The Wolverines fired Partridge in 2023 in the wake of the Connor Stalions scandal.
Mega-athlete C.J. Sadler, No. 1 recruit in Michigan, picks North Carolina over Wolverines
Corey Sadler Jr., who goes by C.J. Sadler, announced his recruiting decision by committing to North Carolina. He's a WR/DB for Detroit Cass Tech.
Mega-athlete C.J. Sadler, No. 1 recruit in Michigan, picks North Carolina over Wolverines
Corey Sadler Jr., who goes by C.J. Sadler, announced his recruiting decision by committing to North Carolina. He's a WR/DB for Detroit Cass Tech.
Rybakina happy to have controversial coach back as she beats Sabalenka
Former Wimbledon champion races to 6-1, 6-4 victory
She defends previously banned coach Stefano Vukov
Elena Rybakina has described herself as satisfied by the return of her coach Stefano Vukov as she produced an imperious performance at the Cincinnati Open, dismantling Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1 and defending champion, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, put together a performance of the highest quality on Friday afternoon as she served efficiently and completely overpowered one of the most destructive shotmakers in the world.
Continue reading...Five NHL Wingers With The Most To Prove In 2025-26
As is the case in every NHL season, certain players are coming in with something to prove. Whether it’s to justify a pay raise or a trade or to bounce back from a subpar year, some players have every motivation to improve on their results at any given time.
After The Hockey News examined five centers with the most to prove, here are five wingers in a similar situation for 2025-26. In alphabetical order:
Nikolaj Ehlers, Carolina Hurricanes
Ehlers was one of the biggest names on the NHL free-agent market this summer. He joined the Hurricanes, which will likely put him on the top line and expect big things from him while they pay him $8.5 million per season from now through the summer of 2031.
Ehlers produced above-average numbers last season, including 24 goals and 63 points in only 69 games, but the Hurricanes are banking on Ehlers being at least that good while being fully healthy next season.
Ehlers has struggled to stay healthy from year to year, as he’s missed between nine and 37 games in five of the last seven seasons. At 29, Ehlers is in his prime years, so he needs to take advantage of them.
Carolina as a team has all sorts of pressure to get beyond the Eastern Conference final this coming season, but Ehlers has to prove he’s worth every penny the Hurricanes are paying him.
Patrik Laine, Montreal Canadiens
Laine, 27, is heading into the final season of a four-year contract that pays him $8.7 million per year, and he’ll be a UFA at the end of the year.
After suffering an injury in the pre-season, he put up 20 goals in 52 games. That scoring rate is decent, but if Laine doesn’t produce more, his next contract will look drastically different than the one he has right now.
Laine has a chance at playing more than 56 games for the first time since 2019-20. If he accomplishes that, it will be worth waiting to see whether he can score close to his career-high 44 goals from 2017-18. If he doesn’t get to the 30-goal plateau, he’s going to be playing for a lot less money in the years after that.
The Canadiens will look to take a massive step forward this upcoming season, and Laine has a chance to prove his full value. Otherwise, with Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov and newly acquired Zack Bolduc in contention for the top four winger spots, the coming year could be Laine’s final one in Montreal.
Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights
Just because Marner is out of the fishbowl existence of Toronto doesn’t mean he won’t be watched like a hawk in every move he makes in his Golden Knights career. The pressure for Marner is all about delivering positive Stanley Cup playoff results and showing why Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon made him the Knights’ highest-paid player.
Marner has to have solid regular-season numbers, but no one is expecting him not to. He’s a proven point producer in the regular season, but Marner has to be a difference-maker in nearly every playoff game – especially late in each round.
If he falters in that test, you’d better believe some Leafs fans will cry out in joy. But if he can lead Vegas to its second Cup in franchise history, Marner will show everyone, cynics included, what his legacy is going to look like. And the Maple Leafs may yet still rue the day he left them.
Mitch Marner Should Make Golden Knights' Jack Eichel A Rocket Richard ContenderNew Vegas Golden Knights teammates Mitch Marner and superstar Jack Eichel are expected to create magic in Sin City.
Timo Meier, New Jersey Devils
When he was acquired from the San Jose Sharks in 2023 at the trade deadline, much was expected of Meier. He had 35 goals and 76 points in 2021-22 and 31 goals and 52 points in 57 games before the trade in 2022-23.
After his first two full years as a member of the Devils, all we have to say about Meier is – is that all there is?
Now, we’re not arguing Meier isn’t an above-average NHL player. In the past two seasons, Meier combined for 54 goals and 105 points, but his average ice time dropped to below 18 minutes with the Devils, while he averaged between 19 and 20 minutes in his final two campaigns with the Sharks.
But Meier has the highest cap hit among Devils forwards at $8.8 million, $800,000 more than Jack Hughes’ cap hit. Only Dougie Hamilton has a higher average annual value on the squad. Clearly, he has a lot to prove in the third season of an eight-year contract, and earning more ice time help. If he fails to get the job done next year, and if New Jersey fails to do much in the playoffs, Meier’s full no-trade clause may be challenged by Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald.
Five NHL Centers With The Most To Prove In 2025-26What makes sports, and hockey specifically, unique and intriguing are storylines. In the NHL, it's the off-ice drama, milestone-chasing and pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
Robertson has been relatively consistent for most of his NHL career.
In his sophomore NHL season, Robertson put up 41 goals, and three seasons ago, he generated a whopping 46 goals and 109 points for the Stars.
In the past two seasons, Robertson’s production has fallen off a bit. He had 29 and 35 goals in the last two years, as well as 80 points in each season.
Those numbers would be terrific for most NHLers, but when you’re earning $7.75 million per season on a four-year contract, as Robertson is, you’re going to be judged by a higher standard.
Ratcheting up the pressure to prove something this year is the fact Robertson is entering the final year of his contract. He’s going to be an RFA next summer, and he can make a more convincing argument he’s worth a significant raise by improving on his past two seasons and demonstrating he’s a vital part of Dallas’ core. He already surfaced in trade rumors this year as the team signed Mikko Rantanen to an eight-year contract extension and re-signed Matt Duchene for four years, not leaving much room for Robertson to get a raise.
Robertson has a chance to quiet the speculation and force Dallas to clear cap space elsewhere. Otherwise, he could be playing for a new team in 2026-27 – or sooner.
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.
Miami trades Haywood Highsmith to Brooklyn in salary dump
Haywood Highsmith has been traded to the Brooklyn Nets in what essentially is a salary dump for the Miami Heat.
Haysmith and the Heat's 2032 second-round pick go to the Nets in exchange for Brooklyn's 2026 second-round pick, top-55 protected. Both the Nets and Heat have confirmed the trade.
OFFICIAL: The Miami HEAT have traded Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for a protected 2026 second round pick.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) August 15, 2025
Welcome to Brooklyn, Haywood! pic.twitter.com/K6bq8Y7ij1
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) August 15, 2025
Highsmith is on an expiring $5.6 million contract that Brooklyn can absorb into its cap space.
For Miami, this is about getting out of the luxury tax. The Heat entered the day $1.4 million over the luxury tax line. With this trade, they are now more than $4 million under that mark, giving them some flexibility at the trade deadline, if needed.
Highsmith can fit into the Nets' rotation (and could get traded again at the deadline). Last season in Miami he played in 72 games (starting 42) and averaged 6.5 points and 3.4 rebounds a night, plus shot 38.2% from beyond the arc.
Michigan scandal timeline: Detailing Wolverines’ NCAA run-ins late in Jim Harbaugh tenure
Here's a look at Michigan football's various scandals and NCAA run-ins during the final years of Jim Harbaugh's tenure with the Wolverines
Schwarber's clutch dinger gets Phillies back on track against Nationals
Schwarber's clutch dinger gets Phillies back on track against Nationals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
WASHINGTON — The Phillies were in desperate search of a few slump-busting runs Friday night.
They were very glad to have Kyle Schwarber at the plate.
Schwarber hammered a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Phils snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-2 win at Nationals Park.
The club now sits at 70-52 this season. The Phillies are 5-3 on a road trip that has two games to go against the Nats.
Friday’s start was Zack Wheeler’s second since being pushed back in the Phillies’ rotation because of shoulder soreness. He pitched five innings, allowed four hits and two runs, struck out six and walked two.
Wheeler’s velocity was significantly down in his last outing against the Rangers; the 35-year-old righty’s four-seam fastball averaged 94.2 mph. He was also below his norm against the Nationals, but Wheeler’s velocity numbers were certainly not alarming. Wheeler averaged 95.7 mph on four-seamers, which is 0.4 mph under his season average.
The Phillies immediately went to work against Nats lefty MacKenzie Gore. Trea Turner led off with a single, swiped second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Schwarber walked.
Bryce Harper lined the seventh pitch of his at-bat to right field and sprinted for second. Right fielder Dylan Crews failed to throw Harper out and his one-hop effort leaked past shortstop CJ Abrams. Schwarber profited, heading home to give the Phils a 2-0 edge.
Though Gore needed 37 pitches in the first inning, the Phillies’ lead did not balloon. Nick Castellanos flew out to the center-field warning track for the night’s first out. Edmundo Sosa and Otto Kemp both struck out with the bases loaded.
