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Blue Jackets Rumors: Columbus Interested In J.J. Peterka?

With GM Don Waddell less than two weeks away from free agency, the NHL's hot stove is starting to heat up, and Columbus seems to be in the mix. At least that's what the rumors say. 

On Thursday, TheFourthPeriod.com reported that the Columbus Blue Jackets were one of a few teams who have contacted Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams about German forward J.J. Peterka. Peterka is a pending RFA. 

"The Vancouver Canucks are believed to have interest in both players, while the likes of the New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning are among the other teams reportedly eyeing Peterka," the Fourth Period reports. 

It's also been reported that Peterka is unhappy in Buffalo and wants a change of scenery. 

The site also reports that the Sabres aren't interested in picks or futures, but rather players who can step in help the Sabres to the postseason for the first time since 2011. 

Peterka is going into his fourth pro season, and has been pretty good so far. Last season, he played in 77 games, had 27 goals and totaled a career high 68 points. He also had 18 power play points and three GWG. For his young career, he has 67 goals, and 150 points in 238 games. 

So what would Buffalo want for Peterka? 

The Jackets have picks 14 and 20 in the upcoming draft, but knowing the Sabres want players instead of picks, that probably won't work. You have to think that a deal to get Peterka to Columbus would start with Cole Sillinger. 

Sillinger is going into fifth year already, which seems crazy to me. The young Columbus-born center has played in 286 NHL games, scored 43 goals, and has totaled 107 points. 

Surely it would take more than Sillinger to land Peterka, so what else would they require? Remember who else is in Buffalo - Jarmo Kekäläinen. Kekäläinen rarely misses on trades, and he knows who the Jackets have from top to bottom. 

Might Jordan Harris or Luca Del Bel Belluz get added to the deal to get it done?

One things for sure, Don Waddell is not going to sit by and watch all the available players around the league get traded without him doing his due dilligence. 

Expect more rumors and speculation during the NHL's silly season. 

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story. 

Blue Jackets Rumors: Rangers Interested In Ivan Provorov?Blue Jackets Rumors: Rangers Interested In Ivan Provorov?Ivan Provorov and Don Waddell have both said publicly that they want a deal done to keep Provorov in Columbus, but will it get done?  Columbus Blue Jackets 2025 Draft Target: Justin CarbonneauColumbus Blue Jackets 2025 Draft Target: Justin CarbonneauThe NHL Draft is almost upon us and for most of us, the lead-up is like Christmas morning. There is so much hype around these prospects and where they will land, it is an exciting time. It's even more exciting when you hear all the trade rumours that are being talked about and what your favourite NHL team could be cooking up behind the scenes. The NHL Buyout Window Is About To Open; Will The Blue Jackets Use it?The NHL Buyout Window Is About To Open; Will The Blue Jackets Use it?Now that the Florida Panthers have won the 2025 Stanley Cup, the offseason will get into full swing, and the first piece of business will the NHL's buyout window. 
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Islanders Should Offer Sheet Dallas Stars' Mavrik Bourque

The New York Islanders should offer sheet Dallas Stars' 23-year-old centerman Mavrik Bourque. 

After re-signing Matthew Duchene to a four-year deal worth $4.5 million annually, the Dallas Stars only have a projected $4.955 million in available cap space. They have five unrestricted free agents – Jamie Benn, Mikael Granlund, Evgenii Dadonov, Brendan Smith, and Cody Ceci – and two restricted free agents – Bourque and Nils Lundqvist. 

Assuming one of the depth forwards signs for the league minimum of $775,000, Benn returns on a modest $3 million deal, and Granlund re-signs at $5 million annually, the Stars would be $3.82 million over the cap before signing Bourque.

They won’t be able to sign them all, and Bourque could be the odd-man out given their needs. 

Bourque, drafted 30th overall in 2020, recorded 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 73 games this past season, his rookie campaign. He played 12:41 minutes per game, primarily on the club’s third line. 

In 2023-24, his final season in the AHL, he recorded 77 points in 71 games (26 goals, 51 assists). 

To determine the value of an offer sheet, you divide the salary by either five years or the term of the contract, using whichever is lower.

