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Mock draft 2.0: One final pre-lottery mock

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 27: Labaron Philon #0 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates a three point basket against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We are officially at the six-week mark from the NBA Draft, and this weekend will be one of the biggest hinge points of the entire offseason. After the draft lottery, teams will be able to shape their boards and start the wheeling and dealing that is sure to come. Before that is decided on Sunday, we decided to run one final pre-lottery mock draft for your Dallas Mavericks. Here’s how it went.

1. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP) – Darryn Peterson (G, Kansas)

(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yes, this is indeed the pick that the Mavericks lost via coinflip. Yes, if this were to happen, I would turn into the Joker. Peterson immediately injects some juice into a guard room that desperately needs some revitalization.

2. Washington Wizards – AJ Dybantsa (F, BYU)

Even dropping to second, the Wizards are able to select a player who is at the top of many draft boards. AJ is the type of volume scorer that will help deliver Washington some juice next to Trae Young and Anthony Davis.

3. Indiana Pacers – Cam Boozer (F, Duke)

Indiana gets to land the player they were after all along at third overall. Boozer is the type of high floor player that Indiana would covet on a team that is looking to win immediately.

4. Golden State Warriors – Caleb Wilson (F, North Carolina)

Let the conspiracy theories begin! If the Dubs were to jump here, drafting Wilson is like drafting a Draymond Green starter pack, just way more wholesome and a much better athlete.

5. Brooklyn Nets – Keaton Wagler (G, Illinois)

After drafting five (!!!) players in the first-round last year, the Nets still have no one worth building around. Enter Wagler, who is the best lead guard in the class. Head coach Jordi Fernandez should have a great time working with him.

6. Utah Jazz – Mikel Brown Jr. (G, Louisville)

This was either going to be Brown Jr. or Flemings, but we’re going to give them Mikel here due to some real upside that is available here. Brown Jr. could easily be one of the three or four best players in the class if he medically clears, with a special combination of size and skill.

7. Sacramento Kings – Darius Acuff (G, Arkansas)

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I get the sense that Acuff is at the top of the Kings board regardless, so landing him at seven is just some extra value on the pick.

8. Memphis Grizzlies – Kingston Flemings (G, Houston)

If there’s a team here that could do something funky, it’s Memphis, whose front office is known to be a bit different in their process. However, Flemings is too good to pass up in our opinion.

From here on through pick 18, be on trade alert. Most of these teams have multiple first round picks, and many of them do not necessarily need to take two players. The wheeling and dealing should start here.

9. Dallas Mavericks – Labaron Philon (G, Alabama)

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Falling outside the top eight is a real disappointment for the Mavericks, as there is a pretty good tier drop from Flemings to whoever is next. Philon played in a pro-style system at Alabama, so he is very familiar with the pace and space game. However, if this were to happen, I’d be trying to trade back a few spots and pick up an asset, as Philon should still be available later in the lottery.

10. Chicago Bulls – Aday Mara (C, Michigan)

If anyone can crack the top eight here, I think it could be Mara. Mara is a force on the interior, deterring shots and drives in a way that no one else could in college. He also has a nice touch and great playmaking chops offensively, which will help drive his value.

11. Milwaukee Bucks – Brayden Burries (G, Arizona)

Burries is such a solid option for a Bucks team that will look to stabilize itself under Taylor Jenkins. This is a player who shot 56% on two’s, nearly 40% from deep and was an unbelievable rebounder for a guard. Burries will be in play for Dallas as well.

12. OKC Thunder (via LAC) – Yaxel Lendeborg (F, Michigan)

The Thunder don’t necessarily have a huge need as of yet, but if you peek around the corner you can see the potential roster turnover coming. OKC will likely not pay Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort, and drafting Yaxel will immediately provide them a replacement option.

13. Miami Heat – Dailyn Swain (F, Texas)

There are many needs for this Heat team, but finding serviceable forward play should be towards the top of the list. Swain is an excellent slasher who showed some shot making upside at Texas.

14. Charlotte Hornets – Jayden Quaintance (C, Kentucky)

If healthy, JQ is one of the best prospects in this class. Landing in Charlotte with a medical staff that has been able to get LaMelo Ball healthy would be a big win for Quaintance, who played just four games this year.

15. Chicago Bulls (via POR) – Nate Ament (F, Tennessee)

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After landing Mara earlier, the Bulls continue to bolster their front court by taking a big swing on Ament. Prior to the season, Ament was a top five talent. That’s still in there somewhere, it’ll just be up to the Bulls to get it out of him.

16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX) – Allen Graves (F, Santa Clara)

Graves is an advanced stats demon, making him a likely favorite among a very analytical Grizzlies front office. The sweet shooting big would be a great get for Memphis.

17. OKC Thunder (via PHI) – Cam Carr (G/F, Baylor)

If we drafted Hartenstein’s replacement with Yaxel, this is Lu Dort’s replacement. Carr is a very good offensive player with solid defensive chops. He’ll get groomed nicely in OKC.

18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL) – Bennett Stirtz (G, Iowa)

(Photo by Jack Dempsey/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Charlotte could use a steady hand both with and behind LaMelo Ball, and Stirtz would be that. He is a floor general with some additional self-creation pop. Stirtz was excellent at the rim, shooting 72% in the restricted area this season.

19. Toronto Raptors – Hannes Steinbach (F/C, Washington)

After pushing Cleveland to seven games, the Raptors can examine where they need to go from here. The fatal flaw in that series, beyond injuries to Ingram and Quickley, was the center spot. Collin Murray-Boyles was awesome, but they had nothing beyond him. Steinbach would immediately provide help on the glass and some offensive pop.

