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Cardinals at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 4

It's Monday, August 4 and the Cardinals (56-57) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (65-47). Sonny Gray is slated to take the mound for St. Louis against Tyler Glasnow for Los Angeles.

The Cardinals continue their west coast road trip after losing two out of three to the Padres. St. Louis is 2-7 in the last nine games and 1-5 over the past six as they enter this matchup with the Dodgers.

St. Louis is 2-1 versus Los Angles this season, but the Dodgers are playing well recently. The Dodgers own a 4-2 record over the past six outings and a 7-5 record after dropping three straight to open the second half of the year.

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 Cardinals at Dodgers

  • Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNMW, SNLA

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

Odds for the Cardinals at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Cardinals (+156), Dodgers (-188)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cardinals at Dodgers

  • Pitching matchup for August 4, 2025: Sonny Gray vs. Tyler Glasnow
    • Cardinals: Sonny Gray, (10-5, 4.38 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.40 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Dodgers: Tyler Glasnow, (1-1, 3.38 ERA)
      Last outing: 9.00 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 5 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 Cardinals and the Dodgers

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 Monday’s game between the Cardinals and the Dodgers:

  • 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 St. Louis Cardinals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play 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 Cardinals at Dodgers

  • St. Louis is 2-1 versus Los Angeles this season
  • Los Angeles is 4-2 in the last six games
  • St. Louis is 1-4 in the last five games
  • The Dodgers have a 22-15 record in series openers this season
  • Nine of the Dodgers' last 11 games (82%) have stayed under the Total
  • The Dodgers have failed to cover the Run Line in nine of their last 11 home 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)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Twins at Tigers prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 4

Its Monday, August 4 and the Twins (52-59) are in Detroit open a series against the Tigers (65-48).

Simeon Woods Richardson is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Casey Mize for Detroit.

The Twins salvaged the final game of their three-game weekend series in Cleveland with a 5-4 win over the Guardians. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak. Trevor Larnach led the attack with a hit and a couple of runs batted in.

The Tigers return home following a weekend in Philadelphia that saw them lose two of three to the Phillies including 2-0 last night. Kyle Schwarber went yard for the 38th time this season and Cristopher Sanchez allowed just five hits over eight innings to earn his 10th win of the season.

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 Twins at Tigers

  • Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: Comerica Park
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: MNNT, FDSNDT

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 Twins at the Tigers

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Twins (+128), Tigers (-152)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Tigers

  • Pitching matchup for August 4, 2025: Simeon Woods Richardson vs. Casey Mize
    • Twins: Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 4.24 ERA)
      Last outing: July 28 vs. Boston - 5.79 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Tigers: Casey Mize (9-4, 3.44 ERA)
      Last outing: July 29 vs. Arizona - 5.40 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Twins at Tigers

  • The Tigers have won their last 5 games against divisional opponents
  • The Under is 17-9-1 in the Twins' games against AL Central teams this season
  • The Tigers are showing a profit of 5.25 units on the Run Line in their last 5 games at Comerica Park
  • Casey Mize struck out 14 opposing hitters in 15 innings in July but never more than 5 in any start
  • Riley Greene was 0-13 against the Phillies over the weekend

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 Twins and the Tigers

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Twins and the Tigers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Minnesota Twins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Athletics star Nick Kurtz earns both AL Player and Rookie of the Month for July

Athletics star Nick Kurtz earns both AL Player and Rookie of the Month for July originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It is a Big Amish summer.

Athletics star first baseman Nick Kurtz earned both AL Player of the Month and AL Rookie of the Month for his electric contributions in July. It is his first career AL Player of the Month and second consecutive AL Rookie of the Month.

Over 23 games in July, Kurtz slashed .395/.480/.953 with a 1.433 OPS. He collected 34 hits and 27 RBI with 11 home runs. The 22-year-old led the AL in on-base percentage (.480), doubles (13), OPS, RBI, extra-base hits (25), total bases (82) and slugging (.953).

Kurtz stamped the stellar month with a six-for-six game in a 15-3 rout of the Houston Astros on July 25, in which he hit four home runs, collected six hits, drove in eight runs and totaled 19 bases at Daikin Park.

“I don’t really know how to describe that one,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay told reporters that night in Houston. “It’s arguably the best game I’ve ever watched from a single player.”

Kurtz, the A’s No. 4 overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft, is the 10th player ever to take home both awards in the same month. He joins Ryan Braun (July 2007), Buster Posey (July 2010), Mike Trout (July 2012), Yasiel Puig (June 2013), Jose Abreu (April and July 2014), Gary Sanchez (Aug. 2016), Aaron Judge (June and Sept. 2017), Aristides Aquino (Aug. 2019) and Wyatt Langford (Sept. 2024).

It seemed that Kurtz’s teammate, Jacob Wilson, was a lock for AL Rookie of the Year for much of the 2025 MLB season, especially after becoming the first fan-elected rookie ever to start an All-Star Game. 

Kurtz, though, might be the frontrunner after his ridiculous July. But the award truly could go to either of the A’s rookie sensations.

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Astros at Marlins prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 4

Its Monday, August 4 and the Astros (62-50) are in Miami to take on the Marlins (55-55).

Jason Alexander is slated to take the mound for Houston against Sandy Alcantara for Miami.

The Astros arrive in South Beach reeling having been swept over the weekend in Boston by the Red Sox while the Marlins are riding high following their first-ever sweep of the Yankees in Miami.

Houston is 2-8 in their last 10 games and their lead in the American League West has been whittled down to 2.5 games over Seattle. Miami is playing as well as anyone in baseball. They have won five straight and are 30-14 since June 13 to pull to within six games of a Wild Card berth.

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 Astros at Marlins

  • Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: loanDepot Park
  • City: Miami, FL
  • Network/Streaming:

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 Astros at the Marlins

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Astros (-106), Marlins (-113)
  • Spread:  Marlins 1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Astros at Marlins

  • Pitching matchup for August 4, 2025: Jason Alexander vs. Sandy Alcantara
    • Astros: Jason Alexander (1-1, 18.00 ERA)
      Last outing: July 29 vs. Washington - 3.86 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Marlins: Sandy Alcantara (6-9, 6.36 ERA)
      Last outing: July 29 at St. Louis - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts

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

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

  • The Marlins have won their last 3 games with Sandy Alcantara on the mound
  • This season Sandy Alcantara has an ERA of 6.36 and a WHIP of 1.46
  • The Marlins have covered in 7 of their last 9 games with Sandy Alcantara on the mound
  • Carlos Correa is 3-12 with 1 HR and 1 RBI in 3 games since returning to Houston

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 Astros 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 Monday's game between the Astros and the Marlins:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Miami Marlins on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Houston Astros at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Fenway Park Workers Warn of Indefinite Strike Against Aramark

Concession workers at Fenway Park may go back on strike—potentially indefinitely—if food and beverage vendor Aramark doesn’t offer a new labor contract.

On Wednesday, ahead of the Boston Red Sox’s series finale against the Kansas City Royals, Unite Here Local 26 will give Aramark a formal notice of a potential strike. It comes over a week after the unionized concession workers walked off the job on July 25 for three days during the series against the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Aramark hired replacement workers for the series, some of whom were involved in a confrontation with picketing union members outside the stadium after Saturday’s game, according to NBC Boston.

The union employees returned to the job for this past weekend’s series against the Houston Astros without incident; the Red Sox host the Royals for three games starting Monday.

The two sides have been at odds since Dec. 31, 2024, when the previous contract expired. On June 15, while the Red Sox hosted the rival New York Yankees, Local 26 authorized a strike that could take place at any point during the regular season, with 95% of its members voting in favor. A few weeks later on July 23, the union gave Aramark 48 hours to offer a new contract before walking off the job; the company let the deadline pass, leading to the three-day strike.

Peter Dankens, a beer server who began working at the ballpark in 1976 as a 14-year-old porter, is the longest-tenured vendor at Fenway and a member of the union’s bargaining committee. In the last talks between the two sides prior to the July strike, Dankens said that he was taken aback by a comment from one of Aramark’s negotiators.

“I wasn’t that hyped up about the whole thing until I went to the bargaining meeting,” he said, “and the person who represented Aramark said, ‘Well, you people make enough money.’ I couldn’t believe someone said that. I make at the top very good money, sure, but my money doesn’t come from Aramark. My money comes from the fans.”

Dankens said he walked off the job in support of the people in the back of the house who deliver, stock and cook the food. “They’re unrecognized. I don’t think anybody in management, other than the floor supervisors, know their names individually. I don’t think it’s not the way they used to be. It really used to be family, and it’s not that way anymore.”