Here’s a story going more in-depth on the process:

Islanders & Offer Sheet Compensation LevelsIslanders & Offer Sheet Compensation LevelsThe NHL has released the new compensation thresholds for offer sheets ahead of the 2025 offseason:

A reminder: A player must sign an offer sheet. 

Compensation Thresholds for 2025 Offer Sheets

Assuming the Islanders do not risk a future first-round pick in an offer sheet, the only relevant compensation levels in the 2025 offseason are:

  • Below $1,544,424 AAV (no draft pick compensation)
  • $1,544,425 – $2,340,037 (2026 third-round pick)
  • $2,340,038 – $4,680,076 (2026 second-round pick)

As a reminder, a team must forfeit its own draft picks in an offer sheet.

Of course, the Islanders sent their 2026 second-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks on June 29, 2023, alongside Josh Bailey.

However, similar to how the Blues reacquired their own 2025 second by sending a 2026 second and a 2025 third to the Penguins in exchange for their original 2025 second and a 2026 fifth, the Islanders could offer Chicago the 42nd pick in 2025 along with a future late-round pick to get their 2026 second rounder back.

The Bourque Comparison

A Bourque offer sheet would be similar to what Philip Broberg signed with the St. Louis Blues in 2024, which was a two-year deal at the then-maximum AAV within the second-round pick compensation tier – $4,580,917.

For Bourque, this would be a contract worth $4,680,076 annually for any term of five years or less.

The Broberg-Holloway-Bourque Parallel

While offer sheets are rare, the parallels between Dylan Holloway, who was also signed to an offer sheet in 2024 by the Blues, Broberg, and Bourque are uncanny.

Broberg and Holloway were on the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers, stuck behind deep rosters that limited their upside.

They then joined a Blues lineup that offered significantly higher ice time than Edmonton’s while paying them double or triple what they were previously getting offered.

For Bourque, it could be the same story with the Islanders, as New York just traded away center Brock Nelson, and may also move center Jean-Gabriel Pageau. They could use an NHL-ready, young forward.

Potential Fit With the Islanders

While Bourque developed as a center, he would likely start his time with the Islanders on the wing, a position he saw time at with the Stars in 2024–25.

The Islanders lack right-wing talent, especially if Mathew Barzal returns to center, so putting a right-handed Bourque on the second-line wing would make sense.

His back-to-back 20+ goal AHL seasons show he knows how to find the back of the net, but he is better known as a crafty playmaker with speed and aggression, something that would fit well alongside Barzal.

With general manager Mathieu Darche wanting to bring speed and energy to the Islanders' lineup, putting together a second line of Anthony Duclair, Barzal, and Bourque would do just that at an affordable cost while getting younger.

In the long run, Bourque could move back to center or stay on the wing, as the Islanders lack right-wing depth both in the NHL and the prospect pool.

The Granlund Dilemma

While it might seem easy to let Granlund walk, that decision is not so simple.

He posted 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 31 regular-season games and added 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 18 playoff games for Dallas in 2024–25.

From the time he was acquired on Feb. 1 through the end of the regular season, Granlund ranked in the top six among Stars skaters in goals, primary assists, and total points. In the playoffs, he ranked in the top three in goals and in the top four in points.

Granlund also has strong personal ties to the team, as he is Finnish and close with fellow countrymen Mikko Rantanen, Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, and Esa Lindell.

While keeping him may put the team in a bind, the Stars are in win-now mode, and letting him leave, especially if he’s willing to sign below market value, is hard to imagine.

Could Dallas Create Cap Space?

Now, let’s say Dallas somehow fully offloads both Matt Dumba and Ilya Lyubushkin’s contracts that combine for $7 million against the cap and replace them with league-minimum salaries; they would have just $1.63 million to sign Bourque, still under a 20-player roster.

From there, the only possible salaries the Stars could shed to fit Bourque at $4.68 million would be Wyatt Johnston’s recently signed $8.4 million AAV deal, or Jason Robertson’s $7.75 million AAV, assuming nobody with full trade protection waives.

Robertson’s name has flown around in trade rumors, so it is possible he is moved, but even then, Dallas would be unlikely to find a way to fit Bourque at $4.68 million without sacrificing other areas of the lineup.

While the Stars could move mountains and oceans to ensure they don’t lose Bourque to an offer sheet, it is hard to imagine they prioritize a 23-year-old with 74 career NHL games over another defenseman or two – the team’s biggest weakness.

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story

This story was written by Stefen Rosner and Michael Ostrower.

Photo: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

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Buster Posey compares Giants' Rafael Devers trade to 2014 Jake Peavy deal

Buster Posey compares Giants' Rafael Devers trade to 2014 Jake Peavy deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Is there a trade involving the Giants that reminds Buster Posey, the president of baseball operations, of San Francisco’s recent blockbuster deal for three-time MLB All-Star Rafael Devers? 

Absolutely, and Posey doesn’t need to go digging through the club’s history books all that much. 

“I think back in my career when we added a guy by the name of Jake Peavy,” Posey humorously shared with the former Giants pitcher and co-host Steve Phillips on the MLB Network on Friday. “I was pretty excited.”

Peavy and Posey were Giants teammates for three seasons, winning a World Series together in 2014, the same season San Francisco traded for the right-hander.

“In all seriousness, Peavy injected an energy into our clubhouse,” Posey added. “There was a leadership element that he brought that I know that [general manager Brian Sabean] targeted those types of guys. I certainly pay attention to that.” 

Posey spent plenty of time together with Peavy from 2014 to 2016. Now, as San Francisco’s lead executive, he is hoping Devers’ arrival has a similar impact in San Francisco.

“Ultimately, I believe a big part of this job is, of course, [that] we want to have great players on the field and a roster that is going to help us win a lot of games,” Posey said. 

“To me, Rafael Devers is a star. And our fan base, as you know, has been clamoring to have guys like this that can show up to the park and root for daily.”

As it stands, the 28-year-old slugger is owed roughly $255 million over the next eight and a half seasons, signaling a heavy commitment from Posey and Co. 

Posey, however, believes it will all be worth it — both for the Giants’ clubhouse and the fan base. 

“I think it was pretty evident from the get-go, knowing our fanbase like I know our fanbase, that they would be extremely excited about Rafael being in our lineup,” Posey concluded.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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'Martin to prove right for Rangers in six months'

Rangers head coach Russell Martin
Russell Martin agreed a three-year contract at Rangers in early June [SNS]

Russell Martin will have shown he is the "right man" for Rangers "within the first six months or so", predicts former team-mate Steven Naismith.

The former Southampton manager, 39, begins his Ibrox reign with a Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos next month, while his first Scottish Premiership game is a visit to Motherwell on 2 August.

Naismith played alongside Martin for Norwich City and Scotland and believes he will prosper in Glasgow.

"I fully believe that he will come in and be a real success," Naismith told BBC Scotland.

"I think what has been lacking at Rangers over the years, he ticks most of the boxes. His style of play, he knows how to break down a low block that he'll come up against a lot, in terms of dominating possession.

"His communication and leadership skills are probably the highest things for him. He's shown in the three clubs he's managed before that he can produce, he can make teams better.

"Within the first six months or so, I think he will have shown a lot of those doubting him that he is the right man."

Ex-Hearts head coach Naismith also revealed the pair are in contact regularly and, although he has not spoken to him specifically about the Rangers job, he says he will be on hand if Martin needs him.

"We chat a lot because we're friends and we're similar in terms of what we're going through in terms of coaching and management," the 38-year-old continued.

"I'll give him any help I can. He's pretty straightforward and laser focused on his style, his mindset and what he wants.

"His experience of playing at the club (on loan in 2018) is definitely something that will hold him in good stead going into the start of his managerial career at Rangers.

"He wants his players to do certain things on the pitch that in Scotland get challenged from the stands quickly if it's not going well. Finding that balance of having that clear style and working towards that, but also getting results short-term, is going to be key for him."

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Mets at Phillies: 5 things to watch and series predictions | June 20-22

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Phillies play a three-game series in Philadelphia starting on Friday.

5 things to watch

Can the Mets' offense snap out of it?

New York's offense is in a serious rut, having scored just five runs over the last four games -- all losses. And four of those runs came on Tuesday against the Braves in Atlanta.

A main culprit has been the Mets' bottom of the order (save for Tyrone Taylor's big game on Tuesday), which has not been able to do much.

Another issue right now is that both Francisco Lindorand Pete Alonso have gone cold.

Lindor is 0-for-14 over his last four games, though he did hit a few balls on the screws on Thursday night in Atlanta.

Alonso has just three hits in his last 16 at-bats and hasn't homered since June 8.

It's easy to envision New York's bats coming alive at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park, but Philadelphia's starting rotation could have something to say about that.

The Phillies' rotation

Zack Wheeler, Mick Abel, and Jesus Luzardo are lined up to start against the Mets, with Wheeler getting Friday's series-opener.

Wheeler is having another Cy Young-caliber season, with a 2.76 ERA and career-best 0.88 WHIP. He's also striking out a career-high 11.3 batters per nine.

Abel has hit the ground running in his rookie season, with a 2.21 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over his first four starts in the majors.

The wild card is Luzardo, who began the season on fire but has struggled badly recently, pitching to a 13.50 ERA in 16.2 innings over his last four starts.

Blade Tidwell gets another shot

When the Mets were forced to turn to Justin Hagenman on Thursday night in Atlanta, it meant they were going to have to call someone else up to start on Friday.

They chose Tidwell.

May 4, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets pitcher Blade Tidwell (40) makes his debut pitching appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
May 4, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets pitcher Blade Tidwell (40) makes his debut pitching appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. / Tim Vizer-Imagn Images

Tidwell struggled earlier this season against the Cardinals in St. Louis during what was his first big league start, allowing six runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings.

And he was hit hard his last time out for Triple-A Syracuse, giving up six runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings.

Before that start, Tidwell had been pitching relatively well, allowing just 12 earned runs over his prior 31.2 innings over six outings.

How is Brett Baty doing?

Baty left last Sunday's game against the Rays early due to right groin tightness, and he hasn't played since.

He made some progress on Thursday, and was viewed as a possible option to contribute off the bench. But he wasn't called upon in the Mets' lopsided loss.

With Baty out, it has opened the door for more playing time for Ronny Mauricio, who homered last Saturday and went 1-for-2 on Sunday after replacing Baty in the seventh inning. But Mauricio didn't do much against the Braves, going 1-for-10.

Baty was scuffling at the plate before injuring his groin, but did smack a homer last Saturday.

On the horizon is Mark Vientos, who is rehabbing with Syracuse and could possibly return to the Mets next week.

Kyle Schwarber has stepped up power-wise with Bryce Harper out

Harper hasn't played since June 5 due to a wrist injury, taking a massive bat out of Philadelphia's lineup.

But Schwarber has filled the power void in Harper's absence, smacking four homers in the 13 games since the first baseman went down.

Schwarber remains very susceptible to the strikeout, though, having fanned 26 times in 64 at-bats this month.

Elsewhere in Philadelphia's lineup, Alec Bohm -- who was the subject of trade fodder earlier this season -- is hitting well.

He has 17 hits in his last 41 at-bats, including a pair of homers and a pair of doubles.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Pete Alonso

The homer drought ends in Philadelphia.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

David Peterson

Peterson carries a 2.60 ERA into Sunday's start.

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

Nick Castellanos

Castellanos isn't having the best season, but he's always dangerous.

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Report reveals Red Sox' embarrassing email mishap in interview process

Report reveals Red Sox' embarrassing email mishap in interview process originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox may not want to check their Glassdoor rating for a bit.

In the aftermath of Boston’s stunning trade of Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, details have emerged about the dysfunction in Craig Breslow’s front office — particularly involving their reliance on AI and analytics.

Reporter Joon Lee provided an example of this dysfunction earlier this week, revealing on NBC Sports Boston’s Arbella Early Editionthat one candidate interviewing for a Red Sox baseball operations job went through five rounds of interviews without speaking to a human being.

“During this interview process, the entire interview was conducted with an AI bot, where you would record the answers to the questions and then the Red Sox would then evaluate them,” Lee said.

“And this wasn’t just one round. It wasn’t just two rounds. It was five rounds of interviews where this person did not talk to another person in the Red Sox organization.”

The Red Sox called Lee’s reporting “unsubstantiated” in a statement Wednesday and insisted they mostly used HireVue — the AI and human resources management company that “conducted” those interviews — to screen a vast number of applications early in the hiring process.

But there’s more evidence that suggests Boston’s HR operation isn’t exactly five-star quality.

The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier spoke to “multiple individuals” who described their interview process with the Red Sox as “discouragingly impersonal,” with “infrequent human interaction relative to other teams.” That impersonality manifested itself in the form of a brutal form letter received by several candidates who didn’t make it to the final stages of interviews.

From Speier:

The sense of the team’s impersonal approach to hiring was amplified last year by the fact that multiple applicants, after completing the problem set and HireVue interview, received the same emailed form letter, with the same unfortunate top-level sentence:

“Thank you for your interest in working for the Boston Red Sox and applying for the {{insert job title}}.”

“I didn’t go further than that line. I kind of laughed and closed out the email,” said one applicant. “That was the part that upset me in the moment. I still look back and laugh on it.”

That’s a tough look for a professional baseball team looking to attract the best front-office talent in the sport.

Speier added that some had better experiences with the Red Sox, with one candidate noting he received a follow-up call from a Boston staffer with feedback about his application. But another candidate described the whole process as “awkward and cold.”

On its face, the Red Sox doing everything they can to leverage AI and analytics isn’t a bad thing. But the reporting of the past week suggests Breslow and his front office have gone too far in embracing data while failing to connect with job candidates — as well as their own staffers and players — on a personal level.

And nothing drives that home like the dreaded form letter typo.

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Islanders Center Depth Becoming More Valuable By The Day

With Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the incoming Calum Ritchie, Casey Cizikas, and Kyle MacLean, the New York Islanders are deep down the middle of the ice. 

And that center ice depth is becoming more valuable by the day. 

On Thursday, the Dallas Stars announced that they had signed center Matthew Duchene to a four-year deal worth $4.5 million annually. Then, while partying with the Stanley Cup, Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett said he wasn't leaving. 

Those are two big names that come off the free agent board, and they aren't the first two to do so. 

Former Islanders center Brock Nelson signed a three-year extension in Colorado, as he won't hit the open market.  Ryan Donato signed a four-year extension with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Center Yanni Gourde, who went back to Tampa at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, signed a six-year extension. 

That leaves John Tavares, Mikael Granlund, Claude Giroux, Robbi Fabbri, Brandon Tanev, and Radek Faksa as the top centermen that could be available. 

With Mitch Marner leaving the Maple Leafs, it wouldn't be a shock to see him back. It's clear the Stars are trying to shed cap space so that they can retain Granlund. It sounds like Giroux will get something done in Ottawa. 

So, for teams looking to improve down the middle this summer, the options are limited. 

While Barzal and Horvat won't be on the move, Pageau has generated interest leading up to the 2025 NHL Draft. He has one year left on his deal at $5 million annually with a 16-team no-trade clause. 

Cizikas has two years left on his deal at $2.5 million with no trade clauses. MacLean has one year left at $775,000. 

Darche's phone will likely be ringing quite a bit with the center market drying up. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

 Photo: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

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Dodgers, Padres take NL West rivalry to boiling point

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It took seven games over 11 days for the simmer to reach full boil.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres flashed playoff intensity in their long-awaited first two series of the season and went face-to-face, quite literally, after 10 batters were hit during a stretch the Dodgers owned on the scoreboard.

In winning five of the seven games, the Dodgers also hit Fernando Tatis Jr. with pitches three times. The last of those came in the eighth inning of Thursday’s 5-3 Padres victory when the benches finally cleared after Tatis was hit near the right hand.

While the staredown behind home plate was more peacock feathers than fisticuffs, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Padres manager Mike Shildt were ejected following a tense back-and-forth exchange.

Afterward, the Padres’ Manny Machado said his true feelings won’t be known until Tatis gets results from X-rays and a CT scan.

“They gotta pray for (results) to come back negative tomorrow,” Machado said. “They should. Us, too, but they should for sure.”

After Tatis was hit, the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani took a pitch to the back of his right (pitching) shoulder from Robert Suarez. With Dodgers players starting to move over the dugout railing, Ohtani waved back his teammates and took first base.

“Well, I think he knew it was intentional,” Roberts said. “He wasn’t hurt by it, and he didn’t want any more drama, which I respect that a lot.”

Ohtani was hit twice in the series, each a half inning after Tatis was hit. The Dodgers’ Andy Pages also was hit twice in the series.

Roberts said he hoped Tatis does not miss extended time.

“I didn’t feel good about Tatis — great player, good guy — getting hit,” Roberts said. “I didn’t feel good about it. And so as (Shildt) comes out, and he’s yelling at me and staring me down, that bothers me. Because, to be quite frank, that’s the last thing I wanted.”

Shildt said he has respect for the Dodgers but seeing Tatis get hit three times by their pitchers in less than two weeks doesn’t sit right. He has also been hit by the Dodgers six times in his career, the most by any club.

“Whether it was (intentional) or it wasn’t, enough is enough,” Shildt said. “We got a guy who’s getting X-rays right now, is one of the best players in the game, fortunately he’s on our team, and this guy has taken shots, OK?”

While the teams waited more than two months to face each other for the first time this season, there will be another two-month wait until they face off again Aug. 15-17 at Los Angeles and Aug. 22-24 at San Diego.

“It’s going to be a fun ride,” Machado said. “This division’s freaking awesome, and it’s going to be a fun ride going down the road. The Giants got better with (Rafael) Devers, and we know what these guys have on the other side. And what we have on this side. And obviously you can’t count out Arizona. They’ve got a really good team over there. They’re going to be battling. It’s a four-headed monster battling it out, so it’ll be an interesting second half.”

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Brewers at Twins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 20

Its Friday, June 20 and the Brewers (40-35) are in Minneapolis to open a weekend series against the Twins (37-37).

Jacob Misiorowski is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Joe Ryan for Minnesota.

The Twins salvaged the final game of their three-game set against the Reds with a 12-5 win yesterday. Byron Buxton cracked a couple home runs to pace the attack. Milwaukee split a four-game series against the Cubs. Every player in the Brewers' lineup had at least one hit and the team collected 13 total hits in their 8-7 win yesterday.

Lets dive into the series opener 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 Brewers at Twins

  • Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
  • Time: 8:10PM EST
  • Site: Target Field
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, MNNT

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

Odds for the Brewers at the Twins

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (+140), Twins (-166)
  • Spread:  Twins -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Twins

  • Pitching matchup for June 20, 2025: Jacob Misiorowski vs. Joe Ryan
    • Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/12 vs. St. Louis - 5IP, 0ER, 0H, 4BB, 5Ks
    • Twins: Joe Ryan (7-2, 2.93 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/14 at Houston - 7IP, 2ER, 2H, 2BB, 7Ks

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 Brewers at Twins

  • The Brewers have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against American League teams
  • Each of the last 3 matchups between the Brewers and the Twins have stayed under the Total
  • The Twins have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 2.48 units
  • Ty France picked up a couple hits yesterday after going hitless in his previous 4 games (0-13)
  • Jackson Chourio is riding a 9-game hitting streak (12-39)

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 Brewers and the Twins

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 Friday's game between the Brewers and the Twins:

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

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Astros at Angels Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 20

It's Friday, June 20, and the Astros (43-32) are in Anaheim to take on the Angels (36-38). Hunter Brown is slated to take the mound for Houston against Yusei Kikuchi for Los Angeles.

The Astros are coming off a 6-4 loss to the Athletics last night despite a decent effort from Colton Gordon. The Astros' pitcher only gave up two earned runs in 5.0 innings pitched.

With a 7-3 loss, the Los Angeles Angels were unable to sweep the New York Yankees.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. They have made a slight dent in the Astros' lead in the AL West. They are now only 6.5 games behind the division leaders.

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 Astros at Angels

  • Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
  • Time: 9:38PM EST
  • Site: Angel Stadium
  • City: Anaheim, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Home Network, Space City Home Network

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 Angels

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Astros (-184), Angels (+154)
  • Spread:  Astros -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Astros at Angels

  • Pitching matchup for June 20, 2025: Hunter Brown vs. Yusei Kikuchi
    • Astros: Hunter Brown, (8-3, 1.88 ERA)
      Last outing (Minnesota Twins, 6/14): 7.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 12 Strikeouts
    • Angels: Yusei Kikuchi, (2-6, 3.05 ERA)
      Last outing (Baltimore Orioles, 6/15): 5.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 10 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 Angels

  • The Astros have won 5 of their last 7 divisional matchups
  • The Under is 41-30-4 in Astros' games this season
  • The Astros have covered the Run Line in 5 of their last 6 road games against the Angels

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 Angels

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 Friday's game between the Astros and the Angels:

  • 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 Los Angeles Angels 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)
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  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Royals at Padres Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 20

It's Friday, June 20 and the Royals (37-38) are in San Diego to take on the Padres (40-34). Michael Lorenzen is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Nick Pivetta for San Diego.

Despite picking up the win against the Texas Rangers, the Royals' struggles continue. They are just 4-6 in their last 10 games and are 10.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.

The Padres have struggled as well. Even though they won yesterday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, they have won just three of their last 10 and are 5.0 games back from first in the NL West.

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 Royals at Padres

  • Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: Petco Park
  • City: San Diego, CA
  • Network/Streaming: Apple TV+

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 Royals at the Padres

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (+154), Padres (-184)
  • Spread:  Padres -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Padres

  • Pitching matchup for June 20, 2025: Michael Lorenzen vs. Nick Pivetta
    • Royals: Michael Lorenzen, (4-7, 4.91 ERA)
      Last outing (Athletics, 6/14): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Padres: Nick Pivetta, (7-2, 3.40 ERA)
      Last outing (Arizona Diamondbacks, 6/15): 7.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 9 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 Royals at Padres

  • The Royals are on a 3-game winning streak
  • The Under is 21-15-1 in the Royals' road games this season
  • The Royals have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight matchups against the Padres

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 Royals and the Padres

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 Friday's game between the Royals and the Padres:

  • 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 Kansas City Royals 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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Rafael Devers won't play first base in Giants vs. Red Sox series, per Bob Melvin

Rafael Devers won't play first base in Giants vs. Red Sox series, per Bob Melvin originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Give the new guy some time.

Bob Melvin, talking to KNBR’s “Murph and Markus” on Friday, shot down the idea of Rafael Devers playing first base in the Giants’ three-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Oracle Park.

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen this weekend,” San Francisco’s manager told Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher. “We haven’t gotten there. … It’s going to take a little bit more time than having him at first base during the Red Sox series.”

Devers was moved to designated hitter during the 2025 MLB season after playing third base for the first eight years of his big-league career to make way for Alex Bregman, whom the Red Sox signed to a three-year, $120 million free-agent contract this past offseason. Boston later asked Devers to move to first base after Triston Casas suffered a ruptured left patellar tendon in early May, which Devers refused.

But the three-time MLB All-Star appears to be open to whatever Melvin and president of baseball operations Buster Posey envision for him, especially with star Matt Chapman manning third when he’s healthy and top prospect Bryce Eldridge and key veterans Wilmer Flores and Dominic Smith often playing first.

“There’s time for everybody,” Melvin explained to Murphy and Boucher. “I mean, certainly, Raffy’s going to be in there and agreeing to play first base, and we’ll be working on that here for several days before we feel comfortable running him out there. Once he does that, we can get [Wilmer Flores] back into the DH spot, where he’s been so productive.

“In the interim, Flo’s going to play a bit more first – he will tonight [Friday against the Boston Red Sox at Oracle Park] – and we’ll mix [Dominic Smith] in there, too.”

Melvin added that, regardless of who plays where at whatever point, the Giants will have a “real professional hitter on the bench that can pick up a big at-bat” like Flores, who has flourished in key moments repeatedly in 2025 and throughout his six-year San Francisco tenure.

Devers has a ways to go before he can comfortably switch corners at first. And Melvin suggested that the organization and Devers understand that patience is required, especially as the two-time Silver Slugger award winner is attempting to learn a new position mid-season in a new city.

