southpaw struggled mightily with the Reds last season and missed all of 2023 due to injury.

Wilson has a handful of solid MLB seasons under his belt, but he’ll have to earn a long-term spot on the roster with a strong start to 2025. If his woes continue, we could see fellow left-hander Brennan Bernardino take his place.

Luis Guerrero, RHP

2024 stats: 0.00 ERA, 0.800 WHIP, 9 SO, 2 BB, 10 IP (nine games)

Age: 24

Contract status: Pre-arbitration.

Outlook for 2025: Guerrero impressed during his brief stint with the big-league club in 2024. Although he hasn’t looked as sharp this spring, he should still earn a spot on the Opening Day roster as a high-upside flamethrower. He’s a dark horse for the Red Sox closer role if Chapman, Hendriks, and Slaten can’t seize their opportunity.

Greg Weissert, RHP

2024 stats: 3.13 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 58 SO, 20 BB, 63.1 IP (62 games)

Age: 30

Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2027.

Outlook for 2025: Like Slaten, Weissert was one of the bright spots in Boston’s bullpen last season. Acquired from the New York Yankees in the Alex Verdugo deal, Weissert didn’t allow an earned run over the final two months of the season. That trend has continued so far this spring with zero runs allowed over seven innings pitched (six appearances).

Weissert could start to make a name for himself in the big leagues if he duplicates his 2024 success. He’ll again play an important role for a group that is expected to be the club’s kryptonite again in 2025.

Cooper Criswell, RHP

2024 stats: 4.08 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 73 SO, 31 BB, 99.1 IP (26 games, 18 starts)

Age: 25

Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2027.

Outlook for 2025: Criswell’s one-year, $1 million deal before the 2024 season was met with little fanfare, but it proved to be a shrewd move made by the Red Sox front office. Criswell was effective as a swingman, a role he is expected to reprise in 2025.

Criswell’s presence will be even more important with starters Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito, and Kutter Crawford on the injured list to begin the year. We can expect the righty to make some spot-starts early in the season with Boston scheduled to play 20 games over the first 21 days.

Adam Ottavino, RHP

2024 stats: 4.34 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 70 SO, 23 BB, 56 IP (60 games)

Age: 39

Contract status: Minor-league contract

Outlook for 2025: The Red Sox bolstered their bullpen depth by signing the veteran to a minor-league contract this offseason. If he makes the team, it’ll mark his second stint with the organization. He made 69 appearances with the club in 2021. Ottavino has been a consistent, durable relief option throughout his 14-year MLB career, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him become a mainstay in the bullpen this season.

Zack Kelly, RHP

2024 stats: 3.97 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 61 SO, 27 BB, 56.2 IP (49 games)

Age: 30

Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2026.

Outlook for 2025: Kelly could be a difference-maker for the Red Sox bullpen in 2025. The righty is enjoying a strong spring training, allowing only two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out eight batters in seven innings (six games).

He has strong swing-and-miss stuff, but command has been an issue so far in his big-league career. Consistency will be the key to a Kelly breakout.

Brennan Bernardino, LHP

2024 stats: 4.06 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 56 SO, 22 BB, 51 IP (57 games)

Age: 33

Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2026.

Outlook for 2025: It’ll be difficult for Bernardino to make the Opening Day roster with the bevy of left-handed relief options available. His production fell off a cliff last season after a remarkable start to the year (0.78 ERA over first 23 innings).

Bernardino has shown flashes of brilliance at the big-league level, but Wilson’s presence likely points to the 33-year-old starting the season in Triple-A.

Josh Winckowski, RHP

2024 stats: 4.14 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 60 SO, 26 BB, 76 IP (40 games)

Age: 26

Contract status: Arbitration-eligible in 2026.

Outlook for 2025: Winckowski appears unlikely to make the Opening Day roster as his rocky 2024 season has been compounded by a rough spring training. The right-hander has allowed 10 earned runs on 11 hits and five walks in five innings.

Injuries could eventually force Winckowski back into the fold. For now, he’s probably the odd man out as Alex Cora assembles his bullpen for the club’s Opening Day matchup vs. the Texas Rangers on March 27.

Posted on

Iona fires Tobin Anderson just two years after he replaced Rick Pitino as the school’s coach

Iona fired Tobin Anderson on Monday, just two years after he replaced Rick Pitino as the school's coach. The Gaels made the announcement two days after losing in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game and missing out on an NCAA Tournament bid. Iona was the No. 4 seed and knocked off top-seeded Quinnipiac in the semifinals before falling to No. 6 Mount St. Mary's 63-49 in the title game.

Posted on

Kings Quick Trip a Chance to Reignite Their Past Identity

Credit © Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

At 23-3-4 at home this season, the Los Angeles Kings are the best team in that regard. However, at 13-17-2 on the road, many teams are operating at and above .500.

In fact, the Kings have the worst road record amongst playoff-positioned teams. Only the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference have less than a .500 winning percentage on the road (14-15-3). If my recent playoff hockey memory serves me correctly, it has burned them in recent years.

