Braves at Mets Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 13

It's Wednesday, August 13 and the Braves (51-68) are in Queens to take on the Mets (64-55). Carlos Carrasco is slated to take the mound for Atlanta against David Peterson for New York.

New York took game two of the series, 13-5 in a thriller that included Pete Alonso breaking the Mets all-time home run record with 253 for his career. That win snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Mets and marks a 2-11 mark over the past 13 games.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Braves at Mets

  • Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Citi Field
  • City: Queens, NY
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNSO, SNY, FS1

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 Braves at the Mets

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Braves (+163), Mets (-196)
  • Spread:  Mets -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Braves at Mets

  • Pitching matchup for August 13, 2025: Carlos Carrasco vs. David Peterson
    • Braves: Carlos Carrasco, (2-2, 5.91 ERA)
      Last outing: 9.53 ERA, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 9 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
    • Mets: David Peterson, (7-5, 2.98 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.00 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts

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

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Mets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Atlanta Braves at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

  • The Mets are 1-7 in the last 8 games and 2-11 in the past 13
  • Atlanta is 3-1 in the last 4 games
  • Atlanta is 2-8 in the last 10 games
  • The Mets have won 3 straight divisional matchups
  • The Under is 20-11-1 in the Braves' divisional matchups this season
  • The Mets have covered the Run Line in 3 straight matchups against the Braves

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)

Padres at Giants Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 13

It's Wednesday, August 13 and the Padres (68-52) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (59-61). Nick Pivetta is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Kai-Wei Teng for San Francisco.

The Padres will entertain a sweep over the Giants after a 5-1 on Tuesday and 4-1 on Monday. San Diego is winners of four-straight, while San Francisco is the opposite with four consecutive losses as the Giants continue to play itself out of the playoff picture.

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 Padres at Giants

  • Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
  • Time: 3:45PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: SDPA, NBCSBA

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

Odds for the Padres at the Giants

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Padres (-156), Giants (+132)
  • Spread:  Padres -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Giants

  • Pitching matchup for August 13, 2025: Nick Pivetta vs. Kai-Wei Teng
    • Padres: Nick Pivetta, (11-4, 2.94 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.50 ERA, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Giants: Kai-Wei Teng, (1-1, 5.40 ERA)
      Last outing: 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Giants

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Padres and the Giants:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Diego Padres on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Francisco Giants at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 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 Padres at Giants

  • San Diego is 4-0 in the last 4 and 6-1 in the past 7
  • San Francisco is 0-4 in the last 4 and 3-4 in the past 7
  • The Padres have won 4 of their last 5 away games against teams with losing records
  • The Under is 4-1 in the Giants' last 5 matchups against divisional opponents
  • It has been 4 games since the Giants last covered the Run Line

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

Kings' NBA Cup Group A schedule released, with games vs. Thunder, Timberwolves

Kings' NBA Cup Group A schedule released, with games vs. Thunder, Timberwolves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings’ path to bouncing back in the NBA Cup begins Nov. 7 at Golden 1 Center against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Sacramento also will play the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Nov. 14, host the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 26 and face the Jazz in Utah on Nov. 28.

The NBA released the full 2025 NBA Cup schedule on Wednesday, a month after the six five-team groups were revealed.

The Kings went 1-3 in the group stage last season, missing the knockout round.

If the Kings advance out of the group stage, they head to the knockout rounds. The Western and Eastern Conference quarterfinals take place on Dec. 9 and 10, while the conference semifinals will be held on Dec. 13.

Should the Kings survive the single-elimination knockout stage, they will play in the NBA Cup championship game on Dec. 16.

Sacramento heads into the 2025-26 NBA season looking to return to the playoffs after losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference play-in tournament in April.

Doug Christie had the interim title removed and is entrenched as the Kings’ coach for the foreseeable future, while Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Keegan Murray anchor the roster. Point guard Dennis Schroder joins the fray to run the offense.

The first step to building a solid foundation for the future would be to win the NBA Cup.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

Tigers at White Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 13

It's Wednesday, August 13 and the Tigers (69-52) are in Chicago to take on the White Sox (44-76). Shane Smith is slated to take the mound for Chicago, while Detroit has yet to announce its starting pitcher.