“The hard part is, doing it during the season is difficult,” Melvin told Murphy and Boucher. “You can’t really simulate game stuff. The easy part is going to be fielding grounders and throwing the baseball. The hard part is where do you go for cut-offs, your first time at first base stretching, or bunt plays, other side of the diamond, different spins from lefties …”

The wait for Devers should be well worth it. He is one of baseball’s top bats and already looks comfortable as a Giant, with three hits in three games. 

After all, San Francisco’s newfound partnership with Devers — which is scheduled to run through 2033, as part of the 10-year, $313.5 million contract extension he signed with Boston during the 2023 offseason — only will improve as the offensive juggernaut expands his defensive versatility.

“There’s going to be a little bit of a process in getting him ready, but he’s all in,” Melvin told Murphy and Boucher. “And like I said, if you can field the ball and throw the ball at third base – similar to Casey Schmitt, who picked it up quickly over at first – we feel like that transition will happen.”

It would’ve been something to see Devers play first against his old Red Sox, though.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Posted on

Nationals at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 20

It's Friday, June 20 and the Nationals (31-44) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (46-30). MacKenzie Gore is slated to take the mound for Washington against Clayton Kershaw for Los Angeles.

Yesterday the Dodgers dropped game four of the series against the Padres. Depsite the loss they still picked up a 3-1 series lead and have extended their lead in the NL West to 3.5 games.

The Nationals were able to avoid getting swept by the Rockies with a 4-3 win yesterday. That series loss marked five straight series losses.

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 Nationals at Dodgers

  • Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: SportsNet LA, MASN 2, 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 Nationals at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Nationals (+168), Dodgers (-204)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Dodgers

  • Pitching matchup for June 20, 2025: MacKenzie Gore vs. Clayton Kershaw
    • Nationals: MacKenzie Gore, (3-6, 2.89 ERA)
      Last outing (Miami Marlins, 6/15): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw, (2-0, 3.25 ERA)
      Last outing (San Francisco Giants, 6/14): 7.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 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 Nationals at Dodgers

  • The Dodgers have won their last 3 games with Clayton Kershaw as starting pitcher
  • With Clayton Kershaw as starting pitcher 7 of the Dodgers' last 9 home games have gone over the Total
  • The Nationals have covered the Run Line in 5 of their last 7 matchups against the Dodgers

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 Nationals 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 Friday's game between the Nationals 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 Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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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Reds at Cardinals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 20

Its Friday, June 20 and the Reds (39-36) are in St. Louis to open a weekend series against the Cardinals (40-35).

Brady Singer is slated to take the mound for Cincinnati against Andre Pallante for St. Louis.

The Reds lost Thursday but did take two of three in their series earlier this week against the Twins. TJ Friedl went 3-5 and scored two runs in Cincy's 12-5 loss yesterday. St. Louis swept a three-game set against the White Sox including an 8-6 win in ten innings yesterday. Nolan Arenado hit his ninth home run of the season to help the cause for the Cards.

Lets dive into the series opener 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 Reds at Cardinals

  • Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
  • Time: 7:15PM EST
  • Site: Busch Stadium
  • City: St. Louis, MO
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNOH, FDSNMW

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

Odds for the Reds at the Cardinals

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Reds (+115), Cardinals (-137)
  • Spread:  Cardinals -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Reds at Cardinals

  • Pitching matchup for June 20, 2025: Brady Singer vs. Andre Pallante
    • Reds: Brady Singer (7-4, 4.34 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/14 at Detroit - 6IP, 1ER, 4H, 3BB, 4Ks
    • Cardinals: Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.83 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/14 at Milwaukee - 4.1IP, 3ER, 4H, 2BB, 7Ks

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 Reds at Cardinals

  • The Cardinals have won 4 of their last 5 home games against National League teams
  • The Under is 4-1 in the Cardinals' last 5 matchups against divisional opponents
  • The Cardinals have failed to cover the Run Line in 4 straight home games
  • Willson Contreras was 2-10 in the 3-game series against the White Sox
  • Gavin Lux was 1-8 in the 3-game series against the Twins
  • Elly De La Cruz was hitless in the series against the Twins (0-10)

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 Reds and the Cardinals

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Reds and the Cardinals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the St. Louis Cardinals on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cincinnati Reds at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)