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Mets at Nationals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 21

It's Thursday, August 21 and the Mets (67-59) are in Washington to take on the Nationals (51-75). Sean Manaea is slated to take the mound for New York against MacKenzie Gore for Washington.

The series is split after Washington took the second game, 5-4 to follow up an 8-1 loss. The loss snapped the Mets three-game winning streak that followed a rough patch (5-12 over the last 17 games).

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Mets at Nationals

  • Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025
  • Time: 4:05PM EST
  • Site: Nationals Park
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming: SNY, 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 Mets at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Mets (-140), Nationals (+118)
  • Spread:  Mets -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mets at Nationals

  • Pitching matchup for August 21, 2025: Sean Manaea vs. MacKenzie Gore
    • Mets: Sean Manaea, (1-1, 4.78 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.20 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Nationals: MacKenzie Gore, (5-12, 4.04 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.00 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Mets and the Nationals

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday’s game between the Mets and the Nationals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Mets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Mets at Nationals

  • New York is 3-1 in the last 4 games
  • New York is 5-12 over the last 17 games
  • Washington is 5-5 over the last 10 games
  • The Nationals have a losing record (10-20) in divisional matchups this season
  • It has been 3 games since the Mets last failed to cover 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!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Canadiens: Fans Feel Very Confident About The Habs’ Front Office

Every year, The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn writes an article in which in ranks the NHL teams’ front offices in light of how much confidence fans have in them. Over the last few years, the Montreal Canadiens’ brass has risen through these rankings, and this year is no exception.

Last August, the Sainte-Flanelle’s front office landed in sixth place, but this year, it’s cracking the top five with a fifth-place finish. The Canadiens’ brass is the highest ranking amongst rebuilding teams since the first four places are occupied by teams that have had plenty of success over the years.

2 Canadiens Who Could Be Nice Surprises
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Bill Zito and his staff come in first place, which makes sense, seeing they are the architects of the reigning and repeating Stanley Cup champions Florida Panthers, Jim Nill and the Dallas Stars come in second place which makes sense since Nill has won the last three GM of the Year awards and the Carolina Hurricanes land in third place having showed that they know how to make lemonade when life gives them lemon (they got out of the Mikko Rantanen fiasco with Logan Stankoven). Julien Brisebois and his Tampa Bay Lightning come in fourth place. While he was handed the reins of a solid core by former GM Steve Yzerman in 2018, Brisebois had made this team his own and showed he can build on the fly while juggling around the salary cap like the best of them.

Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have been able to lead the Canadiens high in these rankings because of their ability to see the big picture and take calculated risks. While some gambles didn’t exactly pan out like they would have liked, or at least not yet (Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook), most of the time they fall on the right side of decisions.

Trading Jordan Harris for Patrik Laine and a draft pick was a great move. While Laine hasn’t yet found his 40-goal-a-year scorer form, he scored 20 goals for the Canadiens in a season shortened by injury. Meanwhile, Harris wasn’t even tendered a qualifying offer by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Taking Sean Monahan off the Calgary Flames’ hands is still paying dividends in Montreal, one of the picks obtained in that trade three allowed the Habs to land right-shot defenseman Noah Dobson in a blockbuster trade. Instead of rolling the dice on mid-first-round draft picks, the Canadiens elected to go not only for a proven commodity, but for one that has the same age as their young core.

This front office is pulling all the right moves; it’s now down to the players to translate those into results.

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

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Dodgers at Rockies Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 21

It's Thursday, August 21 and the Dodgers (72-55) are in Denver to take on the Rockies (37-90). Clayton Kershaw is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Chase Dollander for Colorado.

The Rockies earned their second win of the series over the Dodgers, this time 8-3 as Shohei Ohtani allowed nine hits and four earned runs over 4.0 innings in his first loss of the season.

