San Diego Padres first baseman Gavin Sheets (30) hits a three-run home run during the ninth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
San Diego Padres (25-17) at Milwaukee Brewers (23-17), May 14, 2026, 10:40 a.m. PST
Watch: Padres.TV
Location: American Family Field – Milwaukee, Wisc.
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HOUSTON, TX - MAY 12: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners looks on from the on deck circle during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Michaela Schumacher/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
For the first time in his career, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has been placed on the injured list. After resting and attempting to play through some side discomfort, the Big Dumper seemed to aggravate his side discomfort in Wednesday’s game. He was eventually replaced by Mitch Garver behind the dish, and now the club will be without their superstar backstop for at least 10 days with an oblique strain, with C Jhonny Pereda recalled in his place.
The news is unsurprising, but troubling, as Raleigh now faces the uncommon challenge of rehabbing an oblique injury as a switch-hitter, an issue noted by Daniel Kramer of MLB.com as one of the factors that may complicate his recovery timeline. Raleigh will receive imaging on Friday when Seattle begins the second leg of the Vedder Cup as they play host to the San Diego Padres.
While Raleigh has struggled immensely in 2026, and it is some small relief to see him receive the time to effectively heal, that’s a bronze lining at best. Cal’s absence puts serious strain on a catching corps that has not demonstrated strength. Mitch Garver signed to a minor league deal this winter after the club soured swiftly on their initial backup plan of Andrew Knizner, who was released before Opening Day despite signing a big league deal. He’ll be expected to take on the primary role in the interim.
Garver, of course, originally came to the Mariners in 2024 with the intention of full-time DH work, as he’d done overwhelmingly in his time with the Texas Rangers. While Garver’s 2024-25 were disappointments, and saw him relegated into a backup role again, he’s been a fairly stalwart, but a major reason for Garver’s DH shift was durability issues, which saw him placed on the IL at least once a year from 2019-2023. Garver has not missed time with the M’s, but it’s a concern point now to see the 35 year old pushed into more serious duty.
That may mean a more even split of time with Pereda, who has fewer big league games under his belt than Garver has played in seven different seasons. Pereda is no Alejandro Kirk, but he does bring a more contact-focused approach at the plate than Garver. The 30 year old is in his eighth MLB organization, and faces primarily a titanic task of filling the shoes and sliding shorts of the Big Dumper for an indefinite period of time. Pereda has hit well in Triple-A Tacoma (his seventh different Triple-A club), running a .321/.414/.417 line in 100 plate appearances, and has historically performed well at the top level of the minors regardless of whether it’s earned him big league opportunities. This will likely be his most significant stretch of play in his career, though it’s possible Seattle looks externally for another option.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 23: Daryl Morey talks to the media during Paul George's Philadelphia 76ers introductory press conference on July 23, 2024 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A lot of terrible things have happened to the Philadelphia 76ers in the last decade.
But how many of them actually happened under Daryl Morey’s watch?
Daryl Morey was hired by the Philadelphia 76ers on November 2, 2020. By my calculations, most of the bad luck, incompetence, witchcraft, inexplicable disasters and tragicomedy that has resulted in the royally screwed 2026 76ers happened before November 2, 2020. Trading the Jayson Tatum pick for the Markelle Fultz pick? Before Morey. Jimmy Butler trade? Before Morey. Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons contracts? Before Morey. Trading Mikal Bridges for Zhaire Smith? Before Morey.
Morey was recently fired by the 76ers, ending his long and high-profile tenure as one of the league’s most philosophically convinced executives: 3-pointers and layups, no long twos. In service of that philosophy, he made mistakes, as does every GM. But most of the damage had already been done, and I honestly believe he positioned the 76ers as well as he possibly could have in his six-year tenure. His firing signalled that it was time for a new philosophy, but Morey gave the team a pretty good shot given the hand he was dealt.
Upon his hiring in November 2020, Morey was immediately presented with two non-negotiables. First, Doc Rivers was his head coach, having been hired just a month earlier. Second, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons were his franchise players. Every move the 76ers had made for three full years was in service of that plan. Morey was handed the keys, sure, but they were for a company car with engine issues. So he quickly drafted Tyrese Maxey 16 days into his job, and got to work with what he was given.
That, in essence, is what Morey was presented with.
He never got to test drive anything, never really got to buy his own car. And he had to stick with Embiid, the man who a tortured city’s hopes were all pinned on after years of intentional failure. Once Embiid finished second, second and first in MVP voting between 2020 and 2023, that was it. Morey would be paying Embiid whatever he wanted for the rest of his career, no matter what.
