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Blue Jays at Astros prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 21

Its Monday, April 21 and the Blue Jays (12-10) are in Houston to open a series against the Astros (10-11).

Kevin Gausman is slated to take the mound for Toronto against Hunter Brown for Houston.

The Astros fell short of a weekend sweep of the San Diego Padres yesterday falling 3-2. Jake Meyers picked up a couple hits for Houston in the loss.

Toronto lost both games over the weekend to Seattle. Yesterday the Mariners blasted the Jays 8-3. Cal Raleigh and Rowdy Tellez each went yard for Seattle.

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 Blue Jays at Astros

  • Date: Monday, April 21, 2025
  • Time: 8:10PM EST
  • Site: Minute Maid Park
  • City: Houston, TX
  • Network/Streaming: SNI, SCHN

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 Blue Jays at the Astros

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Blue Jays (+118), Astros (-139)
  • Spread:  Astros -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Astros

  • Pitching matchup for April 21, 2025: Kevin Gausman vs. Hunter Brown
    • Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman (2-1, 2.49 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/15 vs. Atlanta - 6IP, 2ER, 6H, 0BB, 6Ks
    • Astros: Hunter Brown (2-1, 1.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/15 @ St. Louis - 6IP, 0ER, 4H, 2BB, 4Ks

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Blue Jays at Astros

  • The Astros have won 4 of their last 5 home series against the Blue Jays
  • Jake Meyers is 8 for his last 18 (.444) and is hitting .305 for the season
  • The Astros' last 3 home games with Hunter Brown as the starter have gone under the Total
  • Cam Smith is riding a modest 3-game hitting streak (4-11) to raise his avewrage for the season to .232
  • The Astros have covered the Run Line in their last 5 games against the Blue Jays

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 Blue Jays and the Astros

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 Monday's game between the Blue Jays and the Astros:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Houston Astros on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Toronto Blue Jays 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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Padres at Tigers prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 21

Its Monday, April 21 and the Padres (16-6) are in Detroit to begin a series against the Tigers (13-9).

Randy Vásquez is slated to start for San Diego while Keider Montero gets the ball for Detroit.

The Padres salvaged their series against the Astros with a win last night in Houston. Fernando Tatis, Jr. smashed his eighth home run of the season to provide the difference in a 3-2 San Diego win.

Detroit lost yesterday but did take three of four from Kansas City. Yesterday, the Royals escaped Comerica Park with a 4-3 win in ten innings thanks to a Bobby Witt, Jr. sacrifice fly.

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 Tigers

  • Date: Monday, April 21, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: Comerica Park
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: SDPA, FDSNDTX, FS1

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 Tigers

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Padres (+111), Tigers (-130)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Tigers

  • Pitching matchup for April 21, 2025: Randy Vásquez vs. Keider Montero
    • Padres: Randy Vásquez (1-1, 1.74 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/15 vs. Cubs - 5IP, 1ER, 7H, 2BB, 2Ks
    • Tigers: Keider Montero (0-1, 9.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/16 at Milwaukee - 5IP, 5ER, 8H, 1BB, 8Ks

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 Tigers

  • The Padres are 4-5 on the road this season
  • Fernando Tatis, Jr. is riding a 9-game hitting streak during which he is batting .351 (13-37).
  • The Under is 12-9-1 in Padres' games this season
  • The Tigers are up 3.45 units on the Run Line in their last 5 games at Comerica Park

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 Tigers

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 Monday's game between the Padres and the Tigers:

  • 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 San Diego Padres 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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Jets to pick up fifth-year options on Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, Jermaine Johnson II

The Jets had three first-round draft picks in 2022, and they're committing to all three of them at least through 2026.

Jets General Manager Darren Mougey said today that the team will exercise fifth-year options on 2022 fourth overall pick Sauce Gardner, 10th overall pick Garrett Wilson and 26th overall pick Jermaine Johnson II.

That means Gardner gets a guaranteed base salary of $20.1 million in 2026, Wilson gets a guaranteed $16.8 million and Johnson gets a guaranteed $13.4 million.

