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Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Stock Watch: It's Zebby Matthews Time

If you’re new here, welcome. Rotoworld’s Dynasty Stock Watch is a weekly podcast for your eyes that takes a deep five into trending prospects from a long-term perspective. We’re just getting underway with the minor league season, but we’ve already experienced some significant developments already; most notably Athletics burgeoning slugger Nick Kurtz and Pirates flamethrower Bubba Chandler are the most impactful potential fantasy prospects on the verge of breaking into the majors in the coming weeks. Kurtz has homered six times in 10 games already for Triple-A Las Vegas and could reach the majors much faster than anticipated. Meanwhile, Chandler struck out eight over four shutout innings in his second start of the year for Triple-A Indianapolis.

The other notable early-season Triple-A standout on the precipice of making it back to the big leagues is new-look Twins righty Zebby Matthews. It’s not official yet as of Thursday morning, but he’s among the candidates to replace veteran Pablo López, who is likely to hit the injured list with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, in Minnesota's starting rotation. It might not happen with David Festa coming up to start Friday's series opener against Detroit, but it shouldn't be long before he's back in the majors. The 24-year-old right-hander’s significant velocity uptick from spring training has carried over into the regular season as he’s averaging nearly 97 mph on his four-seam fastball and still boasts otherworldly control. He’s racked up 13 strikeouts and allowed just two runs over 10 innings through two starts at Triple-A St. Paul. He struggled mightily in nine late-season starts last year for Minnesota, but his dramatic metamorphosis makes him one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in the dynasty landscape until further notice.

Speaking of unexpected transformations, we need to talk about emerging fantasy superstar Kyren Paris for a moment. The 23-year-old infielder is clearly emphasizing putting the ball in the air more frequently following an offseason overhaul, as evidenced by a sky-high 15.9 percent launch angle. His two-homer performance on Wednesday night was extremely impressive since the homers came off ace Ryan Pepiot and elite lefty reliever Mason Montgomery. According to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, Paris is the fourth player ever with five home runs and four stolen bases in their first 10 games of a season. Insane. There’s statistical and anecdotal evidence to support the idea that some of this is real and sustainable, but dynasty managers need to see it over a sustained period before we’re ready to jump him several hundred spots from a long-term perspective.

Early-Season MiLB Standouts

Lazaro Montes, OF, Mariners
Montes has been hotter than the inside of a Totinos pizza roll to kick off the 2025 campaign, slashing .429/.609/1.143 with two homers and two steals through five games for High-A Everett. The 20-year-old corner outfielder’s power upside ranks among the highest of any prospect in the game, but some lingering hit tool questions kept him from upper-echelon status in Rotoworld’s Opening Day dynasty rankings update. That will change if he continues tearing the cover off the ball with stratospheric exit velocities once he reaches Double-A Arkansas. It feels like a true boom-or-bust type of profile for fantasy purposes, but he could be an absolute middle-of-the-order force for years to come, if everything comes together.

Felnin Celesten, SS, Mariners

Let’s stick with the Mariners for a moment because Celesten is showing why he was one of the top prospects from the 2023 international signing class, hitting .348 (8-for-23) with one homer, six RBI and one steal through five early-season games for Low-A Modesto. The 19-year-old prodigy was one of the most exciting performers last year in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League prior to suffering a season-ending wrist injury after just 32 games. If he can stay on the field, he’s going to be one of biggest risers from a dynasty standpoint over the next few months.

Thomas White, SP, Marlins

White blossomed into one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in the fantasy landscape last year in his professional debut, posting a 2.81 ERA and 120/38 K/BB ratio across 96 innings between Low-A Jupiter and High-A Beloit. The towering 6-foot-5 southpaw didn’t skip a beat in his season debut last Friday with the Sky Carp, recording seven strikeouts over four scoreless frames. His immense strikeout upside will make him a relevant fantasy contributor once he reaches the big leagues, but we’re not anticipating his arrival until sometime next year, at the earliest, since he doesn't turn 21 until late September. The front-of-the-rotation starter kit is there from a talent standpoint and he could finish the year as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, if he’s not there already.

Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Diamondbacks

My personal affinity for Waldscmidt was highlighted previously in this space during spring training. However, it’s worth noting that he’s off to a sublime start at High-A Hillsboro, batting .600 (9-for-15) with two homers through five games. He’s walked six times and only struck out twice during that span. It’s possible the Northwest League isn’t enough of a challenge for him, so there’s a decent chance he’s promoted to Double-A Amarillo by the end of the month, if not sooner. The 22-year-old outfielder was selected 31st overall in the 2024 MLB Draft and possesses a strong combination of fantasy-relevant tools with respectable plate skills, above-average raw power and plus speed. He has a chance to move quickly through Arizona’s system and is going to make a big leap in Rotoworld’s next dynasty rankings update.

Nolan McLean, SP, Mets

McLean looked like one of the top pitching prospects in baseball last Sunday when he registered eight strikeouts over four shutout innings for Double-A Binghamton in his season debut. The 23-year-old is focusing exclusively on pitching moving forward and his sweeper looks like a true above-average offering that will generate whiffs in the majors. He cracked Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus’ Top 100 prospect lists during the offseason and figures to continue rising if he’s missing bats in the upper minors.

Braylon Payne, OF, Brewers

If you’re searching for a hitting prospect on the verge of a sustained breakout, Payne seems to fit the bill. The 18-year-old outfielder was the 17th-overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft and has gotten off to a torrid start at Low-A Carolina, hitting .409 (9-for-22) with one homer and five steals through five games. It’s an extremely small sample size, and he’s obviously several hyperspace jumps from the majors, but he’s a double-plus runner with game-changing speed. He’s rapidly becoming one of the most intriguing speed-oriented prospects in the long-term landscape and should obviously be rostered in all dynasty leagues.

Brandon Young, SP, Orioles

It’s a bit surprising that the injury-ravaged Orioles aren’t giving Young a shot in the majors with Zach Eflin (shoulder) becoming the latest starter to hit the injured list. It might be coming soon, but that’s not official. The 26-year-old righty has allowed two runs (zero earned) with an sparkling 11/2 K/BB ratio across 11 1/3 innings (two starts) to open the year at Triple-A Norfolk. The arsenal isn’t overpowering, but he’s generated 25 swinging strikes combined during those outings. He’s at least worthy of a speculative pickup in all dynasty formats where he’s still available.

Manuel Rodriguez, SP, Brewers

This one is a bit of a deeper cut. Dynasty Dugout’s Chris Clegg deserves a shoutout here for highlighting Rodriguez a couple weeks ago as a potential breakout candidate in Milwaukee’s impressive system. The 19-year-old piled up 11 strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings last Friday in his season debut for High-A Wisconsin, generating an eye-popping 23 swinging strikes, per Statcast data. The uptick in whiffs is noticeable considering he posted a pedestrian 20.6 percent strikeout rate last year in Low-A. He's a name to monitor in dynasty formats as an early-season helium prospect.

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Robert Reid, deputy president for sport, becomes latest FIA executive to resign

  • Reid has had disagreements with Mohammed Ben Sulayem
  • ‘Motorsport deserves leadership that is accountable’

The FIA has been rocked by another executive resignation with a very senior figure joining the chorus of dissatisfaction directed at how Formula One’s governing body is run and the organisation’s president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

On Thursday, the FIA’s deputy president for sport, Robert Reid, announced his resignation citing what he called “a fundamental breakdown in governance standards” and “critical decisions being made without due process”.

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'Sense of relief.' Dodgers' Andy Pages trying to avoid sophomore slump, cement lineup spot

Los Angeles Dodgers Andy Pages is greeted by Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel on his solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
The Dodgers' Andy Pages is greeted by Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel after hitting his second home run in two games against the Nationals on Wednesday. (John McDonnell / Associated Press)

Andy Pages shook his head with a grin, raised his clasped hands to the sky, then gave thanks with a much-needed sigh of relief.

It didn’t matter that the Dodgers were getting blown out on Tuesday night. Or that his fifth-inning home run did little to halt the team’s unexpected skid on this week’s road trip.

For one moment, for one at-bat, the second-year slugger had finally experienced a moment of reassurance, hitting a two-strike slider beyond the reach of two leaping Washington Nationals outfielders for his first long ball of the season.

"It was definitely a sense of relief,” Pages said in Spanish through a team interpreter after the game. “Just like a big, major breath of fresh air, for sure."

Read more:Dodgers snap three-game losing streak behind early burst, seventh-inning rally

Up to that point, the 2025 season had begun ominously for the 24-year-old center fielder. He was four for 35 at the plate. He had made several mental mistakes on defense and the base paths. And he’d grown increasingly burdened by the precariousness of his situation, inching ever closer to a James Outman-esque trajectory of regressing from a productive rookie season to a disheartening sophomore campaign.

Pages didn’t show those simmering emotions as he left the batter’s box Tuesday. He kept his head down and face straight as he trotted around the bases.

But back in the dugout, the once highly-touted prospect finally let himself feel some self-satisfaction. For weeks, pressure had been building around him. This was a sudden release.

“It gave me a lot more confidence,” Pages reiterated. “To get some results … was a major lift off my back.”

Despite batting .248 with 13 home runs and 46 RBIs last season — a promising, if inconsistent, rookie performance punctuated by a two-home run, four-RBI performance in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series — Pages knew he’d have few certainties with this year’s title-defending team.

From the beginning of spring training, he said, “the team told me that I didn’t have a guaranteed spot, that I had to work my way to get a big-league spot.”

Although Pages broke camp as the club’s primary center fielder, his early-season struggles had been weighing on him.

“That’s added a little bit of stress to my day-to-day,” he acknowledged. “I feel good. It’s just some of the things that I’ve been working through haven’t worked out.”

Blunders in the outfield (where he has misplayed several fly balls, including a rocket from Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper last weekend) and on the bases (where he has run through stop signs and been caught twice on over-aggressive base-running decisions) were the most glaring moments of failure over the season’s first two weeks.

Read more:Without Blake Snell, Dodgers' highly touted pitching depth falters in loss to Nationals

“Some plays that I just need to make,” Pages said, “I haven’t made them.”

At the root of his frustrations, however, has been his early inability to consistently produce at the plate — where, even after collecting four hits and two home runs in his last three games, he is batting just .171 with a .648 OPS.

After all, the main reason Pages is on the big-league roster over other triple-A options such as utilityman Hyeseong Kim (the slick-fielding offseason signing from South Korea who opened the year in the minors to work on revamping his swing) and outfielder Esteury Ruiz (the 2023 American League stolen base leader the Dodgers acquired from the Oakland A’s last week) is because of his bat.

Thus, even over an exceedingly small sample size entering this week’s series in Washington, his lagging overall numbers had become cause for concern.

“I’m trying to do the things that I can do every day, to work hard, to get better at the plate, making adjustments,” Pages said on Monday, when manager Dave Roberts kept him out of the lineup to let him reset mentally.

“I’ve been doing a lot of good things,” he insisted. “But balls aren’t falling.”

To Roberts, Pages’ slump had less to do with swing mechanics, and more with “passivity” in his offensive approach.

An aggressive hitter ordinarily, Pages had seemed too cautious in the box in the early going this year. Batting near the bottom of the Dodgers lineup — often, in the No. 9 hole with Shohei Ohtani behind him in the leadoff spot — he started taking more pitches than usual, and shortening his swing to go the other way.

It has helped Pages walk more, drawing free passes at double the rate he did last year. But the pop in his bat had gone missing. Routine fly outs to right field were an overly common occurrence.

“Just to be a little bit more aggressive, shifting the field a little bit more towards the center, the big part of the field, I think would be more beneficial,” Roberts said.

Tuesday’s home run, hit on an arching line to the left-center-field bullpen, served as a long-awaited first example.

Another came on Wednesday afternoon, in two starkly contrasting mid-game at-bats.

Andy Pages makes a running catch.
Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages makes a running catch during the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against the Nationals. (John McDonnell / Associated Press)

In the fourth inning of the Dodgers’ series finale against the Nationals, Pages took three consecutive thigh-high, center-cut sinkers from right-hander Jake Irvin, kicking himself after going down looking with Ohtani looming on deck.

“I'm not used to hitting in that part of the order, and I'm trying to see as many pitches as I can,” Pages said, concurring with Roberts’ assessment of his overly conservative early-season approach. “Sometimes I get too passive for that reason, which isn't good for me.”

Thus, his next time up in the top of the seventh, Pages swung at three straight sliders from reliever Eduardo Salazar. The first two, he whiffed on. But the third, which was left up in the zone and out over the plate, he launched to the left field seats for a game-tying blast — his second home run in a 24-hour span.

“I just tell him to go aggressive,” said veteran teammate Teoscar Hernández, who has become a close mentor of Pages’ since early last season. “He’s an aggressive hitter. So just get ready to hit.”

Roberts agreed, noting Pages is still “calibrating” the right balance of patience and aggression.

“He needs to kind of figure out where his strengths are in the hitting zone,” Roberts added, “and if he sees it there, then just be as aggressive as you need to be.”

Read more:After 'honor' of White House visit, Shohei Ohtani picking up where he left off in 2024

It’s all part of the continuing education for Pages; the kind of growing pains the Dodgers are willing to tolerate, for now, in hopes he can blossom into a more consistent offensive force as an everyday big-league player.

There are still defensive fundamentals to drill home, and baserunning mistakes to eliminate.

There are still alternatives down the depth chart, too, if Pages can’t turn this week’s two-homer outburst into a more prolonged period of success.

But, “for him to start getting results is good,” said another veteran teammate, Kiké Hernández. “I know what it is to be young and struggling in the big leagues. There’s people behind you trying to take your job. I know how that feels. But once you start getting a little more calm and loose — that’s what it seems like with his at-bats right now. He’s starting to get in a rhythm.”

Added Teoscar Hernández, with a wide smile after Pages’ home run on Wednesday helped lead the Dodgers to a come-from-behind win: “He's gonna hit. He's a good hitter. He's gonna be fine. And he's gonna help us a lot this year, too.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Football Daily | Aston Villa’s right royal Bigger Cup night at the Parc des Princes

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Whether it’s Ed Sheeran at Ipswich, Michael McIntyre at Spurs or Hugh Grant and the Osman brothers at Fulham, celebrity fans always need to be on their very best behaviour, given the almost psychopathic obsession TV directors have with cutting away to them as the action on the pitch unfolds. Last night it was the turn of Prince William to find himself under constant surveillance in his VIP seat in nominative determinism’s Parc des Princes, where he and his son, George, were forced to abandon any plans they might have had to pick their noses, flick Vs at Paris Saint-Germain players or offer home fans out for a scrap on the concourse, for fear of being caught on camera and enjoying a surge in public popularity that no end of gladhanding elderly war veterans or official visits to former colonies could ever provide.

This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.

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Three Takeaways From Flyers Entertaining Win vs. Rangers

Philadelphia Flyers right wing Tyson Foerster (71) celebrates his short handed goal against the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden. (Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images)

If you blinked, you probably missed a goal.

That’s how wild things got at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night, where the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers combined for nine goals in the third period alone in what felt less like an NHL game and more like a high-scoring, firewagon fever dream.

But when the dust settled, the Flyers emerged with an 8–5 win over a Rangers team still jockeying for playoff position, thanks to a first career hat trick from Tyson Foerster and some timely goaltending from Aleksei Kolosov in his first start in three months.

It’s easy to look at the standings and assume there’s nothing left to play for. The Flyers disagree. Loudly. They’re not rolling over—they’re pushing forward, playing with pride, freedom, and a whole lot of energy. As Foerster put it simply after the game: “Winning is fun, so let’s keep winning.”

1. Foerster’s Hat Trick Caps a Successful Season

In one of the NHL’s most iconic buildings, Tyson Foerster had a night he’ll never forget. Three goals, 22 on the season, and a spot in the Flyers’ history books.

“It was pretty cool,” Foerster said afterward. “I know this building is awesome, and it was pretty cool to get a hat trick here, for sure.”

"Cool" is an understatement. Foerster became the first Flyer since Simon Gagne to record back-to-back 20-goal seasons to begin his career with the club—a feat that speaks not only to his finishing ability but also to his steady growth as a two-way contributor.

“[Gagne’s] a Flyers legend, so it’s pretty cool to be a part of that,” Foerster said with a smile. “Coming in here every year, you just want to get better and better. So to do that, to just be a little bit better [than last year]... it’s pretty good.”

His scoring touch was on full display Tuesday, but what’s perhaps even more impressive is how he’s added physicality and puck protection to his game. He’s no longer just a shooter—he’s someone who can be leaned on to drive a line and tilt the ice. And with four games to go, Foerster isn’t coasting to the finish line. “Hopefully I can continue to stay hot and do it again next year.”

2. Aleksei Kolosov Gets the Start—and the Win

The box score says Aleksei Kolosov gave up five goals. That’s true. It was his first start in three months, and he was immediately thrown into the fire—a situatuin interim head coach Brad Shaw specifically said pregame they were trying to avoid putting Kolosov in against the Rangers.

“I thought Koly was great in the first period,” said interim head coach Brad Shaw. “I talked about limiting chances against him, and then we give him a penalty shot and two other point-blank breakaways! So it wasn’t ideal… but I thought he held us in, kept it 1-0 after one period where we were kind of struggling and stuck in the mud a little bit.”

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Aleksei Kolosov (35). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)

Sean Couturier echoed the praise: “He made some big saves early to keep us in the game. For us to get a couple of goals late in the game to help and get that win, I think it’s huge for him.”

The Flyers have been cautious with Kolosov’s development since he came over from Belarus, but this outing showed exactly why there’s excitement around the 22-year-old. He’s composed, athletic, and unflappable—even in a game where pucks were flying in at every angle.

The crease in Philadelphia has seen a revolving door this season, but Kolosov gave the Flyers a steady hand when they needed it.

3. This Team Still Cares—A Lot

Let’s get this out of the way: Tuesday night’s game was not a clinic in defensive structure. Brad Shaw admitted as much. “That was a crazy period. It just feels like—not quite utter chaos, but it feels like it’s slipping out of your control if it hasn’t already.”

And yet, through all the chaos, the Flyers never lost their sense of togetherness or belief. They didn’t cave when the Rangers surged, and they kept their foot on the gas until the final buzzer.

“I thought they had some good pushes in the first two periods,” said Sean Couturier. “I don’t think we played our best game, but we stuck together and got some big goals late in the game.”

This group might be out of the playoff picture, but they’re not going through the motions. There’s pride in every shift, chemistry in every zone, and fire in every celebration. Jakob Pelletier, whose reactions to goals have quickly endeared fans, teammates, and coaches alike, summed it up perfectly: “It was good! You know, it’s nice. I thought we had a tough first period, but then we came back strong.”

 Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) celebrates his goal against the New York Rangers with defenseman Emil Andrae (36) and right wing Matvei Michkov (39) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. (Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images)

There’s also been a noticeable shift in the team’s offensive mindset since Shaw took over behind the bench. Couturier pointed to a looseness that’s brought out the best in players: “It definitely feels like guys seem to be a little more loose. They aren’t afraid to make plays… you’ve got to make sure you’re accountable… but it’s nice to see guys getting rewarded.”

With four games left, the Flyers are writing their own ending to this season—one that isn’t defined by playoff berths, but by fight, fun, and a belief that something meaningful can still come from the final stretch.

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Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Zach Edey, Stephon Castle among the top fantasy rookies

While some fantasy managers compete in leagues that run through the end of the NBA's regular season, most were completed by the end of Sunday's games. Congratulations to those who won their leagues and the money (and bragging rights) that comes with it. Those who did not will reflect on what went wrong and how they can avoid a similar fate next season.

With the fantasy season effectively over, now is a good time for the Rotoworld fantasy basketball staff to have a few roundtable discussions.

Thursday's question: Who was this season's Rookie of the Year in fantasy basketball? This is one of those questions where the pick here will differ drastically from who wins the official award. Nick Shlain, Noah Rubin, Raphielle Johnson and Zak Hanshew made their picks, and the choices were varied.

NBA: New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks
Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Dyson Daniels, Josh Hart most improved players
The Rotoworld fantasy basketball staff nearly reached a consensus for its most improved player picks.

Who was the Rookie of the Year in fantasy basketball?

Nick Shlain: I think Alexandre Sarr is the easy answer for fantasy rookie of the year. Stephon Castle will likely win the Rookie of the Year award, though the race is pretty wide open. Castle, however, ranks just 195th in season-long total game value, while Sarr is 139th. Even in the past three months, Castle has benefitted from De'Aaron Fox's absence due to injury, and he still ranks well behind Sarr. If I can give out an honorable mention, though, Zach Edey has shown his potential in glimpses this year. He's a different kind of player. Edey can be a defensive force and grab rebounds in bunches. He's not a great scorer, but there's something to work with there in fantasy.

Noah Rubin: This is tough since there are multiple strong candidates, though none have truly separated themselves from the pack. That applies to fantasy basketball and the actual Rookie of the Year race. Kel'el Ware wouldn't be my pick for the actual award, but I'll give him the nod in fantasy basketball. He has been the best rookie in nine-cat scoring for the season, as well as since January, when most rookies start adjusting to life in the NBA. This doesn't mean Ware should be seen as the most valuable player from this class in dynasty formats, but he was the most impactful this season.

NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at New Orleans Pelicans
Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Kyle Kuzma, Joel Embiid among fantasy disappointments
The Rotoworld basketball staff picks their fantasy duds for the 2024-25 season.

Raphielle Johnson: This isn't exactly a rare occurrence, but the Rookie of the Year from a fantasy standpoint may not align with the winner of the official award. While Stephon Castle appears to be the favorite to win the latter, Zach Edey would be my pick for Fantasy Rookie of the Year. The Grizzlies rookie has been a 12th-round player in eight- and nine-cat per-game value, and he's been close to a top 100 option in total value, according to Basketball Monster. Predicting what Edey will be in fantasy next season is a bit difficult due to the firing of Taylor Jenkins. Still, he can approach top-100 value with improved scoring (9.3 ppg this season).

Zak Hanshew: I'll cheat here and name two players: Zach Edey and Stephon Castle. Edey was my preseason pick (2024-25 Fantasy Basketball: Top 10 Rookies - NBC Sports) to finish as fantasy's top rookie, and it looks like that's where he'll finish. Edey's value comes from his strong, traditional big man stats, as he excelled as a rebounder and shot blocker while shooting efficiently and keeping the basketball secure. Castle is outside the top 200 in per-game fantasy value, thanks to his dreadful shooting and high turnovers, but this guy has been tremendous since joining the starting five for an end-of-season run. He's averaged 19.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists across his last 14 games, and he's been even better over the last week with 18.8 points, 9.8 boards and 7.8 dimes across his last four. He's got the usual rookie warts, but he's shown flashes of brilliance and deserves to be mentioned here.

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Vancouver Whitecaps to face Inter Miami in Concacaf semis after dramatic equalizer

  • Tristan Blackmon scored late to eliminate Pumas
  • Whitecaps will face Lionel Messi, Miami in next round

Tristan Blackmon scored a stoppage-time equalizer to help Vancouver Whitecaps earn a 2-2 draw with Pumas on Wednesday and book a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup semi-finals against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

Sebastian Berhalter put Vancouver ahead in the 33rd minute but the Mexican club responded with goals from Guillermo Martínez in the 37th and Ignacio Pussetto in the 88th to take a 2-1 lead. Blackmon sealed the semi-final spot three minutes into stoppage time as the Whitecaps advanced on away goals.

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Mets at Athletics: 5 things to watch and series predictions | April 11-13

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Athletics play a three-game series in Sacramento beginning on Friday at 10:05 p.m. on SNY.

Preview

How much more leeway does Brett Baty have?

Baty's offensive struggles continued during the Mets' series against the Marlins, and he also had a major defensive miscue -- with his errant throw to second base leading to two Marlins runs during Wednesday's loss.

As far as his issues at the plate, Baty continued to routinely fall behind in counts, expand the zone, and make weak contact.

After Wednesday's game, he said part of what's hurting him is "indecision," adding that it could also be "pinned" to confidence.

Through 27 plate appearances over 10 games, Baty is slashing .111/.111/.148 with 11 strikeouts.

Jeff McNeil is expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend, meaning his return could come within the next 10 days or so. That means Baty doesn't have much time left -- at least this time around -- to prove he can hit at the big league level.

Is Kodai Senga about to be unleashed?

Senga, coming off a season mostly lost due to injury, has understandably been treated with kid gloves a bit during his first two starts.

That included his outing against the Marlins on Monday, when he tossed 5.0 shutout frames but was pulled at just 77 pitches.

Senga's first start also ended after 5.0 innings and 77 pitches.

His results have been strong, though, with Senga carrying a 1.80 ERA (2.80 FIP), 1.10 WHIP and 10.8 strikeout rate into Sunday's tilt against the A's.

Given that Senga has two starts under his belt and will be pitching in much warmer weather in Sacramento compared to the frigid Citi Field, now seems like the time to start stretching him out.

Welcome to Sacramento

The A's, who are without a true home for the next few years as they wait for their ballpark in Las Vegas to (hopefully) be ready after they sadly left Oakland in the dust, are playing this season at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento.

The ballpark, which is the home of the Giants' Triple-A affiliate and has a capacity of roughly 14,000, has been a hitter's haven during the Athletics' first six games there.

In those six games, there have bee a combined 18 home runs hit and 70 runs scored. So this could possibly be an inviting scenario for the Mets' offense, and maybe a coming-out party power-wise for Juan Soto.

New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) hits a home run during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park.
New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) hits a home run during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The A's, meanwhile, remain not very good.

They are 5-8 overall, 3-7 over their last 10 games, and have a -17 run differential that's the worst in the American League and third-worst in baseball.

The Athletics' lineup has some serious threats, including Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rooker -- two players the Mets should be careful with in an effort to exploit the weaker parts of the lineup.

Pete Alonso is sizzling

Alonso remains locked in.

He's slashing .333/.451/.667 with three home runs and five doubles in 51 plate appearances over 12 games. And Alonso is hitting the ball incredibly hard -- his average exit velocity, barrel percentage, and hard hit percentage are all in the 99th percentile.

Just as encouraging as Alonso's results: the process.

He has been totally in control in most of his at-bats, showing an elite ability to put the barrel on the ball and terrific patience -- something that is even more apparent when you look at his strikeout rate (he's in the 92nd percentile) and walk rate (83rd percentile).

Hello, Luis Severino

Severino, one of the starting pitchers who helped the Mets make their memorable run to the NLCS last season, signed a two-year deal with the A's during the offseason that contained a player option for 2027.

It's been a mixed bag for Severino during his first three starts for the Athletics.

He fired 6.0 shutout innings on Opening Day, but has been touched up for five earned runs in each of his last two starts.

Severino gets the ball against Senga in Sunday's series finale.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Mark Vientos

It's been tough sledding for Vientos so far, but he's reached base in five straight games and is seeing the ball much better.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Kodai Senga

Senga has been very effective so far despite still shaking off the rust.

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

Shea Langeliers

The backstop has already popped three homers this season.

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Yankees vs. Giants: 5 things to watch and series predictions | April 11-13

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees return home to face the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series starting on Friday.

Preview

Have the bats warmed up?

The Yankees are sure glad to be out of Detroit.

In a frigid three-game series, New York scored just five runs -- and four of them came in Wednesday's win. The Bombers faced some great pitching, including being blanked by reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, but this lineup should be putting up more runs than what they have done so far this week.

Perhaps returning home, despite the anticipated cold, wet weather, will help what ails this Yankees offense.

Facing elite NL West pitching

The last time the Yankees hosted an NL West team, two of the Diamondbacks' best three pitchers held them down in an eventual series win. It'll be just as tough when the 9-3 Giants come to town.

San Francisco will have former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray (3.18 ERA) start the series before Jordan Hicks (2.38 ERA) takes the mound. The series will finish Sunday with perennial Cy Young contender Logan Webb (1.89 ERA) on the bump. New York's bats will need to have warmed up to take on this trio of Giants starters, but it's also a great early-season measuring stick to test this lineup.

Will Warren's final start?

Warren has made two starts this season, one good and one not so much.

With Clarke Schmidt scheduled for his last rehab start on Thursday, one depth starter will lose his spot in the rotation. Is that Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman, or Warren?

It won't likely to be Stroman -- who pitches Friday -- as his contract likely makes him safe for now. Carrasco's excellent spring hasn't carried over in the early going, while Warren has minor league options remaining. It'll be interesting to see which direction the organization goes, but Warren could make the decision even harder with a great performance on Saturday.

Apr 9, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) takes the ball to relieve pitcher Devin Williams (38) in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Apr 9, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) takes the ball to relieve pitcher Devin Williams (38) in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Can Devin Williams bounce back?

Williams has struggled to start the season. His last outing saw the dominant closer allow three runs and almost blow an eventual 4-3 win against the Tigers on Wednesday.

The former Brewer is a notoriously slow starter, so this could be just that. But having an easy outing this weekend would go a long way to boosting Williams' confidence with his new team and help ingratiate himself with the fans

Will Paul Goldschmidt's revival continue?

The most pleasant surprise of the early season has been Goldschmidt's effectiveness at the plate. The former NL MVP is hitting .383 with an OBP of .431 and an OPS of .942. Now, his power numbers aren't there -- just one home run and three RBI in his first 12 games -- but he's doing what the team is asking of him, and that's get on base.

He currently has a six-game hitting streak and has multi-hit games in his last three contests. Goldschmidt has hit in the leadoff spot in eight games this year and is batting 6-for-13 (.414) with two doubles, one home run, and has walked twice.

The Giants will have two righties on the mound this weekend, so Goldschmidt will likely not lead off every game. But when he does, we'll see if he can continue to be effective.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Aaron Judge

Whenever the Yanks need a jolt from the offense, Judge is not far behind.

Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?

Carlos Rodon

Rodon has pitched pretty well this season, even when his stat line doesn't reflect that, and I see that continuing.

Which Giants player will be a thorn in the Yankees' side?

Willy Adames

Adames comes to the Bronx as a Giant for the first time after spending his first seven seasons with the Rays and Brewers. Playing with Tampa Bay, Adames grew familiar with the Yankees and Yankee Stadium. For his career in the Bronx, Adames is hitting .307 with eight doubles, five home runs, and nine RBI in 29 games.

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Dominik Hašek Accuses High-Ranking Russian Politician Of Threatening His Life

Dominik Hašek playing for the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. © Leon Halip-Imagn Images

Czech hall-of-fame goaltender Dominik Hašek has never been one to hide his opinions and has been relentless over the past few years in his condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and those who support it – explicitly or implicitly – and influential Russian politicians have apparently taken notice.

Not surprisingly, he was heavily critical of Alexander Ovechkin and the NHL’s promotion of him in the lead-up to his breaking Wayne Gretzky’s career NHL goal record, tweeting on April 5 – the day before Ovechkin broke the record – that the NHL “bears enormous responsibility for the hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of people killed and maimed in the Russian war in Ukraine.”

According to Czech media, former Russian president and prime minister and Dmitri Medvedev, who is currently deputy chairman to the Russian security council, lashed out at Hašek in the aftermath of Ovechkin’s record-breaking goal in a social media post that Hašek has interpreted as a death threat.

“895 – the result of a great Russian player,” Medvedev reportedly posted on Telegram, adding: “P.S. We are waiting for the suicide of the crazy Czech Hašek.”

“Yes, I read that,” Hašek told Zdeněk Janda of iSport.cz when asked about Medvedev’s post. “This person is clearly publicly threatening me with murder.”

Hašek went on to criticize the Czech government and several other national and international organizations for failing to respond, and said that he planned to write a letter to the Czech Ministry of the Interior.

Dominik Hašek condemns Paris Olympics over participation of Russian athletesDominik Hašek condemns Paris Olympics over participation of Russian athletesThe Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympics take place on Friday in Paris. There will be no Russian or Belarusian athletes in the parade of nations and their respective National Olympic Committees have been banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war. However, 32 athletes from those countries will participate without flags in various sports during these Olympic Games as “Individual Neutral Athletes.”

“In essence, they are sending a message to the criminal Russian regime that Russia can continue making similar threats against citizens of other countries without the slightest problem,” he said.

In the past, Hašek has used the occasions of former Detroit Red Wings teammate Pavel Datsyuk’s hall-of-fame induction, the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and a pair of NHL regular-season games in Prague featuring the Buffalo Sabres to publicly express his opinions.

Hašek said that, despite his history of rattling feathers with his public comments, this is the first time that he’s felt personally threatened in response.

“No, I have never received them before – this was the first,” he said. “On the contrary, I feel a lot of support from both (Czech) people and people from other countries. It is mutual and I appreciate it very much.”

Dominik Hašek Again Speaks Out On X: Every NHL Goal, Assist, Save, Hit An “Advertisement For The Atrocities That The Russians Commit In The War!”Dominik Hašek Again Speaks Out On X: Every NHL Goal, Assist, Save, Hit An “Advertisement For The Atrocities That The Russians Commit In The War!”On the eve of the start of the 2023-24 season between the New Jersey Devils and the team he spent the most significant part of his hall-of-fame career, the Buffalo Sabres, former goaltender Dominik Hašek made it clear that he won’t be in Prague – about an hour away from his hometown of Pardubice.
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Canadiens Fans Not Looking At Tankathon Anymore

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I don’t have any hard evidence but I’m guessing Montreal Canadiens fans have stopped looking at Tankathon being this close to the playoffs. They are currently in the 17th spot and they have no shot at the first overall pick being out of the top 11. I’m guessing most fans are fine with that.

The NHL has ups and downs and the Canadiens still need a solid pick this year because this draft is going to be much harder to find that talent. They may try to go with a high floor player to limit their risk. They might try and work on center depth or go for a big winger. That’s what I would do in this spot. You will be looking at a possible third-line center or big winger but that’s ok. A defenseman around this spot isn’t worth it. They can swing for a defender in the next round.  The Penguins second is more valuable now that they are bottoming out. Remember, these players will take 4-5 years to get to Montreal.

Winning today doesn’t mean you don’t have to keep stocking the cupboard. Ask the New York Rangers who are all but crushed. Their system isn’t that deep and they went through some of the pain of a rebuild but changed the course.

The goal is to get 2-3 players every draft. If you can get them to play 200 or more games, great. A lot of times that doesn’t happen, for a lot of reasons. It’s not an exact science. 

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Phillies at Braves Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 10

Its Thursday, April 10 and the Phillies (8-3) are in Atlanta to wrap up their three-game series with the Braves (2-9). These rivals have split the first two games.

Jesús Luzardo is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against Spencer Schwellenbach for Atlanta.

Trea Turner went yard against Raisel Iglesias in the ninth inning yesterday to propel the Phillies to a 4-3 victory. Bryce Harper also went deep to help secure their eighth win of the season.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Phillies at Braves

  • Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
  • Time: 7:15PM EST
  • Site: Truist Park
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSP, FDSNSO

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 Braves

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Phillies (+105), Braves (-125)
  • Spread:  Braves -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Braves

  • Pitching matchup for April 10, 2025: Jesús Luzardo vs. Spencer Schwellenbach
    • Phillies: Jesús Luzardo (2-0, 1.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 vs. Dodgers - 7IP, 0ER, 2H, 2BB, 8Ks
    • Braves: Spencer Schwellenbach (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 vs. Miami - 8IP, 0ER, 2H, 0BB, 10Ks

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 Phillies at Braves

  • 7 of the Phillies' last 9 games have stayed UNDER the Total
  • The Braves are 4-7 on the Run Line this season
  • Alec Bohm is just 1-18 in his last 4 games (.056)
  • Trea Turner is 9-28 (.321) in the month of April

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 Phillies and the Braves

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 Thursday's game between the Phillies and the Braves:

  • 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 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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Mazzulla gives injury update on Jaylen Brown: ‘He's doing well'

Mazzulla gives injury update on Jaylen Brown: ‘He's doing well' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics are playing at a high level going into the 2025 NBA playoffs, which is an encouraging sign for the team as it prepares to defend its title.

The Celtics are 12-2 in their last 14 games and wrap up the regular season schedule with a two-game homestand versus the Charlotte Hornets on Friday and Sunday.

The one concern involving the Celtics right now is the status of Jaylen Brown’s knee. The All-Star guard appears to be less than 100 percent healthy. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter or overtime of Tuesday’s win against the New York Knicks and sat out Thursday’s loss to the Orlando Magic.

It would make sense to not play Brown against the Hornets this weekend and give him more than a week of rest before Boston opens its first-round playoff series, even if that means he’d finish with fewer than 65 games played and not be eligible for an All-NBA team.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla joined 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand show Thursday and gave the latest update on Brown’s knee.

“He’s doing well,” Mazzulla said, as seen in the video player above. “No one knows their body, no one knows how to push themselves, no one knows how to prepare themselves, body and mind, through the rigors of a season (like him).

“At the end of the day, the most important thing is just kind of trust in Jaylen, and trust in his work, trust in his process and also trust in the training staff and the sports science and the guys that put the time in all the time. … I trust that he’ll be ready to go when it matters most.”

Is it realistic to expect Brown to be 100 percent during the upcoming playoff run?

“I don’t think it’s realistic to think that anyone’s 100 percent during a long playoff run, and I think that’s where the mental side comes into it,” Mazzulla explained.

“That’s where the mindset of just pushing it — I think that over the course of the season or the course of, hopefully a potential playoff run, everybody’s dealing with something. So you gotta be able to take your mind and your body to a different level, and there’s not many people who are better at that than (Jaylen) is.”

Brown has still played pretty well despite a decreased workload of late. He’s averaging 19 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from 3-point range over four games this month. That includes a 31-point performance in a win over the Phoenix Suns last week.

The Celtics have enough depth and high-end talent to win another championship if Brown is at less than 100 percent health. But to reach their apex, they need him as close to 100 percent as possible.