The White Sox even up the series against the Tigers at one apiece after a 9-6 victory on Tuesday. Detroit's struggles continue and it appears they will roll with an opener rather than a rotational starter for the series finale in Chicago as Tarik Skubal takes the mound at Minnesota Thursday.

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 Tigers at White Sox

  • Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
  • Time: 2:10PM EST
  • Site: Rate Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNDT, CHSN

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

Odds for the Tigers at the White Sox

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Tigers (-130), White Sox (+109)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at White Sox

  • Pitching matchup for August 13, 2025: TBA vs. Shane Smith
    • Tigers: TBA
    • White Sox: Shane Smith, (3-7, 4.22 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.60 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 8 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 Tigers and the White Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Tigers and the White Sox:

  • 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 Chicago White Sox at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Tigers at White Sox

  • Chicago is 2-7 in the last 9 games
  • Detroit is 4-5 in the last 9 games
  • The White Sox have lost 27 of 43 games this season following a win
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Tigers' last 5 divisional matchups
  • The Tigers have failed to cover in their last 5 games against the White Sox

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)

Pirates at Brewers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 13

It's Wednesday, August 13 and the Pirates (51-70) are in Milwaukee to take on the Brewers (75-44). Mitch Keller is slated to take the mound for Pittsburgh against Brandon Woodruff for Milwaukee.

The Brew Crew continues its dominance with an 11th straight win! Milwaukee beat Pittsburgh 14-0 after a 7-1 victory on Monday, so it's 21-1 on the series score if you're counting, Pittsburgh (I am a Pirates fan).

Milwaukee holds the best record in the MLB, the No. 1 seed in the NL, and is larger than a -500 favorite to win the NL Central amid this blue-burning winning streak.

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 Pirates at Brewers

  • Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
  • Time: 2:10PM EST
  • Site: American Family Field
  • City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Network/Streaming: SNP, FDSNWI, 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 Pirates at the Brewers

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Pirates (+160), Brewers (-192)
  • Spread:  Brewers -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Pirates at Brewers

  • Pitching matchup for August 13, 2025: Mitch Keller vs. Brandon Woodruff
    • Pirates: Mitch Keller, (5-10, 3.86 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.18 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Brewers: Brandon Woodruff, (4-0, 2.29 ERA)
      Last outing: 2.57 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 8 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 Pirates and the Brewers

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Pirates and the Brewers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Milwaukee Brewers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

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

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

  • Milwaukee is 11-0 in the last 11 games
  • Pittsburgh is 0-4 in the last 4 games
  • Pittsburgh is 4-8 over the past 12 games
  • The Brewers have won 17 of their last 20 home games with Brandon Woodruff as starting pitcher
  • In his last 5 home starts on the mound the Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff has an ERA of 1.96
  • The Brewers have covered the Run Line in 4 straight matchups against the Pirates

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)

Nationals at Royals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for August 13

It's Wednesday, August 13 and the Nationals (47-72) are in Kansas City to take on the Royals (60-60). Jake Irvin is slated to take the mound for Washington against Seth Lugo for Kansas City.

The Royals chase of the three-game sweep over the Nationals continues after Kansas City took game two, 8-5. Kansas City is now 3-1 in the past four games and 4-2 in the previous six, while Washington is in a slide at 3-10 over the last 13 contests.

A win and sweep in favor of the Royals would put Kansas City above .500 for the first time since they were 34-33 (now 60-60).

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 Nationals at Royals

  • Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
  • Time: 2:10PM EST
  • Site: Kauffman Stadium
  • City: Kansas City, MO
  • Network/Streaming: MASN2, FDSNKC

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 Royals

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Nationals (+152), Royals (-183)
  • Spread:  Royals -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Royals

  • Pitching matchup for August 13, 2025: Jake Irvin vs. Seth Lugo
    • Nationals: Jake Irvin, (8-7, 4.90 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.06 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Royals: Seth Lugo, (8-6, 3.46 ERA)
      Last outing: 15.75 ERA, 7 Earned Runs Allowed, 9 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 1 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 Nationals and the Royals

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Kansas City Royals on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

  • Washington is 0-2 in the last 2 games
  • Washington is 3-10 in the last 13 games
  • The Royals have won 7 of their last 9 games at home
  • The Nationals' last 3 games versus the Royals have gone over the Total
  • The Royals have covered the Run Line in 5 of their last 6 matchups against the Nationals

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)

Warriors' NBA Cup schedule released, featuring matchup vs. Kevin Durant, Rockets

Warriors' NBA Cup schedule released, featuring matchup vs. Kevin Durant, Rockets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry and the Warriors’ road to the 2025 NBA Cup knockout rounds begins Friday, Nov. 7, with a Group C matchup against Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets in Denver and concludes Wednesday, Nov. 26, against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets at Chase Center in San Francisco.

In between those two games, Golden State will play the Spurs on Friday, Nov. 14, in San Antonio and host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, Nov. 21.

The NBA released the full NBA Cup schedule on Wednesday, a month after revealing the six five-team groups.

If the Warriors advance out of the group stage, they head to the knockout rounds. The Western and Eastern Conference quarterfinals take place on Dec. 9 and 10, while the conference semifinals will be held on Dec. 13.

Should the Warriors survive the single-elimination knockout stage, they will play in the NBA Cup championship game on Dec. 16.

The Warriors made it to the knockout stage last season, winning Group C with a 3-1 record. But they lost 91-90 to the Rockets in the quarterfinals. Houston would go on to lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinal.

Golden State got its revenge in April by taking down Houston in a thrilling seven-game first-round NBA playoff series.

With Jimmy Butler in the fold to begin the 2025-26 season, the Warriors are better equipped to do damage in the NBA Cup. But the path is daunting with games against the Nuggets, Spurs, Trail Blazers and Rockets.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Ranking Mets slugger Pete Alonso's Top 5 home runs

From milestone blasts to walk-offs to October clouts that will live forever in Mets lore, Pete Alonso has hit a ton of home runs, more than anyone in Flushing history.

But which round-trippers are his best ever? We engaged a crack team of homerologists to come up with a list of Alonso’s Top 5. They used everything from tape measures to Statcast to their deep feel for baseball (and Mets) history to determine which of Pete’s nukes really stand out. 

Bet you can guess No. 1 on this list, which is meant to celebrate the home run that broke Darryl Strawberry’s previous Mets career record of 252. (That’s why No. 253 itself isn’t on here). Of course, Alonso might replace all of the rockets on this countdown if he keeps slugging away. 

So read on, beginning with No. 5. 

5. Alonso’s first career home run 

You’ve got to start somewhere, and Alonso did on April 1, 2019. It was a delight that the Mets took him on the big league roster out of spring camp instead of trying to manipulate his service time and, zowie, did it pay off. After going homer-less in his first three MLB games, Alonso gave the baseball world an idea of what to expect when his bat meets ball. With the Mets up by a run in the ninth inning in Miami, he smashed a three-run homer off righty Drew Steckenrider to give the Mets a cushion in what eventually was a 7-3 win. The drive went 112.8 mph off the bat and traveled 444 feet to center field. 

Sep 3, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) is greeted by teammates to celebrate the victory after hitting a 2 run home run during the tenth inning against the New York Yankees at Citi Field.
Sep 3, 2020; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) is greeted by teammates to celebrate the victory after hitting a 2 run home run during the tenth inning against the New York Yankees at Citi Field. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

4. Pete punishes pinstripers

Alonso seems to have a flair for big moments, so it’s hard not to choose his first walk-off career home run, which came on Sept. 3, 2020 and doomed the Yankees. With the score knotted at 7 in the bottom of the 10th inning at Citi Field, Alonso powered a 404-foot shot down the left-field line off Albert Abreu, clobbering Abreu’s 97.5-mph four seamer. Since Dom Smith started the inning on second base – he was the Manfred Man – the Mets won the game by a 9-7 score. Weird nugget: The “fans” in the stands were cutouts, since it was the pandemic season.

3. The one where we cheat

The 2019 season was milestone mania for Alonso, who set the MLB rookie record for homers and the Mets’ club mark for a single season, too, by blasting 53. We can’t leave any of these record-breakers out! We refuse. So we are going to recognize them all, starting with his 27th homer that year, which came off Cole Hamels at Wrigley Field and broke Strawberry’s Mets record for rookie homers in a single season. When he hit No. 40 roughly two months later, it broke Cody Bellinger’s mark for an NL rookie. When he slugged No. 42 on Aug. 27, he set the Mets single-season record, passing Todd Hundley and Carlos Beltran. And when he hit his 53rd on Sept. 28 off Mike Foltynewicz of the Braves, he broke the MLB rookie record Aaron Judge had set two years earlier. What a season.

