Cubs at Nationals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 4

It's Wednesday, June 4 and the Cubs (38-22) are in Washington to take on the Nationals (28-32). Matthew Boyd is slated to take the mound for Chicago against MacKenzie Gore for Washington.

Chicago took Game 1 of the series, 8-3, to extend their winning streak to three-straight and seven of the past eight.

The Cubs have won the last three starts with Boyd on the mound and won four of the past five. The Nats are 5-7 in Gore's 12 starts this season.

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 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.

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Game details & how to watch Cubs at Nationals

Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Time: 6:45PM EST
Site: Nationals Park
City: Washington, DC
Network/Streaming: MARQ, MASN

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 Cubs at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Moneyline: Cubs (-136), Nationals (+115)
Spread: Cubs -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Nationals

Pitching matchup for June 4, 2025: Matthew Boyd vs. MacKenzie Gore
- Cubs: Matthew Boyd, (5-2, 3.08 ERA)
  Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts
- Nationals: MacKenzie Gore, (2-5, 3.16 ERA)
  Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 8 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 Cubs and the Nationals

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 Wednesday’s game between the Cubs and the Nationals:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals 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 Cubs at Nationals

The Cubs have won 5 of their last 6 games on the road
The Over is 34-21-5 in Cubs' games this season
The Cubs have covered the Run Line in 3 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)
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

June 4, 2025

Suns hiring Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as next head coach: Report

Suns hiring Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as next head coach: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phoenix Suns’ coaching carousel has made another stop.

Phoenix is hiring Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott to be the franchise’s next head coach, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday.

Ott and fellow Cavs assistant Johnnie Bryant reportedly were among the finalists for the Suns’ head coaching job. Suns star Devin Booker was involved in the hiring process and had Ott as his top choice, Charania reported.

Ott will become the Suns’ eighth head coach since the franchise selected Booker in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft. Only one of Ott’s predecessors has held onto his position for more than two years (Monty Williams, 2019-23).

Phoenix has fired its head coach after each of the last three seasons. Williams was fired after a second straight second-round playoff exit in 2022-23, Frank Vogel was one-and-done after a first-round playoff defeat in 2023-24 and Mike Budenholzer’s lone season with the team resulted in a 36-46 record with no playoff berth.

Ott has been coaching in the NBA since 2012. His previous stops include the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Cavaliers.

One player Ott may not get the opportunity to coach in Phoenix is Kevin Durant. The 15-time All-Star is expected to have a “robust market of approximately four to six seriously interested teams this offseason,” Charania reported.

June 4, 2025

Phillies at Blue Jays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 4

It's Wednesday, June 4 and the Phillies (37-23) are in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays (31-29). Mick Abel is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against José Berríos for Toronto.

Philadelphia won the first game of the series, 8-3, to break the Blue Jays five-game winning streak and snap Philly's four-game losing streak. Toronto has gone 2-4 in Berrios' last six starts, while this is Abel's second start.

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 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 Phillies at Blue Jays

Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Time: 7:07PM EST
Site: Rogers Centre
City: Toronto, ON
Network/Streaming: NBCSP, SnetONE

Odds for the Phillies at the Blue Jays

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Moneyline: Phillies (-107), Blue Jays (-112)
Spread: Blue Jays 1.5
Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Blue Jays

Pitching matchup for June 4, 2025: Mick Abel vs. José Berríos
- Phillies: Mick Abel, (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
  Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts
- Blue Jays: José Berríos, (2-2, 3.86 ERA)
  Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Phillies and the Blue Jays

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.

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 Wednesday’s game between the Phillies and the Blue Jays:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia Phillies at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards 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 Phillies at Blue Jays

The Phillies are on a 4-game win streak at the Blue Jays
This season the Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios has an ERA of 3.86
The Phillies have covered in their last 3 games against the Blue Jays

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)
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

June 4, 2025

Lizzie Deignan ‘incredibly emotional’ as she hits the road for final race in Britain

Tour of Britain will mark end of era for the 36-year-old
Cat Ferguson, 19, will make her debut in four-day race

An emotional Lizzie Deignan will end her years racing on home roads with a farewell appearance in the four-day Tour of Britain, which begins in Dalby Forest. “I’m really pleased that the race starts in Yorkshire and finishes in Glasgow, because I’ve got amazing memories of my career there,” she said. “I’m really excited about it.”