The Rockies are now 5-1 over the last six games and have a chance to win four straight series, which would be a season-high. The Dodgers own the season series with a 7-2 record.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Dodgers at Rockies

  • Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025
  • Time: 3:10PM EST
  • Site: Coors Field
  • City: Denver, CO
  • Network/Streaming: SNLA, COLR

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 Rockies

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Dodgers (-278), Rockies (+225)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 12.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Rockies

  • Pitching matchup for August 21, 2025: Clayton Kershaw vs. Chase Dollander
    • Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw, (7-2, 3.01 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Rockies: Chase Dollander, (2-9, 6.43 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.71 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Rockies

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 Dodgers and the Rockies:

  • 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 Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 12.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Dodgers at Rockies

  • Colorado is 7-1 in the last 8 games
  • Colorado is 5-1 in the last 6 games
  • The Dodgers are 7-2 versus the Rockies this season
  • The Dodgers have a winning record (10-6) on the road at divisional opponents this season
  • The Under is 51-33-3 in the Rockies' matchups against National League teams this season
  • The Rockies have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 3.99 units

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

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Brewers at Cubs Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 21

It's Thursday, August 21 and the Brewers (79-48) are in Chicago to take on the Cubs (73-54). Quinn Priester is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Shota Imanaga for Chicago.

Milwaukee opened the series with a victory but since then, it's been all Chicago. The Cubs snuck in a 4-3 victory to take this series lead to 3-1 with one game remaining in this five-game set. The three losses also snapped a 14-game winning streak for the Brewers.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Brewers at Cubs

  • Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025
  • Time: 2:20PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, MARQ, 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 Brewers at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (+119), Cubs (-142)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for August 21, 2025: Quinn Priester vs. Shota Imanaga
    • Brewers: Quinn Priester, (11-2, 3.48 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.38 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Cubs: Shota Imanaga, (8-5, 3.06 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.29 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 2 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Brewers and the Cubs

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 Brewers and the Cubs:

  • 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 Milwaukee Brewers at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Cubs

  • Chicago is 6-4 since Imanaga returned from injury
  • Chicago is 7-5 versus Milwaukee this season
  • Milwaukee is 1-4 in the past 5 games
  • Chicago is 5-1 in the last 6 games
  • The Brewers have won 25 of 46 games following a defeat
  • The Over is 21-16-1 in the Brewers' matchups against NL Central teams this season

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

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Rangers at Royals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 21

It's Thursday, August 21 and the Rangers (63-65) are in Kansas City to take on the Royals (65-62). Patrick Corbin is slated to take the mound for Texas against Michael Lorenzen for Kansas City.

The Rangers took the third game of the series, 6-3, to snap the Royals' five-game winning streak. Texas is 3-9 over the last 12 games and has failed to win a series in that span (four tries). Kansas City is 11-7 in the month of August and has a six-game road trip lined in hopes of staying above .500.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Rangers at Royals

  • Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025
  • Time: 2:10PM EST
  • Site: Kauffman Stadium
  • City: Kansas City, MO
  • Network/Streaming: RSN, FDSNKC, 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 Rangers at the Royals

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Rangers (-105), Royals (-115)
  • Spread:  Royals 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at Royals

  • Pitching matchup for August 21, 2025: Patrick Corbin vs. Michael Lorenzen
    • Rangers: Patrick Corbin, (6-9, 4.45 ERA)
      Last outing: 27.00 ERA, 7 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
    • Royals: Michael Lorenzen, (5-8, 4.43 ERA)
      Last outing: 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts

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

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

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 Rangers and the Royals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Kansas City Royals 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 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.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rangers at Royals

  • Texas is 3-10 in the last 13 games
  • Texas is 2-6 over the last 8 games
  • Kansas City is 5-1 over the past 6 games
  • Kansas City is 7-2 over the past 9 games
  • The Royals have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
  • The Under is 4-1 in the Royals' last 5 matchups against American League teams

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

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Jayson Tatum out of walking boot as he continues ‘tedious' Achilles injury rehab

Jayson Tatum out of walking boot as he continues ‘tedious' Achilles injury rehab originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jayson Tatum is making progress on his injury recovery.

