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Chicago Bulls fantasy basketball season recap: Josh Giddey takes center stage as next franchise PG

While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams.

In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June.

Today, we’ll take a look at a team that had a disappointing finish but has plenty of reasons for optimism moving forward.

NBA: Playoffs-Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies
2024-2025 NBA Team Season Recap Hub
The Rotoworld Basketball crew breaks down each team’s season and an early look at what to expect from a fantasy perspective going into the 2025-2026 campaign.

Chicago Bulls 2024-2025 Season Recap

Record: 39-43 (10th, East)

Offensive Rating: 113.2 (20th)

Defensive Rating: 114.8 (19th)

Net Rating: -1.6 (20th)

Pace: 100.08 (13th)

2025 NBA Draft Picks: 1.7 percent chance of winning the lottery; 45th pick

Another season, another Play-In appearance and another disappointing finish. Chicago finished with a sub-.500 record and missed the playoffs for the third straight season.

Over the last 10 years, mediocrity has become the norm in the Windy City, as the Bulls have made two playoff appearances and failed to get out of the first round in that span.

Chicago moved on from DeMar DeRozan in the offseason, and the team traded Zach LaVine at the deadline to speed up the eventual teardown that will come once Nikola Vucevic is finally traded.

Wins won’t be plentiful in Chi-Town next season, but there are a few players on the roster who could become franchise cornerstones and pack a punch as fantasy basketball options for years to come.

Let’s recap last season’s fantasy performances and look ahead to 2025-26.

Fantasy Standout: Nikola Vucevic

The 34-year-old Vucevic continues to defy Father Time with slow and steady production. In his 14th season, Vooch averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.8 triples as he finished 18th in per-game fantasy hoops value. He set new career-best marks with 53% shooting from the floor and 40.2% shooting from beyond the arc.

Vooch finished with at least 17 points, 10 boards and three dimes for the seventh straight season, and he’s appeared in at least 70 games in five straight. Over the last seven years, the veteran big man has been a top-20 player in total value six times and a top-5 player three times.

In 2024-25, Vucevic posted 46 double-doubles, and he dropped 40 points on the Hornets on January 17 - his most in a single game in two years.

Vucevic is a solid scorer, shooter, rebounder and passer who has proven to be durable throughout his career. He’s not flashy or exciting, but you know what you’re going to get, and that consistency makes him a worthwhile mid-range center option in 2025-26 fantasy drafts.

Fantasy Revelation: Josh Giddey

After a disappointing 2023-24 season in OKC, Giddey was traded to the Bulls for Alex Caruso in a one-for-one swap. Caruso played a solid bench role for the Thunder this season, but he was far less impactful for his team than Giddey was for his.

In his first campaign with the Bulls, Giddey turned in 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.5 triples. He shot 46.5% from the field, 78.1% from the free throw line and 37.8% from beyond the arc. In addition to hitting more triples, Giddey was aggressive getting to the basket, attempting 3.2 free throws a game.

The rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, three-pointers, free throw attempts and three-point percentage were all career-best marks for Giddey, who had a phenomenal inaugural season with his new team.

The young point forward set new career highs with 30 double-doubles and seven triple-doubles across 70 appearances. He tied his career high in assists with 17 against the Lakers on March 22, and he grabbed a career-best 19 rebounds on April 4 against the Trail Blazers.

Giddey is slated for free agency this summer, and last season’s performance has surely earned him a nice pay day. Chicago has found its PG of the future, and Giddey should get a long-term deal this offseason to stick around with the Bulls. He’s worth a look in the mid rounds of 2025-26 fantasy drafts as a strong option with upside to stuff the stat sheet on any given night.

Fantasy Disappointment: None

Vooch and Giddey exceeded expectations, Coby White was great, and Ayo Dosunmu was serviceable in standard leagues. The rest of the roster was either in flux or finished right in the range of preseason expectations.

Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads

Coby White:

After a breakout 2023-24 season, White followed it up with another solid campaign. In 2024-25, the UNC product posted 20.4 points, 3.7 boards, 4.5 dimes, 0.9 steals and 2.9 triples while shooting 45.3% from the field, 90.2% from the charity stripe and 37% from long distance.

The points, steals, triples, FG% and FT% are all career highs, and White finished 71st in per-game fantasy hoops value. He’s been durable, with at least 74 games played in each of his last three seasons.

White dropped a career-high 44 points against the Magic on March 6 and canned nine triples on January 4 against the Knicks. He finished the season with nine 30-point games and shot at least 37% from beyond the arc for the fourth straight season.