20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL) – Morez Johnson Jr. (F, Michigan)

This was either going to be Morez or Karim Lopez, but we will give the Spurs a Michigan man. Johnson was excellent for the Wolverines, playing alongside Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg. He’ll use that to play alongside Wembanyama, which would create a truly terrifying front court.

21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN) – Ebuka Okorie (G, Stanford)

(Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Okorie has been a favorite of draft twitter for a while now. He is a bit small at 6’2”, but the man is an absolute microwave. This added pop would help Cade Cunningham in a major way, allowing another creator on the floor that has to be respected. Detroit is also uniquely created to cover for a small guard with their defensive structure.

22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU) – Karim Lopez (F, Mexico/New Zealand Breakers)

The Sixers are able to take a guy at 22 who has lottery potential. That’s good value for a team that desperately needs help on the wing.

23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cleveland) – Chris Cenac Jr. (F, Houston)

After selecting Darryn Peterson first overall, Atlanta gets to bolster their front court with a tenacious rebounder in Cenac. A lineup that includes Jalen Johnson, Cenac and Onyeka Okongwu is awfully scary!

24. New York Knicks – Meleek Thomas (G, Arkansas)

The Knicks guard room is truly terrible, so taking Thomas here is a good get. Playing next to Acuff, he’s already shown he can play nicely off of a small guard. He can use that to play off of Brunson.

25. Los Angeles Lakers – Tarris Reed Jr. (C, UConn)

(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Lakers desperately need athleticism, which Tarris can certainly provide. This is a very smart player that has already played in a pro system with Hurley.

26. Denver Nuggets – Koa Peat (F, Arizona)

So, you’re scared by Aaron Gordon not being able to play in games that matter? Well, why not draft the closest thing to him in Peat. Koa is an unreal athlete that just needs to hone his skill a bit, and playing next to Jokic while learning from AG is a good start in doing that.

27. Boston Celtics – Luigi Suigo (C, Spain/Mega Superbet)

Boston needs a big and are just arrogant enough to reach on Luigi, who is a 7’4” mountain of a man. If he doesn’t go pro, expect to see him in college next year.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET) – Tyler Tanner (G, Vanderbilt)

Tanner is one of my favorite players in the class. While sitting at just 6’0” tall, Tanner is a great on-ball initiator who has no issues creating for others or getting his own buckets. Minnesota has a glaring guard need, and this helps fix that.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SAS) – Tounde Yessoufou (F, Baylor)

Cleveland is a confounding situation, as the Harden and Mitchell duo finds itself down 0-2 to Detroit. We’ll give them Tounde, who is a great defender that has untapped potential on the offensive end.

30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC) – Isaiah Evans (G, Duke)

(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

A sophomore that has experience playing with Cooper Flagg already, Evans would provide instant spacing to a rotation that desperately needs it.

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Friday Bantering: Jays Notes

A blue jay gulps down a meal at Irondequoit Bay Park West in Irondequoit Thursday, May 7, 2026. | Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Happy Friday.

The Jays are back home for a series against the Angels. It almost can’t be worse than the last series. I think the team has let Tropicana Field get into their heads.

Maybe all the batters should move back in the batter’s box:

Petriello talks about it here.

There is talk about having more time to watch a pitch. I don’t know, a foot of extra time on a pitch 132 (+/-) feet per second is not all that much extra time. But I do think a change when things aren’t working is a good idea. It gets the mind thinking about something else. Perhaps moving up a foot would have don’t the same thing.

There was always going to be adjustments. I try not to judge a player in the first month or so of being in a new place. I think it takes a bit for the brain to realize that it is the same game they’ve always played.

There are always ones that like to be at the front of the box, to ‘get breaking balls before they break’ and ones that stand at the back to ‘give more time to see the ball’. I think whatever a player is comfortable doing is the right thing.

Addison Barger is going to be activated soon, I keep stalling so I can add whoever is set out, but I have a birthday party to go to (I have a tennis friend who has turned 90, he still plays, still runs, still hits the ball good. I tell him I want to be him when I grow up. He still mentally sharp, as well. We should all be so lucky).

It will be good to have Addison back. I don’t think he’s going to be the savior or anything like that but it is a step towards the roster we hoped to see this year.

As soon as I hit publish, they will make an announcement.

You think baseball players know the rules? It is possible he didn’t see the third baseman touch the bag before throwing home, but he seemed bewildered when the umpire was explaining it to him.

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What Celtics fans should watch for in 2026 NBA Draft Lottery

What Celtics fans should watch for in 2026 NBA Draft Lottery originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for Sunday, May 10 at 3 p.m. ET, and the results could have a massive impact on the balance of power across the league for years to come.

There are a lot of teams that already have playoff-caliber rosters that are in the lottery, headlined by the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who own the Los Angeles Clippers’ lottery pick.

The 2026 draft class is also considered very strong, with a couple potential franchise players at the top.

The Boston Celtics are not in the lottery, even though some people expected them to be in it before the season. The C’s greatly exceeded regular season expectations before blowing a 3-1 lead and losing their first-round playoff series to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Let’s look at some of the ways the draft lottery could impact the Celtics even though they don’t own one of the 14 picks.

Pacers could add star player to championship core

Pacers guard Tyrese HaliburtonUSA TODAY Sports
Tyrese Haliburton didn’t play this season as he rehabbed an Achilles injury.

