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Orioles at Rays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 16

It's Monday, June 16 and the Orioles (30-40) are in Tampa to take on the Rays (39-32). Zach Eflin is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Ryan Pepiot for Tampa Bay.

Both Baltimore and Tampa Bay are coming off series sweeps of their opponents over the weekend. The Orioles outscored the Angels 19-7, while the Rays outscored the Mets 24-9.

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 first, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Orioles at Rays

  • Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
  • Time: 7:35PM EST
  • Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
  • City: Tampa, FL
  • Network/Streaming: MASN2, FDSNSUN

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

Odds for the Orioles at the Rays

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (+107), Rays (-129)
  • Spread:  Rays -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Rays

  • Pitching matchup for June 16, 2025: Zach Eflin vs. Ryan Pepiot
    • Orioles: Zach Eflin, (6-2, 4.08 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.2 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Rays: Ryan Pepiot, (3-6, 3.31 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 9 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 Orioles and the Rays

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 Orioles and the Rays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Tampa Bay Rays on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Baltimore Orioles at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

  • The Rays have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against divisional opponents
  • The Rays' last 3 games have gone over the Total
  • The Rays have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.30 units
  • Baltimore is 6-3 when Zach Eflin pitches this season
  • Tampa Bay is 5-9 when Ryan Pepiot pitches this season

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

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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Celtics Draft Fits: Could Koby Brea bring elite 3-point shooting to Boston?

Celtics Draft Fits: Could Koby Brea bring elite 3-point shooting to Boston? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

There are many ways to make a living in the NBA. One of the most effective in 2025 is shooting 3-pointers at a high rate.

Almost every team uses the 3-point shot as a major focal point of their offense in 2025. Just look at the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. The Thunder ranked No. 6 and the Pacers were No. 9 in 3-point percentage during the regular season. The Pacers are shooting a league-best 39.3 percent from beyond the arc in the playoffs.

We can debate whether the abundance of 3-pointers in the modern game produces the most exciting product possible, but the fact is teams need to be able to shoot well from 3-point range to maximize their potential.

More Celtics Draft Fits:

The Celtics are no strangers to taking 3-pointers. In fact, they set league records for 3-point shots made and attempted per game this past season.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea for the C’s to add even more shooting to their roster in the offseason, and the 2025 NBA Draft is a great place to find those players.

The Celtics own the No. 28 overall pick in the first round and the second pick (No. 32 overall) in the second round of the upcoming draft.

One player with the 3-point shooting talent to make an impact with the Celtics is Kentucky wing Koby Brea.

Learn more about Brea and his potential fit with the C’s below:

Koby Brea’s bio

  • Position: Wing
  • Height: 6-foot-7
  • Weight: 215 pound
  • Birthdate: Nov. 6, 2002
  • Birthplace: Washington Heights, New York
  • College: Kentucky

Koby Brea’s collegiate stats

  • 2024-25 (w/Kentucky): 11.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 47.0 field goal pecentag (36 games)
  • 2023-24 (w/Dayton): 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 51.2 field goal percentage (33 games)
  • 2022-23 (w/Dayton): 6.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 36.3 field goal percentage (28 games)
  • 2021-22 (w/Dayton): 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 43.6 field goal percentage (35 games)
  • 2020-21 (w/Dayton): 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 40.0 field goal percentage (17 games)

Koby Brea’s collegiate accolades

  • 2024 Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year
  • 2022 Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year

Koby Brea’s highlights

Why Koby Brea fits with Celtics

Koby Brea might have the prettiest 3-point shooting stroke in the 2025 draft class. He shot 43.5 percent from 3-point range at Kentucky last season — one year after hitting those shots at an impressive 49.5 percent rate for Dayton in 2023-24. Brea made 43.4 percent of his 3-pointers over his five-year college career.

The issue with Brea is there aren’t many other super-impressive aspects of his skill set. He’s not an elite defender. He doesn’t rebound at a high level. His playmaking ability doesn’t fill up a highlight reel.

As our Celtics insider Chris Forsberg explains, Brea is an intriguing draft fit for the Celtics based on his 3-point shooting, but can he improve the other areas of his game?

“Koby Brea as the best 3-point shooter in the entire draft? Finishing his college career at Kentucky, Brea shot 44 percent from 3-point range for the Wildcats during his fifth college season after transferring from Dayton,” Forsberg said, as seen in the video player above. “He has decent size for a wing and provides elite shooting from distance.

“But the rest of his game is light on NBA qualities. Brea is often compared to someone like Duncan Robinson. So if Brea’s 3-point shot transfers to the NBA, he could be a useful rotational presence. Brea is likely to be a second-round pick and could land on the Celtics’ radar if they’re willing to develop the rest of his game.”

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Ottawa Senators Star Named to Preliminary 2026 Winter Olympic Roster

Ottawa Senators center Tim Stützle has been named to the preliminary roster for Team Germany ahead of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games being co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

The German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) announced the first six names on its men's preliminary Olympic roster Monday, in coordination with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the National Hockey League (NHL), the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Joining Stützle are fellow NHL stars Leon Draisaitl, Moritz Seider, Philipp Grubauer, Lukas Reichel, and Nico Sturm—a high-end core that reflects Germany’s remarkable rise on the international hockey stage.

Stützle, 23, is coming off an excellent year with Ottawa, where he led the Senators in scoring for the second time in three seasons. He put up 24 goals and 79 points, helping the club clinch its first Stanley Cup Playoff appearance since 2017. On top of that, he seems to be finding more of a groove in his two-way play.

Barring injury, Stützle is a lock for Germany’s final roster, which will be determined by the German National Olympic Committee (NOC). 

This tournament will mark the first true best-on-best Olympic men’s hockey competition since Sochi 2014, as NHL players return to the Olympics for the first time in over a decade. 

While Germany's top six, headlined by Draisaitl, Stützle, and Seider, can compete with anyone, the drop-off in depth beyond that group is swift and fierce when compared to powerhouses like Canada and the USA. 

But Germany can be a dangerous in any given game if their role players and younger talents can rise to the occasion. The Germans won silver at the games in PyeongChang in 2018 in the first of two tournaments that were completely void of active NHL players.

The men's tournament will take place from February 11 to 22, 2026, across two venues: the Milano SantaGiulia Ice Hockey Arena (14,000 capacity) and the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena (5,700 capacity).

All 12 qualified teams have been divided into three groups of four:

  • Group A: Canada, Czechia, Switzerland, France
  • Group B: Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy (host)
  • Group C: United States, Germany, Latvia, Denmark

Stutzle and company will face a tough path in Group C, including a monster opponent in the United States. Latvia is always sneaky good with loud fans who travel well. And Denmark just eliminated an NHL star laden Canadian team at this year’s Worlds.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

More Sens Headlines:

Senators Bring Back First-Rounder For Second Tour Of Duty
Fashionably Late: Top 10 Ottawa Senator Draft Day Steals
Why The Notion Of Mitch Marner Signing With Ottawa Wouldn't Work

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Zaidi details ‘uncomfortable' feeling during Giants-Dodgers series

Zaidi details ‘uncomfortable' feeling during Giants-Dodgers series originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Farhan Zaidi, begrudgingly, watched his former and current teams battle it out in a three-game series between the Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend at Dodger Stadium.

San Francisco’s former president of baseball operations, who was fired shortly after the 2024 MLB season, now is an advisor with Los Angeles, where he was the general manager from 2015-2018 before joining the Giants.

With the Giants and Dodgers squaring off for the first time this season, Zaidi spoke exclusively to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser for a Q&A about his time with San Francisco, his current role with Los Angeles and his candid thoughts about watching the Giants this season both up close and from afar.

“It is strange,” Zaidi told Slusser when asked if the weekend series is strange for him. “If I had my choice, I would just disappear or go to like a Caribbean island for three days and then come back once it’s over. It’s strange. It’s uncomfortable. Because, as I said, I do want to see the Giants do well. I do work for the Dodgers, so obviously I want the Dodgers to do well. I kind of just want this series to be over, and I want both teams to go on and be playing other teams.”

Zaid constructed the majority of the Giants’ roster that has exceeded expectations so far this season, and while he is pleased to see his former organization’s success in 2025, he does not take any solace in San Francisco’s winning ways.

“I don’t really take any responsibility or satisfaction from the fact that the team’s doing well,” Zaidi shared with Slusser. “I am very happy for the people who I had relationships who are still there because I understand the grind of the day-to-day season, and I know how much it sucks when you’re not playing well, and I know how much better it is when you are playing well.

“I know how hard those guys have worked to get the team to this point. I’m just happy for the players and the people in the organization who I know. Success is the goal and that is really validating, so I’m happy for them.”

This weekend’s Giants-Dodgers series might have been the first for Zaidi this season, but it certainly won’t be the last.

When the Orange and Black return to Dodger Stadium for what could be a pivotal four-game series on Sept. 18, Zaidi might want to plan a vacation.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Rockies at Nationals prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 16

It's Monday, June 16 and the Rockies (14-57) are in Washington to take on the Nationals (30-41). Carson Palmquist is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Jake Irvin for Washington.

The Nationals have lost eight consecutive games and are coming off being swept in a three-game series to the Marlins and Mets over the past seven days.

For Colorado, the Rockies are coming off a 10-1 win over the Braves that snapped a two-game losing streak. The Rockies are 2-7 in the past nine games and have gone 0-5 when Palmquist pitches this season.

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 first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Rockies at Nationals

  • Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
  • Time: 6:45PM EST
  • Site: Nationals Park
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming: COLR, MASN

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

Odds for the Rockies at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Rockies (+168), Nationals (-204)
  • Spread:  Nationals -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Nationals

  • Pitching matchup for June 16, 2025: Carson Palmquist vs. Jake Irvin
    • Rockies: Carson Palmquist, (0-4, 7.77 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
    • Nationals: Jake Irvin, (5-3, 4.21 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts

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

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

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 Rockies and the Nationals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Washington Nationals on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is 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 Rockies at Nationals

  • The Nationals have won 6 of their last 8 home games against the Rockies
  • 9 of the Nationals' last 11 games (82%) have stayed under the Total
  • The Nationals have failed to cover the Run Line in 6 of their last 8 games
  • Washington is 7-7 on the ML when Jake Irvin pitches this season
  • Colorado is 0-5 this season when Carson Palmquist pitches

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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Red Sox legend Ortiz uses Devers trade as lesson for young stars

Red Sox legend Ortiz uses Devers trade as lesson for young stars originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Red Sox legend David Ortiz wants young stars to use Boston’s shocking trade of left-handed slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants as a lesson. In a conversation with baseball content creator Yancen Pujols on Monday, “Big Papi” detailed why he believes there is much to learn from the 28-year-old’s fallout in Boston.

“Players need to take this as an example, nobody is indispensable … You need to be smart and understand the situation. Your worst enemy is your ego,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz’s comments were directed toward Devers’ unhappiness with his role in Boston and how, despite the three-time MLB All-Star playing under the 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed with the Red Sox in 2023, no one player is above a franchise.

After playing third base for the first eight years of his MLB career, Devers was moved to designated hitter this season to make way for Alex Bregman, whom the Red Sox signed to a three-year, $120 million free-agent contract this past offseason. Then, after Triston Casas suffered a ruptured left patellar tendon in early May, Boston asked Devers to step in at first base, which he never did.

Devers simply was turned off by the Red Sox wanting him to change positions multiple times. That fact left Ortiz wanting MLB’s up-and-comers to know that, even if you are a stud like Devers, you’re still just a part of a team – and movable.

“The organization is always going to be there,” Ortiz reiterated in an interview with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal published on Monday. “Players come and go. As a player, sometimes you’ve got to put your ego aside and understand that once you get paid, you’ve got to find a way to do what you’re told. 

“That’s a message for all young players who think they turn out to be bigger than the game. I’m not saying that Devers was like that. He’s humble. He’s a good kid. But sometimes when you’re young and immature, you (don’t realize that).”

It is unknown if Devers would still be with the Red Sox had they not signed Bregman or had Casas not gotten injured. But the what-ifs don’t matter now, as Devers is San Francisco-bound and expected to work with manager Bob Melvin and president of baseball operations Buster Posey on figuring out his new role(s).

Devers exits Boston for San Francisco after posting a .905 OPS over 73 games as a full-time DH during the 2025 MLB season. Through the national noise and Ortiz’s comments, it’s clear most believe the Giants landed a potential National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, and that the Red Sox are in the dumps.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Phillies at Marlins prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 16

It's Monday, June 16 and the Phillies (42-29) are in Miami to take on the Marlins (28-41). Mick Abel is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against Sandy Alcantara for Miami.

Miami is coming off its first sweep of the season, taking the series from Washington in a variety of ways (11-9, 4-3, 3-1). This is the second three-game winning streak of the season for the Marlins and they've yet to win four consecutive.

Philadelphia has won four straight games and five of the past six as they prepare for this four-game home stand. The Phillies swept the Blue Jays after taking two of the three versus the Cubs.

Miami is 5-8 overall this season with Alcantra pitching, but they have won two of the past three, while Abel and the Phillies have dropped the past two with him on the mound.

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 first, 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 Phillies at Marlins

  • Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: LoanDepot Park
  • City: Miami, FL
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSP, 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 Phillies at the Marlins

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Phillies (-130), Marlins (+110)
  • Spread:  Phillies -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Marlins

  • Pitching matchup for June 16, 2025: Mick Abel vs. Sandy Alcantara
    • Phillies: Mick Abel, (1-0, 2.35 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Marlins: Sandy Alcantara, (3-7, 7.14 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 6 Strikeouts

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

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

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 Phillies and the Marlins:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Marlins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

  • The Phillies have won 4 straight, while the Marlins are on a 4-game losing run at home
  • The Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara has an ERA of 7.14 and a WHIP of 1.46 when starting this season
  • The Marlins have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.19 units
  • The Marlins are 5-8 on the ML when Sandy Alcantara pitches this season
  • The Phillies have lost their last two with Mick Abel pitching this season (1-2 overall)

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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Team Sweden and Team Czechia Announce Preliminary Men's Ice Hockey Rosters for Winter Olympics

The Colorado Avalanche already have two represented players in next year's Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.

The IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation began announcing preliminary rosters (six players) for the 12 qualified countries participating in next year's Winter Games on Monday morning. At the time of this article's publication, Team Canada's first six have not yet been announced.

Team Sweden - Gabriel Landeskog

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has made the preliminary roster for Team Sweden.

Landeskog made his professional return to the NHL on April 23rd after over 1,000 days of rehabilitation of a knee injury suffered in the team's 2022 Stanley Cup run.

In five games played in this most recent postseason, the Stockholm, Sweden native posted 4 points (1 goal/3 assists).

Team Czechia - Martin Necas

Martin Necas, traded to the Avalanche this past January, has been named one of the first six players to Team Czechia's ice hockey roster. 

Necas posted a career high in points this past season between his time with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Avalanche, tallying 83 points (27 goals/56 assists) in 79 GP.

Bookmark THN's Colorado Avalanche site so you never miss the latest news surrounding the burgundy and blue!

Make sure you also bookmark The Hockey News to keep up on all things hockey, from NHL to AHL to PWHL and so much more!

Follow Bailey Curtis on X and stay up to date on live news stories following all things Colorado hockey!

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Sixers draft profile: Khaman Maluach is a bona fide big man

Sixers draft profile: Khaman Maluach is a bona fide big man originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A scouting report on NBA draft prospect Khaman Maluach:

  • Position: Center 
  • Height: 7-0.75(without shoes) 
  • Weight: 253 pounds 
  • College: Duke 

Strengths 

Maluach’s size is an obvious place to start; he’s a bona fide big man whose 7-6.75 wingspan was the highest at the draft combine.

His youth and potential to make major progress are worth highlighting, too. Maluach began playing basketball in 2019 and represented South Sudan at the Paris Olympics as a 17-year-old. He’ll be 18 on draft night. 

While Maluach wasn’t a Donovan Clingan-esque shot blocker in his one year at Duke, he did record 2.5 rejections per 40 minutes and has talent in the rim protection department outside of raw size. Maluach understands the importance of verticality and knows he can help his team through deterring and disrupting drivers. 

In the NBA, Maluach looks like he should be able to do more than simply patrol the paint. He slides his feet quite well for someone over 7 feet and isn’t in an automatically hopeless position if he’s switched onto a perimeter player. 

Offensively, Maluach largely sticks to his strengths. He’s a serious pick-and-roll lob threat, a skill that shined with Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. And Maluach’s relative lack of basketball experience doesn’t show in his non-dunk finishing. He shot 80.6 percent at the rim, per The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie.

At the foul line, Maluach finished the season with a 76.6 percent mark. He was mainly an interior player and went just 4 for 16 from three-point range, but his touch and that foul shooting success is encouraging. 

Weaknesses 

Maluach’s freshman year production was not that of a player guaranteed to become a star. Over 21.9 minutes per game, he averaged 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds. Maluach did very little as a passer, totaling 20 assists and 30 turnovers across Duke’s 39 games. 

Maluach had zero rebounds in 21 minutes during the Blue Devils’ national championship game loss to Houston. Defensive rebounding stands out as a weaker area of his game. One reason is he doesn’t possess great lower-body strength or bounce.

Maluach ranked near the bottom in most of the combine’s athletic testing, including standing vertical leap (24 inches). That’s fine for a player of Maluach’s size, but it does seem that he has considerable room to improve at carving out position inside and snagging contested boards. 

Self-awareness is a valuable trait in the NBA. With that said, there’s valid big-picture questions about how limited Maluach will be as a professional. Will he one day be able to score regularly in ways outside of lobs and put-backs? Will he be solid in multiple pick-and-roll coverages (drop, switch, at the level) and capable of playing high-quality playoff minutes? 

Fit 

Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey’s stated philosophy is to take the best player he can. Of course, Joel Embiid’s presence on the Sixers wouldn’t be irrelevant at all if the team wound up selecting Maluach, whether that’s as a surprise pick at No. 3 or later in the draft following a trade down. 

If Embiid returns to good health and still has elite prime years ahead of him, there wouldn’t be many minutes available for a player like Maluach. However, with the 31-year-old Embiid’s persistent left knee problems, that world doesn’t appear to be a certainty. 

Morey drafted a center in 2024 with the 41st overall pick and Adem Bona had a very positive home stretch of the season, starting the Sixers’ final nine games and posting 15.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per contest. Other second-round center selections during Morey’s tenure include Paul Reed (58th overall in 2020), Filip Petrusev (50th overall in 2021) and Charles Bassey (53rd overall in 2021). 

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ICYMI in Mets Land: Mark Vientos injury update; Jett Williams on fire

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Sunday, in case you missed it...

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Posey recalls familiar feeling leading up to Giants' Devers trade

Posey recalls familiar feeling leading up to Giants' Devers trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Buster Posey is no stranger to baseball-related anxiety.

The three-time World Series champion, seven-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger and 2012 National League MVP has experienced the biggest moments the game has to offer on the field. Off the field, however, as San Francisco’s new president of baseball operations, there only are so many moments where he might feel those familiar butterflies.

Acquiring superstar slugger Rafael Devers in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox on Sunday certainly was one of those moments, as Posey explained Monday morning on KNBR 680’s “Murph & Markus.”

“I was telling [my wife] Kristen yesterday morning as it felt like this was coming together, I kind of have some of the same anxiousness and anxiety that I had before every single game. It was a fun feeling, it was exciting,” Posey said.

The potential franchise-altering move, while a collaborative effort between Posey, general manager Zack Minasian and their team, ultimately rested on the shoulders of just one person: Posey.

“A decision like this is not made solely by myself, there’s a lot of input from our team, whether it’s Zack or Jeremy [Shelley] or our advisors,” Posey shared. “Ultimately, I had to be the one to pull the trigger on this, but felt like as a group we came to that decision together.”

Posey made the final decision for the Giants and hopped on a one-on-one call with Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to push the deal across the finish line.

“It was me and Breslow,” Posey revealed. “Breslow and I were kind of going back and forth to try and hash out the details, but ultimately it was myself and Breslow.”

The trade not only went through right before the Giants’ series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which led to some chaos on the field and in the clubhouse, but also on Father’s Day, where Posey was celebrating with his family while simultaneously pulling off one of the biggest trades in franchise history.

“It was a Father’s Day to remember, for sure,” Posey added. “I was on the phone and the little girls were running around doing their thing and the older kids were doing their thing, so it was a balancing act.”

Talk about a great Father’s Day gift.

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Angels at Yankees Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 16

Its Monday, June 16 and the Angels (33-37) are in the Bronx to open a series against the Yankees (42-28).

José Soriano is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Clarke Schmidt for New York.

Both of these teams limp into the series having been swept over the weekend. The Yankees last three straight in Boston to the Sox while the Angels lost all three in a series against the Orioles in Baltimore. As a result, New York's lead in the American League East is down to 3.5 games over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Halos are 7.5 games back of the Astros in the American League West.

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 Angels at Yankees

  • Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: Yankee Stadium
  • City: Bronx, NY
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNW, YES, 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 Angels at the Yankees

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Angels (+170), Yankees (-207)
  • Spread:  Yankees -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Angels at Yankees

  • Pitching matchup for June 16, 2025: José Soriano vs. Clarke Schmidt
    • Angels: José Soriano (4-5, 3.86 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/10 vs. Athletics - 7IP, 1ER, 2H, 2BB, 12Ks
    • Yankees: Clarke Schmidt (3-3, 3.60 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/11 at Kansas City - 6IP, 0ER, 2H, 3BB, 7Ks

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 Angels at Yankees

  • The Yankees have won 14 of their last 20 home games against teams with losing records
  • The Angels' last 3 games against the Yankees have stayed under the Total
  • Aaron Judge is 1-13 over his last 4 games and is hitting .283 in June
  • Paul Goldschmidt was 2-8 in the series against Boston over the weekend and is hitting just .191 for the month of June
  • Mike Trout was 2-11 in the series at Baltimore over the weekend and is hitting .273 in June

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 Angels and the Yankees

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

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

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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Pacers’ Rick Carlisle defends referee Scott Foster in wake of fan criticism

OKLAHOMA CITY — In the wake of Indiana’s come-from-ahead Game 4 loss, Pacers fans were frustrated. Very frustrated. One gentleman approached me while I was still sitting in a media area, and asked if I was writing about the game, and if so did I know how few times Tyrese Haliburton had been to the free throw line (once). My response that "Tyrese doesn't really drive like that" — meaning he doesn't drive with force seeking contact like Giannis Antetokounmpo or even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Haliburton is more finesse — wasn't the answer he wanted to hear. Nor was my comment that it was called both ways, that the Pacers took just five fewer free throws than the Thunder.

That gentleman's frustration echoed throughout Indianapolis and beyond after the game — Bill Simmons blasted the officiating on his podcast — with much of the ire focused on lead official Scott Foster, who has long been a lightning rod among fans.

Before Game 5, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stuck up for Foster.

"I think it's awful some of the things I've seen about the officiating, and Scott Foster in particular," Carlisle said. "I've known Scott Foster for 30 years. He is a great official. He has done a great job in these playoffs. We've had him a lot of times. The ridiculous scrutiny that is being thrown out there is terrible and unfair and unjust and stupid."

Carlise did not want to get into specifics on what he was responding to. Foster is one of the highest-rated officials, according to the NBA's metrics. He's seen as fair and consistent, which is why he has worked 26 NBA Finals games across 18 seasons. After Game 4, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged that there were a lot of whistles, but he thought the officiating was fair.

"There were a crap ton of fouls. That's why there were a crap ton of free throws," Daigneault said. "I thought the refs did a good job tonight. Both teams shot a lot of free throws. It was physical. That was what the game was. It was a physical game on both ends of the floor for both teams."

One play that Pacers fans focused on was Gilgeous-Alexander's baseline step back jumper to take the lead with 2:23 remaining in the fourth — they wanted him called for using the off arm or a travel.

First, that's not a travel under the NBA's definition, while SGA stumbles, it's a gather and two steps. Second, there is a case that Gilgeous-Alexander could be called for pushing off, although Nesmith sells the contact. That's not the way the officials had called it all game, but the case can be made that they should have called it there. Pacers fans may want to be careful about asking for more calls with off arms because that would fall both ways and Pascal Siakam, among others in Indiana, would rack up more fouls.

Whatever happens in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, and going forward, the officiating will be scrutinized. Just don't expect it to be what decides the game.

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Who could Red Sox target in free agency after getting rid of Devers' contract?

Who could Red Sox target in free agency after getting rid of Devers' contract? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox moved on from another face-of-the-franchise player Sunday when they traded designated hitter Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in a shocking move.

Just hours after sweeping the rival New York Yankees and building some real, positive momentum for the first time all season, the Red Sox dealt Devers for a package that included left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks, minor league outfielder James Tibbs III and minor league right-handed pitcher Jose Bello.

The return was underwhelming, to put it mildly. None of these players or prospects have star potential, although Tibbs could develop into a useful player. He was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.

One of the most significant aspects of the trade for the Red Sox was they managed to offload all of the $254 million remaining on Devers’ 10-year, $313 million contract.

As a result, the Red Sox could have a lot of money to spend in the offseason in the free agent and/or trade markets. And in addition to getting rid of Devers’ contract, the Red Sox also have the salaries of Walker Buehler ($21 million) and Lucas Giolito ($19 million), among others, coming off the books following the 2025 season.

While the Devers trade itself looks like a huge blunder based on the return, this deal ultimately will be judged by how the Red Sox are able to upgrade their roster with the money they saved by moving him.

So, which players could potentially be available for the Red Sox to spend their money on this winter?

Here’s a list of notable players who are able to become unrestricted free agents after the 2025 season. It should be noted that some of them could remain with their current teams.

Kyle Tucker, RF, Cubs

Tucker likely will be the best position player available, assuming he reaches the open market. The Cubs traded for him last offseason, and he’s one of the primary reasons why they lead the National League Central Division right now.

He is batting .277 with 13 home runs, 43 RBI, a .389 on-base percentage and a .893 OPS. Tucker also won the 2022 World Series with the Houston Astros. The 28-year-old veteran would be very expensive to sign, and the Red Sox don’t have a huge need in the outfield. But if the Red Sox want a proven bat for their lineup, Tucker is worth pursuing.

Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets

The Red Sox have a massive need for a first baseman, the position where Alonso has made a huge impact on the Mets for many years. He’s also having a tremendous season, hitting .293 with 17 home runs and a league-leading 63 RBI. His .960 OPS ranks fifth among all players. Alonso will be 31 in December, and he might need to switch to DH at some point, but his ability to play first base and be very productive at the plate would make him an interesting target for Boston.

Josh Naylor, 1B, Diamondbacks

Another option at first base for the Red Sox could be Naylor, who set career highs with 31 home runs and 108 RBI for the Cleveland Guardians last season. He is hitting .300 with nine homers, 48 RBI and an .827 OPS in 69 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2025. Naylor isn’t an amazing defensive player at first base, but he would add some reliable offensive production to Boston’s lineup.

Dylan Cease, SP, Padres

The Red Sox need another ace to join Garrett Crochet atop the rotation, and Cease could be one of the top pitchers available in the offseason. He is the only pitcher who has struck out 200-plus batters in each of the last four seasons, and with 96 strikeouts in 14 games this year, he’s on pace to hit that mark again.

His 2025 season — 2-5, 4.28 ERA, 1.30 WHIP — has been disappointing so far. But in his last start on June 11, Cease pitched seven innings and gave up just three hits and zero runs, while striking out 11 in a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cease would be a huge addition to the Red Sox rotation, but would their front office splurge for a starter who will be 30 years old on Opening Day 2026?

Zac Gallen, SP, Diamondbacks

Gallen is not having a great 2025 campaign so far. He is 4-8 with a 5.19 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and 0.4 WAR. However, he has been a very good pitcher for the Diamondbacks over the last four seasons, including two top-five finishes in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2022 and 2023.

Framber Valdez, SP, Astros

Valdez will be 32 years old at the start of next season, so he might not be the best long-term fit for the Red Sox, but he is a very talented and reliable starter. He has started at least 28 games for the Astros in each of the last three years. He’s having a good 2025 season, too, posting a 7-4 record with a 3.10 ERA, 96 strikeouts and a 1.09 WHIP in 14 appearances so far.

And if the Red Sox get back to the postseason in the short term, Valdez would be a nice pitcher to have in that kind of atmosphere given his previous experience and success in big games. He pitched fantastic during the Astros’ run to a 2022 World Series title.