His best basketball may still be in front of him, and White is a solid pick in the later rounds of 2025-26 fantasy drafts.

Ayo Dosunmu:

Dosunmu enjoyed the most productive season of his career, averaging 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.3 triples across 30.3 minutes per game. Aside from the three-pointers, his numbers were new career highs across the board.

He started 26 games and produced his first career triple-double with a 27/10/11 line on December 5 against the Spurs.

Unfortunately, a left shoulder injury limited Dosunmu to just 46 games after he played at least 76 in three straight. He had surgery in March and is expected to be available again in August.

Dosunmu should play a key role in Chicago’s rotation next season, and he’s worth a look at the end of standard drafts.

Matas Buzelis:

The 11th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft appeared in 80 games as a rookie and averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.3 “stocks,” and 1.2 triples. His shooting splits were respectable at 45.4/81.5/36.1, and he committed just 0.9 turnovers per game.

The long and athletic Buzelis competed in the Slam Dunk Contest and got his name out on the national stage. He excelled when given additional opportunities, averaging 12.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.7 three-pointers across 27 minutes.

He dropped a career-high 31 points and five triples on March 22 against the Lakers and posted a 12/12 double-double with three blocks on April 4 against Portland. Buzelis could be a regular part of the starting five moving forward, and he’s an intriguing late-round selection in 2025-26 fantasy drafts.

Lonzo Ball:

After missing two seasons due to a lingering left knee injury and multiple surgeries, Ball returned to the court and logged 35 games in 2024-25. He played just 22.2 minutes per night and finished with healthy averages of 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.9 triples. Those numbers weren’t great on their face, but considering the relatively low minutes, Ball’s performance was impressive.

His knee issue appeared to be behind him, but Ball suffered a right wrist sprain on October 28 that cost him 15 games, and he didn’t play after February 28 due to the same issue. With a partial season back under his belt, Ball could be a quality option in 2025-26 if he can return close to full strength.

His availability will be tough to trust, but Ball will surely be a quality per-game option with closer to 30 minutes.

Kevin Huerter:

Huerter’s role diminished significantly in his final season with the Kings, as his playing time fell to 20.9 minutes a night. He logged nearly 30 per game with the Bulls and averaged 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.7 triples.

Chicago is deep at the guard position, so there’s no telling how Huerter will fit in with this team next season. As a three-point specialist, he could see meaningful rotation minutes, but his fantasy value figures to be minimal.

Tre Jones:

Jones saw a major decline in playing time with the arrival of Chris Paul, logging just 16.1 minutes per game with the Spurs this season. His minutes jumped to 25.3 in Chi-Town, and he posted 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.1 steals with efficient shooting percentages.

Jones missed the final 12 games of the season due to a left midfoot sprain, but he’s expected to be ready for the start of next season. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it’s likely Jones looks to sign with a contender.

Zach Collins:

Collins was also part of the Zach LaVine-De’Aaron Fox deal, and he saw his playing time nearly double from 11.8 minutes with the Spurs to 19.7 with the Bulls.

Collins averaged just 8.6 points, 6.7 boards and 2.1 dimes with Chicago, but he was awesome in eight starts. As a member of the first unit, he averaged 14.9 points, 9.8 boards, 3.3 dimes, 1.0 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.3 triples across 28.8 minutes.

If Chicago moves on from Vooch and makes Collins the starting center, he could have real fantasy value, but he doesn’t offer much as a backup playing 20 minutes a night.

Patrick Williams:

After appearing in just 43 games last season, Williams was available for 63 contests in 2024-25. He finished with 9.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.5 triples across 25 minutes.

The points and rebounds tied his career lows, while the three-pointers were a career high. In his fifth season, Williams started 36 games, though he may be out of the starting rotation moving forward with the ascension of Buzelis.

Williams is a solid defender, but he’s not particularly productive in any category that matters for fantasy hoops, especially with shooting splits of 39.7% from the field and 72.3% from the charity stripe. He’s off the radar in leagues of most sizes for 2025-26.

Restricted Free Agents: Josh Giddey, E.J. Liddell, Emmanuel MIller

Unrestricted Free Agents: Tre Jones, Talen Horton-Tucker

Club Option: None

Player Option: Jevon Carter

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Ottawa Senators Owner Michael Andlauer Caps Successful Second Season With Open Letter To Fans

When Michael Andlauer took over as owner of the Ottawa Senators at the start of the 2023-24 NHL season, he set exactly the right tone for the organization. Andlauer told the city's fan base he wanted the Senators to be, in every way, "Best in Class." 

