Posts

Posted on

Cubs at Twins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 9

Its Wednesday, July 9 and the Cubs (54-37) are in Minneapolis to take on the Twins (44-47).

Cade Horton is slated to take the mound for Chicago against David Festa for Minnesota.

These teams have split the first two games of the series as Minnesota won 8-1. Ryan Jeffers went 3-4 and drove in three runs. Simeon Woods Richardson threw five scoreless innings to earn his fifth win of the season.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Cubs at Twins

  • Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Target Field
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming: MARQ, MNNT

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 Cubs at the Twins

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Cubs (-114), Twins (-106)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Twins

  • Pitching matchup for July 9, 2025: Cade Horton vs. David Festa
    • Cubs: Cade Horton (3-2, 4.15 ERA)
      Last outing: 7/3 vs. Cleveland - 7IP, 0ER, 5H, 2BB, 5Ks
    • Twins: David Festa (2-3, 5.48 ERA)
      Last outing: 7/3 at Miami - 6IP, 4ER, 5H, 1BB, 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 Cubs at Twins

  • The Cubs have won 27 of 37 games following a defeat
  • The Under is 7-3 in the Twins' last 10 games
  • The Cubs have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight games at Minnesota
  • David Festa is averaging a little more than 1K per inning pitched this season - 45Ks in 42.2IP
  • Pete Crow-Armstrong is 2-13 over his last 3 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 Cubs and the Twins

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Minnesota Twins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

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

Marlins at Reds Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 9

It's Wednesday, July 9 and the Marlins (42-48) are in Cincinnati to take on the Reds (46-46). Sandy Alcantara is slated to take the mound for Miami against Andrew Abbott for Cincinnati.

Miami took game 2 of this four-game series, 12-2, yesterday to extend their dominance to 17 runs scored to the Reds' two through two games. The Marlins are now 12-3 over the past 15 games, while the Reds have lost four straight and could drop below .500 with another loss.

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 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 Marlins at Reds

  • Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Great American Ball Park
  • City: Cincinnati, OH
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNFL, FDSNOH

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 Marlins at the Reds

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Marlins (+119), Reds (-141)
  • Spread:  Reds -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Marlins at Reds

  • Pitching matchup for July 9, 2025: Sandy Alcantara vs. Andrew Abbott
    • Marlins: Sandy Alcantara, (4-8, 7.01 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Reds: Andrew Abbott, (7-1, 2.15 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.1 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 9 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 2 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 Marlins and the Reds

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Marlins and the Reds:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cincinnati Reds on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the 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 Marlins at Reds

  • Miami is 7-10 in Alcantara's 17 starts this year
  • Cincinnati is 11-4 in Abbott's 15 starts this year
  • The Reds have won 4 of their last 5 home series
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Marlins' last 5 road games
  • The Marlins have covered the Run Line in 3 straight games at the Reds

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)
Posted on

Four Big-Name NHL Players Entering Their 20th Seasons In 2025-26

Only 73 players in NHL history have played at least 20 seasons. 

The 2024-25 campaign saw four players accomplish this major milestone, as Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Corey Perry and Ryan Suter all just completed their 20th seasons.

Now, unless there are any sudden changes, four more players under contract are set to play in their 20th NHL seasons in 2025-26. (Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jack Johnson can also join the list if they sign a new contract. They're currently UFAs.)

Evgeni Malkin, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin entered the NHL during the 2006-07 season and immediately cemented himself as a legitimate star with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 78 games as a rookie, he posted 33 goals, 52 assists and 85 points.

Malkin, 38, undoubtedly has put together a Hall of Fame-worthy career. In 1,213 NHL games with the Penguins, he’s put up 514 goals, 832 assists, 1,346 points and a plus-28 rating. He has also won an array of awards, including the Calder Memorial Trophy, Art Ross Trophy (2009 and 2012), Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. He also helped lead the Penguins to three Stanley Cup championships and is a three-time first-team all-star.

While Malkin’s time as one of the NHL’s top superstars has passed, he is still a solid top-six forward at this stage. The 6-foot-5 Russian recorded 16 goals and 50 points in 68 games this past season. With numbers like these, he is still a key part of Pittsburgh’s roster, and it will be intriguing to see what kind of season he puts together in the final year of his contract.

Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

Kris Letang, D, Pittsburgh Penguins 

Kris Letang has been a crucial part of Pittsburgh’s blueline throughout his career, and that should remain the case next season.

