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Mets at Red Sox prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 21

It's Wednesday, May 21 and the Mets (29-20) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (25-25). Tylor Megill is slated to take the mound for New York against Garrett Crochet for Boston.

Boston is looking for the sweep after 2-0 and 3-1 victories over the last two days against the Mets. The Red Sox have won three of the past four games, while the Mets have dropped three straight and five of the past six.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Mets at Red Sox

  • Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
  • Time: 6:45 PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: SNY, NESN, MLBN

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

Odds for the Mets at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Mets (+126), Red Sox (-151)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mets at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for May 21, 2025: Tylor Megill vs. Garrett Crochet
    • Mets: Tylor Megill, (3-4, 3.74 ERA)
      Last outing: 2.2 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 5 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Red Sox: Garrett Crochet, (4-3, 2.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts

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

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

  • 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 New York Mets at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Mets at Red Sox

  • The Mets have won 13 of 19 games following a defeat
  • 6 of the Mets' last 7 games (86%) have stayed under the Total
  • The Mets have failed to cover the Run Line in 6 of their last 7 road games against the Red Sox

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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What we learned as Webb, offense struggle in Giants' loss to Royals

What we learned as Webb, offense struggle in Giants' loss to Royals originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning Wednesday, Wilmer Flores hit a sinking liner to center. Kansas City Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel got a good jump and made a sliding grab to preserve a four-run lead, and from there, it was a very, very quiet afternoon at Oracle Park. 

Logan Webb lasted just four innings, and with the offense slumping, the day became about preserving a tired bullpen ahead of a three-city road trip. Spencer Bivens, Jordan Hicks and Erik Miller were at least able to do that, soaking up the final five innings of an 8-4 loss to the Royals that cost the Giants the final series of their long homestand. 

The Giants went 5-4 back at Oracle Park, which has become the norm since a hot start to the year. They’re 29-21 overall, but 17-17 over their last 34 games, and the culprit often is the same. 

There were a couple of big offensive nights on the homestand, but over the last five games, the lineup managed just 12 runs. With a banged-up rotation, the Royals went with a bullpen game Wednesday. Other than that moment when the bases were loaded for Flores, they were never threatened. 

Unexpected

Webb can be prone to rough first innings, so it wasn’t a shock when the Royals started the day with three singles, scoring a run before the Giants’ ace recovered with three straight strikeouts. But it was surprising when things didn’t get any better in the second. 

The Royals had three more singles in that inning and scored two runs, and an error by LaMonte Wade Jr. helped lead to a three-run fourth. The big blow was an oppo blast by Salvador Perez, who became the 79th right-handed hitter to reach the arcade at Oracle Park.

Webb was charged with a season-high six earned runs, although only three of them were earned. He gave up 10 hits for just the fourth time in his career, and his four innings were a season-low.

Signs of Life

With a bullpen game on the other side, Bob Melvin mixed things up a bit with his lineup. Patrick Bailey hit eighth and Wade ninth, but both had positive days. 

Bailey jumped on a hanging slider from right-hander Steven Cruz in the fourth and hit a solo shot to dead center, his first of the year and first since last Sept. 24 at Chase Field. He also drew a walk, raising his OPS from .474 to .507. 

Wade walked in his first two plate appearances and had a hard single while leading off the ninth. He has lost playing time lately, but the Giants should face a pair of righties to start the road trip, and Wade is likely to start both games. 

More Like It

Hicks’ first relief appearance resembled a lot of his starts, but he cruised through the eighth inning Wednesday. The right-hander got Maikel Garcia to ground out on a 97 mph sinker, Bobby Witt Jr. to pop up a 96 mph sinker, and Vinnie Pasquantino to ground out on a 98 mph sinker. He buzzed through the top of Kansas City’s lineup on seven pitches, six of which were strikes. 

The best pitch was a slider that Witt swung through, but what was most notable was all the sinkers. That’s the pitch Hicks relied on as a starter, but he threw primarily four-seamers when he made his first relief appearance of the year on Monday night. 

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Angels at Athletics prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 21

It's Wednesday, May 21, and the Angels (22-25) take on the Athletics (22-27). Jack Kochanowicz is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against JP Sears for Oakland.

The Angels have won the first two games of the series 4-3 and 7-5. The Athletics are now on a seven-game losing streak and are last in the AL West.