Owner Michael Andlauer addresses the media (Image: Ottawa Senators)

But at the time, the team he purchased was anything but. It was a fixer-upper.

So his first season as a rookie NHL owner resembled an HGTV show, where they encounter poor workmanship, damage and neglect. Then they declutter and strip things down to the studs, and finally hire professionals to properly build things back up.

In his second season, Andlauer stayed committed to doing things the right way, treating people kindly and respectfully, and generally being "Best in Class."

And then the wheels of progress finally began to turn.

The Senators returned to the playoffs for the first time in eight years, but even before that, their customer satisfaction rate among fans and corporate supporters was night and day from where it was two years ago.

Less than a week after an exciting first-round loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Andlauer put pen to paper and wrote an open letter to the fans.

Sens fans,

Even though our season ended sooner than we liked, I wanted to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your unwavering and amazing support.

Your passion was on full display at our home games in the playoffs. I've never seen anything like the ovation inside Canadian Tire Centre when we tied game 6 in the third period.

I'm not sure there is another fan base that would have stayed in their seats to cheer on their team after they were eliminated.

If the empty net goal by Ridly Greig was the highlight from last year, certainly your passion and appreciation in game 6 – which sent shivers down my spine – was the highlight of this season.

When I purchased this team with my partners, I knew the grassroots of hockey ran deep in Ottawa-Gatineau. But I have come to realize that this is by far the most underrated hockey market in the world.

Our fan base is authentic and it's the perfect match for this roster, which we've built on honesty, genuine care, and work ethic.

We took a great foundational step forward this season and I am so thankful to our architect, Steady' Steve Staios (as you fans have eloquently dubbed him) for his hard work and vision. And to Travis Green and his coaching staff for giving our players the ability to thrive. Ultimately, our players stepped up and worked harder and cared more for each other.

Our dressing room has a family atmosphere we have not seen in a while and the players are the ones who deserve your praise.

This team has made Ottawa-Gatineau proud and this city responded in such an incredible way that I am so proud to call this home!

Thanks for coming along for the ride.

We're just getting started.

Go Sens Go!

Michael Andlauer,
Owner, Ottawa Senators Hockey Club

Bowness’ Reported Departure Marks Big Shift In Staios’ Vision For Ottawa’s Front OfficeBowness’ Reported Departure Marks Big Shift In Staios’ Vision For Ottawa’s Front OfficeFive days after the Ottawa Senators were eliminated from the postseason, significant changes are already on the horizon for the organization's hockey operations department.
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With Warriors star Steph Curry injured, Brandin Podziemski faces new challenge

With Warriors star Steph Curry injured, Brandin Podziemski faces new challenge originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

MINNEAPOLIS – Knowing they’ll be without Steph Curry for at least the next three games of the Western Conference semifinals due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, it’s clear which two aspects the Warriors are going to lean into most: Playing through Jimmy Butler, and being a tenacious team defensively. 

The Warriors feel like they have the best defense in basketball, and losing the greatest shooter of all time only adds to that now being their main calling card. That means following the lead of Butler and Draymond Green, feeding off their energy and decision-making.

Kevon Looney, as he showed battling Rudy Gobert around the basket in the Warriors’ Game 1 win Tuesday night at Target Center, will be Steve Kerr’s trusted gritty veteran doing all the dirty work that doesn’t always get recognized. 

Kerr’s offense when Curry is off the floor often runs through Butler, giving the defense a much different look than Steph trying to run through and around bodies looking to get in his way. The ball was in Butler’s hands nearly the entire second half of Game 1, knowing he’ll always make the right play with a hate for turnovers. He and Green will run the offense, and the Warriors can only hope Buddy Hield keeps having the hot hand from deep after combining for 57 points and 14 threes the past two games. 

The spotlight also will grow exponentially on a teammate who always is watching Curry’s every move, waiting in the wings until he can go from sidekick to star of his own. Brandin Podziemski’s contributions are about so much more than scoring, but the open looks he usually gets will be wiped away with Curry on the sidelines, and he’ll have to provide plenty more points than he has been as of late. 

Pressure makes diamonds, and the Warriors are confident Podziemski can shine under bright lights. 

“BP always puts pressure on himself,” Looney said Wednesday. “He feels like he’s supposed to dominate everything when he’s out there. For me, just make sure he keeps his confidence. Don’t let missed shots or a couple bad plays affect the way he goes out there. I think he lives for moments like this. He wants to be a great player and he wants to step up. 

“You know how much he loves Steph, and how much he wants to make sure that we can be in a great spot when he gets back. I’m just making sure that I bring confidence to him to play his game.” 