The 38-year-old defenseman reaching his 20th season is quite impressive, as he’s recovered from two strokes and surgery to close a small hole in the heart.  

In 1,161 career games with the Penguins, he has recorded 175 goals, 597 assists, 772 points and a plus-85 rating. The Montreal native is also a two-time second-team all-star, a Masterton Trophy winner and a three-time Stanley Cup champion.

Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles Kings 

The Los Angeles Kings captain has not shown any signs of slowing down. Anze Kopitar, 37, is still one of the NHL’s top two-way centers, posting 21 goals, 67 points and a plus-14 rating in 81 games this past season.

In 1,454 career NHL games, all with the Kings, Kopitar has put up 440 goals, 838 assists, 1,278 points and a plus-108 rating. The 11th overall pick in 2005 has won the Stanley Cup and Selke Trophy twice each, the Lady Byng Trophy three times and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in 2022. He’s also played in the All-Star Game five times.

Overall, Kopitar has been one of the game’s top forwards for so many years now, and that should remain the case during his 20th season. The Slovenian superstar is easily one of the greatest players in Kings history.

Jordan Staal, C, Carolina Hurricanes 

At just 36 years old, Jordan Staal could be the first player taken in the 2006 NHL draft to play his 20th NHL season in 2025-26. After being selected second overall by the Penguins, Staal immediately made their roster in 2006-07 and has been one of the game’s top defensive forwards since. 

Fast forward to today, and Staal is currently the captain of the Carolina Hurricanes. In 75 games this past season with the Metropolitan Division club, he posted 13 goals, 36 points and a plus-15 rating. He remains a key part of the Hurricanes’ roster, just like he has been for his 13-year tenure there. 

In 1,328 career games split between the Penguins and Hurricanes, Staal has recorded 298 goals, 413 assists, 711 points and a plus-62 rating. He is also a Stanley Cup champion and a two-time Selke Trophy finalist.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Posted on

Canadiens Could Have Something Special In New Forward

The Montreal Canadiens have had themselves an active off-season. Their biggest move was acquiring defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. However, the Canadiens also made another trade that has the potential to a very good one for them. 

On July 1, the Canadiens acquired forward Zach Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux. While Mailloux has the potential to emerge as a good NHL defenseman, it is hard not to like the Canadiens bringing in Bolduc to their roster.

Bolduc just had a breakout season with the Blues in 2024-25, as he set new career highs with 19 goals, 17 assists, 36 points, and 108 hits. With numbers like these, he is already capable of providing solid offense and should give the Canadiens' middle six a nice boost immediately.

Yet, when noting that Bolduc is only 22 years old and just getting his NHL career started, he should only improve as he continues to gain more experience. The potential for Bolduc to emerge as a legitimate top-six forward is there, as he already has a nice mix of skill, speed, and grit. Thus, he is precisely the kind of young, promising forward a team on the rise like the Canadiens should be taking a chance on. 

Overall, Bolduc is already a very solid player, and he likely has not hit his ceiling yet. If he takes another step forward in this campaign, he could emerge as a key part of the Canadiens' roster. It will be fascinating what kind of season he puts together in 2025-26 from here. 

Will The New CBA Bring Big Changes To Players’ Style?Will The New CBA Bring Big Changes To Players’ Style?The League and the NHLPA announced on Tuesday that the new Collective Bargaining Agreement has been ratified. As expected, the new deal, which will take effect at the start of the 2026-27 season, will bring numerous changes, and one of them should be particularly popular with the players.

Photo Credit: © Connor Hamilton-Imagn Images

Posted on

Rockies at Red Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 9

It's Wednesday, July 9 and the Rockies (21-71) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (48-45). Antonio Senzatela is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Lucas Giolito for Boston.

Brayan Bello went a complete 9.0 innings with 10 strikeouts, 5 hits, 2 earned runs, and 1 walk in Boston's 10-2 win on Tuesday. The Red Sox have scored 19 runs to the Rockies' five in this series.

Boston's won five-straight games and scored at least six runs in all five, while Colorado is 1-4 over the past five and on a two-game losing streak.

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 Red Sox

  • Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: COLR, NESN

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

Odds for the Rockies at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Rockies (+243), Red Sox (-305)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for July 9, 2025: Antonio Senzatela vs. Lucas Giolito
    • Rockies: Antonio Senzatela, (3-12, 6.57 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Red Sox: Lucas Giolito, (5-1, 3.66 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.2 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Run Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 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 Rockies and the Red Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Rockies and the Red Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Boston Red Sox 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 recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

  • Boston is 6-1 in Giolito's last seven starts
  • Colorado is 5-13 in Senzatela's 18 starts this year
  • The Red Sox have won 5 of their last 7 home games, while the Rockies have lost 6 in 8
  • The Red Sox's last 3 games versus the Rockies have gone over the Total
  • The Rockies have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight road games against the Red Sox

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)
Posted on

Blue Jays at White Sox prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for July 9

Its Wednesday, July 9 and the Blue Jays (54-38) are in Chicago looking to sweep their three-game series against the White Sox (30-62).

Eric Lauer is slated to take the mound for Toronto against Adrian Houser for Chicago.

Last night the Jays won their tenth in a row. In a game shortened due to rain, Chris Bassitt went six innings allowing just one run and four hits to pick up his ninth win of the season, 6-1 over the ChiSox. Toronto's offense pounded three Chicago pitchers for 12 hits over the course of 6.2 innings before the game was halted due to the weather.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Blue Jays at White Sox

  • Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2025
  • Time: 2:10PM EST
  • Site: Rate Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: Sportsnet, CHSN, 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 Blue Jays at the White Sox

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Blue Jays (-149), White Sox (+124)
  • Spread:  Blue Jays -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at White Sox

  • Pitching matchup for July 9, 2025: Eric Lauer vs. Adrian Houser
    • Blue Jays: Eric Lauer (4-1, 2.65 ERA)
      Last outing: 7/4 vs. Angels - 6IP, 2ER, 3H, 1BB, 6Ks
    • White Sox: Adrian Houser (4-2, 1.60 ERA)
      Last outing: 7/4 at Colorado - 8IP, 0ER, 4H, 2BB, 6Ks

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

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

  • The Blue Jays have won 3 straight road games
  • The Under is 4-1 in the Blue Jays' last 5 games against American League teams
  • The Blue Jays have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games, profiting 1.90 units
  • Vlad Guerrero Jr. collected 2 hits last night and is now 6-15 over his last 4 games
  • Mike Tauchman is enjoying a 6-game hitting streak (12-25)

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

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Blue Jays and the White Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Blue Jays and the White Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Toronto Blue Jays 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 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)
Posted on

Pirates’ Oneil Cruz will bring his record-breaking power to the Home Run Derby

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz, known more for delivering hard-hit homers than producing them in quantity, was added to the Home Run Derby in Atlanta.

He is the fifth player named as a participant in the event at Truist Park, which hosts the All-Star Game a night later. Also competing are Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and Washington’s James Wood.

“I’m really, really happy just because that’s what I do,” Cruz said in Kansas City. “I like to hit balls far. I think I’m going to enjoy it a lot.”

During the fourth inning against the Royals, he hit his 16th homer, a 458-foot blast with an exit velocity of 115.6 mph.

The 26-year-old Cruz hit a career-best 21 homers last season.

“They’ve been trying to get me in the Home Run Derby for the last couple years, but last year, I was coming back from an ankle injury and was not feeling that good at that time,” Cruz said. “But I’m in a good spot right now.”

When the 6-foot-7 Cruz hits a homer, he often hits it hard. On May 25 against visiting Milwaukee, he hit a ball measured at 122.9 mph into the Allegheny River, the highest exit velocity on a home run since Statcast began tracking in 2015.

“Oh, man, I can’t wait to see him hit down there,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “He’s going to make Atlanta look small after seeing him hit (batting practice) down there last year and the year before. Just really excited for him and the opportunity he’s got to go be a part of that.”

Cruz also showed off his arm with a 105.2 mph throw to nail Seattle’s J.P. Crawford at the plate. That was the second-hardest thrown ball to produce an outfield assist recorded by Statcast.

Posted on

MLB mock draft roundup: Red Sox linked to Tennessee infielder at No. 15

MLB mock draft roundup: Red Sox linked to Tennessee infielder at No. 15 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox entered 2025 with one of the best farm systems in Major League Baseball. They’ll add to their talented pipeline when the MLB Draft begins this Sunday.

