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LeBron James on retirement: 'I don’t know the answer to that right now'

LOS ANGELES — When a player is coming off an All-NBA level season where he averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds a game, plus he has a player option to make $52.6 million next season, retirement usually is not a question on the table.

It's different for 40-year-old LeBron James after his 22nd NBA season. After the Lakers were eliminated in five games in the first round by a younger, more physical and deeper Minnesota team, he was asked his thoughts about coming back for a 23rd season.

"I don't know. I don't have an answer to that," James said. "Something I'll sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and just kind of talk through it and see what happens. Just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play.

"I don't know the answer to that right now, to be honest. So, we'll see."

The expectation in league circles is LeBron will return. He was energized this season, both playing with his son, Bronny, and after the Luka Doncic trade. He is still playing at a high level, and most importantly, this is a Lakers team that is just a few moves away from competing for a title (getting a rim-protecting center is at the top of the list). LeBron has been clear for years that his top priority is another championship for his resume, and this Lakers team should enter next season with legitimate title aspirations.

There is also an expectation that LeBron will opt out of his $52.6 million for next season — the second year of a two-year, $101.4 million contract signed last summer — to sign another two-year extension with the Lakers. He also has a no-trade clause (although it is unlikely to come into play).

"This is a business, too," LeBron added. "So you don't know what the roster will look like next year besides the guys that are locked into contracts. I mean, s***, I got a lot to think about myself. I don't know what the roster will look like. I don't know where I stand right now."

It's a lot for a player of LeBron's age to get his body ready to compete at this level and the point will come where he doesn't want to put in that much work anymore. Right now, LeBron appears willing to put in the work.

There will be roster changes, the Lakers are going to go hunting for a center who can protect the paint on defense and be a vertical floor spacer on offense (think of how Dereck Lively II fit next to Doncic in Dallas). LeBron wasn't going to publicly push for the Lakers to go get a big after being dismantled by Rudy Gobert in Game 5, and in doing so had the line of the night.

"No comment. I'll never say that," LeBron said of Los Angeles needing a center. "Because my guy AD said what he needed and then he was gone the following week, so I got no comment."

LeBron is going to take his time to think about this, but don't be surprised when he is back next season. Although, also don't be surprised if next season, his 23rd, is his farewell tour.

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Reds option Alexis Diaz to Triple-A

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds optioned struggling closer Alexis Diaz to Triple-A hoping he can regain the form that helped him earn 37 saves and an NL All-Star appearance in 2023.

“We decided to let him try to figure out, get right in Triple-A,” manager Terry Francona said. “The consistency just isn’t there. It’s difficult to hear that, I’m sure. We don’t want that to derail him either.”

Diaz has more home runs (four) and walks (five) allowed than strikeouts (three) in six innings pitched since coming off the injured list on April 15.

His earned run average ballooned to 12.00 after he gave up three consecutive home runs in the ninth inning of a 6-0 loss to the Cardinals in the first game of a doubleheader.

Diaz began the season on the 15-day IL with a left hamstring strain. He had 28 saves last season, but also walked 31 and allowed six homers in 56 1/3 innings.

“We told him, ‘Hey, we’re not giving up on you. Just want you to be more consistent,’” Francona said. “We need him to help us win.”

The Reds recalled hard-throwing rookie right-hander Luis Mey from Triple-A.

With Diaz on the IL, Emilio Pagán assumed the closer role. He’s tied for fourth in the NL with eight saves. His 11 perfect relief outings are the most for a Reds reliever through 15 appearances since John Franco in 1987.

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Springs' solid outing propels Athletics to series win over Rangers

Springs' solid outing propels Athletics to series win over Rangers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Spring finally has sprung for the Athletics.

Jeffery Springs pitched six innings of nearly flawless baseball, and the Athletics scored in the top of the first inning to beat the Texas Rangers on Thursday at Globe Life Field.

The veteran lefty had struggled with his control in his previous two outings, both blowout losses, but had his stuff working against the Rangers. Springs didn’t overwhelm the Texas lineup but kept them from getting on base for most of the game, allowing only two hits and one walk.

“He came out establishing his fastball, which was a conversation we’ve had over the last five days,” manager Mark Kotsay told reporters after the game. “He went out and pitched with that aggression, which is a good sign. Any time you challenge yourself… today was a challenge, and he stepped up.”

With the Athletics racing to the lead on a first-inning RBI single by Miguel Andújar, Springs had to protect the lead as he took the mound, and he did just that by forcing Texas into a 1-2-3 inning.

The 32-year-old struggled in the early innings in his previous two starts, giving up a combined nine runs.

Kotsay credited Springs’ change in mindset, which allowed him to brush off the previous two starts and focus on getting through the early innings without allowing any runs.

“Yes, his struggles have been in the first two innings, but after that he seemed to settle in and pitch pretty well,” Kotsay said. “But that was obviously after giving up runs. So, the goal was to get him out there and challenge him to get that zero. It’s not always easy when you have those struggles to maintain your confidence, and I wanted to make sure that [he knew] that we hadn’t lost confidence in him and give him that opportunity.”

The win bumped the Athletics to a 17-15 record, just two games back of the Seattle Mariners in the American League West. Springs’ solid outing is a blueprint for the team moving forward: timely hitting and lockdown pitching.

Now, the Athletics head to Miami to face the Marlins for a three-game set, looking to build on their positive momentum of winning their last three series.

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Knicks vs. Pistons Odds, predictions, recent stats, trends and Best bets for May 1

It’s Thursday, May 1, and the New York Knicks (51-31) and Detroit Pistons (44-38) are all set to square off from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Detroit stole Game 5 in New York, 106-103, now the Pistons will have to defend home court in order to extend the series to a Game 7 at MSG.

The Knicks are currently 24-17 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Pistons have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home.

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.

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Game details & how to watch Knicks vs. Pistons live today

  • Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
  • Time: 7:30 PM EST
  • Site: Little Caesars Arena
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: TNT / TruTV / Max

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 Knicks vs. Pistons

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Knicks (+113), Pistons (-134)
  • Spread:  Pistons -2
  • Over/Under: 213 points

That gives the Knicks an implied team point total of 106.03, and the Pistons 107.07.

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 Thursday’s Knicks vs. Pistons game

Rotoworld Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell @Vmoneysports likes the game Under and Brunson’s points prop:

"While I lean New York to win this game, this will be a dogfight. I think the Under will be the best between these two teams with Jalen Brunson showing out. Brunson is coming off his worst game of the playoffs with 16 points on 4-of-16 shooting. That was his only game under 30 points in the playoffs, so I will go Over 28.5 points for Brunson in a closeout game."

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 Knicks & Pistons 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 New York Knicks at +2.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 213.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from 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 Knicks vs. Pistons on Thursday

  • The Knicks have won 5 of their last 7 road games, while the Pistons have lost 5 in 6 at home
  • The Total went over in 52% of the Knicks' regular season games (43-39-0)
  • The Pistons are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite
  • The Knicks have won 4 of their last 5 at Eastern Conference teams

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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The Toronto Maple Leafs' Situation Vs. Senators Is Not Surprising

Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

The talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs has shifted greatly from their first three games against the Ottawa Senators to the last two.

The Maple Leafs were on the verge of sweeping the Senators after the first three games of their first-round playoff series. While the Senators probably deserved to win at least one of those first three games, the competitive pendulum swung the other way in Games 4 and 5. The Maple Leafs probably deserved to win one of those two games, only to lose both of them as Ottawa clawed its way back to respectability.

What we’ve wound up with is a series that is considerably closer than people who were talking about a sweep had figured on. The truth is, predicting the Maple Leafs would be in a Game 6 situation versus the Senators is not surprising.

If things played out slightly differently, and it was a straight-ahead back-and-forth, we-punch-you, you-punch-back situation from game to game, alarmist Leafs fans might not be as up in arms as they are at the moment.

“We expected it to be challenging,” Leafs blueliner Morgan Rielly told reporters on Wednesday. “No one expected it to be easy. So, again, we're up in a series, and we're in a position where we have a chance to regroup and refocus and go out there and play some good hockey.”

Indeed, we picked Toronto to win this series, but we picked the Buds to win in six games. It doesn’t make a difference exactly how we arrived at this moment – the truth is, the Senators were never going to roll over and be embarrassed en route to a sweep. Ottawa is a well-coached, dynamic and talented group, and so are the Maple Leafs. Nothing we’ve seen through five games has changed our mind in that regard.

“We’re up 3-2 in the series, so we’re fine,” Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev told reporters after Tuesday’s Game 5 loss. “We’re going to prepare for our game Thursday, and we’ll make the adjustments that we need to.”

We’re still confident the Maple Leafs can pull this one out with a Game 6 win in Ottawa, if not then, then in Game 7. The Leafs have already shown they can win at home and on the road, and they’ve been a resilient bunch throughout the regular season and thus far in the post-season.

Of course, we completely understand why Leafs fans would be swimming in anxiety right now. The history with this collection of talent does not lend itself to optimism at crossroads moments like these. Until Toronto proves it can close out opponents, there’s going to be significant doubt among Leafs Nation that it can do so.

But you know what? Sometimes teams do take that next step in their evolution. Sometimes teams can shake off the demons of the past. That’s where we see the Leafs right now. Beating the Sens is certainly not going to be easy. However, Toronto management and coaching have prepared Leafs players for this challenge.

These Maple Leafs Were Supposed To Be Different, But In Game 5, It Was More Of The SameThese Maple Leafs Were Supposed To Be Different, But In Game 5, It Was More Of The SameAnyone who has watched the Toronto Maple Leafs over the past decade has seen Game 5 of the Battle of Ontario so many times.

The Leafs know the ramifications that await them if they can’t get the job done. A complete collapse could trigger massive changes from top to bottom in the organization. That pressure may well choke them out, but it’s equally likely that it motivates them to prove their doubters wrong. And so, if Toronto wins in six or seven games, no one should be surprised. 

Sometimes the pundits do get things right, and the way things are shaping up in this emotional and rollercoaster series, the Leafs are in the position many of us thought they’d be in. That’s what makes this particular series so compelling. Toronto and Ottawa are worthy rivals for one another, and the rest of this showdown promises to be high drama.

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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Reliever Dedniel Núñez could be back in Mets bullpen 'shortly'

The Mets’ bullpen has been bitten by the injury bug of late, with A.J. Minter and Danny Young now officially on the 60-day IL.

As a result, the Mets have had to mix and match a bit in the pen, calling up and sending down optionable players to keep fresh arms available. On Thursday, the Mets called up Ty Adcock and Genesis Cabrera, optioning Chris Devenski and Brandon Waddell to Triple-A Syracuse.

To this point, however, the Mets have yet to call up right-hander Dedniel Núñez, who was one of the club’s better relievers in 2024 before a pronator strain and then a flexor injury ended his season.

That could be changing soon, though, according to Carlos Mendoza.

“He’ll continue to be in the conversation, but we want to make sure that when he does come up, we’re keeping him for a long time, for as long as possible,” the Mets skipper explained. “There could potentially be a couple of other moves in the next couple of days. But he's definitely in the conversation and I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing him shortly here."

Núñez, 28, came seemingly out of the nowhere to become one of the Mets’ high-leverage relievers in 2024, posting a 2.31 ERA with 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings during his 35.0 innings of work. But his season ended in earnest on July 23, as he landed on the IL with the pronator strain. He came back to pitch one game in late August, but that would be all for Núñez in 2024.

Though he came into spring training as a healthy player, according to the Mets, Núñez pitched in just two Grapefruit League games and ran out of time to get ramped up enough to make the Opening Day roster.

In nine games with Triple-A Syracuse, Núñez has pitched to a 4.00 ERA, allowing four earned runs in 9.0 innings.

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What will the Lakers roster look like following another first-round playoff exit?

Los Angeles, CA, Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) leaves the court after a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in game 5 of the first round of the NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Lakers guard Luka Doncic leaves the court after a season-ending loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

JJ Redick was about to coach his first game in the NBA, a step into a new life that he was sure he wanted for himself. He was no longer the hotshot Duke star, the aimless former lottery pick, the reliable NBA starter, the trusted vet or famous podcaster.

This was something different.

“You know, I think whatever I envisioned in my previous life, that's gone,” Redick said. “This is who I am now. I'm a coach.”

Read more:Plaschke: Lakers' season ends in humiliation … and hope

And as the Lakers coach, he wanted to make one thing more than any other clear. Results would be secondary. Development would be first. A shooter can’t control whether or not an open jumper goes in; they only can control the amount of work they’ve put into giving that shot the best possible chance to go in.

And after his first NBA win, Redick reinforced that idea.

“They’re bought into the fact that this is a process and we’re not going to compete for a championship right now,” Redick said opening night. “We have buy-in from our players, we have buy-in from our coaching staff. That’s all we want right now.”

The Lakers did buy in, even when the season came to a pause due to a historic natural disaster, even when the main characters changed due to a historic superstar swap. They witnessed history when their leader fulfilled a dream to play with his son, they reshaped their culture with one trade and pulled the emergency brake to get out of another. A homegrown star rose; the NBA’s all-time leading scorer moved one step closer to his last basket.

All through it, the big wins, the crushing losses, the high-end drama and the 48 minutes of mundane, the Lakers followed Redick's lead.

But they didn’t compete for a championship — not at this step in their process. Their season ended, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, 15 wins away from the championship they hoped to claim.

And, as soon as the mourning ends, the work erecting the bridge from one win to 16 of them can begin.

For the first time since the Lakers last ended their season as champions, the building process won’t be centered on LeBron James. They’ll have a summer to put the right pieces around a new focal point in Luka Doncic, the 26-year-old future of the franchise.

That search is expected to start in the middle, where the Lakers will look to add a center to pair with one of the NBA’s top passers. The Lakers already tipped their hand on this midseason when they followed up the Doncic deal by agreeing to trade a first-round pick and Dalton Knecht to Charlotte for Mark Williams.

But the Lakers didn’t pass Williams’ physical with the team, people with knowledge of the decision but not authorized to speak publicly pointing to knee and lower leg concerns as the reasons. Some people around the NBA simply wondered if the Lakers got cold feet. Others questioned the fit in the first place.

Regardless, the Lakers are expected to go on the hunt to upgrade the position, and again, will have their 2031 first-round pick and Knecht as the carrots to try and land one. A name like Brooklyn center Nicolas Claxton will certainly be linked to the Lakers.

Read more:LeBron James' future: What's next for the Lakers star?

Dorian Finney-Smith, about to be 32, has become a favorite in the locker room. He has a player option for $15.3 million and could be looking for his last significant long-term deal.

Doncic and the Lakers will likely have extension conversations with him being eligible for one in August. Austin Reaves is also eligible for an extension that could be worth up to $90 million over four years, but Reaves is expected to garner significant interest for much more money when he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

And there’s James, who can opt out of the last year of his contract to restructure his deal. And, obviously, at this stage of his career, retirement gets closer with every day, with only James knowing for sure where that road ends.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Rockies at Giants prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 1

Its Thursday, May 1 and the Rockies (5-25) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (19-12). Kyle Freeland is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Justin Verlander for San Francisco.

Last night, the Rockies beat the Braves 2-1, ending an eight game losing streak.

Chase Dollander picked up the win for the Rockies. He pitched 5.0 innings, and gave up just one run on two hits, while striking out four batters.

The Giants should be happy with a matchup against the struggling Rockies after coming from back-to-back losses to the Padres.

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 Rockies at Giants

  • Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
  • Time: 9:45PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: NBCS BA, Rockies.TV

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

Odds for the Rockies at the Giants

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Rockies (+195), Giants (-236)
  • Spread:  Giants -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Giants

  • Pitching matchup for May 1, 2025: Kyle Freeland vs. Justin Verlander
    • Rockies: Kyle Freeland, (0-4, 5.93 ERA)
      Last outing (Cincinnati Red, 4/25): 4.1 Innings Pitched, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 10 Hits Allowed, 6 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Giants: Justin Verlander, (0-2, 4.70 ERA)
      Last outing (Texas Rangers, 4/25): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 5 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 Rockies at Giants

  • The Giants have won 8 of their last 10 games against teams with losing records
  • The Over is 4-0-1 in the Giants' last 5 divisional matchups
  • It has been 6 games since the Giants last covered the Run Line

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 Rockies and the Giants

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 Thursday's game between the Rockies 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 Colorado Rockies 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)

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Giants place Fitzgerald on IL with rib fracture, recall Wisely

Giants place Fitzgerald on IL with rib fracture, recall Wisely originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants received unfortunate injury news just before attempting a much-needed series win against the Colorado Rockies.

Tyler Fitzgerald was placed on the 10-day IL with a left rib fracture, the team announced Thursday afternoon. Brett Wisely was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.

Fitzgerald missed the final two of three games against the Texas Rangers last weekend as he dealt with a chest contusion. He returned to the lineup in San Francisco’s previous two games against the Padres on Tuesday and Wednesday, in which the Giants got swept in San Diego.

The 27-year-old went 1-for-5 in the two-game set against the Padres, but he is slashing .284/.341/.432 with two home runs and seven RBI through 25 games this season.

In 27 games with the River Cats this season, Wisely is batting .235 with a .756 OPS and five home runs.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Athletics at Rangers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 1

It's Thursday, May 1 and the Athletics (16-15) are in Arlington to take on the Rangers (16-15). Jeffrey Springs is slated to take the mound for the A's against Tyler Mahle for Texas.

The Athletics won 7-1 yesterday to take a 2-1 series lead with a chance to win the series today. This series has seen a little bit of everything with scores of 2-1, 15-2, and 7-1.

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 Athletics at Rangers

  • Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
  • Time: 2:35 PM EST
  • Site: Globe Life Field
  • City: Arlington, TX
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSCA, RSN

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 Athletics at the Rangers

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Athletics (+134), Rangers (-159)
  • Spread:  Rangers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Athletics at Rangers

  • Pitching matchup for May 1, 2025: Jeffrey Springs vs. Tyler Mahle
    • Athletics: Jeffrey Springs, (3-3, 6.04 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Rangers: Tyler Mahle, (3-0, 1.14 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 1 Strikeout

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 Athletics and the Rangers

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Athletics ML:

"The A's have a chance to win the series today and are decent underdogs of +130 or better at most places. Springs is coming off his worst start, and with a chance for the Rangers to split the series, most of the money and handle will come in on Texas.

The Rangers have lost Mahle's last two starts and scored two total runs in those games. Mahle himself had five strikeouts, four walks, and 10 hits allowed (two earned runs). The A's are pesky and could win the series, so I'd take the plus-money dog or the +1.5."

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 Thursday’s game between the Athletics and the Rangers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Texas Rangers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Oakland Athletics 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 Athletics at Rangers

  • The Athletics have lost eight of their 15 games following a win this season
  • The total runs line has ticked over in just one of the Rangers' last five matches in MLB
  • The Rangers have covered the run line in four of their last five games, showing a profit of 1.64 units

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Maybe The Rangers Have A Big Surprise UpTheir Coaching Sleeve: Jon Cooper

Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

It's not a sin to change your mind. 

What if Jon Cooper decides that he's done all he can do in Tampa Bay and would like to exit the last year of his pact?

Nothing is impossible. 

Successful NHL Coaches The Rangers Should StudySuccessful NHL Coaches The Rangers Should StudyThe most successful coaches in the NHL right now are do not belong to the Rangers

And what if Coop – arguably the best NHL coach of the past decade – decides that he'd love the Rangers challenge. 

Well, that tells The Maven that two and two make Cooper.

That, however, is pure conjecture. But – as of this minute – the Rangers still have not announced that Mike Sullivan or any other Sullivan has replaced Pistol Pete Laviolette.

A guy can change his mind, right?

That especially goes for Rangers owner Jim Dolan and his second in Blueshirt command, Chris Drury.

Sure, it's possible. that they've decided that – perhaps – Sullivan ISN'T the best choice to coach their hockey club. Could happen. Right?

Maybe – just maybe – Sully looked at all the coach-job openings and decided to

chuck the crazy Rangers scene and go somewhere more sane. Boston maybe?

And, let's say for the sake of argument that it does happen -- or even happened already. That Sully decided to avoid Manhattan mania.Then what?

The Maven will tell you what: That would mean that there are several non-Sullivan possibilities.

Try these NHL assistants on for size: Dean Chynoweth in Winnipeg or Dominique Duchare in Vegas.

My "Special Advisor On Coach Hirings," Jess Rubenste adds these worthies:

Marco Sturm, Head Coach of the AHL Ontario Reign; David Carle at  Denver U; Jay Pandolfo at Boston U and Pat Ferschweller who directed the Western Michigan sextet to the NCAA title. 

All have excellent credentials, but none can beat Jon Cooper.

Can you just imagine his name on the Blueshirts directory: JON COOPER, HEAD COACH, RANGERS.

As we used to say in Al & Shirley's candy store in Brooklyn, "They should be so lucky!"

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Man who fell over railing at PNC Park is in critical condition. Police say it was an accident

Pittsburgh Pirates

Apr 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Stadium security and Pittsburgh Pirates medical personnel cart a fan who fell from the stands to the field to an ambulance as the Pirates batted against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inningat PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Charles LeClaire/Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A man who fell from the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall in right field at PNC Park during Wednesday night’s game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs remained in critical condition on Thursday morning.

Pittsburgh Public Safety, which includes Pittsburgh Police and EMS, posted on X Thursday that the “incident is being treated as accidental in nature.”

The man who fell was identified Thursday as Kavan Markwood, according to information supplied by the Southern Alleghany School District. District Workforce Development Coordinator Laura Thomson said in a statement that the district is keeping the “former student and standout athlete” in its thoughts and prayers. She identified Markwood was a 2022 graduate who “made a lasting impact” on the district community as an athlete and a “man of character,” and said he was MVP of the football team during his senior year.

Thomson’s statement said Markwood “is best known for his resilience, strength and kindness. He is a friend to all — someone who lifts others up and faces challenges with courage and grace.”

Markwood fell onto the warning track in right field just as Pirates star Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run double in the seventh inning to put Pittsburgh ahead 4-3. Players began waving frantically for medical personnel and pointing to the man.

Markwood was tended to for approximately five minutes by members of both the Pirates and Cubs training staffs as well as PNC personnel, before being removed from the field on a cart. He was taken to the trauma center at Allegheny General Hospital, where he remained on Thursday.

Pittsburgh owner Bob Nutting said the club was “deeply saddened” and “truly heartbroken” over what he called a “terrible accident.”

“In times like these, we must come together, support one another, and keep him and his loved ones in our prayers,” Nutting said in a statement. “We also want to thank and appreciate the efforts of the first responders who rushed to his attention and provided him with compassionate care.”

The railing that runs along the Clemente Wall in right field is three feet (36 inches) in height, which exceeds the building code requirements of 26 inches, according to Pirates vice president of communications Brian Warecki.

Fans were sitting in the front row above the Clemente Wall on Thursday ahead of the series finale between the two teams.

McCutchen, a five-time All-Star and franchise icon, said Thursday that the team was “devastated,” adding that they prayed together after the game. Asked to describe his viewpoint of the sequence, McCutchen declined, saying he is trying not to think about it and is more focused on the man’s health.

“We’re just hoping for the best for him,” he said. “I hope he pulls through because he’s the reason why we are here. He’s the reason why we play the game. People that show their support so we can do something we love, partly because of him and because of fans. So, I just pray that he’s all right.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton and Cubs manager Craig Counsell both alerted the umpire crew of the situation immediately after the play.

“Even though it’s 350 feet away or whatever it is, I mean the fact of how it went down and then laying motionless while the play is going on, I mean Craig saw it, I saw it. We both got out there,” Shelton said. “I think the umpires saw it because of the way it kicked. It’s extremely unfortunate. That’s an understatement.”

Players from both teams could be seen praying and McCutchen held a cross that hung from his neck while Markwood was taken off the field.

The game was paused for several minutes while he received medical attention but there was no official stoppage in play.

Police said any medical update on the fan will be provided by medical personnel in conjunction with the man’s family.

Fans have died from steep falls at baseball stadiums in the past.

In 2015, Atlanta Braves season ticket holder Gregory K. Murrey flipped over guard rails from the upper deck at Turner Field. That was four years after Shannon Stone, a firefighter attending a game with his 6-year-old son, fell about 20 feet after reaching out for a foul ball tossed into the stands at the Texas Rangers’ former stadium.

Both incidents prompted scrutiny over the height of guard rails at stadiums. The Rangers raised theirs, while the Braves settled a lawsuit with Murrey’s family.

A spectator at a 2022 NFL game at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium died following a fall on an escalator.

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Nationals at Phillies Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 1

It's Thursday, May 1 and the Nationals (13-18) are in Philadelphia to take on the Phillies (17-13). Brad Lord is slated to take the mound for Washington against Taijuan Walker for Philadelphia.

Philadelphia extended its winning streak to four games after beating Washington, 7-2. Kyle Schwarber kicked off the first inning with a three-run homer that set the stage for how the game was to go. The Phillies are now 4-1 against Washington this season and can earn its second sweep of the earlier year (swept Colorado).

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 Nationals at Phillies

  • Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
  • Time: 6:45 PM EST
  • Site: Citizens Bank Park
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: MASN, NBCSP, 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 Nationals at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Nationals (+141), Phillies (-168)
  • Spread:  Phillies -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for the Nationals at Phillies

  • Pitching matchup for May 1, 2025: Brad Lord vs. Taijuan Walker
    • Nationals: Brad Lord, (0-3, 4.67 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Phillies: Taijuan Walker, (1-2, 2.78 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Nationals and the Phillies

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the value on the Nationals ML:

"The Phillies are going for the sweep, which means most of the money and handle will be pn Philadelphia ML and -1.5 today. While they are the better team, Walker hasn't been the best on the mound and yesterday's early 3-0 lead didn't do favors for the Nationals' motivation. Avoiding the sweep will be enough today, so I'd have to lean toward Washington +1.5 and the ML."

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 Thursday’s game between the Nationals and the Phillies:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies 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 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

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

  • The Phillies have won 12 of their last 15 home games against the Nationals
  • In his last 5 starts on the mound, the Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker has an ERA of 5.00
  • The Phillies have won four straight games
  • The Phillies have covered the run line in four straight

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)