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Chris Drury Claims Chris Kreider Will Always Be A Ranger After Emotional Trade To Ducks

James Guillory-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers have officially dealt Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. 

The Rangers are trading Kreider and a 2025 fourth-round pick in exchange for Carey Terrance and a 2025 third-round pick. 

This marks the end of a 13-year tenure with the Rangers where Kreider established himself as one of the most impact players to ever put on the Blueshirt jersey. 

Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury acknowledged Kreider for all he’s accomplished with this legendary original-six franchise. 

"We want to thank Chris Kreider for all of his contributions to the Rangers organization over his stellar career," Drury said. "Chris has been an integral part of some of the most iconic moments in Rangers history, including setting multiple franchise records and helping the team advance to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. 

“His leadership on the ice and tireless efforts in the community - which he was recognized for as the inaugural recipient of the Rod Gilbert "Mr. Ranger" Award - only add to his distinguished Rangers legacy. Chris will always be a Ranger and we wish him and his family all the best.”

Kreider has the third most goals in Rangers history with 326 goals in 883 total games with the franchise. 

The 34-year-old forward was also the longest-tenured current Ranger player before being traded. 

“This is home for me, This is the organization that gave me the opportunity to live out my dreams,” Kreider said during his exit interview. I’ve developed so many incredible relationships, and grown up, and spent so much time in this area…”

Now, Kreider starts the next chapter of his career in California.

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Pirates at Cubs Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 12

It's Thursday, June 12 and the Pirates (28-41) are in Chicago to take on the Cubs (41-27). Andrew Heaney is slated to take the mound for Pittsburgh against Jameson Taillon for Chicago.

The Cubs wrapped up their series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday with a 7–2 loss, dropping the three-game series 2–1.

It marked their second consecutive series defeat. Despite the recent struggles, the Cubs maintain a five-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central division.

The Pirates secured a 5–2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, clinching the three-game series 2–1.

While they remain at the bottom of the NL Central standings, the Pirates have shown signs of improvement, winning six of their last ten 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 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 Pirates at Cubs

  • Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
  • Time: 8:05PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: Marquee Sports Network, SportsNet-PIT

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 Pirates at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Pirates (+167), Cubs (-202)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Pirates at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for June 12, 2025: Andrew Heaney vs. Jameson Taillon
    • Pirates: Andrew Heaney, (3-4, 3.24 ERA)
      Last outing (Philadelphia Phillies, 6/7): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Cubs: Jameson Taillon, (6-3, 3.54 ERA)
      Last outing (Detroit Tigers, 6/7): 7.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 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 Pirates at Cubs

  • With Jameson Taillon taking the mound the Cubs are on a 4-game winning streak
  • The Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon has an ERA of 2.38 in his last 5 starts on the mound
  • With Jameson Taillon starting the Cubs have covered the Run Line in 5 of their last 7 games

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates 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

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)
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Mets ace leaves start, headed to injured list

Mets ace leaves start, headed to injured list originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

What to Know

  • Mets ace pitcher Kodai Senga suffered a hamstring injury during his start today vs. the Nationals.
  • Senga jumped to catch a throw from teammate Pete Alonso and crumbled to the ground.
  • Senga was placed on the injured list, and he will miss at least ten days.

The Mets have been hitting on every cylinder this season, building on their lead in the N.L. East. But their latest win Thursday afternoon came at a cost.

Starting pitcher Kodai Senga left the game in the sixth inning with his Mets up 4-0 on the Nationals, and will be put on the 10-day Injured List with a right hamstring injury.

Senga was sprinting to first base to cover after Washington’s CJ Abrams hit a ground ball to first baseman Pete Alonso. Alonso’s throw was high and Senga jumped to catch it. As he landed, he immediately grabbed the back of his right leg as he fell.

He did walk off the field on his own.

Alonso was crestfallen after learning of the extent of Senga’s injury.

“I still feel awful,” he said. “I tried to make the best throw I could, and it just sucks. I wish it wouldn’t have turned out like that.”

Senga’s loss is a significant one for the Mets’ pitching rotation. He has been among the best pitchers in the game this season. Improving to 7-3 with an MLB-best 1.47 ERA after today’s scoreless outing. He missed nearly all of the 2024 season due to shoulder and calf injuries, making just one start all year.

The Mets’ 4-3 win over the Nationals today improved their record to 45-24, best in baseball. They lead the division by 5.5 games over the Phillies.

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The Rangers Accomplish Their Goal By Trading Chris Kreider And Not Retaining Any Of His Salary

 Danny Wild-Imagn Images

New York Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury was able to accomplish his main goal in the trade, sending Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. 

The Rangers are trading Kreider and a 2025 fourth-round pick in exchange for Carey Terrance and a 2025 third-round pick. 

Rangers Reportedly Trading Chris Kreider To Ducks In Exchange For Young Prospect Rangers Reportedly Trading Chris Kreider To Ducks In Exchange For Young Prospect According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Rangers will trade Chris Kreider and a mid-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward prospect Carey Terrance and a mid-round pick. 

As part of the deal, the Ducks will take on Kreider’s entire salary. He still currently has two years remaining on his contract at $6.5 million AAV. 

Drury has now been able to move off of Barclay Goodrow, Jacob Trouba, and Kreider without retaining any of their salaries. 

Maybe the Rangers didn’t get all that much in return for a player who’s been a pillar of the franchise for years, but they did not have to retain any of his salary, which was the most important aspect of this deal for the Blueshirts. 

Now, Drury has set up the Rangers to have more money to work with going into this upcoming offseason and the summer of 2026 when there will be some big-time free agents available. 

With more financial flexibility, expect the Rangers to be major players in both the trade market and free agent market going forward, especially with Drury’s desire to make major changes to the roster. 

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An ugly pack and backs worth paying to watch: Bath have taken us back to the 1990s | Andy Bull

There was a time when the team playing at the Rec were the dominant force in English club rugby and there are signs they may be on the rise once again

The first thing anyone who cares says when they find out you’re a sports journalist is to ask whether or not you were at whichever big game was on that weekend. The second, after you’ve explained, apologetically, that you don’t actually follow football, is usually an awkward pause. There are all sorts of reasons why you may prefer any other sort of sport, but after 20 years of variations on this conversation, I’ve learned that unless you want to come across like someone who insists actually they prefer art-house cinema and free jazz, it’s best to have a straightforward explanation. Mine is that I grew up in Bath.

They do play football in Bath, out at Twerton Park. The club have never been in the Football League (right now they’re in National League South), and most weeks they draw a crowd of around a thousand. Which isn’t so very many more than you’ll find crowded around the stone balustrades of the city’s parade gardens, trying to peer across the weir and see into the Rec when the rugby club have a home game. Bath’s football has always been bad. But in the 80s and 90s Bath’s rugby was so good that the brand still stands for something, even after they have been mediocre for a large part of the past 30 years.

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Red Sox prospect expert explains why Roman Anthony ‘should play every day'

Red Sox prospect expert explains why Roman Anthony ‘should play every day' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora’s approach with top prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer has left some scratching their heads.

Cora has preferred to bench Anthony and Mayer — both left-handed hitters — against left-handed pitching. Only seven of Mayer’s 44 big-league at-bats have come against lefties, and Anthony has only one AB against a left-hander in his first three career games. Cora pinch-hit lefty masher Rob Refsnyder for Anthony against a southpaw in the 11th inning of Monday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays — Anthony’s MLB debut.

Asked on Tuesday about sitting the duo against lefties, Cora mentioned the sizable gap in pitching talent between Triple-A and MLB. He also noted Refsnyder and Romy Gonzalez’s success against left-handed pitching.

Are those valid reasons for sitting Anthony and Mayer against southpaws? Ian Cundall of SoxProspects.com shared his opinion during a recent conversation with NBC Sports Boston.

“I think with Marcelo Mayer, it makes sense,” Cundall said. “If you see him in person, he does have some issues against left-handed pitching. You see it notably in the strikeout-to-walk ratio, he just doesn’t walk against lefties. I don’t think he sees the ball as well against them, and he just doesn’t have as much power against them. So sitting Mayer against lefties, I understand.

“With Anthony, I don’t necessarily agree with that. He looks extremely comfortable against lefties. He reads the ball well, he doesn’t chase, there’s no real difference in his output with approach metrics and batted ball data. So, with someone like him, I would prefer not to platoon an elite elite prospect.”

Anthony’s actually has fared better against left-handers throughout his minor-league career. The 21-year-old slugger posted a .955 OPS against lefties this season at Triple-A Worcester and a .879 OPS against righties.

Anthony and Mayer’s splits aside, it’s a crucial developmental year for both prized prospects. It would make sense to give them reps against left-handers so they can get the full big-league experience, rather than growing accustomed to platooning during their rookie campaigns.

“You look at the last couple of years, the big left-handed position player prospects who’ve come up, guys like Corbin Carroll and Jackson Merrill, they’ve all faced lefties in their rookie year,” Cundall added. “Has it been up and down? Yeah, but that’s the only way to get better is to see them consistently.

“I think with someone like Anthony, who’s that elite number one prospect in all of baseball, he should be playing every day, in my opinion. Whereas Mayer, who is in that tier below and has had some struggles with lefties, I’m fine platooning him.”

It will be interesting to see whether Cora sticks to his approach if New York Yankees left-hander Ryan Yarbrough takes the mound in their upcoming series at Fenway Park. Mayer wasn’t in the starting lineup when Yarbrough pitched against the Red Sox in the Bronx on Saturday.

With Thursday off, Boston will begin its three-game series against New York on Friday with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.

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Tennessee Star Zakai Zeigler Has NCAA Fifth-Year Bid Blocked

A federal judge on Thursday denied former University of Tennessee basketball star Zakai Zeigler a preliminary injunction that would have allowed the two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year to play a fifth season as a graduate student in 2025-26. U.S. District Judge Katherine A. Crytzer reasoned that while the NCAA’s eligibility rule allowing four …

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Wild's Marc-Andre Fleury Finishes Seventh In Lady Byng Trophy Voting

The National Hockey League (NHL) announced Thursday the winner of the Lady Byng Trophy. The award its given to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. 

This year's winner is Los Angeles Kings forward and captain Anze Kopitar. This is the third time the native of Slovenia has won the award. 

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury finished seventh in voting for the trophy. He had 16 first place votes which was the fifth most. 

Fleury, 40, also was a finalist for the Bill Masterton Award. In his final season in the NHL, Fleury went 14-9-1 with a 2.93 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage in 26 games for the Wild. 

Wild Forward Signs Contract In Czech Extraliga League. 

Wild's Brock Faber Receives Norris Trophy Vote.

Wild's John Hynes Receives Vote For Jack Adams Award.

Photo Credit: Feb 1, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) interacts with a young fan during warmup prior to game against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images.

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Kings interested in Jrue Holiday? What to make of latest trade rumor

Kings interested in Jrue Holiday? What to make of latest trade rumor originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

If the Boston Celtics are going to get under the second apron of the luxury tax, that would require trading an important player or two from this past season’s roster.

One player who the C’s could potentially consider trading is Jrue Holiday. He is a tremendous all-around guard and still one of the best wing defenders in the league. He also brings championship experience and great leadership.

But Holiday is also 35 years old, has three more years left on his contract with an average annual salary of around $34 million, and some of his stats declined this past season. He scored only 11.1 points per game — his lowest single-season scoring average since his 2009-10 rookie campaign. Holiday’s 35.3 3-point percentage was his lowest since 2018-19.

The Celtics also have good depth in the backcourt with Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Jaylen Brown, among others.

One team that might be interested in a potential Holiday trade this summer is the Sacramento Kings.

“New general manager Scott Perry, remember, immediately highlighted the Kings’ need for improved playmaking during his introductory press conference and sources have duly linked Sacramento to various guards known to be available this summer,” Jake Fischer reported on The Stein Line Substack (via Bleacher Report). “That list includes Holiday in Boston and (Marcus) Smart in Washington… and stretches to more affordable free agent ballhandlers like Malcolm Brogdon.”

The Kings aren’t the only team that could be interested in acquiring Holiday. Marc Stein reported late last month that the Dallas Mavericks are “expected to at least explore whether there are any feasible trade pathways” to a Holiday deal, while adding “complicated as that would likely be given the three years and $104 million still left on Holiday’s contract.”

There are different Celtics-Mavericks trade packages you could come up with that would make some sense for both sides. It’s much harder to conjure up those deals with the Kings. Frankly, the Kings just don’t have a good roster.

A deal where DeMar DeRozan (and another player or two) goes to the Celtics in a Holiday trade would work financially, but the Kings guard isn’t exactly the type of player who would thrive in Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla’s 3-point focused system. DeRozan has scored 20-plus points per game in 12 straight seasons, but he mostly takes mid-range shots and doesn’t attempt many 3-pointers. He’s a career 30 percent shooter from beyond the arc. He also isn’t an amazing playmaker, he doesn’t rebound at a high level and his perimeter defense is average.

DeRozan is also 35 years old, so he wouldn’t be a long-term fit, either.

There are ways to make a league-compliant trade where Holiday goes to the Kings, but the return for the Celtics likely wouldn’t be as strong as it might be from other potential trade partners.

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West Virginia Big 12 basketball opponents released

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (June 12, 2025) – The Big 12 Conference has announced the scheduling matrix for the 2025-26 men’s basketball season.Each school has a home-and-home with three other Big 12 opponents, and faces the other 12 opponents once, with six at home and six on the road for an 18-game conference schedule.

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Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner Finishes In Top 10 Of Lady Byng Trophy Voting

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner has secured a top 10 finish for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

Voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, the Lady Byng is given "to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."

The 28-year-old placed eighth in voting with three first-place, five second-place, 10 third-place, eight fourth-place, and 10 fifth-place votes for 149 points. The winner, L.A. Kings forward Anze Kopitar, finished with 50 first-place, 31 second-place, 11 third-place, 22 fourth-place, and 18 fifth-place votes for 856 points.

Ahead of Marner in the voting was Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (195), Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (221), Montreal Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki (694), Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (760), Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel (782), and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point (793).

Below is the PHWA's top 10:

1. Anze Kopitar, LAK 856 (50-31-11-22-18)
2. Brayden Point, TBL 793 (27-43-28-21-19)
3. Jack Eichel, VGK 782 (34-26-28-36-12)
4. Jaccob Slavin, CAR 760 (33-36-22-17-17)
5. Nick Suzuki, MTL 694 (8-35-48-29-42)
6. Cale Makar, COL 221 (12-3-9-8-11)
7. Marc-Andre Fleury, MIN 195 (16-2-2-2-5)
8. Mitch Marner, TOR 149 (3-5-10-8-10)
9. Colton Parayko, STL 72 (1-2-4-6-10)
10. Jake Sanderson, OTT 71 (1-1-8-3-5)

Report: John Tavares, Maple Leafs In Ongoing Contract Talks Ahead Of NHL Free AgencyReport: John Tavares, Maple Leafs In Ongoing Contract Talks Ahead Of NHL Free AgencyWith the start of NHL free agency less than three weeks away, the Toronto Maple Leafs are facing decisions that could dramatically change their roster construction. While much speculation centers on the future of projected No. 1 NHL free agent Mitch Marner, the team must also address other key players like John Tavares and Matthew Knies.

Marner finished the season with a career-high 102 points — 27 goals and 75 assists — in 81 games, the first time he's hit the 100-point mark in his NHL career. The forward, whose contract with Toronto expires on July 1, had 14 penalty minutes this season, the 16th-least among players with 50+ points.

After being nominated for the King Clancy Trophy in 2019-20, which is awarded "to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community," Marner was selected again this season.

Not only has he been selected as Toronto's nominee for those trophies, but the playmaking forward was a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2023. Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron won the award that year, receiving all but nine first-place votes (187 out of 196).

Report: Blue Jackets And Mitch Marner’s Agent Discussed Offer Sheet In 2019, Targeting Maple Leafs Forward In Free AgencyReport: Blue Jackets And Mitch Marner’s Agent Discussed Offer Sheet In 2019, Targeting Maple Leafs Forward In Free AgencyBefore signing a six-year, $65.4 million contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019, there was reportedly a chance that then-restricted free agent Mitch Marner could've inked an offer sheet with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

New Jersey Devils forward Niko Hischier finished in the second spot with 804 points, while Marner ended up in third place with 480 points. Auston Matthews finished with 22 points that year before becoming a finalist for the trophy last season.

Marner is expected to become a free agent on July 1 after nine seasons with the Maple Leafs, where he ranks fifth all-time on the team's point list (741 points in 657 games), fifth in the club's all-time playoff points (63 points in 70 postseason games), and fourth in assists (520).

He was drafted by his hometown team with the fourth-overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.

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White Sox at Astros Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 12

It's Thursday, June 12 and the White Sox (23-45) are in Houston to take on the Astros (37-30). Davis Martin is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Framber Valdez for Houston.

After a 4-2 loss in game one of the series, the Astros unloaded on the White Sox yesterday. Their 10-2 run was fueled by four RBI from Christian Walker. Walker went 3-4 with a home run.

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 White Sox at Astros

  • Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
  • Time: 8:10PM EST
  • Site: Minute Maid Park
  • City: Houston, TX
  • Network/Streaming: Space City Home Network, CHSN

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 White Sox at the Astros

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: White Sox (+207), Astros (-256)
  • Spread:  Astros -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for White Sox at Astros

  • Pitching matchup for June 12, 2025: Davis Martin vs. Framber Valdez
    • White Sox: Davis Martin, (2-6, 3.62 ERA)
      Last outing (Kansas City Royals, 6/6): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Astros: Framber Valdez, (6-4, 3.07 ERA)
      Last outing (Pittsburgh Pirates, 6/5): 7.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 11 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 White Sox at Astros

  • This season the Astros are 37-30 (.552) and 8-5 (.615) with Framber Valdez as the opener
  • The Astros' last 4 home games with Framber Valdez as the opener have gone under the Total

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 White Sox 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 White Sox 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 Chicago White Sox 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

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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Knicks reportedly focus search for new coach on available coaches such as Mike Brown, Taylor Jenkins

As the only remaining coaching vacancy, the Knicks feel no pressure to rush their decision on their next head coach, a sentiment echoed by Knicks broadcaster Mike Breen (in the video above) and other reports out of New York.

That hasn't made the coaching search appear any less rudderless.

The Knicks' plan — led by owner James Dolan — was to fire Tom Thibodeau (even though he took them to their first Eastern Conference Finals in a quarter century). That was it. Beyond that, things were a little more vague, as Sam Amick explored at The Athletic. The Knicks had a list of at least five currently employed coaches they checked in on — most notably Jason Kidd of Dallas — and in each case, they were rejected by the teams, which did not give permission to speak with their coaches.

That has the Knicks focusing on coaches not currently employed, Amick reports.

"League sources say there is an increased Knicks focus on two former coaches who don't require permission to pursue: Mike Brown (last with the Sacramento Kings) and Taylor Jenkins (formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies). There could certainly be more names of (available) head coaches emerging soon, as a league source said the Knicks are planning on finalizing that list in the coming days. But Brown, in particular, profiles as an interesting option given the complicated nature of the Knicks' inner circle."

Brown has tight ties with William "Worldwide Wes" Wesley, the right hand of Knicks president Leon Rose and someone reportedly with the ear of Dolan. Brown coached the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference Finals in the LeBron James era, coached the Lakers, then with the Kings broke that franchise's record 16-year playoff drought. He also interviewed for the Knicks job in 2000, when it went to Thibodeau.

Jenkins was the winningest coach in Grizzlies history before being fired with three weeks to go in the season (if the goal was to spark the team into playing better, that failed). He has a good reputation around the league.

How either of them plays with the fan base as an upgrade over Thibodeau... that would be something to watch.

Don't expect New York to make its decision soon. The Knicks know they are the only remaining coaching vacancy and feel no pressure to make a move. This could drag out a while longer.

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Twins trade reliever Jorge Alcala to Red Sox for minor leaguer Andy Lugo

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins dealt struggling reliever Jorge Alcala to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday in exchange for minor leaguer Andy Lugo.

The 29-year-old Alcala (0-2) has an 8.88 ERA in 22 appearances for the Twins this year. His final outing with Minnesota came Tuesday when he gave up five runs — four earned — in a 16-4 loss to Texas.

Alcala debuted with the Twins in 2019 and pitched in a career-high 59 games in 2021. After finishing the 2024 season with a 3.24 ERA in 54 relief appearances, he had five games this season in which he allowed at least three runs out of the bullpen.

Lugo, 21, was batting .265 with four home runs and 20 RBIs in 44 games for High-A Greenville. He has played both the infield and outfield during his minor league tenure but has spent most of the 2025 season in the infield. He made 21 starts at first base and 16 at third base.

To make room for Alcala on its 40-man roster, Boston designated right-handed pitcher Brian Van Belle for assignment. Van Belle had not yet appeared in a major league game for the Red Sox this season after he was selected to the active roster on June 9.

Left-hander Joey Wentz will take Alcala’s spot on Minnesota’s 26-man roster. The Twins claimed Wentz off waivers from Pittsburgh on Wednesday.