The Celtics star shared an update Wednesday, more than three months after he went down with a ruptured Achilles in mid-May.

“Rehab is tedious, man,” Tatum said. “It’s six days a week. It’s starting to get a little bit better, I’m out of the boot now. Better days ahead, but just trying to take it one day at a time.

“You got to be resilient. That first six weeks of this was probably the toughest six weeks of any point in my life. Just had to accept it and realized it happened and now I have to do everything in my power to get back to who I was and get back to playing.”

The boot being removed is a positive step in Tatum’s recovery, but he’s still nowhere near returning to the court.

Typically, Achilles injuries like his take at least nine months before a player returns to action — and that’s on the fast track. The overwhelming likelihood is still that Tatum misses the entire 2025-26 season, but it hasn’t been ruled out yet. Scouts have said he “looks great” as he continues ramping up this summer.

In the meantime, Tatum has been keeping himself busy in recent weeks. He attended Patriots practice on Aug. 6, chatting it up with Drake Maye and others. Tatum then took a trip to Rhode Island, attending a groundbreaking event for an early childhood education center in Providence on Aug. 7.

The Celtics’ revamped roster will open training camp on Sept. 29, with their first preseason game set for Oct. 8 in Memphis against the Grizzlies. The 2025-26 regular season tips off for Boston on Oct. 22 against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden.

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The biggest takeaway from Izak Rankine’s case is to remember why these rules exist at all | Jonathan Horn

Is it any wonder that a young LGBTQ+ footballer would follow this story and question whether there is a place for them in the sport

The flinch response to Izak Rankine’s homophonic slur was the sheer stupidity of it. Perhaps more than any other section of society, footballers are educated, counselled and warned. And it still didn’t get through. The laws of the game, particularly around ruck contests and holding the ball, are increasingly incomprehensible. But the rules in this instance couldn’t be clearer.

What’s more contested is landing on an appropriate penalty. It’s easy cracking down on players who transgress in scratch matches, lower tier competitions and struggling teams. It’s more fraught when it’s a superstar. For this player, for this club, and at this stage of a long, grinding and finally fruitful rebuild, four weeks may as well be four years.

Continue reading...
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Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Player Preview: Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Welcome to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s player preview series for the 2025–26 season. In these articles, we’ll preview the players who are expected to play for the Canucks in the 2025–26 season. Today, we’ll be taking a look at soon-to-be NHL sophomore, Jonathan Lekkerimäki. 

Lekkerimäki’s 2024–25 Season

The 2024–25 season was Lekkerimäki’s first in North America, as he not only made his NHL debut, but also played in his first semi-full season in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks. He skated in a total of 24 NHL games, scoring his first career NHL goal the game after his debut back in November. Lekkerimäki finished the regular season with three goals and three assists for Vancouver. He had a solid rookie showing in Abbotsford as well, scoring 19 goals and nine assists in 36 games, along with three goals and four assists in 16 playoff games. 

Lekkerimäki’s 2024–25 Letter Grade

For the 2024–25 season, The Hockey News - Canucks site gave Lekkerimäki a B-, which is solid for a rookie season — nevermind his first on North American ice. With his sophomore season ahead, Lekkerimäki will look to improve on his play in 2024–25, whether that’s in Vancouver or Abbotsford. As solid as he was for a young player, there were some parts in the season where he could have been a little more consistent. This was most prominent during the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, in which he sat for four games but later reared back with a two-goal game. Staying consistent throughout the season will be something for the young forward to work on while still adjusting to an 82-game season. 

Lekkerimäki’s 2025–26 Predictions 

Lekkerimäki is likely to split his time with both Vancouver and Abbotsford in 2025–26, though the forward could spend the entire season in the NHL or AHL depending on the season’s injury circumstances. Had it not been for the injury to Brock Boeser back in November 2024, it’s uncertain whether Lekkerimäki would have even played during that stretch. The prospect has shown skill but should benefit greatly from more consistency — staying with one team for a longer period of time or avoiding injury could help with this. Sophomore seasons have tended to be trickier for players to navigate, so a season slump could be the case for Lekkerimäki. Even so, Lekkerimäki has shown he’s more than capable of bouncing back from slow stretches. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Season Series Preview: Minnesota Wild

Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Player Preview: Derek Forbort

Former Canucks Around The World: Markus Granlund

Adam Kierszenblat’s Stat Prediction: 10G, 5A, 15P  

Izzy Cheung’s Stat Prediction: 8G, 6A, 14P 

Bold Prediction: Lekkerimäki plays in 35+ games with the Canucks 

Jan 11, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki (23) carries the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Player Preview Articles

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Tom Willander

Arshdeep Bains

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Kevin Lankinen

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Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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Izak Rankine hit with four-game ban by AFL for ‘highly offensive’ homophobic slur

The AFL says Izak Rankine is paying a “significant price” for using a homophobic slur during the weekend’s game against Collingwood, after the Adelaide star’s season was potentially ended by a four-match ban.

“Compelling medical submissions” were considered in reaching the verdict, which fell short of a possible five games and keeps the door open for Rankine to feature again this season, but the AFL CEO Andrew Dillon would not elaborate on what those medical considerations were.

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Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Iglesias returning to form, extends scoreless streak

In this week's Closer Report, Raisel Iglesias extends his scoreless streak to 13 games while locking down five saves in what was an impressive week on the mound for the veteran closer. That and more as we break down the last week in saves across the league.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

Tier 1

Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Edwin Díaz - New York Mets
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers

Muñoz struck out one batter in a clean inning of work against the Mets on Friday for his 29th save of the season to go with a 1.31 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and a 61/23 K/BB ratio across 48 innings. On the other side of that matchup, Díaz gave up a run with two strikeouts over the final two innings against Seattle on Saturday for his 24th save. His two-inning save comes after Ryan Helsley blew late-inning leads on back-to-back days. Helsley then bounced back with a scoreless appearance on Sunday. And Megill joins this tier after picking up his 29th save against the Reds on Friday. He then pitched the tenth inning on Saturday, giving up an unearned run before falling in line for a win. The 31-year-old right-hander has posted a 2.09 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 53/16 K/BB ratio across 43 innings.

Tier 2

Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Jhoan Duran - Philadelphia Phillies
Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres

Chapman pitched a clean inning before falling in line for a win Friday against the Marlins, then recorded the final out of the game Saturday to earn a save. He then struck out the side in an inning of work against the Orioles on Tuesday. The 37-year-old veteran left-hander has converted 22 saves while posting an incredible 1.13 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, and a 69/14 K/BB ratio across 48 innings.

Duran matches Chapman's 22 saves after converting two more this week. That makes six this month since joining the Phillies. The 27-year-old right-hander has recorded a 1.80 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 58/18 K/BB ratio across 55 innings.

No saves for the Padres this week. Suarez surrendered a solo homer against the Dodgers on Sunday to take the loss before pitching a scoreless ninth with a four-run lead against the Giants on Tuesday. Mason Miller made a pair of scoreless appearances behind Suarez.

Tier 3

Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
David Bednar - New York Yankees
Emilio Pagán - Cincinnati Reds
Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays
Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels
Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals
Randy Rodríguez - San Francisco Giants
Bryan Abreu - Houston Astros
Cade Smith - Cleveland Guardians
Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves
Kyle Finnegan/Will Vest - Detroit Tigers
Dennis Santana - Pittsburgh Pirates

Palencia surrendered a solo homer against the Pirates on Friday to take the loss and was unavailable due to an illness for the next two days. Brad Keller and Andrew Kittredge stepped in to pick up saves in his absence. Palencia returned to pick up a save with a scoreless inning against the Brewers on Tuesday, then gave up one run Wednesday before holding on for his 18th save.

Bednar locked down two saves for the Yankees this week with a pair of clean outings against the Cardinals before giving up two runs Wednesday in Tampa to blow the lead. Devin Williams stepped in to pitch the tenth with a three-run lead and allowed the runner on second to score before striking out the side for his 18th save. Bednar is still likely to get the next save chance and has had a great season overall, posting a 2.66 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 68/14 K/BB ratio across 47 1/3 innings.

Pagán was charged with a pair of blown saves this week. He gave up an unearned run against the Brewers on Saturday, then surrendered two runs on Sunday. Still, he's been one of the most valuable closers this season, converting 25 saves with a 3.10 ERA over 52 1/3 frames.

Fairbanks locked down a pair of saves against the Giants. He's up to 22 with a 2.53 ERA over 46 1/3 innings. In Anaheim, Jansen worked around two walks and a hit, striking out two in a scoreless inning against the Athletics on Sunday before falling in line for a win. He then took the loss Tuesday, giving up two runs to the Reds in the ninth.

Hoffman struck out the side in back-to-back outings last week against the Cubs and Rangers, picking up a save and falling in line for a win. He then pitched a clean inning with one strikeout against the Pirates on Tuesday. The 32-year-old right-hander has pitched better in the second half, posting a 1.52 ERA after posting a 5.03 mark in the first half.

Estévez made three perfect appearances this week, picking up two saves. The 32-year-old right-hander brings his total to 32 saves on the season while posting a 2.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 46/20 K/BB ratio across 55 1/3 innings. With both Estévez and Lucas Erceg unavailable Tuesday after pitching three times in four days, John Schreiber stepped in for a save against the Rangers.

Rodríguez continues to operate at the Giants closer. He took a loss after giving up a run against the Rays on Friday, then bounced back with a scoreless inning against the Padres on Monday for his fourth save. Behind him, Ryan Walker has pitched much better in the second half, working his way back into a primary setup role and likely next in line for saves in the bullpen.

Abreu and the Astros didn't see a save chance this week. He made a pair of scoreless appearances, including a three-strikeout outing against the Orioles on Saturday. Josh Hader will likely remain out through the rest of the regular season, with hopes of returning during the playoffs. Meanwhile, Smith, another reliever who recently stepped into a closer role, notched two more saves with the Guardians before blowing an opportunity Wednesday, giving up a game-tying solo homer in the ninth against the Diamondbacks. Still, the 26-year-old right-hander has had an impressive season, posting a 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a 77/19 K/BB ratio across 57 1/3 innings.

Iglesias had a fantastic week on the mound, extending his scoreless streak to 13 games with five scoreless appearances, picking up five saves. The 35-year-old right-hander goes from 16 saves to 21 in the last week with a 3.86 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 58/10 K/BB ratio across 53 2/3 innings.

Finnegan and Vest continue to work in a committee. Finnegan picked up a save against the Twins on Saturday with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning. Vest worked both the eighth and ninth against the Astros on Tuesday before falling in line for a win. And in Pittsburgh, Santana added two saves and a win to his record with three scoreless outings this week.

Tier 4

Jojo Romero/Riley O'Brien - St. Louis Cardinals
Phil Maton/Robert Garcia - Texas Rangers
Blake Treinen/Alex Vesia/Ben Casparius - Los Angeles Dodgers
Ronny Henriquez/Calvin Faucher - Miami Marlins
Jose Ferrer - Washington Nationals

We move on to mostly committees and unfavorable situations for saves, starting with the Cardinals. Romero took the loss against the Yankees on Sunday, then bounced back with two scoreless outings. But it was O'Brien who picked up a save Tuesday against the Marlins. In Texas, Maton's time with the Rangers hasn't gone so well. He surrendered a run to take the loss on Friday against the Blue Jays. Shawn Armstrong stepped in for a four-out save. And there continues to be no clear answer for the Dodgers in Tanner Scott's absence. Jack Dreyer recorded the team's only save this week, a three-pitch outing to record the final out against the Padres on Friday.

Tier 5

Keegan Akin/Yennier Cano - Baltimore Orioles
Justin Topa/Cole Sands - Minnesota Twins
Sean Newcomb/Tyler Ferguson - Athletics
Juan Morillo/Kyle Backhus - Arizona Diamondbacks
Grant Taylor/Steven Wilson - Chicago White Sox
Victor Vodnik - Colorado Rockies

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What Will The Penguins' Bottom-Six Look Like This Season?

Mar 7, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Minnesota Wild forward Justin Brazeau (15) rests during warm up prior to a game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

If one thing is for certain when the Pittsburgh Penguins open training camp a month from now, it’s that they have a whole lot of players in the mix for precious few spots on the roster.

And that is, perhaps, most evident when taking a look at the forward group.

Right now, the Penguins have 13 forwards on their active roster, which - if no trades are made prior to the start of the season - will include surefire top-six players in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell. There is a lot of talk about who will occupy those other two top-six spots, but - realistically - anyone slotted there will certainly have to earn it.

Top forward prospects Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen come to mind, as they showed they belonged in a brief stint to end the season. But even they are not guaranteed to make the roster, as they are not even part of that group of 13. 

Aside from those two, however, nine other players will compete for not even just top-six time, but roster spots in general. That includes free agent signings Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau as well as returnees in Philip Tomasino, Connor Dewar, Tommy Novak, Danton Heinen, Kevin Hayes, Blake Lizotte, and Noel Acciari.

So this begs the question: What will the Penguins’ bottom-six shape up to be in 2025-26?

It’s largely dependent on the team’s goals for this season

At the end of the day, we will see just how committed Penguins’ GM and POHO Kyle Dubas and new head coach Dan Muse are to shifting the focus to youth and development.

Should players like McGroarty, Koivunen, and Filip Hallander push for roster spots and make the NHL team, it’s safe to say they value prioritizing where their youth talent should be playing rather than where it’s most convenient. 

But, if not, it says a lot about where the team is headed next season. Aside from committing to the tank, there’s no discernible reason to keep two or three young players who are certainly ready and capable of playing NHL minutes from, indeed, playing those minutes.

However, that would require some maneuvering on the current NHL roster. The Penguins could take a gander at the trade market to test the value of some of their bottom-six veterans or ultimately waive a few players by the end of camp in order to make room for the youth movement. 

If a situation arises where all three of McGroarty, Koivunen, and Hallander make the NHL roster - and McGroarty and Koivunen are iced in the top-six - the bottom-six could end up looking something like this:

Hallander - Novak - Mantha
Dewar - Lizotte - Brazeau
Hayes, Tomasino

It is reasonable to suggest that Acciari could be dealt prior to training camp for the right price, and both he and Heinen are players that the Penguins could ultimately decide to waive at the end of training camp if they are not able to find suitors for them. It’s also possible that they waive or deal one more of Hayes or Tomasino in order to keep eight defensemen instead of 14 forwards.

Should Two Top Forward Prospects Make Penguins' Opening Night Roster?Should Two Top Forward Prospects Make Penguins' Opening Night Roster?Even if the Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t making a huge push to be Stanley Cup contenders in 2025-26, they have had a relatively active summer up to this point. 

And if they do commit to the tank…?

Well, then, we’re unlikely to see at least McGroarty and Koivunen make the roster out of training camp. 

To be clear, Dubas has said that he wants the younger players to earn a roster spot instead of it being handed to them. He believes creating that competition will, hopefully, help separate them as opposed to block them.

“I think the key thing is that we want these guys to earn it,” Dubas said prior to free agency. “So, if we just start handing the guys spots, we’re going to very quickly lose what I think the Penguins have been about for a very long time and what’s made the Penguins a great team in the league since the early 90s.

“It’s right there for them. We’re not going to block them, but they’re going to have to go out and prove that they can be here, and they’re going to have to earn their way here… It’s trying to find that balance between not blocking players but making them earn it and also having enough depth to be competitive on a nightly basis.”

While Dubas seems very sincere in wanting this to be the case, it’s definitely worth considering - once again - that a roster spot is even open for them as of now. While it very well could be all about creating healthy competition, it could also be about not wanting to rush development if Dubas feels like the team will bottom out this season.

Sans McGroarty, Koivunen, and Hallander? Mantha and either Novak or Tomasino likely lands in the top-six, which leaves a potential bottom-six of:

Heinen - Hayes - Tomasino
Dewar - Lizotte - Brazeau
Acciari

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Predicting The Top 3 Penguins Scorers For 2025-26

Even though the Pittsburgh Penguins missed the playoffs for a third-straight season last year, they still had some very productive players.

Captain Sidney Crosby led the team with 91 points in 80 games, which was 10th overall in the NHL. It was also his third-straight 90+ point season despite being in his late 30s. He's showing no signs of slowing down entering the 2025-26 season. 

Rickard Rakell set career highs in goals (35) and points (70) last year, and looks poised to return for this season, even though he has been involved in a lot of trade rumors over the past several months. That can obviously change with one phone call, but that's how it's looking right now. 

The same goes for Bryan Rust, who also set a career high in goals with 31 and has drawn a ton of interest from other teams this summer. They appreciate his championship pedigree and how he has developed into a strong leader. Still, Penguins general manager and president Kyle Dubas is being patient with the trade market. 

With all of that in mind, let's try to project the Penguins' top three point producers for this year. 

Apr 8, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) congratulates defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) on his 200th career NHL goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

1. Sidney Crosby

Crosby is still one of the 10 best players in the sport, and it's not changing anytime soon. He did it all for the Penguins last year, even when they were out of the race going into the final weeks. 

He had a ridiculous stretch to end the season, compiling 30 points in the Penguins' final 21 games to secure his 20th consecutive point-per-game season, the most in NHL history. Crosby had been tied with Wayne Gretzky at 19 before breaking the record this year. 

He is the heartbeat of the Penguins, and as long as he stays healthy for this season, he will lead the team in points. He's also closing in on more history since he's only 36 points away from tying Mario Lemieux for the Penguins' franchise record in points. He needs 37 to pass him for that record and be eighth on the NHL's all-time scoring list. 

Steve Yzerman and Marcel Dionne are seventh and sixth on the NHL's all-time scoring list, and Crosby will also pass both of them if he secures a fourth-straight 90-point season. He'd be on the cusp of breaking into the top five going into the 2026-27 season, which is the last year of his current contract that he signed last year. 

2. Erik Karlsson 

This pick may take aback some fans since Karlsson only had 53 points last season, but that was good for fourth on the team. He's also involved in trade rumors, but what if the Penguins decide to keep him for the entire 2025-26 season?

Someone has to put up points from the blue line, and Karlsson is easily the Penguins' best bet for that since he's their best defenseman and he's still really good at generating 5v5 offense. His 33 5v5 points were tied for fifth among all NHL defensemen last season. 

He still has more to give and has a good chance of finishing in the 60-to-70-point range if a new staff can tweak a few aspects of his game. He will more than likely get the top-pairing minutes on the right side and will also get a good chunk of playing time with Crosby next season.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Has Middle-Six UpsideTop-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Has Middle-Six UpsideHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

3. Bryan Rust 

I went back and forth between Rust and a few other players for this spot, but I chose Rust because I see him being a jack-of-all-trades player again, whether it's at 5v5, the power play, or on the penalty kill. He can play in any situation for the Penguins. 

Rust has been a consistent 20+ goal player throughout his career and has also been a solid playmaker over the last four seasons. He has compiled at least 26 assists in each of the previous four years and matched his career high of 34 this past year. 

He'll be another year older this year (33), but I see him having another strong year and finishing in the 60-point range if he stays fully healthy. Rakell, assuming he also doesn't get traded, will be right there with him, but I have Rust beating him out by a hair. 

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