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Mets Prospect Roundup: Nolan McLean battles through five innings, Ronny Mauricio drives in a run

The Mets have a deep roster of pitching prospects in their system, including Nolan McLean.

McLean, 23, had a successful Triple-A debut last week and was on the bump again for the Syracuse Mets on Thursday night, but it was a different story this time.

In his first Triple-A start, McLean pitched seven scoreless innings, but he could only get through five against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In those five innings, McLean allowed four runs on five hits while striking out four. The biggest issue for McLean on Thursday was his command. He walked six batters and allowed two home runs. The first came in the third on an 82 mph curveball that had too much plate, and the second came in the fourth on a 75 mph curveball that was down and in on left-handed Justin Crawford, the Phillies' No. 3 prospect and son of former major league player Carl Crawford.

McLean retired the final four batters he faced, so there's something to build upon for his next start with Syracuse.

The right-hander took the loss as the IronPigs defeated the Syracuse Mets, 7-3.

Offensively, Syracuse picked up eight hits and Drew Gilbert was in the mix on Thursday. The outfielder went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. The 24-year-old is now slashing .244/.384/.372 with an .848 OPS this season. He also has four home runs and six doubles across Low-A and Triple-A this season.

Jett, Ronny drive in runs for Double-A

Down with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Jett Williams had another solid day at the plate. The shortstop went 1-for-3 with walk and an RBI double to help Binghamton win 5-3 over the Hartford Yard Goats.

After Thursday's performance, Williams is now slashing .280/.374/.490 with an .864 OPS in 29 games with Binghamton. He's also smashed three homers, eight doubles and stolen seven bases in nine tries.

Ronny Mauricio continued his rehab with Double-A on Thursday, playing seven innings at third base while going 1-for-4 with an RBI double. The double came in the eighth on a pitch running up and away from him that the infielder hit over the center fielder's head. Mauricio's double was his second hit (both doubles) with Binghamton in four games since being transferred from St. Lucie.

Ryan Clifford did not have that same success at the plate. Playing as the DH, Clifford went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

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Nationals at Orioles Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 16

This weekend, the Washington Nationals (18-27) travel up I-95 to Baltimore to take on the Orioles (15-27).

MacKenzie Gore is slated to take the mound for Washington against Kyle Gibson for Baltimore.

Both sides limp into this series. The Nationals lost to the Braves on Thursday afternoon, 5-2. It was their sixth loss in their last seven games. C.J. Abrams had two hits Thursday. The Orioles lost three straight earlier in the week to Minnesota and have now lost four of their last five. Chris Paddack threw seven innings of three-hit, shutout ball to earn his second win of the season for the Twins. Ryan O'Hearn collected a couple of hits for the O's in the defeat.

Lets dive into Friday'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 Nationals at Orioles

  • Date: Friday, May 16, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
  • City: Baltimore, MD
  • Network/Streaming: MASN2, 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 Nationals at the Orioles

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Nationals (-110), Orioles (-109)
  • Spread:  Nationals -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Orioles

  • Pitching matchup for May 16, 2025: MacKenzie Gore vs. Kyle Gibson
    • Nationals: MacKenzie Gore (2-4, 3.59 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/11 vs. St. Louis - 6.2IP, 4ER, 5H, 3BB, 7Ks
    • Orioles: Kyle Gibson (0-2, 13.11 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/10 at Angels - 4IP, 5ER, 7H, 3BB, 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 Nationals at Orioles

  • The Nationals have lost 8 of their last 10 games
  • In his last 5 home starts Kyle Gibson has an ERA of 8.00
  • Jackson Holliday is 5-28 (.179) over his last 7 games
  • Josh Bell has hit is 4 straight games (4-15)

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 Friday’s game between the Nationals and the Orioles

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 Friday's game between the Nationals and the Orioles:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Baltimore Orioles 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 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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White Sox at Cubs prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 16

Friday, the Cubs (25-19) open up a weekend series at Wrigley Field against their crosstown rivals, the White Sox (14-30).

Shane Smith is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Cade Horton for Chicago.

The White Sox were stymied in their efforts to win their third in a row yesterday as they were smacked by the Reds, 7-1. The Sox managed just four hits off Nick Martinez and a couple of Reds' relievers. Miguel Vargas had two of the four hits for Chicago.

The Cubs were off Thursday. They are 12-10 at home this season. Chicago is in first place in the NL Central but are just 4-6 in their last ten games. Nico Hoerner leads the team with a .274 batting average.

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 White Sox at Cubs

  • Date: Friday, May 16, 2025
  • Time: 2:20PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: CHSN, MARQ, 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 White Sox at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: White Sox (+186), Cubs (-225)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 12.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for White Sox at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for May 16, 2025: Shane Smith vs. Cade Horton
    • White Sox: Shane Smith (1-2, 2.08 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/10 vs. Miami - 6IP, 0ER, 4H, 0BB, 7Ks
    • Cubs: Cade Horton (1-0, 6.75 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/10 at Mets - 4IP, 3ER, 4H, 0BB, 5Ks

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 White Sox at Cubs

  • The Cubs have won 3 in a row at Wrigley against the Sox
  • The Cubs are just 10-12 on the Run Line at Wrigley this season
  • Game Totals in White Sox games are 8-2 to the UNDER in their last 10 games
  • Kyle Tucker is 11-49 (.224) 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 Friday’s game between the White Sox 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 Friday's game between the White Sox 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 Chicago White Sox at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 12.0.

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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Mets at Yankees prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 16

Juan Soto returns to the Bronx this weekend for the first time since signing with the Mets in the offseason as the Yankees (25-18) and the Mets (28-16) square off in a three-game series.

Tylor Megill is slated to take the mound Friday for the Mets against Carlos RodĂłn for the Yankees.

Although his numbers do not scream greatness, Soto's production but also his mere presence in the Mets' lineup has propelled them to the top of the National League East. No doubt the Yankees would welcome him back into their clubhouse with open arms, but their play has also been stellar to this point in the season as they too stand atop their division.

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 Mets at Yankees

  • Date: Friday, May 16, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: Yankee Stadium
  • City: Bronx, NY
  • Network/Streaming: WPIX, YES

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 Yankees

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Mets (+116), Yankees (-134)
  • Spread:  Yankees -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mets at Yankees

  • Pitching matchup for May 16, 2025: Tylor Megill vs. Carlos RodĂłn
    • Mets: Tylor Megill (3-3, 3.10 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/10 vs. Chicago - 4.2IP, 4ER, 7H, 2BB, 7Ks
    • Yankees: Carlos RodĂłn (4-3, 3.29 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/10 at Athletics - 6IP, 4ER, 8H, 0BB, 10Ks

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

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

  • The Yankees have won 9 of their 15 games against NL teams this season
  • Carlos Rodon has an ERA of 3.32 and a WHIP of 1.07 this season
  • The Yankees have failed to cover the Run Line in 4 straight games against the Mets
  • Aaron Judge has hit in six straight games (12-25) with 3 HRs and 7 RBIs
  • Paul Goldschmidt is 14-44 (.318) in May
  • Francisco Lindor was held without a hit in his last 2 games against the Pirates after going 15-23 in the his previous 5 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 Friday’s game between the Mets 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 Friday's game between the Mets 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 New York Mets at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards 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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Who Is A Reasonable Target For Buffalo In Free Agency This Summer?

Patrick Kane (Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Images)

The Buffalo Sabres are heading into the off-season knowing they have some money to spend on free agents -- not as much money as some teams, but right now, they have approximately $21.4 million in salary cap space to use.

Some of that cap space will go to RFA defenseman Bowen Byram, but even with a healthy raise for Byram and Buffalo's other free agents, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams can acquire a veteran or two to help his team's playoff chances next season. But the big question is, who do they spend it on?

Now, please don't answer "Mitch Marner" for that question. Even if Marner does leave Toronto -- and we're now of the opinion that he is going to leave the Maple Leafs -- it's highly-unlikely he'll choose the Sabres as his next home. When you don't make the Stanley Cup playoffs for nearly a decade-and-a-half, you fall down the wish list of most high-end free agents.

So, the question then is, "who is a reasonable target for Buffalo this off-season?" And there are many options for the Sabres to try and lure with a lucrative contract offer.

For instance, would Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato be a fit? He's had a terrific season, with 31 goals and 62 points for the Hawks. And he's earned just $2 million this season, so Buffalo would have to pay him considerably more. But what about Ottawa Senators center Claude Giroux make sense? He's a relative greybeard at 37 years old, but for the right amount of money, he might be convinced to leave the Sens for the Sabres.

As well, there's Carolina Hurricanes center Jack Roslovic to consider; he's just 28 years old, but he's had a solid year and would get a significant raise on his current $2.8-million salary. Finally, perhaps native Western New Yorker Patrick Kane could be persuaded to come home for the remainder of his NHL career; he's making $4-million this season with the Detroit Red Wings, so he may be a less-costly alternative.

Sabres Will Be Looking For Hockey Deal In Potential Byram Trade Sabres Will Be Looking For Hockey Deal In Potential Byram Trade There are no certainties when it comes to the Buffalo Sabres this summer, and the speculation regarding defenseman Bowen Byram may simply result in a short-term bridge deal and the 23-year-old walking to unrestricted free agency in 2027, but if that chatter regarding the Sabres potentially trading him is true, the question before GM Kevyn Adams is what do you get back for him.

We could go up and down the list of UFAs, but check for yourself, and feel free to suggest other free agent targets for Buffalo this summer in the comments section below. Some player or another has to take the Sabres' money, but the challenge for Adams is to sell the organization to NHLers, whether they're up-and-comers, players nearing the end of their playing days, or someone in-between.

In any case, it will be fascinating to see what Buffalo can do with their cap space, because the way they spend it could be the difference between ending or extending their playoff drought.

Sabres Summer Dilemmas - Bowen ByramSabres Summer Dilemmas - Bowen ByramThe Buffalo Sabres have a number of roster dilemmas to address this summer, and the players whose contracts are up pose the biggest problem for GM Kevyn Adams. Defenseman Bowen Byram, who scored a career-high 38 points playing a good chunk of the season with Rasmus Dahlin, is someone with the talent to be a #1 defenseman, but may see his path to that role blocked by Dahlin and Owen Power. 
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Aspinall wins night 15 while Littler secures top seeding for Premier League playoffs

  • Aspinall beats Dobey 6-1 in final to boost playoff chances
  • Littler’s win against Humphries enough for No 1 seeding

Nathan Aspinall beat Chris Dobey 6-1 to take victory on night 15 of the Premier League in Aberdeen and close in on the playoffs, while Gerwyn Price earlier hit a nine-dart finish and Luke Littler made sure of top spot at the O2.

Aspinall – who coasted past Stephen Bunting 6-1 in the semi-finals – built on a couple of early breaks over Dobey to establish a solid lead. After Dobey, who knocked Littler out to reach the final, lost his throw again in the sixth leg, he then missed two more darts at a double in the next as Aspinall came back to land double 10.

Continue reading...
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Premier League and FA Cup final: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Goodbyes to Goodison and Vardy, Palace and City brace for Wembley and the return of Kai Havertz

Aston Villa could not conceal their anger after their game at home to Tottenham was brought forward 48 hours. Villa’s director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, said shifting the game from Sunday to Friday was “clear prejudice” against the club and Villa objected to Spurs’s request for it to be moved to aid their preparations for Wednesday’s Europa League final. Villa were also privately perplexed at Bournemouth’s game with Manchester City being rearranged for Tuesday, after Saturday’s FA Cup final, which is guaranteed to have implications on whether eighth place qualifies for the Europa Conference League. The flipside to all of this is Villa can get on the front foot, kicking off 45 minutes before Chelsea entertain Manchester United and two days before Nottingham Forest head to West Ham and Arsenal host Newcastle. Victory for Villa could hoist them as high as fourth before a final-day trip to Old Trafford and, psychologically, that could prove a knockout blow. Ben Fisher

Aston Villa v Tottenham, Premier League, Friday 7.30pm (all times BST)

Chelsea v Manchester United, Premier League, Friday 8.15pm

Crystal Palace v Manchester City, FA Cup final, Saturday 4.30pm

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Alexander Nikishin To Make NHL Debut

Image

Highly touted prospect Alexander Nikishin is set to make his NHL debut tonight for the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 against the Washington Capitals.

Defenseman Jalen Chatfield will miss tonight's game due to a lower-body injury.

Nikishin, 23, had long been considered one of the best prospects outside of the NHL, setting records and dominating the KHL.

The defenseman will have the chance to prove himself in a high-pressure situation as the Canes look to close out their second-round series in Washington.

The 2020 third-round pick is a towering figure and has all the tools to be successful.

Being paired alongside Dmitry Orlov should also help given the language barrier.

Let's see what the rookie's got.

Be sure to check out the Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Hub for all postseason stories!  

Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

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Trending: Yegor Afanasyev Expected To Sign With Sharks For 2025-26 Season

© Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

As the postseason moves along, it seems as though the San Jose Sharks are focusing on getting some of their own things done this offseason as they look to improve on what was a rough 2024-25 campaign. In a recent report, it seems as though they will be signing Yegor Afanasyev for the 2025-26 season.

Afanasyev, who is 24 years old, was acquired from the Nashville Predators in June of 2024, but signed in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) after becoming a restricted free agent (RFA). This season with CSKA Moskva, he scored seven goals and added 14 assists for 21 points through 53 games. 

Afanasyev was drafted in the second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Predators at 45th overall after a strong showing in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, where he had 62 points in 58 games.

For the 2019-20 season, he joined the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he scored 31 goals and added 36 assists for 67 points through 62 games. He made the jump to the professional level in the 2021-22 season.

Through 19 games in the NHL over two seasons, he has one goal. Through 187 games in the American Hockey League (AHL), he scored 52 goals and added 61 assists for 113 points, which comes out to a 0.60 points-per-game average. 

There aren't any details on what a contract looks like for next season, but if the report is accurate, details should come out on his new contract soon.

Sharks Prospect Kasper Halttunen Dominating OHL PlayoffsSharks Prospect Kasper Halttunen Dominating OHL PlayoffsSan Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen has been on fire during the OHL playoffs with the London Knights. Sharks' Defense Prospect Breaks Another London Knights Record Sharks' Defense Prospect Breaks Another London Knights Record San Jose Sharks defenseman Sam Dickinson continues to break records in the OHL. Sharks & Shakir Mukhamadullin Reportedly Close To Contract Extension AgreementSharks & Shakir Mukhamadullin Reportedly Close To Contract Extension AgreementWith the 2024-25 season gone and the San Jose Sharks having shifted their focus onto the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and the 2025-26 campaign, it sounds like they are closing in on a new contract with one of their pending free-agent defenders. Sharks Prospect Carson Wetsch Flipped In Blockbuster WHL TradeSharks Prospect Carson Wetsch Flipped In Blockbuster WHL TradeThe 2025 WHL Prospects Draft has now come and gone, and while there weren't many surprises or much news to report from those couple of days, there was one massive trade that caught some attention.
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Is Ace Bailey 'most likely to bust' among the top-5 picks in the NBA Draft? | The Kevin O'Connor Show

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

The Philadelphia 76ers own the No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft after lottery luck, but what to do with it has already sparked a heated debate among the fan base. The name at the center of it? Ace Bailey, the 6-foot-9 athletic marvel with tantalizing upside but uneven production at Rutgers.

Kevin O’Connor didn’t mince words on the latest episode of "The Kevin O'Connor Show" with ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony, suggesting Bailey is “most likely to bust of the top five guys.” But Givony shot down the skepticism. “Absolutely not. I love Ace Bailey,” Givony said, even after acknowledging valid questions about Bailey’s track record. Givony stressed Bailey’s maturity, competitiveness and game-changing potential: “He’s 18 years old, doesn’t turn 19 until August. … I firmly believe Ace Bailey is going to be a star in the NBA.”

Bailey’s case feels eerily similar to past draft debates — upside versus college-winner credentials. Detractors say, “He couldn’t help Rutgers win, how is he going to help win games in the NBA?” But Givony has spent time at Rutgers, at Team USA camps and describes a player and person who checks all the right boxes for long-term success.

The Sixers’ current options at No. 3 aren’t jaw-dropping, as both host and guest agree. “VJ Edgecombe? How does that make sense with [Tyrese] Maxey and [Jared] McCain?” asks Givony. For a team that’s always looking for the next Joel Embiid running mate, Givony urges Bailey: “I’m 100% drafting him third.”

To hear the full discussion, tune into "The Kevin O'Connor Show" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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Watch Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani strike out against Athletics position player

Watch Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani strike out against Athletics position player originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Athletics didn’t have much to smile about in their 19-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night in Los Angeles.

But Athletics catcher Jhonny Pereda gave his teammates something to be excited about in the bottom of the eighth.

Called on to pitch for the third time this season, Pereda amazingly struck out Dodgers megastar Shohei Ohtani on an 89 mph fastball.

Pereda allowed four hits, three earned runs and one walk in one inning pitched, but the strikeout of Ohtani outweighs all of that.

“I know it’s something he’ll remember for the rest of his career, for sure,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told reporters after the game.

Long before Pereda struck out the reigning NL MVP, the Athletics jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a Shea Langeliers RBI double in the first inning.

But the Dodgers pummeled Athletics starter Osvaldo Bido and reliever Jason Alexander, tagging the duo for 15 earned runs in the first four innings.

While Ohtani struck out in his final at-bat, he stole the show earlier in the game, crushing two homers and driving in six runs on his bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium.

Ohtani and the Dodgers won the war, but Pereda won the battle, and the Athletics catcher never will forget the moment.

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Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. gets first hit in Double-A debut

Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. made his Double-A debut on Thursday evening and had a successful start with Somerset.

The No. 44 overall prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, went 1-for-2 with two walks against the Portland Sea Dogs. The lone hit came in his first at-bat in the bottom of the first. Leading off for the Somerset Patriots, Lombard Jr. took a 1-1 in the middle of the plate and slapped it into right field. The 19-year-old hit the ball at 103 mph off the bat.

Lombard Jr. was promoted last week after demolishing High-A pitching earlier this season. In 24 games in that level, Lombard Jr. slashed .329/.495/.488 with a .983 OPS with one home run, eight doubles and one triple. He also stole 11 bases in 13 tries.

He played one game at third base in High-A with the bulk of his starts at shortstop. That's where he played in his Double-A debut on Thursday, just in case Yankees fans are hoping a promotion to the big leagues to play third was an option this season.

Lombard Jr. was drafted in the first round (No. 26 overall) in the 2023 draft and the Yankees have high hopes for the young infielder. After playing in just nine spring training games last year, Lombard Jr. got to see the field in 14 this season. In that time, he went 6-for-26 (.231) while smashing two home runs and stealing one base in two tries.

"Great head on his shoulders; loves the game, great work ethic, smart heady player," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said when Lombard Jr was promoted to Double-A. "Over the two years, you've seen him slowly turning into a man and [a] big physical presence.

''The ease with which he can make plays and moves in the field, he's starting to impact the ball more, doing a good job so far of controlling the strike zone -- George is someone we're super excited about. ... He certainly earned that next step up to Somerset. I'm excited for him and the start he's off to. He's got special makeup."

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Eichel, Vegas Eliminated By Edmonton In Five Games

Former Sabres team captain Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in five games. 

Two years ago, former Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights eliminated the Edmonton Oilers in the second round on their way to their first Stanley Cup championship, but history did not repeat itself in the second-round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the Oilers turned the tables on Vegas and eliminated them in five games with a 1-0 overtime victory in Game 5.

Kasperi Kapanen scored at 7:19 of the extra frame to give Edmonton the win and advance them to their second straight Western Conference Final to face the winner of the Winnipeg-Dallas series, in which the Stars lead 3-1.  Eichel led the Golden Knights in scoring with 10 points (1 goal, 9 assists) in 11 games, while ex-Sabre Victor Olofsson finished his first post-season appearance with four points (2 goals, 2 assists), and Brayden McNabb had four assists in 11 games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?

Sabres Summer Dilemmas - Bowen Byram

Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of Change

How other Sabres did in the playoffs on Wednesday:

Evander Kane (EDM) 17:22 TOI, 3 SOG, 7 Hits

Jeff Skinner(EDM) Did Not Play

Florida - 6, Buffalo - 1, Panthers lead 3-2

Sam Reinhart(FLA) 2A,+2, 17:27 TOI, 6 SOG

Evan Rodrigues(FLA) Did Not Play

Dmitri Kulikov(FLA) 1G, +2, 17:57 TOI, 2 SOG, 2 Hits

Jake McCabe(TOR) -1, 19:00 TOI, 1 SOG, 1 Hits

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