Deignan retires at the end of this season and described herself as “incredibly emotional” about coming to the end of a career that included an Olympic silver medal at London 2012 and a Commonwealth Games gold medal in Glasgow in 2014, as well as victory in the first women’s Paris-Roubaix and the world road race title in 2015.

June 4, 2025

Former Indiana team doctor accused of sexual misconduct by at least 15 men’s basketball players

Former Indiana men's basketball players claim university officials knew about misconduct and did nothing to stop it.

June 4, 2025

Draymond offers brutally honest NBA Finals take after Knicks' loss

Draymond offers brutally honest NBA Finals take after Knicks' loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

You either win an NBA championship, or go home empty-handed. There is no consolation prize.

A team might make it all the way to the end, but if they don’t win, they’re in the same boat as the 28 other teams who are trying to figure out what they need to do to successfully scale the NBA mountaintop.

Warriors forward Draymond Green knows a thing or two — or four — about winning a championship, but he also is familiar with the sting of losing in the NBA Finals, and explained on the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis” podcast a brutally-honest perspective on teams, like the New York Knicks, for example, who found themselves close to reaching the Finals before losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, but were not close to hoisting the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

“If you want me to be quite honest with you, I personally think making it to the NBA Finals is one of the worst seasons you can have,” Green said. “And the reason being … going to the NBA Finals and winning a championship, those two things are so far apart. You can get to the NBA Finals and not be close to winning an NBA championship.

“Making it to a conference finals, you’re so far away from winning a championship, and it looks like it’s close because you’re one series away.”

The Knicks, just like the Minnesota Timberwolves, who lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals, had a successful season. By most accounts. However, without that championship trophy, Green believes those teams are left doing a similar level of soul-searching as other teams around the league.

“Even if the Knicks made it to the NBA Finals and didn’t win it, that’s not some accomplishment to me,” Green added. “You get nothing for making the NBA Finals except a couple tens of thousands of dollars more than the conference final loser and you get another three weeks short of summer.

“You walk with nothing. The [other] team goes on and celebrates and has this incredible summer and you’re kind of left stuck trying to figure out ‘Were we really close? Do we need to run it back with this team? What’s the tweak we need to make?'”

That soul-searching in the wake of disappointment might lead a team down the wrong path.

“‘You’re kind of left in this position of ‘Ahh, maybe we’re one tweak away.’ But what you should understand about this thing is one tweak could actually, it’s like Jenga sometimes, one tweak on a roster could make the whole thing fall.”

Could that one wrong tweak be the Knicks firing coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, for example?

While New York and Minnesota might be kicking themselves for failing to make the Finals, either the Pacers or the Thunder soon will be in the same boat, regardless of if they made it all the way.

“Yeah, making it to the Finals is great, but if you don’t win it, it’s almost worse,” Green concluded. “You might as well have lost in the first round.”

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June 4, 2025

The Thunder team I played for could have been a dynasty. This one still can

Etan Thomas (third left with headband) as part of the Thunder in March 2010. Photograph: Larry W Smith/NBAE/Getty Images

I was in Oklahoma City last month as the Thunder clinched their Western Conference semi-final against the Nuggets in Game 7, and saw first-hand the Thunder run Denver off the court. The game wasn’t even close. The Thunder outplayed them on both sides of the court.

Defensively, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault put the 6ft 5in Alex Caruso on in the 6ft 11in Nikola Jokić and, surprisingly, it worked. With Chet Holmgren or Isaiah Hartenstein providing help-side support, I watched a frustrated Jokić struggle to get to his spots. His usual tricks – flopping, drawing fouls – didn’t work. The Thunder defense moved in perfect sync, and it completely disrupted Denver’s rhythm.

It was absolutely beautiful to watch. The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named league MVP shortly afterwards, beating Jokić into second, and he thoroughly deserved the award.

Their superior defense was on display again in the Western Conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the Game 5 win that sealed the Thunder’s progress to the NBA finals, I watched them destroy the Timberwolves and defense was once again the key. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards described the Thunder’s defense as: “One string, 15 puppets on one string.”

That’s what’s driven their rise all year. In a league where defense is often overlooked or criticized, the Thunder have made it their identity. And now, they’re just four wins away from an NBA title.

But as I have been enjoying this current Thunder team, I can’t help but think back to the Thunder team I played for in 2010.

The Thunder are heavily favored to beat the Indiana Pacers in the NBA finals, which start on Thursday, and they are the youngest team to ever make the finals since … the Thunder did so with a whole different cast in 2012. But I can say with 100% confidence, that if the Thunder kept that team – with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka – they would have won multiple championships.

Back in 2009-2010, when I was part of the roster, the Thunder were extremely young. Scott Brooks was the coach. It was James Harden’s rookie year. I remember when I first met him, he shook my hand and said: “Nice to meet you sir. I grew up watching you play in college with Syracuse. You was blocking everything and dunking everything”

That’s when I realized I was now the old man in the room. But it also hit me – Harden was in the same position I’d once been in when I joined the Washington Wizards as a rookie, meeting guys like Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Christian Laettner.

Throughout that season, myself, Kevin Ollie and Nick Collison, who were some of the elder statesmen on the team, would sit and watch the younger guys, shaking our heads and saying, “These young cats have no idea how good they are going to be”.

It all started with KD.

He was the youngest player to ever lead the league in scoring at the time. And his work ethic was something I had never seen before.

I remember after one practice, KD was doing this drill he liked – playing one-on-one against an invisible defender. But he went at it with the intensity of someone competing in the NBA finals. Every move was as sharp and deliberate as possible. Everything was at game speed.

After practice, we all went in – showered, ate, got treatment, talked. Some of the coaches watched film with players. Then we came back out to the court, and KD was still out there, going full speed with his one-on-one moves. Dripping with sweat. He’d been at it for nearly two hours.

I had never seen that kind of focus before. But when the team’s star is working that hard, everyone else falls in line-and that’s exactly what happened. The whole team rose to his level. Even after someone had a big game, they were back in the gym the next day, working like they’d just lost. They were running defensive slides and drills in the middle of the season, when most teams were cutting practice time.

Harden fell right in line and worked hard every day. Even when he made rookie mistakes, he picked up the work ethic quickly. It was clear – if KD didn’t have a problem being criticized, Harden couldn’t either.

I watched Harden study KD closely – how hard he worked on his shot, his offensive moves, his cuts to the basket, how he moved without the ball. Even after dropping 40 the night before, KD went right back to work. And Harden noticed.

Then there was Russell Westbrook – fearless, relentless. He trained harder than anyone and played like a Tasmanian devil, all intensity and energy. He’d pick up full court, never taking a play off. I remember Coach Brooks telling the staff, “If we don’t get this guy to slow down, he’s going to wear himself out.” But he never did. He just kept going – full speed, all the time.

Westbrook was being mentored by Maurice Cheeks, who really took him under his wing, guiding and encouraging him. I remember hearing them talk on the plane after games – you could feel the intensity and passion in Russ’s voice. That hunger was real, and it was going to take him far. And it did.

Then there was Jeff Green – one of the most underappreciated players on that Thunder team, in my opinion. He was an integral part of their success. He never complained about shots, touches, or a lack of recognition. He just showed up and did his job. Too quick for most power forwards, too strong for most small forwards, and incredibly efficient. He didn’t back down from anyone. And his ability to guard positions 2 through 5 made him invaluable.

Ibaka was young, athletic, and raw – but he was soaking everything in. He watched KD’s work ethic, Westbrook’s intensity, Green’s professionalism, Harden’s shooting (he even did all the shooting drills Harden did on his own time), and Thabo Sefolosha’s defensive awareness. Thabo, by the way, was also a key part of that team.

Let me be clear: I’m not placing blame on the organization or any player for why this group didn’t stay together and become a dynasty. But the talent was there. And they were only going to get better. This will go down as one of the biggest what-ifs in NBA history – not if they would’ve won a title together, but how many they could have won if they’d stayed together.

This current OKC team has similar levels of talent. But this time, there’s a real chance to finish what they started. And with the NBA finals starting Thursday, they have the chance to begin a championship run – one that could last for years.

Etan Thomas played in the NBA from 2000 through 2011. He is a published poet, activist and motivational speaker

June 4, 2025

Astros at Pirates Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 4

It's Wednesday, June 4 and the Astros (33-27) are in Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates (22-39). Ryan Gusto is slated to take the mound for Houston against Mike Burrows for Pittsburgh.

The Astros won Game 1 of the series 3-0, despite 8.0 innings from Paul Skenes and one earned run allowed. The Pirates have now lost three of the past four games, while the Astros have gone 7-2 over the past nine and 3-1 in the previous four.

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

Game details & how to watch Astros at Pirates

Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Time: 6:40PM EST
Site: PNC Park
City: Pittsburgh, PA
Network/Streaming: SCHN, SNP

Odds for the Astros at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Moneyline: Astros (-140), Pirates (+118)
Spread: Astros -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Astros at Pirates

Pitching matchup for June 4, 2025: Ryan Gusto vs. Mike Burrows
- Astros: Ryan Gusto, (3-2, 4.62 ERA)
  Last outing: 3.2 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
- Pirates: Mike Burrows, (0-1, 8.64 ERA)
  Last outing: 3.1 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Astros and the Pirates

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.

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 Wednesday’s game between the Astros and the Pirates:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Houston Astros on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates 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 Astros at Pirates

AL West teams have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against NL Central sides
The Under is 67-47-7 for the Pirates' and the Astros' games combined this season
Houston has lost the last five starts by Ryan Gusto
The Over is 2-0 in Mike Burrow's two starts

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)
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

June 4, 2025

Mets at Dodgers: How to watch on SNY on June 4, 2025

The Mets continue a four-game series with the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Wednesday at 10:10 p.m. on SNY.

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

Mets Notes

Juan Soto has reached base 10 times in his last 22 plate appearances, including home runs on Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday
Francisco Lindor has nine hits in his last 20 at-bats, and has smacked four home runs in his last five games
Pete Alonso has reached base in 10 consecutive games, and has hit three home runs during that span

METS	DODGERS
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What channel is SNY?

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

How can I stream the game?

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

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

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

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

Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account.

Select the SNY Mets game you wish to view from the Multimedia Center.

How can I watch the game on the MLB App?

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

Download the free MLB App.

Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices.

Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”

To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.

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

June 4, 2025

ICYMI in Mets Land: Mark Vientos update; Frankie Montas nearing return

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

The Mets fought back from an early 4-1 deficit and took a lead into the ninth inning, but Huascar Brazoban allowed a game-tying homer to Max Muncy before New York fell in extras
With one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, Brandon Nimmo took a circuitous route before failing to catch a fly ball off the bat of Freddie Freeman that allowed the winning run to score
Before the game, the Mets placed Mark Vientos on the 10-day IL and added Ronny Mauricio to the active roster
New York also optioned Max Kranick to Triple-A Syracuse and recalled Brandon Waddell
Frankie Montasgot hit hard during his first rehab start for Syracuse
The Mets have eight legitimate All-Star Game candidates
Edwin Diaz was named the National League Reliever of the Month for May
WATCH: Mauricio discussed his return to the majors
WATCH: Nimmo explained what happened on the fly ball he misplayed in the 10th inning

June 4, 2025

Ducks Potential Free Agent Fits: Middle Six Center

The Anaheim Ducks head into the 2025 offseason with $38.69 million in cap space and need to spend $13.79 million to reach the cap floor. Ownership has given general manager Pat Verbeek a mandate to push for the playoffs in 2025-26 and has given him the green light to spend to the cap ceiling, if it’s deemed necessary to achieve that goal.

Barring extensions signed before July 1, the 2025 free agent class will consist of one franchise-altering superstar (Mitch Marner) and a long list of quality players just beneath at every position who could provide varying degrees of their personal brand and impact to a team’s depth chart.

The Ducks currently have 16 players under contract for the 2025-26 season, with five restricted free agents under team control.

They were a team near the bottom of the league in most traditional and underlying statistical categories in 2024-25 and could use upgrades at several positions within their lineup. Verbeek has stated his priority to add goal scoring, and recently hired head coach Joel Quenneville has traditionally valued puck possession.

Three spots in the lineup the Ducks could look to address in free agency are a top-of-the-lineup producing forward, a two-way middle-six center, and a mobile defensive defenseman.

Ducks Potential Free Agent Fits: Top of the Lineup Point Producer

'I Do Wonder if Anaheim Takes a Shot at This': How the Anaheim Ducks Fit as a Possible Destination for Jonathan Toews Comeback

With how the Ducks roster is constructed and the brand of hockey they’re hoping to ice on a nightly basis, who are the best fits on the free agent market?

Middle Six Center

While Verbeek has stated the Ducks’ biggest need heading into the 2025-26 season is improved goal scoring. The point-producing forwards at the very top of the free agency class are enticing (Mitch Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers, Brock Boeser, etc.), but it can be argued that the actual glaring weakness within the Ducks’ depth chart is a two-way middle-six center.

In the 2024-25 season, the Ducks allowed the 10th-most goals per game (3.18) in the NHL, the most shots against per game (32.3), and deployed the league’s 29th-ranked penalty kill (74.2%).

An improved offense will naturally lift those defensive numbers. Still, as the current roster is constructed, the Ducks don’t have a reliable option down the middle who can match up against opposing top lines, win a key faceoff, and kill penalties while providing depth scoring at the other end of the ice.

All contract projections provided byAFP Analytics

Mikael Granlund

Contract Projection: 2 years, $4,975,550 AAV

Granlund (33) enters the 2025 offseason having produced at the third-highest rate in his 13-year NHL career, when he scored 66 points (22-44=66) in 83 games. Though a natural center, he was shifted to the wing after a mid-season trade sent him from the San Jose Sharks to the Dallas Stars, where he finished his 2024-25 campaign with 21 points (7-14=21) in 31 games, and added ten points (5-5=10) in 18 playoff games before the Stars were eliminated in the Western Conference Final by the Edmonton Oilers.

Granlund is a detail-oriented center who can be classified more as a play-builder or play-connector than a driver, as his career high goal total for a single season sits at 26, and he’s only eclipsed the 20-goal mark three times. He correctly fills lanes off the puck and angles attackers to low-danger areas while seldom missing assignments in coverage.

Though his contract will likely come in at a higher dollar value and term than projected (unless he remains in Dallas), he’s the kind of center that can keep up with opposing talented centers, defensively, while buoying offense from a second or third line.

Pius Suter

Contract Projection: 4 years, $4,983,054 AAV

Suter (29) just wrapped his fifth full season in the NHL after having gone previously undrafted and garnering attention following a successful five-year career in the Swiss NL. His comfort level in the NHL has seemingly increased year after year, culminating in career highs in goals (25), assists (21), and points (46) in 2024-25 for the Vancouver Canucks.

He was the most-utilized Canucks forward on the penalty kill in 2024-25 and featured on their second power play unit. Only two of his 25 goals were scored with the man-advantage, highlighting his proficiency at 5v5. Though a capable defender who possesses a nose for the net, his face-off percentage was a poor 42.7% last season.

Despite a slight frame (5-foot-11, 174 pounds), Suter is consistently below pucks and in proper positions to support. He has the potential to be an impactful complementary player in the middle six of a forward group like the Ducks have.

Brock Nelson

Contract Projection: 3 years, $7,060,633

Nelson (33) has been one of the most consistent and healthy 50-60 point centers in the NHL for most of his 13-year NHL career, setting career highs across the board in 2022-23 with 75 points (36-39=75) in 82 games.

He made an immediate impact after a mid-season trade from the New York Islanders to the Colorado Avalanche in 2024-25, where he finished his campaign with 13 points (6-7) in 19 games and added four assists in seven playoff games.

Nelson featured on the Islanders’ second penalty kill unit in 2024-25 and has been used sparingly in that role throughout his career.

He’s surprisingly speedy and physically imposing with his 6-foot-4, 212-pound frame, which he utilizes to win battles in tight areas and disrupt plays with his length. Though not a traditional matchup and penalty-killing center, if he is to earn his projected AAV, especially with a team like the Ducks, who are in need, he would likely be tasked with taking on more defensive responsibilities.

Other potential fits on the free agent market: Sam Bennett, John Tavares, Christian Dvorak

A middle-six center with offensive capabilities but is also willing and able to assume difficult defensive roles is potentially the biggest weakness in the Ducks’ depth chart heading into next season. Listed centers on the current roster include Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Trevor Zegras, Ryan Strome, and Isac Lundestrom.

If the team does indeed intend to make a significant push for the playoffs in 2025-26, there will come times when they need to pull out a close win and relatively shut down elite opponents like Nathan MacKinnon, Jack Eichel, Connor McDavid, etc. At this stage in their careers, none of the mentioned five centers on the Ducks roster have that capacity just yet, if they ever will.

Adding a capable two-way center will alleviate some of those responsibilities for the Ducks’ budding stars and will allow them to explore the reaches of their offensive potential.

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Photo: Apr 21, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars center Mikael Granlund (64) in action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche in game two of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

June 4, 2025June 4, 2025

Michael Carrick sacked by Middlesbrough after failing to reach Premier League

Head coach had been in charge since October 2022
Decision taken on Teesside after post-season review

Michael Carrick has been sacked by Middlesbrough after two and a half years in charge. Although the former England and Manchester United midfielder was liked and admired by Boro’s owner, Steve Gibson, his failure to lead the team out of the Championship ensured his first managerial posting ended in disappointment.

Carrick led Boro into the playoff semi-finals in 2023 but they missed out on top-six finishes in the past two seasons. The 43-year-old has become the 17th Championship manager to have lost his job since last August.

June 4, 2025

Why Giants' Webb has been Wilson's toughest at-bat of rookie season

Why Giants' Webb has been Wilson's toughest at-bat of rookie season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Star Athletics shortstop and AL Rookie of the Month for May, Jacob Wilson, has had a tremendous 2025 MLB season, batting .355 with 81 hits and 32 RBI over 58 games. However, there is one pitcher who has his number: Giants All-Star ace Logan Webb.

Wilson told reporters ahead of the A’s 10-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday in West Sacramento that Webb, whom the rookie faced for the first time on May 16 in a 9-1 loss in San Francisco, posed the hardest matchup he has encountered thus far in his young career.

“I think the toughest at-bat probably was Logan Webb – my first at-bat of that series, being that I never faced him before and [he’s] obviously a bigger name,” Wilson said. “You’re going out there and facing their [Giants] ace, it was a tough at-bat, for sure. He has good stuff. Going out there, I think you just try to battle, hopefully stay confident and spoil the pitches that he throws.”

Jacob Wilson, fresh off AL Rookie of the Month honors, says Giants ace Logan Webb is the toughest at-bat of his MLB career so far pic.twitter.com/wHnKsE7m6i
— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) June 3, 2025

Quite the admirable admission.

Wilson carries the third-highest batting average behind New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (.387) and Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (.369), but he admittedly had no luck in his lone meeting with Webb.

Webb collected the first out of that May 16 game against Wilson when eliciting a whiff after tossing four straight sinkers and an at-bat-ending sweeper. Webb got Wilson out two more times with groundouts, and the rookie ultimately finished the day 0-for-3.

As he detailed, Wilson has plenty of respect for Webb. But he also gave Webb’s catcher, Patrick Bailey, his flowers for helping the ace with his pitch framing.

“They have Patrick Bailey back there, too, who makes everything look like a strike as well,” Wilson said. “It’s kind of a dual-threat when you go up there. But you just got to go up there and go to battle.”

The A’s and Giants will meet again July 4-6 at Sutter Health Park in what should be a series fans can expect to see Wilson and Webb square off. Will Webb have the rookie’s number once again, or will Wilson make the right adjustments against the ace?

June 4, 2025

Marchand grateful for Stanley Cup chance with Panthers after ‘stressful' season

Marchand grateful for Stanley Cup chance with Panthers after ‘stressful' season originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Brad Marchand is now four wins away from his second Stanley Cup title, something that has eluded him for more than a decade.

He has made a seamless transition to the Panthers lineup after being sent to Florida on trade deadline day in March following 16 seasons with the Boston Bruins.

The veteran forward has played his role on the third line alongside Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen almost flawlessly. Marchand has tallied 14 points in 17 playoff games for the Panthers so far. The only player with more postseason points than Marchand since 2011 is Nikita Kucherov.

But the 2024-25 campaign hasn’t been easy for the 37-year-old left wing. The first five months of the season with the Bruins were filled with challenges.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the B’s were not a playoff-caliber team. Marchand is also in the final year of his contract, and he wasn’t able to work out an extension with the Bruins before the trade deadline.

“It was stressful in a lot of senses, just because some of them were situations I really hadn’t been in before, and I wouldn’t say I dealt with them great,” Marchand told reporters at Stanley Cup Final media day in Edmonton on Tuesday, per Sportsnet.

“The business side of it, I let it frustrate me, and then obviously our team wasn’t having the success we expected. And we were having a hard time getting back on track.

“Eventually we did, and we thought we were climbing back into a playoff position, and then we kind of fell apart. There were different hurdles that continued to get frustrating and stressful throughout the year.

“But that’s part of the game, and you’ve got to find ways to deal with it. Like I said, I wish I had done a better job at times, but something I can learn from.”

Marchand won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011 — his first full season as an NHL player. He played on a lot of other great Bruins teams, including two that reached the Cup Final in 2013 and 2019, but Boston lost both series.

Panthers forward Brad Marchand takes questions at Stanley Cup Final Media Day.

Now that he’s back in the Cup Final for the fourth time — with Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers set for Wednesday — he’s making sure he appreciates the opportunity in front of him, because you never know if it will ever come again.

“With the things that went on this year and how I ended up here — just so many things can happen that you don’t expect, and you never know when you’re going to have another opportunity like this,” Marchand told reporters at media day Tuesday, including Sportsnet’s Luke Fox.

“I’m just so grateful to be part of a group like this. And even if you take the finals out of it, just to be part of the group. It’s been an incredible experience, and one that I was little worried about, and didn’t know how I was going to come into the team, if I was going to be able to gel with everyone. I’m extremely grateful for it — and really, really excited about it.”

Marchand’s future is unknown. He is able to hit free agency for the first time in his career this summer. Overall, it’s a fairly weak free agent class, and Marchand could be one of the top players available if he hits the open market.

Marchand might not be a first-line player anymore, but this playoff run with the Panthers has proven that he still makes a tremendous impact on winning at the most important time of the year. He can score, defend, contribute to special teams, and his leadership is fantastic.

Marchand is, in many ways, the ideal final piece for a team that’s close to winning a championship and just needs a little more depth and experience.

June 4, 2025

NHL Mulls Call Automation Options Via Hawk-Eye Tech Expansion

The NHL will expand the use of Sony’s skeletal tracking Hawk-Eye technology under a multiyear tie-up that could impact how hockey games are officiated and the way they are viewed at home.

The deal makes Sony an official NHL technology partner, with connections ranging from the use of Sony cameras to the company’s Beyond Sports team helping the league recreate hockey games as animated visualizations in real time.

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“When you look at the total partnership, the way we set it up, obviously it runs across Sony,” said David Lehanski, NHL executive vice president of business development and innovation. “So it canvases across their whole company in a way that’s going to affect everyone in our community.”

The NHL has used Sony technology for replay reviews specifically since 2015.

“The NHL were the first within the U.S. to do video review, and now that is used almost universally across global sports,” Hawk-Eye, Pulselive and Beyond Sports CEO Rufus Hack said. “We now have 1,500 people who work for our business globally, and actually having them delivering at a world-class level—and understanding what the pressure is of delivering some of these solutions in the heat of battle—is actually almost one of the most important things that we’ve learned from the NHL and early adopters in cricket and tennis that we’ve been able to port into other sports.”

The NFL will use Hawk-Eye for evaluating line-to-gain decisions starting this season, while European soccer leagues have leveraged similar tools for automated offsides and goal reviews. All 32 NHL arenas now have 60-frames-per-second optical tracking setups that follow 29 points on each player and three points on each stick.

Lehanski said the league is evaluating the potential use of tracking data to quickly weigh in on offsides infractions and goals, though the speed and physicality of hockey present unique challenges.

The same tracking data that would be used to assist those calls is already being deployed by teams as a player evaluation tool. Increasingly, it’s changing the way fans watch sports, too.

Early player tracking data has been used for kid-friendly animated broadcasts. With the added precision of limb and stick data, analysts such as P.K. Subban now don VR headsets to put themselves on virtual ice, with 360-degree views of the action.

Going forward, the NHL would like to give fans a similar opportunity. Digital recreations could live within web-based or video game environments that allow consumers to manipulate the perspective and even attempt to recreate on-ice feats. To do so, the league could tap additional Sony arms, such as its PlayStation platform, which includes VR functionality. Beyond Sports has already helped the NHL deliver feeds in Roblox, drawing more than one million unique visitors in the first month of that activation back in 2023.

“We think at Sony, we’ve got a really unique mix of capabilities,” Hack said. “We want to bring in the best of PlayStation, the best of Sony Music, Sony Pictures … so we can really help take the sports industry to a new level.”

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