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 Angels at Athletics

  • Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
  • Time: 10:05PM EST
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSA, FanDuel Sports Network West

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 Angels at the Athletics

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Angels (+135), Athletics (-160)
  • Spread:  Athletics -1.5
  • Total: 10.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Angels at Athletics

  • Pitching matchup for May 21, 2025: Jack Kochanowicz vs. JP Sears
    • Angels: Jack Kochanowicz, (3-5, 4.71 ERA)
      Last outing (Los Angeles Dodgers, 5/16): 6.2 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Athletics: JP Sears, (4-3, 3.31 ERA)
      Last outing (San Francisco Giants, 5/16): 4.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Angels at Athletics

  • The Athletics have won their last three home matchups against the Angels with JP Sears as starting pitcher
  • This season the Athletics pitcher JP Sears has an ERA of 3.31 and a WHIP of 1.03 when opening
  • With JP Sears as the starter the Athletics have covered in 3 straight home 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 tonight’s game between the Angels and the Athletics

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 Angels and the Athletics:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Oakland Athletics on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Angels at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 10.0.

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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Dooling sees Kuminga having McGrady career path if Warriors trade him

Dooling sees Kuminga having McGrady career path if Warriors trade him originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga’s NBA journey has been anything but easy.

And now more than ever, his future with the Warriors — the only NBA organization he’s known — is uncertain as he enters restricted free agency this offseason.

As the “All the Smoke” crew discussed what the future holds for the 22-year-old forward, former NBA guard Keyon Dooling explained how if Kuminga lands elsewhere next season, he could follow a similar career path as Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady.

“If you trade [Kuminga], he’ll be like how Tracy McGrady was when he got traded from the Raptors,” Dooling said. “He’ll be on the cusp, if not an All-Star. He’ll be a very, very talented, lead scorer in the NBA. He’s that talented.”

McGrady spent his first three seasons with the Toronto Raptors but his role varied. In 192 games (53 starts) over three seasons with Toronto, he averaged 11.1 points on 44.8 percent shooting, with 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.4 blocks through 24.7 minutes.

After the Raptors’ first-round playoff exit, McGrady became a free agent and signed with the Orlando Magic via a sign-and-trade deal. The Magic helped unlock the best seasons of his Hall of Fame career, averaging 28.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks through 39.4 minutes in 295 games (294 starts).

He was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career with Orlando, and finished his career as a seven-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA member. He also won the NBA Most Improved Player during his first season with the Magic.

McGrady finished fourth in NBA MVP voting during his second and third seasons in Orlando, respectively.

All in all, the Magic helped McGrady unleash his full potential as an NBA player, while the Raptors seemingly held him back from doing so.

Kuminga’s role with the Warriors has fluctuated since being selected No. 7 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. And more recently, a series of DNPs-CD (Did Not Play, Coach’s Decision) raised several eyebrows since being left out of Steve Kerr’s rotation toward the end of the season and to start Golden State’s 2025 playoff run.

It wasn’t until Steph Curry went down with a hamstring injury that Kerr turned to Kuminga, who stepped up massively for the Warriors without their best player. Despite being thrust into the rotation during the Warriors’ second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kuminga finished the series averaging 20.8 points on 54.3 percent shooting, with 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 27.4 minutes off the bench.

While Kuminga showcased his talent on the big stage ahead of a big offseason for the young forward, Matt Barnes believes it’s too late for Kerr and the Warriors to mend that relationship.

“I think the bridge has been burnt between him and Kerr,” Barnes said. “… I don’t know if there’s light at the end of the tunnel. But if he’s able to get out to a new situation and spread his wings, he’s going to be a problem. He’s a 20-plus-point-a-game scorer in this league. He’s freakishly athletic.

His talent is not in question here. It’s just his mentality.”

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Red Sox starter Walker Buehler fires back at Mets' Francisco Lindor: 'I wouldn't want me out there either'

Boston Red Sox starter Walker Buehler was ejected in the third inning of Tuesday night’s win over the Mets, and while Francisco Lindor had some fun with the moment, Buehler apparently didn’t find it amusing.

After hitting Lindor in the back foot with a breaking ball and arguing that Lindor didn’t try to get out of the way, Buehler then argued with home plate umpire Mike Estabrook about a ball that was called as Lindor swiped second base.

