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Brewers at Giants Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 21

Its Monday, April 21 and the Brewers (12-10) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (14-8).

Quinn Priester is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Robbie Ray for San Francisco.

Milwaukee took two of three this weekend against the Athletics. The Brew Crew won 14-1 yesterday collecting 16 hits. Rhys Hoskins had three hits and four RBIs to pace the attack, and Logan Henderson gave up one run in six innings.

The Giants have lost three of their last four including two of three over the weekend to the Angels. San Francisco fell 5-4 yesterday allowing four runs in the bottom of the ninth.

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 Brewers at Giants

  • Date: Monday, April 21, 2025
  • Time: 9:45PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, NBCSBA, 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 Brewers at the Giants

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (+122), Giants (-144)
  • Spread:  Giants -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Giants

  • Pitching matchup for April 21, 2025: Quinn Priester vs. Robbie Ray
    • Brewers: Quinn Priester (1-0, 0.90 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/15 vs. Detroit - 5IP, 0ER, 1H, 3BBs, 4Ks
    • Giants: Robbie Ray (3-0, 4.19 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/16 at Philadelphia - 4IP, 4ER, 6H, 5BB, 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 Brewers at Giants

  • The Brewers are 10-12 on the Run Line this season
  • William Contreras has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games (15-45)
  • The Over is 7-3 in Giants' games against National League teams this season
  • The Giants have failed to cover the Run Line in 5 of their last 6 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 Brewers and the Giants

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

  • 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 Milwaukee Brewers 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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Aston Villa have all the tools to establish themselves among the elite

Unai Emery has built a side with high standards and a squad with depth – they’ll need both in the coming weeks

Most teams in the battle for Champions League qualification are staggering to the line, battered, exhausted, done in by a season that feels like it finished in February but somehow still has a month to run. But as they falter, Aston Villa have seemingly found another gear.

Liverpool are secure in the Champions League qualification slots and Arsenal soon will be, which leaves the remaining three places between five contenders who are separated by just two points, although Nottingham Forest face Tottenham on Monday. Forest, though, have won just three of their last eight in the league. Newcastle had won six in a row in all competitions before Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Villa. Manchester City are unbeaten in five in the league. Chelsea have won five of their last 11 in the league and have a notably tough run-in. But Villa have won 10 of 11 in all competitions, the only blip their Champions League defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain. There is no question that they are the side in form.

This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition.

Continue reading...
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Why the Steelers can't wait on Aaron Rodgers

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

Aaron Rodgers’ comments on the Pat McAfee Show sparked a lot of discussion between Charles Robinson, Frank Schwab and Jason Fitz on the latest episode of the Inside Coverage podcast. Here’s what their conversation reveals about Rodgers’ future:

According to Charles Robinson, Rodgers was very clear that he’s dealing with personal issues, particularly within his close circle, and that’s a significant reason for his delay in making a decision about playing football next season. Robinson emphasized Rodgers doesn’t owe anyone a set timeline or rushed decision, especially since he’s not currently under contract with any NFL team.  

“He’s not beholden any team right now," Robinson said. "He’s not under contract. So I think we owe him the grace."

All three hosts agree that, while Rodgers is entitled to handle his personal life however he sees fit, this leaves teams like the Steelers in a precarious position. Charles and Frank both stress that the Steelers “can’t count on this situation anymore.” Frank says, “For the first time yesterday, I said, they can’t. They got to move on.” Charles adds that, even if Rodgers eventually signs, Pittsburgh still needs to draft a young quarterback for the future, because relying on Rodgers is too uncertain.

Both Charles and Frank highlight that Rodgers said he’s been upfront with the Steelers, telling them that if they need to move on without him, they should. This signals to the hosts that Rodgers isn’t making any commitments or setting deadlines for a decision about joining a team. Charles sums it up: “He did open up that avenue to them ... if somebody wants to move on, that's just how it's going to go and you're okay with it.”

The group expresses that Rodgers, despite leaving the door open, sounded more like a person who might elect not to play, at least for now.

The broader takeaway for the hosts is that any team entertaining the idea of signing Rodgers needs to continue with their offseason plans as if he won’t be there. Fitz and Schwab both note that there’s real fatigue and “exhaustion” around the ongoing Rodgers saga, both for teams and fans.

To hear more NFL discussions, tune into Inside Coverage on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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How long is the Maple Leafs' NHL-record Stanley Cup drought?

How long is the Maple Leafs' NHL-record Stanley Cup drought? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Toronto Maple Leafs own the second-most Stanley Cup titles in NHL history. But it’s been well over a half-century since their last championship triumph.

The Leafs saw their record Stanley Cup drought extended with a second-round loss to the defending champion Florida Panthers in the 2025 NHL playoffs.

Toronto, the Atlantic Division’s No. 1 seed, eliminated the wild-card Ottawa Senators in six games this postseason before jumping out to a 2-0 series lead over Florida. The Panthers then responded with three straight wins, but the Leafs won Game 6 on the road to keep their season alive.

But, in a decisive Game 7 at home, the Leafs were booed off the ice as an ugly 6-1 defeat pushed the storied franchise’s championship drought to nearly six decades.

When was the last time the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup?

The Leafs’ most recent Stanley Cup championship came in the 1966-67 season.

What’s the longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history?

Toronto’s current championship drought is the longest in NHL history at 58 years.

The Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks both are mired in title droughts of 50-plus years, as well. Buffalo and Vancouver joined the NHL in the 1970-71 season and neither has won a Stanley Cup in the 54 years since. The Canucks have reached three Stanley Cup Finals (1982, 1994, 2011) and the Sabres have reached two (1975, 1999).

When was the last time the Maple Leafs made the Stanley Cup Final?

The Leafs’ 1966-67 championship campaign also stands as their last appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. That means the Original Six franchise hasn’t reached the Cup Final in the expansion era (since the 1967-68 season).

The Leafs last appeared in the conference final in the 2002 postseason.

How many Stanley Cup Finals have the Maple Leafs made?

Toronto has reached the Cup Final 21 times, trailing only the Montreal Canadiens (33 appearances) and Detroit Red Wings (24 appearances) for the most in NHL history.

How many Stanley Cups have the Maple Leafs won?

The Leafs were victorious in 13 of those 21 Cup Finals. Only the 23-time champion Canadiens have won more Stanley Cups than Toronto.

Here’s a full look at Toronto’s Stanley Cup Final history (years listed are when Cup Finals were played):

  • 1967: Beat Montreal Canadiens
  • 1964: Beat Detroit Red Wings
  • 1963: Beat Detroit Red Wings
  • 1962: Beat Chicago Blackhawks
  • 1960: Lost to Montreal Canadiens
  • 1959: Lost to Montreal Canadiens
  • 1951: Beat Montreal Canadiens
  • 1949: Beat Detroit Red Wings
  • 1948: Beat Detroit Red Wings
  • 1947: Beat Montreal Canadiens
  • 1945: Beat Detroit Red Wings
  • 1942: Beat Detroit Red Wings
  • 1940: Lost to New York Rangers
  • 1939: Lost to Boston Bruins
  • 1938: Lost to Chicago Blackhawks
  • 1936: Lost to Detroit Red Wings
  • 1935: Lost to Montreal Maroons
  • 1933: Lost to New York Rangers
  • 1932: Beat New York Rangers
  • 1922: Beat Vancouver Millionaires
  • 1918: Beat Vancouver Millionaires

Editor’s note: This story was first published on April 21.

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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."

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