Cade Klubnik was ranked No. 3 in the 2022 Rivals250.
Justin Verlander winless in 8 starts with the San Francisco Giants
CHICAGO — It happened again. Justin Verlander was in position for his first win with the San Francisco Giants — but he walked away empty-handed.
Verlander pitched five innings against the Chicago Cubs before giving a 5-3 lead to San Francisco’s bullpen. The three-time AL Cy Young Award winner ended up with another no-decision, but the Giants scored nine times in the 11th for a 14-5 victory.
“It’s crazy, because he could easily have four or five wins at this point,” San Francisco manager Bob Melvin said. “So just another one of those where we’re a pitch away from getting him a win, and next thing you know he doesn’t, but it doesn’t mean he’s not performing well.”
The 42-year-old Verlander signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Giants in January. He was charged with two losses while going winless in his first eight starts for the longest such drought at any point during his 20 seasons in the majors.
“I’m somebody who really tries to focus on the big picture,” Verlander said. “Just try to keep pitching well and giving us a chance to win and that’s doing my job, and wins can come in bunches. It’s a team sport. Not everything is in your control as a starter, and I know that.”
Verlander allowed five hits, struck out three and walked two against the NL Central leaders. The big blow was Miguel Amaya’s two-run homer after San Francisco had opened a 4-0 lead in the top of the third.
“Obviously, you want some wins,” Verlander said. “I’ve also been somebody who never really expects a lot of wins when I only go five innings. I don’t really feel like I did my job as well as I should have today.”
During his season-opening drought, Verlander has been hurt by lackluster run support. He had a 1.96 ERA in 18 1/3 innings over his previous three starts. He was in position to get his first win against Colorado, but the lowly Rockies rallied for a 4-3 win.
Verlander went 5-6 with a 5.48 ERA in 17 starts for Houston last year. He had stints on the injured list for shoulder inflammation and neck discomfort.
The nine-time All-Star became a free agent after he failed to pitch 140 innings, a total that would have triggered his ability to exercise a $35 million conditional player option.
Verlander is 262-149 with a 3.31 ERA in 534 career starts. He is tops among active big league pitchers in wins, innings (3,457 2/3), strikeouts (3,451) and starts (534).
“I’ve been kind of working my way towards I think being better and better,” Verlander said. “Just kind of stay the course and see what happens. We’ve still got a lot of starts left. It’s really early.”
Braves continue recovery from 0-7 start by rallying for confidence-building win over Reds
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves are gaining momentum in their attempt to recover from a staggering 0-7 start to the season.
A come-from-behind 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in 10 innings was the latest confidence-building win.
The Braves scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings before Marcell Ozuna’s run-scoring single in the 10th ended the game.
“It just kind of shows the character of this team,” said left-hander Chris Sale, who had 10 strikeouts in 6 2/3 scoreless innings. “We were down to our last couple of outs and found a way to do it.”
The Braves (17-18) have won three straight and 12 of 17 to close within a win of .500. That’s usually not big news for a team that has a streak of seven straight postseason appearances, including the 2021 World Series championship.
The woeful start to the season forced manager Brian Snitker’s team to focus on the new goal of becoming the first team to make the playoffs after losing its first seven games.
“It doesn’t get any better than winning a game like that,” Snitker said of the comeback. “This is a mental game. It can have a great effect on a club.”
The streak of three straight wins began with a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers that saved the Braves from being swept in the series. Atlanta then beat Cincinnati 4-0 when AJ Smith-Shawver took a no-hitter into the eighth inning.
With the score tied at 1, the Braves opened the 10th with automatic runner Alex Verdugo on second base. The Reds chose to issue an intentional walk to Austin Riley to face Ozuna, who had no hits in his first four at-bats.
Ozuna might have looked even more vulnerable after calling timeout during his at-bat in the eighth because he was experiencing a cramp in his right leg. He was visited by Snitker and an athletic trainer in the batter’s box.
“I said, ‘Hit a two-run homer or get a hit because we’re going to run for you,’” Snitker recalled. “I’m glad we didn’t, in retrospect.”
The eighth-inning at-bat ended with a long flyball to right field and Ozuna, the designated hitter, remained in the game.
When asked if he was motivated by the Reds walking Riley, Ozuna said: “For sure. I was 0 for 4 and I didn’t feel right. Kind of a cramp. I just try to get good contact.”
Happy teammates swarmed Ozuna between first and second base after his line-drive single allowed Verdugo to easily score the winning run.
“It feels amazing,” Ozuna said.
Pirates Skenes still winless against Cardinals after 2-1 loss
ST. LOUIS — Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes still hasn’t found what he’s looking for against the St. Louis Cardinals — a win.
Skenes fell to 0-4 in five career starts against the Cardinals following a 2-1 loss. It is the most starts by a Pirates pitcher to begin a career against St. Louis without a win since JT Brubaker went 0-6 in eight starts without a win in 2021 and 2022.
Skenes pitched well enough in his latest start, allowing two runs on three hits in six innings. But one mistake to Alec Burleson, who hit a two-out, two-run double in the sixth inning, did him in.
“Just not executing,” Skenes said.
Burleson (6 for 15) has more career hits off Skenes than any other major leaguer. Adding to Skenes’ frustration is the entire rally in the sixth started with two outs as Nolan Arenado singled and Willson Contreras walked before Burleson came to the plate.
“There is no secret,” Burleson said of facing Skenes. “It takes a little bit of luck I feel like. It’s just with a guy like him you have to have a plan and stick to it for three, four at bats. It may not necessarily give you success that night but it gives you the best chance to have success. So that’s what I did and it worked out and I had a good time.”
Skenes, who allowed a season-high five runs in a loss to the Cardinals in Pittsburgh on April 8, has a 2.75 ERA in his five career starts against St. Louis.
“I feel like we took tough at bats,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “Didn’t have a ton to show for it, but pitch count, we were able to drive that up, some deep counts. The guys continued to battle. You have to stay short through the middle of the field and battle from pitch one against someone like Skenes. I felt like our guys did that.”
Skenes pitched around four walks, matching a career high he set in his last outing against the Cubs.
“There were times where it looked like he lost his command, and then he came back and really executed pitches,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “He gave up, what, three hits … and, you know, did a pretty good job. He made a bad pitch on a fastball that leaked out over to Burleson that ended up being the difference in the game.”
While Skenes would like the pitch to Burleson back, he was also the victim of lack of run support once again. In his five starts against the Cardinals spanning 32 2/3 innings, Skenes has received just three total runs of support while he has been in the game.
The Pirates have lost six straight and nine of their last 10 games.
“We’re not being very consistent right now offensively,” Shelton said. “We’re not getting things going and, you know, we’ve tried some different lineups. We’ve tried lineup changes. We’ve tried consistency of lineups. So, I think it’s something we just got to keep exploring.”
Pitching is not the problem, Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes said.
“And I mean, we just got to pick them up and score runs. So however, that may be, whether it be drawing walks, getting that big hit, we just got to find a way.”
Rangers at Red Sox prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 7
It's Wednesday, May 7, and the Rangers (18-18) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (18-19). Tyler Mahle is slated to take the mound for Texas against Tanner Houck for Boston.
Texas won the series opener, 6-1 yesterday behind a five-run fourth inning and one earned run from Nathan Eovaldi over 6.0 innings.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Rangers at Red Sox
- Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Time: 6:45 PM EST
- Site: Fenway Park
- City: Boston, MA
- Network/Streaming: RSN, NESN
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 Red Sox
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
- Moneyline: Rangers (+102), Red Sox (-122)
- Spread: Red Sox -1.5
- Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at Red Sox
- Pitching matchup for May 7, 2025: Tyler Mahle vs. Tanner Houck
- Rangers: Tyler Mahle, (3-1, 1.20 ERA)
Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Run Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 6 Strikeouts - Red Sox: Tanner Houck, (0-2, 6.38 ERA)
Last outing: 7.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Run Allowed, Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
- Rangers: Tyler Mahle, (3-1, 1.20 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!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rangers and the Red Sox
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Rangers and the Red Sox:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Red Sox 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 leaning towards 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
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rangers at Red Sox
- The Rangers are 1-4 in their last 5 games
- Each of the last 4 matchups between the Rangers and the Red Sox have stayed under the Total
- The Rangers have covered the Run Line in 3 straight road games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
How Celtics are using crazy Pacers-Cavs ending as a teaching moment
How Celtics are using crazy Pacers-Cavs ending as a teaching moment originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Head coach Joe Mazzulla leaves no stone unturned when it comes to preparing the Boston Celtics for games. So, it shouldn’t surprise you that his players were studying the closing seconds of Tuesday’s wild Game 2 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers.