New York Mets first base Pete Alonso (20) hits a three-run home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game five of the NLCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Citi Field.
New York Mets first base Pete Alonso (20) hits a three-run home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game five of the NLCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Citi Field. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

2. Postseason Polar (Bear) power

The Mets were facing elimination in Game 5 of the 2024 NLCS against the Dodgers, but Alonso gave them a first-inning jolt that helped spur a 12-6 win and push the series to six games. Facing Jack Flaherty, who had shredded the Mets in Game 1, Alonso reached down and golfed a Flaherty offering over the center field fence, a three-run drive that traveled 432 feet. According to MLB.com, it was the longest postseason homer by a Met in the Statcast Era (since 2015), topping Travis d’Arnaud’s 431-foot shot off the Home Run Apple in 2015. 

1. Duh

One day, Alonso may hit a bigger home run than our list-topper. That would be incredible, because what Alonso did on Oct. 3, 2024 was historic. It saved the Mets season – maybe saved Alonso’s Mets career, too, considering he was heading into free agency off a down (for him) season. In the ninth inning of Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Brewers, the Mets were down, 2-0, with two on and one out in the ninth inning. Their superlative closer, Devin Williams, was on the mound. Fairly bleak, right? But Alonso hit a three-run homer and the Mets went on to win, 4-2. Alonso’s home run was the first ever go-ahead home run in the ninth inning of a winner-take-all postseason game hit while the player’s team was trailing. That’s a bit of a mouthful; simply put, it’s one of the great clutch swings in MLB history.

Honorable mention(s)

We can’t stop ourselves. And we’d be remiss if we did not mention July 17, 2019, when Alonso hit the longest home run of his career, a 489-foot mash off Matt Magill in Minnesota. Then there’s the day in 2024 (Aug. 8) when he slugged two homers off Austin Gomber at Coors Field that went 471 feet and 454 feet, respectively. That’s 925 feet worth of homers! In the 2021 Home Run Derby, Alonso was credited with a 514-foot shot in Colorado. Man, imagine if Alonso played his home games at Coors Field? One last one – Alonso got plenty of national buzz after his performance in the 2018 MLB Futures Game when he smacked a 415-foot homer, kind of like he was saying, “Hello, baseball world, I’m the future Mets club leader in home runs.” 

Canadiens: Bolduc Is Up To The Challenge

Since being traded by the St. Louis Blues to the Montreal Canadiens, Zachary Bolduc has been looking forward to playing for the team he cheered for as a kid. He’s been to Brossard to check out the CN Sports Complex and has spoken to his new coach a couple times. La Presse’s Simon Olivier Lorange caught up with Bolduc and new Habs signing Samuel Blais at the first edition of the QMJHL Foundation tournament in Terrebonne.

According to Lorange, he jokingly asked Bolduc if he was ready to kill penalties and the forward replied that when training camp comes around, he’ll be ready for any kind of opportunity. The youngster was dead serious even though he’s only played a grand total of 21 seconds on the PK in his young career.

Canadiens Defenseman Named As Top Breakout Candidate
Canadiens Need Winning Record Against Intriguing New Look Islanders
Canadiens: Big Contract Comes With Big Expectations

The forward acquired in return for Logan Mailloux added that he wants to help the Canadiens in any way possible, be it at even strength, on the power play or even when down a man. While he’s never had the opportunity to be a penalty killer, he told Lorange that he’s smart and sees the game well, playing on the PK is something he would like to had to his toolbox.

The 22-year-old has a single season of experience in the big league, but he is seen as a player who has a legitimate chance at a top-six spot. In 72 games, he racked up 36 points, 12 of which came on the power play. It will be interesting to see who Martin St. Louis elects to use with the man advantage now that Bolduc, Ivan Demidov and Noah Dobson can make reasonable first-unit cases.

Last season, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Lane Hutson and Patrik Laine all joined forces on the top unit, but now that there have been significant new additions to the lineup, who should be on the first line unit and who should lose their spot? That’s going to be an interesting story to follow when training camp rolls around.