Podziemski admits Curry’s injury changes how aggressive he is, whether that’s to score or make plays for others. Everybody, him included, will have greater offensive responsibilities.

He has settled into being a complementary combo guard alongside Curry. Scoring often is secondary among his responsibilities, behind pushing the pace, finding teammates, grabbing rebounds over players who have multiple inches or more on him, taking charges and diving on the floor for loose balls. Naturally, more of a scoring onus will be placed upon Podziemski in Curry’s absence. 

But there isn’t a complete shift in his mindset going into Thursday’s Game 2 and beyond. 

“Not necessarily,” Podziemski says. “I think when you tell yourself, ‘I have to score more because someone’s out,’ there’s like a natural force factor to that and then you start taking bad shots or overthinking what you’re doing. Everybody gets a rhythm from touching the ball more. 

“I’ll find offense throughout the flow of the offense in the combination with getting others involved, too.” 

The first shot Podziemski took in Tuesday night’s win was a 3-pointer in rhythm and off the dribble. Hield caught Julius Randle’s missed 3-pointer four and a half minutes into the game, and gave it up to Podziemski as the Warriors were off and running. 

Randle raced to find Butler. Mike Conley tracked down Curry. Anthony Edwards sprinted with Hield, and Jaden McDaniels trailed alongside Green. That left Gobert backpedaling and plenty of room for Podziemski to nail an open three. He took six more shots the rest of the night, including four threes, and missed each time. 

Among the Warriors’ starting five, Podziemski was the only one to have a negative plus/minus (minus-1), and his three points were second only to Looney’s two for Warriors players who received ample playing time. Those numbers don’t change Kerr’s confidence in Podziemski, who also had eight big rebounds, one bit. 

“This guy’s a gamer,” Kerr said. “He’s in the right spot all the time. He’s sticking his nose in there, rebounding constantly. He just drives winning. I think he’ll settle down. Last couple games, he’s struggled a little bit with his shot, but this is all part of the playoffs. I think Brandin will be a huge part of things going forward.” 

Kerr constantly refers to Podziemski as a “connector,” and that’s the exact type of player he wants him to continue being – with or without Curry. 

“We don’t need to ask him to do anything differently,” Kerr continued. “It’s about handling their pressure, for all of us – the team – handling their pressure, getting loose and getting some open shots.” 

Down the stretch of the regular season, as the Warriors were fighting for playoff positioning, Podziemski scored at least 20 points in three games of a four-game span. The Warriors won all three, beating the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns. In Game 4 of the Warriors’ first-round series, he played like a veteran star who has been through these situations countless times, scoring 26 points and making six threes to help gain a three-games-to-one series lead. 

Since then, Podziemski has scored 30 points in the last four games, going 12 of 35 from the field (34.3 percent) and 6 of 22 (27.3 percent) as a 3-point shooter. 

Podziemski is the one who replaced Klay Thompson in the starting lineup last season as a rookie, and figured to be the Warriors’ starting shooting guard in Year 2, just to see De’Anthony Melton outplay him in training camp. Podziemski couldn’t find his shot at the beginning of the season, and then only became better both times he returned from injury. As his game grew and he secured his starting spot, the Warriors became the team they are now.

Adversity has only made Podziemski stronger in his short NBA career, and the sign of him making Curry proudest will be staring down his latest challenge and letting his production do all the talking, putting the Warriors in a place of comfort upon his mentor’s eventual return. 

“You don’t got to be nobody, you don’t got to be him,” Looney said. “You don’t got to be nobody else, you just got to be the best version of yourself, and the best version of yourself is going to be great for us.”

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Orioles at Twins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 7

Its Wednesday, May 7 and the Orioles (13-21) are in Minneapolis to take on the Twins (16-20). Charlie Morton is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Simeon Woods Richardson for Minnesota.

After a 9-1 loss in the series' first game, the Orioles have now lost three games in a row.

Cade Povich gave up five earned runs off six hits in 6.0 innings for the Orioles. Pablo Lopez was great for the Twins. He struck out 11 batters and only gave up two hits in 5.0 innings.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Orioles at Twins

  • Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Target Field
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming: Twins.TV, MASN, 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 Orioles at the Twins

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (+115), Twins (-135)
  • Spread:  Twins -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Twins

  • Pitching matchup for May 7, 2025: Charlie Morton vs. Simeon Woods Richardson
    • Orioles: Charlie Morton, (0-6, 9.76 ERA)
      Last outing (Kansas City Royals, 5/4): 1.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 0 Strikeouts
    • Twins: Simeon Woods Richardson, (2-2, 4.03 ERA)
      Last outing (Cleveland Guardians, 5/1): 4.2 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 5 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!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Orioles at Twins

  • The Twins have won their last 3 home games, while the Orioles have lost 3 straight on the road
  • The Orioles' last 6 road games have stayed under the Total
  • The Twins are up 3.75 units on the Run Line in their last 5 games at Target Field

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 Orioles and the Twins

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Minnesota Twins 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 staying away from a play 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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Report: Woodson reaches deal to become Kings associate head coach

Report: Woodson reaches deal to become Kings associate head coach originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Doug Christie slowly but surely is rounding up his troops to join him for the 2025-26 NBA season.