Last Thursday, the bargaining committee discussed next steps, thinking that negotiations towards a new deal could go into the 2026 MLB regular season. Neither side has spoken to one another since the strike during the Red Sox/Dodgers series, though the union continues to say that it’s up to Aramark to offer what it believes to be a fair proposal.

Another point of contention, according to Dankens, was about Juneteenth, which was declared a federal holiday in 2021. The committee said it asked Aramark to make that a paid holiday for its employees, but that request was denied.

“That’s a slap in the face to every person of color that works there, saying ‘we’ll discuss it with you in 2030,’” Dankens said. “Who discusses a national holiday in honor of people of color in 2030? It’s a national holiday.”

Aramark didn’t reply to a request for comment.

The negotiations could play out the same way as it did in Philadelphia when that city’s union chapter representing concession workers across the three venues of the stadium complex went on strike in late September 2024, long after its own contract expired. Some concession workers picketed as the Phillies played their final regular-season series before the playoffs. Though the strike lasted four days, Aramark and the union did not come to terms on a new contract until this past April.

While there has been little common ground at the negotiating table, there was a moment when both sides put their hostilities aside. One of the union members who worked at the ballpark passed away in June after a battle with esophageal cancer. At the funeral, Dankens said he saw two members of Aramark’s senior management team among the attendees.

“I think they thought I was going to say something about this strike,” he said. “And I said to them, you know, it meant a lot to see you coming to [the] funeral. And believe me, it was not unnoticed.

“I think they were kind of taken aback that I said that to them, but it did mean something to see them there. It was almost like we went back to the olden days.”

(This story has been updated in the first paragraph to accurately reflect the union’s intentions around the strike. This story has been corrected in the second paragraph to note the Red Sox will play the Royals on Wednesday, and in the fifth paragraph to clarify who is speaking.)

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Mets vs. Guardians: How to watch on SNY on Aug. 4, 2025

The Mets open a three-game series against the Guardians at Citi Field on Monday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • Francisco Lindor is hitting .310/.370/.524 with two home runs and three doubles in 46 plate appearances over his last 10 games
  • Edwin Diaz has allowed one earned run since April 21. For the season, Diaz has a 1.44 ERA and 0.91 WHIP with 65 strikeouts in 43.2 innings
  • Sean Manaea has been terrific since returning, with a 2.08 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 17.1 innings while striking out 22
GUARDIANS
METS
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What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.

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William Nylander's Father, Michael, Surprises Maple Leafs' Forward With Sweden's Top Hockey Honor

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander has been named Sweden’s top hockey player of the year.

The annual honor, named the GuldPucken, is given to the hockey player of the year from Sweden. The tradition began in 1956, and the country opened the award to Swedish NHL players in 2015.

William’s father, Michael, who played in the NHL for parts of 15 seasons, revealed to William that he had won the 2025 Goldpucken. It’s the first time a player on the Maple Leafs has won the award. Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling won it last year after winning the Stanley Cup.

Nylander’s coming off his best goalscoring season to date. The 29-year-old had 45 goals in 82 games in 2024-25, finishing atop the Maple Leafs and only trailing Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, who scored 52 goals, for the most in the league.

Fellow Swede Jesper Bratt, a forward on the New Jersey Devils, was Nylander’s only countryman to finish higher than him in points last season. The 27-year-old tallied 88 points (21 goals and 67 assists) in 81 games.

'They're Trying To Move Money Around': Maple Leafs Reportedly Haven't Closed Door On Signing UFA Jack Roslovic'They're Trying To Move Money Around': Maple Leafs Reportedly Haven't Closed Door On Signing UFA Jack RoslovicThe Toronto Maple Leafs were reportedly interested in unrestricted free agent Jack Roslovic earlier this summer, and it appears the lure may not have gone away.

In an interview with Expressen’s Adam Johansson, Nylander said it was special to win the Goldpucken, adding that while he doesn’t talk about it, winning the trophy was always in the back of his mind. Nylander also credited his Toronto teammates for helping him achieve the honor.

Although he was born in Calgary, Alberta, Nylander has always dubbed Sweden home. He’s represented them on the international stage numerous times, including at the 4 Nations Face-Off and World Championships earlier this spring, after going out in the second round of the NHL playoffs to the Panthers.

He's also already one of the six players named to Team Sweden's 2026 Winter Olympics roster.

Maple Leafs' Ben Danford Praises Fellow Toronto Pick Victor Johansson On Growth Over Last YearMaple Leafs' Ben Danford Praises Fellow Toronto Pick Victor Johansson On Growth Over Last YearVictor Johansson got the upper hand on fellow Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Ben Danford at the World Junior Summer Showcase this week.

Nylander won gold with his home country at the 2017 World Championships, where he was also named the tournament’s MVP. While speaking with Johansson this week, the forward said winning gold with Sweden, winning the Gold Puck this year, and playing in his home country with the Maple Leafs during the NHL’s Global Series in 2023 are the highlights of his career thus far.

Since being selected eighth overall by Toronto in the 2014 NHL Draft, Nylander has scored 612 points (262 goals and 350 assists) in 685 NHL games. He’s also put up 26 goals and 32 assists in 67 playoff games with the Maple Leafs.

Former Maple Leafs Forward Nazem Kadri Reacts To Being Snubbed From Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic Orientation CampFormer Maple Leafs Forward Nazem Kadri Reacts To Being Snubbed From Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic Orientation CampDespite a career-high of 35 goals, Calgary Flames forward and former Toronto Maple Leafs star Nazem Kadri was left off Hockey Canada’s Olympic Orientation Camp Roster. The camp is set to take place later in August.

Nylander is entering the second season of an eight-year, $92 million contract, which he signed with Toronto in January 2024. The annual average value of the deal is $11.5 million, making him the second-highest paid Swede in the NHL behind Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson, who’s set to make $11.6 million starting next season.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: William Nylander's Father, Michael, Surprises Maple Leafs' Forward With Sweden's Top Hockey Honor

(Top photo of Nylander: Nick Turchiaro / Imagn Images)

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Golden Knights' Jack Eichel Puts The Heart In Hockey

As the season quickly approaches for the Golden Knights, star center and alternate captain Jack Eichel has made the most of his off season by hosting his third JE9 premier youth hockey camp. 

Eichel was completely hands-on throughout the week-long camp, personally welcoming boys and girls of all skill levels from across North America. His passion for the game and desire to give back to the sport that has given him so much at an early age led him to establish the program. 

The camp provides the young hockey players with the opportunity to learn from Eichel and other top-level coaches, as well as participate in on-ice drills and games designed to enhance their skills and understanding of the game. The camp welcomes players of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced players, and focuses on individual development and team-building. 

His commitment to making a difference off the ice is evident through his long-standing support of Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Beyond being a hockey camp, the program has donated $120,000 to Best Buddies International. 

Additionally, through his participation in the Battle 4 Vegas charity softball game, he directed $150,000 to the organization. Altogether, Eichel has contributed $270,000 to Best Buddies during his time in Las Vegas, helping to empower volunteers and expand inclusive opportunities for those the organization serves. 

“It’s an organization I've been involved with for seven or eight years now and there's connections with our family,” Eichel told Golden Knights reporter Gary Lawless. “My sister studied it in school, and she worked in special needs education when she got out of school. I feel like it was always something that I had a passion for. When you're in the position that a lot of us are in and having the ability to make an impact and give back, I looked at Best Buddies as an organization that I felt like I had a lot of passion for and wanted to get involved with and had the opportunity to meet, Anthony Shriver [CEO, Best Buddies] and go to a few Best Buddies events and continued that relationship in Buffalo and then started one in Vegas when I moved there.” 

Jack Eichel Holds Special Place In Heart For Charity That Benefits From Battle For Vegas Softball EventJack Eichel Holds Special Place In Heart For Charity That Benefits From Battle For Vegas Softball EventLAS VEGAS -- When Golden Knights star Jack Eichel takes the field at Las Vegas Ballpark for the annual Battle for Vegas charity softball event, it always holds a little more special meaning for him.

PHOTO COURTESY: JE9 Hockey Camp

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Canadiens: About A Potential Mason McTavish Trade

As the offseason progresses, fans are growing increasingly anxious about the future of the second-line center position with the Montreal Canadiens. While the situation isn’t exciting, the most likely outcome at this stage is for Kirby Dach to receive another opportunity in the role.

In the last few days, several websites have reported that, according to Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco, the Canadiens are keeping tabs on McTavish’s availability. That is not what he wrote; he wrote that he “reckon would be keeping close tabs on McTavish’s availability”. In other words, he believes the Habs should be keeping an eye on the situation, but it does not mean that they are.

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Perhaps something got lost in translation, or it’s just down to websites looking for clicks in the dog days of summer, but whichever way you look at it, what we’ve got here is a classic case of misquoting.

There’s no doubt that McTavish would tick a lot of the boxes on the list of what the Canadiens need, but that doesn’t mean he automatically becomes available. Granted, the Anaheim Ducks already have a top-line center in Leo Carlsson, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for McTavish anymore.

Yes, the Ducks did sign Mikael Granlund on the free agent market, but the fact that he can play center doesn’t mean he will play center. Anaheim has already moved a center this offseason when they sent Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers.

It would be perfectly reasonable for the Ducks to start the season with a center line of Carlsson, McTavish, Ryan Strome, and Ryan Poehling (who they acquired in the trade with the Flyers). Of course, there’s the small matter of McTavish not being signed to a contract yet since he’s an RFA, but the truth is that if he were to sign an offer sheet, the Ducks would simply match it.

Anaheim has over $21 million in cap space. It would take an unreasonable offer sheet to get McTavish out of California, and Kent Hughes is not the type to throw caution to the wind and make a move that doesn’t make sense financially. Once upon a time, the Carolina Hurricanes made an unreasonable offer to Jesperi Kotkaniemi. While they did get the player, they are now stuck with him after giving him an eight-year deal that made little sense at the time, given the player’s track record.

The Canadiens will not do that. Nor will they make a reasonable offer sheet that the player will sign and the team will match. Montreal will not be a signing facilitator as they were for Sebastian Aho. The only way McTavish lands in Montreal is if the Ducks are unable to sign him to a number they are comfortable with, and they elect to trade him.

If it is a sign-and-trade deal, however, it would cost roster pieces for the Canadiens and not just futures. This is a player who has three full years of NHL action under his belt, with 43, 42, and 52 points. He is consistently evolving and improving; those players do not come cheap.

If you would like the Canadiens to go hard after McTavish, ask yourself which of the core pieces you’d be willing to sacrifice because he’s not a gamble like Dach or Alex Newhook were; he’s a player that has already started to pan out.

Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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Mets vs. Guardians: 5 things to watch and series predictions | Aug. 4-6

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Guardians play a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Monday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

5 things to watch

Can Sean Manaea and Clay Holmes provide length?

The Mets' starting rotation, aside from David Peterson, has been unable to pitch deep into games over the last month-plus.

Part of that has to do with pitchers like Manaea and Kodai Senga stretching back out following stints on the IL, and part of it has to do with Holmes understandably being managed with kid gloves as he soars past his innings total from last season during his first year after transitioning from reliever to starter.

But in order to avoid burning out the newly-bolstered bullpen, the Mets are going to have to get more length from their starters.

Manaea has tossed 5.0 innings in each of his last two starts, but high pitch counts have prevented him from going beyond that.

As far as Holmes, he lasted just 3.2 innings last Wednesday against the Padres and hasn't completed 6.0 innings since June 7.

Manaea gets the ball on Monday, with Holmes toeing the slab on Tuesday.

Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso are breaking out of it

Following prolonged slumps, Lindor and Alonso are starting to look like themselves at the plate again.

Lindor is hitting .310/.370/.524 with two home runs and three doubles in 46 plate appearances over his last 10 games.

That includes a leadoff homer on Sunday against the Giants -- a series where Lindor went 5-for-11 with five RBI and two walks.

Alonso smashed home runs on Friday and Saturday, giving him 250 for his career as he continues to chase the Mets' franchise record of 252 that is held by Darryl Strawberry.

Juan Soto is in a serious power drought

Soto hit safely in all three games against San Francisco, but he hasn't been hitting for much power lately.

Jul 18, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) follows through on a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Citi Field
Jul 18, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) follows through on a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Citi Field / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Soto has hit just one home run and one double since July 18.

Meanwhile, his OPS -- which was up to .916 entering play on July 5 -- has dropped to .859.

Soto has also gone five straight games without a walk, which is a rarity for him.

The Guardians are surging, but with a caveat

The Guardians are 16-7 since July 7, a run that has put them back in the mix for a Wild Card spot in the American League.

However, while Cleveland swept the Astros at the start of this streak, the rest of it has been done against very bad teams -- series wins over the White Sox, Athletics, Orioles, Rockies, and Twins (who just traded roughly one third of their active roster at the deadline).

The Guardians' run differential of -28 also suggests their record is better than it should be.

Still, the Mets will be facing a motivated club that is led by perennial MVP candidate Jose Ramirez, who is slashing .302/.377/.533 in 108 games this season.

Cleveland's rotation has been very good

The Mets will face Slade Cecconi, Logan Allen, and Gavin Williams during this series.

Cecconi has gone 7.0 innings or more in three of his last four outings, and enters his start with a 3.77 ERA and 1.21 WHIP.

Allen fired 7.0 innings of two-run ball against the Rockies in his last start, and has a 4.06 ERA and 1.36 WHIP this season.

Williams has been Cleveland's best starter this year, with a 3.33 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. But he has struggled with his command, walking a league-high 62 batters.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Juan Soto

He's been close to a non-factor power wise for too long to think it'll continue.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Sean Manaea

Manaea has been terrific since returning, with a 2.08 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 17.1 innings while striking out 22.

Which Guardians player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Jose Ramirez

Ramirez has been on fire, with nine hits in his last 20 at-bats, including home runs on Saturday and Sunday.

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Former Kings guard De'Aaron Fox reportedly agrees to Spurs contract extension

Former Kings guard De'Aaron Fox reportedly agrees to Spurs contract extension originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Former Kings star De’Aaron Fox is all in on his new team.

The eight-year NBA veteran agreed to a four-year, $229 million maximum contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday, citing Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul. 

Fox’s deal has no player option in the final year, according to Charania, keeping the guard with the Spurs through the 2029-30 NBA season. 

He worked with Paul to orchestrate his blockbuster move from Sacramento to San Antonio at the 2024-25 trade deadline, sparking the multi-team deal that brought California native Zach LaVine to the state’s capital city from the Chicago Bulls.

It appears the Spurs are committed to Fox and 7-foot-3 center Victor Wembanyama being their duo of the future. And that’s precisely what Fox, a Texas native, wanted, as San Antonio was the one destination he claims to have wanted to be traded to.

Fox averaged 19.7 points, 6.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds over his first 17 games with the Spurs before ending his season for surgery on March 18 to repair tendon damage in his left pinkie, which he injured in his last Kings training camp in October. The Spurs clearly aren’t worried about Fox’s health and are banking on him returning to Kings form for the long haul.

Over eight seasons as a fan favorite in Sacramento, Fox averaged 21.5 points, 6.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds. He helped the “Beam Team” Kings reach the 2022-23 NBA playoffs after the franchise hadn’t been since 2005-06 and holds Sacramento’s single-game scoring record after dropping 60 points on Nov. 16 at Golden 1 Center in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Fox played 521 games with the Kings, including Sacramento’s seven-game series defeat to Steph Curry and the Warriors in the first round of the 2022-23 Western Conference playoffs.

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India beat England by six runs to draw series in thrilling finale to fifth men’s cricket Test – as it happened

Chris Woakes was sent out in a sling as England lost to India by six runs at the Oval in a wild finale to the series

Siraj is signing autographs. Intensely.

“Bought my son a day five ticket several weeks back,” you clever man David Adam, “and he’s been watching the whole match hoping for wickets to stop and rain to start. As much as yesterday’s crowd were rightly gutted not to see the conclusion, I’m selfishly delighted that my son will get his first taste of Test cricket this morning, even if it’s only half an hour. Surely the series deserves to end with a third ever tied test? Siraj sending an spectactularly unsporting bouncer down at Woakes?”

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Penguins New Forward Should Be Great Fit

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made plenty of new additions to their roster this off-season. Among their free-agent signings was forward Justin Brazeau, as the Penguins signed him to a two-year, $3 million contract on July 1.

The Penguins' decision to bring in Brazeau is not too difficult to understand. It is no secret that they needed more size and secondary scoring in their bottom six, and Brazeau should provide them with just that. 

After earning his first NHL contract with the Boston Bruins during the 2023-24 season, Brazeau recorded five goals, seven assists, 43 hits, and a plus-4 rating in 19 games with the Original Six club. Brazeau then posted 11 goals, 11 assists, 22 points, and 123 hits this past season split between the Bruins and Minnesota Wild. With numbers like these, Brazeau has demonstrated that he can be a solid secondary scorer and provide plenty of grit. Thus, he should be a nice fit on a Penguins team that needs more of that. 

Furthermore, when noting that Brazeau is only entering his third NHL season, the possibility of him improving further is certainly there. He should get plenty of chances to succeed on the Penguins, and it will be interesting to see how much of an impact he can make with the Metropolitan Division club from here. 

Penguins Forward Could Become Popular Trade TargetPenguins Forward Could Become Popular Trade TargetIt is no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins are open to making trades right now as they continue to retool their roster. Bryan Rust, Erik Karlsson, and Rickard Rakell are three notable names who have been discussed heavily in the rumor mill this off-season. However, with the Penguins willing to make changes, it is fair to wonder if some of their depth players could end up moved, whether that is during the summer or the season. 

Photo Credit:  © Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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'They're Trying To Move Money Around': Maple Leafs Reportedly Haven't Closed Door On Signing UFA Jack Roslovic

The Toronto Maple Leafs were reportedly interested in unrestricted free agent Jack Roslovic earlier this summer, and it appears the lure may not have gone away.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts, there are still a few teams interested in Roslovic’s services, adding that the Maple Leafs are still attempting to move money around, potentially to bring the 28-year-old in.

“I’ve heard there’s still a few teams looking at him. He’s the best available player remaining, and obviously, he hasn’t found anything he 100 percent likes, but there’s definitely a few teams poking around there,” Friedman said. 

“I’ve heard five or six, so he has to get to something he’s comfortable with, and we know with Toronto, they’re trying to move money around.”

Toronto’s reported interest in Roslovic first surfaced on July 6, with Friedman reporting that the right-shot forward would make sense for the Maple Leafs because of his past with Auston Matthews at the United States’ National Development Team.

'Nobody Expects Them Not To Do Things Before Puck Drops': Could Maple Leafs Still Move Nick Robertson After Contract Signing?'Nobody Expects Them Not To Do Things Before Puck Drops': Could Maple Leafs Still Move Nick Robertson After Contract Signing?Although the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nick Robertson settled on a one-year, $1.825 million contract on Saturday, could the young forward still be on his way out?

Roslovic was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round (25th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft. He spent three seasons with the Jets before being moved to the Columbus Blue Jackets with Patrik Laine in January 2021 for Pierre-Luc Dubois.

After four seasons with Columbus, he was traded to the New York Rangers for a 2026 fourth-round pick. Roslovic then signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes last summer on July 4.

Roslovic has appeared in 526 NHL games, split between the Jets, Blue Jackets, Rangers, and Hurricanes, scoring 260 points (102 goals and 158 assists). The Columbus, Ohio-born forward tied his career-high of 22 goals this past year with Carolina, while also tallying one goal and three assists in nine playoff games.

Former Maple Leafs Forward Nazem Kadri Reacts To Being Snubbed From Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic Orientation CampFormer Maple Leafs Forward Nazem Kadri Reacts To Being Snubbed From Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic Orientation CampDespite a career-high of 35 goals, Calgary Flames forward and former Toronto Maple Leafs star Nazem Kadri was left off Hockey Canada’s Olympic Orientation Camp Roster. The camp is set to take place later in August.

The Maple Leafs have just $1.919 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia, and they'll need to shed some money if they want to sign Roslovic. Two players whose contracts could be moved out to make room are David Kampf or Calle Jarnkrok. 

Kampf has two more seasons at $2.4 million and appeared in just one playoff game for Toronto this past spring. Jarnkrok was injured for the majority of the season, but returned to the lineup before the playoffs and played a key role on Toronto’s fourth line. He has one more year at $2.1 million.

The Maple Leafs are currently a team full of depth after acquiring Nicolas Roy, Matias Maccelli, and Dakota Joshua via trade. They also just re-signed Nick Robertson, however, reports suggest he could be on the move before next season begins.

Maple Leafs' Ben Danford Praises Fellow Toronto Pick Victor Johansson On Growth Over Last YearMaple Leafs' Ben Danford Praises Fellow Toronto Pick Victor Johansson On Growth Over Last YearVictor Johansson got the upper hand on fellow Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Ben Danford at the World Junior Summer Showcase this week.

It’ll be a fascinating month of August as the summer begins to wind down and players start to filter their way back into Toronto.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: 'They're Trying To Move Money Around': Maple Leafs Reportedly Haven't Closed Door On Signing UFA Jack Roslovic

(Top photo of Roslovic: David Kirouac / Imagn Images)