The Nats answered in the bottom of the first with a James Wood leadoff walk and CJ Abrams RBI double.
Washington nearly tied the game up in the second inning. After a one-out Crews single and Wheeler wild pitch, Riley Adams knocked an opposite-field hit. The Nats sent Crews home and Castellanos made a great defensive play, tossing a perfect throw to the plate and letting J.T. Realmuto handle the rest.
Wheeler’s command sharpened a bit as the night progressed, although he was clearly not at his top level. The Nationals had plenty of lengthy at-bats him. On the 12th pitch of his third-inning at-bat, Josh Bell grounded out to first. Daylen Lile lifted a down-and-in splitter over the right-field fence to even the contest in the fourth inning.
“It’s been iffy, to be honest with you,” Wheeler said of his command lately. “Today was a little bit better. I was able to throw high with ease instead of feeling like I was trying to throw it high. That’s my bread and butter, just letting it go and it rides up there. Once I get a full feel for that back, I think everything else will kind of just fall into place.”
For a moment, it appeared the Phillies might squander another chance in the seventh. Turner popped up a 2-0 fastball from lefty reliever Konnor Pilkington with runners on first and second.
Schwarber stepped up and slugged.
His blast to the second deck in right field traveled 456 feet and prompted a roar from the sizable contingent of Phils’ fans in D.C. Harper deepened Pilkington’s misery, smoking a slider over the center-field wall.
From there, the Phillies’ bullpen finished off the Nats. Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm each pitched a scoreless inning.
The ninth was supposed to be Jhoan Duran’s, but he only saw one batter.
Paul DeJong lined a sweeper up the middle and it struck Duran’s right ankle. He began to run after the ball but pulled up short and appeared to be in pain. After talking with members of the Phillies’ training staff during a long delay, Duran left the game on the Nats’ bullpen cart and David Robertson came in.
Following the game, a Phillies official said X-rays on Duran were negative and he’ll be evaluated further on Saturday.
Robertson ultimately got the job done, recording the final three outs of the Phils’ 70th victory.
On deck
Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Taijuan Walker (4-5, 3.39 ERA) will face Cade Cavalli (0-0, 3.86 ERA).
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that “there’s a chance” Alec Bohm returns over the weekend from his rehab assignment. Bohm played his fifth game with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday night, going 0 for 4. He’s at 3 for 21 in this rehab stretch.
Schwarber's clutch dinger gets Phillies back on track against Nationals
Schwarber's clutch dinger gets Phillies back on track against Nationals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
WASHINGTON — The Phillies were in desperate search of a few slump-busting runs Friday night.
They were very glad to have Kyle Schwarber at the plate.
Schwarber hammered a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Phils snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-2 win at Nationals Park.
The club now sits at 70-52 this season. The Phillies are 5-3 on a road trip that has two games to go against the Nats.
Friday’s start was Zack Wheeler’s second since being pushed back in the Phillies’ rotation because of shoulder soreness. He pitched five innings, allowed four hits and two runs, struck out six and walked two.
Wheeler’s velocity was significantly down in his last outing against the Rangers; the 35-year-old righty’s four-seam fastball averaged 94.2 mph. He was also below his norm against the Nationals, but Wheeler’s velocity numbers were certainly not alarming. Wheeler averaged 95.7 mph on four-seamers, which is 0.4 mph under his season average.
The Phillies immediately went to work against Nats lefty MacKenzie Gore. Trea Turner led off with a single, swiped second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Schwarber walked.
Bryce Harper lined the seventh pitch of his at-bat to right field and sprinted for second. Right fielder Dylan Crews failed to throw Harper out and his one-hop effort leaked past shortstop CJ Abrams. Schwarber profited, heading home to give the Phils a 2-0 edge.
Though Gore needed 37 pitches in the first inning, the Phillies’ lead did not balloon. Nick Castellanos flew out to the center-field warning track for the night’s first out. Edmundo Sosa and Otto Kemp both struck out with the bases loaded.
The Nats answered in the bottom of the first with a James Wood leadoff walk and CJ Abrams RBI double.
Washington nearly tied the game up in the second inning. After a one-out Crews single and Wheeler wild pitch, Riley Adams knocked an opposite-field hit. The Nats sent Crews home and Castellanos made a great defensive play, tossing a perfect throw to the plate and letting J.T. Realmuto handle the rest.
Wheeler’s command sharpened a bit as the night progressed, although he was clearly not at his top level. The Nationals had plenty of lengthy at-bats him. On the 12th pitch of his third-inning at-bat, Josh Bell grounded out to first. Daylen Lile lifted a down-and-in splitter over the right-field fence to even the contest in the fourth inning.
