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Nationals at Pirates Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 15

The Washington Nationals (8-9) take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (10-7) for the third of a four-game series. Pittsburgh won Monday's matchup, 16-5, but Washington took Tuesday's, 5-4 in a thriller.

Since the Pirates' five-game winning streak, the Buccos have gone 4-4 over the next eight games. Pittsburgh has gone 5-3 at home so far and the offense has been cooking at PNC Park. The Pirates have the second-best batting average at home (.278) and are tied 11th for the most RBI (44).

Washington is 4-1 over the last five games for its best five-game stretch of the season so far. The Nationals have outscored its opponents 34-30 in that span with the Pirates scoring 16 in one game. Washington is 7-4 on the road this season despite the pitching staff having a 5.06 ERA (25th) and the offense boasting the second-highest batting average (.283).

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch 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 Nationals at Pirates

  • Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
  • Time: 6:40 PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park 
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV

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 Nationals at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Washington Nationals (+149), Pittsburgh Pirates (-181)
  • Spread: Nationals +1.5 (-136), Pirates -1.5 (+113)
  • Total: 9.5

Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Pirates

  • Wednesday's pitching matchup (April 15): Jake Irvin vs. Mason Montgomery
  • Nationals: Jake Irvin  

2026 stats: 14.0 IP, 1-1, 7.07 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 16 Ks, 8 BB

  • Pirates: Mason Montgomery 

2026 Stats: 7.1 IP, 1-0, 6.14 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 16 Ks, 5 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not!

  • The Nationals’ CJ Abrams is hitting .356 with 21 hits, 41 total bases, and six home runs over 59 at-bats
  • The Nationals’ Nasim Nunez is hitting .192 with 10 hits and 12 strikeouts over 52 at-bats
  • The Pirates’ Oneil Cruz is hitting .328 with 22 hits, 40 total bases, and seven stolen bases over 67 at-bats
  • The Pirates’ Marcell Ozuna is hitting .106 with five hits, 12 strikeouts, and five walks over 47 at-bats

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 Nationals at Pirates

  • The Nationals 11-6 ATS this season
  • The Pirates are 11-6 ATS this season
  • The Nationals are 12-5 to the Over this season
  • The Pirates are 10-7 to the Over this season

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

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

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 Wednesday's game between the Nationals and the Pirates.

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Pirates on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pirates at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 9.5

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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Nobody believes in the Los Angeles Lakers

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 9: Bronny James #9 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers high five during the game against the Golden State Warriors on April 9, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Lakers are going into the playoffs with few expectations.

Injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves leave them in an unenviable position. While they secured the No. 4 seed, they’ll limp into the playoffs as a clear underdog.

Predictably, no one is picking the Lakers to win. On Monday, ESPN’s writers selected winners for each series and not one person picked LA to win.

Shoutout to a handful of writers who think the Lakers are going to take it to Game 7 but lose at home with LeBron James and maybe a returning Luka Dončić and/or Austin Reaves. On the other hand, though, they at least have the Lakers winning some games.

Having said all that, it’s time to revive the #WeBelieve hashtag.

According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Lakers have just a 32% chance of beating the Rockets. FanDuel’s odds for Saturday’s game list LA at +5.5. CBS Sports had similar expert predictions to ESPN with no one picking the Lakers to advance.

No one believes in the Lakers.

Even if it is just in this moment, it’s going to be a pretty easy rallying cry for head coach JJ Redick. An “us against the world” narrative can work for the first round with Luka and Austin out.

The purple and gold are going to have to figure a lot of things out on the fly. They’re going to have to heavily rely on LeBron James. They’ll need role players to step up in big ways. All of those things are tall asks. But there’s a path and that’s all the Lakers need.

