Four-star running back Ezavier Crowell is leaning toward Alabama but has a big visit to Georgia on deck.
Cardinals at Orioles prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 27
Its Tuesday, May 27 and the Cardinals (30-24) are in Baltimore to take on the Orioles (19-34).
Andre Pallante is slated to take the mound for St. Louis against Tomoyuki Sugano for Baltimore.
Monday night the O's snapped the Cardinals' three-game win streak with a 5-2 win to open the series. Dylan Carlson cracked a three-run home run to pace the attack, and Charlie Morton snapped a personal seven-game losing streak allowing two runs over six innings.
Lets dive into tonight's matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Cardinals at Orioles
- Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
- Time: 6:35PM EST
- Site: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
- City: Baltimore, MD
- Network/Streaming: FDSNMW, 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 Cardinals at the Orioles
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
- Moneyline: Cardinals (-109), Orioles (-110)
- Spread: Orioles 1.5
- Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Cardinals at Orioles
- Pitching matchup for May 27, 2025: Andre Pallante vs. Tomoyuki Sugano
- Cardinals: Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.18 ERA)
Last outing: 5/21 vs. Detroit - 5.2IP, 3ER, 4H, 4BB, 3Ks - Orioles: Tomoyuki Sugano (4-3, 3.07 ERA)
Last outing: 5/21 at Milwaukee - 6IP, 2ER, 5H, 1BB, 3Ks
- Cardinals: Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.18 ERA)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cardinals at Orioles
- The Cardinals have won 4 of their last 5 games against teams with losing records
- The Under is 7-3 in the Cardinals' last 10 road games
- It has been 3 games since the Cardinals last covered the Run Line
- Jackson Holliday has at least one hit in 11 of his last 12 games (17-47)
- Nolan Arenado has 1 hit in his last 4 games and just 5 hits in his last 9 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 Cardinals and the Orioles
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 Cardinals and the Orioles:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the St. Louis Cardinals on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the St. Louis Cardinals 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
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)
Blue Jays at Rangers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 27
Its Tuesday, May 27 and the Blue Jays (26-27) are in Arlington to take on the Rangers (26-29). Bowden Francis is slated to take the mound for Toronto against Nathan Eovaldi for Texas.
The Blue Jays took game one of the series in a low-scoring 2-1 game. Kevin Gausman was dominant on the mound for the Blue Jays. He struck out six batters in 8.0 innings and only gave up one run on five hits.
Lets 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 Blue Jays at Rangers
- Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
- Time: 8:05PM EST
- Site: Globe Life Field
- City: Arlington, TX
- Network/Streaming: Rangers Sports Network, Victory+, SN1
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 Blue Jays at the Rangers
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
- Moneyline: Blue Jays (+140), Rangers (-166)
- Spread: Rangers -1.5
- Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Rangers
- Pitching matchup for May 27, 2025: Bowden Francis vs. Nathan Eovaldi
- Blue Jays: Bowden Francis, (2-6, 5.54 ERA)
Last outing (San Diego Pades, 5/22): 4.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts - Rangers: Nathan Eovaldi, (4-3, 1.60 ERA)
Last outing (New York Yankees, 5/22): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
- Blue Jays: Bowden Francis, (2-6, 5.54 ERA)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Blue Jays at Rangers
- The Rangers have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
- In his last 5 home starts on the mound the Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi has an ERA of 3.94
- It has been 4 games since the Rangers last covered the Run Line
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 Blue Jays and the Rangers
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 Blue Jays and the Rangers:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Texas Rangers on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Toronto Blue Jays 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
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)
Yaxel Lendeborg, No. 1 transfer portal prospect, joins Michigan basketball over NBA draft
Lendeborg finished last year on the first team all American Athletic Conference, averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists, in 37 games.
Premier League 2024-25 season review: our predictions versus reality
Two of our 20 predictions were accurate – and we were right about Spurs qualifying for the Champions League
What we predicted: Arne Slot admits he had “big shoes to fill” after Jürgen Klopp’s departure. They may be impossible to fill in terms of rapport with supporters, force of personality and authority. But, in the more important fields of winning and developing this Liverpool team, Slot will back himself to make his mark. There is space for improvement.
Continue reading...EA Sports College Football 26: Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Williams are cover athletes
Two young star receivers will be the cover athletes for the next installment of EA Sports' popular college football video game franchise.
Dodgers at Guardians prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 27
Its Tuesday, May 27 and the Dodgers (33-21) are in Cleveland to take on the Guardians (29-24).
Dustin May is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Tanner Bibee for Cleveland.
The Dodgers snapped their two-game losing streak with a 7-2 win in the first game of this series against the Guardians. Shohei Ohtani crushed the first pitch of the game for his 19th home run of the season. Seven different Dodgers drove in runs in the game and Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed just two runs in six innings in earning his sixth win of the season.
Lets dive into tonight's matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Dodgers at Guardians
- Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
- Time: 6:10PM EST
- Site: Progressive Field
- City: Cleveland, OH
- Network/Streaming: SNLA, CLEG
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Dodgers at the Guardians
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
- Moneyline: Dodgers (-136), Guardians (+115)
- Spread: Dodgers -1.5
- Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Guardians
- Pitching matchup for May 27, 2025: Dustin May vs. Tanner Bibee
- Dodgers: Dustin May (2-4, 4.09 ERA)
Last outing: 5/21 vs. Arizona - 6IP, 1ER, 5H, 1BB, 8Ks - Guardians: Tanner Bibee (4-4, 3.57 ERA)
Last outing: 5/22 at Detroit - 7IP, 0ER, 3H, 1BB, 8Ks
- Dodgers: Dustin May (2-4, 4.09 ERA)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Dodgers at Guardians
- The Dodgers are on a 3-game win streak at the Guardians
- The Over is 30-24 in Dodgers' games this season
- The Guardians have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight games against the Dodgers
- Shohei Ohtani has led off the last 2 games with home runs
- Freddie Freeman is hitting .393 (35-89) 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 Dodgers and the Guardians
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 Dodgers and the Guardians:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Dodgers on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cleveland Guardians 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
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)
NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On The Kings, Canadiens And Devils
Rob Blake stepped down as GM of the Los Angeles Kings on May 5. Eleven days later, they hired former Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland as Blake's replacement.
On May 22, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported Holland intends to be aggressive in this summer's trade and free-agent markets. He believes the new Kings GM could go “big-game hunting” to upgrade their roster following four straight first-round playoff exits to the Oilers.
The Kings have $21.7 million of projected cap room and 21 active roster players under contract for next season. LeBrun noted they have the cap space to make a big splash in the free-agent pool.
LeBrun wouldn't be surprised if Holland gets into the bidding for Mitch Marner if the Toronto Maple Leafs right winger tests the UFA market on July 1. He could pursue a more affordable option like Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets or Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks.
The Hockey News’ Jim Parsons listed Boeser and Marner as targets as well as the Leafs’ John Tavares, Oilers’ Connor Brown and the Florida Panthers’ Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett, but he noted there will be a lot of competition for the high-end free agents.
Turning to the Montreal Canadiens, they're expected to pursue a second-line center via trade or free agency following the Stanley Cup playoffs.
TVA Sports' Tony Marinaro and Jean-Charles Lajoie recently looked at possible UFA options for the Canadiens. They felt Mikael Granlund of the Dallas Stars might be a good fit.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Granlund lacks the size that the Canadiens could seek in a second-line center, However, Marinaro and Lajoie believe he'd be a decent short-term addition. Lajoie recommended signing the 33-year-old Granlund even if the Habs find someone else to center their second line, citing his ability to step up into that role if injuries strike.
Granlund is completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $5 million. He's coming off back-to-back seasons of 60-or-more points following a disappointing 2022-23 campaign with the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins.
In New Jersey, the Devils could move one or two players this summer to free up salary-cap space to address other roster needs.
James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now indicated the no-trade protection for 34-year-old forwards Ondrej Palat and Erik Haula will change on July 1. Palat's drops from a full no-movement clause to a 10-team no-trade list, while Haula's goes from a full no-trade to a six-team no-trade list.
Haula might be the easiest to move because he has a year left on his contract with an average annual value of $3.125 million. Palat has two years left at $6 million annually.
Nichols noted the Devils need more scoring, suggesting Drake Batherson of the Ottawa Senators, Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres and Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights as trade targets.
However, the Senators are unlikely to move Batherson and his team-friendly contract, the Sabres are reportedly keen to sign Tuch to an extension, while the Golden Knights probably prefer to retain the 24-year-old Dorofeyev, who tallied 35 goals this season.
Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
Yankees at Angels Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 27
Its Tuesday, May 27 and the Yankees (33-20) are in Anaheim to take on the Angels (25-28).
Carlos Rodón is slated to take the mound for New York against Tyler Anderson for Los Angeles.
Last night, Anthony Volpe ripped a bases loaded double and Ryan Yarbrough allowed just a run over six innings as the Yankees rolled to a 5-1 win. They now lead the AL East by six games. The Angels lost their third in a row to drop to 4.5 games behind the Mariners in the AL West.
Lets dive into tonight's matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Yankees at Angels
- Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
- Time: 9:38PM EST
- Site: Angel Stadium
- City: Anaheim, CA
- Network/Streaming: YES, FDSNW
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 Yankees at the Angels
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
- Moneyline: Yankees (-187), Angels (+156)
- Spread: Yankees -1.5
- Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Yankees at Angels
- Pitching matchup for May 27, 2025: Carlos Rodón vs. Tyler Anderson
- Yankees: Carlos Rodón (6-3, 2.88 ERA)
Last outing: 5/22 vs. Texas - 6IP, 0ER, 2H, 2BB, 8Ks - Angels: Tyler Anderson (2-1, 3.60 ERA)
Last outing: 5/22 at Athletics - 4.2IP, 5ER, 7H, 6BB, 0Ks
- Yankees: Carlos Rodón (6-3, 2.88 ERA)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Yankees at Angels
- The Yankees have won 6 of their last 8 on the road, while the Angels have lost 3 straight at home
- The Angels' last 5 games have gone over the Total when Tyler Anderson takes the mound
- With Tyler Anderson starting, betting the Angels on the Run Line has returned a 1.97-unit profit in 2025
- Anthony Volpe has hits in three straight games and is 5-17 (.294) through 4 games of the Yankees' current road trip
- Jasson Dominguez is 3-15 (.200) over his last 5 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 Yankees and the Angels
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 Yankees and the Angels:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Yankees on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Yankees -1.5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the UNDER 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
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)
Verlander throws bullpen, ‘trending forward' in injury rehab
Verlander throws bullpen, ‘trending forward' in injury rehab originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Giants starter Justin Verlander appears to be heading in the right direction as he recovers from a pectoral injury.
After hinting that he was limited by some pain during his May 18 start against the Athletics, the 42-year-old was placed on the 15-day IL on May 22, citing nerve irritation in his right pectoral muscle.
On Tuesday, Verlander threw around 40 pitches in a bullpen session as San Francisco’s road trip continues in Detroit.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner shared a positive update after throwing, saying he’s “trending forward,” as shared by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Shayna Rubin on X.
However, Verlander also shared he has some additional hurdles to clear to see if he can return off the IL for his scheduled start on Wednesday, June 4.
Verlander still hasn’t recorded a win in a Giants uniform, though he has rounded into shape after a slow start to the season. The veteran’s ERA through four starts was a startling 6.75, but he has recovered with a 2.97 mark in his last six outings.
San Francisco would welcome the return of Verlander to bolster its already strong pitching staff that has been one of the best in MLB — especially as its offense continues to struggle. Speaking of which, the Giants got some more good news Tuesday on that front as well.
Slugger Jerar Encarnacion, who is yet to make his season debut after sustaining a left hand fracture during spring training, will return to his rehab assignment Tuesday night with the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate Sacramento River Cats.
Encarnacion paused his rehab for a few days earlier this month after dealing with some hand soreness; he was eligible to come off the 60-day IL on Monday.
So, that’s two pieces of good news that potentially could help propel San Francisco amid a nine-game East Coast road trip.
SEC commissioner: ‘More traction’ on 16-team playoff than he anticipated
“Sixteen has had more traction in my league than I would’ve anticipated,” Greg Sankey said Monday at the kickoff of the league’s annual meetings.
Assessing Mets with one-third of season over: The good, the imperfect, and what's to come
The Mets' win over the White Sox on Monday at Citi Field marked the one-third point of the season, and New York is in strong shape.
With a 33-21 record, the Mets are on pace to finish the year at 99-63.
The above record or something close to it would almost certainly be enough to secure a playoff appearance, which would be historic for the Mets.
New York has never reached the postseason three times in a four-year span. That would change if they get to the playoffs this year following their run to the NLCS in 2024 and entry as a Wild Card in 2022.
Let's assess how things are going for the 2025 Mets and what's to come...
The good
The most obvious thing to highlight is the pitching staff.
Even while dealing with injuries to multiple key contributors in the starting rotation and bullpen (which lost A.J. Minter for the season), New York's pitching has been elite.
They lead all of baseball with a 2.78 ERA, and there have been some incredibly pleasant surprises that appear to have staying power.
In the rotation, Kodai Senga (1.46 ERA a year after losing most of his campaign due to injury) and Clay Holmes(2.98 ERA as he transitions from reliever to starter) are leading the way.
Meanwhile, David Peterson (2.79 ERA) is building off his impressive 2024, Griffin Canning (2.88 ERA) looks like a different pitcher than the one who was with the Angels last season, and Tylor Megill (3.56 ERA) has been solid while missing tons of bats.
In the bullpen, Edwin Diaz has been nearly unhittable after a brief early-season scuffle, Ryne Stanek and Reed Garrett have served as strong bridges to the closer, and both Huascar Brazoban and Max Kranick have emerged as serious weapons.
Offensively, it's been Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor carrying much of the load while having strong campaigns. But they need help.
The imperfect
The offense was humming along early, but has been in a serious rut over the past few weeks.
In the Mets' last 12 games, they've scored just 30 runs -- averaging a paltry 2.5 per game.
Some of the struggles have to do with the fact thatLindor, Juan Soto, and Alonso were slumping at the same time recently. But the Mets also aren't getting much from Brandon Nimmo (.683 OPS) or Mark Vientos (.682 OPS and just five home runs).
New York's approach at the plate has also left a lot to be desired, especially with runners in scoring position -- where they have struggled badly. The Mets are hitting just .213 in those spots, better than only the Rangers, lowly White Sox, and historically-abominable Rockies.
It's fair to believe those RISP numbers will see a serious improvement and that the offense will wake up soon enough. If not, some changes could be in store.
The defense has also been off, both in terms of physical errors and mental mistakes. The normally surehanded Lindor is having a merely very good season at shortstop, not a best-in-class one. Alonso has made a number of miscues at first base, and Vientos' defense at third base has really hurt New York's cause.
Going by Outs Above Average, Vientos is grading out as just about the worst defensive third baseman in the league -- in the first percentile.
With Jesse Winker out, Brett Baty up, and the DH spot open, it makes all the sense in the world for the Mets to use Vientos as the DH and other options at third -- at least for now.
Of course, the elephant in the room is Soto, who is not off to the start he or the Mets would have hoped. But it's impossible to believe he won't break out in a big way soon enough.
What's to come
The cavalry should be coming in waves starting soon, as injured players make their way back.
First could be Frankie Montas, who is in the middle of a rehab assignment. After Montas should be Sean Manaea, who is set for a live bullpen session on Thursday and is nearing a rehab assignment of his own.
The Mets are expected to turn to a six-man rotation once healthy, but it will be interesting to see how they handle things soon if they have seven viable starters for six spots.
Also making strides toward a return is Jose Siri, who is doing some running and is set to hit on Thursday. As far as Winker, he's a ways off.
Later in the season, it's possible the recently re-signed Brooks Raley makes his way back. Even Drew Smith could make a late-season return.
The Mets could also get a jolt from the minors, with the two most buzzy possibilities being pitchers Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean, who are both at Triple-A Syracuse.
One or both could make it up this year in the rotation, but it's also possible they debut in the bullpen -- something David Stearns has done in the past with top pitching prospects.
As SNY contributor Joe DeMayo recently pointed out, Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta all got a significant amount of time in the bullpen early in their careers while Stearns was in charge in Milwaukee.
Beyond the pitching prospects, it's possible the Mets get a contribution from outfielder Drew Gilbert, infielder Ronny Mauricio, and even infielder/outfielder Jett Williams.
There's also the trade deadline.
With the Mets now firmly in their championship window, the philosophy has changed when it comes to how they might handle things. That doesn't mean they're going to gut their budding farm system, but the willingness to deal a prospect of note for an impact return is different than it was last season.
Should Penguins Offer Sheet An RFA Goalie?
The Pittsburgh Penguins employ Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic as their goalie tandem. However, the duo and Joel Blomqvist (15 games) combined to give up the third-most goals in the NHL in 2024-25.
Jarry is under contract for three more seasons with a $5.375 million cap hit, while Nedeljkovic will enter the final year of his deal, valued at $2.5 million. Meanwhile, in the system, Joel Blomqvist is an RFA in 2026-27 and will make $886,667 next season.
After the Finnish netminder on the depth chart is Filip Larsson ($775,000) and Russian phenom Sergei Murashov ($861,110). Murashov finished his first season in North America in the ECHL with some time in the AHL, compiling a 19-10-1 record between the two leagues. Finally, Taylor Gauthier, who had an outstanding season in the ECHL, is an RFA.
Ultimately, the Penguins' future goal is to turn Murashov into their franchise netminder. At 21, he's still not ready to compete in the NHL, unless the organization decides to throw in the towel in 2025-26 in hopes of landing Gavin McKenna.
Realistically, Captain Sidney Crosby would not buy into that plan, which means Pittsburgh should consider revamping its goalie platoon for better success next season.
Considering the shallow depth of available free agent goalies, some intriguing RFA names are in the pool. If the Penguins decide to move on from Jarry, whose buyout would save up to $3.6 million next year, his future is a hot-button topic amongst the fanbase; his potential buyout would free up some cap space to take a flyer on an RFA goalie.
When looking at the list of RFA goalies, the Penguins would have to take a number if they wanted to offer sheet the Anaheim Ducks' young goalie Lukas Dostal. According to CapWages.com, he's projected to get a salary increase to over $5 million.
Although he's young and talented, Dostal could be looking for a starting role. Despite decent numbers on a bottom team, he may not be the answer, especially if someone wants to offer him an eight-year contract.
After Dostal, there are a handful of potential candidates, like Arvid Soderblom (Chicago), Cayden Primeau (Montreal), Jakub Dobes (Montreal), and Danill Tarasov (Columbus). Still, the best option may be Joel Hofer of the St. Louis Blues.
If anyone remembers, the Blues stirred the pot last summer by acquiring Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers via an offer sheet, which means someone will be out to return the favor.
Furthermore, Jordan Binnington is the starter in St. Louis, carrying the team to their 2019 Stanley Cup title. He recently reestablished himself at the 4 Nations Face-off, leading Canada to the championship. So, Hofer becomes expandable with Binnington between the pipes at the right price.
CapWages.com projects Hofer could ink a two-year extension at $2.8 million. As mentioned, if Jarry is bought out, the Penguins would save roughly $3.6 million next season, which is more than enough to get Hofer into black and gold and still have some money left over. Especially with Nedeljkovic potentially coming off the books after next season, his spot can go to Blomqvist or Larsson, who is ready to be a 20-25-game backup.
Meanwhile, at 24, the Penguins could offer him a four-year deal, giving the organization plenty of time to let Murashov mature in the ECHL and AHL without suffering any significant setbacks at the NHL level.
Although some in the fanbase may think that another few seasons in the minors will "hold Murashov back," the New York Rangers did not let Igor Shesterkin see any NHL action until he was 24, and at 26, he won the Vezina Trophy.
Goalies develop at a different pace. Of course, there are exceptions to the rules, like Andrei Vasilevskiy, who started to play 50 games at 22, and Connor Hellebuyck, who skated over 50 games at 23.
At this point, the Penguins need a goalie tandem they can rely on night in and night out. Hofer debuted in 2021-22 and played two games (1-1) before playing in six (3-1-1) in 2022-23. For the past two seasons, he's played 61 games, compiling a 31-20-4 record with a 2.65 GAA, .909 SV%, and two shutouts.
Outside of his first two games, Hofer has yet to record a sub .900 SV% in any season and continues to lower his GAA from a career-high 3.22 in 2022-23.
Hofer won't be the long-term solution in the net and does not need a lengthy contract offer, especially since Jarry's five-year deal hasn't aged well. But suppose the goal is to get Murashov ready to take the baton in a couple of seasons. Why not put the Blues in an uncomfortable position with an offer sheet for their number two goalie, giving him a chance to become an NHL starter on a team with a new head coach and a burning desire to return to the postseason?
Jacob deGrom fails to record strikeout for first time in MLB career
ARLINGTON, Texas — Jacob deGrom had a start like no other he’s ever had in the major leagues. The two-time Cy Young Award winner didn’t strike out a batter for the first time in his career.
“I actually didn’t know that. I heard it when I walked inside, but they were aggressive early,” deGrom said after going 5 1/3 innings for the Texas Rangers in his 229th career game, a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.
It was the first loss in the past seven starts for the 36-year-old deGrom (4-2), who has made 11 starts overall this season after missing most of the last two years following his second Tommy John surgery.
Daulton Varsho hit a solo homer in the first inning, and the only other run deGrom allowed came on a sacrifice fly. He gave up five hits and walked two before manager Bruce Bochy pulled him in the sixth after 81 pitches.
“They were putting a lot of balls in play early. So I was like, oh man, I might be able to go deep in this game ... let’s see how deep I can go in this and try to keep them off the board,” deGrom said. “Fighting myself, started yanking the ball, walked a couple guys, just wasn’t very efficient.”
Meanwhile, Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman threw 72 of his 96 pitches for strikes — with first-pitch strikes to 26 of the 29 batters he faced for a career-high 89.7%. His first 14 pitches were strikes, and he needed only 12 of those to get through the first two innings.
Gausman (5-4) struck out six in eight innings, with all his punchouts coming after Wyatt Langford’s one-out homer in the fourth. Two of the strikeouts came when the right-hander retired three consecutive batters after Texas opened the fifth with back-to-back bloop singles.
“We got some good jam shots early in the game,” Gausman said. “Being able to pound those guys so early in the game in, it opened up for them chasing later in the game.”
As for pulling deGrom in a 2-1 game, Bochy said he wanted to lighten the load on a pitcher who threw 103 pitches over seven innings against the New York Yankees last Wednesday and at least 90 pitches in each of his two starts before that.
“He’s been working pretty hard,” Bochy said. “It’s what we thought this game would be, a tight ballgame, two really, really good pitchers going out there. They came out on the good end. ... Jacob was good, their guy was really good.”
DeGrom has 1,728 career strikeouts, and entered Monday’s game with a 30.9% career strikeout rate. He had multiple strikeouts in all but one of his previous 228 starts, at Philadelphia on Sept. 16, 2020, when he had only one strikeout before exiting after two innings with a right hamstring spasm. That was 10 days after he struck out 12 Phillies in a game.
There are no physical issues this time, and deGrom said he hasn’t even thought about his workload — 63 1/3 innings through 11 starts. He threw only 64 1/3 innings during his final season with the New York Mets in 2022, when he didn’t make his first big league start until Aug. 2 after being shut down late in spring training because of a stress reaction in his right scapula.
The right-hander threw just 41 innings combined the past two seasons after signing a five-year, $185 million contract with Texas in free agency.
“I feel good. I was just fighting myself today, flying open,” deGrom said. “It’s something I’ve been working on almost every start. And today, it kind of took a step in the wrong direction. So I wasn’t able to really locate down and pitch off that with my slider.”
Simon Yates and Richard Carapaz close on Giro d’Italia lead after chaotic stage
Primoz Roglic abandons on stage 16 after heavy crash
Alessio Martinelli taken to hospital after ravine rescue
Christian Scaroni won an action-packed stage of the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday, as Isaac del Toro’s rivals cut into his overall lead and favourite Primoz Roglic abandoned the race.
Stage 16 of the Giro was a 203km ride from Piazzola sul Brenta to San Valentino, featuring four brutal climbs totalling up to 4,900m of elevation, with heavy rainfall leading to several crashes.
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