Anton Lundmark ‘Shocked’ By Panthers’ Contract Offer

Former Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen was Anton Lundmark's coach this season in Timrå. © James Guillory-Imagn Images

Two years ago, Anton Lundmark was playing in a semi-professional regional league in the third tier of Swedish hockey. This season, at age 23, he made his SHL debut with Timrå IK, where he scored five goals, had four assists and zero (!) penalty minutes in 53 regular-season and playoff games.

And yet, somehow, the Florida Panthers were impressed with what they saw and signed the 6-foot-4, 192-pound winger to a one-year entry-level contract, which will take effect next season. The news left many scratching their heads and asking, “Who?”

The offer even caught Lundmark off guard, according to Finnish media outlet MTV Uutiset.

“I spoke to him (on the day of the announcement), and you could say that he was shocked himself,” said Timrå GM Kimmo Kapanen. “He didn’t really understand what had happened.”

However, Kapanen seemed less surprised and was quick to praise Lundmark.

“He has worked incredibly hard and has earned this opportunity,” Kapanen added. “He has all the necessary tools.”

Oliver Kapanen On Leaving Habs: “It Feels Good To Return” To TimråOliver Kapanen On Leaving Habs: “It Feels Good To Return” To TimråOn Wednesday, the Montreal Canadiens announced that 21-year-old Finnish center Oliver Kapenen was being loaned to Timrå IK, the SHL club that he signed with in May. Kapanen already went to the Swedish team’s training camp in August and played pre-season games in September before the Canadiens’ camp. 

The Panthers are no-doubt impressed by Lundmark’s work ethic and possibly see him eventually using his size to carve out a role as a fourth-line winger. Zero penalty minutes in 53 games for a player in that role is a bit surprising, though.

“Anton is a robust forward who has elevated his game rising through the professional hockey ranks in Sweden,” Florida GM Bill Zito is quoted in the NHL club’s announcement. “We look forward to his continued development in our organization.”

Timrå, which was coached this season by Finnish ex-NHLer Olli Jokinen, finished sixth in the 14-team SHL before being eliminated by Frölunda HC in the quarterfinals.

In addition to Lundmark, the team is expecting to lose its leading scorer, 24-year-old Filip Hållander, to the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer. Oliver Kapanen, the son of the club’s sports manager, played most of the season in Timrå on loan from the Montreal Canadiens and will probably be gone next season as well.

Report: Filip Hallander Headed Back To NHL Next SeasonReport: Filip Hallander Headed Back To NHL Next SeasonSwedish center and left winger Filip Hållander is headed back to the NHL next season, according to Swedish media outlet Exprssen.

Watch Adames hilariously troll Rodríguez after another epic play

Watch Adames hilariously troll Rodríguez after another epic play originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The rivalry between Willy Adames and Julio Rodríguez was one of the best highlights in this weekend’s Giants vs. Seattle Mariners series at Oracle Park.

It started Friday in San Francisco’s 10-9 walk-off win over Seattle, when a leaping Adames robbed his good friend, Rodríguez, of a hit in the fifth inning, which left the Mariners slugger stunned.

Rodríguez got his revenge in the Giants’ 4-1 win over Seattle on Saturday, throwing out Adames at second base after the Giants shortstop attempted to stretch a single into a double.

The rivalry continued in the series finale on Sunday, when Adames, ranging far to his left at shortstop, again robbed Rodríguez of a hit on a ground ball up the middle. Rodríguez, again, was not happy.

While both stars made impressive plays against one another, it was Adames and the Giants who had the upper-hand against Rodríguez and the Mariners this weekend.


Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Bulls vs. Hornets Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 6

It’s Sunday, April 6, and the Chicago Bulls (35-42) and Charlotte Hornets (19-58) are all set to square off from Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

The Bulls are currently 19-19 on the road with a point differential of -2, while the Hornets have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. Chicago is 2-1 versus Charlotte this season, but lost the previous matchup, 125-123.

Chicago is coming off back-to-back wins and has taken six of the past eight, while Charlotte is off two straight losses and five of the previous seven.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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 Bulls vs. Hornets live today

  • Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025
  • Time: 1:00PM EST
  • Site: Spectrum Center
  • City: Charlotte, NC
  • Network/Streaming: NBA TV

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 Bulls vs. Hornets

The latest odds as of Sunday:

  • Odds: Bulls (-408), Hornets (+318)
  • Spread:  Bulls -9.5
  • Over/Under: 227 points

That gives the Bulls an implied team point total of 117.31, and the Hornets 112.36.

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 Sunday’s Bulls vs. Hornets game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Bulls to cover:

"Chicago is off back-to-back wins, while Charlotte has dropped the past two. While the Hornets have still been competitive despite losing recently, I like the Bulls in this spot to continue building momentum for the play-in. Chicago's offense should be able to cover -9.5 if they limit their turnovers. It's Bulls or pass."

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 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 Bulls & Hornets game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Bulls on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Charlotte Hornets at +9.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 227.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom 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 Bulls vs. Hornets on Sunday

  • The Bulls have won their last 7 games against teams with worse records
  • The Under is 26-21 in the Bulls' matchups against Eastern Conference teams this season
  • The Bulls have covered the Spread in 7 of their last 8 road games against the Hornets
  • The Bulls have won 8 of their last 10 games against teams with losing 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!

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)

St. Louis Blues Call Up Top Prospect From AHL

Image

The St. Louis Blues have announced that they have recalled forward Dalibor Dvorsky from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. 

Dvorsky was sent back down to the Thunderbirds on April 3 but is now heading right back to the Blues' roster. The 19-year-old forward will look to impress during his latest opportunity with the NHL squad from here.

Dvorsky made his NHL debut for the Blues on March 23 against the Nashville Predators. During the contest, the young forward had 10:40 time on ice. 

Down at the AHL level this season with the Thunderbirds, Dvorsky has been very impactful. In 59 games, he has 20 goals, 24 assists, and 44 points. He was also named to the AHL All-Star Classic due to his strong play.

Dvorsky will now aim to take advantage of receiving another shot on the Blues' roster from here. The 2023 tenth-overall pick is one of the club's most promising prospects and has the potential to blossom into a top-six forward at the NHL level later down the road. Thus, all eyes will be on him during this latest chance on the Blues' roster. 