The Pacers went through a “gap year” in 2025-26 due to Tyrese Haliburton missing the entire season while recovering from an Achilles tear in Game 7 of last year’s NBA Finals. Indiana has a strong core led by Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, Ivica Zubac and Andrew Nembhard. This group came within one victory of a championship last year and played the Celtics tough in the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals.

The Pacers finished with the second-worst record this season, giving them an opportunity to add an elite young player to that aforementioned core of veterans.

But they actually don’t even have an amazing chance to keep their own first-round pick. That’s because when they acquired Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers in February, Indiana sent L.A. its 2026 first-rounder protected for picks No. 1 through No. 4, and No. 10 through No. 30.

There’s a 52 percent chance the Pacers land a top-four pick and a 48 percent chance it slides down to No. 5 or No. 6 and goes to the Clippers.

The Pacers should be a top contender in the East next season if Haliburton is close to the player he was before his Achilles injury. But if they get a top-four pick, the Pacers could be a legit title threat for the foreseeable future, and that obviously would not be a good scenario for the Celtics.

It would benefit Boston and the other top teams in the East if the Pacers fell outside the top four and were forced to give up their lottery pick to the Clippers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo trade implications

If you’re a fan who wants the Celtics to trade for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, there are a couple teams you don’t want to win the lottery.

The Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat have been speculated as potential Antetokounmpo trade destinations in the past, and both teams are in the lottery this year. The Warriors have a 9.41 percent chance of a top-four pick but only a 2.0 percent chance to win the lottery. The Heat have a 4.78 percent chance of a top-four pick and a 1.0 percent chance of getting the No. 1 pick. Safe to say, both teams need a miracle to jump up in the lottery.

The Bucks don’t control their own first-round pick, but there is a chance they could still get a top-four selection. Milwaukee gets the least favorable of its own pick and the New Orleans Pelicans’ pick, with the better one going to the Atlanta Hawks. If both the Bucks’ and Pelicans’ picks end up in the top-four, then Milwaukee would have a high lottery pick, which it could use to surround Antetokounmpo with a talented young rookie or package in a trade for a veteran player.

Now, the odds of both the Bucks’ and Pelicans’ picks both jumping into the top four are pretty slim, but it is at least possible.

Speaking of the Hawks, they have been thrown into mock trade proposals as a potential third team in an Antetokounmpo deal. Many of these mock trades include the Hawks trading the Pelicans’ pick and getting a star in return. But if the Hawks win the lottery, how much incentive would they have to trade that pick? Why not just take A.J. Dybantsa or Cameron Boozer and keep building on the success the franchise enjoyed this past season? If the Hawks added a Dybantsa or Boozer type of player, they could be a threat to win the East next season, which wouldn’t be good for the C’s.

So, to recap, any Celtics fan that wants Antetokounmpo should be rooting for the Warriors, Heat, Pelicans and Bucks picks to not end up in the top four.

Best-case scenario for Celtics?

The most ideal lottery outcome for the Celtics is likely one of the bottom teams in the Western Conference winning the lottery. They’re obviously not in the same conference as the Celtics and probably wouldn’t be a threat to trade for Antetokounmpo.

The Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings both have the second-best lottery odds at 14 percent each. The Memphis Grizzlies are next at 9.5 percent.

The OKC factor

Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderWinslow Townson-Imagn Images
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder could add another impact player via the lottery.

If the Celtics are going to be a title contender in the short term, they might have to go through the Oklahoma City Thunder at some point. The defending champs are loaded with high-end talent at every position, including 2024-25 league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

OKC, as currently constructed, could be the best team in the league for three to five more years. The scary part of that is the Thunder could potentially add another top-tier player to their already stacked roster by winning the 2026 lottery.

The Thunder own the Los Angeles Clippers’ unprotected 2026 first-round pick as part of the Paul George trade in 2019. It is the gift that keeps on giving for the Thunder.

There is a 7.11 percent chance of that pick jumping into the top four and a 1.5 percent chance it ends up No. 1 overall. Those odds aren’t great, but remember, the Mavericks won the lottery last year with just a 1.8 percent chance.

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Formula One agrees to engine changes from next season after widespread criticism

  • Fast-tracked redesign will reduce electrical energy use

  • Max Verstappen has been a vocal critic of new engines

Formula One has agreed to make engine design changes for the 2027 season in response to the unhappiness of many leading drivers at the way this year’s new-generation engines have affected how they race.

At a meeting on Friday, the FIA, F1, teams and engine manufacturers reached an agreement, subject to formal approval, to fast-track changes to the regulations to allow fresh engines to be used next season.

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Yankees vs Brewers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's MLB Game

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The New York Yankees open a new series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night with Max Fried on the mound against Jacob Misiorowski, one of the most electric young arms in the National League, and they're doing it in their eighth game in eight days.

This is a genuinely elite pitching matchup on both sides, and my handicap reflects that. 

Read all about it in my Brewers vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks for Friday, May 8, 2026.

Who will win Yankees vs Brewers today: Yankees moneyline (-124)


Milwaukee Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski is elite, we know that, but we also know how reliant he is on the strikeout. Both his whiff rate and strikeout rate are basically as good as it gets, ranking in the 99th percentile of the sport. 

What's most intriguing about this matchup, though, is that this New York Yankees team isn't the one of old with an enormous strikeout rate. They enter this game with the third-lowest swing rate and fourth-lowest chase rate in the league.

That discipline forces Misiorowski to throw every pitch for strikes rather than trying to chase hitters out of the zone. He can do that, but against a lineup this patient, the margin for error shrinks considerably.

A pitcher reliant on swing-and-miss who can't manufacture chases has to be perfect in the zone, and that is a lot to ask over seven innings. Max Fried, on the other side, removes any concern about the lineup needing to score big. 

Covers COVERS INTEL:The Brewers' 52% groundball rate is the highest in baseball by a significant margin. The gap between them and the second-highest is as large as the gap between 2nd and 20th. 

Yankees vs Brewers Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-124)

Not much of a reason to go against the general consensus. 

I'm a believer that the Yankees will eventually grind the Miz down and score enough, but it's not like he won't have a strong performance. There are plenty of likely strikeout victims for him towards the middle to the bottom of the order, even if it is an offense that has become much more well-rounded. 

On the other side, Fried has hardly taken a step wrong this season, and I expect this to continue. His 94th percentile barrel rate helps him remain pretty fullproof against the crooked innings that can sink innings.

More importantly, though, a 52% groundball rate is less than ideal against a pitcher who has made his career out of inducing soft contact.

Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 14-12, +2.60 units
  • Over/Under bets: 16-11, +6.72 units

Yankees vs Brewers odds

  • Moneyline: Yankees -142 | Brewers +129
  • Run line: Yankees -1.5 (+127) | Brewers +1.5 (-147)
  • Over/Under: Over 7 (-103) | Under 7 (-117)

Yankees vs Brewers trend

The Milwaukee Brewers have hit the Run Line in 24 of their last 45 games at home (+7.95 Units / 16% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Brewers.

How to watch Yankees vs Brewers and game info

LocationAmerican Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
DateFriday, May 8, 2026
First pitch7:40 p.m. ET
TVYES, Brewers.TV
Yankees starting pitcherMax Fried 
(4-1, 2.39 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcherJacob Misiorowski
(2-2, 2.84 ERA)

Yankees vs Brewers latest injuries

Yankees vs Brewers weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Red Sox vs. Rays prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 8

Tonight is Game 2 of the four-game series at Fenway Park between the Tampa Bay Rays (25-12) and the Boston Red Sox (16-22).

 
The Rays won their ninth game in their last ten last night with an 8-4 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Junior Caminero and Chandler Simpson drove in a combined five runs to pace the attack and Hunter Bigge picked up his first win of the season in relief of Griffin Jax. The Sox did touch up Tampa for four runs. It was the first time since April 21 the Rays allowed more than three runs to an opponent. Boston scored their runs on six singles and a double. Jake Bennett allowed four runs over five innings to take the loss. The Sox have now lost three straight at home.

 
Tampa Bay will hand the ball today to Jesse Scholtens, who carries a 3-1 record and 3.18 ERA. Scholtens has allowed just three earned runs over his last two starts covering 7.1 innings, suggesting the 32-year-old hurler may be finding his way. Offensively, the Rays continue to shine with a .257 team batting average and consistent run production, led by Junior Caminero’s 10 home runs and Yandy Díaz’s consistent bat (.323 average).

Boston counters with Connelly Early, a left-hander who has shown flashes of promise but oddly enough has struggled at Fenway, entering tonight 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA at home. The Red Sox offense has not helped, hitting .237 as a team for the season.

 

Tonight, and the rest of the weekend is about Boston trying to get into the race in the American League East while the Rays look to keep pace with the Yankees at the top of that division.

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 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 and How to Watch: Red Sox vs. Rays

  • Date: Friday, May 8, 2026
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Rays.TV, 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.

 

The Latest Odds: Red Sox vs. Rays

The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Boston Red Sox (-136), Tampa Bay Rays (+113)
  • Spread: Red Sox -1.5 (+153), Rays +1.5 (-186)
  • Total: 8.5 runs

 

Probable Starting Pitchers: Red Sox vs. Rays

Pitching matchup for May 8:

  • Red Sox: Connelly Early
    Season Totals: 35.2 IP, 2-2, 3.79 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 31K, 17 BB
  • Rays: Jesse Scholtens
    Season Totals: 22.2 IP, 3-1, 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 17K, 6 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Red Sox vs. Rays

  • Yandy Diaz is 4-12 over his last games
  • Chandler Simpson has hit in 4 straight (6-14) and 8 of his last 9 games (11-34)
  • Connor Wong is not playing every day but has hit safely in each of his last 3 games
  • Jarren Duran is 1-12 over his last 3 games

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: Red Sox vs. Rays

  • The Rays are 11-8 on the road this season
  • The Red Sox are 6-11 at home this season
  • The Rays are 24-13 on the Run Line this season
  • The Red Sox are 13-25 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 19 times in Boston games this season (19-18-1)
  • The OVER has cashed 17 times in Rays’ games this season (17-17-3)

 

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: Red Sox vs. Rays

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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

 

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 tonight’s game between the Red Sox and the Rays:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Rays on the Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Rays on the Run Line
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 8.5 runs

 

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)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Macklin Celebrini headlines Canada men's hockey roster for IIHF World Championship

Macklin Celebrini returns to Canada's men's hockey team for the world championship tournament (May 15-31 in Switzerland), three months after leading the Milan Cortina Olympics in goals at age 19.

The Canadian roster for worlds also includes 2014 Olympic gold medalist forward John Tavares and more past NHL All-Stars — forwards Mathew Barzal, Ryan O'Reilly and Mark Scheifele, defensemen Evan Bouchard and Morgan Rielly and goalie Cam Talbot.

Celebrini, the first teenager to play for a Canada men's Olympic hockey team in the NHL participation era, will play at a second consecutive worlds.

In 2025, he was the youngest NHL player at worlds as Canada exited in the quarterfinals.

Then in Milan, he scored a tournament-leading five goals and had 10 points, second only to teammate Connor McDavid, as Canada took silver to the U.S.

Matthew Tkachuk
Matthew Tkachuk leads U.S. men’s hockey roster for World Championship, eyes Triple Gold Club
Matthew Tkachuk can become the first American member of the Triple Gold Club.

Celebrini, the No. 1 overall 2024 NHL Draft pick by the San Jose Sharks, ranked fourth in the NHL in points this season with 115. The Sharks missed the playoffs.

World championships take place during the Stanley Cup playoffs, so players whose NHL teams are still alive do not participate at worlds.

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In The Lab: Checking In On Jose Altuve

My favorite novel is “Fight Club” by  Chuck Palahniuk. There are tons of philosophical nuggets in the book and one of them is my moniker for everything analytics. “On a long enough timeline the survival rate drops to zero.” In other words, given enough time and data, the underlying metrics and outward metrics will align. This is almost universally true and there are very few instances where it is not true. Those instances are usually the most interesting ones and the ones we can learn a lot from.

Enter Jose Altuve. Altuve is one of the more fascinating statistical studies in history. Obviously, there is a whole lot going on physically as well. However, in this edition we are focused just on the numbers. For his entire career, sources like Statcast would predict failure for Altuve. He doesn’t hit the ball as hard as others. He swings too often (in general), and the quality of his contact is not nearly as good as the elite hitters in baseball. Yet, he has spent most of his career as one of the more elite hitters in baseball. It just doesn’t make sense.

We will do the same thing with Altuve that we have done with Cam Smith and Yainer Diaz, but that is only the last two seasons. To better understand Altuve we need to look at the total career. The underlying numbers follow a particular pattern that fits, but they don’t fit the outward numbers we see from day to day. Let’s start with those.

Conventional Numbers

AVGOBPSLGBABIPwOBAwRC+
2025.265.329.442.283.331113
2026.241.327.376.290.31698

All players decay. We just don’t necessarily know the ways they will decay until we see it. Some struggle to remain healthy. Some see their speed and reflexes erode. Others lose their ability to field. Some of them suffer equally in all of those areas. Altuve has been fairly durable (knock on wood) but he is leaking oil in terms of offensive and defensive effectiveness.

Being a league average hitter at 36 is not necessarily a bad thing and there is time for him to have a hot streak and get back above water. In some ways, he is aging much like Craig Biggio aged. The fascinating thing is in the ways that it manifests itself. Biggio cheated on pitches and collected more doubles and homers when he guessed right. Yet, he was susceptible to that slider in the dirt late in his career. Altuve’s magical power was being able to put the bat on the ball in almost any instance.

Altuve had a career .330 BABIP until the last couple of seasons. You give him those 50 points back and suddenly he looks like the Altuve of old. The loss of BABIP “luck” can be explained through the nature of contact, but also diminished speed. At his peak, he was averaging 30 to 40 infield singles a season. Even if you cut those in half you severely hamper that average. He officially has eight so far on the season according to Baseball Savant, so that probably does not explain what is going on this season, but that will be a general certainty moving forward.

Statcast Numbers

xAVGxOBPxSLGxwOBA
2025.237.301.384.300
2026.247.333.362.310

Here comes the analyst’s nightmare. Do you go in the direction that 99 percent of the numbers will go or do you go with the way Altuve’s career has unfolded to this point? Based on the former, Altuve is pretty much producing what he is expected to produce. That has the look of a below average player overall, but somehow better than he was last season.

The flip side is that Altuve has outproduced his Statcast numbers in every full season of his career. So, you could be forgiven if you predicted better than what these numbers currently show. Notice the difference between his wOBA and xwOBA last season (.331 vs. .300). Does this mean he is destined for a .340 wOBA? I don’t think that kind of exact overperformance is likely, but it would be completely reasonable based on his career norms to project a .320 to .325 wOBA.

In most seasons that would be around the league average. Altuve’s magic power has been impressive productivity given his ability to remain in the lineup. So, the runs, hits, and other counting numbers will continue to mount for a player marching to Cooperstown. Of course, this is scratching the surface on Altuve. Let’s take a look at why Statcast has the numbers it has.

Quality of Contact

EVBarrelHardhit
202585.16.230.9
202685.36.734.6

Numbers will always say more than one thing at the same time. These numbers say that he has been better in 2026 than he was in 2025. They also say that he isn’t even an average hitter when looking at these numbers alone. Most players have a higher exit velocity. More than half have more barrels. They certainly hit the ball harder.

Numbers like Statcast work because they are based on assumptions. They assume that hitters are more or less the same. They can control the quality of the contact but cannot control the result. So, we assume a neutral result over time. It does not account for hitters that are able to find weaknesses in the defense. Pick your favorite hitter in history and most of them probably have the ability to hit against the defense and pick holes in the defense. Older fans will wax poetic about how the guys in the good ole days could do this, but as a general rule this was not true. The Tony Gwynns, Rod Carews, and Wade Boggs of the world are not normal. That is why they are in the Hall of Fame.

Jose Altuve is one of those guys. He might not quite be on their level, but he also dove into his power more than them. If he had continued on the slap hitter track he might have approached their numbers. This season has been a tale of two seasons. In the first couple of weeks he was a new hitter that took a ton of pitches. In the last three or four weeks he has returned to the Altuve of old. Let’s see where the growth can happen.

Areas of Growth

ChaseSwing%Contact%Zone%
202538.349.182.045.1
202631.146.577.645.4

If we take these numbers at face value and offer no context then we would say that Altuve is a much approved hitter in terms of his approach. The reality is that the Altuve with a 11+ percent walk rate hasn’t been here in a couple of weeks. Naturally, hope springs eternal and he could return to that. The reasonable hope is that the numbers would hold where they are and this would become a jumping off point.

Altuve’s superpower was his ability to put the bat on just about any pitch. Age has diminished that ability and he has become an ordinary mortal. He still has the ability to turn weak contact into hits where others cannot, but he is striking out more often and that is zapping his ability to hit for the higher averages that we were used to during his prime.

I feel reasonably certain that Altuve won’t hit .250 or worse this season once the dust has settled, but we are seeing steady erosion of his skills. These are the push and pull factors that every player must face at the end of their career. You add more numbers with each passing year, but you also diminish the overall quality. Altuve is now clearly in accumulation territory.

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Even With a Strong Q3, MSG Sports Misses the Goal on Earnings

Madison Square Garden Sports fell short of Wall Street’s expectations when it reported third-quarter earnings on Friday, sending the stock, which trades under the ticker MSGS, down about 0.8% to just below $330 per share by midday.

The parent company of the New York Knicks and Rangers posted revenue of $432.2 million for the three-month period ending on March 31, a 2% improvement year-over-year. Meanwhile, MSG Sports generated a $2 million operating profit, down $32.3 million from Q3 2025. The company also reports an adjusted income measure that excludes depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensations and other factors, which landed at $10.3 million this quarter, falling $26.6 million.

On the revenue side, MSG Sports narrowly beat the $429.7 million forecasted by analysts, according to equity research firm StreetInsider. But the company landed well below the expected earnings per share with a profit of 66 cents, instead posting a loss of 83 cents.

While the Knicks and Rangers played a combined five fewer regular-season games at the Garden compared to the third quarter of last fiscal year, MSG Sports said per-game revenues for tickets, suites, sponsorship, food and beverage, and merchandise sales all increased year-over-year. The company also benefited from a rise in national media rights fees from the NBA, which signed an 11-year, $76 billion package of deals that kicked in this season.

In addition to the Knicks and the Rangers, MSG Sports owns the development affiliates of each franchise—the Westchester Knicks of the G-League and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack—and operates its training center in Greenburgh, N.Y.

According to Sportico, the Knicks are the third-most valuable franchise in the NBA at $9.85 billion, and the Rangers rank No. 2 in the NHL at $3.65 billion. That puts the collective value of the assets at an enterprise value of $13.5 billion, far surpassing the sub-$8 billion market capitalization of the NYSE-traded stock.

In fact, MSG Sports announced in February that its board of directors unanimously approved a plan to explore splitting the Knicks and Rangers into separate business entities. The goal, the company said, would be to give investors an easier path to evaluating each team’s balance sheet and upside, as well as more flexibility with finances.

No decision has been announced thus far, but because of a new tax rule for publicly traded companies coming in 2027, an uncoupled version of MSG Sports could owe the government an additional $75 million each year.

In the meantime, even with the Rangers failing to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, MSG Sports can boost its fourth quarter and fiscal year as the Knicks push through the postseason. The team is currently up 2-0 in a second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, with Game 3 set for Friday.

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Lakers frustrated with officiating in Game 2, were vocal about it after loss

After the final buzzer of the Lakers' Game 2 loss in Oklahoma City, Austin Reaves could be seen in an animated discussion with the officials, expressing frustration about how the game was called despite his 31 points.

Reaves wasn't alone. After the game, a number of Lakers players, as well as coach JJ Redick, expressed frustration with the officiating.

"I sarcastically said the other day, they're the most disruptive team without fouling," Redick said of the Thunder. "I mean, they have a few guys that foul on every possession... They're hard enough to play. They're hard enough to play, you've got to be able to just call them if they foul, and they do foul."

Redick, who picked up a technical in the first quarter for yelling at official Ben Taylor about a perceived missed call, then went on to say this crew, as well as others, do a poor job officiating LeBron James, who had 23 points and six assists in the loss.

"LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I've ever seen," Redick said. "I mean, I've been with him two years now. The smaller guys, because they can be theatric, they typically draw more fouls, and the bigger players that are built like LeBron, it's hard for them. He gets clobbered. He got clobbered again tonight a bunch."

Reaves had confronted crew chief John Goble after the game, and it stemmed from Goble yelling at Reaves during a center-court jump ball (off an overturned call) with 5:34 left and the Lakers trying to mount a comeback. Reaves quote via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

"I felt like I was respectful to all of them all night. I mean, there's a million times in the past I've said way worse stuff..." Reaves said. "At the end of the day, we're grown men. And I just didn't feel like he needed to yell in my face like that. I told him that. I wasn't disrespectful. I told him if I did that to him first, I would have got a tech. I feel like the only reason I didn't get a tech is because he knew he was in the wrong. So, yeah, I just felt disrespected."

As for the Thunder, video circulated online of them watching Reaves talk to the officials postgame, looking amused. They have heard it all before and know it's often complaints borne out of frustration at not being able to beat them. The Thunder are up 2-0, and Game 2 felt like a game where the Lakers had a chance to steal one on the road, only to have OKC finally start to hit its 3-pointers and pull away in the end.

Game 3 is Saturday night in Los Angeles and you can be sure Lakers fans are going to let the referees know how they feel.

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Do you remember the first Royals game you attended?

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 05: Kansas City Royals fans pose for a photo during Baltimore Orioles batting practice at Kauffman Stadium on April 5, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yesterday was School Day at the K, and hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Kansas City-area children were attending their first Royals game (and learning early on that being a Royals fan means seeing a lot of losing!) Despite the loss, it was a beautiful day in a beautiful ballpark, and they got to see a couple of dingers. Hopefully they’ll be back.

Most of you have probably been to Kauffman Stadium dozens, if not hundreds of times. But do you remember the first game you attended? I think my parents may have taken me to see the Royals when I was very young, but I do not remember. The first game I really remember was in April of 1988, when I had just become a rabid baseball fan. Because of the details I can recall, I have been able to pinpoint exactly when the game was. What I remember was:

  • The Baltimore Orioles were in the middle of an epic losing streak to begin the season, and the Royals were losing to them before coming back.
  • The Royals pinch-hit Thad Bosley, and people around me groaned. I learned what a “pinch-hitter” was that day. I also learned Royals fans can be very sarcastic and use salty language!
  • The Royals won in the bottom of the ninth on a walk-off hit. No fireworks back then though!

Using the power of the internet, I can find it was this game on April 23. Thanks for the game-winner, Kurt Stillwell! That Orioles team lost their first 21 games of the year. Woof!

Do you remember your first Royals games? What do you remember about the game? About seeing the stadium in person for the first time? Share your memories!

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The Mets attempt to charm the Diamondbacks in Phoenix

Apr 3, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; The exterior of Chase Field prior to the Atlanta Braves versus Arizona Diamondbacks game. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images | Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images

The New York Mets (14-23) travel to the desert to face the Arizona Diamondbacks (17-19) in a three-game series. While the Mets have won their last two series against bad teams, they still co-own the worst record in baseball and have a lot more work to do before convincing fans that they’re a serious baseball team.

All one needs to do is look at yesterday’s lineup and pitchers used to tell the story about why this team is in trouble. Austin Slater bating fourth? Andy Ibañez batting sixth? Craig Kimbrel coming into a tie game? Come on now.

Now part of this was clearly a result of injury and part of it was trying to maximize right-handedness against a left handed starter. But a lineup that included Slater, Ibañez, Tyrone Taylor, and Vidal Brujan is a March 7 spring training lineup, not a May 7 lineup. It is much easier said than done to improve a team in the first seven weeks of a season, but part of the frustration that Mets fans feel is due to the fact that nothing has really been done to address the team’s struggles.

This is not a call to fire Carlos Mendoza, but rather a plea to do anything to shake things up a little bit. Until that happens, there is very little that will convince fans that the organization is taking the situation as seriously as it should.

That said? If the Mets can keep winning series, all of this will be moot. And while beating the Angels and Rockies shouldn’t be lauded too loudly, it is better than the alternative. The Mets will face the Yankees in one week, and that is easily the best team in their upcoming schedule, so it is imperative that they hold their own against Arizona, the Tigers, the Nationals, and the Marlins in the next few weeks. There’s every chance that the Mets are near .500 by the end of the month if they can rattle off some wins, and then this is a very different conversation on June 8.

Fortunately for the Mets, the Diamondbacks have hit a skid after a hot-streak in early to mid-April. Losers of 11 of their last 17, the Snakes have won just one of their last six series. The Mets are also getting the D-backs’ two worst starters (but also their best) and the Mets are throwing their two best pitchers (and an unknown) in the series. This seems like a series that is very winnable for the Mets, and would be a nice way to wrap up this road trip.

Standing in their way are Corbin Carroll and Ildemaro Vargas, both of whom are off to hot starts, as well as the always dangerous Ketel Marte, who is off to a slow one. When the D-backs have won lately, it has been by large margins (9-0 against he Pirates, 12-7 over the Padres, 11-7 over the White Sox), but those days seem few and far between.

Nolan McLean vs Ryne Nelson, 9:40pm EDT on PIX11

McLean (2026): 39.1 IP, 51 K, 11 BB, 2 HR, 2.50 ERA, 2.12 FIP, 75 ERA-

The Mets have only won one of McLean’s seven starts thus far, but none of that is McLean’s fault. Two of those losses have come in extra-innings affairs, and in five of his seven starts, he’s given up two or fewer earned runs. McLean is more than just holding his own in the rotation, much like a young Jacob deGrom did with minimal run support.

Nelson(2026): 31.1 IP, 28 K, 15 BB, 6 HR, 6.61 ERA, 5.50 FIP, 159 ERA-

Nelson had an all-time bad start against the Blue Jays on April 19th, lasting just one-third of an inning but giving up a staggering eight earns runs on eight hits. His next start went longer, but yielded six earned runs. He settled down agains the Cubs last week, but he has had a rough go as of late.

Clay Holmes vs Merrill Kelly, 7:15pm EDT on FOX

Holmes(2026): 42.2 IP, 31 K, 14 BB, 3 HR, 1.69 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 42 ERA-

I don’t think anyone expecting Holmes to be this good a year plus into his transition to starting, but the results speak for themselves. He’s pitched into the sixth in all but one start and into the seventh in three starts. In his last two starts, he’s given up just one earned run and seven hits over 12 and tw0-thirds innings.

Kelly(2026): 19.0 IP, 14 K, 15 BB, 6 HR, 9.95 ERA, 8.14 FIP, 240 ERA-

Kelly’s first start of the year came in April 14, and he had a good one: five and a third innings pitched, two earned runs, three strikeouts. But since then, it’s been real bad. Each start has seen at least five earned runs, no more than five innings pitched, and he’s walked as many batters as he’s struck out.

TBD vs Eduardo Rodriguez, 4:10pm EDT on SNY

Rodriguez (2026): 39.2.0 IP, 29 K, 19 BB, 4 HR, 2.50 ERA, 4.42 FIP, 60 ERA-

Rodriguez is having the best start of any Diamondback to the season, and he just had his best start of the year against the Pirates where he pitched seven innings of two-hit, shutout baseball. He’s waking more folks than he should, but so far he’s limiting the damage by not allowing many hits and limiting home runs, aside from one game when the White Sox took him deep twice.

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How do these 2 players improve stock at NBA G-League combine?

The 2026 NBA G-League combine will be from May 8-10, where the Mountain West will have a pair of representatives.
PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 06: Grand Canyon Antelope guard Jaden Henley (10) looks on before the Jerry Colangelo Classic college basketball game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Grand Canyon Antelopes on December 6, 2025 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

We don’t dip our toes into the NBA waters very often, but we’re less than two months away from the 2026 NBA Draft! Once again, there are multiple former Mountain West players testing their waters, specifically in the G-League combine, which will begin Friday and last through Sunday in Chicago, Ill.

What do these two prospects need to do to improve each of their respective stocks?! Let’s examine!

Jaden Henley, G, Grand Canyon:

Skinny: Henley had the best season of his career in 2025-26 with Grand Canyon. Bouncing around with four different programs in four years, Henley averaged career highs across the board, tallying 17.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game on 46.6 percent shooting and 56.2 percent true shooting.

The All-Mountain West first team honoree was a very explosive rim finisher; his ballhandling was good-not-great, but he did a good job exploding from his lower half through contact. He didn’t care if the low man was 6-foot-5 or 7-foot-5 — he was going to the rack with mean intentions.

Henley also defended well in Grand Canyon’s scheme defensively, which was aggressive at the point of attack with sound help principles. At 6-foot-7, 200 pounds, he has an NBA-ready body and will have some defensive versatility. He can guard multiple positions, and I project that to be his ceiling at the next level.

Where Henley must improve, however, is his shooting and playmaking. He wasn’t a good shooter, shooting just 26.8 percent from 3-point range on 3.8 attempts. For his career, he’s just a 30.7 percent long-range shooter on 2.5 attempts. Teams are smarter at scheming non-shooters now more than ever, so Henley’s going to have to clean up his mechanics and efficiency to excel offensively at the next level. If he can show some growth during the G-League combine, then that should bode better for the future, although it’s easy for anyone to shoot 5-on-0 compared to 5-on-5.

M.J. Collins, G, Utah State:

Skinny: Collins, an All-Mountain West first team honoree, broke out in his lone season with Utah State, averaging a career-high 17.5 points on 62.0 percent true shooting. He was a microwave scorer, capable of getting hot from anywhere at any moment, helping ignite the Mountain West’s best offense this season.

Standing at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Collins was effectively able to score from all three levels. One of my favorite traits of his was his off-ball movement. You’d be hard-pressed to find many possessions where Collins wasn’t moving, trying to find every crease and crack to exploit. He has fairly good understanding of screen leverage and how to attack those advantages. When he was able to attack as a secondary creator, Collins had pretty good feel, lift and a high release point on his jumper

Similar to Henley, Collins was an explosive leaper around the rim. He also improved as a 3-point shooter, canning 36.1 percent of his attempts after failing to exceed 29.3 percent over his first three seasons at Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt. He shot 78.4 percent from the free-throw line from 2022-25 and 81.0 percent last year; personally, I’m not super concerned. But Collins must show that wasn’t an aberration.

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Southampton charged with misconduct by EFL in Middlesbrough ‘spying’ row

  • League to convene disciplinary panel at ‘earliest opportunity’

  • Furious Boro want playoff opponents to be punished severely

Southampton have been charged with misconduct by the English Football League and will face an independent disciplinary commission set to be convened “at the earliest opportunity”.

Middlesbrough remain furious after catching a man they maintain belongs to Tonda Eckert’s backroom staff allegedly spying on a vital training session before Saturday’s Championship playoff semi-final first leg against Southampton at the Riverside Stadium.

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Two Sabres Make New Best Pending UFA Rankings

The Athletic's Chris Johnston recently ranked the top 20 pending unrestricted free agents heading into the summer. Two Buffalo Sabres were among the players ranked: Alex Tuch and Logan Stanley.

Tuch was given the No. 3 spot on Johnston's rankings. The only two players who were ranked ahead of him were Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh and Vegas Golden Knights blueliner Rasmus Andersson.

When looking at how well Tuch has played this season, it is not surprising to see him be named among the best pending UFAs. In 79 regular-season games for the Sabres this year, he had 33 goals, 33 assists, and 66 points. He has also been continuing to make an impact during the playoffs, as he has four goals and seven points in seven games.

With Tuch continuing to stay hot and being the NHL's top pending UFA forward, he is undoubtedly setting himself to land a big payday. This remains the case whether he re-signs with the Sabres or goes elsewhere. 

As for Stanley, he was given the No. 14 spot on Johnston's rankings. When noting that the 27-year-old defenseman had a career year at the right time, it is understandable that he has been named a top pending UFA. 

Stanley set new career highs with nine goals, 17 assists, and 26 points in 76 regular-season games this year split between the Winnipeg Jets and Sabres. He also had 110 hits and 128 penalty minutes, so there is no question that the 6-foot-7 defenseman's toughness adds to his appeal as well.