It's not something that consistently turns over year to year going into the playoffs; for the most part, being a good home team in the regular season amounts to a whole lot of nothing come playoff time. It's just an entirely different ball game. Even if it's a decade ago, does anyone recall the Kings-Blues series from 2012?

The best home team in the league was swept at home. These things happen.

Outliers aside, the Kings have a massive opportunity to return to a 'road warrior' mentality, a moniker of past Kings teams. There are six games left on the road, and if their record and play at home stand for anything, it shows they can operate at a .600+ winning percentage the rest of the way, barring anything drastic. These six games, however, are much-needed wins for a team that has a flair for toppling high-end competition but will also squeak out points or get cut down by the league's lower half. It's been done particularly while on the road.

The Kings have lost on the road nine times being outscored by three goals or more. A little over two weeks ago, the Chicago Blackhawks, a lottery team being built around Connor Bedard, dismantled the Kings 5-1 in their barn. A week later, on the second half of a back-to-back? They beat the Pacific Division Golden Knights 6-5 in a game where it should not have been that close. Where does this context position the Kings, who will play an excellent team in Minnesota and the same Chicago team that embarrassed this squad over two weeks ago on this quick road trip?

What team will show up for either game is that of suspect. Will the Kings that beat the league-leading Washington Capitals 3-0 and the Knights 6-5 come to play? Or is it the Kings that snoozed for 50 minutes against the Predators?

Is this a coaching issue, a leadership issue, personnel? A questioning attitude is an aspect of the game, just like it is in life. All of that vanishes with wins. Wins matter--that should probably be written down a few times. Just like the recent game against Nashville, or even the poor performance against the Islanders, wins erase all of the pessimistic language that could be used to describe either game. Live and you learn right?

It brings me back to these six games left. What have the Kings learned?

The lesson is simple: The Kings will absolutely need to take advantage of these games, as they are burgeoning with first place in the division, jockeying with Edmonton back and forth for second while Vegas finds itself scrambling to put grease on the wheels. Wins on the road while safeguarding their dominance at home could be the formula that unlocks home-ice and even, a first ever Pacific Division title.

The Kings' home record is strong and won't be going anywhere anytime soon. The team will, in fact, have the opportunity to expand its home excellence even further.

But taking care of business on the road for the rest of the season could be a key factor in building up the potential for this Kings team to finally do something they haven't done in a long time: damage in the playoffs.

Posted on

Boxing’s Olympic future set to be secured after IOC recommendation

  • President Bach backs sport’s inclusion for 2028 in LA
  • Status had been in doubt with governing body suspended

Boxing’s fragile Olympic status is on the verge of being secured after years of uncertainty. On Monday the International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said that his executive board had recommended that boxing should be included in the 2028 Games to be held in Los Angeles. It appears to be a formality that the IOC membership will ratify the decision in the coming days as Bach and his colleagues confirmed last month that that they now recognise World Boxing as the sport’s new international federation.

“After the provisional recognition of World Boxing in February we were in the position to take this decision,” Bach said at a press conference. “I’m very confident the [IOC] session will approve it, so that all boxers then have certainty that they can participate in the Olympic Games in LA2028 if their national federation is recognised by World Boxing.”

Continue reading...
Posted on

Pacers vs. Timberwolves Predictions, odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for March 17

Indiana Pacers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Preview 

The Indiana Pacers (37-29) and Minnesota Timberwolves (40-29) are all set to square off from Target Center in Minneapolis.

The Pacers are riddled with injuries and may have a few key starters out for this game. They are up against a Timberwolves team who have won eight straight games.

The Pacers are currently 16-19 on the road with a point differential of 1, while the Timberwolves have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. 

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.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Pacers vs. Timberwolves live today

  • Date: Monday, March 17, 2025
  • Time: 8:00PM EST
  • Site: Target Center
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming:

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 NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Pacers vs. Timberwolves
The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Odds: Pacers (+235), Timberwolves (-288)
  • Spread:  Timberwolves -7.5
  • Over/Under: 229 points

That gives the Pacers an implied team point total of 113.38, and the Timberwolves 117.28.
 
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Monday's Pacers vs. Timberwolves game

NBC Sports Bet 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.

 Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is betting on the Timberwolves -7.5…

Thomas: “Taking a chance on the Pacers sitting their questionable starters. The Timberwolves could likely cover this number with both teams at full strength, but I like the possible advantage given the circumstances.”

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s Pacers & Timberwolves game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Minnesota Timberwolves on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Indiana Pacers at +7.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 229.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Pacers vs. Timberwolves on Monday

  • The Timberwolves have won 13 of their last 20 games
  • 7 of the Timberwolves' last 9 home matchups against the Pacers have stayed under the Total
  • The Pacers have covered the spread in 7 of their last 10 road trips to teams with winning records

The Pacers have covered the spread in 7 of their last 10 road trips to teams with winning records
 
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 NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
 
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
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)

Posted on

76ers vs. Rockets Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 17

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Houston Rockets Preview 

The Philadelphia 76ers (23-44) and Houston Rockets (43-25) are all set to square off from Toyota Center in Houston.