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

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

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

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

The Spin | Rehan Ahmed’s technicolour technique deserves a show on Ashes stage

All-rounder is back on form and would be an exciting addition to England’s squad, says Leicestershire’s director of cricket

As the Hundred fires into primary-coloured summer action, all free T-shirts and AI fan photos, the Spin has been putting her feet up, coffee in one hand, notebook in the other, chewing over the Championship season to date.

If the notebook has proved a bitter disappointment, scribbled with long-forgotten three for 67s, the ruminations have been fun. It’s been a season of surprises – Leicestershire! Lancashire! – and memorable moments, from Tom Banton’s 371 in the very first game to Ian Botham’s thunder and fury over Somerset’s field-of-onions pitch for the game against Durham.

Continue reading...

Forsberg: Making sense of Grousbeck report, Celtics ownership dynamic

Forsberg: Making sense of Grousbeck report, Celtics ownership dynamic originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

So… What exactly is going on with the sale of the Boston Celtics?

That’s a question many had Tuesday in the wake of a report that Wyc Grousbeck won’t remain the Celtics’ lead owner after his ownership group completes a $6.1 billion sale of the team to new owner Bill Chisholm.

While ESPN’s Shams Charania initially reported that Grousbeck “will no longer stay on as governor” of the franchise, multiple outlets later clarified that Grousbeck will still be with the franchise until 2028, but with the title of alternate governor instead of lead governor.

Grousbeck also is expected to retain his CEO title through 2028, while Chisholm will take over as lead owner when the sale goes through, which could happen as soon as next week.

What does this all mean for the future of the organization? As Celtics Insider Chris Forsberg explained Tuesday on Arbella Early Edition, the team’s day-to-day operation shouldn’t change much under this arrangement.

“(It’s) a little bit of a change from what was expected, but I don’t think this is going to change a whole lot in how the dynamic is going to work moving forward,” Forsberg said.

“I think that Bill Chisholm is gonna enjoy having Wyc here to help steward the franchise forward in this transition process, but Bill, after paying $6.1 billion, is understandably going to sit in the lead chair. He’ll be the guy who goes to the Board of Governors meetings and has that bigger role as the Celtics chart a path forward here.”

According to The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, the NBA doesn’t allow someone to serve as lead governor if they don’t own at least 15 percent of the franchise. With Chisholm set to take at least a 51 percent ownership stake in the team until the full sale is complete in 2028, it makes sense that he’d assume that “lead role” given his financial investment.

As Forsberg noted, however, Grousbeck still will be involved in the franchise’s operations, even if Chisholm is atop the masthead.

“The fans probably won’t notice much change from the outside,” Forsberg added. “It’s still going to be a collaborative effort. But I do believe that when you pay a hefty price — we thought that at some point, Bill would elevate to that role maybe even before 2028.

“But Wyc will still have a part of this, and Bill Chisholm can start leaving his imprint on this new franchise and finding a way to get them back to a championship level.”

For his part, Chisholm has placed his trust in Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, who has aggressively trimmed salary this offseason in an effort to trim salary but has ownership’s blessing to spend in the future and rebuild a contender in Boston when Jayson Tatum returns from his ruptured Achilles.

“Bill has been pretty clear from the get-go that he wants to make sure that we’re prioritizing basketball assets and the ability to retool this thing at the highest level that we can,” Stevens said last month.

Giants' farm system makes largest jump in MLB's latest post-deadline ranking

Giants' farm system makes largest jump in MLB's latest post-deadline ranking originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants’ organization took a significant step forward in recent weeks.

At the minor-league level.

San Francisco, by trading relief pitchers Tyler Rogers, Camilo Doval and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski before MLB’s July 31 trade deadline, received eight players (seven prospects) that appear to have significantly improved its farm system in the eyes of some experts.

MLB.com’s Jim Callis, Sam Dykstra and Jonathan Mayo released their updated ranking of all 30 farm systems, and the Giants are on the rise.

18. San Francisco Giants

2025 preseason rank: 28
2024 midseason rank: 23
2024 preseason rank: 17
2023 midseason rank: 14

Top 100 Prospects: Bryce Eldridge, 1B (No. 13)

“The most improved system since our March rankings — up 10 spots from No. 28 — the Giants are loaded with young talent and poised to continue to climb,” MLB.com wrote. “Eldridge is raking in Triple-A at age 20, but many of their best prospects have starred in Rookie ball this year, including shortstops Josuar Gonzalez and Jhonny Level and right-handers Argenis Cayama, Keyner Martinez and Alberto Laroche.