#WeBelieve.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Warriors vs. Clippers predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 15

Its win-or-go-home for the 9th-seeded Los Angeles Clippers and the 10th-seeded Golden State Warriors tonight in Southern California. The winner advances for another win-or-go-home game against the Phoenix Suns Friday night for the eighth seed and a date in the playoffs with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Clippers (42-40) take the court as the favorite to advance over the Warriors (37-45). LA won three of the four matchups against Golden State this season but probably more important is their overall body of work. The Clippers started the season 6-21 but have since gone 36-19. Kawhi Leonard is of course at the center of all that is good with the Clippers. Add in a pesky defense that has climbed to 10th overall in the Association and the results speak for themselves. Meanwhile, the Warrior closed the regular season with a record of 8-19 since the All-Star Break.

The Warriors are hoping their veteran core of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green will step up and carry a banged up and inconsistent Golden State team. Jimmy Butler (knee)is still out as is Moses Moody (knee). Each of those injuries are big losses. Butler one on one against Kawhi would have been must watch TV. Without the pair, Golden State veterans and playoff champions Stephen Curry and Draymond Green will be called upon to get the Warriors to Friday night and the second round of the Play-In Tournament.

This matchup represents a clash of styles, with the Clippers relying on their stability, health, and defensive structure under Tyronn Lue, while the Warriors will rely on Curry’s shooting (which could be enough) along with the playoff experience of Green and Kristops Porzingis. If they can get hot from beyond the arc, have the potential to pull off an upset.

Just three days ago these teams met with the Clippers prevailing 115-110. Neither Kawhi Leonard nor Draymond Green dressed for that game. Benedict Mathurin came off the bench for the Clips and scored 20 points to lead LA to its third win in four games this season against Golden State.

Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

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

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content. 

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Warriors vs. Clippers

  • Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
  • Time: 10PM EST
  • Site: Intuit Dome
  • City: Inglewood, CA
  • Network/Streaming: Prime Video

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA 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!

Game Odds: Warriors vs. Clippers

The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Golden State Warriors (+170), Los Angeles Clippers (-205)
  • Spread: Clippers -5.5
  • Total: 221.5 points

This game opened Clippers -3.5 with the Total set at 220.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule! 

Expected Starting Lineups: Warriors vs. Clippers

Golden State Warriors

  • G Stephen Curry
  • G De’Anthony Melton
  • G Brandin Podziemski
  • PF Al Horford
  • SF Draymond Green

Los Angeles Clippers

  • PG Darius Garland
  • SG Kawhi Leonard
  • SF John Collins
  • PF Derrick Jones Jr.
  • C Brook Lopez

Injury Report: Warriors vs. Clippers

Golden State Warriors

  • Jimmy Butler (knee) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
  • Moses Moody (knee) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game

Los Angeles Clippers

  • Bradley Beal (hip) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
  • Isaiah Jackson (ankle) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game

Important stats, trends and insights: Warriors vs. Clippers

  • The Clippers are 23-18 at home this season
  • The Warriors are 15-26 on the road this season
  • The Clippers are 42-40 ATS this season / 22-19 at home
  • Golden State is 35-47 ATS this season / 17-24 on the road
  • The OVER has cashed in 48 of the Warriors’ 82 games this season (48-34)
  • The OVER has cashed in 40 of the Clippers’ 82 games this season (40-42)
  • Kristops Porzingis has played 4 games in April and averaged 12 points and 7.5 rebounds per game
  • Benedict Mathurin’s 20 points on April 12 against Golden State were the most he scored in a game since March 29 when he scored 28 against the Bucks

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 NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
 
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Warriors and Clippers’ game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Warriors +5.5 ATS
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 221.5

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

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

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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Snake Bytes 4/25: Kelly’s Heroes

BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 14: Merrill Kelly #29 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 14, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Diamondbacks News

Merrill Kelly Makes Season Debut
Merrill Kelly brought the team a vintage Kelly performance when he took the mound to make his 2026 debut against the Orioles in Baltimore.

Bullpen Holds Off Orioles, Giving Kelly Win in Season Debut
After blowing a 7-1 lead the previous night, it was understandable that there was some tension when the Diamondbacks needed to protect a two-run lead for 11 outs, the same number of outs as they needed on that dreadful night.

Kelly’s Return Pushes Pfaadt to Bullpen
A flurry of moves was made yesterday to accommodate the return of Merrill Kelly. Perhaps the biggest was hte moving of Brandon Pfaadt to the bullpen.

Pfaadt to Bullpen and Soroka to Rotation the Right Call – For Now
There exists a litany of easons that this will continue to be a fluid situation.

Moreno to IL
Gabriel Moreno has been placed on the IL as part of five moves made by the Diamondbacks. Aramis Garcia has been called up to take Moreno’s place for now. Pavin Smith was moved to the 60-day. Merrill Kelly was activated and Taylor Rashi was optioned to AAA-Reno.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to Start Rehab Assignment
Gurriel suffered a torn ACL on 1 September of last season. The rehab assignment now puts a ticking clock on Moreno’s return to the 26-man roster.

Blaze Alexander Discusses Facing Former Club
The utility man speaks about facing some of his old comrades as the Diamondbacks try to take down his new club, the Baltimore Orioles.

Craig Albernaz has Fractured Face
A scary incident occurred on Monday night when a foul ball was rocketed into the Orioles bullpen and struck manager Craig Albernaz in the face. Albernaz returned to duty Tuesday night, despite numerous cheek fractures and a broken jaw. He’s currently unable to blow his nose for six weeks but looks to be able to avoid surgery.

Other Baseball News

Top-100 Prospects Making Promotion Noise
The fact that only three names are listed here gives some idea of just how slow some players can get started when it is still chilly out.

What Players Think About ABS
Now that we have a few weeks of ABS in the bigs, players have been asked to weigh in on what they think.

Jarren Duran Gets Obscene with Fan Who ‘Crossed Line”
Jarren Duran being classy as alawys.

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Where to watch NBA Playoffs Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Wednesday, April 15

The Golden State Warriors, ranked 10th in the Western Conference with a 37-45 record, face the LA Clippers, who are ninth in the West with a 42-40 record. The LA Clippers are favored with a -220 moneyline compared to the Golden State Warriors' +180. The winner will advance to face the Suns in the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on Friday.

  • Golden State Warriors: 37-45 (10th in Western Conference)

  • Los Angeles Clippers: 42-40 (ninth in Western Conference)

  • Spread: Los Angeles Clippers -5.5

  • Moneyline: Los Angeles Clippers -220 / Golden State Warriors +180

  • Over/Under: 221.5

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Red Sox Minor Lines: Patrick Sandoval struggles again

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 21: Starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval #43 of the Los Angeles Angels shakes his hand and grimaces in pain after an injury on his throwing arm following a walk to Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the this inning at Dodger Stadium on June 21, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Worcester: L, 4-9 (BOX SCORE)

“Struggling” out of the gate seems relative now with consecutive poor performances by Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray, but Patrick Sandoval doesn’t quite seem ready to rejoin the Major League roster in a few weeks (due to being a pitcher, he gets a month of rehab time.) He struck out just one through two innings, allowing five runs, and taking 59 pitches to do so with just 30 falling in for strikes. For the second consecutive start, he just generally looked like he couldn’t find the strike zone. Tyler Uberstine, usually a beacon of good stuff, even got knocked around by this Nashville (Brewers AAA) club, even though the staff did keep it in the park.

Offensively, you don’t stand much of a chance when the pitching walks eleven batters, or when the defense commits three errors, but the offensive support wasn’t awesome, either. Catcher Jason Delay hit an early home run, but it was downhill from there, as the WooSox left nine stranded.

Portland: W, 4-2 (BOX SCORE)

Franklin Arias, who’s been hitting to the tune of a .500+ batting average on the young season, hasn’t really showcased his power tool yet. That changed on Tuesday night in Altoona (Pirates AA) as he hit his first home run of the season. The team didn’t particularly look great offensively outside of that home run, though Nate Biaz got himself a couple knocks. But Isaac Coffey, Cooper Adams, Cade Feeney and Patrick Halligan kept it a winnable game despite with thirteen strikeouts and only two runs allowed.

Greenville: L, 0-3 (BOX SCORE)

Shea Sprague had a blip, as he allowed two Hot Rod (Rays High-A) home runs in five innings. It’s honestly funny how serviceable the page the 2024 13th round draft pick has been for Greenville so far this April: his ERA is exactly 4. On Tuesday, he gave up four hits and a walk in five innings (for a WHIP of 1) struck five out, but did have those balls leave the park. But, the truth is, Sprague could have been a lot worse… or he could have been a lot better… but it wouldn’t have mattered HOW good he was, because Greenville could not hit the Bowling Green pitching, settling for just one baserunner all night, when Yophery Rodriguez, a return from the Quinn Preiser trade now residing at the bottom of the lineup (he hit first or second for most of the season in 2025), broke up the perfect game with a double in the bottom of the sixth.

Salem: L, 5-7 (BOX SCORE)

If the offense was distributed better across the whole farm, we’d be having a different discussion. This seems obvious at its core, but this game looked close on the surface, but Salem pitching got taken for a ride a little bit, namely Adam Bates closing out the fifth for Leighton Finley and not having a particular awesome sixth. Skylar King hit his second home run in less than a week, but although his bat looks dependable, his key moments are in losing efforts. Where have I heard that before…

Have a stress-free tax day Wednesday.

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Potential X-factors for the Penguins in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Ben Kindel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Based on preseason expectations there might not be a more improbable first-round matchup in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs than the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. Neither of these teams were expected to be here. Up until about three weeks ago, I am not sure the Flyers were expected to be here. But none of that matters now, and starting this weekend the battle of Pennsylvania gets renewed, with Sidney Crosby having a chance to deliver another punch to the Penguins’ cross-state rivals.

We know who the main players in this series and playoff run are going to be for the Penguins.

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson are going to be at the top of the list, and their play will obviously have a major role in what the Penguins do and how far they can go. But no matter how well they play, they can not do it all for the Penguins. The team’s success or failure will also come down to the secondary and support players on the team and a few potential X-factors.

Let’s talk about some of them.

Ben Kindel

Every Penguins team that won the Stanley Cup or reached the Stanley Cup Final in the Sidney Crosby era has done so with a third-line that can carry play and swing games. A lot of times in the playoffs each team’s top players can cancel each other out due to the aggressive line-matching that tends to take place, and it can then come down to which team has the better support players.

In 2008 and 2009 it was the Jordan Staal line.

In 2016 and 2017 it was the HBK line.

Can the Penguins get something similar from the Kindel line?

It is going to be fascinating to see how his first playoff experiences goes. He is, after all, only 18 years old and will be getting his first taste of playoff hockey. He also seems to have hit another rookie wall over the past month with his offense going cold and some of his underlying metrics regressing a bit. From a big picture perspective, it is nothing to be overly concerned about. There is a reason most 18-year-olds do not get a full-season in the NHL. It is a huge adjustment and there are going to be some growing pains.

But everything resets now going into the playoffs, and regardless of who the Penguins put around him on a line they are going to need a big showing from his trio if they are going to advance and go on a potential run.

He has exceeded expectations and rose to the occasion all season. This is going to be his biggest test yet.

Sam Girard

You can include Kris Letang in this category as well, because their defense pairing is going to be significant.

When they were first put together following the trade with Colorado, they looked like an absolute disaster, with Girard especially struggling in his new environment. He seemed to lack confidence, was indecisive and just not playing well.

And then, about 10-12 games ago, something clicked.

It clicked for him.

It clicked for Letang.

It clicked for both of them together.

In their total time together, including the initial rocky games, the Girard-Letang pairing has outscored teams by a 13-9 margin with a 52.5 percent expected goals share during 5-on-5 play. Very solid numbers.

Over their past 10 games, however, those numbers go to an 11-5 goal advantage and a 57.8 percent expected goal share.

They are now carrying play.

Girard especially looks completely different and like a player that is oozing with confidence. Everything is being done with a purpose, there is no hesitation, he is joining the rush smartly and moving the puck well.

You know the Karlsson-Parker Wotherspoon pairing is going to give you a chance.

Having reliable pairings beyond them was always going to be the concern. If Letang and Girard can continue playing the way they have over the past month the Penguins are going to have a second pairing they can lean on. That is a game-changer, both in terms of their chances in this series, and their potential ceiling in the playoffs.

Connor Clifton

Sticking with the defense, the third-pairing is also going to be significant because at some point they are going to have to play. Even if you lean on the top-two pairings for more than 40 minutes, that still leads nearly a full period’s worth of hockey that the third-pairing has to log.

Sometimes playoff success or failure is not necessarily about what you do well or your strengths, but what you don’t do well and your flaws. The things that can be exploited in a best-of-seven series when opposing coaches are doing more in-depth game-planning and can drill down to weaknesses.

Clifton is one of those players that I fear being exploited.

I will say this: I think he’s played a lot better down the stretch, and a lot of his underlying numbers over the past month have, at times, been REALLY good. But over the course of a season his pairing has at times been the one that gets pinned in the defensive zone and has a tendency to lose the territorial and possession battle. That could be a problem. They do not need Clifton and Ryan Shea to be game-changers. They just need them to play to a 0-0 tie.

Stuart Skinner

Then we have the biggest X-factor on the entire team.

It is the goaltending. It is always the goaltending. It can lift a struggling team or sink a good team, and there might not be a more important player for the Penguins this postseason than Skinner.

It is just a matter of which version of him they are going to get.

He has big-game experience and backstopped the Edmonton Oilers to consecutive Stanley Cup Finals in each of the past two seasons. He is capable of putting together a good stretch of play, and we have seen signs of it down the stretch. He has clearly taken the No. 1 spot and at least earned the right to go into the playoffs as the Penguins’ starting goalie.

But can he do enough to give the Penguins a chance?

Over the past 20 games he has saved four goals above expected for the Penguins, which is good enough to give them a chance. The Penguins have the potential to score enough goals to win, and in at least the first round the Flyers do not have an overly potent offense. They are probably not going to need Skinner to steal many games. They just need him to not lose any.

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Meet the person behind the Celtics’ most emotional photos

If you flip through Jayson Tatum’s Instagram stories, you’ll notice that he routinely reposts photos from the Instagram page @eyeofbri. For most of the season, the Celtics star shared pictures of himself on the sidelines in his outfits, cheering on his teammates. 

Now that he is back on the court, his posts highlight his on-court play.

The common denominator? Many of those photos are captured by Bri Robinson, one of dozens of NBA player photographers who work as freelancers to chronicle the lives of NBA players.

She’s one of just a few women in the space. She’s also one of the most elite. 

And, serving as Neemias Queta’s personal photographer, Robinson attends every home Celtics game and various off-court events, while also sometimes hitting the road. 

While at TD Garden, Robinson also takes photos of other players, from the team’s superstars to its two-way players. 

It all started in 2023, when Robinson attended a Celtics game as a fan, with her camera, and snapped photos of the players all night. After she finished editing the pictures, she messaged her favorite ones to each player on the roster on Instagram.

“The only person who got back to me was Oshae Brissett,” Robinson recalls. “I was like, ‘Hey –  if you’re looking for a shooter, I’m here.’ And he was like, ‘Okay, bet. Like, let’s get together.’ He loved the images that I sent him.”

So, Robinson became Brissett’s personal photographer during the 2024 championship season. It wasn’t a financially lucrative gig, but it did mean that she was credentialed to attend and photograph every home Celtics game. It also meant she was able to chronicle the Celtics’ 18th championship.

Brissett didn’t get much playing time during that playoff run, so Robinson made sure to arrive early to take photos of his tunnel fits and pregame workouts. And, when game play began, even if Brissett didn’t see the floor, she’d photograph the other players, slowly building her portfolio. 

After Brissett left the Celtics in 2024, Robinson had to find another player on the roster who’d be willing to help credential her. So, she became Queta’s personal photographer. 

Over the past two years, she’s chronicled the come-up of one of the NBA’s top centers. 

Falling in love with photography

Bri Robinson first picked up the camera in college, at age 20. And, she recalls, it immediately felt instinctive. 

A few years into her photography obsession, she learned that a prowess for photography was in her bloodline. 

