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Nationals' Jorge Lopez suspended 3 games for throwing at Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen’s head

Washington Nationals pitcher Jorge Lopez has been suspended three games and fined for throwing at Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen, Major League Baseball announced.

Lopez was ejected from the game against the Pirates after a high pitch near McCutchen’s head led to the benches briefly clearing in the seventh inning.

Lopez hit the previous batter, Bryan Reynolds, with a pitch before facing McCutchen, who had to fall to the ground to avoid getting hit by a 92 mph ball near his head.

The right-hander has filed an appeal of the suspension, which will not take effect until that process is done.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez received a fine and one-game suspension because of the incident.

As the umpires gathered to discuss what happened during the game, McCutchen and Lopez started arguing, which caused both benches to empty. Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham also was seen yelling while being held back by teammate Oneil Cruz.

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Heat vs. Hawks Odds, predictions, recent stats, trends and Best bets for April 18

Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks Preview

On Friday, April 18, the Miami Heat (37-45) and Atlanta Hawks (40-42) will square off at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

The Miami Heat are coming off a big 109-90 win over the Chicago Bulls. The Heat were dominant in that game from start to finish. They entered halftime with a 24-point lead.

The Bulls were able to cut in closer in the third, but ultimately, could not close the gap.

The Heat were led by Tyler Herro, who scored 38 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

Prior to last night's win, the Heat were 0-3 against the Bulls this season.

Now they are set to face off against an Atlanta Hawks team that was embarrassed in Orlando by the Magic.

The Hawkswere beaten by 25 points. They failed to score 100 points, and Trae Young was ejected late in the fourth quarter.

The Heat are currently 17-23 on the road with a point differential of 1, while the Hawks have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on 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.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Heat vs. Hawks live today

  • Date: Friday, April 18, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: State Farm Arena
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: TNT

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

Game odds for Heat vs. Hawks

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Heat (-105), Hawks (-114)
  • Spread:  Hawks -1
  • Over/Under: 218 points

That gives the Heat an implied team point total of 108.74, and the Hawks 109.27.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Heat vs. Hawks game

NBC Sports Bet 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.

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is betting on Trae Young over 11.5 assists (+134)...

Thomas: "Initially, the over 10.5 line caught my eye. However, when shopping, I found a lot of value in the 11.5 at +134 versus the 10.5 at -135.

In the first play-in game, Trae Young was in attack mode. Knowing he's had success against the Magic, the Magic are paying extra attention to the other players on the perimeter. The Magic's perimeter defense is certainly their weakness.

There should be a stark difference between the game plan of the Magic and that of the Miami Heat.

Coach Erik Spoelstra will likely do what he does in high-leverage situations. He strategizes the defensive looks to eliminate the biggest threat. If you take away the offensive firepower that Young has, this Hawks team drops a few notches.

We will see Trae the facilitator in this one."

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Heat & Hawks game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Miami Heat on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Heat at +1.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 218.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Heat vs. Hawks on Friday

  • The Heat have won 5 of their last 6 games on the road
  • The Over is 10-7 in the Hawks' divisional matchups this season
  • The Heat have covered the Spread in 5 of their last 5 games as an underdog

The Heat have won 4 of their last 5 at Eastern Conference teams

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

Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

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 ex-Red Sox have fared with new teams so far in 2025

How ex-Red Sox have fared with new teams so far in 2025 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox are 10-10 to begin the 2025 season, a fitting record after going 81-81 in 2024.

After 20 games, it’s a good time to check in on how some of the key contributors from that 2024 Red Sox season are faring with their new clubs. Several members of the team, including right-hander Nick Pivetta and slugging outfielder Tyler O’Neill, left last winter in free agency.

Here’s a look at their production so far in 2025:

Nick Pivetta, RHP, San Diego Padres

Pivetta signed a four-year, $55 million deal with the Padres in free agency. The 32-year-old has played a big role in the club’s 15-4 start, posting a 1.57 ERA with an 0.826 WHIP, 24 strikeouts, and only five walks in his first four outings.

The switch from hitter-friendly Fenway Park to Petco Park has greatly benefited Pivetta so far. In his three home starts, he has allowed only one run across 20 innings. During his lone road start, he lasted just three innings against the Chicago Cubs with three earned runs on six hits.

Pivetta amassed a 4.29 ERA in his five seasons with Boston. Perhaps he’ll eventually regress to the mean, but the change of scenery seems to have helped to this point.

Tyler O’Neill, OF, Baltimore Orioles

O’Neill inked a three-year, $49.5 million deal with the O’s as a free agent. He started his season with a bang, extending his Opening Day home run streak to a record six games.

The 29-year-old slugger has picked up where he left off after an impressive year in Boston. Although he only has two homers in 14 games, he has still been productive at the plate with an .829 OPS.

Kenley Jansen, RHP, Los Angeles Angels

Jansen, 37, signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Angels in the offseason. The four-time All-Star closer has stabilized the back end of L.A.’s bullpen with a stellar start to the year.

In six appearances, Jansen has notched four saves, including the 450th of his career. He has yet to allow a run.

Chris Martin, RHP, Texas Rangers

Martin joined the Rangers on a one-year, $5.5 million deal in free agency. The 38-year-old veteran remains one of the game’s top relievers after two outstanding seasons in Boston.

In nine appearances for Texas, Martin has amassed a 2.16 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 12 strikeouts and only two walks.

Danny Jansen, C, Tampa Bay Rays

The Red Sox acquired Jansen from the Toronto Blue Jays at last year’s trade deadline, but they didn’t get much production out of the veteran catcher. The Tampa Bay Rays haven’t either since signing him to a one-year, $8.5 million deal.

Jansen is slashing .122/.250/.220 through 13 games. He has provided some value behind the plate, but Tampa will hope to get more out of him offensively as the season progresses.

Lucas Sims, RHP, Washington Nationals

Another one of Boston’s deadline additions, Sims struggled out of the Red Sox ‘pen and hasn’t been able to get back on track in Washington. The 30-year-old righty has a 12.79 ERA in 10 appearances this season.

Luis Garcia, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Red Sox paired Garcia with Sims at last year’s deadline in hopes they could revive their ailing bullpen. They didn’t.

They also haven’t helped either of their new teams so far in 2025. Garcia has a 6.52 ERA across nine appearances with the defending champion Dodgers.

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Expect Maple Leafs' Joseph Woll to Shine in Net versus Red Wings Despite Toronto Setback

Maple Leafs netminder Joseph Woll should stay hot, hold game to under but in losing effort to Detroit Red Wings on Thursday

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Thursday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups to end of the season.

The game that sticks out is one with the Detroit Red Wings, who would like to end off their troublesome season on a strong note after missing the playoffs for the ninth straight season. 

They will face off against a fierce Toronto Maple Leafs team that will likely be shorthanded after securing the Atlantic Division with their last win on Tuesday and will likely be resting their horses in this one. It should give the Red Wings a good chance to get a win and make for an exciting matchup. 

More Betting:Safe Bets to Close Out the NHL Season: Top Picks for Parlays and Futures

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 11-4 record on our last 15 picks and our 17-6 record on our last 23 underdog picks.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings Best Bets:

  • Under 6.5 goals (-160)
  • Red Wings ML (+136) or Red Wings +1.5 (-188)
  • Patrick Kane Over 0.5 points (-125)

More NHL: The Battle of Ontario Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Futures for Maple Leafs versus Senators

Detroit should be more motivated to win this game after missing the playoffs yet again and will want to give their fans something to cheer for. A big gift for the Red Wings faithful is beating one of their longtime rivals in the Maple Leafs.

This will be the 687th meeting between Toronto and Detroit with the Maple Leafs holding the upper hand all-time with a 302-285-93-6 record. Detroit has gotten the better of Toronto lately with wins in five of their last eight matchups with a win Thursday evening up the season series at two wins a piece.

It'll be challenging as the Maple Leafs have a league-best 12-2-1 record over their last 15 games while the Red Wings have a 6-2-1 record over their last nine games. The man who should help Detroit get the job done is none other than legendary winger Patrick Kane, who has been one of the hottest player on the team as of late.

More NHL:Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender

The three-time Stanley Cup Champion has continued to play like an all-star even into old age with six goals and 12 assists for a team-lead 18 points over his last 17 games.

Kane has also done with historically versus Toronto with three goals and four assists for seven points over his last eight games against the Maple Leafs dating back to 2023.

Woll-y MolyWoll-y MolyDavid Pastrnak rips one off the post and back into Joseph Woll, but Woll's quick reaction allows him to save the puck from going into the net.Breaking news, ...

He should be one of the only Red Wings to score as Toronto's Joseph Woll has been sensational lately with a 5-2-1 record and a 2.49 goals against average over his last eight starts.

The Missouri native has also gotten the better of Detroit in the past with a 1-1-0 record and five goals allowed or a 2.54 goals against average and a save percentage of .900 in two career starts against the Red Wings.

Woll should do enough to keep the game to a low total but I don't expect a high-offensive performance out of Toronto. 

More Hockey:Top NHL Prospect Expected to Join Michigan Wolverines Next Season

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Mets prospect Drew Gilbert picks up hit in season debut with Triple-A Syracuse

The Mets are about to have an intriguing center field option a phone call away from the majors, and got off to a good start on Thursday night.

Drew Gilbert, who recently played in six games for Single-A St. Lucie while ramping up following a 2024 season that was severely impacted by a hamstring injury, was activated by Triple-A Syracuse ahead of Thursday's game after he slashed .375/.444/.708 with two home runs and two doubles over 27 plate appearances for St. Lucie.

And in his first game back, he went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Syracuse's 2-0 win over Buffalo. The lone hit came in the first inning when the left-hander hit a line drive to right field off a 93 mph fastball from Lazaro Estrada on a 2-1 count. Gilbert would later come around to score thanks to a Billy McKinney single.

Last season for Syracuse, during what was his first taste of Triple-A, Gilbert had just a .706 OPS while missing a large chunk of the season due to the aforementioned hamstring injury.

He was solid while playing in the Arizona Fall League after the season, posting a .783 OPS and smacking four home runs in 21 games.

With the Mets set to be without center fielder Jose Siri for an extended period due to a broken tibia, their center field situation is in flux.

Tyrone Taylor is in line to get the bulk of the starts there in Siri's absence and can provide immense value defensively. But New York is also exploring other options.

Jeff McNeil, who is in the midst of a rehab assignment, got the start in center field Thursday for St. Lucie. McNeil has gotten two games of center field experience during his big league career, and manager Carlos Mendoza said on Wednesday that the Mets are comfortable using him there.

The same goes for Luisangel Acuña, who played 35 games over 289.0 innings in center field in the minors in 2024. However, Mendoza suggested that Acuña getting time in center in the majors might not be in the team's immediate plans.

Then there's Gilbert.

The 24-year-old is a sparkplug type of player who has gotten the bulk of his professional innings in center. SNY contributor Joe DeMayo wrote in his recent Mets Top 30 list that Gilbert's long-term future might be in one of the corner outfield spots, but it's fair to believe his name will be in the mix for a call up if he excels in Triple-A and the Mets have a need in center over the coming weeks and months.

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'It's Going To Be An Absolute War': Maple Leafs Prepare For Intense Battle Of Ontario Playoffs Series Against Senators

Mar 15, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig (71) lands a punch on Toronto Maple Leafs forward Scott Laughton (24) as they fight in the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

John Tavares has fond memories of watching the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators in the early 2000s.  

Just a few years before being drafted first overall into the NHL in 2009, Tavares watched the Leafs and Senators trade hostilities in the 'Battle of Ontario'.  

"I remember (Joe) Nieuwendyk's goal, watching that," Tavares said, reflecting on Toronto's Game 7 victory over Ottawa in the 2004 first-round series. "I think Cujo (Curtis Joseph) running into the ref or the linesman there. So the intensity I thought was pretty unbelievable".  

The two teams squared off four times in the postseason between 2000 and 2004, creating some epic moments. Tie Domi was part of those teams, and his son, Max, will get to experience that rivalry in the playoffs for the first time.  

Part of the series' charm is the dedication of the well-traveled Leafs fans, who will undoubtedly make the trip to Ottawa for road games.  

"I think that's going to be key," Domi said. "Obviously, going into a tough building like Ottawa, it's going to be nice to have some support there. But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. Every game is going to be tough. It's going to be an absolute war".  

This upcoming series reignites a natural hostility already established between the teams. Who could forget when Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly was suspended for five games after crosschecking Senators forward Ridly Greig in the head following the player's slapshot into an empty net?  

Report: Maple Leafs Defenseman Morgan Rielly's 5-Game Suspension Appeal to Commissioner Gary Bettman to be Heard In-Person on FridayReport: Maple Leafs Defenseman Morgan Rielly's 5-Game Suspension Appeal to Commissioner Gary Bettman to be Heard In-Person on FridayRielly was suspended five games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for a cross-check to the head of Ottawa's Ridly Greig.

While it's doubtful past incidents like the Rielly-Greig one will resurface, the three intense contests between the clubs this season make it clear they don't like each other, and much will be on the line.  

"I think it's just kind of natural intensity just because it's the playoffs and there's more at stake," Rielly said. "You look around at the other matchups, they're all going to be very intense and they're all going to be very competitive. That's what you get this time of year. And that's what makes it fun".  

'Good For Hockey': Leafs And Senators Will Be Hungry In The Battle Of Ontario's Newest Chapter'Good For Hockey': Leafs And Senators Will Be Hungry In The Battle Of Ontario's Newest ChapterThere might not be an NHL first-round series with more built-in emotion than the Battle of Ontario between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Senators' entry into the playoffs was somewhat unexpected this season; it's their first playoff appearance since 2017. They are clearly the underdog of the series, despite beating Toronto in all three regular-season contests this season.  

"That's a very good team over there," Berube said of the Senators. "It's a young team that's grown together. They added some veterans, but overall they're a good hockey team with a lot of good skill on the front end and the back end, and they play a gritty game. It'll be a tough series"

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Reds place Christian Encarnacion-Strand on 10-day injured list

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds placed first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand on the 10-day injured list with low back inflammation and recalled infielder Noelvi Marte from Triple-A Louisville.

“We’ve been trying to manage it,” manager Terry Francona said. “It wasn’t getting worse, but it wasn’t getting better. After what he went through last year, just seems like the right thing to do. Get him an epidural. Let it calm down.”

Encarnacion-Strand played in only 29 games last season because of a season-ending right wrist fracture after being hit by a pitch from Michael Lorenzen on April 27 at Texas.

He’s batting .158 this season with two homers and five RBIs in 18 games.

The Reds have options at first base. Jeimer Candelario started at first in the series finale against the Mariners. Spencer Steer, who’s been limited to designated hitter duty with a shoulder issue, threw again and is close to returning. Francona said utility man Santiago Espinal also can play first.

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Royals at Tigers prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 17

It's Thursday, April 17 and the Royals (8-11) are in Detroit to take on the Tigers (10-8). Michael Lorenzen is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Reese Olson for Detroit.

Kansas City is coming off a 4-3 loss yesterday at the hands of the New York Yankees, while Detroit dropped its road contest 5-1 at Milwaukee. Detroit has lost two straight games and scored one total run, while Kansas City was swept by New York scoring six total runs.

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 Royals at Tigers

  • Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: Comerica Park
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNKC, FDSNDTX, Fox Sports 1

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 Royals at the Tigers

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (+119), Tigers (-141)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Tigers

  • Pitching matchup for April 17, 2025: Michael Lorenzen vs. Reese Olson
    • Royals: Michael Lorenzen, (1-2, 3.71 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Tigers: Reese Olson, (1-1, 6.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.1 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 3 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 Royals and the Tigers

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@Vmoneysports) likes the First Three Innings Under 2.5 Runs:

"Both Detroit and Kansas City have had a rough stretch offensively. The Tigers have scored one run in the past two games, while the Royals lost three straight with six total runs. Neither Olson nor Lorenzen are two pitchers that scream Under, but the offenses are not in good form right now to be backing Overs. I like the first three innings Under 2.5 runs at -120 odds as a fun sweat."

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday’s game between the Royals and the Tigers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Kansas City Royals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Royals at Tigers

  • The Royals have lost 6 of their last 8 games
  • The Royals' last 4 road games have stayed under the Total
  • The Tigers are showing a profit of 2.77 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!

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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What we learned as Jordan Hicks roughed up early in Giants' loss to Phillies

What we learned as Jordan Hicks roughed up early in Giants' loss to Phillies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

PHILADELPHIA — You have to go back to last August to find the last time the Philadelphia Phillies lost a series at home, so a split for the Giants wasn’t a bad result at all. But it sure wasn’t a comfortable four days at Citizens Bank Park. 

The Giants lost 6-4 in the finale with the Phillies, and for a second straight game, and third time in this series, it seemed early on that the game might end with a position player on the mound. 

Jordan Hicks took the mound with a 1-0 lead and immediately gave five back, but he held it there, and the Giants chipped away with a two-run homer from Matt Chapman in the sixth. That was their only big swing against lefty Cristopher Sanchez, who struck out a career-high 12.

The Giants brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth after Tyler Fitzgerald homered and Jung Hoo Lee got a pinch-hit infield single, but rookie Christian Koss bounced out to short.

The Phillies have the best home record in baseball over the past calendar year and entered the series with eight wins and one tie in their last nine series at Citizens Bank Park. With a chance to end that streak, the Giants dug too big a hole.

Here are three things to know from the final game of a wild back-and-forth series … 

Uncomfortable In The Dugout

On Monday and Wednesday, Bob Melvin was forced to get the bullpen going in the first inning before his starting pitcher got out of a jam. When Hicks allowed the first five Phillies to reach in the bottom of the first, there was no movement in the pen. The Giants really had no choice but to let Hicks try to get out of the inning and get deep.

Spencer Bivens and Lou Trivino pitched two innings each on Wednesday and Hayden Birdsong appeared on Sunday and Tuesday. When Hicks became the latest Giants starter to run into trouble right away, he had to wear it.

Hicks ended up allowing five runs in the inning on five hits and a walk. He threw 33 pitches a few hours after Robbie Ray needed 39 in his first inning. Melvin talked before Wednesday’s game about how often he has had to think about moves early in games recently, and it’s hard to imagine a worse series than this one in terms of getting off to quick starts. 

None of the four Giants starters had a clean first inning and only Justin Verlander threw a scoreless first. The starters combined to allow 10 runs on 10 hits and eight walks in the four first innings at Citizens Bank Park. They all escaped true disaster, but Melvin can’t be happy with how often he has to contemplate pulling a starter early.

The Adventure

Here are some of the things that happened during Hicks’ fourth start of the year: Gave up five runs in the first … responded by throwing six shutout innings … threw a career-high 105 pitches … averaged 99 mph with his sinker … hit triple digits 16 times, topping out at 101.7 mph … drilled Trea Turner with a 101 mph fastball and then had words with the Phillies bench the rest of the game … got yelled at by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi after the bottom of the seventh.

It was a wild one.

Hicks showed an absurd ability to hold his fastball velocity over 100 pitches, doing something only a handful of pitchers in the world can do. But those five runs count, and he has a 6.04 ERA through four starts. 

Happy Chappy

Chapman has been drawing walks all year, but he came into this series with seven straight games without a hit. He got one in each of the four games, and with the homer on Thursday, his OPS is up to .804, which would be his highest in five years.

Chapman contributed subtly on Thursday, too. He made multiple visits to the mound to calm Hicks. The Giants couldn’t afford to have their starter get knocked out in the first, but they also couldn’t afford to have him get ejected in the middle of the game.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Yankees at Rays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 17

It's Thursday, April 17 and the Yankees (11-7) are in Tampa to take on the Rays (8-10). Will Warren is slated to take the mound for New York against Taj Bradley for Tampa Bay.

The Yankees beat the Royals, 4-3 yesterday on an Aaron Judge homer in the bottom of the seventh. The Rays lost 1-0 to the Red Sox yesterday on five hits, 13 strikeouts, and 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. This is the first meeting of the year between Tampa Bay and New York.

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 Yankees at Rays

  • Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
  • City: Tampa, FL
  • Network/Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, FDSNFL

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 Rays

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Yankees (+102), Rays (-122)
  • Spread:  Rays 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for the Yankees at Rays

  • The pitching matchup for April 17, 2025: Will Warren vs. Taj Bradley
    • Yankees: Will Warren, (1-0, 5.14 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Rays: Taj Bradley, (2-0, 3.71 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Run Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 7 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 Yankees and the Rays

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Yankees -1.5 against the Rays and Taj Bradley’s strikeout prop:

"The Rays followed up a 16-1 win over the Red Sox with back-to-back losses of 7-4 and 1-0. Now they host the Yankees with Will Warren on the mound, who is coming off his best start of the season. For +142 to +152 odds, I think the Yankees run line is enticing, especially since Taj Bradley's strikeout prop is set at 6.5 juiced -120 to the Under.

Bradley has recorded seven strikeouts in each of his first three starts this season and the Rays are 2-1 in those starts. Tampa Bay won 9-1 and lost 2-0 versus New York in Bradley's two starts last season, giving up one total earned run. This will be his third career start versus New York and I think they will figure him out a little more this time around, so I like the Yankees on the run line (-1.5, +152) and Bradley's Under 6.5 strikeouts (-120).

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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 Thursday’s game between the Yankees and the Rays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Yankees 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

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

  • The Yankees have won 4 of their last 5 away games against teams with losing records
  • 4 of the Rays' last 5 matchups with the Yankees have gone over the Total
  • The Yankees have failed to cover the Run Line in 6 of their last 8 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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Caleb Foster announces return

Things were not easy for Caleb Foster in his sophomore season at Duke. “Growing up, it’s always been a dream of mine, chasing championships here at Duke,” Foster said on the latest episode of The Brotherhood Podcast, released Thursday morning. Foster started Duke’s first seven games of this past season and saw his role fluctuate and change over the course of the season.