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Athletics at Astros Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 24

Its Thursday, July 24 and the Athletics (42-62) are in Houston to begin a series against the Astros (60-42).

Luis Severino is slated to take the mound for Oakland against Jason Alexander for Houston.

The American League West-leading Astros welcome the A's into town following a three-game sweep of the Diamondbacks in Phoenix. Christian Walker continued his torrid July (.348 batting average) with a couple hits the last of which drove in the winning run in the ninth inning of yesterday's 4-3 win.

The Athletics were swept by the Rangers in Arlington. A lack of offense was the issue as the A's managed just five runs over the course of the three-game series. Yesterday, Patrick Corbin and three relievers limited the A's to seven hits and just one run in a 2-1 win. The Athletics have now lost four in a row.

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 Athletics at Astros

  • Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025
  • Time: 8:10PM EST
  • Site: Minute Maid Park
  • City: Houston, TX
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSCA, SCHN, MLBN

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

Odds for the Athletics at the Astros

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Athletics (+107), Astros (-126)
  • Spread:  Astros -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Athletics at Astros

  • Pitching matchup for July 24, 2025: Luis Severino vs. Jason Alexander
    • Athletics: Luis Severino (3-11, 5.10 ERA)
      Last outing: July 19 at Cleveland - 3.60 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Astros: Jason Alexander (1-0, 18.00 ERA)
      Last outing: July 4 at Dodgers - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Athletics at Astros

  • The Astros have won 3 straight home games against the Athletics
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Athletics' last 5 road games
  • The Astros have covered the Run Line in 3 straight home games against the Athletics
  • Jose Altuve is enjoying a modest 4-game hitting streak (7-17) and is hitting .373 in July (25-67)
  • Brent Rooker tallied 2 hits yesterday to snap an 0-11 stretch over the previous 3 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 Athletics and the Astros

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 Thursday's game between the Athletics and the Astros:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Houston Astros on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Oakland Athletics at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards 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)
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Niang shares hilariously self-aware take on replacing Porzingis in Boston

Niang shares hilariously self-aware take on replacing Porzingis in Boston originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Georges Niang knows the drill, it appears.

The veteran forward was part of a three-team trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks and Niang to the Boston Celtics in early July. The deal was primarily a cost-cutting move for the Celtics, who saved more than $22 million in cap space by replacing Porzingis’ $30.7 million salary with Niang’s $8.2 million expiring contract.

That’s a positive development in Boston’s quest to get under the second apron of the NBA’s luxury tax. But with all due respect to Niang, the trade doesn’t exactly get the Celtics closer to Banner 19. And as a Massachusetts native who grew up in Methuen as a Celtics fan, he’s well aware of how his addition is being received.

“I’m a Boston kid — I then get traded for Porzingis,” Niang told co-hosts Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller on The OGs podcast. “You know how tough Boston fans are. They don’t give a s— if I’m from Boston or not.

“They’re like, ‘You just took our unicorn and replaced it with a minivan. Get the f— out of here!’ I’m like public enemy No. 1. They’re like, ‘What is this? This ain’t shiny, man, this got scratches on it, man.'”

There’s a reason why Porzingis is nicknamed “The Unicorn” and Niang goes by “The Minivan.” The former is a highly-skilled, 7-foot-2 big man who’s an elite 3-point shooter and rim protector, while the latter is a wider-bodied, 6-foot-7 forward who’s more of a “glue guy” role player than game-changer.

To Niang’s credit, he understands that talent discrepancy and is determined to make an impact however he can on a Celtics team that’s in “reset” mode after losing Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles.

“Now I’m kind of in the mode of like, OK, obviously JT is out, but Boston has done a really good job, if you’ve looked at it when guys miss games, (they still win),” Niang continued. “It’s their culture, it’s who they are.

“So it’s like, ‘OK Georges, now what can you do to maximize what you have to help them win games?’ Because you don’t wanna be in Boston losing, that’s for sure.

“That’s kind of how I’ve transitioned my mindset. It’s like, ‘OK, what can I do this summer? Can I come in in the best shape that I’m in, and also mentor and kind of teach (the younger players), and also learn, because they’ve won championships, and kind of dial that all into one and focus every day on like, ‘How can I win the day, and then win games?'”

Whether Niang actually gets that opportunity is unclear. The Celtics are currently just barely over the second apron and could further cut costs by dealing Niang or Anfernee Simons to another team, either before the 2025-26 season or ahead of the NBA trade deadline in February.

If Niang is on the Opening Day roster, however, he’ll be fully prepared for whatever reception C’s fans give him at TD Garden.

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Tour de France 2025: Ben O’Connor wins stage 18 as Scotland’s Oscar Onley makes podium charge – as it happened

The overall race remains fully in the hands of the Tadej Pogacar despite the Australian’s breakaway to Courchevel

“Today is another chance,” Jonas Vingegaard tells Matt Stephens. “We will fight until the end. Today is going to be a proper hard stage, and we’ll do everything we can.

“The last, what is it? Five, 6km or so, is super-steep [on the final climb]. Before that, there is a flatter section. In general it’s a very hard climb, a very long climb.

Continue reading...
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Padres at Cardinals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 24

Its Thursday, July 24 and the Padres (55-47) are in St. Louis to open a series against the Cardinals (52-51).

Yu Darvish is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Sonny Gray for St. Louis.

Each of these clubs comes into the series riding a two-game losing streak. The Padres lost for the second straight day to the Marlins in Miami on Wednesday. San Diego's offense was held in check by Sandy Alcantara who allowed just one unearned run over seven innings as the Marlins won 3-2. The Cards lost their second straight to the Rockies in Denver yesterday. St. Louis was held to five hits by Tanner Gordon and a couple of Colorado relievers in a 6-0 loss.

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 Padres at Cardinals

  • Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025
  • Time: 7:45PM EST
  • Site: Busch Stadium
  • City: St. Louis, MO
  • Network/Streaming: SDPA, FDSNMW

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

Odds for the Padres at the Cardinals

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Padres (+115), Cardinals (-136)
  • Spread:  Cardinals -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Cardinals

  • Pitching matchup for July 24, 2025: Yu Darvish vs. Sonny Gray
    • Padres: Yu Darvish (0-2, 6.08 ERA)
      Last outing: July 19 at Washington - 5.40 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 1 Strikeouts
    • Cardinals: Sonny Gray (9-4, 4.04 ERA)
      Last outing: July 19 at Arizona - 21.60 ERA, 8 Earned Runs Allowed, 11 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Cardinals

  • The Cardinals are 1-5 in their last 6 games
  • Manny Machado is 2-19 in 5 games since the All-Star Break
  • Willson Contreras has hits in 4 of 5 games since the All-Star Break (7-20)
  • Fernando Tatis Jr. is 2-17 (.118) since the All-Star Break
  • Nolan Arenado is 7-32 (.219) in July

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 Thursday’s game between the Padres and the Cardinals

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 Thursday's game between the Padres and the Cardinals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Diego Padres at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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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Blue Jays at Tigers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 24

Its Thursday, July 24 and the Blue Jays (60-42) are in Detroit to take on the Tigers (60-43).

Eric Lauer is slated to take the mound for Toronto against Reese Olson for Detroit.

It was not long ago that the Tigers were holding the best record in baseball, but they have lost nine of their last ten games. Earlier this week they were swept in Pittsburgh by the Bucs. Wednesday, the Pirates completed the sweep with a 6-1 win over Detroit. Troy Melton was jumped allowing six runs in the first three innings.

Toronto arrives in Motown with a better record than the Tigers following a series win over the Yankees. Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette each drove in a pair of runs and the Jays took advantage of four New York errors to win their second in the three-game series, 8-4.

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 Tigers

  • Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: Comerica Park
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: Sportsnet, FDSNDT, MLBN

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

Odds for the Blue Jays at the Tigers

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Blue Jays (+114), Tigers (-135)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Tigers

  • Pitching matchup for July 24, 2025: Eric Lauer vs. Reese Olson
    • Blue Jays: Eric Lauer (5-2, 2.80 ERA)
      Last outing: July 19 vs. San Francisco - 3.00 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Tigers: Reese Olson (4-3, 2.71 ERA)
      Last outing: July 18 at Texas - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Blue Jays at Tigers

  • The Tigers have lost 9 of their last 10 games
  • 5 of the Blue Jays' last 7 road games have stayed under the Total
  • George Springer is 8-18 since the All-Star Break
  • Vlad Guerrero Jr. is riding a modest 4-game hitting streak (7-14)

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 Tigers

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 Thursday's game between the Blue Jays and the Tigers:

  • 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 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)
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Canadiens: Wheeler Redrafts The 2022 Draft

Each year, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler kills time in the off-season by writing a re-draft of the previous NHL draft. This year, he takes on the 2022 class, which was, incidentally, the last time the draft was held in Montreal. That year, talking heads and pundits alike agreed that there were no generational talents available. However, it was still the year the Montreal Canadiens won the lottery and secured the first-overall pick.

It was the first time since 1980 that they got the first pick. Back then, they had grabbed Doug Wickenheiser, who played only 556 games in his NHL career, spending four seasons with the Canadiens. As you know, they selected Juraj Slafkovsky with that pick as plenty of fans attended the draft wearing pre-made Shane Wright jerseys. Let’s see if Wheeler agrees with their pick.

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Unsurprisingly, in hindsight, The Athletic’s journalist believes Logan Cooley should have been the first overall pick. He uses mainly his offensive stats to back his decision, mentioning that the Utah Mammoth pivot is the only one from that draft to be his team’s first-line center and leads his draft class in goals (45), goals-per-game (0.29), assists per game (0.41), and points per game (0.69).

You can’t argue with numbers. Cooley is more productive than Slafkovsky, who currently has 111 points in 200 games for a 0.56 point-per-game average. However, the Canadiens’ power forward sample size is bigger since Cooley has featured in only 157 games. Furthermore, according to last season’s numbers, Cooley tends to score in bunches. He has had four three-point games this past season, compared to two for Slafkovsky. Cooley has the most extended dry spell with a six-game pointless streak compared to the Habs’ player, five.

Cooley has got a 30-second edge in average time-on-ice, which goes to show just how important he is for his team, to his credit. Most of Wheeler’s argument is based on statistics, though; there’s more to the game than points. As Kent Hughes said not so long ago, Slafkovsky wasn’t drafted to score in bunches; he was drafted to do more than that.

Still, if you think about it, had the Canadiens picked Cooley, they may not be trying to acquire a second top-six center this offseason; they would have Nick Suzuki and Cooley. With Ivan Demidov’s arrival, he would slot in on the first line alongside Suzuki and Cole Caufield. There would still be a hole on the wing, but one could argue that wingers are easier to find than centers.

Cooley’s selection would undoubtedly have been a good one, but Slafkovsky’s wasn’t a bad one, and we’ve yet to see the big Slovak’s ceiling. When he comes to camp this season, it will be interesting to see if he’ll be able to get things going right away, instead of being on the slow burn for the start of the season.

In the second place of the draft, Wheeler doesn’t have blueliner Simon Nemec, whom the New Jersey Devils originally picked (he had him going seventh to the Chicago Blackhawks) in that spot. Still, he does have another defender, Lane Hutson. The Calder Trophy winner makes the most significant jump of the exercise, going from pick 62 to pick number two.

Wheeler not only calls Hutson an elite defenseman but also confesses to having debated putting him number one overall ahead of Logan Cooley, weighing the value of a good but not superstar first-line center versus an all-star blueliner. He ultimately adds that he could change his mind if he were to redo the exercise at the decade mark.

It’s also worth noting that in his pre-draft rankings, the writer had him going 17th overall, way higher than he was picked, and he feels vindicated in that sense. All teams passed on him and even Montreal did, picking Owen Beck and Filip Mesar ahead of him. He then goes on to mention excerpts of the aforementioned pre-draft ranking. Further showing how write he was… It’s impossible to blame him there, given how tremendously well Hutson’s first season with the Canadiens went.

No other Canadiens make the first round, with Filip Mesar falling completely off the board. It’s impossible to argue that, since he has yet to make any significant impact so far. He couldn’t dominate in junior hockey, scoring 51 and 52 points in his two seasons with the Kitchener Rangers before being brought up to the AHL last season, where he put up 18 points in 42 games. During the Laval Rocket’s playoff run, he only got to suit up in one of the 13 games.

However, Owen Beck gets an honourable mention, meaning that he very nearly snuck in the first round. As you’ll recall, he was selected 33rd overall by the Canadiens, the first pick of the second round.

Photo credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

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Orioles at Guardians Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 24

Its Thursday, July 24 and the Orioles (44-57) are in Cleveland looking to avoid being swept by the Guardians (51-50).

Charlie Morton is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Logan Allen for Cleveland.

The Guardians won their third in a row against Baltimore and fourth straight overall Wednesday. Kyle Manzardo drove in a pair of runs to lead Cleveland to a 3-2 win over Baltimore. Slade Cecconi and three relievers limited the O's to five hits as the Guardians moved a game over .500.

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 Orioles at Guardians

  • Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025
  • Time: 1:10PM EST
  • Site: Progressive Field
  • City: Cleveland, OH
  • Network/Streaming: MASN, CLEG, MLBN

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

Odds for the Orioles at the Guardians

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (-101), Guardians (-119)
  • Spread:  Guardians 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Guardians

  • Pitching matchup for July 24, 2025: Charlie Morton vs. Logan Allen
    • Orioles: Charlie Morton (5-8, 5.58 ERA)
      Last outing: July 18 at Tampa Bay - 11.81 ERA, 7 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Guardians: Logan Allen (6-8, 4.06 ERA)
      Last outing: July 19 vs. Athletics - 5.06 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Orioles at Guardians

  • The Guardians have won 4 of their last 5 home games, while the Orioles have lost 6 of 7
  • 7 of the Orioles' last 9 road games in Cleveland have gone over the Total
  • Jackson Holliday is riding a modest 4-game hitting streak (6-17) to raise his batting average for the season to .261
  • Jose Ramirez is hitting .294 (5-17) since the All-Star Break

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

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Orioles 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 Thursday's game between the Orioles and the Guardians:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cleveland Guardians on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Baltimore Orioles at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play 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)
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Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Dodgers lose Tanner Scott to elbow injury

In this week's Closer Report, how do the Dodgers handle the ninth inning after losing Tanner Scott to the injured list with left elbow inflammation? And Trevor Megill's clean-inning streak moves him into the elite tier. That and more as we run down the last week in saves.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

Tier 1: At the Top

Josh Hader - Houston Astros
Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners

Hader tossed two innings in a non-save situation against the Mariners on Saturday, then worked around two walks to convert his 26th save against the Diamondbacks on Monday. With Hader getting the day off, Bryan King stepped in for a save on Tuesday before Hader came back Wednesday for another save. Hader holds a 2.31 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and a 68/13 K/BB ratio across 46 2/3 innings. Muñoz joins Hader at the top with a 1.42 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a 50/17 K/BB ratio across 38 innings after picking up his 22nd save Tuesday against the Brewers.

Tier 2: The Elite

Edwin Díaz - New York Mets
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins
Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians
Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers

Díaz is approaching the top tier. He blew a save and fell in line for a win Sunday against the Reds, then bounced back with a save Monday, striking out the side against the Angels. The 31-year-old right-hander then converted a four-out save with two strikeouts on Wednesday for his 21st of the season. In Boston, Chapman made one appearance this week, striking out one batter in a scoreless inning against the Phillies on Monday.

Duran worked a scoreless inning against the Rockies in Colorado on Sunday, then closed out the game against the Dodgers on Tuesday with a five-run lead. He surrendered a two-run homer to Shohei Ohtani, his first home run allowed all season. The 27-year-old right-hander has posted a 1.94 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 51/16 K/BB ratio across 46 1/3 innings while converting 15 saves.

Clase picked up three saves this week, working scoreless innings against the Athletics and Orioles. The 27-year-old right-hander is up to 23 with a 2.74 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 47/10 K/BB ratio across 46 innings. Meanwhile, Suarez worked a scoreless inning against the Marlins on Monday for his MLB-leading 29th save.

It's time Megill joins the elite tier with another excellent week on the mound. He's tossed five straight perfect innings, picking up two more saves. The 31-year-old right-hander is up to 23 saves with a 2.27 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 43/15 K/BB ratio across 35 2/3 innings.

Tier 3: The Solid Options

Mason Miller - Athletics
Devin Williams - New York Yankees
Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles
Will Vest - Detroit Tigers
Emilio Pagán - Cincinnati Reds
David Bednar - Pittsburgh Pirates
Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
Camilo Doval - San Francisco Giants
Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals
Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays
Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals
Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels

Not much action for Miller. He tossed just three pitches to record one out in his only appearance this week against the Rangers. In New York, Williams gave up runs in back-to-back outings against Atlanta this week. He held on for the save Sunday before converting his 15th with a scoreless inning against the Blue Jays on Tuesday. Behind Williams, Luke Weaver is getting back on track with four straight scoreless outings after giving up two runs in three consecutive appearances early this month.

Bautista walked three batters and gave up a run before holding on for the save against the Rays on Sunday. The 30-year-old right-hander will be a name to watch at the trade deadline with 19 saves and a 2.60 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 50/23 K/BB ratio across 34 2/3 innings.

Vest recorded four outs on Sunday, striking out two batters for his 16th save of the season. Behind Vest, Tommy Kahnle has struggled this month with nine runs allowed over his last four appearances and likely won't factor into the saves mix any time soon.

Pagán worked around a hit and a walk, striking out one batter in a scoreless frame against the Mets on Saturday for his 21st save to go with a 2.83 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and a 51/14 K/BB ratio across 41 1/3 innings. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, Bednar made three consecutive scoreless appearances, converting two saves against the Tigers to bring his total to 15.

Palencia worked a clean inning for his 13th save against the Red Sox on Friday, then pitched a scoreless frame in a non-save situation against the Royals on Tuesday.

With no save chances this week, Doval got some work in on Tuesday in a blowout victory over the Braves, striking out two batters in a scoreless inning. And it was similar duties for Helsley, who pitched a scoreless frame against the Diamondbacks on Sunday in a non-save situation.

Fairbanks gave up a run against the Orioles on Saturday before holding on for the save. He then tossed a clean inning against the White Sox on Tuesday for his 17th save. Meanwhile, Hoffman converted two saves this week before giving up a solo homer to take a loss on Tuesday in his fourth outing in five days. The 32-year-old right-hander is up to 24 saves with a 4.78 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a 60/11 K/BB ratio across 43 1/3 innings.

Estévez surrendered two runs to blow the save and take the loss against the Marlins on Friday, then bounced back with his 26th save of the season Sunday, recording the final out in the ninth against Miami. And in Anaheim, Jansen worked a perfect ninth for a save against the Phillies on Friday.

Tier 4: Here for the Saves

Kirby Yates/Alex Vesia - Los Angeles Dodgers
Matt Strahm/Orion Kerkering - Philadelphia Phillies
Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals
Robert Garcia - Texas Rangers

The Dodgers were dealt a significant blow to their bullpen on Tuesday when they put closer Tanner Scott on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation. An MRI revealed no ligament damage, and he's confident he can pitch again this season. In his absence, Yates and Vesia could work in a matchup-based committee in the ninth inning. Yates converted the team's save Monday against the Twins. Blake Treinen is on track to return from the injured list by the end of the month and could be in the saves mix once he's activated.

No saves out of Philadelphia this week, with Kerkering and Strahm working in tandem. The Phillies could be a team that acquires someone to solidify things in the ninth by the trade deadline.

Finnegan has seen his ERA balloon over his last several outings, giving up 10 runs over his last four appearances. However, he did get a save in, striking out two in a scoreless frame against the Padres on Saturday for his first save since June 6.

Garcia converted a save on Friday, striking out two against the Tigers for his seventh on the year. He then converted his eighth against the Athletics on Wednesday.

Tier 5: Bottom of the Barrel

Kevin Ginkel - Arizona Diamondbacks
Anthony Bender/Ronny Henriquez - Miami Marlins
Grant Taylor - Chicago White Sox
Seth Halvorsen/Victor Vodnik - Colorado Rockies

Relievers On The Rise/Stash Candidates

While Adrian Morejon isn't necessarily next in line for saves in San Diego, his usage is making him incredibly valuable. The 26-year-old left-hander recorded five outs against the Marlins on Monday to fall in line for his eighth win of the season to go with a pair of saves. Morejon was named a 2025 All-Star for the first time and boasts a 1.76 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and a 45/9 K/BB ratio across 46 innings. Another reliever catching my attention is Cleveland's Erik Sabrowski. The 27-year-old left-hander impressed in his MLB debut last year, striking out 19 batters over 12 2/3 scoreless innings. After a setback with an elbow injury, he's returned to the Guardians roster and has allowed just two runs with 15 strikeouts over 9 1/3 frames, picking up where he left off, flashing that elite strikeout ability.

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Yankees' defense 'just not good enough' after another series loss to Blue Jays

The series finale between the Yankees and Blue Jays was one of the sloppiest of the season, as four New York errors led to an 8-4 loss on Wednesday and a series loss. Not to mention the Yankees have fallen even further behind Toronto in the AL East race because of it.

It was an odd game. The Yankees actually played great defense in the early innings, thanks to a running grab by Trent Grisham and a diving stop and throw from Jazz Chisholm Jr., but the book on the Yankees has been out since last year's World Series, and it hasn't changed much since. Put the ball in play, and teams can take advantage of Yankee errors, and that's exactly what the Blue Jays did.

And just like the ill-fated fifth inning in the 2024 World Series, the same happened on Wednesday.

Starter Max Fried walked Davis Schneider and George Springer with one out and the score tied 2-2 in the fifth. A wild pitch put runners at second and third for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to hit a chopper down the third base line. Fried, a Gold Glove pitcher, got a good jump off the mound and fielded the ball but spun around and made an inaccurate throw that got past catcher J.C. Escarra. Two runners would score on the Fried error.

"Went for it, thought I might have been closer to the plate," Fried said of the play. "I was getting close to the line and if I kept going, I’m going to throw at [the runner] and tried to throw it around him. Just not a good throw."

Fried was more frustrated with the walks in that inning and said that can't happen, especially with the game tied.

Luckily for the Yankees, Aaron Judge's two-run blast, which came after a Guerrero error, got the game even again in the sixth inning. But in the bottom of the inning, more errors and miscues occurred.

Ernie Clement hit a leadoff triple after Cody Bellinger lost the fly ball in the sky, setting up the go-ahead double from Myles Straw. Straw then scored with two outs when Will Wagner hit a grounder to first baseman Ben Rice, who booted what surely would have been the final out of the inning.

"Today was a little shaky," Bellinger said of the defense. "For me, the fly ball that I missed kinda started it all. We gotta play a little better. I got confidence in this group of guys. The team over there is a good team. They are playing good baseball. Ultimately, they are capitalizing on a lot of mistakes."

Jul 23, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried (54) stands between third baseman Oswald Peraza (18, left) and shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) as he waits to be relieved in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre
Jul 23, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried (54) stands between third baseman Oswald Peraza (18, left) and shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) as he waits to be relieved in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre / Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

The Yankees would make two more errors that wouldn't come back to bite them, but it was an overall ugly game.

"Just not good enough [defensively]," manager Aaron Boone said after the game. "I feel we have a very good defensive club, but the seven games we played up here, whether it’s through error or not making a play we have to make, it’s cost us in these two series up here, where it’s really hurt. We have to tighten it up, confident we will. We have good defenders here, but tonight was obviously a rough night for us."

In seven games playing in Toronto, the Yankees are 1-6, but more alarming are the errors. The Yankees have committed 11 errors in seven games at Rogers Centre and the Blue Jays took full advantage.

When asked about why the defense has been so poor in Toronto, Boone didn't really have an answer. He briefly mentioned the turf but didn't want to use it as an excuse. He felt the team played well defensively in their series win in Atlanta this past weekend, so he chokes it up to "just two bad series." Judge also didn't have an answer about the Toronto factor when he was asked.

"It’s tough to say. We haven’t been playing that well on defense. We have a lot of things we have to clean up," he said. "We go into this off day, refocus and tighten up on defense. Pitchers are pitching well enough to keep us in games so the offense can do its thing. We give any good team extra outs; it’s not going to work out for us."

"Defense is about work, putting the work in. That’s what we’ll continue to do," Boone said of how the Yankees can improve the defense midseason. "We have good defenders. We have really good defenders. It’s just something that…defense is a game of under control and calm. The last thing I want to do is play tight and play to not make a mistake. Gotta keep working. Keep working on our fundamentals day in and day out and it’ll continue to get better. And a lot of the season, the defense has been very good. It’s these two series where it’s not been good. We lost games to them in big part because we’ve given them outs."

Judge was asked if he felt the team was playing "tight," and the captain disagreed with the notion, pointing to the team's experience, especially for those who were there for the World Series run.

"We’re battle-tested. We never feel like any guy in here is getting tight or nervous," he said. "You gotta play aggressive…make some plays. Hasn’t gone our way the last couple of nights, but that’s all stuff we have to clean up. It’s in our control. We’ll take care of it."

The Yankees won't have much time to "take care of it." After an off day on Thursday, they'll start a stretch of 13 games in 13 days beginning by hosting the Phillies this weekend.

And while there's still more than two months to go, with a trade deadline upcoming, the Yankees are confident they can get on a hot streak and set themselves up for a playoff berth and run.

"It’s coming. We haven’t had our hot streak yet," Judge said with a smile. "We’re going to and when it does, watch out."

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New Penguins' Defenseman Recalls Fighting Assistant General Manager in NHL Debut

New Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman Connor Clifton is thrilled for his opportunity in a new place and on a new team this season.

And - as it turns out - he has some familiarity with a few people in the Penguins' organization.

On Tuesday, Clifton spoke about his connection to new head coach Dan Muse from his collegiate years. But he also has a prior connection to Penguins' assistant general manager Jason Spezza.

Spezza, 42, played 18 NHL seasons, amassing 363 goals and 995 points in in 1,248 career games. Not particularly known as a fighter - he had 604 total penalty minutes in his career - Spezza didn't drop the gloves very often at all. 

However, he did drop the gloves with Clifton during the young defenseman's NHL debut with the Boston Bruins on Nov. 16, 2018. 

 “Yeah, I’ve got to talk to him about that, too, actually," Clifton remarked. "I was just trying to survive my NHL debut - just trying to survive out there - and ended up getting a fight with him. I know he doesn’t fight often. It was quick, and we served our time in the box.

He continued: "But, yeah, it was funny… he was looking for it more than me, I was just trying to survive out there for game one. I had a little laugh with him - I think it must have been a year or two after when he was in Toronto - and I hear, ‘Round Two?’ And I was like, ‘No man, we already got ours.’"

Clifton, 30, has spent parts of seven seasons in the NHL between the Bruins and Buffalo Sabres, and he has registered 15 goals, 77 points, and 290 penalty minutes in 384 games.

New Penguins' Defenseman Looks Forward To 'Fresh Start'New Penguins' Defenseman Looks Forward To 'Fresh Start'New Pittsburgh Penguins’ defenseman Connor Clifton missed a few important calls back on Jun. 28 while the 2025 NHL Draft was happening. 

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Feature Image Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

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Yankees 2025 MLB trade deadline buzz: NY viewed as 'frontrunner' for David Bednar

Here's the latest Yankees news and buzz ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline...

July 31, 1:40 a.m.

The Yankees and Pirates are continuing to work on a trade that would bring closer David Bednar to the Bronx, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Per Rosenthal, an official from one team involved in the chase for Bednar believes the Yankees are the frontrunner.

After a down 2024, Bednar has returned to form as one of the best closers in the National League.

In 42 appearances, he's pitched to a 2.37 ERA while converting 17 saves.

Bednar would join Luke Weaver and Devin Williams in the bullpen as the Yankees look to shore up their pen for a postseason run.

This trade also wouldn't be a rental, since Bednar is arbitration-eligible for the 2026 season.

July 25, 11:32 a.m.

While Eugenio Suarez and Ryan McMahon have been names to keep an eye on for the Yankees ahead of the trade deadline, there's another infielder who could fill that role.

New York would have interest in St. Louis Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan, if he's made available, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

Heyman notes that many teams, including the Houston Astros, would also be in on Donovan if the Cardinals decide to sell. St. Louis is currently 53-51, nine games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and 2.5 games back of the San Diego Padres for the third Wild Card spot.

Donovan, 28, was named to his first All-Star team this season and is hitting .296 with nine home runs and 42 RBI over 96 games. He won a Gold Glove in 2022, the first year utility players had their own category, when he played all four infield positions, LF, RF, and DH.

This season, Donovan has logged 78 games at second base, six at SS, 18 in LF, and two as the DH. Overall, he's played 2B (203 games) and LF (163 games) the most in his career, followed by third base with 46 games.

July 23, 11:45 p.m.

As the Yankees continue to search for a potential new third baseman, the team's ranking of preferred candidates has reportedly been determined.

According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the Yankees are interested in Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon. However, the team sees McMahon as a backup plan to trying to trade for Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez.

Suarez is the hottest hitter this trade deadline and the Yankees are just one of many teams inquiring about him, so the price tag may be too high for New York.

YES Network's Jack Curry spoke about the Yankees' thoughts on the third base market and poured some cold water on the names the team has been attached to.

"The vibe I’m getting from the Yankees, they do not have a lot of exuberance for some of the names that have been attached to them: Suarez, [Pirates 3B Ke'Bryan] Hayes, McMahon," Curry said. "They are a very detail-oriented organization when they make these kinds of decisions."

Curry criticized Suarez's defense and his fit on the team while also pointing out the contracts and lack of offense from Hayes and McMahon as potential reasons the Yankees don't acquire them.

Hayes' contract still has five years of control at $30 million while McMahon is under contract through 2027 with $32 million remaining after this season.

July 19, 8:27 p.m.

The Yankees are in the market for a third baseman and have reportedly shown interest in the top target at this trade deadline.

According to the New York Post's Jon Heyman, the Yankees are among the teams that have inquired about Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez. Other teams include the Mariners and Cubs, among "many others."