“Outfielders are becoming a strength of the system, led by Bo Davidson (signed as a nondrafted free agent) and Dakota Jordan.”

While MLB.com has one Giants prospect (Eldridge) on its top-100 list, Baseball America has three San Francisco prospects (Eldridge, Gonzalez and Davidson) on theirs.

While the Giants continue to struggle mightily at the major-league level, their farm system at least is trending upward as the team continues to look toward the future.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Giants option top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt amid roster shuffle

Giants option top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt amid roster shuffle originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants saw enough out of Kai-Wei Teng last Friday to give him another shot, and because the San Diego Padres are so balanced at the top of their lineup, they’ll let the right-hander start on Wednesday instead of following a left-handed opener. Two days later, Landen Roupp will return from an elbow scare. 

The rotation, at least for now, is full again, and on Tuesday that led to the Giants optioning top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt when they needed a roster spot for Tyler Fitzgerald. Whisenhunt had an up-and-down first stint in the big leagues, allowing eight runs in 14 1/3 innings, but also mixing in a strong start in New York against the Mets. 

Manager Bob Melvin said the three starts were a learning experience for the 24-year-old. 

“The first time at the big league level, you learn some things pretty quickly about yourself. It happens a little bit quicker here,” Melvin said. “He had a tough first inning and recovered in his first outing. Pitched pretty well after that and had a good start in New York and then had an on-and-off one (over the weekend). You realize kind of what plays here and whatnot. He’s going to be better for it when he goes down. 

“I think you trust your instincts a little bit more when you feel what happens here at the big league level. He’s going to be better for it. We’ll see him again at some point.”

The main lesson for the lefty involved the two pitches he used most often. Whisenhunt has an elite changeup, but it was inconsistent in the big leagues, and hitters were ready for it. There’s so much data and video now that prospects aren’t able to sneak up on anyone, and Whisenhunt allowed a .273 average on his changeup. 

He responded by leaning heavily on his sinker, which he commanded well in New York. When he left a few over the plate on Saturday against the Washington Nationals, he allowed three homers. 

Whisenhunt struck out 12 in his three starts but also walked seven. He allowed five homers, three on his sinker and two on his changeup. 

“I think he found out pretty quickly that he needs to be able to locate his fastball,” Melvin said. “And when he does, it makes his off-speed stuff — especially his changeup — that much better.”

The run in the big leagues was perhaps shorter than Whisenhunt hoped, but the Giants view him as a big part of their plans going forward. Melvin said they saw enough to be confident the lefty “can perform here.”

Company In Triple-A

Whisenhunt returns to a River Cats rotation that’s filled with pitchers waiting for a return to the big leagues. 

Hayden Birdsong has made three starts since being optioned and has shown improved command, walking four in 12 1/3 innings. He has allowed 17 hits and seven earned runs, but the Giants mostly wanted to see him get back in the strike zone and get some confidence back. They feel he’s headed in the right direction, although a return to the big leagues isn’t imminent. 

“He is throwing strikes,” Melvin said. “I know he gave up a few runs, but we’ll see where it goes.”

The Giants also are eager to take a look at right-hander Blade Tidwell, acquired in the Tyler Rogers deal. He has made two starts since the deadline and allowed just two earned runs, with 16 strikeouts in 10 innings. Tidwell has shown a nasty breaking ball and 98 mph fastball. He could be next in line when the Giants need another starter. 

One Is All It Takes

Dominic Smith got just one at-bat Tuesday, but he took advantage. Smith pulled a two-strike fastball from David Morgan into right field, loading the bases in the bottom of the sixth. He was hitting for Fitzgerald and he was immediately replaced by pinch-runner Drew Gilbert. 

The single extended Smith’s hitting streak to 15 games, and it was the third time that he kept the streak going as a pinch-hitter. According to Sportradar, Smith became just the second Giant to have three pinch-hits during a streak of at least 15 games. Hall of Famer Bill Terry had three pinch-hits during his own 15-game hitting streak for the New York Giants in 1936. 

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast