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Nationals at Cardinals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 8

It's Tuesday, July 8 and the Nationals (37-53) are in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals (48-43). Jake Irvin is slated to take the mound for Washington against Sonny Gray for St. Louis.

Both Washington and St. Louis had much needed rest days on Monday. The Cardinals are coming off an 11-0 throbbing via the Cubs, which makes St. Louis 1-5 over the last six games.

The Nationals were swept by the Red Sox at home, which was the final straw for ownership apparently. Washington fired their team president and manager on Sunday with six games left before the All-Star break.

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 Cardinals

  • Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
  • Time: 7:45PM EST
  • Site: Busch Stadium
  • City: St. Louis, MO
  • Network/Streaming:

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

Odds for the Nationals at the Cardinals

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Nationals (+154), Cardinals (-186)
  • Spread:  Cardinals -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Cardinals

  • Pitching matchup for July 8, 2025: Jake Irvin vs. Sonny Gray
    • Nationals: Jake Irvin, (7-3, 4.71 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Cardinals: Sonny Gray, (8-3, 3.51 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.1 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 6 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 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 Tuesday’s game between the Nationals and the Cardinals:

  • 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 Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

  • Washington is 9-8 when Irvin pitches this season and 3-0 in the last three
  • St. Louis is 13-4 when Gray pitches this season and 3-0 when coming off a loss
  • The Nationals have won 4 of their last 5 away games following a loss
  • The Nationals' last 3 road games have gone over the Total
  • The Nationals have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games but they are profiting 1.47 units

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Marc Johnstone Re-Joins Maple Leafs Organization With Two-Year Marlies Contract, Goaltender Ken Appleby And Reese Johnston To One-Year Deals

The Toronto Marlies are beginning the process of filling out their roster beyond players signed to NHL contracts, and they have signed three players, including a familiar face up front.

The Marlies signed forward Marc Johnstone to a two-year Marlies contract, marking his return to the organization after spending the last two seasons within the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. Johnstone signed his first NHL entry-level contract shortly after Kyle Dubas departed the Leafs organization and became President and General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023.

Johnstone played one NHL game, making his debut in the show on Dec. 8, 2023, against the Florida Panthers. With Toronto, Johnstone is reunited with Marlies GM Ryan Hardy, who helped nurture the player’s talent. The 29-year-old will be counted on to provide leadership in a room that will be chock-full of younger talent.

How Former Marlies Forward Marc Johnstone Overcame Getting Cut in The ECHL to Earning an NHL ContractHow Former Marlies Forward Marc Johnstone Overcame Getting Cut in The ECHL to Earning an NHL ContractThe 27-year-old signed his first-ever NHL contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this month.

The Marlies also signed veteran goaltender Ken Appleby to a one-year deal. Like Johnstone, the last time Appleby played in the NHL was during the 2023-24 season, when he was with the New York Islanders. The 6-foot-4 goaltender spent last season with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, where he posted a .910 save percentage and a 1.96 goals-against average in 24 games. His six shutouts were second in the AHL last season, which is impressive given how few starts he made. With goaltender Matt Murray departing the Leafs and signing a one-year deal with the Seattle Kraken, Appleby could be another netminding presence and provide support for prospect goaltenders Dennis Hildeby, Artur Akhtymov, and Vyacheslav Peksa.

The Marlies also signed Reese Johnson to a one-year deal. The Maple Leafs acquired the forward from the Minnesota Wild at the trade deadline last season in exchange for future considerations. Johnson played in six games with the Marlies following the trade, putting up one assist. The physical forward played in two playoff games with Toronto and accumulated four penalty minutes.

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Flyers Playoff Hero Michael Leighton Hired by Red Wings

Michael Leighton is a member of the AHL Hall of Fame Class of 2025. (Photo: Jay Calderon, The Desert Sun)

After seven seasons, Philadelphia Flyers playoff hero Michael Leighton is back in the NHL... just not as a player.

On Monday, it was announced that Leighton, 44, was hired to become the Red Wings' new goalie coach, marking his first foray into coaching senior level hockey.

Leighton previously served as the goalie coach of the OHL Windsor Spitfires from the 2021-22 season to 2023-24.

Flyers fans will best remember the 44-year-old journeyman as the surprise goalie who helped drag the Orange and Black to the 2010 Stanley Cup Final, posting a 16-5-2 regular season record, a shutout, a 2.48 GAA, and a marvelous .920 save percentage.

In the postseason, Leighton was just as good, going 8-3 with three shutouts, a 2.46 GAA, and a .916 save percentage.

But, after the Finals loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, Leighton struggled to regain his form, losing his place to Brian Boucher and Sergei Bobrovsky while coming back from back surgery.

Sergei Bobrovsky Affirms Worst Philadelphia Flyers Trade EverSergei Bobrovsky Affirms Worst Philadelphia Flyers Trade EverThe worst Philadelphia Flyers trade of all time hits a little closer to home after the Florida Panthers won their second consecutive Stanley Cup Tuesday night.

Ultimately, after that playoff run, Leighton played just two more games for the Flyers, and seven NHL games total when including brief stints with the Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes.

Leighton retired at the end of the 2018-19 season and finished his NHL career with a 37-43-14 record, four shutouts, a 2.98 GAA, and .900 save percentage.

A recently inducted AHL Hall of Famer, Leighton holds the minor league's records for most career shutouts (50) and most saves in a game (98).

Indeed, the former Flyer couldn't keep it together at the NHL level, but he's seen and experienced many different things in hockey in two of the toughest leagues in the world.

Now, Leighton will be passing on his knowledge to Red Wings goalies Cam Talbot (also a former Flyers goalie) and the recently acquired John Gibson.

And in time, they'll pass the baton to top goalie prospects Trey Augustine and Sebastian Cossa.

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Rays at Tigers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 8

It's Tuesday, July 8 and the Rays (49-42) are in Detroit to take on the Tigers (58-34). Ryan Pepiot is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay against Jack Flaherty for Detroit.

Detroit won the series opener over Tampa Bay, 5-1 behind three homers and two singles. The Tigers have now won four straight and seven out of the past 10 whereas the Rays are 1-3 and 3-7 in that span.

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 Rays at Tigers

  • Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: Comerica Park
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNSUN, FDSNDT

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

Odds for the Rays at the Tigers

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Rays (+105), Tigers (-125)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rays at Tigers

  • Pitching matchup for July 8, 2025: Ryan Pepiot vs. Jack Flaherty
    • Rays: Ryan Pepiot, (6-6, 3.34 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts
    • Tigers: Jack Flaherty, (5-9, 4.84 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rays and the Tigers

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s game between the Rays and the Tigers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Tampa Bay Rays at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards 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 Rays at Tigers

  • The Rays are 8-10 when Pepiot pitches this season
  • The Tigers are 5-12 when Flaherty pitches this season
  • The Tigers have won 4 of their last 5 home games against the Rays
  • Each of the last 3 matchups between the Tigers and the Rays have gone over the Total
  • The Rays have covered the Run Line in 3 straight games

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Rockies at Red Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 8

It's Tuesday, July 8 and the Rockies (21-70) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (47-45). Kyle Freeland is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Brayan Bello for Boston.

The Red Sox dominated game 1 of the series, 9-3, behind three homers, including the first at Fenway Park via No. 1 prospect Roman Anthony.

Boston has scored at least four runs in seven straight games and six or more in four connecting contests. The Red Sox won four straight games and six of the past seven, while Colorado is 1-3 and 2-5 in that same span.

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 Rockies at Red Sox

  • Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: COLR, NESN

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

Odds for the Rockies at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Rockies (+196), Red Sox (-239)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for July 8, 2025: Kyle Freeland vs. Brayan Bello
    • Rockies: Kyle Freeland, (1-9, 5.49 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
    • Red Sox: Brayan Bello, (4-3, 3.42 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 3 Strikeouts

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rockies and the Red 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 Tuesday’s game between the Rockies and the Red Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Red Sox on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Colorado Rockies 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 Rockies at Red Sox

  • Boston is 7-7 this season when Bello pitches
  • Colorado is 3-13 this season when Freeland pitches
  • Colorado is 0-3 this season when coming off a win where Freeland was pitching
  • The Red Sox are on a 4-game win ML and ATS streak
  • 4 of the Rockies' last 5 road games stayed under the Total

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

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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Marlins at Reds Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 8

It's Tuesday, July 8 and the Marlins (41-48) are in Cincinnati to take on the Reds (46-45). Eury Pérez is slated to take the mound for Miami against Nick Martinez for Cincinnati.

Miami took game 1 of the series yesterday, 5-1, behind a one-hit outing from Janson Junk and a two-hit two-RBI performance from Agustin Ramirez.

The Reds have now lost three straight games and five of the past seven. During this three-game losing streak, Cincy has been outscored 13-3. The Marlins are 11-3 over the last 14 games, but 4-3 since July has started.

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 Marlins at Reds

  • Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Great American Ball Park
  • City: Cincinnati, OH
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNFL, FDSNOH

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 Marlins at the Reds

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Marlins (+104), Reds (-124)
  • Spread:  Reds -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Marlins at Reds

  • Pitching matchup for July 8, 2025: Eury Pérez vs. Nick Martinez
    • Marlins: Eury Pérez, (1-2, 4.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hit Allowed, 1 Walk, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Reds: Nick Martinez, (6-8, 4.20 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.2 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 9 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Marlins and the Reds

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 Tuesday’s game between the Marlins and the Reds:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cincinnati Reds on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Marlins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

  • The Reds are 7-12 when Martinez pitches this season, but 3-0 in the last three games
  • The Marlins are 3-2 when Perez pitches this season
  • The Reds have won 4 of their last 5 home games against National League teams
  • The Over is 5-0 in the Marlins' last 5 road games
  • The Marlins have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 1.63 units

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Warriors' Draymond Green slams NBA free agency, CBA rules in social media rant

Warriors' Draymond Green slams NBA free agency, CBA rules in social media rant originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Like many fans and players, Draymond Green patiently has been waiting for a big move in NBA free agency this year. And like those fans and players, he’s been disappointed thus far.

The Warriors star forward shared some in-depth thoughts in multiple Threads posts Monday night, calling out the league and its new CBA rules for their impact on the free-agent market.

Green said a lot, but the premise of his “argument” seems to be how little players truly understand the fine print of the business side of the NBA.

“Sadly, I sit here and watch so many players overplay the market and not understand what they are up against with the new rules,” Green wrote. “Which leads me to trying to understand the [staggering] percentage of guys that has no idea of THE BUSINESS they are a part of. And I as a ‘VET’ in this league watch players mismanage their careers and before they know it, look back like DAMN, where to next?”

Green acknowledged there were plenty of other topics he wanted to get off his chest but didn’t want to type all of it out.

And while he showed an appreciation to the league and the partnerships between all parties involved, he seemingly hinted that he would be a better fit as the National Basketball Players Association president, a role currently occupied by veteran guard CJ McCollum.

“I have what I think is an extremely unique perspective on this,” Green wrote. “I am obviously a player, a former amazing general manager is one of my close friends. I am very close with previous owners and current ones. I was introduced to the business at 16 by Joe [Dumars], so yeah all that to say, it’s interesting to watch and also be a part of. Maybe I’ll write some long piece, or maybe I’ll just do a podcast lol.

“But regardless of where I decide to let these thoughts out, I should’ve been the Players association president lol. I could’ve helped a lot.”

Green ended his late-night rant wanting to make one thing perfectly clear.

“Also before y’all run and make this about [Jonathan Kuminga], it isn’t,” he wrote. “He’s 22 and will be great and make a bunch of money, so this aint’ got nothing to do with him.”

Kuminga is a restricted free agent and remains unsigned on Day 9 of free agency.

With a week gone by of free agency, it’s been mostly a snoozefest around the league in a period when the basketball world is on high alert in anticipation of major league-shaking moves.