The Cavs led the Pacers by seven points with 57 seconds remaining before Indy mounted a furious comeback to win 120-119 and take a 2-0 lead in the second-round series.
The Pacers’ stunning late-game surge included an Aaron Nesmith put-back dunk off a missed free throw, an Aaron Nembhard steal off a Cleveland inbound pass and a Tyrese Haliburton go-ahead 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
Celtics guard Payton Pritchard noted there are lessons Boston can take from that chaotic final minute, especially after the C’s blew a 20-point lead against the Knicks in Game 1.
“Definitely can learn from the Cavs being up seven — the game’s never over until it’s over,” Pritchard told reporters Wednesday at shootaround ahead of Boston’s Game 2. “So, you’ve got to take care of the rock. Even on a free throw box out — all the little things matter. We’ve got to learn from that and take it into this game.”
Pritchard suggested it’s common practice for the Celtics to look for teaching moments in other NBA games, particularly in the playoffs. And Nesmith’s put-back dunk appeared to be a particular point of emphasis for Boston, which has to contend with a strong rebounder on the wing in New York’s Josh Hart.
“We always look at stuff across league — little plays, stuff that could come up in situations for us,” Pritchard said. “It’s just preparation at the end of the day, so if we’re in a situation like they were in, we are already prepared.
“What are we trying to do? How are we gonna box these guys out on a free-throw box-out? If I’m not in the lane, I’m boxing outside the 3-point line. I’ve got to hit a guy like Josh Hart. He might crash hard, so I’ve got to be prepared to box him out in that situation.
“It’s little things like that. You’ve got to just be a student of the game and learn and keep growing.”
Hart racked up five offensive rebounds (11 total) in Game 1, including a pair of late-game boards that played a key role in New York’s comeback. So, it’s understandable that Hart was on the Celtics’ minds as they watched Nesmith soar over Donovan Mitchell for his clutch dunk.
But the bigger-picture lesson for Boston from Pacers-Cavs is that no lead is safe, and that even the smallest lapses in intensity can prove costly. The Celtics were in full control of Monday’s Game 1 with a 20-point lead midway through the third quarter, but that lead fully evaporated over 10 minutes of game play thanks to a combination of missed 3-pointers and defensive miscues.
The good news is that Mazzulla’s club has proven adept at learning from its mistakes: Boston has won four consecutive playoff games following a loss, with an average margin of victory of 15 points.
Tip-off for Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday at TD Garden, with NBC Sports Boston’s coverage beginning at 6 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live.
Clippers likely run it back with Harden, Leonard, 'I definitely believe in those two' GM Frank says
This was the season a lot of things went right for the Clippers: James Harden stayed healthy and played in 79 games, Kawhi Leonard was healthy at the end of the season and heading into the playoffs, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac each took steps forward and had career years, and the franchise opened the impressive new Intuit Dome. In a deep Western Conference, the Clippers finished with 50 wins — despite letting Paul George walk out the door for nothing last summer — and were the No. 5 seed.
Los Angeles also got bounced in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year — this time by Denver, with Harden and Leonard fading as the series went along.
Does that mean this era of Clippers basketball has played out to its logical conclusion, and it's time for a radical change?
Don't bet on it. While there is a segment of the fan base — and plenty of national analysts who root for chaos — calling for the Clippers to tear it all down and rebuild, that's not a real option. Los Angeles doesn't control its own pick until 2030, which takes that path off the table. While the Clippers could go big — they are rumored to be one of the teams that would try to get in a Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes if he asks for a trade — that all coming together is a long shot.
Instead, expect the Clippers to add a little, not subtract, and run it back next season with Harden and Leonard.
"I definitely believe in those two..." said Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations, at his postseason press conference, via the Associated Press. He later added that Los Angeles can take a step forward with players like Powell, Zubac and Nicolas Batum (who has a player option).
"It was great that we were healthy for the first time in a long time, but that doesn't mean you only get one shot at it," Frank said. "We'll keep on taking cracks at it and at the same time, we've always been open-minded and learning from the errors of our ways and finding areas where we can correct them and get better."
Frank went on to praise both of his biggest stars.
"There's another level for [Leonard] out there that he's going to get to next year," Frank said, noting he missed the opening months of the season coming off knee surgery. "I think looking at next year that we can be better with more games from Kawhi...
"We have a great level of appreciation for what James did this year. I'm going in with the intent that if he doesn't pick up his option that we're going to be able to reach an agreement that works well for James and works well for the Clippers."
Harden is not expected to pick up his $36.4 million player option, looking for the security of a longer deal at age 35. Frank said he was open to talking to Harden about that, and the Clippers have the flexibility to give him a raise, use the mid-level exception to add talent, and still not move into the luxury tax. Los Angeles also can talk extension with Powell. However, the Clippers have set themselves up to make a pivot in the summer of 2026, with cap space and expiring contracts that would let them change course. They want to keep that path on the table as well.
This means that next year's Clippers will look a lot like this year's Clippers, which was a good team, even if it had a ceiling.
Padres at Yankees Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 7
Its Wednesday, May 7 and the Padres (23-12) are in the Bronx to take on the Yankees (20-16).
Dylan Cease is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Max Fried for New York.
The Yankees evened the series at a game apiece with a 12-3 win last night. Aaron Judge smacked his twelfth home run of the season and Austin Wells hit his seventh bomb and drove in five runs to pace the attack.
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 Yankees
- Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Time: 7:05PM EST
- Site: Yankee Stadium
- City: Bronx, NY
- Network/Streaming: SDPA, AmazonPV, 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 Padres at the Yankees
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
- Moneyline: Padres (+149), Yankees (-180)
- Spread: Yankees -1.5
- Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Yankees
- Pitching matchup for May 7, 2025: Dylan Cease vs. Max Fried
- Padres: Dylan Cease (1-2, 5.61 ERA)
Last outing: 5/2 at Pittsburgh - 4IP, 2ER, 3H, 3BB, 3Ks - Yankees: Max Fried (6-0, 1.01 ERA)
Last outing: 5/2 vs. Tampa Bay - 7IP, 0ER, 1H, 2BB, 6Ks
- Padres: Dylan Cease (1-2, 5.61 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 Padres at Yankees
- The Yankees have won 12 of their 20 home games this season
- The Padres are 9-8 on the road this season
- The Yankees win last night snapped a 3-game losing streak
- Aaron Judge has now reached base safely in 32 consecutive 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 Padres and the Yankees
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Padres and the Yankees:
- 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 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)
Dodgers at Marlins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 7
Its Wednesday, May 7 and the Dodgers (24-12) are in Miami to take on the Marlins (14-21).
Landon Knack is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Valente Bellozo for Miami.
These teams have split the first two games of this three-game series. Miami took last night's affair, 5-4 in ten innings on Jesus Sanchez' RBI single. It was the Miami right fielder's second hit of the game. Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani each went deep for LA in the 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 Dodgers at Marlins
- Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Time: 4:40PM EST
- Site: loanDepot Park
- City: Miami, FL
- Network/Streaming: SNLA, FDSNFL
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 Marlins
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
- Moneyline: Dodgers (-225), Marlins (+186)
- Spread: Dodgers -1.5
- Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Marlins
- Pitching matchup for May 7, 2025: Landon Knack vs. Valente Bellozo
- Dodgers: Landon Knack (1-0, 7.27 ERA)
Last outing: 4/15 vs. Colorado - 4.1IP, 2ER, 4H, 2BB, 2Ks - Marlins: Valente Bellozo (0-2, 4.97 ERA)
Last outing: 5/2 vs. Athletics - 4.2IP, 5ER, 4H, 4BB, 1K
- Dodgers: Landon Knack (1-0, 7.27 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 Marlins
- The Dodgers have won 4 of their last 5 games against NL East teams
- Shohei Ohtani has hit is riding a modest 4-game hitting streak (7-20) including 3 HRs and 5 RBIs
- The Marlins have failed to cover the Run Line in 8 of their last 10 games against the Dodgers
- Freddie Freeman is riding an 11-game hitting streak (19-42) including 4 HRs and 14 RBIs
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 Dodgers and the Marlins
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Dodgers and the Marlins:
- 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 Los Angeles Dodgers -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)
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- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Ruben Amorim wary of propensity for Manchester United to ‘lose our minds’
- Manchester United lead 3-0 in Europa League semi-final
- ‘Sometimes … something happens and we lose our mind’
Ruben Amorim admits Manchester United “can lose their minds” during games so is unsure how they will perform in Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao, despite holding a 3-0 lead.
United are favourites to reach this month’s final at the San Mamés after their victory there last week thanks to Casemiro’s header and two goals from Bruno Fernandes. In the previous round’s return leg at Old Trafford they allowed a 2-0 advantage over Lyon to become a 4-2 deficit before scoring three goals in the final seven minutes of extra time to secure passage to the last four. United also led Lyon 2-1 in the first leg but conceded a 95th-minute Rayan Cherki equaliser.
Continue reading...Giants at Cubs prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 7
Its Wednesday, May 7 and the Giants (23-14) are in Chicago to take on the Cubs (22-15).
Robbie Ray is slated to take the mound for San Francisco against Ben Brown for Chicago.
These clubs have split the first two games of the series. They went to extra innings yesterday tied at five, but the Giants scored nine in the eleventh inning to win 14-5. Heliot Ramos went 4-5 and drove in a pair for San Francisco. Ryan Pressley did not record an out in the eleventh and was credited with allowing all nine runs (eight earned). His ERA ballooned to 7.62.
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 Giants at Cubs
- Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Time: 2:20PM EST
- Site: Wrigley Field
- City: Chicago, IL
- Network/Streaming: NBCSBA, MARQ
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 Giants at the Cubs
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
- Moneyline: Giants (+114), Cubs (-135)
- Spread: Cubs -1.5
- Total: 7.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Giants at Cubs
- Pitching matchup for May 7, 2025: Robbie Ray vs. Ben Brown
- Giants: Robbie Ray (4-0, 3.05 ERA)
Last outing: 5/2 vs. Colorado - 7IP, 0ER, 2H, 2BB, 8Ks - Cubs: Ben Brown (3-2, 4.88 ERA)
Last outing: 5/2 at Milwaukee - 6IP, 0ER, 4H, 0BB, 4Ks
- Giants: Robbie Ray (4-0, 3.05 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 Giants at Cubs
- The Giants are 4-1 on the Moneyline in their last 5 games
- The Over is 23-14 in Giants' games this season
- The Over is 21-13-3 in Cubs' games this season.
- Kyle Tucker is 8-23 (.348) through 6 games 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 today’s game between the Giants 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 Wednesday's game between the Giants 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 San Francisco Giants 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
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- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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Warriors, Timberwolves go back and forth litigating Game 1 non-calls
Warriors, Timberwolves go back and forth litigating Game 1 non-calls originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors have issues with the officiating. The Minnesota Timberwolves have issues with the officiating. Everyone has issues with the officiating.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday afternoon after Timberwolves practice at Target Center, Minnesota coach Chris Finch discussed the Warriors’ fouling of Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in Game 1 on Tuesday night and revealed he plans to send clips of the non-calls to the NBA.
“On defensive rebounds, they do a lot of fouling, holding, shoving, pushing and tackling Rudy,” Finch said of the Warriors’ physicality. “That’s clear. We’ll send a bunch of those clips into the league.
“In fact, I’m not sure I know another player in the league with Rudy’s pedigree that is allowed to be physically beaten on the way he is. And so we’ve got to address that one way or another.”
Finch pointed to one play involving Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski and alluded to the Timberwolves upping the physicality from here on out.
“There was a play last night where Podziemski clearly grabbed him and he sheds Podziemski and he gets the foul,” Finch explained. “So we’ll certainly try and take justice into our own hands whenever we can, I think it’s the nature of a physical sport. But by the same token, my god, you should see some of these clips.
“It’s like pulling guards and linemen out there taking shots at Rudy.”
Podziemski was asked about Finch’s comments after Warriors practice, and explained that Golden State’s potential uptick in physicality has carried over from its first-round series against the Houston Rockets.
“I mean, it’s the playoffs,” Podziemski said. “What we just had to go through with the Rockets, I think has just kind of rubbed off on us. What they were doing is kind of similar to what we’re doing now. I don’t know if the Lakers were doing that to the Timberwolves in the first round, but this is the playoffs, you just try and do everything you can to win.
“I mean, Rudy’s probably a whole foot taller than me, so what do you want me to do?”
Warriors center Kevon Looney echoed a similar sentiment.
“Last series I feel like was way worse than anything I did last game,” Looney added. “It’s the playoffs. I’m gonna grab and push until they call it. Rudy’s a great rebounder. [Julius] Randle … Everybody got their own little tricks they do.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who also plans to submit clips of non-calls to the league, has his fair share of complaints and is not surprised by Finch’s comments.
“I was upset the first 10 minutes of the game,” Kerr said. “It was just like Houston all over again. They were bear-hugging Steph [Curry] and they could have called six fouls. But the league has established the physicality in the playoffs. Chris [Finch] talked about it last week, just the overall physicality. To me, it’s crazy out there, what’s happening. Everybody’s fouling each other.
“I just feel like they have a really hard job because playoff basketball, yes it’s physical and they’re going to allow more, but I think they could have called a foul [on] six, seven straight possessions with them guarding Steph. So I’ve got my complaints too, trust me. We all do, and this is how it works in the playoffs. We watch the tape and we see all the fouls on them that aren’t called. They watch the tape, they see the ones on us that weren’t called. It’s a physical game, it’s just going to be and both teams have to adjust. I’m getting ready to send my own clips into the league.”
As frustrating as the non-calls might be for both teams, Kerr believes the officiating has been nothing if not consistent.
“It has been consistent. They are consistently allowing teams to foul,” Kerr added.
It will be interesting to see if the officials adjust in Game 2 on Thursday at Target Center, but if the playoffs this season have shown us anything, it’s that the refs are taking a more hands-off approach.
Oregon looking to regain momentum after string of recruiting losses
Dan Lanning is 35-6 in three seasons at Oregon and his 2025 recruiting class was ranked fifth nationally.
Nuggets vs. Thunder – Game 2 Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 7
Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Preview
It’s Wednesday, May 7, and the Denver Nuggets (50-32) and Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) are all set to square off from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder are down 1-0 in the series after being outscored 36-29 in the fourth quarter.
With the Golden State Warriors winning last night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, all four road dogs won in game one.
The Nuggets are currently 24-17 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Thunder have a 8-2 record in their last ten games at home.
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.
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Game details & how to watch Nuggets vs. Thunder live today
- Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Time: 9:30PM EST
- Site: Paycom Center
- City: Oklahoma City, OK
- Network/Streaming: TNT, truTV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Nuggets vs. Thunder
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
- Odds: Nuggets (+412), Thunder (-559)
- Spread: Thunder -11
- Over/Under: 229 points
That gives the Nuggets an implied team point total of 113.43, and the Thunder 119.17.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Nuggets vs. Thunder game
NBC Sports Bet 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.
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is betting on Oklahoma City -10.5 (-105)...
Thomas: "Bounce back game for the Thunder if we can even call it that. They played pretty good basketball up until late in the fourth quarter.
This season, after a loss, the Oklahoma City Thunder are 8-6-1 with an average margin of victory of 12.2 points. The Thunder went 29-13-2 as home favorites this year with a 15.7 average margin of victory.
This is a perfect spot to take the Thunder to win by margin."
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Nuggets & Thunder game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Oklahoma City Thunder on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Denver Nuggets at +11.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 229.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Nuggets vs. Thunder on Wednesday
- The Nuggets have won 4 of their last 5 games
- The Nuggets have covered the Spread in 6 of their last 7 road games against the Thunder
- The Under is 4-1 in the Thunder's last 5 matchups against Western Conference 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 NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
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- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
How 'Proficient' Are NHL Calder Finalists Hutson, Celebrini And Wolf?
The NHL’s Calder Trophy race this season led to a rare scenario.
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson and Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf are finalists for the top rookie this season, according to voting by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
This is only the fourth time in the last 25 years that a player from each position has been named as finalists for the award (2022-23, 2018-19, 2009-10), and there are cases to be made for each one of these rookies to take home the hardware this season.
The challenge is determining which rookie was more “proficient” overall their first season, which is the official award criteria, when none play the same role.
Positional value has never been more important – or harder to weigh – especially in a season where all three finalists not only impressed but did so with standout numbers across the board.
This isn’t a case of one player running away with the Calder on scoring alone. Instead, it’s a rare scenario where elite production came from three different positions, each impacting the game in distinct but equally meaningful ways.
Let’s see how each finalist was proficient this season.
Lane Hutson, D, Montreal Canadiens
Hutson was thrust into the Canadiens’ lineup with a ton of hype in an organization that has been desperate for scoring from the blueline. He somehow exceeded all expectations.
Hutson led all rookies in scoring with 63 points, breaking Chris Chelios’ franchise record for rookie defenseman points with the Canadiens while also tying Larry Murphy’s record of 60 assists as a first-year defenseman. The 21-year-old is also one of three defensemen in the last 15 years to average over 22 minutes per game, reinforcing how important a role he played in the Canadiens’ campaign.
The last Canadiens player to win the Calder was goaltender Ken Dryden in 1971-72, and there hasn’t been a better candidate to win the award. In a season where several rookies stood out, none shouldered more responsibility or delivered more consistently than Hutson.
Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks
Celebrini cemented himself as the greatest rookie in Sharks history this season. The first overall selection in the 2024 draft set Sharks rookie records in goals (25), points (63), became the first No. 1 pick since Auston Matthews to record a hat trick as a rookie and became the first Sharks rookie to record five points in a game.
Had Celebrini not missed 12 games with injury this season, there’s a really strong chance the 18-year-old would have locked this award up already. He topped first-year players in points per game (0.90) despite having the weakest supporting cast of all rookies.
Doing all this while being one of the most defensively sound forward prospects the NHL has seen in a long time is truly remarkable. Celebrini finished with 29 takeaways, tied with Auston Matthews and Sidney Crosby, and also topped the league in puck battles won per game through the opening half of the season, according to Sportlogiq.
Celebrini has become one of the most polished, well-rounded players in the NHL in less than a year since he was welcomed into the league. If proficiency is showing a high degree of competence and skill, Celebrini proved he had both without many flaws. Whether or not he wins the award, there’s no doubt that the future is bright in San Jose.
NHL Calder Trophy Tracker: Hutson Edges Celebrini In The Final Top FIveThis is the final edition of the Calder Tracker for the 2024-25 season. That means it’s time to put together my unofficial ballot for the NHL’s rookie of the year award.
Dustin Wolf, G, Calgary Flames
Wolf singlehandedly dragged the Flames into playoff contention down the stretch of the regular season, putting together a 29-16-8 record, 2.64 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and three shutouts in 53 games.
Alex Nedeljkovic with the Detroit Red Wings and Mike Condon with the Canadiens are the only two goalies to have started more games than Wolf in their rookie season over the past 10 years.
Considering the Flames ranked 29th in goals per game (2.68) and didn’t have any players reach the 70-point mark, it’s nothing short of miraculous that they managed to finish within a point of the St. Louis Blues for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference – and Wolf deserves a tremendous amount of credit for keeping them afloat.
Unfortunately for Wolf, the odds are stacked against him. Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason was the last goaltender to win the Calder, going all the way back to the 2008-09 season. But for a once seventh-round pick to emerge as his team’s MVP in his rookie season, there’s no question that Wolf held his own with tons of skill and expertise. Enough voters noticed that from Wolf to make him at least a finalist, and time will tell if he’s determined to have been the most proficient of the bunch.
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