Then there’s Ben Simmons, a basketball/personal/financial/metaphysical disaster that will go down in mysterious legend. Morey famously executed a year-long standoff with Simmons before trading him for James Harden, but I may need to write a book titled “The Four Years that Made and Broke Ben Simmons” to explain to future generations that, prior to his on-court collapse in Game 7 of the 2021 Hawks series, Simmons was an All-NBA-level player. He was incredible, and then he was gone. We may never know exactly what happened, but the fact that Morey managed to acquire Harden — a great player, for all that comes with him — for a deflated asset like Simmons was remarkable.
Harden was perhaps Morey’s kryptonite, a player with the tantalizing offensive tools that served his philosophy far better than Embiid or Simmons, with the former enjoying the mid-range jumper (Morey’s arch nemesis) and the latter incapable of shooting 3-pointers. He was convinced Harden was one of the most impactful players of his generation, and had built team after team around him in Houston. Had he instead committed to Maxey sooner, a player he drafted, perhaps Morey could have avoided the eventual blow up that ended he and Harden’s relationship.
The 76ers’ current problems are mostly due to two contracts for Embiid and Paul George that are slated to pay out nearly $300 million in the next three years. In the era of the apron luxury tax, that is not a feasible way to build a basketball team. And while I won’t say Morey had no choice in handing them out (you always have a choice), Embiid was a non-negotiable. I also think clearing cap space for George and then actually signing him into it was an impressive maneuver at the time. Nobody ever sings a real, big free agent anymore, and 76ers didn’t have to give up anything to get him. That fourth year player option really hurts, I get it, but any GM in his position would have done it to get it done.
Those contracts were peak “if they don’t work, I’m going to get fired anyway so what do I care?” deals. They were big swings, and Morey hung his job on two expensive deals for injury prone players who just didn’t play enough to justify them. But what else was he supposed to do? Use the cap space to fund a lemonade stand? Would 76ers fans have preferred Morey not pay Embiid after he dropped 50 in a playoff game and have him demand a trade instead?
It is interesting that the 76ers, the team most synonymous with rebuilding because of “The Process” has almost gone a full decade without tearing anything down — a period that spans Morey’s entire tenure. He was hired not to save the 76ers but to push a clearly talented roster out of the second round. Instead, he basically just became a crisis manager, always seemingly one step behind the next avalanche ready to bury the 76ers between every rock and every hard place.
But imagine if Morey had not drafted Tyrese Maxey at No. 21, and instead taken Zeke Nnaji or Leandro Bolmaro or R.J. Hampton, the three players pick after him? Imagine if Morey had salary-dumped Ben Simmons instead of acquiring Harden, or had filled the Paul George cap space with Buddy Hield, Royce O’Neale and DeMar DeRozan? What if he had filled it with another Tobias Harris extension?
Would Philadelphia actually be better off?
Or are the 76ers’ present issues arguably the best possible situation for a team built around one of the least available superstars in the history of the league? Perhaps his philosophy has expired, and a new voice in the room should be welcomed or elevated. But I don’t think Morey should be blamed for the check engine light, the brakes seizing up and for the eventual crash — it wasn’t his car.
The San Antonio Spurs have a chance to deliver the knockout punch in Game 6 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Led by the dynamic duo of Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio brings a dangerous one-two punch.
While Wemby grabs the spotlight, my Spurs vs. Timberwolves predictions see Fox landing the decisive blow that could send Minnesota packing.
My NBA picks are taking Fox to top his scoring prop on Friday, May 15.
Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from the Target Center in Minneapolis, with the game airing on Prime Video.
UPDATE: Added +825 SGP & who will win prediction.
Spurs vs Timberwolves Game 6 prediction today
Who will win Spurs vs Timberwolves Game 6?
Spurs: San Antonio closes out this Western Conference semifinal set with a road win. Minnesota is running out of time and struggling to find solutions for a deep Spurs attack.
Top star Anthony Edwards is playing on one good leg, and his support cast either can’t hit a shot (Julius Randle) or can’t stay on the floor due to foul troubles (Jaden McDaniels).
Books have the Spurs as road chalk, and I agree. San Antonio puts the Wolves away in Game 6.
Spurs vs Timberwolves best bet: De’Aaron Fox Over 16.5 points (-115)
Despite playing with sore ankles in Game 5, De’Aaron Fox topped his points prop for the third straight outing.
Fox scored 18 points with the bulk of those buckets in and around the key.
Fox is second on the team in points in the paint (9.0) and sees a clearer path to the rim if the Minnesota Timberwolves continue to tinker with their rotation.