The second apron, which acts as a hard cap for teams, of the luxury tax has led to teams spending less money. The CBA extends through the 2029-30 season, and June 2029 is the earliest the NBPA or league owners can opt out.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Pirates at Royals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 8

It's Tuesday, July 8 and the Pirates (38-54) are in Kansas City to take on the Royals (44-48). Mitch Keller is slated to take the mound for Pittsburgh against Seth Lugo for Kansas City.

Kansas City won game 1 of the series in dominant fashion, 9-3, as the Royals are now 4-1 in the last five games. For the Pirates, Pittsburgh is on a four-game losing streak with three total runs scored.

After Pittsburgh went on a 43-run effort over six games (6-0 record), the Pirates have lost the next four games and went scoreless in three of them (series reverse sweep via the Mets).

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 Royals

  • Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Kauffman Stadium
  • City: Kansas City, MO
  • Network/Streaming: SNP, 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 Pirates at the Royals

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Pirates (+118), Royals (-141)
  • Spread:  Royals -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Pirates at Royals

  • Pitching matchup for July 8, 2025: Mitch Keller vs. Seth Lugo
    • Pirates: Mitch Keller, (3-10, 3.64 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Royals: Seth Lugo, (6-5, 2.65 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.1 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 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 Pirates 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 Tuesday’s game between the Pirates and the Royals:

  • 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 Pittsburgh Pirates 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 Pirates at Royals

  • Pittsburgh is 5-13 this season when Keller pitches
  • Kansas City is 7-8 this season when Lugo pitches
  • The Pirates have lost four straight games and went Under the total in all four
  • 4 of the Royals' last 5 games (80%) have stayed under the Total
  • The Royals have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.20 units

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

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

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

Tour de France 2025: Tadej Pogacar wins stage four ahead of Van der Poel and Vingegaard – live

The defending champion held off his challengers on the road to Rouen but Mathieu van der Poel stayed in yellow

160 km to go: Van der Poel takes a comfort break as the peloton deigns to the race leader and sits up. Asgreen is giving everything up the hill as he chases that trio of escapees.

Huw Morgan gets in touch: “Just been to Amiens to watch the depart. Always a strange experience “watching” cycling live. We drove an hour and 10 minutes for our 10 month old baby to basically gawp at a 150 young men on their bikes. Wout and Pogacar stopped right in front of us so we feel lucky. My wife’s sense from watching them all at the start was that Jonas looks good and Pogacar looks good. We expect a Royal rumble in Rouen.”

Continue reading...
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Phillies at Giants Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 8

It's Tuesday, July 8 and the Phillies (53-38) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (50-42). Taijuan Walker is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against Robbie Ray for San Francisco.

The Giants won the series opener, 3-1 behind a two-run eighth inning that sealed the victory for San Francisco. The Giants are now winners of three straight and five of the past six, while the Phillies are 3-3 in the previous six and had their two-game winning streak snapped.

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 Phillies at Giants

  • Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
  • Time: 9:45PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSP, 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 Phillies at the Giants

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Phillies (+129), Giants (-155)
  • Spread:  Giants -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Giants

  • Pitching matchup for July 8, 2025: Taijuan Walker vs. Robbie Ray
    • Phillies: Taijuan Walker, (3-5, 3.64 ERA)
      Last outing: 2.2 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 0 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 1 Strikeout
    • Giants: Robbie Ray, (9-3, 2.68 ERA)
      Last outing: 9.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, 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 Phillies and the Giants

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 Tuesday’s game between the Phillies and the Giants:

  • 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 Philadelphia Phillies 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 Phillies at Giants

  • Robbie Ray went a complete game in his last start and the Giants won their fourth out of the past six games with Ray on the mound.
  • The Giants are 14-4 this season when Ray pitches
  • The Phillies are 9-10 this season when Walker pitches
  • The Phillies have won 4 of their last 5 at National League teams
  • 5 of the Phillies' last 7 matchups with the Giants have gone over the Total
  • The Giants have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 2.30 units

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)
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  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Why Bregman believes Roman Anthony can be a ‘superstar for a long time'

Why Bregman believes Roman Anthony can be a ‘superstar for a long time' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Roman Anthony received a rude awakening to Major League Baseball, tallying just one hit over his first six games with the Boston Red Sox and owning a .114 batting average through 15 games since his June 9 debut.

But MLB’s No. 1 prospect stayed the course — and he’s starting to turn the corner.

Anthony went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs in Monday’s win over the Colorado Rockies while belting his first career home run at Fenway Park, a 418-foot missile to center field. The smooth-swinging 21-year-old has recorded multiple hits in six of his last 10 games, posting a .386 batting average and .994 OPS in that span.

None of Anthony’s recent success is a surprise to Red Sox veteran Alex Bregman, who heaped high praise on the rookie after Monday’s game.

“Super special player,” Bregman said of Anthony. “I think he’s going to be a superstar in this league for a long time. He’s fun to watch and it’s been awesome to watch him go about his business.

“He’s the same guy every day when he shows up to the ballpark, whether he’s 0-for-4 or 4-for-4. The maturity that he has at his age, it’s special, and it’s part of the reason why he’s so good.”

Anthony showed admirable mental fortitude in June despite his struggles at the plate and in the field. (He committed an error in his first MLB game when he let a ground ball skip by him in right field.) Even amid a dreadful 2-for-27 start to his big-league career, Anthony kept the same approach, staying patient at the plate and producing hard-hit balls that resulted in outs but hinted at his potential.

Anthony appears to be finally realizing that potential, and it’s greatly benefiting the Red Sox, who have gone 7-3 amid Anthony’s 10-game hot streak while averaging a ridiculous 7.6 runs per game — by far the most in the majors during that span.

“The last week, 10 days have been an example of what we feel like this team is capable of,” Bregman added. “I think the future is extremely bright here. Looking forward to continuing to play with those guys. But yeah, it’s been fun to watch them go about their business.”

Boston’s bold decision to trade star slugger Rafael Devers earlier this month further signaled the team’s belief in the “Big Three” of Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell. While that prospect trio has produced mixed results so far — Mayer is hitting a pedestrian .214 since his May 26 call-up, while Kristian Campbell was sent back to Triple-A on June 19 amid a prolonged slump — Anthony’s recent breakout is a reminder of this group’s lofty ceiling, and the impact each player can make if they live up to their lofty expectations.

The Red Sox will aim for their fifth consecutive win Tuesday night in another matchup with the Rockies at 7:10 p.m. ET.

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Warriors target Al Horford ‘unlikely' to return to Celtics, Brad Stevens says

Warriors target Al Horford ‘unlikely' to return to Celtics, Brad Stevens says originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Al Horford remains unsigned on the NBA free agent market, and even though the Boston Celtics would love to have him back, it doesn’t sound like that’s a realistic scenario.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens was pretty candid at a press conference Tuesday when asked about Horford.

“We made offers to both Luke (Kornet) and Al. We would’ve loved to have had both of them back. I’d say that’s unlikely,” Stevens told reporters.

“The only reason I haven’t talked about Al is, I could talk about Al my whole press conference and not say enough. But I don’t want to speak in absolute terms until an ultimate decision is made. If he were to go and play somewhere else, I think he’s an all-time Celtic, a winner, and did everything he could for this organization, not only in the games but also how he impacted our younger players.”

Horford has spent the last four seasons with the Celtics (seven in total across two stints in Boston), and he played a crucial role in the C’s being a title contender throughout that period, including a championship in 2024.

His ability to shoot 3-pointers, defend at a high level and provide veteran leadership, among several other qualities, was very valuable to the Celtics’ ascension.

The Celtics are limited in what they can offer Horford — or any other free agent — as a team over the luxury tax. Horford is able to make more money with other teams. The C’s are also unlikely to be title contenders next season with Jayson Tatum recovering from a ruptured Achilles.

The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach reported Monday, citing a league source, that Horford is “taking his time while assessing offers from multiple teams” and that “the 39-year-old is considering retirement, too.”

The Golden State Warriors reportedly have interest in signing Horford after they lost veteran center Kevon Looney earlier in free agency.

If Horford doesn’t return, the Celtics will have lost three centers — Horford, Kornet, and Kristaps Porzingis — from last season’s roster.

Watch Stevens’ entire press conference below: