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Heat vs. Bulls Predictions: Odds. expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 9

It’s Wednesday, April 9, and the Miami Heat (36-43) and Chicago Bulls (36-43) are all set to square off from United Center in Chicago.

The Heat are currently 16-22 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Bulls have a 6-4 record in their last ten games at home. Chicago won both meetings versus Miami this season by five and nine points.

Chicago is 3-1 over the last four games but coming off a 22-point loss to Cleveland last night. Miami beat Philadelphia by 12 points in its last outing to break a two-game losing streak.

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

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Heat vs. Bulls live today

  • Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
  • Time: 8:00PM EST
  • Site: United Center
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • 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 NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Heat vs. Bulls

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Odds: Heat (-129), Bulls (+108)
  • Spread:  Heat -2
  • Over/Under: 223 points

That gives the Heat an implied team point total of 112.06, and the Bulls 111.02.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Heat vs. Bulls game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Heat to beat the Bulls:

"This is the final meeting of the season between these two and with the Bulls winning both matchups, I automatically lean toward the Heat here. Miami is playing much better basketball over the last 10-12 games than they were with the Jimmy Butler drama surrounding the team than the aftermath of his departure. Chicago has been streaky as well, so this should be a good game. I lean Miami to get a road win over Chicago tonight."

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 NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s Heat & Bulls game:

  • 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 Chicago Bulls at +2.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 223.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Heat vs. Bulls on Wednesday

  • The Bulls have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against Eastern Conference teams
  • In the Heat's road games this season the Under is 22-17
  • The Bulls have covered the Spread in 4 of their last 5 games as a home underdog
  • The Heat are on a streak of 3 straight road wins

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 NBA 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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Hornets vs. Raptors Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 9

It’s Wednesday, April 9, and the Charlotte Hornets (19-60) and Toronto Raptors (29-50) are all set to square off from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

The Hornets are currently 7-31 on the road with a point differential of -9, while the Raptors have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home. The season series is tied up 1-1 between Toronto and Charlotte.

Toronto is 5-3 over the last eight games and coming off an 11-point win over Brooklyn. Charlotte lost four straight games and nine of the past 10 contests.

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

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Hornets vs. Raptors live today

  • Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Scotiabank Arena
  • City: Toronto, ON
  • 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 NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Hornets vs. Raptors

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Odds: Hornets (+250), Raptors (-312)
  • Spread:  Raptors -7.5
  • Over/Under: 214 points

That gives the Hornets an implied team point total of 105.93, and the Raptors 109.84.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Hornets vs. Raptors game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Under:

"The Hornets are on the second night of a back-to-back and after the early showing against Memphis, I'd pass on anything but under related to Charlotte for the remaining few games. Toronto is out of the playoff mix, so I expect a lot of bench players in this matchup. It's Under or pass for me."

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 NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s Hornets & Raptors game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Toronto Raptors on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Toronto Raptors at -7.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 214.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Hornets vs. Raptors on Wednesday

  • The Hornets have lost 16 of their last 19 games on the road
  • The Raptors' last 4 home games have stayed under the Total
  • The Raptors have won 8 straight home games against the Hornets

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 NBA 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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What we learned as Yaz's walk-off homer prevents sweep by Reds

What we learned as Yaz's walk-off homer prevents sweep by Reds originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — It’s important not to get too high or too low over a 162-game season, but the Giants sure made that difficult during a six-game homestand. 

Three of their four wins came on walk-offs, including Mike Yastrzemski’s two-run Splash Hit in the 10th inning Wednesday that gave them an 8-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds and prevented a sweep. The two losses were both shutouts, though. 

It was a roller coaster week, but ultimately the Giants ended it 4-2, and they’re 9-3 as they head out for a tough three-city trip that will start Friday night at Yankee Stadium. The win Wednesday came after a big comeback in the middle innings. 

The Reds put a five-spot on Justin Verlander in the third and added an insurance run in the sixth, but the Giants had their own big rally. After getting shut out in back-to-back games, they scored on a Jung Hoo Lee triple in the fourth inning and then scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth, getting back within one. 

All four runs came with two outs, and the last three hits came with two strikes. A sloppy throw by Elly De La Cruz put the tying run on second, but Willy Adames grounded out. An inning later, Lee’s double again put the tying run on second, but rockets by Matt Chapman and Heliot Ramos found gloves. 

The Giants finally completed the comeback in the eighth, when Wilmer Flores curled the first pitch just inside the pole in left. With a runner on and one out in the 10th, Yastrzemski hit the first pitch he saw into McCovey Cove. 

Hit And Miss

It was an odd one for Verlander, who has a 6.92 ERA through his first three starts in orange and black. 

Verlander struck out nine and threw his hardest pitch since 2023, and with a little defensive help, he would have walked away with a quality start. But he also had some big misses and got charged with six runs — five earned — in 5 2/3 innings.

Verlander needed just 20 pitches to get through the first two and he struck out the side in the second, hitting 95 mph to Gavin Lux and then throwing sliders past Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Will Benson. But he was nearly knocked out in the third inning for a second straight start. 

The Reds hit three balls off gloves in the long five-run inning, including a two-run single from Lux that Tyler Fitzgerald couldn’t stop. That backbreaker came on a 97.9 mph fastball — Verlander’s hardest since July of 2023 — that was left out over the plate. There was also a double off the wall from TJ Friedl on a 94 mph fastball that missed its location by a couple of feet. 

Verlander retired eight straight after the Lux single, but the damage had been done. 

Patty Triples

The four-run rally in the sixth came with two outs and included Patrick Bailey’s third career triple. He has one in each of his three big league seasons, and now has 150 games to set a career-high. 

The Reds brought Taylor Rogers in to turn Bailey around, but he worked the count full and then smoked a sinker into Triples Alley. That brought Flores home from first, and Bailey scored on a two-strike single by Fitzgerald. 

Jung Hoo Crew

The homestand felt like a bit of a coming-out party for Lee, who never fully got to show off his game last season before the shoulder injury. With 10 hits over six days, Lee raised his average to .333. He was a homer shy of the cycle on Wednesday and was robbed of a fourth hit — and third extra-base hit — by a diving Will Benson in the bottom of the ninth. 

Every Lee at-bat at home is now accompanied by drum beats and a “Jung Hoo Lee,” chant, and more often than not over the last week, he ended the at-bat by flying out of the box and losing his helmet somewhere along the way. With a double and triple Wednesday, he had five extra-base hits in the six games at home.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Zucker Nominated For Bill Masterton Trophy

Jason Zucker is the Sabres nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

Winger Jason Zucker has become an integral part of the Buffalo Sabres in his first season with the club, contributing not only on the ice, but also as a veteran leader in the locker room. On Wednesday, the 33-year-old forward was announced as the Sabres nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. 

Each NHL club’s chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association nominates a player that “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey". That group is narrowed down to three finalists, with the winner being announced during the postseason.  

"(Jason is) a veteran guy that proves that with effort, doing the right thing, (being) prepared to play every game, bringing it every game....those are good guys to have around your players." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said on Tuesday. 

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Zucker has put up his best offensive numbers (21 goals, 30 assists in 68 games) since 2017-18. The veteran winger has played for Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Arizona, and Nashville over his 11-year NHL career before joining the Sabres last July on a one-year, $5 million deal. Instead of moving him at the trade deadline, GM Kevyn Adams re-signed him to a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension because of his leadership abilities and positive influence on the young club.

“I believe in the group. It's been a fun challenge for me being one of the older guys on the team, it’s just been a lot of fun to be a part of it. Obviously, this year didn’t go the way we wanted to, but that doesn't mean we didn’t make progress. (Re-signing with the Sabres)is a little bit of unfinished business kind of thing.” Zucker said last month. “I knew my focus was always trying to get something done to stay here. I was just glad to get it done.” 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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Dodgers at Nationals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 9

Its Wednesday, April 9 and the Dodgers (9-4) look to snap a three-game losing streak when they take the field in Washington against the Nationals (5-6).

Landon Knack is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Jake Irvin for Washington

The Nationals hammered the Dodgers yesterday, 8-2. James Wood launched a pair of home runs and drove in five runs to pace the Washington attack.

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 Dodgers at Nationals

  • Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
  • Time: 4:05PM EST
  • Site: Nationals Park
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming: SNLA, MASN

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 Dodgers at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Dodgers (-164), Nationals (+139)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Nationals

  • Pitching matchup for April 9, 2025: Landon Knack vs. Jake Irvin
    • Dodgers: Landon Knack (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 3/19 vs. Cubs - 2IP, 0ER, 1H, 0BB, 3Ks
    • Nationals: Jake Irvin (0-0, 5.40 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 vs. Arizona - 5IP, 4ER, 7H, 1BB, 3Ks

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 Dodgers at Nationals

  • This series win by the Nationals is their first against the Dodgers since 2014.
  • The Dodgers last 3 games have gone OVER the Game Total
  • Mookie Betts has hits in 4 straight games (6-15) and leads the Dodgers with a .316 average

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 today’s game between the Dodgers and the Nationals

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 Dodgers and the Nationals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Avalanche Captain Landeskog Loaned To AHL: One Step Closer To Returning

Gabriel Landeskog (Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)

The Colorado Avalanche are one step closer to having captain Gabriel Landeskog return to the lineup.

The Avalanche announced on Wednesday they loaned Landeskog to the AHL's Colorado Eagles for a conditioning assignment.

Landeskog, 32, hasn't played since the team won the Stanley Cup on June 26, 2022. He's been recovering from a right knee injury that included having cartilage transplant surgery in May 2023. The Avalanche have him on long-term injured reserve in the meantime, and he'll remain there during the conditioning loan.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, a player on LTIR can be loaned on a conditioning assignment for a period up to the longer of six days and three games, solely for the purpose of determining whether they are fit to play. If the team believes it needs more time to assess the player's fitness to play, it can request the NHL an extension of the loan for two more games.

While Landeskog has practised with the Avalanche occasionally, the AHL assignment allows him to get into some game action. He hasn't played in the AHL before, going straight from OHL Kitchener in 2010-11 to the NHL in 2011-12.

Landeskog had 30 goals and 59 points in 51 games in 2021-22, as well as 11 goals and 22 points in 20 playoff games.

The Colorado chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association nominated Landeskog for the Masterton Trophy on Wednesday. The award goes annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Fantasy Baseball Steals Report: Cubs and Yankees aggressive on basepaths lately

As stolen bases continue to rise league wide, I will be here every Wednesday to help you track important stolen base trends so you can find more speed for your fantasy teams.

Stealing a base is as much about the opposing pitcher and catcher as it is the base runner themselves. So, being able to spot which teams and pitchers specifically are being run on most often will help you to figure out who can steal a heap of bases over the next week.

Last week, we identified the Rangers as a team to target when searching for stolen bases and the Cubs have run wild against them over the past few days.

MLB: Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres
2025 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Bobby Witt Jr., Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge lead Top 300 rest of season ranks
Hunter Greene is on the rise and Rockies call-up Zac Veen enters the Top 300.

Before we get to this week's important trends, here is the stolen base leaderboard over the past seven days.

Player
SB
CS
Nico Hoerner
5
0
Pete Crow-Armstrong
5
0
Trea Turner
4
0
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
4
0
Tyler Tolbert
4
0
Jose Altuve
3
1
Jon Berti
3
0
Victor Robles
3
0
Leody Tavares
3
0
Jake Meyers
3
1
Jeremy Peña
3
0

Cubs Nico Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Jon Berti stand out from this list. Also, it’s nice to see Jazz Chisholm Jr., Trea Turner, and Jose Altuve get their wheels churning.

Now, here is the overall stolen base leaderboard on the season.

Player
SB
CS
Oneil Cruz
7
0
Nico Hoerner
6
0
Pete Crow-Armstrong
6
0
Manny Machado
5
0
Jon Berti
5
0
Leody Tavares
5
0
Fernando Tatis Jr.
5
0
Jake Mangum
5
0
Trea Turner
4
0
Isiah Kiner-Falefa
4
2
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
4
0
Julio Rodriguez
4
0
Johny DeLuca
4
0
Kyren Paris
4
0
Victor Scott II
4
0

Kyren Paris and Jake Mangum are my favorite names to watch here. They’ve shown a willingness to run in the early part of the season and should each have firm starting roles for the foreseeable future.

Next, here are some players with no stolen bases that we’d hoped would be more aggressive.

Player
SB
CS
Corbin Carroll
0
0
Ozzie Albies
0
0
Michael Harris II
0
1
Steven Kwan
0
0
Anthony Volpe
0
2

Now, let’s go over the most important stolen base trends over the past week.

The Yankees are Running?

After stealing the eighth-fewest bases in the league over the past two seasons, the Yankees are finally getting aggressive on the basepaths. Prior to this year, they’d been one of the least athletic teams in the league and weren’t able to take advantage of the new rules like everyone else. That’s no longer the case though.

Chisholm Jr. has swiped his first four bags of the season over his last six games. Ben Rice has chipped in two steals to go with his hot start at the plate. Even Aaron Judge has stolen two bags himself.

Most of these stolen bases were concentrated last weekend during their three-game series with the Pirates. They were 2-for-2 on stolen base attempts - with Rice and Judge successfully swiping a bag each – off the battery of Mitch Keller and Joey Bart. Rice and Anthony Volpe each attempted another steal late in that game, but Bart threw them out.

Chisholm himself stole two more bases Saturday against Bailey Falter, a reliever, and Endy Rodriguez while Cody Bellinger and Jasson Dominguez each stole another base Sunday with Bart back behind the plate.

It seems like the Yankees are planning to run more this season and that they felt very comfortable running when Bart was behind the plate.

J.T. Realmuto Still Has It

No catcher has been run on more frequently this season than Realmuto. Opponents have attempted 13 stolen bases against him, one more each than Bart, Danny Jansen of the Rays, and Shea Langeliers of the Athletics.

While the rest of those catchers have allowed at least an 80% success rate, Realmuto has thrown out five of those would-be base stealers. He’s joined by William Contreras, Austin Wells, and Salvador Perez as catchers who’ve caught at least 60 innings this season and thrown out more than half of the runners that have tried to steal off them.

A stolen base is more about the pitcher than the catcher though and some Phillies pitchers who’ve struggled the most with players stealing against them, Jesus Luzardo and Jordan Romano, have attempted eight and four pick-off attempts respectively.

Luzardo’s eight throws over are tied for second most in the league after the Dodgers attempted six stolen bases against him and Philly’s bullpen last Friday night. Of those six, just three were successful and Luzardo picked another off as well.

Realmuto is still a high-end defensive catcher with near league best arm strength and the Phillies’ staff is helping him out with added awareness to base runners.

Fantasy Baseball Stolen Base Targets

I mentioned last week that the Marlins, Rangers, Rays, and Braves seem to be marks for teams to run on. The Braves are likely to be crossed off that list with Sean Murphy back from injury. The Pirates seem to be an emerging target too, as I talked about earlier, as well as the Athletics.

They faced the Cubs this past week and Hoerner,Crow-Armstrong, and Berti ran wild against them.

Once again, Shea Langeliers has seen the second most stolen base attempts against him in the league this season and thrown out just one would-be culprit.

Osvaldo Bido has been on the mound for most of those attempts with four successful steals and none caught. Jeffrey Springs has had two bases stolen on him as well along with a slew of relievers who’ve given up one.

The kicker? The Athletics haven’t attempted a pick-off throw all season. None. They’ve had a handful of disengagements from the rubber, but no formal throws over.

That puts Langeliers in a difficult position to throw runners out. They are getting big leads and good jumps since his pitchers are paying them little mind. That’s how even with one of the strongest arms for any catcher in the league he is being picked on.

Without a meaningful change in how the A’s hold runners on they are worth targeting in the search for more stolen bases.

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Orioles at Diamondbacks Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends and stats for April 9

Its Wednesday, April 9 and the Orioles (5-7) are in Phoenix to wrap up their series against the Diamondbacks (6-6). The teams have split the first two games.

Dean Kremer is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Brandon Pfaadt for Arizona

Arizona evened the series at a game apiece with a 4-3 win last night. Merrill Kelly gave up two in the first but settled down and pitched into the seventh inning to earn his second win of the season. Cedric Mullins picked up two hits and drove in a couple of runs to pace the attack.

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 Orioles at Diamondbacks

  • Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
  • Time: 3:40PM EST
  • Site: Chase Field
  • City: Phoenix, AZ
  • Network/Streaming: MASN2, ARID

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 Orioles at the Diamondbacks

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (+104), Diamondbacks (-124)
  • Spread:  Diamondbacks -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Diamondbacks

  • Pitching matchup for April 9, 2025: Dean Kremer vs. Brandon Pfaadt
    • Orioles: Dean Kremer (1-1, 6.52 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 at Kansas City - 4.1IP, 2ER, 8H, 0BB, 1Ks
    • Diamondbacks: Brandon Pfaadt (1-1, 5.25 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 at Washington - 6IP, 4ER, 6H, 0BB, 4Ks

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 Orioles at Diamondbacks

  • The Under has cashed in the Orioles' last 3 games
  • The Orioles are now 6-6 against the spread this season
  • The Under has cashed in 3 of the Diamondbacks last 4 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!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Orioles and the Diamondbacks

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 Orioles and the Diamondbacks:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Arizona Diamondbacks on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Baltimore Orioles 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.

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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Luka Doncic ejected for trash-talking to fan, referee thought it was aimed at him

This is as bizarre an ejection as you were ever going to see.

The Lakers' Luka Doncic was trash-talking with a fan courtside in Oklahoma City after a made basket that gave the Lakers the lead, but official J.T. Orr thought it was aimed at him, gave Doncic his second technical of the game and ejected him.

It changed the game. The Lakers led by one at the time of the ejection and lost by 16.

After the game, Doncic said he often engages with fans and couldn't get his head around what happened (quote via Dave McMenamin of ESPN).

"I never got a fan ejected. Never. But if [the fan is] going to talk, I'm going to talk back, like always. That had nothing to do with the ref. So I didn't really understand."

That fan, Jeremy Price, confirmed to ESPN that he was the one Doncic was talking to.

"During the game within the game, I mentioned that he was short [on his shot] and he missed it, and he turned around and he shot an expletive back and J.T. happened to see it and, at that point, T'd him up," Price said.

After the game, referee crew chief Tony Brothers explained what happened with the second technical to a pool reporter: "He looked directly at an official and used vulgar language."

Doncic complains to referees as much as any player in the league. He sometimes does not get back on defense or loses focus because he is so caught up in arguing with the officials. Because of that, Doncic has a short leash with many officials, he does not get the benefit of the doubt that a guy like Lebron James often gets. That reputation cost him and the Lakers here.

Still, this was a blunder by Orr and speaks to an arrogance with NBA officials — they are rarely open to changing their minds or admitting an error (unless a video review forces them to). Orr misread the situation, but not only would he not back down, Tony Brothers had to have his back to the media rather than own an error. The officials can and need to do better.

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Steph making case to snag final All-NBA First Team spot, per Draymond

Steph making case to snag final All-NBA First Team spot, per Draymond originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Even in Year 16 and with a plethora of young talent rising in the NBA, Steph Curry continues to be one of the best players in the association.

And after Curry strung together several impressive performances recently, including a 52-point outburst last week, Draymond Green believes his teammate is making a strong argument to make the All-NBA First Team this season.

“He’s definitely been locked in,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis.” “It’s around that time. He’s playing with that edge and focus — and it’s showing. I think he’s making an argument to snatch that last spot on the All-NBA First Team. He putting up a real case.”

In 67 games this season, Curry is averaging 24.4 points on 44.7-percent shooting from the field and 39.6 percent from 3-point range, with 4.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.1 steals through 32.1 minutes. Those numbers have only increased since Jimmy Butler’s arrival to Golden State, with Curry averaging 27.4 points on 47.1-percent shooting from the field and 40.8 percent from beyond the arc, adding 4.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 25 games.

And last week’s big win over the Memphis Grizzlies served as just another reminder that Father Time has yet to catch up to Curry, who dropped 52 points with 12 3-pointers in 36 minutes.

He followed that performance up with a 37-point game against the Los Angeles Lakers and a 36-point showing against the Denver Nuggets in a critical back-to-back stretch, both wins for Golden State.

Elsewhere around the league, superstars such as Nikola Jokić, NBA MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo seemingly have solidified their case to make the All-NBA First Team — leaving that final slot open to others such as Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Karl-Anthony Towns, or, as Green predicts, Curry.

Knicks star Jalen Brunson also has been building a strong case to make the team, but the NBA policy mandates that a player must participate in at least 65 games to be eligible for All-NBA teams and other honors. With three regular-season games remaining for New York, Brunson currently sits at 63 games after missing 15 contests with an ankle injury.

Of course, awards never have been top of mind for Curry as his focus lies solely on the Warriors’ playoff push in a tight Western Conference. Nonetheless, Green knows it’s the season of Curry flurries.

“We’re right in the hunt. We control our own destiny to guarantee ourselves a playoff spot,” Green said. “[Curry] said it a few months ago, I just want to play meaningful basketball. After every game, he looks at a couple coaches and he says, ‘meaningful basketball.’ So I don’t think it’s necessarily something that’s hyping him up per se, more so than the opportunity to play meaningful basketball. Basketball games that really mean something.

“Us going to the playoffs is a very realistic thing so you start to ramp up of getting to that level you need to be in a couple weeks. So I think it’s kind of just that time. He’s locked in.”

Curry made the All-NBA Third Team last season. The last time he received All-NBA First Team honors was in the 2020-21 season, the fourth time in his career making the First Team.

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Rangers at Cubs Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 9

Its Wednesday, April 9 and the Rangers (8-4) are in Chicago to wrap up their series against the Cubs (9-5).

Tyler Mahle is slated to take the mound for Texas against Shota Imanaga for Chicago

The Cubs have taken the first two games of the series winning last night 10-6. Chicago scored four in the bottom of the eighth to break a 6-6 tie. Dansby Swanson broke the tie with a two-run single in that pivotal eighth inning. Kyle Tucker had two more hits for the Cubs and is now hitting .339 for 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 Rangers at Cubs

  • Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
  • Time: 2:20PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: RSN, MARQ

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 Rangers at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Rangers (+126), Cubs (-150)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for April 9, 2025: Tyler Mahle vs. Shota Imanaga
    • Rangers: Tyler Mahle (1-0, 1.35 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 vs. Tampa Bay - 5IP, 0ER, 1H, 2BB, 5Ks
    • Cubs: Shota Imanaga (2-0, 0.98 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 vs. San Diego - 7.1IP, 1ER, 4H, 0BB, 4Ks

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 Rangers at Cubs

  • The Cubs have won 7 of their last 8 games
  • The Rangers' last 4 games versus the Cubs have gone OVER the Total
  • 8 of the Cubs' last 9 games have gone OVER the Game Total
  • The Rangers are 5-7 on the Run Line this season

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 Rangers and the Cubs

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 Rangers and the Cubs:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Texas Rangers 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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Why Steph vs. CP3 matchup is one to watch in Warriors-Spurs game

Why Steph vs. CP3 matchup is one to watch in Warriors-Spurs game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Among the more memorable benchmarks behind Stephen Curry’s ascent from shooting ace to global superstar occurred when he executed a dazzling move that took down the NBA’s king of point guards.

Curry’s ruthless dropping of Chris Paul happened 10 years ago but remains an iconic moment in a Warriors career that later yielded two MVP awards, four NBA championships and one NBA Finals MVP award.

And here they are again Wednesday night, meeting for perhaps the final time, when Curry and the Warriors face Paul and the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center. Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at with “Warriors Pregame Live” at 6 p.m., with tipoff scheduled for 7.

While the Warriors (47-32) are fighting for a playoff berth, the Spurs have nothing to play for except pride. And no one in the league is more prideful than Paul. He wants the W.

Curry and Paul have been the league’s preeminent point guards over the past 20 seasons. Their styles differed, with Curry building an identity on showmanship and superb shooting, while Paul is the more traditional playmaker and floor general nicknamed the “Point God.”

But how long can they keep going after each other?

Curry turned 37 last month and is under contract to play at least two more years beyond the current. Paul, who turned 40 next month, signed a one-year contract last summer and weighing his options after San Antonio’s season ends this weekend.

“At the end of every season,” Paul recently told ESPN, “I evaluate everything. Evaluate playing. Evaluate how my body feels. But the more years that go by, it’s more conversations with my family, with my kids. They have a lot of say so. They got a lot of input.”

Dating back to Curry’s rookie season in 2009, this will be the 58th meeting – 39 in the regular season, 18 in the playoffs – between the two future Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers. Curry holds a 32-25 record in the regular season, but they’re 9-9 in the postseason.

Their rivalry was interrupted last season when Curry and Paul were teammates in Golden State. They rarely played together, though, as CP3’s primary role was to lead the second unit.

Paul is back in the starting lineup this season in San Antonio. In defiance of his injury history, he has started all 79 games and is on track for the second 82-game season of his 20-year career. His scoring is down, averaging only 8.8 points per game, but he leads the team in assists at 7.5 per game.

Both remain formidable presences, with Curry (averaging 24.4 points and 6.1 assists per game) still the focal point of opposing teams’ scouting reports and Paul given an active leadership role for the next generation Spurs.

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Canadiens' Ivan Demidov Brings 'Mamba Mentality' And Otherworldly Skill To The NHL

Ivan Demidov (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

The Montreal Canadiens got a pretty special talent in Ivan Demidov. 

Without being hyperbolic in any way, Demidov might be the best teenage talent the Canadiens are bringing into the fold since they drafted Guy Lafleur first overall in 1971. 

A team can rarely inject a player with this level of skill into the lineup at this stage of the season. We see NCAA and major junior players join NHL clubs around this time of year, but a Russian player is rarely granted a release from his KHL club. 

Now that Demidov did get released and signed an entry-level contract on Tuesday, the biggest question is what he will bring to the Canadiens’ lineup and how he can help add an element to the team that it lacks as it works toward the playoffs.

Demidov is a highly skilled player in various ways. His puckhandling his intentional and artistic. He can weave and dart through traffic, working off his edges in unorthodox ways at times, presenting a unique challenge for defenders. While he’s not a burner, Demidov brings the elusiveness and shiftiness that players like Lane Hutson or Mitch Marner bring to the game. 

Demidov’s mobility, shiftiness and puck skill give defenders fits. While most players telegraph what they will do with the direction of their feet or the way they handle the puck, Demidov can instantly shift his weight or work off his inside edge to change direction in ways that most NHLers simply don’t do. 

So much of hockey is reading and reacting to what is developing on the ice as it happens, and the best players find ways to dictate play. Demidov consistently creates small advantages by finding gaps or recognizing how defenders choose to play him and then exploiting whatever they give him. 

His spatial awareness was elite at the KHL level. While there will be a bit less space in the NHL, Demidov’s ability to adapt and maneuver through pressure has made him successful. He is clinical with his skill, attacking play head-on. Demidov commands the puck and takes the burden of being the driving force off his teammates. 

When he gets into the offensive zone, Demidov is ready for just about anything. He scans and reads the zone, recognizes where his teammates are and where they are going, and then makes the best play to put his team in a position to score. 

Demidov is a wickedly skilled playmaker at heart, showcasing the combination of finesse and precision needed to feather pucks onto his teammate’s stick or a willingness to assert himself with a hard pass through traffic to flip the ice laterally. 

His shooting talent is wildly underrated as he can rip the puck from various hand positions, whether the puck is extended out in front of him or tight at his feet. Demidov’s shot pops off his stick quickly, which makes life difficult for goalies trying to read it. 

He still has some room to grow defensively, but he is a relentless worker who always hunts the puck down. He is a nifty stick lifter and can pull pucks off opposing players in the neutral zone and flip play in an instant. 

What really separates Demidov is his mentality. He is mentally built differently than so many other athletes. While many are motivated and driven, Demidov is cut from the same cloth as the most intense athletes in sports. Take what he said at the draft, for example, when asked if he is ready to be the game-breaking talent the Canadiens were missing.

“I am ready,” Demidov said. “Kobe Bryant is my idol in sports. I try to take his Mamba Mentality. It’s the first word I learned… killer instinct.”

Demidov wasn’t being tongue-in-cheek when he said that. He wants the pressure and the spotlight. He thrives when all eyes are on him. This is what he was born to do. 

When he steps into the Canadiens’ lineup, he will add an element of skill, tenacity and creativity they need. The diverse offensive skill he brings to the game will give them the depth scoring they need behind captain Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. 

Demidov would be an excellent fit on the team’s second line, instantly becoming the most dangerous player on the ice for Montreal. Playing opposite Patrik Laine would allow him to make the most of his playmaking and puckhandling ability. It would give Laine a running mate to produce offensively on the second line and fill the void they’ve been rotating players in and out of on the left wing. 

Demidov’s work rate and intensity away from the puck, along with his need to prove to coach Martin St-Louis he deserves a spot in the top six, will also help a player like Laine, who is less engaged defensively. 

The stars are aligning for Montreal this year in many ways. Nick Suzuki is the first Canadiens player to eclipse 80 points since Alex Kovalev in 2007-08. Cole Caufield will challenge 40 goals. Lane Hutson is the favorite to win the Calder Trophy. Ivan Demidov has arrived. 

Things are looking up for Montreal, and the top teams in the Atlantic division are on notice. Montreal is coming, and Demidov will be a massive piece of that puzzle.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Dyson Daniels, Josh Hart most improved players

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.

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.

With the fantasy season effectively over, now is a good time for the Rotoworld fantasy basketball staff to have a few roundtable discussions. Wednesday's question: Who was the most improved player in fantasy basketball this season? Increased opportunity certainly helps, but it's still up to the player to produce the results. Nick Shlain, Noah Rubin, Raphielle Johnson and Zak Hanshew made their picks, with three picking the same player.

Who was the most improved player in fantasy basketball this season?

Nick Shlain: In 2023-204, Josh Hart was the 77th-ranked player in total game value on Basketball Monster. With only a few games left in the 2024-25 regular season, Hart ranks 10th. That's quite a come-up for the heart and soul of the New York Knicks. The 30-year-old small forward set the franchise record for most triple-doubles in a season with nine, breaking Walt Frazier's mark of eight in the 1968-69 season. No one on the Knicks seems to thrive more on coach Tom Thibedeau's strategy of playing his starters heavy minutes all season long. Now in his third year with the Knicks, Hart was better than ever despite another heavy workload.

Noah Rubin: Hopping from outside the top 150 in nine-cat scoring to providing early-second round value doesn't happen often. Dyson Daniels was one of my favorite late-round targets this season, and he has been way better than I ever imagined. He has a significant lead over the rest of the league regarding steals, but he has also made real strides on the offensive end as both a scorer and playmaker. The change of scenery and increase in opportunity made Daniels bound for a statistical leap, but this type of leap was special and wasn't just a result of his situation improving. He has solidified his status as a valuable commodity in dynasty leagues and should be drafted much earlier in drafts next season.

NBA: Utah Jazz at Atlanta Hawks
Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Dyson Daniels, Austin Reaves among biggest fantasy surprises
The Rotoworld basketball crew picked their biggest fantasy surprises for the 2024-25 season.

Raphielle Johnson: My pick would be Atlanta's Dyson Daniels. While the expectation was that his being traded to Atlanta would mean additional opportunities for the young guard, few people expected him to be this productive. The "Great Barrier Thief" has cemented himself as one of the best defenders in the NBA regardless of position, and he's also been an improved offensive player. You don't threaten first-round value in nine-cat formats by only contributing on one end of the floor. Daniels may not be a first-round pick in drafts next fall, but projecting him as a top-25 player would not be extreme.

Zak Hanshew: I love me some Christian Braun, but this must go to Dyson Daniels. Daniels has put up such eye-popping steal numbers that he's elevated his fantasy ranking tremendously through that category alone. He's ranked in the top 15 in per-game fantasy hoops value thanks mainly to his clear advantage in that defensive category, but Daniels has been no slouch as a scorer, rebounder and facilitator. Since returning from the All-Star break, he's averaged 15.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 dimes. Daniels has shown that he can do it all on both ends of the court, and if he continues to develop on offense, he'll be an early-round fantasy pick for years to come.