Mike Woodson has reached a deal with Sacramento to become the team’s associate head coach under Christie, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday, citing sources.

Woodson returns to the NBA after most recently serving as the Indiana men’s basketball coach for four seasons.

Before his time with the Hoosiers, Woodson worked in the NBA from 1996 to 2021 in various roles. The last time he served as an NBA head coach was with the New York Knicks from 2012 to 2014.

Woodson posts a 315-365 (.463) coaching record. He also has coached 46 playoff contests, holding an 18-28 record in such games.

Christie took over as interim coach in late December before earning the full-time gig last week. He and new general manager Scott Perry wasted no time making personnel changes, firing top assistant coach Jay Triano and several other assistants over the weekend.

They now will fill in the holes for the remaining staff, with rumors of Bobby Jackson and Darius Songalia making potential returns to Sacramento.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

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India captain Rohit Sharma retires from Test cricket before England series

  • Decision comes after three poor red-ball series
  • First of five Tests start in June at Headingley

Rohit Sharma has retired from Test cricket, his announcement coming hours after reports emerged that he was to lose India’s red-ball captaincy. The 38-year-old, who quit T20 international cricket after leading India to victory at last year’s World Cup, will continue to represent his country in one-day internationals.

“Hello everyone, I would just like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket,” Sharma posted on Instagram. “It’s been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in the ODI format.”

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Reds at Braves Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 7

Its Wednesday, May 7 and the Reds (18-19) are in Atlanta to take on the Braves (17-18).

The Braves will look to make it three straight over the Reds today. Grant Holmes will be on the bump for Atlanta while Hunter Greene is slated to take the ball for Cincinnati.

Atlanta won 2-1 last night in ten innings on a Marcell Ozuna walk-off single. Chris Sale and four relievers allowed just the one run and struck out 17 Reds' hitters to lead the Braves to victory.

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 Reds at Braves

  • Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
  • Time: 7:15PM EST
  • Site: Truist Park
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNOH, FDSNSO, 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 Reds at the Braves

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Reds (-114), Braves (-106)
  • Spread:  Reds -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Reds at Braves

  • Pitching matchup for May 7, 2025: Hunter Greene vs. Grant Holmes
    • Reds: Hunter Greene (4-2, 2.53 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/2 vs. Washington - 6IP, 1ER, 2H, 2BB, 12Ks
    • Braves: Grant Holmes (2-2, 4.24 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/2 vs. Dodgers - 6IP, 2ER, 4H, 2BB, 9Ks

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 Reds at Braves

  • The Braves have won 3 straight and each game has stayed UNDER the Total
  • The Braves are 17-18 on the season and 17-18 on the Run Line
  • Only the Rockies (344), the Red Sox (340), and the Angels (324), have struck out more times than the Reds (322) this season

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Reds and the Braves

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 Reds and the Braves:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cincinnati Reds on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Atlanta Braves at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Justin Verlander winless in 8 starts with the San Francisco Giants

CHICAGO — It happened again. Justin Verlander was in position for his first win with the San Francisco Giants — but he walked away empty-handed.

Verlander pitched five innings against the Chicago Cubs before giving a 5-3 lead to San Francisco’s bullpen. The three-time AL Cy Young Award winner ended up with another no-decision, but the Giants scored nine times in the 11th for a 14-5 victory.

“It’s crazy, because he could easily have four or five wins at this point,” San Francisco manager Bob Melvin said. “So just another one of those where we’re a pitch away from getting him a win, and next thing you know he doesn’t, but it doesn’t mean he’s not performing well.”

The 42-year-old Verlander signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Giants in January. He was charged with two losses while going winless in his first eight starts for the longest such drought at any point during his 20 seasons in the majors.

“I’m somebody who really tries to focus on the big picture,” Verlander said. “Just try to keep pitching well and giving us a chance to win and that’s doing my job, and wins can come in bunches. It’s a team sport. Not everything is in your control as a starter, and I know that.”

Verlander allowed five hits, struck out three and walked two against the NL Central leaders. The big blow was Miguel Amaya’s two-run homer after San Francisco had opened a 4-0 lead in the top of the third.

“Obviously, you want some wins,” Verlander said. “I’ve also been somebody who never really expects a lot of wins when I only go five innings. I don’t really feel like I did my job as well as I should have today.”

During his season-opening drought, Verlander has been hurt by lackluster run support. He had a 1.96 ERA in 18 1/3 innings over his previous three starts. He was in position to get his first win against Colorado, but the lowly Rockies rallied for a 4-3 win.

Verlander went 5-6 with a 5.48 ERA in 17 starts for Houston last year. He had stints on the injured list for shoulder inflammation and neck discomfort.

The nine-time All-Star became a free agent after he failed to pitch 140 innings, a total that would have triggered his ability to exercise a $35 million conditional player option.

Verlander is 262-149 with a 3.31 ERA in 534 career starts. He is tops among active big league pitchers in wins, innings (3,457 2/3), strikeouts (3,451) and starts (534).

“I’ve been kind of working my way towards I think being better and better,” Verlander said. “Just kind of stay the course and see what happens. We’ve still got a lot of starts left. It’s really early.”

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Braves continue recovery from 0-7 start by rallying for confidence-building win over Reds

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves are gaining momentum in their attempt to recover from a staggering 0-7 start to the season.

A come-from-behind 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in 10 innings was the latest confidence-building win.

The Braves scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings before Marcell Ozuna’s run-scoring single in the 10th ended the game.

“It just kind of shows the character of this team,” said left-hander Chris Sale, who had 10 strikeouts in 6 2/3 scoreless innings. “We were down to our last couple of outs and found a way to do it.”

The Braves (17-18) have won three straight and 12 of 17 to close within a win of .500. That’s usually not big news for a team that has a streak of seven straight postseason appearances, including the 2021 World Series championship.

The woeful start to the season forced manager Brian Snitker’s team to focus on the new goal of becoming the first team to make the playoffs after losing its first seven games.

“It doesn’t get any better than winning a game like that,” Snitker said of the comeback. “This is a mental game. It can have a great effect on a club.”

The streak of three straight wins began with a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers that saved the Braves from being swept in the series. Atlanta then beat Cincinnati 4-0 when AJ Smith-Shawver took a no-hitter into the eighth inning.

With the score tied at 1, the Braves opened the 10th with automatic runner Alex Verdugo on second base. The Reds chose to issue an intentional walk to Austin Riley to face Ozuna, who had no hits in his first four at-bats.

Ozuna might have looked even more vulnerable after calling timeout during his at-bat in the eighth because he was experiencing a cramp in his right leg. He was visited by Snitker and an athletic trainer in the batter’s box.

“I said, ‘Hit a two-run homer or get a hit because we’re going to run for you,’” Snitker recalled. “I’m glad we didn’t, in retrospect.”

The eighth-inning at-bat ended with a long flyball to right field and Ozuna, the designated hitter, remained in the game.

When asked if he was motivated by the Reds walking Riley, Ozuna said: “For sure. I was 0 for 4 and I didn’t feel right. Kind of a cramp. I just try to get good contact.”

Happy teammates swarmed Ozuna between first and second base after his line-drive single allowed Verdugo to easily score the winning run.

“It feels amazing,” Ozuna said.

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Pirates Skenes still winless against Cardinals after 2-1 loss

ST. LOUIS — Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes still hasn’t found what he’s looking for against the St. Louis Cardinals — a win.

Skenes fell to 0-4 in five career starts against the Cardinals following a 2-1 loss. It is the most starts by a Pirates pitcher to begin a career against St. Louis without a win since JT Brubaker went 0-6 in eight starts without a win in 2021 and 2022.

Skenes pitched well enough in his latest start, allowing two runs on three hits in six innings. But one mistake to Alec Burleson, who hit a two-out, two-run double in the sixth inning, did him in.

“Just not executing,” Skenes said.

Burleson (6 for 15) has more career hits off Skenes than any other major leaguer. Adding to Skenes’ frustration is the entire rally in the sixth started with two outs as Nolan Arenado singled and Willson Contreras walked before Burleson came to the plate.

“There is no secret,” Burleson said of facing Skenes. “It takes a little bit of luck I feel like. It’s just with a guy like him you have to have a plan and stick to it for three, four at bats. It may not necessarily give you success that night but it gives you the best chance to have success. So that’s what I did and it worked out and I had a good time.”

Skenes, who allowed a season-high five runs in a loss to the Cardinals in Pittsburgh on April 8, has a 2.75 ERA in his five career starts against St. Louis.

“I feel like we took tough at bats,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “Didn’t have a ton to show for it, but pitch count, we were able to drive that up, some deep counts. The guys continued to battle. You have to stay short through the middle of the field and battle from pitch one against someone like Skenes. I felt like our guys did that.”

Skenes pitched around four walks, matching a career high he set in his last outing against the Cubs.

“There were times where it looked like he lost his command, and then he came back and really executed pitches,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “He gave up, what, three hits … and, you know, did a pretty good job. He made a bad pitch on a fastball that leaked out over to Burleson that ended up being the difference in the game.”

While Skenes would like the pitch to Burleson back, he was also the victim of lack of run support once again. In his five starts against the Cardinals spanning 32 2/3 innings, Skenes has received just three total runs of support while he has been in the game.

The Pirates have lost six straight and nine of their last 10 games.

“We’re not being very consistent right now offensively,” Shelton said. “We’re not getting things going and, you know, we’ve tried some different lineups. We’ve tried lineup changes. We’ve tried consistency of lineups. So, I think it’s something we just got to keep exploring.”

Pitching is not the problem, Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes said.

“And I mean, we just got to pick them up and score runs. So however, that may be, whether it be drawing walks, getting that big hit, we just got to find a way.”

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Rangers at Red Sox prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 7

It's Wednesday, May 7, and the Rangers (18-18) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (18-19). Tyler Mahle is slated to take the mound for Texas against Tanner Houck for Boston.

Texas won the series opener, 6-1 yesterday behind a five-run fourth inning and one earned run from Nathan Eovaldi over 6.0 innings.

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 Red Sox

  • Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
  • Time: 6:45 PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: RSN, NESN

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 Red Sox

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Rangers (+102), Red Sox (-122)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for May 7, 2025: Tyler Mahle vs. Tanner Houck
    • Rangers: Tyler Mahle, (3-1, 1.20 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Run Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Red Sox: Tanner Houck, (0-2, 6.38 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Run Allowed, Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 6 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 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 Rangers and the Red Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Red Sox 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 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 Rangers at Red Sox

  • The Rangers are 1-4 in their last 5 games
  • Each of the last 4 matchups between the Rangers and the Red Sox have stayed under the Total
  • The Rangers have covered the Run Line in 3 straight road 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!

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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How Celtics are using crazy Pacers-Cavs ending as a teaching moment

How Celtics are using crazy Pacers-Cavs ending as a teaching moment originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Head coach Joe Mazzulla leaves no stone unturned when it comes to preparing the Boston Celtics for games. So, it shouldn’t surprise you that his players were studying the closing seconds of Tuesday’s wild Game 2 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers.

The Cavs led the Pacers by seven points with 57 seconds remaining before Indy mounted a furious comeback to win 120-119 and take a 2-0 lead in the second-round series.

The Pacers’ stunning late-game surge included an Aaron Nesmith put-back dunk off a missed free throw, an Aaron Nembhard steal off a Cleveland inbound pass and a Tyrese Haliburton go-ahead 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Celtics guard Payton Pritchard noted there are lessons Boston can take from that chaotic final minute, especially after the C’s blew a 20-point lead against the Knicks in Game 1.

“Definitely can learn from the Cavs being up seven — the game’s never over until it’s over,” Pritchard told reporters Wednesday at shootaround ahead of Boston’s Game 2. “So, you’ve got to take care of the rock. Even on a free throw box out — all the little things matter. We’ve got to learn from that and take it into this game.”

Pritchard suggested it’s common practice for the Celtics to look for teaching moments in other NBA games, particularly in the playoffs. And Nesmith’s put-back dunk appeared to be a particular point of emphasis for Boston, which has to contend with a strong rebounder on the wing in New York’s Josh Hart.

“We always look at stuff across league — little plays, stuff that could come up in situations for us,” Pritchard said. “It’s just preparation at the end of the day, so if we’re in a situation like they were in, we are already prepared.

“What are we trying to do? How are we gonna box these guys out on a free-throw box-out? If I’m not in the lane, I’m boxing outside the 3-point line. I’ve got to hit a guy like Josh Hart. He might crash hard, so I’ve got to be prepared to box him out in that situation.

“It’s little things like that. You’ve got to just be a student of the game and learn and keep growing.”

Hart racked up five offensive rebounds (11 total) in Game 1, including a pair of late-game boards that played a key role in New York’s comeback. So, it’s understandable that Hart was on the Celtics’ minds as they watched Nesmith soar over Donovan Mitchell for his clutch dunk.

But the bigger-picture lesson for Boston from Pacers-Cavs is that no lead is safe, and that even the smallest lapses in intensity can prove costly. The Celtics were in full control of Monday’s Game 1 with a 20-point lead midway through the third quarter, but that lead fully evaporated over 10 minutes of game play thanks to a combination of missed 3-pointers and defensive miscues.

The good news is that Mazzulla’s club has proven adept at learning from its mistakes: Boston has won four consecutive playoff games following a loss, with an average margin of victory of 15 points.

Tip-off for Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday at TD Garden, with NBC Sports Boston’s coverage beginning at 6 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live.

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Clippers likely run it back with Harden, Leonard, 'I definitely believe in those two' GM Frank says

This was the season a lot of things went right for the Clippers: James Harden stayed healthy and played in 79 games, Kawhi Leonard was healthy at the end of the season and heading into the playoffs, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac each took steps forward and had career years, and the franchise opened the impressive new Intuit Dome. In a deep Western Conference, the Clippers finished with 50 wins — despite letting Paul George walk out the door for nothing last summer — and were the No. 5 seed.

Los Angeles also got bounced in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year — this time by Denver, with Harden and Leonard fading as the series went along.

Does that mean this era of Clippers basketball has played out to its logical conclusion, and it's time for a radical change?

Don't bet on it. While there is a segment of the fan base — and plenty of national analysts who root for chaos — calling for the Clippers to tear it all down and rebuild, that's not a real option. Los Angeles doesn't control its own pick until 2030, which takes that path off the table. While the Clippers could go big — they are rumored to be one of the teams that would try to get in a Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes if he asks for a trade — that all coming together is a long shot.

Instead, expect the Clippers to add a little, not subtract, and run it back next season with Harden and Leonard.

"I definitely believe in those two..." said Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations, at his postseason press conference, via the Associated Press. He later added that Los Angeles can take a step forward with players like Powell, Zubac and Nicolas Batum (who has a player option).

"It was great that we were healthy for the first time in a long time, but that doesn't mean you only get one shot at it," Frank said. "We'll keep on taking cracks at it and at the same time, we've always been open-minded and learning from the errors of our ways and finding areas where we can correct them and get better."

Frank went on to praise both of his biggest stars.

"There's another level for [Leonard] out there that he's going to get to next year," Frank said, noting he missed the opening months of the season coming off knee surgery. "I think looking at next year that we can be better with more games from Kawhi...

"We have a great level of appreciation for what James did this year. I'm going in with the intent that if he doesn't pick up his option that we're going to be able to reach an agreement that works well for James and works well for the Clippers."

Harden is not expected to pick up his $36.4 million player option, looking for the security of a longer deal at age 35. Frank said he was open to talking to Harden about that, and the Clippers have the flexibility to give him a raise, use the mid-level exception to add talent, and still not move into the luxury tax. Los Angeles also can talk extension with Powell. However, the Clippers have set themselves up to make a pivot in the summer of 2026, with cap space and expiring contracts that would let them change course. They want to keep that path on the table as well.

This means that next year's Clippers will look a lot like this year's Clippers, which was a good team, even if it had a ceiling.

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Padres at Yankees Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 7

Its Wednesday, May 7 and the Padres (23-12) are in the Bronx to take on the Yankees (20-16).

Dylan Cease is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Max Fried for New York.

The Yankees evened the series at a game apiece with a 12-3 win last night. Aaron Judge smacked his twelfth home run of the season and Austin Wells hit his seventh bomb and drove in five runs to pace the attack.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Padres at Yankees

  • Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: Yankee Stadium
  • City: Bronx, NY
  • Network/Streaming: SDPA, AmazonPV, 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 Padres at the Yankees

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Padres (+149), Yankees (-180)
  • Spread:  Yankees -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Yankees

  • Pitching matchup for May 7, 2025: Dylan Cease vs. Max Fried
    • Padres: Dylan Cease (1-2, 5.61 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/2 at Pittsburgh - 4IP, 2ER, 3H, 3BB, 3Ks
    • Yankees: Max Fried (6-0, 1.01 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/2 vs. Tampa Bay - 7IP, 0ER, 1H, 2BB, 6Ks

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 Padres at Yankees

  • The Yankees have won 12 of their 20 home games this season
  • The Padres are 9-8 on the road this season
  • The Yankees win last night snapped a 3-game losing streak
  • Aaron Judge has now reached base safely in 32 consecutive 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 Padres 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 Padres 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 Yankees -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)