For a moment, it appeared the Phillies might squander another chance in the seventh. Turner popped up a 2-0 fastball from lefty reliever Konnor Pilkington with runners on first and second.
Schwarber stepped up and slugged.
His blast to the second deck in right field traveled 456 feet and prompted a roar from the sizable contingent of Phils’ fans in D.C. Harper deepened Pilkington’s misery, smoking a slider over the center-field wall.
From there, the Phillies’ bullpen finished off the Nats. Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm each pitched a scoreless inning.
The ninth was supposed to be Jhoan Duran’s, but he only saw one batter.
Paul DeJong lined a sweeper up the middle and it struck Duran’s right foot. He began to run after the ball but pulled up short and appeared to be in pain. After talking with members of the Phillies’ training staff during a long delay, Duran left the game on the Nats’ bullpen cart and David Robertson came in. This story will be updated when more information on his injury is available.
Robertson ultimately got the job done, recording the final three outs of the Phils’ 70th victory.
On deck
Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Taijuan Walker (4-5, 3.39 ERA) will face Cade Cavalli (0-0, 3.86 ERA).
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that “there’s a chance” Alec Bohm returns over the weekend from his rehab assignment. Bohm played his fifth game with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday night, going 0 for 4. He’s at 3 for 21 in this rehab stretch.
Padres at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 15
It's Friday, August 15 and the Padres (69-52) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (68-53). Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for Los Angeles, while San Diego will announce its starter closer to first pitch as they put Michael King on the IL.
The battle for the NL West gets spicier Friday night when the Padres and Dodgers meet for a three-game series as San Diego is a half-game back.
The Dodgers are coming off four straight losses and the past three were a sweep via the Angels that solidified a 6-0 year head-to-head for the Angels over the Dodgers.
San Diego has won five straight games and seven of the past eight as the continue their climb atop the NL West. The Padres are 14-3 over the last 17 games.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, 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 Padres at Dodgers
- Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
- Time: 10:10PM EST
- Site: Dodger Stadium
- City: Los Angeles, CA
- Network/Streaming: SDPA, SNLA, MLBN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Padres at the Dodgers
The latest odds as of Friday:
- Moneyline: Padres (+118), Dodgers (-138)
- Spread: Dodgers -1.5
- Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Dodgers
- Pitching matchup for August 15, 2025: TBA vs. Clayton Kershaw
- Padres: TBA
- Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw, (6-2, 3.14 ERA)
Last outing: 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 4 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!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Dodgers
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 Friday’s game between the Padres and the Dodgers:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Diego Padres 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.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Dodgers
- San Diego is 5-0 in the last 5 games
- San Diego is 14-3 in the last 17 games
- The Dodgers are 0-4 in the last 4 games
- The Dodgers are 5-2 versus the Padres this season
- The Dodgers are 4-1 in the last 5 versus the Padres
- The Padres have won their last 5 matchups against divisional opponents
- With Clayton Kershaw starting the Under has cashed in the Dodgers' last 3 games
- With Clayton Kershaw as the opener the Dodgers have covered the Run Line in 5 of their last 7 NL West home matchups
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
The Wraparound: Which NHL Teams Will Break Out Of The Mushy Middle?
Kick off the weekend with rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics on The Hockey News Wraparound.
https://megaphone.link/ROUST8261420674
Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Stephen Kerr discussed in this episode:
0:00: Will Caleb Desnoyers’ injury impact his chances of appearing with the Utah Mammoth this season?
5:30: Do the Seattle Kraken have a competitive defensive corps?
8:30: Could 16-year-old Landon DuPont crack Canada’s world junior roster?
14:00: Will Gerard Gallant make a return to the NHL at some point?
18:50: Who should be the New York Rangers’ next captain?
23:20: Sharing our favorite ‘day with the Stanley Cup’ stories
28:00: What team has the best chance of breaking out of the ‘mushy middle’ of the NHL?
See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.
Tigers at Twins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 15
It's Friday, August 15 and the Tigers (71-52) are in Minneapolis to take on the Twins (57-64). Charlie Morton is slated to take the mound for Detroit against Pierson Ohl for Minnesota.
Detroit won the series opener, 4-3, in the 11th inning as the Tigers move to 4-1 over the last five games with three of those wins coming by one run. Minnesota is 1-3 in the past four and 2-4 over the last six as they try to course correct their season that seemed lost at the trade deadline.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Tigers at Twins
- Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
- Time: 8:10PM EST
- Site: Target Field
- City: Minneapolis, MN
- Network/Streaming: FDSNDT, MNNT
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Tigers at the Twins
The latest odds as of Friday:
- Moneyline: Tigers (-133), Twins (+112)
- Spread: Tigers -1.5
- Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Twins
- Pitching matchup for August 15, 2025: Charlie Morton vs. Pierson Ohl
- Tigers: Charlie Morton, (7-10, 6.10 ERA)
Last outing: 12.46 ERA, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 10 Strikeouts - Twins: Pierson Ohl, (0-2, 7.15 ERA)
Last outing: 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 0 Strikeouts
- Tigers: Charlie Morton, (7-10, 6.10 ERA)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Tigers and the Twins
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Tigers and the Twins:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Minnesota Twins at +1.5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Tigers at Twins
- Detroit is 4-1 in the last 5 games
- Minnesota is 1-3 in the last 4 games
- The Tigers have won four of five games at divisional opponents
- Detroit's last three visits to Minnesota have stayed under the total
- The Tigers have failed to cover the line in four straight games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
With Michigan sanctions, NCAA sells what’s left of soul to join college football money grab
Look who joined the money grab: the NCAA with its Michigan sanctions. The same group that created this uncontrollable monster in the first place.
Projecting Sabres Trade Cost – Alexis Lafreniere
The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan. The opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed last month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. With just over a month before training camp, the odds are that an addition like that will have to happen during the season.
Alexis Lafreniere has been a name consistently floated in trade rumors over the last year, especially after signing a seven-year extension with the New York Rangers following a career-high 28-goal season and an excellent playoffs. The former #1 overall pick was rushed to the NHL at 19 years old, but has shown flashes of being a top-end, top-six winger, as he did in the spring of 2024, when he scored eight goals in 16 playoff games to help New York reach the Eastern Conference Final.
Other Sabres Stories
Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Bryan Rust
Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere
Rangers GM Chris Drury has dealt a number of mainstays in the last 12 months, including team captain Jacob Trouba, defensemen Ryan Lindgren, and K’Andre Miller, and former second overall pick Kaapo Kakko. New York is attempting to reset under new head coach Mike Sullivan, but if the struggles of last season continue, Drury may be shopping star winger Artemi Panarin if he cannot get the 33-year-old re-signed, and possibly moving Lafreniere if he does not perform up to expectations.
What Would It Cost?
Lafreniere has a number of traits that the Sabres undoubtedly are looking for. His contract does not have any no-trade protection for the next two seasons, which has been a roadblock for Adams in the past in trades, and he is signed for the next seven seasons at a $7.45 million AAV, which, with the increasing cap, is not a crippling number. It is likely that the Rangers are looking for help on the blueline, with the recent departures of Trouba, Lindgren, and Miller, even though they brought in former Sabre Will Borgen and signed veteran Vladislav Gavrikov.
Owen Power’s name might be floated, but it is hard to imagine that the Sabres would make that swap one-for-one, and perhaps would try to steer the Rangers towards a deal involving Bowen Byram instead.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
Rays at Giants Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 15
It's Friday, August 15 and the Rays (59-63) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (59-62). Joe Boyle is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay against Landen Roupp for San Francisco.
The Giants are on a five-game losing streak and lost two straight series as they enter this home stand with the Rays. Tampa Bay is 2-4 over the past six games, but coming off a series win over the Athletics. Both the Giants and Rays have played themselves out of playoff position in the last 30 days.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, 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 Rays at Giants
- Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
- Time: 10:15PM EST
- Site: Oracle Park
- City: San Francisco, CA
- Network/Streaming: FDSNSUN, NBCSBA, MLBN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Rays at the Giants
The latest odds as of Friday:
- Moneyline: Rays (+110), Giants (-131)
- Spread: Giants -1.5
- Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Rays at Giants
- Pitching matchup for August 15, 2025: Joe Boyle vs. Landen Roupp
- Rays: Joe Boyle, (1-2, 3.82 ERA)
Last outing: 16.20 ERA, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 5 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts - Giants: Landen Roupp, (7-6, 3.11 ERA)
Last outing: 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
- Rays: Joe Boyle, (1-2, 3.82 ERA)
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rays and the Giants
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 Friday’s game between the Rays and the Giants:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Tampa Bay Rays 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.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rays at Giants
- The Giants are 0-5 in the last 5 games
- The Giants are 1-11 in the last 12 home games
- The Rays have won 4 of their last 5 away games against teams with losing records
- The Over is 4-1 in the Rays' last 5 games
- The Giants have failed to cover the Run Line in 17 of their last 20 home 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!
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- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)