Recent Blues News 

Blues Top Prospect Jimmy Snuggerud Has Golden Opportunity

Exciting Blues Prospect Is Red-Hot In AHL Right Now

Blues' Jimmy Snuggerud Is Already Impressing Big Time

Blues Star Exits Penguins Matchup With Injury

Blues Send First-Round Pick Back To AHL

Blues Defenseman Continuing To Be Incredible Addition

Blues' Jordan Binnington Rewarded For Stellar Month

Blues Star Is Absolutely Thriving Right Now

Alex Ovechkin And Four Other NHL Stars Are Drinking From The Fountain Of Youth

Alex Ovechkin and Marc-Andre Fleury (Matt Krohn-Imagn Images)

Alex Ovechkin has chased down Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record by remaining productive long into his career.

Now 39, Ovechkin tied Gretzky’s record on Friday by scoring 188 goals in 334 games since his 35th birthday in the fall of 2020. That’s the sixth-most overall during that timeframe.

By contrast, Gretzky scored just 67 goals in 265 games from his 35th birthday on Jan. 26, 1996 through his retirement in April of 1999, at age 38. Once he passed Gordie Howe with No. 802 in 1994, there was a significant drop-off in his production.

On Friday, Ovechkin also became the second-oldest player in NHL history to score 40 goals in a season. Gordie Howe did it as a 40-year-old in 1968-69. The way Ovi’s going, he could take a real run at tying that record next year if the spirit moves him.

But this season, Ovechkin’s not the only NHL greybeard who’s doing great things. Here are four others who also seem to be drinking from the Fountain of Youth, listed in order of age.

Marc-Andre Fleury - Age 40

The Minnesota Wild stopper has let it be known that he’s bowing out at the end of this season. And while his workload has been reduced, the first-overall pick from 2003 is still delivering quality minutes during his farewell tour. 

In 23 appearances during his age-40 year, Fleury is 12-9-1 with a 2.78 goals-against average and .903 save percentage. The next stop for the three-time Cup champ: the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Brent Burns – Age 40

When Burns signed an eight-year contract extension at an $8 million cap hit in the fall of 2016, it was widely assumed that the San Jose Sharks were buying high.

Burns won his Norris Trophy at the end of that season before his new deal kicked in. And by the end of Year 5, the rebuilding Sharks were happy to retain a third of the money in order to offload the contract to Carolina.

Burns turned 40 in March. He may not be hitting 70 points anymore, but he’s still averaging well over 20 minutes a game on one of the league’s best puck-possession teams. 

Whatever mysterious potions the bearded one might be carting around in his famous backpack, Burns’s regime is working for him. He recently moved into fourth-place all-time on the NHL’s consecutive-games-played list, at 919. 

Only one other defenseman is ahead of him, Keith Yandle (989). Burns could pass him if he plays just one more year.

Streak aside, it won’t be surprising if Burns has multiple suitors if he decides to test the waters as a UFA this summer.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Age 38

Vlasic signed his big extension in San Jose just a few months after his old partner, Burns, on July 1, 2017 — at a slightly lower cap hit of $7 million a season. As more of a stay-at-home type, he’s had some injury challenges over the years. But this season, Vlasic passed Mark Giordano to become the NHL player with the most blocked shots since tracking began in 2005-06.

That achievement speaks volumes about the physical sacrifices that Vlasic has made throughout his career. 

He has one year remaining on his deal and will most likely want to play it out. It will at least provide one year of insurance for his blocks record, as John Carlson and Alex Pietrangelo are still active and sit third and fourth in the all-time blocked-shot rankings.

Sidney Crosby – Age 37

Sid the Kid is the 13th-oldest skater in the NHL this season. But like Ovechkin, his motor simply isn’t slowing down. 

His 1,682 career points are 64 more than second-place Ovechkin among active players. And with his hat trick in Pittsburgh’s win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday, Crosby just hit the 30-goal mark for the fourth-straight year and the 13th time in his career. 

Last week, Crosby set a record by logging his 20th  point-per-game season — which spans his entire career.

If he gets a point against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, he’ll extend his current point streak to 13 games. That would be a record for a player who’s 37 or older.

Crosby’s workload isn’t changing, either. His average ice time this season is 20:24, just 16 seconds below his career average of 20:40.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Pittsburgh Penguins Assign Joona Koppanen To Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins have assigned forward Joona Koppanen to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, it was announced Saturday. 

Koppanen, a product of Tampere, Finland, has split time this season between the NHL and the AHL, collecting one goal in six games with Pittsburgh while putting up seven goals and 22 points in 55 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. 

Drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round of the 2016 NHL Draft, Koppanen has appeared in 15 career NHL games with the Penguins and the Bruins. Across that time, he has scored one goal and added an assist for two points.

With Koppanen being assigned to the AHL once again, he will play a big role for the Penguins as they look to go on a deep playoff run. Still just 27, Koppanen's play could earn him some interest if he hits free agency. 

3 Takeaways: Golden Knights Douse Flames With 3-2 Win To Snap Two-Game Skid

<i>Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against the Flames in an NHL game at the Saddledome on April 6, 2025. <b>Photo Credit: Brett Holmes-Imagn Images</b></i>

LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights grabbed a much-needed win Saturday, snapping a two-game skid with a 3-2 overtime win in Calgary over the Wild Card hopeful Flames.

Reilly Smith scored twice, including the overtime winner at the 4:31 mark to lift the Knights to a win, and extend their lead in the Pacific Division to three points over the hard-charging Los Angeles Kings.

Akira Schmid, who is now active while regular backup Ilya Samsonov is nursing an injury, made 21 saves for the victory in his first start of the season.

Pavel Dorofeyev opened the scoring for Vegas with a first-period strike. It was his team-leading 33rd of the season.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

POTENTIAL REMATCH? Despite the loss, Calgary moved within four points of idle Minnesota for the second Wild-Card spot in the Western Conference. The Flames are still very relevant in the playoff race, as they've got a game in hand on Minnesota and a meeting with the Wild at the Saddledome this coming Friday. With Calgary keeping their playoff flame burning, it remains one of Vegas' potential first-round foes.

PACIFIC DIVISION POWER: Though the Golden Knights suffered losses to the Oilers and Kings recently, they boast a 16-4-1 record against the entire Pacific Division. The intradivision success could come into play if either the Knights miraculously end up facing the Flames in the first round, or were to drop out of first place and meet either the Oilers or Kings in the opening round.

PK TURNAROUND: After allowing power-play goals in each of the last two games - both losses - the Golden Knights were a perfect 4 for 4 with their penalty kill in Calgary. It was a much-needed boost to a penalty kill that came into the game ranked 26th overall on the PK, including a dismal 30th on the road. With the season winding down, and the power play a heavy emphasis in the postseason, Vegas' penalty kill will be essential for a Stanley Cup run.

Dodgers at Phillies Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 6

Its Sunday, April 6 and the Dodgers (9-1) and Phillies (6-2) are set to wrap up their three-game series in Philadelphia.

Tyler Glasnow is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Cristopher Sánchez for Philadelphia.

These teams have split the first two games of the series. The Dodgers rallied for a 3-1 win yesterday. Kike Hernandez and Michael Conforto went yard to provide the offense for Los Angeles and five Dodgers' hurlers combined to give up just four singles and one earned run while striking out eight.

Lets dive into today's 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 Dodgers at Phillies

  • Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025
  • Time: 1:35PM EST
  • Site: Citizens Bank Park
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: Spectrum SportsNet LA, NBC Sports Philadelphia

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 Dodgers at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Sunday:

  • Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-128), Philadelphia Phillies (+109)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Phillies

  • Pitching matchup for April 6, 2025: Tyler Glasnow vs. Cristopher Sánchez
    • Dodgers: Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 3/31 vs. Atlanta - 5 IP, 0ER, 2H, 3BB, 8Ks
    • Phillies: Cristopher Sánchez (0-0, 1.69 ERA)
      Last outing: 3/31 vs. Colorado - 5.1 IP, 1ER, 4H, 2BB, 7Ks

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 Dodgers at Phillies

  • The Dodgers are 4-1 in their last 5 games
  • Anthony Banda has appeared in 5 games and pitched 5 innings for the Dodgers and is 3-0 on the season.
  • The Game Total UNDER is 4-1 in the Dodgers' last 5 games
  • The Phillies have scored just 7 runs in their last 3 games
  • The Game Total UNDER has cashed in 6 straight Phillies' games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Dodgers and the Phillies

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 today's game between the Dodgers and the Phillies:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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)

895! Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky's NHL all-time goals record

895! Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky's NHL all-time goals record originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Shortly after Wayne Gretzky became the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer in 1994, his father mentioned how someone, someday, would break his record.

“I looked at my dad,” Gretzky recently recalled, “and said, ‘Well can I enjoy this for just a couple days?'”

Gretzky enjoyed holding the record for more than 30 years – and then that someone appeared, and that someday arrived.

It was Alex Ovechkin on April 6, 2025.

The date will forever be etched in history as the day the Washington Capitals star scored his 895th career goal to break Gretzky’s record and become the top goal scorer in league history.

The 39-year-old Ovechkin netted the record-breaking goal Sunday during the Capitals’ game against theNew York Islanders at UBS Arena on Long Island. He scored on the power play with 12:34 remaining in the second period, sending the thousands of Capitals fans who were in attendance into a raucous celebration.

The Capitals left the bench to join the celebration with Ovechkin, and the game was paused for a ceremony that marked the completion of what has been dubbed “The GR8 Chase.”

Ovechkin reached 895 goals in his 1,487th game — the same number of games Gretzky played in his NHL 20-year career.

Gretzky was in attendance, as was NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Ovechkin’s family, for the record-breaking goal.

Records are meant to be broken, but greatness is rarely expected to be matched. And yet, “The Great One” is now second greatest on the league’s most hallowed statistical list.

Ovechkin’s climb to the top required longevity, consistency and availability – all of which he has provided since being selected first overall in the 2004 draft.

In his NHL debut on Oct. 5, 2005, he scored the first two goals of what would be a 52-goal season, the third-most ever scored by an NHL rookie.

Ovechkin, during his third season, scored a career best 65 goals. He has recorded nine 50-plus goal seasons, matching the record shared by Gretzky and Islanders legend Mike Bossy. He has scored 40 or more goals in a season 14 times, which topped Gretzky’s record of 12.

Alex Ovechkin milestone goals

  • First — Oct. 5, 2005
  • 100th Oct. 12, 2007
  • 200th Feb. 5, 2009
  • 300th April 5, 2011
  • 400thDec. 20, 2013
  • 500th Jan. 10, 2016
  • 600th March 12, 2018
  • 700th Feb. 22, 2020
  • 800th Dec. 13, 2022
  • 894thApril 4, 2025
  • 895thApril 6, 2025

Ovechkin won nine Rocket Richard Trophies for most goals scored in a season, three Hart Trophies as most valuable player, and the 2017 Stanley Cup, which was the first in Capitals franchise history.

With each goal along the way, he inched closer to greatness.

Gretzky had held the goals record since 1994 when he tallied his 802nd goal on March 23, 1994 to pass Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe. Gretzky, who played primarily for the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, scored his 894th and final goal came on March 29, 1999, as a member of the New York Rangers. He retired three weeks later at the age of 38, holding 61 NHL records at the time, including most career assists (1,963) and points (2,857), both of which still comfortably stand.

His goals record outlasted many Hall of Famers who took aim but fell short — with Jaromir Jagr scoring 766 goals before retiring in 2018 and Brett Hull netting 741 goals before closing his 19-year career in 2006.

Ovechkin in December 2022 became just the third player in league history to reach 800 career goals, joining Gretzky and Howe. He began his 20th NHL season in October needing 42 goals to top a record once believed to be unbreakable. He missed 16 games earlier this season with a fractured left fibula, pushing the record pursuit closer to the end of the season.

Ovechkin entered Sunday having scored in four consecutive games. He scored twice on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, including career goal No. 894 to tie Gretzky’s record total.

He broke it with just five games remaining for the Capitals in the regular season.

Ovechkin will now look to become the first NHL player to score 900 career goals, a club he will remain the sole member of for quite some time, if not permanently.

Until – of course – someone, someday comes along.

895! Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky's NHL all-time goals record

895! Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky's NHL all-time goals record originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Shortly after Wayne Gretzky became the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer in 1994, his father mentioned how someone, someday, would break his record.

“I looked at my dad,” Gretzky recently recalled, “and said, ‘Well can I enjoy this for just a couple days?'”

Gretzky enjoyed holding the record for more than 30 years – and then that someone appeared, and that someday arrived.

It was Alex Ovechkin on April 6, 2025.

The date will forever be etched in history as the day the Washington Capitals star scored his 895th career goal to break Gretzky’s record and become the top goal scorer in league history.

The 39-year-old Ovechkin netted the record-breaking goal Sunday during the Capitals’ 4-1 loss to theNew York Islanders at UBS Arena on Long Island. He scored on the power play with 12:34 remaining in the second period, firing a one-timer off a feed from longtime teammate Tom Wilson past Islanders goalie, and fellow Russian, Ilya Sorokin.

Ovechkin reached 895 goals in his 1,487th game — the same number of games Gretzky played in his NHL 20-year career.

“I’m probably gonna need a couple more days or maybe a couple weeks to realize what does it mean to be number one,” Ovechkin said after the game. “But all I can say is, I’m very proud for myself, I’m very proud for my family, for all my teammates that helped me to reach that milestone, and for all my coaches. It’s huge. It’s an unbelievable moment.”

After scoring the goal, Ovechkin celebrated with a belly-flop, sliding towards center ice on his stomach before he was mobbed by teammates. The goal sent the thousands of Capitals fans among the 17,000-plus in attendance into a raucous celebration.

The game was paused for a roughly 20-minute ceremony that marked the completion of what has been dubbed “The GR8 Chase.”

Gretzky, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Ovechkin’s family joined Ovechkin on the ice.

“They say records are made to be broken,” Gretzky said during the ceremony, “but I’m not sure who’s going to get more goals than that.”

Records sure are made to be broken, but greatness is rarely expected to be matched. And yet, “The Great One” himself is now second greatest on the league’s most hallowed statistical list.

Ovechkin’s climb to the top required longevity, consistency and availability – all of which he has provided since being selected first overall in the 2004 draft.

In his NHL debut on Oct. 5, 2005, he scored the first two goals of what would be a 52-goal season, the third-most ever scored by an NHL rookie.

Ovechkin, during his third season, scored a career best 65 goals. He has recorded nine 50-plus goal seasons, matching the record shared by Gretzky and Islanders legend Mike Bossy. He has scored 40 or more goals in a season 14 times, which topped Gretzky’s record of 12.

Alex Ovechkin milestone goals

  • First — Oct. 5, 2005
  • 100th Oct. 12, 2007
  • 200th Feb. 5, 2009
  • 300th April 5, 2011
  • 400thDec. 20, 2013
  • 500th Jan. 10, 2016
  • 600th March 12, 2018
  • 700th Feb. 22, 2020
  • 800th Dec. 13, 2022
  • 894thApril 4, 2025
  • 895thApril 6, 2025

Ovechkin won nine Rocket Richard Trophies for most goals scored in a season, three Hart Trophies as most valuable player, and the 2017 Stanley Cup, which was the first in Capitals franchise history.

With each goal along the way, he inched closer to greatness.

“Wayne, you’ll always be the ‘Great One’ and you had a record that nobody ever thought would be broken,” Bettman said during the in-game ceremony. “But Alex, you did it. You’ve been amazing.”

Gretzky had held the goals record since 1994 when he tallied his 802nd goal on March 23, 1994 to pass Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe. Gretzky, who played primarily for the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, scored his 894th and final goal came on March 29, 1999, as a member of the New York Rangers. He retired three weeks later at the age of 38, holding 61 NHL records at the time, including most career assists (1,963) and points (2,857), both of which still comfortably stand.

His goals record outlasted many Hall of Famers who took aim but fell short — with Jaromir Jagr scoring 766 goals before retiring in 2018 and Brett Hull netting 741 goals before closing his 19-year career in 2006.

Ovechkin in December 2022 became just the third player in league history to reach 800 career goals, joining Gretzky and Howe. He began his 20th NHL season in October needing 42 goals to top a record once believed to be unbreakable. He missed 16 games earlier this season with a fractured left fibula, pushing the record pursuit closer to the end of the season.

Ovechkin entered Sunday having scored in four consecutive games. He scored twice on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, including career goal No. 894 to tie Gretzky’s record total.

He broke it with just five games remaining for the Capitals in the regular season.

“Finally, I’m not gonna have those questions of when do you think you’re gonna break it,” Ovechkin said. “It’s already done. So, gonna have to figure out what the next question is gonna be. For me and for all the boys, it’s a fun time. You can see how many people traveled from all over the world to see that moment. It’s special.”

Ovechkin will now look to become the first NHL player to score 900 career goals, a club he will remain the sole member of for quite some time, if not permanently.

Until – of course – someone, someday comes along.

ICYMI in Mets Land: Francisco Lindor, Jesse Winker provide heroics in soggy win over Blue Jays

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Saturday, in case you missed it...


Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Hunter Goodman surging, Opportunity for Heston Kjerstad

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, where I review my favorite waiver wire adds and drops for each week of the MLB season.

The premise is pretty straightforward. I’ll try to give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When I list a player, I’ll list the category where I think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. I hope that it will help you determine if the player is a fit for what your team needs or not.

For a player to qualify to be on this list, he needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. I understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and I can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places and that can hopefully satisfy readers in all league types.

Aaron Judge
Mookie Betts has bounced back from illness, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. is in a great spot with the Yankees.

Waiver Wire Hitters

Maikel Garcia - 2B/3B, KC: 40% rostered
(POWER/SPEED UPSIDE, POSITIONAL VERSATILITY)

Everybody freaked out when Garcia was not in the lineup on Opening Day, and it's become just another example of not putting so much stock into one lineup. With Vinnie Pasquantino needing to DH due to his hamstring injury, the Royals had to reconfigure the lineup a bit, and for one day, Garcia was heading to the bench. He then started five straight games, even starting one in centerfield, which suggests some added versatility. When Jonathan India and Michael Massey are both healthy, there will be some days off for Garcia as the Royals rotate all three hitters, but Garcia has gone 8-for-25 (.320) with two home runs and six RBI to start the season and has 30+ stolen base upside.

Spencer Torkelson - 1B, DET: 37% rostered
(POWER UPSIDE, EVERYDAY ROLE - for now)

Last week, I said I'd much rather have Manzardo or Soderstrom than Torkelson and that stands, but Torkelson remains a solid add if you need power. He's gotten off to a strong start, and, even though it's a small sample size, he's making far better swing decisions, which is leading to fewer whiffs and more contact overall. With the Tigers' lineup banged up, Torkelson should get another month or so to prove he's made enough changes to stay in the big leagues. Michael Busch - 1B, CHC (27% rostered) is another power-first first base option. The 26-year-old hit 21 home runs in 152 games for the Cubs last year and is going to be the everyday first baseman in a lineup that's deeper than it was last year. His swing decisions haven't been great early in the season, but his 11.5% swinging strike rate last year wasn't that high for a player with plus power, so I think we could see another step forward from Busch this year.

Hunter Goodman - C/OF, COL: 30% rostered
(POWER UPSIDE, STARTING JOB)

As spring training was winding down, it seemed like Hunter Goodman had hit well enough to earn himself the backup catcher role and maybe a start or two in the outfield when he wasn't catching. Then the regular season started and Goodman hasn't left the lineup. He has started all but three games behind the dish, and he's been the starting DH in all the games he hasn't caught. Considering he's also gone 7-for-30 to start the season with two home runs and a 91 mph average exit velocity, he's certainly hit well enough for Colorado to continue operating like this. Goodman is a must-add in two-catcher formats, but he's also a good add in one-catcher leagues where you have daily moves because you can slide him into your catcher spot if your other catcher is not playing and not lose a spot in the lineup.

Trevor Story -SS, BOS: 30% rostered
(SPEED UPSIDE, EVERY DAY JOB)

I'm not sure Story gets enough respect because he's had a checkered past when it comes to injuries, and many fans just want to see Marceo Mayer in Boston. However, Story has turned himself into a really good defensive shortstop, and his speed makes a real impact in fantasy leagues. Through eight games to start the season, Story has two steals and two home runs while playing every day at short. He may hit just .250 on the season, but he's been hitting fifth in the Red Sox order, which gives him some real counting stat upside to go with 25+ stolen base speed.

Jung Hoo Lee -OF, SF: 26% rostered
(COUNTING STATS UPSIDE, EVERY DAY JOB)

Not every add is going to be exciting. In fact, some of the best waiver moves you can make during the year will be kind of boring. Jung Hoo Lee is kind of boring. That's not a knock on him, but he doesn't steal a ton of bases or hit a ton of home runs, so he gets forgotten about a lot in fantasy circles. However, he does make an elite amount of contact and has an everyday job hitting third in the Giants' lineup. That counts for something. Lee has also been pulling the ball more to start the 2025 season, so maybe that leads to some harder contact this year. If you wanted an outfielder that was more speed-centric, you could go after TJ Friedl - OF, CIN (36% rostered), who is leading off for Cincinnati and hitting 10-for-34 (.294) with six runs scored and one stolen base on the season. His sprint speed has been falling over the last few years, but he has also consistently stolen bases when he's in the lineup and he'll play every day while he's healthy.

Ben Rice - 1B, NYY: 25% rostered
(POWER UPSIDE, PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY)

I loved Ben Rice's upside based on his batted ball quality, and I covered him in my article on potential second-year breakout hitters. The biggest knock on Rice was potential playing time concerns in New York, but he has been hitting the cover off the ball, and the team has responded by starting to play him every day. If we knew he was locked into a starting role, he'd be rostered in way more leagues. His bat speed is up, the barrels are there, and he needs to be on your roster if you have an open spot for a corner infield bat. If you need a corner infield player in deeper formats, then I think you can turn to Wilmer Flores - 1B, SF (11% rostered), who is playing nearly every day with Jerar Encarnacion out for a few months with a fractured hand. We've seen Wilmer go on these kinds of hot streaks before, so it's unlikely he has become a different player; however, he's seeing the ball well right now and has three home runs already this season. Ride the bat while it's hot.

Matt Wallner - OF, MIN: 21% rostered
(POWER UPSIDE, GOOD LINEUP SPOT)

By now, we know the deal with Wallner: he's going to play every day against right-handed pitching and sit versus lefties. Well, the Twins have seven games this upcoming week, and six are against right-handed pitching. Wallner has gotten off to a slow start to the 2025 season, but he's hitting leadoff for the Twins and has a 17% career barrel rate. He also tweaked his approach in the second half last season and hit .275 with 12 home runs, 34 RBI, and three steals over the final 73 games. There is some volatility in his skill set, but the power is unquestioned, and if the approach changes carry over, he's a great addition, especially in daily moves leagues. In deeper leagues, I'm also a big fan of Wallner's teammate Trevor Larnach - OF, MIN (3% rostered). Much like Wallner, Larnach will start against all right-handed pitchers, and I wrote about him as one of my favorite post-hype hitters this off-season.

Jordan Walker - OF, STL: 16% rostered
(BREAKOUT POTENTIAL, EVERYDAY ROLE)

Have we written Walker off too soon? I wrote about him in detail for my post-hype hitters article this winter, and he has gotten off to a pretty strong start in St. Louis, going 7-for-22 (.318) with one home run, three walks, three strikeouts, and two stolen bases. The early batted ball data is good, and he's chasing outside of the zone less to start the season. We know Walker is going to get a long leash in St. Louis this season, so this is a gamble I'm happily taking. Another intriguing prospect that we may have written off too early is Kyle Stowers - OF, MIA (1% rostered). Now, Stowers was not the type of prospect Walker was, but he was a solid prospect with real big league power. He has a 10.4% career barrel rate, but has always swung and missed too much. So far this season, he's chasing out of the zone less and making much harder contact in the zone. That has led to some strong early results, but I should note that his zone contact rate is the same and the swinging strike rate is still high, so this doesn't feel like a breakout.

Jacob Wilson - SS, ATH: 14% rostered
(BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE, EVERYDAY ROLE)

Do you like batting average and hate strikeouts and walks? Jacob Wilson is for you. The Athletics' rookie makes an elite amount of contact but doesn't hit for power or draw walks or steal many bases. Wilson has never stolen more than four bases or hit more than seven home runs at any minor league level, so you need to be honest with yourself about what you're after when you add Wilson. He will give you a strong batting average, and he has moved from the bottom third of the order up to sixth and could conceivably even climb up to second or third. There's a place for that on some fantasy rosters, but it may not be yours. A similar boring but dependable option in deeper formats if you need a guy like that in the infield is Geraldo Perdomo - SS, ARI (11% rostered). Perdomo has a bit more speed than Wilson, but a similar amount of power and won't hit for as high of a batting average. It's a pick-your-poison type of situation.

Gavin Sheets - 1B/OF, SD: 13% rostered
(COUNTING STAT UPSIDE, EVERY DAY JOB)

We highlighted Sheets on our player news page during the spring when it seemed like he had a shot to win the designated hitter job in San Diego, and, lo and behold, he has won the job and taken off running. Sheets showed up for me earlier this week when doing research for my article on players who improved their bat speed the most this season. The early contact quality from Sheets has been good, and ge's hitting in the middle of the lineup regularly against roght-handed pitching, which makes him worth an add if you're playing in a daily moves league and should at least put him on your radar in an NFBC-type format where you have mid-week lineup adjustments. I should also note that Pavin Smith - 1B/OF, ARI (3% rostered) is in the same boat as an everyday guy against right-handed pitching andis somebody that I’m in onafter he hit .270/.348/.547 with nine home runs and a .896 OPS in 158 plate appearances in a part-time role last year, and Michael Conforto - OF, LAD (18% rostered) also fits into that boat while hitting in one of the best lineups in baseball. Yes, it's a bummer that they don't get at-bats every day, but remember that the overall quality of their at-bats is likely improved by not having to face lefties, so there is a trade-off there.

Nolan Schanuel - 1B, LAA: 10% rostered
(BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE, EVERYDAY ROLE)

I had Schanuel on a few teams last year. He has good speed for a first baseman and had a 91% zone contact rate, which highlights his overall batting average upside. So far in 2025, Schanuel has posted much better bat speed numbers and has hit the two hardest balls of his MLB career. Remember that he's only 23 years old and debuted in the same season he was drafted. There is still some potential growth here, and it wouldn't surprise me if Schanuel hit .275 with 15 home runs and 10 steals. That's not bad for a deeper league corner infield target.

Jorge Polanco - 2B, SEA: 10% rostered
(DEEP LEAGUE OPTION, COUNTING STATS UPSIDE)

Polanco missed three games this week while going on Paternity leave (congrats to him), but I think he remains a solid deep league target with soon-to-be multi-position eligibility, who I wrote about this off-season in an article on undervalued hitters:"He’s a career .263/.330/.435 hitter, and while I know last year was a down season, he was also playing through a knee injury that clearly impacted him. Despite that, he posted an 8.9% barrel rate, an above-average chase rate, and slightly below-average SwStr% and contact rates. We do need to point out that his overall contact rates and swinging strike rates have been headed in the wrong direction for the last two seasons, but for the vast majority of his career, he has been a 77% contact rate guy or better. In spring training this year, he has an 85% contact rate and just a 7.2% SwStr%, so perhaps a lot of that regression was due to injury."Jose Caballero - 2B/3B/SS, TOR (8% rostered) is another multi-position option in deeper leagues after he made his first start in the outfield this week as Tampa Bay looks to get him more at-bats and cover for the injury to Josh Lowe. We know that Caballero can be a difference-maker in the stolen base category, and if he winds up playing 75% of games with 2B/3B/SS/OF eligibility, that's pretty valuable.

Kyren Paris - 2B, LAA: 8% rostered
(SPEED UPSIDE, POTENTIAL PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY)

Paris is yet another young Angels hitter who is starting to earn more playing time. The 23-year-old made the Opening Day roster in part because of an injury to Zach Neto, but also the team's decision to cut Mickey Moniak. Paris is mainly an infielder but has transitioned to the outfield and earned some extra reps playing center field so far this season. He struggled a lot in the minors last season, but there is a detailed video online that breaks down his swing change this off-season. If Jo Adell continues to fail to take advantage of the opportunity in center field, don't be surprised if Paris starts to get more starts and becomes 2B/OF eligible. There's also a world where Paris just becomes the every day second baseman when Neto is back and the Angels shift Luis Rengifo to third base and give up on one or more of Yoan Moncada and Kevin Newman. They probably won't, but they should. I should also note that Isiah Kiner-Falefa - 2B/3B/SS, PIT (19% rostered) has been running wild early on this season. He's the everyday shortstop in Pittsburgh and has four steals already this year. He doesn't do much else, but if you need speed, he could be a fit.

Heston Kjerstad - OF, BAL: 7% rostered
(POWER UPSIDE, PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY)

Since Colton Cowser hit the injured list with a fractured thumb, Kjerstad has started four of five games, including one against a lefty. I should say, the one start against a lefty was when Dylan Carlson was still en route from Triple-A, and then Ramon Laureano started the next time against a lefty, so I believe it will be Laureano who plays against left-handed pitching. Kjerstad is off to a solid start and has some real power upside, but he has struck out six times in just 19 plate appearances and his bat speed is down so far this season. Considering he hit just .209 in spring training, I'm not yet convinced he's going to take this job and run with it. However, I'm willing to add him in most places just in case he starts to make more contact.

Nick Kurtz - 1B, ATH: 5% rostered
(PROSPECT STASH)

It may be early for prospect stashes, but it depends on your league size and bench space. Kurtz was the fourth overall pick in last year's draft and got an aggressive assignment to Triple-A after a strong spring training. Well, he's gone 13-for-30 in his first five Triple-A games with three home runs and 11 RBI. If he keeps doing this, the Athletics are going to call him up and let Tyler Soderstrom be their everyday DH. That probably means making Brent Rooker play the field, but you're gonna have to do that if Kurtz keeps hitting like this. Roman Anthony - OF, BOS (28% rostered) is another top prospect who may not be long for the minors. The Red Sox will need to clear up some space in the outfield for him, but he's off to a strong start in Triple-A and should be up soon, especially if Ceddanne Rafaela continues to struggle to make good on his strong spring training. Rafaela could move into a super utility role with Jarren Duran in CF and Anthony in LF.

Miguel Vargas - 3B/OF, CWS: 3% rostered
(FORMER TOP PROSPECT, EVERY DAY JOB)

Vargas appeared in that same article I published this week on bat speed gainers. In that article, I said: "Vargas had a big spring training and started to establish himself as a potential post-hype guy after disappointing with the Dodgers and with Chicago after coming over at the trade deadline. So far, Vargas is just 4-for-21, but his average exit velocity is 92.8 mph, which is much better than the career 87 mph mark he’s posted in 402 MLB batted ball events. Overall, Vargas has added 2.3 mph to his bat speed, which now puts him at an above-average 72.1 mph average. I still love adding Vargas in deeper formats." Another potential deep league multi-position target is Gabriel Arias - 3B/SS, CLE (1% rostered), who won the starting second base job for the Guardians and should pick up another position of eligibility soon. Arias added 1.3 mph to his swing as well and now has an average bat speed of 76.1 mph, which is 17th-best in all of baseball. It’s a faster bat speed than Elly De La Cruz, Bryce Harper, and many other established power hitters. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt talked up Arias in spring training, and the 25-year-old has gone 7-for-24 with one home run and two RBI to start the season. He’s a name to keep an eye on in deeper formats given that Vogt has used him at 2B, 3B, and SS already this season.