The 76ers seem to be back to “Trusting the process,” with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey sidelined. They have lost seven of their last 10 games and have struggled against anyone not actively tanking.

The Rockets are surging. They have won six in a row and are second in the Western Conference.

The 76ers are currently 11-22 on the road with a point differential of -5, while the Rockets have a 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. 

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.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch 76ers vs. Rockets live today

  • Date: Monday, March 17, 2025
  • Time: 8:00PM EST
  • Site: Toyota Center
  • City: Houston, TX

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 NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for 76ers vs. Rockets

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Odds: 76ers (+612), Rockets (-926)
  • Spread:  Rockets -14.5
  • Over/Under: 222 points

That gives the 76ers an implied team point total of 109.98, and the Rockets 117.54.
 
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Monday's 76ers vs. Rockets game

NBC Sports Bet 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.

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning towards Rockets -11.5 and Over 212.5 (+101)…

Thomas: “The Rockets are on a six-game winning streak. The over has hit in three of four games. The Sixers have not defended well but do put forth a lot of effort, even in their losses. This combo bet sits inside both lines, and I priced it fairly.”

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s 76ers & Rockets game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Houston Rockets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia 76ers at +14.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 222.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of 76ers vs. Rockets on Monday

  • The Rockets have won 8 of their last 10 matchups against teams with worse records
  • The Total went under in 20 of the Rockets' 35 home games this season
  • The Rockets have covered in 4 of their last 5 home gamesThe Rockets have won 10 of their last 12 home matchups against teams with worse records

 
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 NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
 
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
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)

Posted on

UCLA and South Carolina headline AP Top 25 women’s poll and are top seeds in NCAA Tournament

UCLA remained No. 1 in The Associated Press women's basketball Top 25 on Monday one day after the Bruins earned the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. UCLA received 19 first place votes from the 32-member national media panel. UConn was third after winning the Big East Tournament championship over Creighton in the only game with ranked teams last week.

Posted on

Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers prepare to open MLB season vs. Cubs

TOKYO — The Major League Baseball season kicks off at the Tokyo Dome when Shohei Ohtani and the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers face the Chicago Cubs.

It’s the first of a two-game series and features five Japanese players. Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and rookie Roki Sasaki pitch for the Dodgers while the Cubs have outfielder Seiya Suzuki and left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga.

The two MLB teams have been in Tokyo for several days, playing exhibition games against two Japanese teams — the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants.

All four exhibition games had a capacity crowd of roughly 42,000. A similar atmosphere is expected for the two MLB games.

“Everybody’s very aware of the series, that’s evident for sure, more than I feel like it would be America,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “More people are talking about it, absolutely. That’s a great feeling. The players love big events, that’s why we do this, that’s why we love to do it.”

Here are five things to know heading into the MLB opener:

All-Japanese pitching matchup

The first game will feature the first all-Japanese pitching matchup on opening day in MLB history. Yamamoto will take the mound for the Dodgers against Imanaga of the Cubs.

Yamamoto is entering his second season with Los Angeles. He was 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA last season and was an important part of the team’s World Series championship, with a brilliant performance in a Game 2 win over the Yankees.

Imanaga was an All-Star last year in his first season with the Cubs. The lefty finished with a 15-3 record and a 2.91 ERA in 2024.

The Dodgers will start Sasaki in the second game.

Young Cubs

Third baseman Matt Shaw is expected to make his big league debut for the Cubs. Shaw is one of the team’s top prospects and did enough this spring to earn the starting nod.

Shaw was drafted with the No. 13 overall pick in 2020 after playing college baseball at Maryland. He hit .284 with 21 homers and 71 RBIs last season, splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A.

Other young Cubs include third-year outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who hopes to take a big step forward after an encouraging second half of 2024. Rookie second baseman Gage Workman also could make his MLB debut in Tokyo.

Ailing Mookie

Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts will not play in either game against the Chicago Cubs because of an illness that’s lingered for the past week.

Manager Dave Roberts said Betts is starting to feel better but has lost nearly 15 pounds and is still trying to get rehydrated and gain strength. Roberts added that the eight-time All-Star might fly back to the United States before the team in an effort to rest and prepare for the domestic opener on March 27.

Miguel Rojas will start at shortstop in Betts’ place.

What time is the Tokyo Series?

Set your alarm if you’re planning to view the two Tokyo games in the United States. Both games being at 7:10 p.m. in Tokyo, which means it’ll be a 6:10 a.m. wake up call in the Eastern time zone.

Many Cubs and Dodgers fans will really need some coffee. Start time in Chicago is 5:10 a.m. while it’s 3:10 a.m. in Los Angeles. The game will air nationally on Fox.

Tokyo history

This marks the 25th anniversary of the first MLB regular season games played in Japan. The New York Mets and Cubs played a two-game set at the Tokyo Dome in 2000.

Since that series, MLB returned in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2019. The 2019 series featured the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners, who celebrated the final two games of Ichiro Suzuki’s career in his home country. Suzuki will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer.

It’s the 10th time that MLB has played regular season games in a spot outside the 50 states. The locations include Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia and last year’s series in South Korea.