Boston owns the 15th overall pick in this year’s draft. It’s anyone’s guess who will be available — and what type of prospect chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has in mind — but one name continues to be connected to the Red Sox in the first round: Gavin Kilen.

Kilen is a left-handed-hitting middle infielder who starred this past season for the Tennessee Volunteers. The 21-year-old slashed .357/.441/.671 with 15 homers and 46 RBI in 53 games.

The Red Sox selected Kilen out of high school in the 13th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, but the Wisconsin native honored his commitment with Louisville. After a rough freshman season with the Cardinals, he took his game to another level as a sophomore before transferring to Tennessee.

Kilen showed more pop at the plate with the Volunteers, but his impressive bat-to-ball skills are what turned him into a potential first-rounder. He’s a solid defensive shortstop, though he will likely find a permanent home at second base in the pros.

The 2025 MLB Draft begins Sunday at 6 p.m. ET in Atlanta. ​Below is a roundup of expert predictions for Boston’s first-round pick that include Kilen and a handful of other names to monitor:

Keith Law, The Athletic:Gavin Kilen, 2B/SS, Tennessee

Law: “The Red Sox were all college last year, with just one high schooler in their top 10 picks and only two high school picks in their entire draft. Given their de-emphasis on in-person scouting that seems likely to continue. Kilen scores particularly well by batted-ball data and swing decisions, two things the Red Sox value now. I could also see them on Charles Davalan for the same reason. If they were to go the high school route, Gavin Fien would be a fit. I haven’t heard them on pitching in the first round, although Kyson Witherspoon and Tyler Bremner might be options if either fell here.”

Tyler Jennings and Connor Dorney, Just Baseball: Gavin Kilen, 2B/SS, Tennessee

Jennings and Dorney: “The likelihood that Kilen drops out of the top fifteen is very low at this stage. His new approach boosted his draft stock massively, plus he’s shown the ability to play shortstop at the next level.

“It’s a step away from their recent trends, as Boston tends to go for toolsy preps, which makes Xavier Neyens a popular suggestion here.”

Carlos Collazo, Baseball America: Gavin Kilen, 2B/SS, Tennessee

Tim Kelly, Bleacher Report: Gavin Kilen, 2B/SS, Tennessee

Matt Rooney, Bleacher Nation: Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon HS (WA)

Prep Baseball:Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon HS (WA)

Prep Baseball: “Potentially the infield version of Roman Anthony? The Red Sox continue to stockpile position player talent with another prep left-handed-hitting slugger.”

Kiley McDaniel, ESPN: Gavin Fien, 3B, Great Oak HS (CA)

McDaniel: “I was down to (Gage) Wood and Fien as top options after I took (Steele) Hall for the Rays, so holding my breath and not trading up ended up working here. I’m the high guy on Fien in predraft rankings, and the Red Sox are rumored to be the high team on him in real life, so this is a pretty likely outcome. He was a top-10 prospect coming out of the summer before he had a mediocre spring. But he still has the same tools and had a strong showing at the draft combine, affirming the upside is still there. This is the part of the draft I referred to as the “mush” of similar, 45 FV grade college players, and Fien is one of a couple of prep prospects who fit in there.

Mike Axisa, CBS Sports: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M

Axisa: “LaViolette was the favorite to go No. 1 overall entering 2025, though a down spring likely bumped him into the middle of the first round. The Red Sox have not used a first-round pick on a pitcher since Tanner Houck in 2017 and getting LaViolette here would have been unthinkable a few weeks ago. He fits Boston’s archetype as a big-time power threat, though his approach is not as refined as some of their more recent first rounders (Braden Montgomery, Kyle Teel, etc.)”

Jim Callis, MLB.com: Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS (AL)

Callis: “The Red Sox could go in several directions here. Hall gives off some Trea Turner vibes and could really take off with the organization’s bat speed and strength program. They drafted Kilen in high school, while (Marek) Houston and (Brendan) Summerhill are two more college position players who could interest them. So might Witherspoon, Bremner or Arkansas right-hander Gage Wood from the college pitching ranks. Boston is linked repeatedly to Fien and may be able to float him to No. 33 with its $12.4 million bonus pool.”

Dan Treacy, Sporting News: Ike Irish, C/OF, Auburn

Treacy: “College hitters develop quickly enough that position is worth considering, and whether the Red Sox believe they are set at catcher long-term with Carlos Narvaez remains to be seen. Boston did, however, have big plans for 2023 first-rounder Kyle Teel before he was sent to the White Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade, and Irish could be one way to fill the void.

“The Auburn slugger hit .364 with 19 home runs and a 1.179 OPS this season, showcasing improved power. While he could be an outfielder long-term, Irish’s bat should make him an option in this range of the first round.”

Taylor Blake Ward, The Sporting Tribune: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC-Santa Barbara

Ward: “It’s hard to move past the noise on (Gavin) Fien, but also hard to ignore what Boston did last year in the draft with pitching and aversion to preps. I still think Fien is very much in play, as would be (Kayson) Cunningham or Hall. With Boston running so much of their development through philosophy and overhauling their pitching philosophy, it’s not surprising to hear names like Witherspoon, Bremner and Wood come up here. A handful of college bats also get mentioned in the likes of Irish, Kilen and Summerhill.”

Posted on

Transfer latest: Arsenal open Madueke talks with Chelsea, Everton sign £27m striker Barry

  • Madueke not expected to end Arsenal’s interest in Eze

  • Sunderland pay about £19.5m to buy winger Talbi

Arsenal have opened talks with Chelsea over signing Noni Madueke. Personal terms have been agreed with the winger, who is increasingly likely to move to the Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea have been revamping their attack and decided they were open to selling Madueke after winning the Conference League in May. The 23-year-old has had a bit-part role during his side’s run to the Club World Cup final and is likely to benefit from a change of scenery. Madueke made a late substitute appearance during the win over Fluminense in the semi-final.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Mets at Orioles prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 9

Its Wednesday, July 9 and the Mets (53-39) are in Baltimore to take on the Orioles (40-50).

David Peterson is slated to take the mound for New York against Tomoyuki Sugano for Baltimore.

Just when you think the Orioles are getting on a roll their bullpen implodes and the Mets rally for four in the eighth to tie the game at six before winning it in the tenth, 7-6. The Top 4 in the Mets' batting order - Nimmo,Lindor, Soto, Alonso - went a combined 8-19 and drove in six runs. Edwin Diaz Worked a perfect ninth to improve to 4-0 on the season for New York.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Mets at Orioles

  • Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
  • City: Baltimore, MD
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

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 Mets at the Orioles

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Mets (-153), Orioles (+128)
  • Spread:  Mets -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mets at Orioles

  • Pitching matchup for July 9, 2025: David Peterson vs. Tomoyuki Sugano
    • Mets: David Peterson (6-4, 3.18 ERA)
      Last outing: 7/3 vs. Milwaukee - 6.2IP, 1ER, 5H, 3BB, 4Ks
    • Orioles: Tomoyuki Sugano (6-5, 4.44 ERA)
      Last outing: 7/2 at Texas - 4.2IP, 6ER, 10H, 1BB, 5Ks

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 Mets at Orioles

  • The Mets' record in their last 5 games stands at 4-1
  • The Mets' last 4 road games have gone over the Total
  • The Orioles have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.69 units
  • Tomoyuki Sugano has not last beyond the 5th inning since June 3
  • Brandon Nimmo collected 2 hits last night and is 8-24 (.333) over his 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 Mets and the Orioles

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Mets 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 recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

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

Celtics' 2025 NBA Cup opponents: C's get tough draw in Group B

Celtics' 2025 NBA Cup opponents: C's get tough draw in Group B originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The new-look Boston Celtics will have their work cut out for them in the 2025 NBA Cup.

The NBA’s annual in-season tournament is back for its third season, with this year’s competition beginning on Oct. 31 and running through Nov. 28.

The “Emirates NBA Cup” begins with the Group Stage, in which the NBA’s 30 teams are divided into six groups (three in each conference) with five teams per group.

Each team plays four Group Stage games — one against each opponent in their group. The winner in each group advances to the knockout stage along with one wild card team, the runner-up from each conference. The knockout stage is a single-elimination tournament.

The groups for the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup were unveiled Wednesday, and the Celtics will be in Group B with the Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers.

This would have been an easy draw for the Celtics a few years ago, but times have changed in the wide-open Eastern Conference.

The Magic have the third-best odds to win the Eastern Conference (+550) after adding Desmond Bane to a core that includes Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, and they’ll be out for revenge after Boston eliminated them from the first round of the 2025 playoffs. The Sixers are right behind Orlando with the fourth-best odds to win the East (+1000) and are always dangerous when Joel Embiid is healthy.

The Pistons, meanwhile, are a dark-horse playoff contender after finishing sixth in the East last season and added more scoring in free agency by picking up Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert.

In essence, the Nets are the only “easy” matchup in this group for a Celtics team that will be without Jayson Tatum as he recovers from Achilles surgery and lost Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and (likely) Al Horford this offseason.

As Boston is well aware, though, anything can happen in NBA Cup play: The Celtics entered last season as the reigning NBA champions, yet dropped their first NBA Cup game to the Atlanta Hawks and failed to advance out of their group.

If the C’s can reverse their fortunes in 2025 and earn a spot in the knockout round, that’d be a nice boost for a team looking to exceed expectations this season.

Posted on

NHL Rumor Roundup: Are The Montreal Canadiens Pursuing Jordan Kyrou?

Jordan Kyrou surfaced as a trade candidate leading up to last month's NHL draft. 

While the 27-year-old  right winger remains with the St. Louis Blues, he's been linked to the Montreal Canadiens in the rumor mill.

Following the Canadiens' acquisition of defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders on June 27, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported they weren't done making trades. He said they were among several teams expressing an interest in Kyrou. While the Canadiens need a second-line center, they're also open to adding a scoring winger.

LeBrun indicated that teams weren't sure how serious Blues GM Doug Armstrong was about moving Kyrou. He's in the third season of his eight-year contract with an average annual value of $8.125 million. LeBrun pointed out that Kyrou's no-trade clause would have kicked in on July 1. He subsequently noted the Canadiens' interest in Kyrou remained throughout the draft weekend but felt it would take multiple assets for the Habs to land him. 

On June 28, The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford claimed the Blues were in the market for a center, but that's something the Canadiens can't help them with. Armstrong has since added centers Pius Suter and Nick Bjugstad via free agency.

Jordan Kyrou (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Kyrou's no-trade clause is now in effect, but reports persist claiming the Canadiens are still pursuing him. RG.Org's Marco D'Amico reported a source claiming they're still trying to add to their top-six forwards and still have the Blues winger among their targets.

Montreal and St. Louis have a recent trade history, with the Canadiens shipping defenseman Logan Mailloux to the Blues for gritty winger Zack Bolduc. However, the possibility of the Habs landing Kyrou rests on whether he's willing to waive his clause and if they could meet what could be a steep asking price from the Blues.  Both options appear remote.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Posted on

Sixers reportedly changing up 2-way contract picture, signing Dominick Barlow

Sixers reportedly changing up 2-way contract picture, signing Dominick Barlow  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers are reportedly changing up their two-way contract picture. 

The team is signing Dominick Barlow to a two-way deal, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported the Sixers are waiving Alex Reese. 

Barlow is a 22-year-old New Jersey native who played a high school season at Saint Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. At the 2022 NBA draft combine, Barlow measured at 6-foot-8.75 without shoes and 221 pounds with a 7-foot-3 wingspan. 

After going undrafted, Barlow spent two seasons with the Spurs and one with the Hawks. He had a strong game against the woefully undermanned Sixers last year, posting 13 points on 4-for-4 shooting and 10 rebounds in Atlanta’s March 23 win.

Barlow’s made 96 career NBA appearances, averaging 4.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game. He’s been very productive in the G League and recorded 21.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per contest last regular season for the College Park Skyhawks. 

Fourteen of Reese’s 15 NBA games came last season as a Sixer. The 26-year old stretch four averaged 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds. 

The Sixers will now have two frontcourt players on two-way contracts in Barlow and Jabari Walker. Rookie shooting guard Hunter Sallis is their other two-way deal.

Posted on

What's next for Anfernee Simons? Exploring two paths for new Celtics guard

What's next for Anfernee Simons? Exploring two paths for new Celtics guard originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics announced the acquisition of guard Anfernee Simons on Monday when the Jrue Holiday trade with the Portland Trail Blazers became official.

The final trade ended up being a one-for-one swap of Simons for Holiday — a move that saved the Celtics some money in their mission to get under the second apron of the luxury tax. Holiday has three years and around $100 million left on his contract.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens praised Simons at a press conference Tuesday.

“Anfernee is a guy people out here probably don’t see as much because of the time (of Blazers games on the West Coast),” Stevens told reporters. “But his ability to score, his ability to shoot the ball, make really hard shots, is pretty elite. And you look at a guy who’s 26 years old and averaged 20 points a game for three straight years.

“I think he’s a really good player, and I think he can get better. That’s a big part of it.”

Simons’ future with the Celtics is uncertain. He is entering the final year of his contract and has a salary of $27.7 million for the 2025-26 season. If he continues to play at a high level offensively, signing him to an extension could be pretty expensive.

And if the Celtics really want to get under the first apron, or the entire luxury tax altogether, moving Simons before the trade deadline next February could make sense, too.

Let’s evaluate the case for keeping Simons and the case for trading him.

Case for keeping Simons

The Celtics might not have Jayson Tatum for all of next season as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles suffered in May. It’s obviously a huge blow in all facets of the game for Boston, but it’s going to be especially difficult to replace Tatum’s impact offensively.

Tatum has led the Celtics in scoring each of the last six seasons. He became the first player in team history to average 30-plus points in a season in 2022-23. He is a three-level scorer capable of completely taking over games offensively.

🔊 Celtics Talk: Derrick White tackles trade rumors, a new-look Celtics roster and excitement to prove doubters wrong | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

Replacing Tatum’s scoring will be a group effort for the Celtics, and Simons could play a key role in that. Simons averaged 19.3 points per game for the Blazers last season. It was his fourth straight season averaging 17-plus points per game.

The Celtics have taken and made a record-breaking amount of 3-pointers under head coach Joe Mazzulla, and Simons shouldn’t have a problem transitioning to that kind of system.

Simons has hit 38.1 percent of his 3-point attempts in his career. He was one of 23 players to average three or more made 3-pointers per game last season. He’s also one of the league’s best free throw shooters, having made more than 90 percent of his attempts each of the previous two seasons. Simons also is capable of beating defenders off the dribble and finishing at the rim.

Simons is a legit scorer, and he could take some of the offensive burden from Jaylen Brown and Derrick White next season. He’s not a bad playmaker, either.

There are valid concerns about Simons’ defense. He’s not a good perimeter defender, and that was evident on March 5 in Boston when he gave up 27 points on 11-for-25 shooting as the primary defender in a loss to the Celtics at TD Garden. That was the game where both Payton Pritchard and Derrick White scored above 40 points.

But the Celtics will need offense next season, and Simons can be trusted to provide that. He could even play a sixth man role if Payton Pritchard moves to the starting lineup after Holiday’s departure.

Case for trading Simons

What are the chances the Celtics try to trade Simons?

Here’s what ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on Wednesday’s episode of The Hoop Collective podcast:

“I have talked to other teams who have said the Celtics are actively trying to trade Anfernee Simons. Whether they can or not is another [thing].”

The main reason to consider a Simons trade is that, depending on what the C’s get in return, this kind of move could shed a lot of salary and help Boston get below the aprons.

The Celtics are barely above the second apron right now and about $13 million over the first apron. Moving Simons and clearing at least half of his $27.7 million salary could be enough to get Boston under the first apron. Getting under the luxury tax for two consecutive seasons would reset the harsh repeater tax penalties.

!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}})}();

A Simons trade also could be a way for the Celtics to acquire more frontcourt depth.

The C’s are pretty thin at power forward and center. They’ve already lost veteran centers Kristaps Porzingis (trade) and Luke Kornet (free agency) this offseason, and Stevens said Tuesday that center Al Horford is “unlikely” to return.

Right now, it’s looking like Neemias Queta or Xavier Tillman Sr. will be Boston’s starting center, which is less than ideal. Trading Simons in a deal that sends a starting-caliber center to the Celtics would be something worth exploring.

The Celtics don’t have to make a decision on Simons’ future in the near term. They can go into the regular season, see how well he fits, and then determine how to proceed.

Posted on

Three takeaways from Warriors' three California Classic summer league games

Three takeaways from Warriors' three California Classic summer league games originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As the Warriors remain the only team yet to make a single move in NBA free agency, summer league already is underway. The Warriors on Tuesday concluded their three California Classic games at Chase Center, going 1-2 under Lainn Wilson, who will begin his first season as the head coach of their G League affiliate in Santa Cruz this year. 

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ three games on their home court. Their Las Vegas Summer League schedule starts Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers at 8 p.m. PT. 

The draft picks

Disclaimer: Overreacting to one, two or any summer league game is a federal offense in the Court of NBC Sports Bay Area. 

Now that we have that taken care of, let’s break down the first impressions of Alex Toohey and Will Richard. Both of the Warriors’ draft picks had to sit out the team’s first game because their separate draft day trades hadn’t been made official by the league. The plan then was for Toohey and Richard to sit the second game and play the third, but Richard forced his way in after the trade was finalized. 

Richard, in two games, flashed the two-way know-how he showcased throughout his four-year college career. On the first possession of his summer league debut, Richard took a swipe-down steal the other way for a layup. He scored 16 points in that first game and had two steals. Richard then dropped 12 points in his second game, but his overall shooting numbers were shaky. 

Between the two games he played, Richard went 9 of 25 from the field (36 percent) and only made two of the 11 threes he attempted (18.2 percent). Richard’s shot, however, looks smooth and he scored in a variety of ways Tuesday by making a long two with his foot on the line, two mid-range jumpers, a little hook shot and a reverse layup. He also was a perfect 8 of 8 on free throws in the first game.

Though Toohey was taken four spots higher than Richard, he might need more time to develop. Richard will turn 23 years old in December, and Toohey just turned 21 in May. The game looked too fast for Toohey on Tuesday in the one game he played, and he didn’t hold back in his self-assessment after the Warriors’ loss to the Miami Heat. 

In 24 minutes, Toohey was a minus-34, a number that feels made up. Toohey struggled to finish inside, scoring six points on 1-of-5 shooting while missing all three of his shots beyond the arc. He did make all four free throws. 

Toohey added six rebounds and showed a clear concept of team basketball. He’s versatile defensively, but will need time adjusting to the size and speed of the NBA.

The two-way contract

Jackson Rowe is the only player signed to a two-way contract for the Warriors right now, and he clearly was their best player during these three games. He also is the oldest at 28.

Players can lean on Rowe’s leadership, who is bought into doing all the small things to make an impact, should Steve Kerr call his number this season. Rowe was one of two Warriors to play all three games, averaging 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds. He shot 55 percent (11 of 20) and went 3 of 8 on threes (37.5 percent). 

Kerr hasn’t shied from using his two-way players in the past, and Rowe continues to grow into a player the Warriors should be able to trust when they need him.

After getting his first taste of the NBA last season in six games, Rowe is focused on his defense and rebounding to get on the court. He showed strength in the post and wasn’t hesitant in his decision-making. Rowe represented the Warriors in the first-ever All-California Classic Team. 

My ballot: Rowe (Warriors), David Jones-Garcia (Spurs), Cole Swider (Lakers), Keshad Johnson (Heat), LJ Cryer (Warriors)

The others

Cryer: Like Rowe, the former college star played in each of the Warriors’ three games and had a solid showing. He’s a smaller guard listed at 6-foot-1 but a sturdy 200 pounds and will have to either prove himself as a knock-down shooter or defensive pest. Well, he can shoot the hell out of it. 

Over his five-year college career – three at Baylor and two at Houston – Cryer averaged 13.5 points with a 41.3 3-point percentage. The threat he presents letting it fly from deep has translated thus far, going 7 of 15 (46.7 percent) on threes. The Warriors signed Cryer to an Exhibit 10 contract after going undrafted.

Taran Armstrong: Signed out of Australia’s NBL last season, Armstrong’s development continues to be intriguing. The 23-year-old says he has gained 17 pounds of muscle since joining the Warriors in late February, and it’s quite obvious. He has great vision as a 6-foot-6 point guard and had 13 assists with just two turnovers in two games. 

The next step for Armstrong is his outside shot. Armstrong went 3-of-12 shooting (25 percent) and 2 of 7 on threes (28.6 percent). He was given a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent and is expected to begin the season on a two-way contract. 

Isaiah Mobley: The older but smaller brother of Cleveland Cavaliers star Evan Mobley was the Warriors’ leading scorer, averaging 14.5 points in the two games he played. Mobley was efficient around the rim, going 10 of 17 (58.8 percent) and making eight of his nine free throws. 

Standing three inches shorter than his younger brother, the 25-year-old is a 6-foot-8 big man who is comfortable playing the four and five. Since being drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft, Mobley has played 23 games in the NBA but averaged 15.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in the G League last season.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast