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Knicks fire head coach Tom Thibodeau after their best season in 25 years

Knicks fire head coach Tom Thibodeau after their best season in 25 years originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Knicks are parting ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau, who led New York to their first Eastern Conference finals in decades and four playoffs in five years, the team announced Tuesday.

ESPN Insider Shams Charania first reported the news on X. The team issued a statement from Knicks president Leon Rose confirming the development a short time later.

“Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans. This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we’ve decided to move in another direction,” the statement began. “We can’t thank Tom enough for pouring his heart and soul into each and every day of being the New York Knicks head coach. He led us not only with class and professionalism for the past five seasons, but also to tremendous success on the court with four playoff berths and four playoff series victories.”

“Ultimately, we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward,” it continued. “Tom will always be a part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

The Knicks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, leaving them without a championship since 1973. The team went further than they’d gone in 25 years, just not as far as they hoped.

They signaled they were serious about making a run at the NBA title when they traded for Mikal Bridges in the summer and then Karl-Anthony Towns in a preseason blockbuster, adding a top perimeter defender and an All-Star center to a lineup headlined by Jalen Brunson.

Their all-in moves just couldn’t get them all the way there.

After Boston rolled to the 2024 title and brought back all its key players, the Celtics were viewed as strong favorites in the East. Yet after building gradually since Rose’s arrival as team president in 2020, the Knicks weren’t conceding anything to the champions.

They re-signed OG Anunoby to the largest contract in team history, then traded five first-round picks in the deal to acquire Bridges from Brooklyn. Just as they were set to begin training camp, the Knicks dealt two starters in All-Star Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who had just set their single-season 3-point record, to get Towns from Minnesota.

The moves made the Knicks good enough to get past the Celtics in the second round. But it turned out to not be the right roster against the deep and speedy Pacers, who knocked them out for the second straight season.

“You make the moves to win, so it hurts to not be able to bring an opportunity to the city for a championship,” Towns said. “We’ve got a bunch of great guys in that locker room and the plan now is just to put ourselves in this position again and succeed next time.”

First, Rose and the front office will have to evaluate just how close the Knicks really are.

Their 51-31 record left them a distant third in the East behind Cleveland and Boston, and they went a combined 0-8 against those teams in the regular season before they finished off the Celtics in the second round after Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 4.

With two All-NBA selections in Brunson and Towns, the starting lineup is one of the NBA’s strongest. The bench could use a boost, as the Knicks lack the solid depth of the Cavaliers and Celtics — and certainly of the Pacers.

Still, after being mostly miles away for two decades, the Knicks have turned themselves into a contender. They have won 50 games in back-to-back seasons and made the playoffs in four of five under Thibodeau. Even after Saturday’s defeat, there was belief that the Knicks will get another shot soon.

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Ex-NHLer Drake Gaggiula Signs In Switzerland

Canadian forward Drake Caggiula, who turns 31 on June 20, has signed a one-year contract with Lausanne HC, the National League club announced on Monday.

“We are very pleased to welcome Drake to Lausanne,” said club sports director John Fust. “He is an experienced player with a solid track record in North America. Beyond his offensive skills and intensity on the ice, he will bring true leadership to the locker room.”

Caggiula, who hails from Pickering, Ont and played four seasons for the University of North Dakota, was never drafted by an NHL team and signed as a free agent with the Edmonton Oilers in 2016.

Between 2016 and 2025, Caggiula played 289 NHL regular-season games with the Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins, recording 92 points and 141 penalty minutes. He also played 21 playoff games with Edmonton and Chicago, registering six points and 27 penalty minutes.

Last season, he played seven NHL games in his second tour of duty with Edmonton and spent the rest of the season with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors.

Danish Ex-Oiler Signs In GermanyDanish Ex-Oiler Signs In Germany Danish forward Patrick Russell, 32, has signed a contract to play with Kölner Haie, the DEL club announced on Friday. Terms of the agreement were not specified.

This is Caggiula’s first tour of duty in Europe. He joins a Lausanne team that has been one of Switzerland’s best the past few years and wants to win a title this year under reigning coach of the year Geoff Ward. Last season the team finished first in the regular season and has lost in the finals each of the past two seasons to the ZSC Lions.

In addition to Caggiula, Lausanne has under contract for 2025-26 goaltenders Connor Hughes and Antoine Keller, as well as Swedish defenseman Erik Brännström, American Austin Czarnik, German Dominik Kahun, and Finns Janne Kuokkanen, and Antti Suomela, Lauri Pajuniemi and Sami Niku.

Photo © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images: Drake Caggiula playing for the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 pre-season.

Erik Brännström Signs Multi-Year Deal In SwitzerlandErik Brännström Signs Multi-Year Deal In Switzerland Swedish defenseman Erik Brännström, 25, has signed a three-year contract with Lausanne HC, the National League club announced on Monday.
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What are Giants' expectations for Encarnacion after return to lineup?

What are Giants' expectations for Encarnacion after return to lineup? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — When Jerar Encarnación was lining balls all around Scottsdale Stadium this spring, he never could have imagined his 2025 debut coming with these kinds of expectations. 

Encarnación is a 27-year-old with just 58 big-league appearances and a .639 OPS over that time, but for several weeks, his activation from the injured list has been viewed by many as a potential game-changer for a lineup that’s in a deep slump. That’s not totally fair to Encarnación, but the bar he’ll need to jump over initially to provide a spark is basically sitting on the floor.

At the time he was activated, the Giants ranked 28th in MLB in OPS at first base. They had gotten a .185 average and just four homers out of the position through 200 at-bats. 

On Monday, LaMonte Wade Jr. got his 41st start at first this season, but he was removed early in the loss with a wrist contusion after getting hit by a pitch. The Giants view Wade as day-to-day, but many of those at-bats at first were about to go to Encarnación, anyway. 

Even with Wade out, Encarnación’s debut came in the outfield. He hit for right fielder Mike Yastrzemski with the go-ahead run on second in the sixth inning after the Padres turned to left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon, but his first at-bat of the year ended with a grounder to short. With a runner on second in the eighth, Encarnación struck out. 

Through those first two at-bats, Encarnación looked like someone who could have used a few more rehab games. But in the bottom of the 10th, he hit a 101 mph liner to first off San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez. The ball found first baseman Luis Arraez’s glove, ending the game, but it was a good cut at a 102 mph sinker.

“After making a couple outs, to put together an at-bat like that against that guy — it looked like he was more comfortable as the game went along,” manager Bob Melvin said. 

Even if Encarnación simply matches his modest 2024 Giants debut — a .702 OPS and five homers in 35 appearances — the lineup will get a much-needed boost. 

“We know he can give us some power, he’s got power to all fields,” Melvin said. “We saw it at the end of last year. We saw it in spring training. When we were about to leave spring training, there were going to be a lot of at-bats for him. Obviously what (Wilmer Flores) has done has been off the charts and we’re cognizant of that, but with the potential that he gives us and the lack of power we’re getting right now, he’s going to get some opportunities, and we feel good about how he can produce for us.”

Encarnación had a good spring and pretty quickly became a lock for the Opening Day roster, with the initial expectation being that he would split DH at-bats with Flores, who was coming off surgery. But Encarnación ended up having his own procedure after fracturing his left hand late in camp, and late in the rehab process he felt some lingering soreness. 

The Giants put Encarnación on the 60-day IL and initially hoped to get him back when eligible on May 26, but he needed a few extra days after halting his rehab assignment. He said Monday that his hand now feels normal. 

Over the weekend, Encarnación returned to Triple-A Sacramento, where he was 8-for-23 with two homers and two doubles in seven rehab appearances. He primarily has been a corner outfielder as a professional, but the Giants will figure out his role as they go.

Wade has had a brutal first two months, and his slump goes back to the second half of last season. Even with four right-handers on the other side in this series, Encarnación was expected to start mixing in at first. He also will play right field against some left-handers, spelling Yastrzemski, who had a rough May at the plate. 

The Giants prefer to keep Flores in his spot; he has thrived as a full-time DH and there’s a fear that his body will wear down if asked to play first base too often. But they also haven’t seen a whole lot of Encarnación defensively at first, and it’s possible that over time it becomes clear that he’s better suited to DH, with Flores at first. 

For now, the focus is on the bat, and there’s a lot of potential there. The overall numbers don’t jump off the page, but Encarnación would have been among the league leaders in expected batting average, hard-hit percentage, bat speed and other advanced metrics last season had he gotten enough plate appearances to qualify. 

Among players with at least 50 balls in play last season, Encarnación ranked fourth in average exit velocity, behind Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and Oneil Cruz, and one spot ahead of Giancarlo Stanton. The Giants need more of that. They need more of anything resembling offensive production, really, and they’re hopeful that Encarnación can at least nudge them in the right direction.

On Monday afternoon, as he prepared for his first game of the year, Encarnación said he was simply happy to be healthy and back with his teammates. If there is pressure to help pull the lineup out of this rut, he’s not feeling it.

“Not at all,” he said. “I’m just going to do what I’m able to do and try to contribute to the team. Whatever happens is in God’s hands.”

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NHL Draft 2025: Flyers Won't Guarantee a Top Center This Year

The Flyers surprised many with their selection of Jett Luchanko in 2024. (Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)

If you want the Philadelphia Flyers to draft the No. 1 center of their future with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, you've already been warned not to get your hopes up.

Wisely, some might say, the Flyers are keeping their options open ahead of the draft later this month. After all, it was only a year ago that the decision to trade down and pass on Zeev Buium to select Jett Luchanko tore through the fanbase like wildfire.

When the Flyers did so, they chose need over value. This was publicly communicated beforehand, as GM Danny Briere suggested they would take a center if a center and a defenseman were tied in rank on their draft boards.

Now, the Flyers are indicating the opposite with four weeks to go before the draft.

“We obviously are aware," Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said of the talent issue at center, as quoted by Kevin Kurz of The Athletic. "But there’s also a couple other players that it’s going to make it hard. There’s a couple wingers, and even a defenseman, that could be in the mix. You’ve got to be careful not to go by a top line player potentially, just for position. That’s the challenge we’ll face."

Flahr and the Flyers have been earmarked to draft a center with their top draft pick for months now, with top options comprised of the likes of James Hagens, Michael Misa, Anton Frondell, Caleb Desnoyers, Jake O'Brien, Roger McQueen, and Brady Martin.

The fact that Flahr is already willing to look past a glaring need at the position suggests there are multiple centers on that list who are quite low on their draft boards relative to the consensus.

Flyers Trade Rumors: Wild 'Not Dying' to Deal Marco Rossi AwayFlyers Trade Rumors: Wild 'Not Dying' to Deal Marco Rossi AwayRecent reports have connected the Philadelphia Flyers to trade discussions with the Minnesota Wild regarding free agent center Marco Rossi, but there is no serious progress made by the Flyers, or any other NHL team, on that front... yet.

McQueen, for example, has struggled with back issues, and teams will be eager to test him out at the NHL combine and get a better feel for his health going forward now that he's been cleared for testing.

On the flanks and on the back end, the Flyers could very well still find some studs. A "couple wingers" likely refers to Swede Victor Eklund, the younger brother of William Eklund, and Canadian Porter Martone, who has drawn some stylistic comparisons to Matvei Michkov.

The mention of a defenseman could just be Flahr being coy about Matthew Schaefer, who is generally considered to be the premier player in this class but could be available if the Flyers trade up with the San Jose Sharks to acquire the No. 2 pick, as some rumors have previously suggested.

Some mock drafts, including one from NHL.com, have connected Barrie Colts defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson to the Flyers at No. 6, but more realistic options at that draft slot include the smooth-skating, 6-foot-3 Jackson Smith or the towering, two-way giant in the 6-foot-6 Radim Mrtka.

After losing three recently drafted defense prospects, including two from the 2023 draft, the Flyers are badly hurting for some young defensemen in their system, even after selecting Spencer Gill and Austin Moline in 2024.

Is that reason enough to potentially pass on the No. 1 center of your future? For the Flyers, it's at least on the table after last year's controversy.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Edward Cabrera, Matt Wallner, and Sawyer Gipson-Long

We’re officially into June and must take an honest look at who’s playing well, who’s playing poorly, and who we can truly count on to help us out through the long summer months ahead.

With that, the waiver wire has been picked over and it’s getting more difficult to find impact players readily available in most leagues. Fear not, because there are still a handful of available players that have the chance to be difference makers in both the short and long term.

Syndication: Detroit Free Press
MLB Power Rankings: Tigers climb back to No. 1 behind Tarik Skubal, Phillies stumble to start June
Tarik Skubal struck out 59 batters and walked just two while posting a 2.20 ERA in the month of May.
  • DJShortBW.jpg D.J. Short
    ,
  • DJShortBW.jpg D.J. Short
    ,

Here are three players that are under 40% rostered on Yahoo leagues that you should strongly consider adding.

If you want a larger list, Eric Samulski wrote his extended waiver wire piece on Sunday.

Edward Cabrera, SP Marlins

(20% Rostered on Yahoo)

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Cabrera might be taking a step forward.

So far this season, he’s running the lowest walk rate of his career at 9.6% and has thrown his highest rate of pitches in the zone at 49.7%. At the same time, he’s maintained a strikeout rate in line with his career norms and a 4.14 ERA through nine starts.

While those numbers don’t jump off the page, they’ve been underscored by a very different movement profile from most of his pitches because he’s dropped his arm slot.

For Cabrera, moving his arm slot down has given all of his pitches more horizontal movement and reduced their vertical movement.

Look at his pitch movement plots from each of the last two seasons courtesy of Baseball Savant and check out how each pitch besides his curveball has drifted towards the right of this chart in 2025 compared to 2024.

edward cabrera pitch charts.jpg

With this new movement profile, Cabrera has become much more comfortable throwing his sinker. Its usage has risen from 9.2% to 24.4% from last season to this season and it’s now his most thrown pitch against right-handed batters.

Also, it has the highest zone rate for any of his individual pitches at 65.6%. Cabrera has never thrown a pitch in the strike zone at least 60% of the time for a full season in his entire career.

Yet, it’s being hit very hard. Opposing hitters have a .556 SLG against it. Perhaps he can massage its usage a little bit – especially against left-handed batters – but it may just be important for Cabrera to literally throw pitches in the zone that some damage is tolerable.

That’s because his secondaries are incredible. Each of his changeup, curveball, and slider have at least a 28.9% whiff rate and each have at least a 106 Stuff+. And no one on earth can throw a 95 mph changeup quite like Cabrera can.

At worst, there are adjustments happening here to help Cabrera avoid walks, which have always been his kryptonite. His stuff remains electric and he has a guaranteed rotation spot plus a great home park to pitch in with the Marlins.

The glimmer of hope in a good situation makes him worthy of a speculative add.

Matt Wallner, OF Twins

(14% Rostered on Yahoo)

Wallner returned off the injured list this past weekend from a serious hamstring strain that kept him out since April 15th.

In his first at-bat back, he smacked a home run at 100.8 mph against Bryce Miller and hit a 108.2 mph groundout later in the game. Despite going 1-for-5 last night, he had three batted balls hit harder than 104 mph with the hardest being 111.1 mph.

That is the story with Wallner: he hits baseballs incredibly hard. Since the start of the 2024 season, his 19 batted balls of at least 110 mph are tied for 36th-most in the league.

That may not seem special, but he’s only played 96 total games over that span. For comparison’s sake, he’s tied with Marcell Ozuna with 19 such batted balls and Ozuna has played 217 games over the same span.

Wallner’s gaudy exit velocities are paired with near top of the league bat speed and one of the highest pulled fly ball rates in the league. In terms of a batted ball profile, few have a better one than Wallner.

On the other hand, he’s always struggled to make contact consistently. Heading into this season, his strikeout rate for his career was an obscene 34.5%. Somehow, that came with a chase rate that was better than league average. He knows which pitches to swing at, he just takes such aggressive swings that he often misses.

Regardless, he had a career .866 OPS in spite of that high strikeout rate, and he’s cut it down to 25.9% in 21 games so far this season.

His incredibly high quality of contact has made him productive enough in spite of that awful strikeout rate to be viable in 12-team leagues. If he can manage to keep it down while maintaining his same elite bat speed, he could flirt with a 40 homer pace.

The one caveat to his value is that he’s in a strict platoon. He hasn’t played against a left-handed pitcher yet this season and don’t expect that to change.

So, his value is hurt in weekly leagues where you can’t manipulate your roster as much. He’s still a great option in daily leagues where you can be sure he’ll be in your lineup every time the Twins face a righty.

Sawyer Gipson-Long, SP DET

(7% Rostered on Yahoo)

This is one to keep a close eye on. Gipson-Long is scheduled to make his season debut today, on Tuesday against the White Sox.

That outing is expected to be somewhat abbreviated though because Gipson-Long has thrown just 56 and 53 pitches in each of his most recent rehab starts. The Tigers need someone to step in though for the injured Jackson Jobe, so this will likely be something like a 75-pitch rehab start in the majors for Gipson-Long.

Once he’s built up to a regular starters’ workload, he could be a very interesting option.

When last healthy in 2023, Gipson-Long burst on the scene somewhat out of nowhere with a 31.7 K%, 9.8 BB%, 2.70 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across four starts as a 25-year-old rookie with next to no prospect pedigree.

He found success by leaning on his excellent command and secondary pitches. Against right-handed batters, he mixed his sinker and slider evenly as dual-primary pitches and was able to lean on his excellent changeup to generate swings and misses.

It’s rare that a pitcher can find such effectiveness with their changeup against same-handed batters, but Gipson-Long did so with ease.

Against left-handed batters, he leaned on his fastball with that same slider and changeup flanking it. While his fastball doesn’t look so special sitting at 93 mph with a pedestrian movement profile, Gipson-Long releases it with 7.5 feet of extension. That helps a pitch that appears ordinary play up.

In all, this is a pitcher who has multiple weapons against hitters from each side of the plate and should be a stable option as long as he maintains his command from pre-surgery. He’ll have a decent runway to prove his worth too with Jobe out indefinitely.

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Canadiens: Could The Devils Have What The Canadiens Need?

The New Jersey Devils were expected to go much further in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but, like the Montreal Canadiens, they fell at the first hurdle, being eliminated in five games by the Carolina Hurricanes.

While not having their top center, Jack Hughes, can go some way towards explaining what happened there, the organization refused to use that excuse. After his team’s elimination, GM Tom Fitzgerald was clear:

"We've got a lot of decisions to make on certain players, whether we bring guys back, trade players (but) we won't be coming back with the same group (in 2025-26) […] I can tell you that because it wasn't good enough."
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Now the question is, which players are they likely to move? With Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier down the middle, the Devils have two real top-six centers, meaning that former first-round pick and 18th overall selection at the 2020 draft, Dawson Mercer, is used as their third-line center.

Canadiens: Potential First Round Pick - Malcolm Spence
Canadiens Farm Team On The Brink Of Elimination
Canadiens: The Grades Are In – Emil Heineman

The 23-year-old Newfoundlander stands at 6 feet and 180 pounds, making him taller than another possible option we discussed this past weekend (Marco Rossi is only 5 feet 9 inches and 182 pounds), but not significantly bigger. Mercer caught the eye of Habs fans when he played his junior hockey in the QMJHL with the Drummondville Voltigeurs and the Chicoutimi Sageneens.

Since he graduated to the NHL, Mercer hasn’t missed a single game because of injuries, playing 82 games in each of his four seasons. In his rookie year, he scored 42 points, and then increased to 56 points in his sophomore season. However, his production dipped to just 33 points the following season, and he could only muster 36 this year, even though he spent an average of 17:53 on the ice.

With Hughes’ injury, he’s been moved back to center, but looking at his line combinations over the last two seasons, he’s been playing mainly on the wing, which isn’t surprising given his low numbers in the faceoff department. In his four NHL seasons, he’s only won 39.3% of his faceoffs.

Fitzgerald signed him to a three-year contract with a $4M cap hit last Summer, clearly wanting to see more from him before committing long term and putting him on a reasonable cap hit with no clause hindering possible trades.

Mercer’s numbers are not as enticing as Rossi’s, for example, but he has the kind of profile Hughes has dealt for in the past. If you look at Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook’s numbers before the Canadiens acquired them, Mercer is better. When he was hired, the Canadiens’ GM explained that he wouldn’t be a “buy high” kind of guy, and the two aforementioned trades were living proof of that. The question is, though, is the rebuild still in that phase? The one in which you get an asset and hope to help them reach their potential? Or have the Canadiens moved on to the results phase, where they’ll bring their prospects along but won’t go out to get projects elsewhere?

The Canadiens made the playoffs this season, but Hughes and Jeff Gorton were quick to say that it doesn’t change anything in the grand scheme of things, and it won’t speed up the rebuild. If the GM is looking for a player who has already established himself as a second-line center, Mercer is not his man. However, if he’s still looking for “projects,” he might just be…

Photo Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

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Diamondbacks at Braves Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 3

Its Tuesday, June 3 and the Diamondbacks (28-31) are in Atlanta to take on the Braves (27-31).

Zac Gallen is slated to take the mound for Arizona against Spencer Strider for Atlanta.

These teams each enjoyed an off day on Monday. The Braves needed the day to regroup following a couple losses to Boston over the weekend while the Diamondbacks are more than likely still reeling following the probable loss of Corbin Burnes for an extended period due to at a minimum, arm discomfort.

Both these clubs sit in fourth place in their respective divison. Atlanta is 9.5 games behind the Mets in the National League East. Arizona i eight games behind the Dodgers in the National League West.

Lets dive into the series opener 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 Diamondbacks at Braves

  • Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
  • Time: 7:15PM EST
  • Site: Truist Park
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: ARID, FDSNSO

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 Diamondbacks at the Braves

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Diamondbacks (+123), Braves (-146)
  • Spread:  Braves -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Diamondbacks at Braves

  • Pitching matchup for June 3, 2025: Zac Gallen vs. Spencer Strider
    • Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen (3-7, 5.54 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/28 vs. Pittsburgh - 5IP, 5ER, 6H, 3BB, 3Ks
    • Braves: Spencer Strider (0-3, 4.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.2IP, 1ER, 1H, 4BB, 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 Diamondbacks at Braves

  • The Braves have lost 4 of their last 5 games against teams with losing records
  • In his last 5 home starts Spencer Strider has an ERA of 6.43
  • Ozzie Albies opened June with 1 hit in 4 ABs on Sunday after hitting .230 in May (23-100)
  • Michael Harris II saw his 5-game hitting streak (8-20) snapped on Sunday
  • Corbin Carroll is 3-31 (.097) over his last 7 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 tonight’s game between the Diamondbacks and the Braves

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 Tuesday's game between the Diamondbacks and the Braves:

  • 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 Arizona Diamondbacks 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

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Rangers at Rays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 3

Its Tuesday, June 3 and the Rangers (29-31) are in Tampa to take on the Rays (30-29).

Tyler Mahle is slated to take the mound for Texas against Drew Rasmussen for Tampa Bay.

The Rangers arrive in Tampa fresh off a series win over the Cardinals in Arlington over the weekend. Marcus Semien led the offense with seven hits in eight at-bats. Tampa is 7-3 over the last ten games but were slowed over the weekend by the Astros as Houston topped the Rays twice in the three-game series. They scored but one run in the two losses...and 16 in their lone win.

Lets dive into opener of this series 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 Rangers at Rays

  • Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
  • Time: 7:35PM EST
  • Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
  • City: Tampa, FL
  • Network/Streaming: RSN, FDSNSUN

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 Rangers at the Rays

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Rangers (+118), Rays (-140)
  • Spread:  Rays -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at Rays

  • Pitching matchup for June 3, 2025: Tyler Mahle vs. Drew Rasmussen
    • Rangers: Tyler Mahle (5-2, 1.64 ERA)
      Last outing: 6IP, 0ER, 4H, 3BB5
    • Rays: Drew Rasmussen (4-4, 2.33 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/28 vs. Minnesota - 6IP, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 5Ks

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 Rangers at Rays

  • The Rangers have won 7 straight games against the Rays
  • The Under is 24-10-1 in the Rangers' games against American League teams this season
  • The Rays have failed to cover the Run Line in 14 of their last 16 games against the Rangers
  • Junior Caminero is 9-21 with 3 HRs over his last 5 games
  • Wyatt Langford started June in much the same way he attacked May...going hitless in 3 ABs after hitting just .189 (20-106) in May

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rangers and the Rays

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 Tuesday's game between the Rangers and the Rays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Texas Rangers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Texas Rangers 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

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  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looking to join Hall of Fame company in 2025 Finals

NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looking to join Hall of Fame company in 2025 Finals originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has already taken home the NBA’s highest individual honor this season. Now, he’s four wins away from earning the league’s most coveted team prize.

The Thunder point guard has his team on the verge of its first championship since relocating to Oklahoma City and the franchise’s first since winning it all as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1978-79. To get there, the top-seeded Thunder will need to defeat the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals, which begin Thursday in OKC.

Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP for the 2024-25 season after leading the league in scoring (32.7 points per game) and guiding the Thunder to an NBA-best and franchise-best 68-14 regular season record. While being named MVP is an impressive feat, it doesn’t always lead to team success.

It’s been a decade since the regular season MVP has gone on to win an NBA championship. Only a select group of all-time greats have ever pulled it off, and Gilgeous-Alexander is on the verge of stepping into that Hall of Fame company.

Here’s a look back at all the regular season MVPs who went on to win an NBA championship, as well as those who also collected NBA Finals MVP honors.

Players to win NBA Finals and be named MVP in the same season

Fourteen players in NBA history have won a championship and been named league MVP in the same season.

Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics was the first to do it back in 1956-57. Fellow Celtics legend Bill Russell followed suit in 1960-61 and went on to do it a grand total of four times. Only Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan has matched Russell when it comes to such seasons.

Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors was the most recent player to pull off the feat. He has earned two regular season MVPs and four NBA championships in his storied career, but the 2014-15 season was the only one in which he double-dipped.

Here’s a full breakdown of the players to win a championship and be named regular season MVP in the same season:

  • Bob Cousy (1956-57)
  • Bill Russell (1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1964-65)
  • Wilt Chamberlain (1966-67)
  • Willis Reed (1969-70)
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71, 1979-80)
  • Moses Malone (1982-83)
  • Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86)
  • Magic Johnson (1986-87)
  • Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
  • Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94)
  • Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00)
  • Tim Duncan (2002-03)
  • LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13)
  • Steph Curry (2014-15)

NBA MVPs to be named NBA Finals MVP in the same season

Of the 14 players to win a championship and be named regular season MVP in the same year, 10 of them pulled off a trifecta by earning NBA Finals MVP honors:

  • Willis Reed (1969-70)
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-71)
  • Moses Malone (1982-83)
  • Larry Bird (1983-84, 1985-86)
  • Magic Johnson (1986-87)
  • Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98)
  • Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-94)
  • Shaquille O’Neal (1999-00)
  • Tim Duncan (2002-03)
  • LeBron James (2011-12, 2012-13)

NBA Finals MVP was not created until the 1968-69 season, so Cousy, Russell and Chamberlain did not have a chance to add it to their trophy collections.

Magic Johnson was named NBA Finals MVP in 1980 after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned regular season MVP honors, while Andre Iguodala was named NBA Finals MVP when Curry and the Warriors won the 2015 Finals.

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Pacers vs. Thunder Game 1 Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for June 5

On Thursday, June 5, the Indiana Pacers (50-32) and Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) are all set to square off from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

The Indiana Pacers capped off its magical run with a 4-2 series win over the Knicks at home, giving NBA fans one of the most memorable runs since the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. Indiana beat both Milwaukee and Cleveland in five games apiece before finishing the Knicks off in six.

On the other hand, the Thunder were the favorite to win the NBA Finals for months and are four wins away from accomplishing this rare feat after sliding by the Timberwolves in five games. Denver did give OKC a run with a seven-game series after the 4-0 sweep in the first round, but that's the only sweat the Thunder have endured lately.

Oklahoma City won both meetings versus Indiana this season by 6 and 21 points (120-114, 132-111). Chet Holmgren did not play in either meeting this season and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 and 45 points on the Pacers with 8 assists and 7 rebounds in each game.

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 Pacers vs. Thunder live today

  • Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025
  • Time: 8:30PM EST
  • Site: Paycom Center
  • City: Oklahoma City, OK
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN / ABC

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Pacers vs. Thunder

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Pacers (+320), Thunder (-410)
  • Spread: Thunder -9
  • Over/Under: 230.5 points

That gives the Pacers an implied team point total of 110.5, and the Thunder 120.5.

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 Thursday’s Pacers vs. Thunder game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) likes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 12.5 assists and rebounds (-115):

"This might be a line that goes unnoticed in the first few games of the series. When you think about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it’s generally how great and effective of a scorer he is. However, SGA grabs boards and when help comes, he’s a fantastic facilitator.

SGA has gone over this number in both meetings the two teams played against each other this season. He also went over in three of the five games in the Western Conference Finals. Sprinkle the double double as well."

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes a sprinkle on SGA (+500) and Jalen Williams (+6600) to lead the series in assists:

"Tyrese Haliburton obviously seems like the right choice, but in comparison, the odds say Haliburton is more likely to lead the series in assists than SGA is to win MVP -- I do not agree with that whatsoever.

If Haliburton has two games with 5, 6 assists, or less, like he did in one of two regular season meetings, then this race will be much closer than the odds indicate, so I would sprinkle Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams in this market.

Both SGA and Williams averaged about 5 and 7 assists per game over the postseason with double-digit potential assists per game. There is a strong potential for double-double or even triple-double opportunities for both OKC stars."

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 Pacers & Thunder game:

  • 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 Indiana Pacers at +9
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 230.5

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 Pacers vs. Thunder on Thursday

  • Oklahoma City is 2-1 on the ML and ATS in Game 1's this postseason
  • Indiana is 3-0 on the ML and ATS in Game 1's this postseason
  • Oklahoma City is 8-1 on the ML at home this postseason, while Indiana is 6-2 on the ML as the road team
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the Western Conference Finals MVP with 31.4 PPG, 8.2 APG, and 5.2 APG
  • Pascal Siakam won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP with 24.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 3.5 APG

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)

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Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Mark Giordano To Coach NHL Top Prospect Matthew Schaefer

Mark Giordano has been busy since last playing in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 41-year-old, who's yet to announce his retirement from the league, joined TSN for their trade deadline coverage in March. Beyond that, Giordano still appears as a guest on TSN 1050 from time to time.

The Norris Trophy-winning defender, though, will also be working as a defense coach with projected first-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Matthew Schaefer. Speaking with NHL.com senior writer Mike Morreale, the 17-year-old says he'll be skating with Giordano throughout the summer.

"I'm working out with (trainer) Bryan Marshall, and my defense coach is Mark Giordano, so I'm super excited to work with him," Schaefer said. "I'm going to be skating with him a lot."

Shaefer, who played just 17 games with the OHL's Erie Otters this season after having surgery on a broken clavicle with Canada at the World Juniors, will train with Giordano and likely New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech, among others, in Mississauga, Ontario, this summer.

The Toronto, Ontario, native was acquired by his hometown team in March 2022 in hopes of a deep playoff run. However, the Maple Leafs fell 4-3 to the Tampa Bay Lightning that year.

Following that season, Giordano and Toronto agreed to a two-year contract, which paid him $800,000 annually. In his first full year as a Maple Leaf, Giordano played 78 games and scored four goals and 20 assists, his most productive since the 2021 season with the Calgary Flames.

Exploring Buyouts? Why That Would Be A Major Misstep For The Maple Leafs This SummerExploring Buyouts? Why That Would Be A Major Misstep For The Maple Leafs This SummerThe Toronto Maple Leafs could look quite different next season. From star forward Mitch Marner testing free agency to a wealth of vacant spots up front to fill either via trade or free agency, General Manager Brad Treliving has the opportunity to put an additional stamp on the team he took over in 2023. But what he should try to avoid, if possible, is using buyouts.

During that season, he also broke the NHL blocked shots record, which was previously held by Kris Russel (2,044). San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic passed Giordano, who has 2,164 blocks, on March 4.

The veteran defenseman also appeared in all of Toronto's playoff games in 2023, making it to the second round for the first time since 2004. The Maple Leafs eliminated the Lightning in six games before going out to the Florida Panthers in five.

Giordano last appeared in an NHL game with the Maple Leafs on April 17, 2024. For most of that season, the veteran defenseman found himself on the outside looking in, especially when Joel Edmundson and Ilya Lyubushkin joined the club ahead of the playoffs.

He also dealt with an injury and the loss of his father, Paul, in the back-half of that season.

Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Dominates Memorial Cup, Validates Return To Junior DecisionMaple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Dominates Memorial Cup, Validates Return To Junior DecisionToronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan is a Memorial Cup champion with the OHL's London Knights.

Giordano wasn't re-signed by Toronto following the 2023-24 season and held out hope that an NHL club would sign him later in the year. The defenseman finished his tenure in Toronto with nine goals and 36 assists in 144 games.

Before arriving in the Maple Leafs organization, Giordano spent one season with the Seattle Kraken. He was plucked out of the expansion draft by Seattle after the Calgary Flames, with whom Giordano spent 15 years of his career, left him unprotected.

An undrafted defenseman, Giordano joined the Flames organization in the summer of 2005. Along with winning the Norris Trophy, Giordano was Calgary's captain for eight seasons, from 2013 to 2021. His Flames tenure ended with 143 goals and 366 assists for 509 points in 949 games.

Report: Maple Leafs And Golden Knights Discussed Trade Around Mitch Marner, Shea Theodore Last SummerReport: Maple Leafs And Golden Knights Discussed Trade Around Mitch Marner, Shea Theodore Last SummerToronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner reportedly could've been a Vegas Golden Knight last summer.

Although he's yet to call it a career, Giordano has 577 points (158 goals, 419 assists) in 1,148 games split between the Flames, Kraken, and Maple Leafs over 18 years.

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

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Sporticast 454: How To Monetize Your Third Straight Stanley Cup

On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams speak with Shawn Thornton, chief revenue officer of the Florida Panthers, about the team’s return to the Stanley Cup Final and what it means for various different revenue streams.

The Panthers face the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Finals on Wednesday. It’s a rematch of last year’s final, which the Panthers won in seven games, and the third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance for the Florida team.

Thornton talks about what that multiyear success means for the team. He discusses ticket renewals, sponsorship sales, and ticket pricing. He jokes that while he doesn’t get a ton of inbound sales calls, the conversations are easier now.

He also gave his thoughts on the team’s local media partnership. The Panthers used to be on one of the Bally’s RSN networks, but last summer moved to a broadcast deal with Scripps, a setup similar to a handful of other NBA, NHL and MLB teams caught in the Diamond Sports bankruptcy. While he declined to provide specifics on the economics, he did say game viewership is up more than 2x in some cases, and that helps the team in its broader partnership conversations.

The trio discusses the Tkachuk brothers–Matthew is one of the Panthers’ stars–who boosted their popularity during the Four Nations Face-Off earlier this year. That bleeds into a conversation about NHL players and their relationship with fame and marketing deals. For years, many marketing executives felt the culture of the sport made stars less likely to market themselves. Now, however, a fresh crop of young NHL stars seems to be changing that narrative, with a boost from new media and the league itself.

Thornton also talks about his personal journey from professional hockey player to team revenue boss. He played in the NHL for the Blackhawks, Ducks, Bruins and Panthers. At each stop, he said he gravitated to the business office. He arrived at the Panthers shortly after Vinny Viola bought the team in 2013 for $250 million, and the role grew from there.

(You can subscribe to Sporticast through Apple, Google, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever else you get your podcasts.)

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The Breakdown | The Premiership team of the 2024-25 season

Gloucester’s silky backs and Bath’s fearsome forwards feature heavily among our best players of the year

Santiago Carreras (Gloucester) Plenty of quality contenders – Sale’s Joe Carpenter, Northampton’s George Furbank and Bristol’s Rich Lane – and I was also tempted to hand Alex Goode a well-deserved retirement gift. But Carreras has been an absolute joy to watch and central to Gloucester’s attacking reinvention. For a snapshot check out the try he helped to start and then finished against Sale at Kingsholm in January. The prospect of him linking up with Finn Russell at Bath next season is mouthwatering.

Continue reading...
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Why Marks states Kuminga controls Warriors' NBA free agency plans

Why Marks states Kuminga controls Warriors' NBA free agency plans originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga, one way or another, will play a big role in the Warriors’ offseason.

Golden State likely will either pay him in the form of a lucrative contact, or facilitate with the restricted free agent a sign-and-trade deal that lands the Warriors additional players/assets.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks joined 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs” on Monday and explained why Kuminga not only is the Warriors’ biggest storyline this summer, but also why the outcome of his restricted free agency pretty much controls what Golden State’s offseason looks like.

“It all depends on Kuminga,” Marks said. “He basically controls free agency in Golden State. If they sign him to a contract and bring him back, then that’s really it as far as what they can do in the offseason. They might have one of their smaller exceptions and everything here. And then you look at the rest of the roster, and it’s like, OK, is it [Buddy] Hield? Is it Brandin [Podziemski]? Is it some of those other players? Guys that are not making that much money.”

In addition to signing Kuminga to a long-term contract and the sign-and-trade outcomes, the young forward, as a restricted free agent, can agree to an offer sheet with another NBA team, which the Warriors have an opportunity to match. If they choose not to, Kuminga can sign elsewhere. Kuminga also could sign the $7.9 million qualifying offer the Warriors are likely to offer him, keeping him under contract for one more year at that figure before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer. However, that option is highly unlikely.

It appears the Warriors either will sign Kuminga to a long-term contract, which will leave them with very little financial flexibility in free agency, or facilitate a sign-and-trade that brings in a player(s) that are a better fit in coach Steve Kerr’s rotations.

Regardless of which direction they go in with the 22-year-old this summer, his contract situation should play a big role in what the Warriors’ roster looks like for the 2025-25 NBA season.

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How Webb made key adjustment after several rough starts vs. Padres

How Webb made key adjustment after several rough starts vs. Padres originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Last year, the San Diego Padres twice put 10 hits on Logan Webb’s line. The first time he saw them this season, he gave up five runs on nine hits. 

Webb is one of the best pitchers in the world and has been since 2021, but the Padres have had his number, which isn’t ideal given how often the Giants see them and the likelihood that they might need to edge them in the NL West standings to make the MLB playoffs. There wasn’t much to celebrate on Monday night as the Padres won 1-0 at Oracle Park to gain a game in that race, but Webb was at least able to find a few reasons to smile. 

The staff ace went eight innings, scattering six hits and breezing through one of the league’s best lineups, one that seemingly had figured him out. Afterward, manager Bob Melvin, formerly the Padres manager, said that was probably as well as Webb had pitched against them. Webb smiled and gently pushed back. 

“I think my best outing was when Bob was managing the other team,” he said. 

Webb went the distance in his final start of 2023, beating Blake Snell and cementing his place in the top two of Cy Young Award voting. That night was classic Webb; he threw his changeup 57 percent of the time and got 15 outs on the ground, but ever since that win, the Padres have found different ways to bother him. Webb adjusted right back on Monday. 

He started his night by leaning heavily on his slider to mess with hitters who had to deal with the usual shadows at 6:45 p.m., and that never slowed down. Webb ended up throwing 41 sliders, his most in a start since 2022. It was just the fifth time in 156 career starts that he threw more than 40 sliders. 

“The plan was just to change some things up,” Webb said. “We noticed some patterns the last couple of games and it wasn’t that we pinpointed a certain pitch, it was kind of how [the Padres] went. It definitely helps when there’s some shadows early in the game and I could kind of tell that they were having trouble seeing it, especially early. We just kind of stuck with it throughout the game.”

While the Padres have given Webb fits over the last two seasons, the Kansas City Royals and Padres looked comfortable against him over his previous two starts. He said he met with catcher Patrick Bailey, pitching coach J.P. Martinez, bullpen coach Garvin Alston and baseball operations analyst Mario Ferretti to come up with some fixes. 

“It was a really good game plan,” Webb said. “I feel like I’ve kind of struggled against this team probably over the past year, honestly. That’s what’s so hard but also so fun about this game. Especially in-division, you play a bunch of [good teams] … I’ve faced them so many times and you’ve got to try and mix things up and try different things. We just put our heads together and said, ‘We’re going to try this.’ It worked out.”

Webb came away with a no-decision, but he lowered his ERA to 2.55, which ranks fifth in the National League. He leads the league in innings pitched and is third in strikeouts, and at home, he has been even more dominant. Webb has a 1.12 ERA in six starts at Oracle Park, the lowest by a Giant in his first six home starts since Juan Marichal posted a comical 0.31 ERA at Candlestick Park to kick off his 1966 season. 

Webb’s next start will come at home against a good Atlanta Braves lineup. He seems to have solved whatever bothered him the last couple of weeks, and for now, at least, he has given the Padres a new wrinkle to think about before their next matchup. 

“I think that was the best I’ve ever seen him,” Bailey said. “He had all three pitches working, 80-something percent first-pitch strikes. That’s the best I’ve seen him.”

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