Alek Thomas - OF, ARI: 2% rostered
(FORMER TOP PROSPECT, POTENTIAL PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY)

Alek Thomas was once a top prospect in the Diamondbacks organization, but he battled injuries and could never seem to transition his minor league ability into MLB success. He's currently backing up Jake McCarthy, but he's gone 7-for-17 with three runs and six RBI on the season. If he keeps hitting well, I think he's going to push McCarthy for playing time because he's the better defensive center fielder. Another deeper league option is Harrison Bader - OF, MIN (2% rostered), who has begun carving out more playing time in Minnesota. We know that Bader has been a decent power/speed target when he's been healthy in the past, and he has three home runs already this season, so maybe you ride the production while he's on the field.

Kameron Misner - OF, TB: 1% rostered
(STARTING JOB, POWER/SPEED UPSIDE)

Misner has found himself with a shot at a starting job thanks to an oblique injury that could keep Josh Lowe out for multiple months. The 27-year-old Misner is off to a good start, going 8-for-22 with one home run and four RBI so far this season. He’s added 2.8 mph to his bat speed, which has added 1.7 Run Value per 100 swings, which is among the tops in baseball in the early going. Remember that Misner was a former first-round pick, who hit .248/.360/.442 with 17 home runs and 30 steals in Triple-A for the Rays last season. This could be deep league worthy while Lowe is out. Manuel Margot - OF, DET (1% rostered) is also going to be the everyday centerfielder in Detroit with Parker Meadows and Wenceel Perez sidelined. Margot has been around long enough that we know what he can do, but he's a career .254 hitter who still has the speed to swipe bases in a full-time role. Detroit has also been hitting him fifth or sixth, which could lead to some chip-in RBIs as well.

Waiver Wire Pitchers

Blake Treinen - RP, LAD (36% rostered)
I know people always love to chase the trendy closer when it comes to waiver wire Sunday, but sometimes I'd rather take a really good reliever in a save share. No, Treinen is not "the closer" in Los Angeles; however, he is going to get some save opportunities while pitching high-leverage innings. On days when he doesn't get saves, he's likely going to give you solid ratios and some strikeouts. I'd take that over a closer who may be a grenade. Jason Adam - RP, SD (35% rostered) is in the same boat. We know Adam is a good reliever. He's going to help your ratios and steal a few wins, and when the Padres finally trade Robert Suarez, who has been on the trade block all off-season, I think it'll be Adam that takes over and starts to get saves. You can add him now and not have to spend big money.

Grant Holmes - SP/RP, ATL: 33% rostered
Holmes got a raw deal when the Braves reconfigured their rotation so that he could start on Monday against the Dodgers instead of Sunday against the Padres. However, Holmes will also start on Sunday against the Marlins, and I feel good about that opportunity. Holmes unveiled a new changeup this spring that looks like it will be a real weapon for him. He now has potentially three plus secondaries to take the heat off of his average fastball. I think he's being underrated right now.

David Peterson - SP, NYM (32% rostered)
Peterson is yet another intriguing starter who showed some interesting tweaks in his season debut, with more movement on his changeup and a nice backfoot slider to right-handed hitters. I wrote about why Peterson is one of my favorite late-round starting pitchers to draft,so I’d encourage you to read that if you want a detailed discussion of why I like the left-hander.

Kris Bubic- SP, KC (27% rostered)
I wrote about Bubic this week in my column discussing starting pitcher news, so I'd encourage you to check that out to see why I'm in on him this season. Bubic lowered his arm slot in his first outing; yet he was still able to get almost 18 inches of vertical movement on his fastball, which allowed him to have an extremely flat approach angle (HAVAA below). That flat fastball, commanded well in the middle and upper parts of the zone, led to a stupid 11 whiffs, 23% SwStr%, and 46% CSW. However, I just didn’t see enough command of the secondaries here to make me think we’re seeing a breakout. Is it possible? Sure, and I'm willing to take a gamble, but I’m still a bit skeptical. Jose Soriano - SP, LAA (30% rostered) also showed better sinker command in his first start than we saw all of last season. That would be crucial for him. Another pitcher where I'm not yet sure we're getting a true breakout, but I'm willing to have them on my roster while I figure it out.

Max Meyer - SP, MIA (24% rostered)
I wrote about Max Meyer as one of my undrafted starting pitchers I think have the upside to finish inside the top-25, so you can read that article to see a more detailed breakdown of why I like taking a gamble on him in the first few weeks of the season.

Jordan Hicks - SP, SF: 21% rostered
I wrote up Jordan Hicks in my starting pitcher column two weeks agoand touched on his added velocity. In his first start against Houston, he sat 98 mph on his sinker and had 16 called strikes on the pitch. He struggled a little bit with the splitter and didn’t use it much, so he was mainly just sinker and slider, but the slider is also harder and tighter this season, which could help him command it better. That would be big for him, and I'm taking stabs everywhere because I think he'll produce as long as the velocity is up, and then I'll move on.

Tylor Megill - SP, NYM (21% rostered)
I wrote about Megill as one of my favorite late-round starting pitching targets this off-season, and said: "In 2024, Megill posted a 17.6% K-BB%, 12.8% SwStr%, and 27.6% CSW, all of which were better than the league average despite him having a fairly uneven season. He added a sinker last season, which has a 73% strike rate. He uses it primarily as a strike pitch to righties, which is crucial for him. He also added a cutter in 2024, and despite it having above-average swinging strike rate marks to righties and lefties, it’s also a pitch he can command for strikes with league-average zone and strike rates. It also allowed Megill to throw his slider less in 2024, which is good because his slider was a great out-pitch but struggled as a 20% usage pitch...He has everything he needs to be a good MLB starter, but the consistency of that command is going to be crucial. With a full off-season under his belt to work on the cutter and sinker, we could finally see that in 2025." Yet, Megill came into 2025 with a new slider that he's been using more for strikes while scrapping his cutter. I kind of liked the cutter, so I don't know how I feel about this, but the results have been good so far.