Buehler barked at Estabrook and quickly got the hook, as Lindor seemed to playfully take delight in the banter, signaling for Estabrook to eject the pitcher.

The Sox went on to win 2-0, and hours after the game, Buehler shared a video of Lindor that had been circulating on X, quoting it by saying “I wouldn’t want me out there either. Sad thing is the BULLPEN is full of f--king animals. Tough choice.”

Before Wednesday's series finale, Lindor was asked about his gesture and wanting Buehler out of the game.

"Getting him out of the game, it puts the team at a disadvantage," Lindor said. "It didn’t work out for us yesterday, but it’s just part of the game. Then you throw [manager] Alex [Cora] out and now you make [bench coach] Ramon Vazquez have to make the decision of do they want to pitch [Justin] Slaten back-to-back, [Justin] Wilson back-to-back, [Aroldis] Chapman back-to-back.

"So it’s a position there where you see that it can be a good opportunity for us, we just didn’t capitalize on it… Today at breakfast [Cora and I] talked about it. It was funny."

The altercation between the starting pitcher and the shortstop may have had some extra weight to it because of an at-bat in last season's NLCS where Buehler struck out Lindor and was fired up before screaming expletives in Lindor's direction.

For Lindor, that had nothing to do with it.

"It puts the team at a disadvantage and as a competitor I want all of the advantages as possible," Lindor said. "…How everything crumbled yesterday, hopefully it can help us today."

The shortstop also gave praise to Buehler, calling the right-hander "nasty" while also downplaying any animosity he might have towards the pitcher, saying "I ain’t got nothing against Buehler. I’m a lover. I don’t really care."

Pitching in his first season with the Red Sox, Buehler has posted a 4.00 ERA over 36.0 innings.

The Mets will look to avoid a three-game sweep, and get their bats going, in Wednesday night's series finale in Boston.

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Rangers at Yankees Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 21

It's Wednesday, May 21, and the Rangers (25-24) are in Bronx to take on the Yankees (28-19). Jacob deGrom is slated to take the mound for Texas against Ryan Yarbrough for New York.

The Yankees took Game 1, 5-2 in what appeared to be a no-doubter early on. Ben Rice and Aaron Judge both homered, plus Anthony Volpe doubled for all of the Yankees' runs.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Rangers at Yankees

  • Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
  • Time: 7:05 PM EST
  • Site: Yankee Stadium
  • City: Bronx, NY
  • Network/Streaming: RSN, AmazonPV

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 Yankees

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Rangers (-102), Yankees (-118)
  • Spread:  Yankees 1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at Yankees

  • Pitching matchup for May 21, 2025: Jacob deGrom vs. Ryan Yarbrough
    • Rangers: Jacob deGrom, (4-1, 2.29 ERA)
      Last outing: 8.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Yankees: Ryan Yarbrough, (1-0, 3.70 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 2 Strikeouts

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rangers and the Yankees

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 Yankees:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Yankees 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 7.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rangers at Yankees

  • The Yankees have won 7 of their last 9 home games against the Rangers
  • The Under is 18-8-1 in the Rangers' matchups against American League teams this season
  • Aaron Judge is second in the MLB with 16 homers

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Penguins Should Let Dewar And Timmins Walk In Restricted Free Agency

Apr 11, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Connor Dewar (19) during the second period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. (Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images)

Just prior to the Mar. 7 NHL trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins completed a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, sending a 2025 fifth-round pick to acquire forward Connor Dewar and defenseman Conor Timmins.

And - as it happens - both players are pending restricted free agents.

After a pretty disappointing season with the Leafs, Dewar, 25, made a good impression during a short stint in Pittsburgh. He registered four goals and seven points in 17 games despite only putting up three points in 31 games with Toronto.

Timmins, 26, recorded a goal and seven points in 17 games to go along with a plus-9 rating in his time with Pittsburgh. He registered just eight points in 51 games with the Leafs. 

Yes, both players were serviceable for the Penguins, and - while post-trade adrenaline is a thing - it's easy to argue that there could be more to their games in Pittsburgh's system. In most circumstances, it would be a pretty easy decision to try to extend both players.

However, not in this circumstance. 

The fact of the matter is that the Penguins are in a stage of their rebuild effort where youth and development is the priority. They need to put giving opportunities to their young talent at the forefront.

And Dewar and Timmins are exactly the types of players who would block that youth from the roster.

Apr 8, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Conor Timmins (20) and defenseman Kris Letang (58) celebrate a goal by Letang against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. (Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

The Penguins have some top-six talent with the veterans on their roster, and - although, in theory, top forward prospects like Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen can slot in the top-six - there are still other players they'll probably want to have a look at. Tristan Broz, Avery Hayes, Filip Hallander, and Vasily Ponomarev come to mind.

And given some of their bottom-six players still under contract - Tommy Novak, Noel Acciari, Kevin Hayes, Danton Heinen, and Blake Lizotte, as well as Philip Tomasino, who is also a pending-RFA - keepig Dewar around limits the space on the Penguins' roster for some of those younger players.

The same goes for Timmins, although there is less "blockage" at the left defense position. Matt Grzelcyk is a pending unrestricted free agent, and the Penguins have Ryan Graves, Vladislav Kolyachonok, and Ryan Shea under contract for next season.

4 Left Defensemen The Penguins Should Target This Summer4 Left Defensemen The Penguins Should Target This SummerDuring his postseason press conference on Apr. 21, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas provided a glimpse into what the summer could look like for the organization.

However, Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas has suggested that he will look outside the organization to bolster the left side defense this offseason, highlighting the position as a problem area. If the Penguins do add a legitimate young left defenseman, having Timmins around will only complicate things for prospect Owen Pickering, who - after a longer stint at the NHL level last season - is primed to take the next step in his development, which includes a more permanent stay in the NHL. 

So, while Dewar and Timmins have been decent players for the Penguins, their presence will only compilcate things for young players and prospects who are ready to have a look at the highest level. Of course, if the Penguins offload other contracts prior to free agency, perhaps that could open up the room for Dewar and Timmins to stick around.

However, as their roster stands now, it's probably best for the Penguins to move on.

'We Have To Stick To A Very Concise Plan And Then Execute Our Butts Off': Dubas Clarifies Penguins' Summer Plans'We Have To Stick To A Very Concise Plan And Then Execute Our Butts Off': Dubas Clarifies Penguins' Summer PlansTo close out the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas spoke with the Pittsburgh media on Monday.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!      

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Buehler gives NSFW response to Lindor urging umpire to eject him

Buehler gives NSFW response to Lindor urging umpire to eject him originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It wasn’t only home plate umpire Mike Estabrook who drew the ire of Walker Buehler on Tuesday night.

The Boston Red Sox right-hander also took aim at New York Mets star Francisco Lindor after being ejected in the third inning for arguing balls and strikes. While Buehler argued with Estabrook, an animated Lindor yelled from second base, urging the umpire to throw Boston’s starter out of the game.

After the Red Sox’ 2-0 win, Buehler responded to the clip of Lindor advocating for his ejection.

“I wouldn’t want me out there either,” Buehler wrote on X. “Sad thing is the BULLPEN is full of f—-ing animals. Tough choice.”

As Buehler notes, Boston’s bullpen stepped up to secure the victory. Brennan Bernardino, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Wilson, Greg Weissert, Justin Slaten, and Aroldis Chapman combined to pitch 6.2 scoreless innings.

The bullpen hasn’t allowed a run through 16 innings in the Red Sox’ last three wins. Bench coach Ramon Vazquez has pulled the strings in the last two games with manager Alex Cora absent. Cora missed the series opener vs. the Mets to celebrate his daughter’s graduation, and he was ejected from Tuesday’s game shortly after Buehler was tossed.

Unlike Buehler, Cora wasn’t miffed by Lindor’s antics. In fact, the Puerto Rico native laughed about the incident over breakfast Wednesday morning with his fellow countryman.

Cora and the Red Sox will hope to get an ace-like performance out of Garrett Crochet to save the bullpen in Wednesday’s series finale. First pitch at Fenway Park is set for 6:45 p.m. ET.

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Bazball’s moment of truth arrives in year that will define era of McCullum and Stokes

One-off Zimbabwe Test at Trent Bridge the launchpad for a decisive summer for England and their abstemious captain

So where are we up to right now? Still Bazball 2.0? The start of Bazball 3.0? Given Ben Stokes has knocked the grog on the head this year, perhaps it should be Bazball 0.0% ABV.

Although, jokes aside, that recent revelation on one of those man-chat podcasts said a fair bit about Stokes’s nature. Not only has he temporarily paused drinking during his recovery from hamstring surgery but, so taken by this, he has even bought shares in an alcohol-free spirits company. England’s Test captain is someone who, when he sets his mind on something, sees it through to the extreme. Even abstinence.

Continue reading...
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Knicks Playoff Run Reviving Local Spots Amid Tourism, Spending Slump

New York Knicks bar Stout, a three-minute walk from Madison Square Garden, is preparing for one of its busiest nights of the year. Five hours before tip-off, staffers are double-checking reservations and feverishly cleaning while bartenders restock with mixers and supplies.

Cardboard cutouts of stars like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns overlook the bar as the two-decade-old establishment gets ready to host a crowd that will push the three-story pub to its maximum capacity of about 700. The crew will pass out vodka-based blue and orange shots if the Knicks win.

The Knicks’ first conference finals appearance since 2000 has been a boon for businesses such as Stout at a moment they need the support. Shop owners around MSG said they are trying to navigate industry-wide headwinds stemming from declining sales and higher operating costs. NYC tourism is also experiencing a slump, as the city will welcome 400,000 fewer tourists than it did last year, according to The New York Times, as the nation grapples with rising geopolitical and trade tensions stemming from Trump administration policies.

The smaller profit margins this year have placed increased pressure on owners to make ends meet.

“Our business would be very different if the [Knicks] were sitting at home,” Ian Conroy, co-owner of Mustang Harry’s, said in an interview.

Conroy and his brother, Niall, have operated the popular sports bar on 7th Avenue for 30 years—and during that span, they have witnessed some serious lows for the Knicks, including a seven-season drought without a playoff berth. Conroy said this past month has been the peak of revenue for his sports pub so far this year. The Tipperary, Ireland, native wants to make the most of this historic run that coincides with an ongoing wave of economic uncertainty.

“People that are coming out will spend less [than before] but at least they’re coming out,” he said. “The fact that the Knicks are on a playoff run, people want to be around [other] fans buzzed. It’s definitely much better than if somebody else was in their place.”

After the Knicks eliminated the defending champion Celtics last week, thousands of fans took to the streets outside of MSG to celebrate. In some cases, fans were tossing bras, flipping over garbage cans, scaling street poles and standing on top of taxis.

The Knicks have helped to add to the foot traffic and enthusiasm around the area by rolling out official viewing parties outside of MSG for the first time, which are free to attend. While the official watch party for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers will be held inside Radio City Hall, with tickets costing $10 each, the organization has partnered with several local NYC bars for fans looking for that party atmosphere.

“While we don’t measure the economic impact of sports tourism specifically, we know that major moments like the Knicks’ exciting playoff run, drives foot traffic and spending—especially near MSG,” NYC Tourism and Conventions CEO Julie Coker said in an emailed statement. “It’s clear that New York City’s home teams are not just fueling hometown pride, they’re also contributing to the vibrancy of our visitor economy.”

It’s a timely contribution. A study conducted by the NYC Hospitality Alliance shows that 72% of establishments reported lower sales last summer (from June to August), with only 5% seeing a rise in business.

Alfredo Marty, general manager at Blarney Stone on 8th Avenue, said it would be “dead” if the Knicks hadn’t played in six home playoff games, with at least two more home games at MSG starting Wednesday night. Blarney Stone has had the same operators for 22 years and keeps its doors open late for thirsty fans who are looking to celebrate and down a cold brew after a Knicks win.

“Business has been horrible, but because of the Knicks, we do well,” Marty, a Dominican who has lived in New York for over 30 years, said. “They just need to keep winning.”

Meanwhile, the Knicks’ rush has also trickled over into local pizza shops. Pizza Suprema, which has been an MSG staple for more than 60 years, has reeled in about triple the amount of normal business on playoff game days, forcing it to bring in additional staff to accommodate the traffic.

Papi’s Pasta & Pizza on 7th Avenue has been relatively slow since the holiday rush after its grand opening back in early November. But Papi’s manager Axel Foley said they experienced a significant uptick in sales after the Knicks won Game 3 over the Celtics on May 10, at times running out of soda to sell to a bevy of Knicks fans who had come through their doors for the first time.

“We just can’t wait for them to play again,” he said.

It is fitting that as Knicks look for their first Finals appearance since 1999, they butt up against one of their main foes of the ’90s in the Pacers. For longtime business owners, the surge led by superstar guard Brunson is a welcome blast from the past.

“We definitely have a team that we can get behind,” Conrad said. “And they’re getting behind us too.”

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Boston Bruins Made The Right Call Giving GM Don Sweeney A New Deal

On Tuesday, Don Sweeney celebrated 10 years as GM of the Boston Bruins. And it was no coincidence that on that day, the Bruins announced a contract extension for Sweeney that will last through the 2027-28 season. 

Sweeney would’ve been entering a lame-duck campaign in 2025-26 – but while he’s far from a perfect GM, he has done enough to merit his new extension.

Only twice in his tenure as GM did Sweeney preside over a Bruins team that missed the playoffs – his first year running the team, and this current season. In between, Boston won seven playoff series, including a run to the Stanley Cup final in 2018-19, where the Bruins came within one win of a championship. 

Boston also won its division twice under Sweeney and finished second another three times. In 2022-23, they won the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s best regular-season team with a record-breaking 135 points and 65 wins. By many metrics, Sweeney has delivered solid results, and despite stumbling this season, it could prove to be only a blip on the radar for Boston.

Some may say Boston not winning the Cup makes Sweeney’s tenure an overall failure, but we’d beg to differ. Bruins fans have been treated to a lot of terrific hockey under his guidance, and Sweeney has shown the ability to make tough decisions and balance the short-term needs of his team with the long-term picture.

Don Sweeney (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

This past season was Sweeney’s worst as GM, as the Bruins plummeted to eighth place in the Atlantic Division. But despite the bottom falling out for Boston, Sweeney wasn’t foolish enough to make a push for the mushy-middle of the Eastern Conference standings. Instead, he dumped a slew of veterans overboard via trades, including sending captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers, defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs and center Charlie Coyle to the Colorado Avalanche. 

It would’ve been easy for Sweeney to hold onto those veterans, but he did the hard thing and sent them packing. Dealing Marchand and Carlo to Atlantic rivals also spoke to Sweeney’s fearlessness as an executive. 

The assets Sweeney picked up from those trades – prospect center Fraser Minten as part of the Carlo deal, a first-rounder from Florida as part of the Marchand deal and Casey Mittelstadt as part of the Coyle deal – all will help the Bruins in the long haul.

Another element of Sweeney’s many moves this season is the salary cap space he’s carved out that will help him retool on the fly. The Bruins have about $28.8 million in cap space this off-season with 11 of 23 roster spots filled to add some fresh faces after deciding what to do with their five RFAs and three UFAs. You could argue his cuts could’ve been deeper, but Sweeney still has veterans who likely have no stomach for a full-on rebuild. So you can expect Sweeney to be one of the more active GMs in trades and free agency this summer.

Sweeney also has to hire a coach this off-season, as Joe Sacco finished the season with the interim tag. But now that he has a contract extension of his own, Sweeney can move ahead with the confidence of Bruins ownership and set the stage for a bounce-back year.

The Atlantic will be even more competitive in 2025-26, so there’s no assurance Boston will get back into the playoff picture. But the Bruins will push the competitive envelope in 2025-26 and beyond, and having Sweeney guiding things almost assuredly will lead to better days.

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All the player and team options ahead for Sixers in 2025 offseason

All the player and team options ahead for Sixers in 2025 offseason   originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

While the NBA draft and the No. 3 pick has become the hot topic of the Sixers’ offseason, there’s also plenty of other items on the agenda. 

One of those is player and team options, which have a June 29 deadline. Below is an overview for the Sixers: 

Kelly Oubre Jr. — $8.4 million player option 

Jake Fischer and Marc Stein reported on May 11 that the Sixers’ “expectation” is all three of their veterans with player options will return. 

“I’m a Philadelphia 76er,” Oubre said at his exit interview. “I’m blessed to be a part of this organization. I’m here in front of you guys right now … taking it day by day. But also, this is a business. At the end of the day, I’m happy. And I feel like I like to finish what I start, and I don’t feel complete.” 

Oubre has averaged 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals over the past two seasons. He’s remained a subpar outside shooter — 29.3 percent from three-point range last year — but Sixers head coach Nick Nurse has liked his progress as a turnover-forcing defender, athletic wing rebounder and aggressive downhill driver. 

Andre Drummond — $5 million player option 

Drummond’s 2024-25 season was derailed by a left big toe injury. He missed 42 games and couldn’t successfully grit through the problem. 

“I’ll be fine,” Drummond said. “It’s just one of those freak things that requires rest. I can’t muscle through something like that. I’ve tried, but my body was rejecting it. It’s just something you have to sit down with and allow to heal, and I’ll be fine.”

Drummond enjoyed being a mentor for rookie big man Adem Bona, who he called a “sponge.” 

He certainly envisions the Sixers winning a lot more than 24 games next year. 

“There’s more work to do,” Drummond said. “There’s stuff that’s missing that I haven’t completed here yet, which is winning at the highest level. And I still feel that way now. I think we still have the pieces to win at the highest level and think I can be a big part of that, too. 

“So my plan is to come back. Obviously, whatever happens in the offseason, happens. But my immediate plan is to be back here.”

Eric Gordon — $3.5 million player option 

Gordon had a frigid shooting start but ultimately found his form and ended the year at 40.9 percent from three-point range. He underwent right wrist surgery in late February. 

“I haven’t thought that far,” Gordon said of his minimum-salary option. “My main focus is to rehab and just make sure I get fully healthy looking forward to next season.”

Justin Edwards — $2 million team option 

Edwards got his first extended minutes in the Sixers’ rotation on Jan. 4  His rookie year became one of the best parts of the Sixers’ generally bleak season. 

The undrafted wing posted 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. 

“We don’t want to be in this situation, but you find some hidden gems and he’s a great hidden gem,” Kyle Lowry said of Edwards on April 1. “He’s really good. He’s professional, he wants to get better, he’s passionate about the game. At the end of the day, he’s just going to continue to get better with this opportunity he’s been handed.”

Edwards is working on his jumper and his body this offseason. Whatever his contract looks like, it seems safe to assume that he’ll stay a Sixer. 

Jared Butler — $2.3 million team option

Over time, Butler grew more comfortable running the shorthanded Sixers’ offense and adapting to an ever-changing cast of teammates. He averaged 11.5 points and 4.9 assists in 28 appearance after being traded to the Sixers.

Not counting any potential draft picks, the Sixers would have four guards 25 years old or younger if they keep both Butler and restricted free agent Quentin Grimes. (Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain are the other two.) 

Lonnie Walker IV — $2.9 million team option 

Walker’s NBA return hit an unfortunate speed bump when he suffered a concussion on March 12. 

To his credit, Walker finished the year quite well. He posted 22.8 points per game over the Sixers’ last five contests and scored 31 on the season’s final day.

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Royals at Giants prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 21

Its Wednesday, May 21 and the Royals (27-23) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (29-20).

Daniel Lynch is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Logan Webb for San Francisco.

These teams have split the first two games of this series following last night's 3-2 win for the Giants. Mike Yastremski paced the offense with a couple of hits and Hayden Birdsong did not allow an earned run over five innings as San Francisco moved to nine games over .500 for the season.

Lets dive into this afternoon's 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 Royals at Giants

  • Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
  • Time: 3:45PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNKC, NBCSBA

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

Odds for the Royals at the Giants

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (+168), Giants (-200)
  • Spread:  Giants -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Giants

  • Pitching matchup for May 21, 2025: Daniel Lynch vs. Logan Webb
    • Royals: Daniel Lynch (3-0, 1.29 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/19 at San Francisco - 0.1IP, 1ER, 2H, 0BB, 0K
    • Giants: Logan Webb (5-3, 2.42 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/16 vs. Athletics - 8IP, 1ER, 5H, 2BB, 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 Royals at Giants

  • The Giants have won 12 of their 20 games against American League teams this season
  • The Royals' last 3 games against the Giants have stayed under the Total
  • The Royals have covered the Run Line in 7 straight road games
  • Bobby Witt Jr. is 2-16 (.125) over his last four games
  • Salvador Perez is 12-68 (.176) in May

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 Royals and the Giants

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Francisco Giants on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Francisco Giants at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

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)