“There’s this thing called the Shutter Bug gene,” she said. “My mom’s biological uncle, who actually took her in as a kid, like her dad, was a photographer. He was a portrait photographer, but I had no idea until two years into photographing that he was a professional photographer. And so my mom pulled out images of her when she was younger, of her just being a test dummy for him. And the photos were super dope. They were portraits – her sitting with her cat, just stuff that I would do. And I had no idea.” 

That moment affirmed she was on the right path – and that she was destined to be a photographer. 

“I was always a creative person, but when she told me that, I was like, No way. Am I living through my family member? Are they living through me?”

Robinson’s photography style is unique. 

“My style is more portrait style,” she said. “I love emotionally-invoking images – that’s what I love. I love to see after a dunk — the emotions. I love up close photos. I love raw, emotional photos, and I hope that’s what people are seeing.” 

Robinson is one of the only female player photographers in the league. That comes with its own set of challenges; she never wants people to question her relationship with or intentions toward players, and at first, she worried people would think she only got into this space to hang out with NBA players. 

“When I first started, I thought a lot about what people thought. Like, is she here for the right reasons?” she admitted. “But as I grew in this space, I just say, like, ‘Fuck it. Like, who cares [what people think?’ My work is good, and if guys hire me because my work is good, then so be it.”

Nowadays, Robinson gets paid per gig. And, over the past few years, the gigs have been piling up. She’s travelled to Paris to photograph Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin’s engagement. She’s photographed Jaylen Brown’s Bridge camp and taken pictures for Derrick White’s family. She’s worked closely with a variety of former Celtics, like Torrey Craig, Jrue Holiday, and Xavier Tillman. She photographed a Pilates event hosted by the wife of Maine Celtics head coach Phil Pressey, Elizabeth. The list goes on and on. 

Family photoshoots have become one of her biggest strengths; Derrick White’s wife, Hannah, for example, commissioned her to photograph one of their kid’s birthday parties. 

“Hannah reached out to me and was like, ‘Hey, last minute, it’s my son’s birthday. I forgot to hire someone. Can you do it?’” Robinson said. “And I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ That was exciting for me, because I never worked with Derrick White and his family outside of the arena.”

She never intended to become a basketball photographer, but given her love for capturing emotions, it suddenly made perfect sense. 

“You get to see the person truly in their element,” Robinson said. “That’s what I love to see. People can shoot, people can pull a trigger on the camera, anyone can do that, but if you can invoke an emotion and get that person’s actual, true feelings, that’s everything I love. I’m so passionate about it. Like, I just love it. I’ll see a face, and I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s the image.’”

She gives a lot of the credit to the players who have helped her get her foot in the door — first Brissett, and now Queta. She’s also enormously grateful for the support she’s received from Tatum, who always makes sure to credit her when he uses her pictures.

Tatum, who has 7.3 million followers on Instagram, has ensured Robinson’s photos are seen by more people than she could have ever imagined. 

And, in turn, that’s given her other photography opportunities.

“If Jayson Tatum’s gonna repost me, [other NBA players think] why can’t I use Bri?” she said. “It’s a stamp of approval. JT has really pushed my work, and I’m always going to be grateful for that.”

This season, she’s chronicled Neemias Queta’s journey from a fourth-string center to one of the most durable and consistent centers in the league. She’s also captured tunnel shots for players like Ron Harper Jr, Luka Garza, and Baylor Scheierman. 

All of it means she is living out a dream she didn’t even know she had. 

The biggest beneficiaries? Celtics fans – who get to enjoy photos of the season’s most emotional moments.

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Where to watch NBA Playoffs Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Wednesday, April 15

The Orlando Magic, ranked eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 45-37 record, face the Philadelphia 76ers, who are seventh in the East with a 45-37 record. Philadelphia is favored with a -125 moneyline compared to Orlando's +105. The game is part of the Play-In Tournament.

  • Date: Wednesday, April 15

  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

  • Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • TV Channels: Amazon Prime

  • Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • Orlando Magic: 45-37 (eighth in Eastern Conference)

  • Philadelphia 76ers: 45-37 (seventh in Eastern Conference)

  • Spread: Philadelphia 76ers -1.5

  • Moneyline: Philadelphia 76ers -125 / Orlando Magic +105

  • Over/Under: 224.5

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Blackhawks Netminder Ranked Among NHL's Best Goalie Prospects

In a recent article for The Athletic, Scott Wheeler ranked the top 20 NHL-drafted goalie prospects. A Chicago Blackhawks prospect made the cut, as Drew Commesso was given the No. 18 spot. 

Commesso is a goaltender who the Blackhawks are certainly hoping will become a solid part of their future, as he has good upside. The 2020 second-round pick is continuing to work on his development and has shown promise. 

Commesso has played in 36 games with the Rockford IceHogs this season, where he has a 13-19-2 record, a .903 save percentage, and a 3.00 goals-against average. This is after he had an 18-15-4 record, a .911 save percentage, a 2.54 goals-against average, and four shutouts for Rockford in 2024-25. With this, he has certainly been solid at the AHL level. 

However, more importantly, Commesso played very well when given the chance to play for the Blackhawks this season. In three games for Chicago this campaign, he has a 2-1-0 record, a .918 save percentage, and a 2.31 goals-against average. He also notably had a 36-save shutout against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 10. Furthermore, in his most recent appearance for Chicago on March 9 against the Utah Mammoth, he stopped 23 out of 25 shots. 

With this, Commesso certainly has the potential to become a good part of the Blackhawks' roster in the future. He should see more NHL action next season because of it. 

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Jesper Wallstedt is giving the playoff-bound Wild a boost in goal, no matter how his name is spelled

Jesper Wallstedt

Apr 14, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) defends the net against the Anaheim Ducks in the third period at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Matt Blewett/Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Jesper Wallstedt let in a goal on a power play against the Minnesota Wild in the first period, looked up at the scoreboard to quickly analyze the replay, and realized something wasn’t right.

The name on the back of his green jersey was misspelled: W-a-l-l-s-t-e-a-d.

“An April Fool’s joke,” Wallstedt said after beating the Anaheim Ducks, “but a little late.”

So he’s sure this was a classic rookie prank and not an honest manufacturing mistake?

“Yeah, 100%. I don’t know exactly who it is, but obviously I have a feeling of who it could be,” said Wallstedt, suggesting fellow goalie Filip Gustavsson was the culprit.

When Marc-Andre Fleury retired last spring, he left behind quite the legacy as a prankster. Though Fleury turned over the net to Gustavsson and Wallstedt on the ice, the 41-year-old with the second-most wins in NHL history has stayed around the team this season as a practice goalie and with an informal front office role as a player development advisor.

Was it possible Fleury found his way in on the joke too?

“Oh, I didn’t think that Flower could be involved,” Wallstedt said. “Then I definitely think it’s a team job. Well done for them. Yeah, I’d rather take it that way than having my car on cinder blocks or something. I’d rather have my name a little misspelled.”

For the record, Wallstedt had his proper spelling restored for the second period. He had 34 saves in the 3-2 win over the Ducks and finished his rookie season 18-9-6 with the NHL’s second-best save percentage (.915).

“I hope they threw that nameplate away,” Wallstedt said. “I have no idea where it went.”

Since starting his career 8-0-2 with four shutouts, Wallstedt has continued to give the Wild confidence in their tandem of Swedish Olympians — and a decision to make with the playoffs approaching.

Gustavsson has more experience and enjoyed plenty of strong stretches this season, but he’s only 2-4 in his last six starts with 25 goals allowed. Wallstedt might have forced his way into some type of rotation in the first-round series against the Dallas Stars.

“I like the way I’ve been playing lately, especially after the Olympics. I thought I was in a good spot going into the Olympics, too,” Wallstedt said. “Obviously I was a little bit bummed that I didn’t get to play anything there, and maybe that gave some extra motivation for the games after. And ever since, I’ve felt like I’ve been in a good spot and given our team a good chance to win.”

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Cubs at Phillies Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 15

The Chicago Cubs (8-9) take on the Philadelphia Phillies (8-9) in the final matchup of a three-game series. The Cubs won yesterday, 10-4 after the Phillies won the opening game, 13-7.

Chicago evened up the series with a 10-4 win yesterday in a series that has featured 34 total runs! The Cubs are now 4-4 on the road this season and scored 43 total runs (10th-most) with the seventh-best batting average (.247). Chicago is back at home versus the Mets this weekend with three day games on tap.

Philadelphia is now 2-2 in the last four games and 2-5 in the last seven games. The Phillies are 5-6 at home and own and the third-worst ERA (5.25) and allow the third-highest opponent batting average (.274). Offensively, the Phillies are tied for the third-most home runs hit at home (14), but are 18th in batting average (.241). Philadelphia hosts Atlanta this weekend for a three-game set before going to Chicago to face the Cubs again.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch 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 Cubs at Phillies

  • Date: Wednesday, April 14, 2026
  • Time: 6:40 PM EST
  • Site: Citizens Bank Park 
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • 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 Cubs at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Chicago Cubs (+119), Philadelphia Phillies (-143)
  • Spread: Cubs +1.5 (-175), Phillies -1.5 (+144)
  • Total: 8.5

Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Phillies

  • Wednesday's pitching matchup (April 15): Jesus Luzardo vs. Shota Imanaga
  • Cubs: Shota Imanaga 

2026 stats: 16.0 IP, 0-1, 2.81 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 20 Ks, 4 BB

  • Phillies: Jesus Luzardo 

2026 Stats: 17.1 IP, 1-2, 6.23 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 26 Ks, 4 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not!

  • The Phillies’ Bryce Harper is hitting .258 with 16 hits and 30 total bases over 62 at-bats
  • The Phillies’ Alec Bohm is hitting .153 with nine hits and 12 strikeouts over 59 at-bats
  • The Cubs’ Nico Hoerner is hitting .303 with 20 hits and 30 total bases over 66 at-bats
  • The Cubs’ Michael Busch is hitting .161 with nine hits, 13 strikeouts, and nine walks over 56 at-bats

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 Phillies

  • The Cubs are 6-11 ATS this season
  • The Phillies are an MLB-worst 4-13 ATS this season
  • The Cubs are 10-6-1 to the Over this season
  • The Phillies are 9-7-1 to the Over this season

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

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

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 Wednesday's game between the Cubs and the Phillies.

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cubs at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.5

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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Where to watch New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Wednesday, April 15

Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to be on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they attempt to sweep a three-game series from the New York Mets. The Dogers won Tuesday’s game 2-1, handing the Mets their seventh straight loss. Clay Holmes is scheduled to start for the Mets.

  • New York Mets: 7-11 (No. 5 in NL East)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers: 13-4 (No. 1 in NL West)

  • Spread: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5

  • Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers -235 (67.0%) / New York Mets +190 (33.0%)

  • Over/Under: 8.0

New York Mets: Clay Holmes (2-1, ERA: 1.50, K: 12, WHIP: 1.11)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (1-0, ERA: 0.00, K: 8, WHIP: 0.75)

Weather: 68°F at first pitch

Ballpark: Capacity: 56,000 | Roof: Open | Surface: Grass

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Rangers reliever Luis Curvelo hurt while delivering a wild pitch against the Athletics

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Texas reliever Luis Curvelo appeared to injure his throwing arm while delivering a wild pitch in the seventh inning of a game against the Athletics.

Curvelo’s pitch to right-handed batter Jacob Wilson sailed well left of the left-handed batter’s box and to the backstop.

As the 25-year-old, Venezuelan righty released the ball, he skipped off the mound in apparent pain, pulled his left hand immediately out of his glove and waved at the dugout in an apparent signal for a trainer while letting his glove drop to the ground.

Curvelo did not throw another pitch and was replaced by Tyler Alexander.

The Rangers did not immediately provide an injury update.

When a trainer arrived at the mound, Curvelo briefly touched his upper right arm with his left hand before walking to the dugout with a pained expression on his face.

Curvelo, who was called up from Triple-A Round Rock on April 5, faced only Wilson while appearing in his fourth game this season.

In his previous three appearances for the Rangers this season, Curvelo had allowed six hits and three earned runs in five innings while also striking out three batters.