That's a lot to guarantee three players, but the Jets are lacking in talent, and hitting on their three first-round picks in 2022 was one of the few things they've done right in the personnel department in recent years. So they don't want to let any of those three players go.

The Jets will likely try to negotiate long-term contract extensions with Gardner, Wilson and Johnson, but even without any additional negotiations, they'll all be with the Jets for two more years.

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Leeds on verge of promotion after 6-0 win over Stoke in Championship: football – as it happened

Leeds United all but confirmed their return the top flight, while four of the Championship’s bottom five sides won on a day Morecambe’s exit from the Football League was confirmed

Cardiff City: The Welsh side are second from bottom of the Championship table and host Oxford United thisd afternoon. Following Saturday’s dismissal of Omer Riza, Aaron Ramsey has been given the job of keeping Cardiff up with just three games of the season remaining.

The 34-year-old midfielder has not played for Cardiff since suffering the latest in a long litany of hamstring injuries in March.

Continue reading...
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Report: Athletics promoting top prospect Kurtz to big leagues

Report: Athletics promoting top prospect Kurtz to big leagues originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The time finally has come.

After his scorching-hot start to the 2025 MiLB season, the Athletics are promoting first baseman and No. 1 prospect Nick Kurtz to the big leagues, MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos reported Monday, citing a source.

Kurtz, 22, was selected by the Athletics with the No. 4 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, and less than one year later, has ascended through the organization’s minor-league system and onto the big-league roster.

In 20 games with Triple-A Las Vegas this season, Kurtz is batting .321/.385/.655 with seven home runs and 24 RBI in 97 plate appearances.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound first baseman/designated hitter joins an up-and-coming Athletics roster that features homegrown bats such as outfielder Lawrence Butler, first baseman Tyler Soderstrom, catcher Shea Langeliers, shortstop Jacob Wilson, infielder Max Muncy as well as arms like closer Mason Miller and starting pitchers JP Sears and J.T. Ginn.

It remains to be seen exactly what Kurtz’ role will be upon arrival, but he should provide manager Mark Kotsay a powerful left-handed-hitting option.

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Mets vs. Phillies: How to watch on SNY on April 21, 2025

The Mets open a three-game series with the Phillies at Citi Field on Monday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • The Mets' team ERA of 2.35 is the lowest in baseball
  • Pete Alonso leads the majors with a .718 slugging percentage, and leads the National League with a 1.171 OPS and 232 OPS+
  • Juan Soto has reached base in seven of his last 12 plate appearances
  • Luisangel Acuña has 11 hits in his last 28 at-bats
PHILLIES
METS

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What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here. 

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County cricket: Sussex v Surrey, Durham v Yorkshire and more on day four – live

  • County Championship updates from around the grounds
  • Get in touch! Email Tanya here or join the discussion BTL

…Worcestershire have already lost a wicket, and unfortunately for them it was Matthew Waite, a fourth wicket for Porter. The bowlers are in shirt sleeves, the keeper up the stumps, the three slips neatly arranged in height order.

Ali reports from Birmingham, where it is “pissing down”. It isn’t currently raining in Manchester, but is very soggy – think pile of newspapers accidentally left out in the rain by the newsagent. Rain too at Derby. Elsewhere, however…

Continue reading...
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How Pritchard made strong impact on both ends in Celtics' Game 1 win

How Pritchard made strong impact on both ends in Celtics' Game 1 win originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

One of the reasons why the Boston Celtics could be more difficult to beat in the 2025 NBA playoffs compared to last year’s championship run is the emergence of Payton Pritchard as a go-to scorer and momentum-shifter off the bench.

Pritchard made a huge impact in Game 1 of the Celtics’ first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden on Sunday, which Boston won 103-86.

The Sixth Man of the Year Award favorite entered the series opener with 1:50 left in the first quarter and immediately hit a 3-pointer, then assisted on a Jayson Tatum 3-point shot as the C’s closed the opening 12 minutes with a 26-18 lead.

Pritchard then scored eight points in the first four minutes of the second quarter before exiting with 7:50 remaining in the half and the Celtics up 39-31. He did not play the rest of the quarter and the Celtics offense began to stall. Orlando capitalized on this and ended the half on a 19-8 run to take a 49-48 lead into the break.

The Celtics found their groove again in the second half. Pritchard hit a couple 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to destroy any hope the Magic might have had of a late-game run.

Pritchard finished with a playoff career-high 19 points on an efficient 6-for-8 shooting (4-for-6 from beyond the arc). The Celtics outscored the Magic by 13 points during Pritchard’s 25 minutes of playing time. He actually ended up outscoring the entire Magic bench (19-17) by himself.

The Celtics’ scoring depth might be their biggest strength and a huge advantage over pretty much every other team in the playoffs. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both scored fewer than 20 points Sunday. For most teams, an average (or worse) performance from your two-best players will often result in a loss. But it wasn’t an issue for the Celtics because Pritchard, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White picked up the slack with a combined 58 points on 19-for-32 shooting.

“I think we did a very good job on those guys (Tatum and Brown),” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley told reporters postgame. “Made it tough on them, made it difficult for them to get easy shots. They had a couple blow-bys to the rim, but for the most part it was the Derrick Whites of the world and the Payton Pritchards, coming off the bench for 19. Two guys that you don’t necessarily account for coming up with 49 points. I think we’ve got to do a better job there.”

Pritchard had some good games in the playoffs last season, but he wasn’t very consistent. He scored 10-plus points in four of the five games against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. But in the other three rounds, he scored in double-digits only twice. He really struggled against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, scoring 17 total points over five games.

Pritchard has been much more reliable this season. He scored in double-digits in 57 of his 80 games played, which helped him average a career-best 14.3 points per game.

Pritchard isn’t just a one-way player, though. Despite his lack of size (6-foot-1, 195 pounds), he plays with great effort, physicality, energy and attention to detail on defense. There aren’t many weak spots in Boston’s lineup. But if teams are going to hunt one player on offense, it’ll probably be Pritchard.

The Magic tried to do that a little bit in Game 1 and didn’t have much success. They shot 3-for-7 against Pritchard when he was the primary defender. Magic star Franz Wagner shot 1-for-3 against Pritchard. Pritchard isn’t a lockdown defender, but he’ll make you work hard to score on him.

His defense did not go unnoticed by head coach Joe Mazzulla.

“I thought he was just as good defensively as he was offensively,” Mazzulla told reporters postgame. “Just him pushing the pace on the offensive end, but really his physicality at the point of attack was big for us. I think he got two tip-out rebounds in the second half that were big for us.”

Holiday had a similar assessment of Pritchard’s all-around impact.

“I think when he first came out, he had a quick 11 points (in the first half) — crazy,” Holiday told reporters postgame. “I think just Payton being Payton, taking the opportunity. Payton is also a gamer, as everybody here sees. Any opportunity he can to put the ball in the basket, he does it. But what makes him special is what he does on the defensive end — picking up anybody full-court, just being a dog, hounding whoever is in front of him.”

If the Celtics are going to get back to the Finals and repeat as champs, their offense will need to be firing on all cylinders. Boston’s path to a title, assuming they eliminate the Magic, would likely include the New York Knicks in the conference semifinals, the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals. All three of those teams ranked top 10 in scoring during the regular season. The Cavs ranked No. 1.

The Celtics probably will need to consistently score around 110 to 115 points per game in the playoffs to achieve their ultimate goal. If Pritchard chips in 15-plus points off the bench on a consistent basis, the C’s should have no trouble scoring enough points to beat their toughest competition.

Pritchard is an X-factor who raises the Celtics’ ceiling when he gives performances like he did Sunday.

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Mets vs. Phillies: 5 things to watch and series predictions | April 21-23

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Phillies play a three-game series at Citi Field beginning on Monday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Preview

New York's offense is heating up

The Mets' bats didn't completely go off during their four-game sweep of the Cardinals, but things are starting to get more consistent and well-rounded.

After a beginning of the season where the offense was carried primarily by Pete Alonso, with some key contributions from Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, everyone is starting to perform -- which culminated during Sunday's 7-4 victory.

Luisangel Acuña has 11 hits in his last 28 at-bats (upping his OPS to .760), Tyrone Taylor is on a four-game hitting streak, Brandon Nimmo has hit safely in his last three games, and Brett Baty had a pair of doubles during the series against St. Louis while reaching base safely in all four games.

New York's offense coming around, paired with truly elite pitching (the staff's 61 runs allowed are the fewest in baseball) has created a recipe for success that has the Mets at 15-7 and 2.0 games up on Philadelphia entering play on Monday.

The Juan Soto breakout seems to be happening

Soto has reached base in seven of his last 12 plate appearances, including notching five hits during the sweep over the Cards.

On Sunday, Soto ripped a game-breaking two-run double to left-center field in the eighth inning, giving him five total RBI in the four games against St. Louis.

Soto's OPS for the season is up to .821, and he said over the weekend that he recently corrected something in his swing -- and he certainly looked a lot more comfortable than he had in the handful of games before that.

Soto also received a warm reception from the fans at Citi Field over the weekend, including a standing ovation, during a period where some in the New York media were starting to turn on him despite his Mets tenure still being in its infancy and him still producing despite not being at his best.

Now, it appears Soto is locked in at the plate and ready to fully break out.

How is Mark Vientos?

Vientos left in the middle of Saturday's game after making a leaping catch at third base and feeling something in his groin while chasing a foul ball soon after.

But the level of concern is low.

Apr 18, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (27) hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field.
Apr 18, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (27) hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Speaking after Saturday's game, Vientos said he was confident the groin issue had to do with cramping due to not drinking enough water.

He did not play on Sunday, but was feeling better. And it's possible Vientos will be ready to play by Monday.

Before leaving Saturday's game, Vientos was heating up -- smacking home runs on both Thursday and Friday.

Aaron Nola has been struggling

The Mets will face Nola, Christopher Sanchez, and Zack Wheeler during this week's three-game series.

Sanchez and Wheeler have been rolling, but it's a different story for Nola.

In four starts this season, he has a 6.65 ERA and 1.66 WHIP.

Nola's last start was his worst, as he surrendered seven runs (six earned) on nine hits over 5.1 innings against the Giants while walking four and striking out eight.

2024 NLDS rematch -- and the energy that comes with it

The last time the Mets and Phillies squared up was in this building last October, when the Mets dispatched of Philadelphia in Game 4 of the NLDS while punching their ticket to the NLCS.

And with the Mets playing an early-season slate to this point that has featured just six NL East games (all against the Marlins), there should be even more juice for this series.

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that the Braves are off to an 8-13 start and sitting in last place. It should be noted, though, that Atlanta has picked things up recently -- with a 6-4 mark over the last 10 games.

The Braves should not be counted out as a serious factor in the division this season, but for now it's the Mets and Phils at the top.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Juan Soto

Soto looks truly comfortable for the first time this season.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

David Peterson

Peterson struck out nine during his start against St. Louis this past Friday.

Which Phillies player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Kyle Schwarber

Schwarber has cracked seven homers already this season, and enters this series with an OPS of 1.001.

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How Mitch Marner's 'Calmness, Confidence' Helped Maple Leafs Shine In Game 1 Win Over Senators

Apr 20, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (16) reacts after scoring against the Ottawa Senators during the first period of game one of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Mitch Marner shimmied left and right before flipping the puck over Linus Ullmark's shoulder and celebrating his first goal of the playoffs with his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates.

Although the Maple Leafs have had playoff heartbreak in the past, their experience paid dividends in their Game 1 win over the Ottawa Senators.

The big four of Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and William Nylander combined for nine points in Sunday's 6-2 win. Seven other Maple Leafs tallied one point in the win, which began with Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Marner finding the back of the net in the first period.

'I Can't Say Enough About Matthew Knies and JT In Those Areas': Maple Leafs Explode For 3 Power-Play Goals To Down Senators In Game 1'I Can't Say Enough About Matthew Knies and JT In Those Areas': Maple Leafs Explode For 3 Power-Play Goals To Down Senators In Game 1The Toronto Maple Leafs exploded for three power-play goals against the Ottawa Senators in a 6-2 victory in Game 1 of their first-round series in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

There were questions about how Toronto's top players would play in this series. The big four combined for 12 points in their first-round exit last spring against the Boston Bruins and have, at moments, not produced at key times.

One player in particular, though, has been under the microscope more than any other on the Maple Leafs this season, and that's Marner. He had three points in seven games against the Bruins last playoffs and entered this season without renewing his contract.

If there was anyone who needed a strong season, which he had, and a great start to the playoffs, it was him. One goal and two assists later, Marner is already tied for the most points among players in the playoffs, albeit it's only one game.

'He Made Big Saves': How Anthony Stolarz Won Game 1 Of The Goalie Battle Against Senators' Linus Ullmark'He Made Big Saves': How Anthony Stolarz Won Game 1 Of The Goalie Battle Against Senators' Linus UllmarkAnthony Stolarz showed up and showed out against the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of the Battle of Ontario, which the Toronto Maple Leafs won commandingly, 6-2.

The experience of the 4 Nations Face-Off with Canada in February, where Marner tallied an overtime-winning goal and set up another overtime-winner against Team USA, helped him enter his ninth playoffs with Toronto with a sense of "calmness," he said.

"That tournament was pretty quick. It was obviously very, very intense, and that's kind of what playoffs is," Marner admitted after taking a 1-0 series lead over the Senators.

"It kind of happens quickly, games go by fast, and then you've got to look forward to the next one and realize that it's going to be even harder. So, yeah, I don't know, just calmness and confidence, obviously, from that tournament, which helps."

It wasn't just filling the back of the net, though, where Toronto's playoff experience shone through. Ottawa took penalty after penalty in the game, allowing the Maple Leafs to score three power play goals, two more than they had all last series against the Bruins.

Entering the final minutes of the third period, the Maple Leafs had seven power plays to the Senators' two. This game was proof that Toronto had more playoff experience than Ottawa.

"Like I said, we're disciplined. We're going to keep being disciplined. We're going to play hard between the whistles, the right way, and keep being physical, but we're not going to get involved in all the antics after the whistles or whatever," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said.

"Listen, refs call games, they call penalties for whatever reasons. I thought we checked well with our feet and our sticks tonight. We were hard on our net, doing things right to stay out of the box.

"You put yourself in the penalty box when you get on the wrong side of things and have to make desperate situations, and like I said, we're pretty clean overall with our physicality part of the game. And we gotta keep doing that."

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

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Yankees at Guardians prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for April 21

Its Monday, April 21 and the Yankees (14-8) are in Cleveland to begin a series against the Guardians (12-9).

Clarke Schmidt is slated to take the mound for New York against Gavin Williams for Cleveland.

The Yankees dominated Tampa Bay over the weekend winning three of four against their AL East rival. Yesterday, Max Fried was again brilliant for the Yankees throwing 7.2 innings of two-hit shutout ball to earn his fourth without a loss. Cody Bellinger supplied the offense with his second home run of the season.

The Guardians swept their weekend series in Pittsburgh. Yesterday they knocked off the Bucs in ten innings on Kyle Manzardo's sacrifice fly in the extra frame.

Lets dive into tonight's matchup and find a sweat or two.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Yankees at Guardians

  • Date: Monday, April 21, 2025
  • Time: 6:10PM EST
  • Site: Progressive Field
  • City: Cleveland, OH
  • Network/Streaming: YES, CLEG

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 Yankees at the Guardians

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Yankees (-121), Guardians (+101)
  • Spread:  Yankees -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Yankees at Guardians

  • Pitching matchup for April 21, 2025: Clarke Schmidt vs. Gavin Williams
    • Yankees: Clarke Schmidt (0-0, 4.77 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/16 vs. Kansas City - 5.2IP, 3ER, 4H, 2BB, 2Ks
    • Guardians: Gavin Williams (1-1, 4.58 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/16 at Baltimore - 6.2IP, 5ER, 4H, 4BB, 4Ks

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

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

  • The Yankees have won 4 straight against AL Central teams
  • The Under is 7-1-2 in Yankees' games against American League teams this season
  • The Guardians have failed to cover the Run Line in 6 of their last 7 games against the Yankees

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 Yankees and the Guardians

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Yankees and the Guardians:

  • 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 Cleveland Guardians 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)
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White Sox at Red Sox prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for April 21

Its Patriots' Day in Boston and that means marathons and late morning baseball with the Red Sox (12-11). Today, Boston wraps up its series with the White Sox (5-16) at Fenway.

Jonathan Cannon is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Walker Buehler for Boston.

The Pale Sox snapped Boston's four-game win streak yesterday with an 8-4 win. Andrew Vaughn picked up a couple of hits including his third home run of the season to pace the attack for Chicago.

After eight straight losses on the road to open the season, Chicago ends the worst run to start the season away from home in franchise history.

Lets dive into today's matchup and find a sweat or two.

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

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

Game details & how to watch White Sox at Red Sox

  • Date: Monday, April 21, 2025
  • Time: 11:10AM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: CHSN, NESN, MLBN

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

Odds for the White Sox at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: White Sox (+228), Red Sox (-280)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for White Sox at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for April 21, 2025: Jonathan Cannon vs. Walker Buehler
    • White Sox: Jonathan Cannon (0-2, 4.42 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/16 vs. Athletics - 4.1IP, 0ER, 3H, 2BB, 4Ks
    • Red Sox: Walker Buehler (2-1, 5.23 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/15 at Tampa Bay - 5IP, 2ER, 3H, 3BB, 3Ks

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

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

  • The Red Sox have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
  • The Under is 12-7-1 in the Red Sox's games against American League teams this season
  • Chicago 3B Miguel Vargas is 3 for his last 25 (.120)
  • Boston 3B Alex Bregman is 6 for his last 20 (.300)

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

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the White Sox 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 Monday's game between the White Sox 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 Chicago White Sox 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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3 biggest questions for Knicks vs. Pistons ahead of Game 2 in first round of playoffs

The Knicks went up 1-0 against Detroit in the first round of the playoffs behind a dominant 21-0 fourth quarter run that turned the game around.

New York will be looking to defend home court in Game 2 on Monday, but the Pistons will come ready for revenge.

Here are the three biggest questions going into the next contest:

How will the Pistons adjust?

Detroit taking the first game on the chin likely means they’ll come back with some adjustments for New York to work through. Their first objective should be getting Cade Cunningham some breathing room.

The Knicks started their best defender on him, and threw a mix of aggressive pick-and-roll coverages, especially in that fourth quarter run. Cunningham was held to 8-for-21 shooting and forced into six turnovers, a rough outing for the engine of his team’s offense.

Detroit’s surrounding vets picked up the slack with some hot shooting, but expect the coaching staff to switch things up. More slipped screens that Cunningham can target can catch the Knicks defense off guard, and expect him to be better prepared for the aggression and less susceptible to turnovers.

They can also screen him with wings, and especially Jalen Brunson’s man, more. It was an effective strategy in the regular season and made Brunson work at the level at times in Game 1, but they could’ve pressed that button much more.

Cunningham could also get more off-ball plays run for him. If they get him going downhill off the catch with Anunoby screened and help in the blender, scoring should come much easier.

New York didn’t deal with much Ausar Thompson in Game 1 as he struggled with foul trouble. It’s not an “adjustment” per se, but expect more of an impact from him on Monday.

They also couldn't really adjust anything. If they’re of the belief the fourth quarter was an inexperience-fueled meltdown and the game plan is solid, they could walk into MSG with an identical approach to Game 1.

Whatever direction they go, the Knicks will need to respond on the fly if they want to keep home court secure. 

Will Mikal Bridges get more involved?

One hot button issue for Knicks fans after the win was Bridges’ play. His defense was outstanding, but his offense was a quiet eight points and two assists on 4-for-9 shooting, leading to a prolonged benching during New York’s comeback run. 

Jan 13, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (28) sets a pick for guard Cade Cunningham (2) as he drives around New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden.
Jan 13, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (28) sets a pick for guard Cade Cunningham (2) as he drives around New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

In his defense, he hit a timely bucket with under two minutes to play and created a lot of early offense even if it didn’t result in a big presence on the box score. Bridges had a good if uneventful game, just not a five-first-round-pick trade package game, which is the unfortunate standard he’s held to.

Still, even if Game 1 just wasn’t his scoring night, he could’ve been more aggressive in offensive creation during some of the team’s lulls, and the Knicks need him in rhythm to go far. Will they or Bridges make any changes for him to have a bigger role in Game 2?

New York can be more targeted in running some sets for Bridges, like when Cunningham is off the floor and he can target the diminutive and pesky Dennis Schroder. Bridges should generally take the reins more if the offense is in a rut, especially with Brunson off the floor, and call for picks to make something happen.

Will we see more Mitchell Robinson-Karl-Anthony Towns lineups?

One thing the Knicks have up their sleeve these playoffs -- should they choose to use it -- is creative lineup constructions, and enough of them to deal with anything an opponent throws their way. Many hoped New York would avail themselves of the Towns-Robinson frontcourt lineups in this series, given the Knicks' size advantage and defensive concerns with Towns in the middle.

It saw sparse regular season minutes and head coach Tom Thibodeau can often need his hand forced before turning to big changes, but we saw it in its full glory during Game 1. Granted, all nine minutes came in the first half, with Josh Hart in foul trouble.

Does Thibs still bring it out in Game 2 if Hart is foul free? It was only a +2 in that stretch, but looked dominant on the glass and defensively for the most part.

If the Pistons swing back hard, the Knicks may need a silver bullet to pull out Game 2. This lineup could be the answer. 

Posted on

Canadiens Hoping To Steal Home Ice Advantage

Feb 6, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) controls the puck as Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard (58) chases in the third period at Capital One Arena. Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

On Monday night, the puck will drop on a Montreal Canadiens playoff hockey game for the first time in four years. The visiting Habs are kicking off the Spring dance by taking on the Eastern Conference champions, the Washington Capitals. They are wearing the underdog tag, which doesn’t scare Martin St-Louis, because you still have to play the games.

Playoffs Primer: Canadiens Vs. Capitals
Florian Xhekaj Is Now Part Of An Exclusive Club
Canadiens: Preparing For The Capitals’ Terrorizing Power Play

For St-Louis, the playoffs are sure to help Juraj Slafkovsky play to his identity. When asked where he saw the most significant growth in the former first-overall pick’s game this season, the pilot replied:

Understanding his biggest asset is his size and his physicality. When that’s at the forefront of his game, the rest comes with it.
- Martin St-Louis on Juraj Slafkovsky's biggest growth. 

For the Canadiens to win this series, they will need a significant contribution from their first line. If Slafkovsky is engaged and dialed in physically, Nick Suzuki’s and Cole Caufield’s jobs become much easier.

Washington won the season series between the two teams, winning twice and losing once. That loss came after the Canadiens had turned a corner and become a much more confident team.

After a few tough seasons injury-wise, it looked like the 2024-25 campaign would be more of the same for the Habs when Patrik Laine and David Reinbacher went down to knee injuries in a preseason game. Still, thankfully for St-Louis’ men, those and Kaiden Guhle’s skate cut were the most significant injuries of the season.

The Canadiens are ready to go on Monday and have no significant injuries, while it looks like the Capitals will be without Aliaksei Protas at least to start the series. The fourth-year center had a coming-out party this season with 66 points in 76 games, playing a significant part in Washington’s offense. However, he suffered a skate cut at the start of April and only started skating again on Sunday.

There has also been no confirmation about goaltender Logan Thompson’s availability, and not having your number one goaltender in the playoffs is hardly a comfortable position to be in.

There’s no uncertainty on the Canadiens’ net as Samuel Montembeau will get the nod. The netminder has played six times against the first-round foe and has a 2-3-0 record against them, alongside a 3.49 goals-against average and a .893 SP.

Thompson is 1-0-1 against the Canadiens with a 3.04 GAA and a .889 SP, while Lindgren, a former Hab, is 3-1-0 against them with a 2.51 GAA and a .899 SP. Goaltenders Clay Stevenson and Hunter Sheppard have each played a game for the Caps this season, with the former allowing five goals and the latter seven. One can safely assume Carbery would likely prefer not to go there.

Throughout the season series, Cole Caufield has been the Canadiens’ top scorer with five points in three games, followed by Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson, who both have four. Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Christian Dvorak, David Savard, Josh Anderson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Kaiden Guhle had a single point while everyone else was kept off the scoresheet. Needless to say, the Habs will need to spread the offense around if they want to win.

The attack was much more spread out for Washington, with gritty winger Tom Wilson and youngster Protas leading the way with four points apiece in three games. Ovechkin, center Dylan Strome, and right winger Taylor Raddysh all had three points, but the captain did it in two games, missing one of the duels. Connor McMichael, Pierre-Luc Dubois, John Carlson, Jacob Chychrun, and Trevor Van Riemsdyk all scored two points in the season series, demonstrating that the Capitals have more offensive contributors.

St. Louis has already announced his lineup, and there will be no change from the end of the season. In other words, there's still no room for Arber Xhekaj on the blueline. With Wilson playing for the Caps, it's an interesting decision. 

The puck drop is set for 7:00 PM and this is one match-up you won’t want to miss…

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Warriors' Butler drops fire Steph bar after win vs. Rockets

Warriors' Butler drops fire Steph bar after win vs. Rockets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

There are two words that best describe the Warriors’ big win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night.

‘Organized chaos.’

The phrase was uttered time and time again by Golden State’s star forward Jimmy Butler after its 95-85 win over Houston at Toyota Center, and perhaps is the thematic representation of Warriors teams past, present and future, as long as there is one common denominator: Steph Curry.

“I’m great in the organized chaos, because I know when I can see it coming and [I’m thinking] ‘Let’s get back just in case.’ But he’s (Curry) incredible out of that organized chaos,” Butler told reporters postgame. “I think he gets an incredible shot, or he makes an incredible shot for himself, or he gets it for somebody else.

“I love the organized chaos, I’m not going to lie to you, because nobody knows what to expect. Not even myself, not even coach. The only person that knows what’s coming out of the organized chaos is the person that’s creating it.”

The Warriors led Houston by as many as 23 points in the third quarter before the Rockets stormed back to make it a one-possession game midway through the fourth. As it oftentimes is in the NBA, turnovers were contagious on Sunday night, but it was the Warriors who did a better job at course-correcting mid-chaos.

“[Warriors coach Steve Kerr] hates [bad turnovers] as much as I hate it as well, but sometimes good things come out of this organized chaos, that one player in particular loves and thrives in,” Butler added. “So you’ve got to take the crooked with the straight sometimes. It’s not going to be all good and it’s not going to be all bad either.”

The Warriors’ offense, even at the peak of its powers during the dynastic run with Curry, Kerr and Draymond Green, has been turnover-prone at times. However, there usually is a signature Curry Flurry that emerges from the chaos and helps fuel an eventual win.

That still is part of the recipe for success in Year 16 of the Warriors’ Curry-led offense.

“We’re living or dying with that organized chaos,” Butler concluded.

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