Casey Mize - SP, DET (20% rostered)
Mize had a good first start, throwing 5 2/3 shutout innings while allowing one hit, striking out six, and walking three. However, the fastball was 94 mph, which was down almost two mph from the spring, and both the slider and splitter didn't find the zone as much as we'd want. You're certainly not mad about what he did, but I'm also not jumping around out here thinking that we have a breakout on our hands.

Jose Alvarado - RP, PHI: 19% rostered
Much like with Treinen and Adam above, I would recommend adding Alvarado over some of the guys with "locked in" closer roles. He was lights out this spring and is the late-inning left-hander in the Philadelphia bullpen. That means he could steal a few wins in close games, but he also could emerge into a timeshare if Jordan Romano continues to struggle. Personally, I don't think Romano looks great right now, so I'm happy to take shares of Alvarado, and that's also why I want to take stabs on Porter Hodge - RP, CHC (17% rostered). Ryan Pressly doesn't look great, and the Cubs aren't going to move on from him quickly because of what it took to get him to Chicago, but I think stashing Hodge makes some sense since he's yet to allow a run while striking out six in 4 2/3 innings.

Dennis Santana - RP, PIT: 18% rostered
If you are looking for somebody who is "the closer," I think Santana has that role right now in Pittsburgh. With David Bednar in Triple-A and Colin Holderman struggling, Santana has the closer's role right now, but I think Bednar will be back up in a few weeks to take that job back, so I'm not making big bids here. Another option would be Tommy Kahnle - RP, DET (9% rostered). Early in spring training, I had Kahnle pegged as the potential closer in Detroit, but then Beau Brieske was re-signed, and it seemed like A.J. Hinch would give him the first crack at the game. He did, and it didn't go so well. Kahnle is a bit of a "one-trick pony" with his changeup, but I think he's a bit safer than Santana or Anthony Bender - RP, MIA (3% rostered), who appears to be the favorite for saves in Miami. How many saves that gives you is anybody's guess.

Emilio Pagan - RP, CIN: 17% rostered
Yes, Pagan appears to be the favorite for saves in Cincinnati right now, and his velocity is up, but we've kind of seen this from him in the past. We know Pagan can go through hot stretches, but he can also give up lots of hard contact and home runs. That makes me a little nervous. You could also take a gamble on Tony Santillan - RP, CIN (15% rostered), who may be the best pitcher in Cincinnati's bullpen. Santillan is the cream of the crop here, and even though he is now the "fireman" reliever, he could rise to the top if some of the other arms falter. You could also gamble on Graham Ashcraft - RP, CIN (8% rostered), who has plus Stuff+ numbers but never missed enough bats as a starter. He could thrive in the bullpen, but this whole situation is a mess, and I wouldn't place big bids on any of these guys.

Mike Clevinger - SP/RP, CWS (11% rostered)
Clevinger is the closer for the White Sox. No, that may not lead to a bunch of save opportunities, but it could lead to a few, and he's looked pretty solid in the role so far this spring and during the first weekend. I'm not running out to pick him up, but I don't think he's going to hurt your team in the same way chasing the Rockies and Marlins closer situation might. Mason Montgomery - RP, TB (3% rostered) is another deep league reliever of interest. He's not near a closer gig now in Tampa Bay, but he looks electric out of the bullpen, so you're likely to get solid ratios and strikeouts from him, and there's a chance he works himself into a role where he closes against left-handed-heavy parts of the batting order.

Brayan Bello - SP, BOS (11% rostered)
Last week, I mentioned Bello if you need an IL stash, and now we have a bit more information on his timeline. Bello is scheduled to make a rehab start on Sunday and then will likely make at least one more during the week before being activated. Same with Lucas Giolito - SP, BOS (21% rostered). That means that there should be a mid-week announcement about when BOTH Bello and Giolito will be activated off the IL, which could drive up their FAAB price next Sunday. If you have the space and want to get ahead of it, now is the time.

Chase Dollander - SP, COL (10% rostered)
Dollander is an exciting prospect who is making his MLB debut on Sunday. He's the 24th overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and posted a 2.59 ERA and nearly 34% strikeout rate in High-A and Double-A last year. That would normally be incredibly exciting; however, he's also a young starting pitcher who will pitch his home games in Coors Field. He's just a road streamer to me right now.

Zebby Matthews - SP, MIN (4% rostered)
Matthews was one of my favorite late-round picks early in spring training, and he came out in his first spring training start hitting 99mph on the radar gun. I truly believe Matthews can be a difference-maker on fantasy rosters, and Chris Paddack struggled in his first outing of the season. Another one or two poor starts from Paddack, and we could see Zebby up in Minnesota.

STREAMING STARTER PITCHERS

(ranked in loose order)

Week of 4/7

Strong Preference

PitcherRoster%Opponent
Brady Singer47%vs PIT
Max Meyer23%vs WAS
Grant Holmes33%at TB
Tylor Megill21%vs MIA
David Peterson32%at ATH
Reese Olson28%at MIN

Fairly Confident

Hayden Wesneski3%at SEA, vs LAA
AJ Smith-Shawver25%at TB
Ben Lively7%vs CWS
Erick Fedde25%at PIT
Griffin Canning5%at ATH
Kris Bubic24%at CLE
Zack Littell11%vs LAA
Michael Lorenzen4%vs MIN, at CLE
Mitchell Parker2%at MIA
Jose Soriano22%at TB
Landen Roupp11%vs CIN
Jordan Hicks21%at NYY
Matthew Liberatore2at PIt, vs PHI

Some Hesitation

Casey Mize20%vs NYY, at MIN
Logan Allen2%vs CWS, vs KC
Simeon Woods-Richardson4%at KC, vs DET
Sean Newcomb0%vs CWS
Eduardo Rodriguez9%vs MIL
Tomoyuki Sugano10%vs TOR
Richard Fitts4%vs TOR
JP Sears12%vs NYM
Tyler Mahle3%at CHC
Andrew Abbott3%vs PIT
German Marquez1%at SD
Will Wareen10%vs SF
Jose Quintana1%at ARI
Randy Vasquez3%vs COL
Kyle Hart1%vs COL
Osvaldo Bido5%vs SD
Chase Dollander10%at SD
Sean Burke22%at CLE
Shane Smith1%at CLE, vs BOS