Minnesota played rim protector Rudy Gobert a playoff-low 23 minutes in Game 5, opting to go small. With Victor Wembanyama in high screen action, Fox finds easier looks inside with Gobert gone and an extra day to rest his wheels.
Projections sit at 17+ with a ceiling of 20 points.
COVERS INTEL: Fox has done well vs. Minnesota guards Ayo Dosunmu (injured) and Mike Conley (old) in this series. Jaden McDaniels is a rare T-Wolves player having success against Fox (34.5 FG%), and he’s expected to match up on Wembanyama more in Game 6.
Spurs vs Timberwolves Game 6 same-game parlay
The San Antonio Spurs had six players score at least 12 points in the Game 5 win, and that depth is wearing down Minnesota while exhausting all defensive counters.
The T-Wolves just don’t have the horses to keep up with that offense, especially with Anthony Edwards not at 100%, and the T-Wolves’ poor outside shooting is unable to close the gap.
Wembanyama keeps topping his rebounding props, snatching at least 15 boards in four of the first five games. The only game he didn’t top that prop is when he was tossed 12 minutes into Game 4.
San Antonio’s paint protection is forcing Minnesota into low-percentage looks, and that’s creating ample rebounding opportunities for the 7-footer.
Spurs vs Timberwolves SGP
Spurs moneyline
De’Aaron Fox Over 16.5 points
Victor Wembanyama Over 13.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Star Fox
The T-Wolves are suffering from bad starts versus the Spurs, and head coach Chris Finch told reporters they need to do a better job of being patient and creating better shots. That could slow things down in Game 6.
On top of Fox getting to the paint against a smaller Minnesota rotation, he should also find opportunities to find teammates on drive-and-kick and screen-and-roll options with Wemby.
Over/Under: Over 218.5 (-110) | Under 218.5 (-110)
Spurs vs Timberwolves betting trend to know
San Antonio has hit the moneyline in 30 of its last 40 away games (+26.65 Units / 20% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Timberwolves.
How to watch Spurs vs Timberwolves Game 6
Location
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Friday, May 15, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Spurs vs Timberwolves latest injuries
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In a lengthy ESPN feature about the 60-year-old published Thursday, writer Wright Thompson shared how Kerr subtly referenced the pop singer throughout the course of the 2022-23 NBA season. The result? An end-of-year compilation of clips featuring the coach narrating her song, “All Too Well.”
“Three years ago, to entertain himself in his press conferences, Steve worked phrases from Swift’s song ‘All Too Well’ into his interview answers, smoothly enough that nobody noticed,” Thompson wrote. “For instance, to get the first line of the song, he took the podium after beating the Rockets in March of 2023 and said, ‘I walked through the door of the locker room at halftime.’
“Over a long season he got most of the lyrics done, crossing them off as he went. His son Matthew later edited them into a video for their family group chat, so that Kerr appeared to have recited the whole song.”
While the video never has been made public, Thompson shared that Swift eventually saw it through a mutual friend and found it “creative and funny.”
“Can I put it on social media?” she asked, according to Thompson.
But Kerr asked that it remain private, but it only should be a matter of time before Warriors and Taylor Swift fans alike comb through the postgame footage to make a video of their own.
We’re just wondering how the Warriors coach was able to weave, “But you keep my old scarf, from that very first week” into a press conference.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 11: Allen Graves looks on during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 11, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Fresh off another drama-filled lottery, the league has turned its attention to the NBA Draft Combine, with the 2026 class shaping up to feature some of the best depth in years. Prospects are getting their measurements updated and putting themselves through agility tests, workouts and scrimmages.
With mock drafts popping up from reputable sources and the draft just over a month away, let’s look at what the early indications say the Philadelphia 76ers can do with the 22nd pick.
ESPN provides some of the better draft coverage out there, with Jeremy Woo spearheading their latest mock. At 22, Woo slots in Santa Clara’s Allen Graves over names like Koa Peat, Isaiah Evans, Dailyn Swain and Amari Allen.
This feels like a strong pick given the available talent. Graves has a smooth offensive game and a legitimate frame to match, measuring 6’7.75 barefoot with a 7’0 wingspan and 8’10.25 standing reach. He had a late growth spurt and brings a lot to the table offensively, with advanced ball skills, a serviceable jumper and consistent playmaking reads. His game personally reminds me of former Sixer Nic Batum, with Naz Reid being another player he shows shades of.
Graves would be a compelling pick at 22. He is relatively unproven in terms of competition level, but there is plenty to like in a vacuum and even more so as a theoretical fit with the Sixers. He could slot in alongside Paul George and Joel Embiid, providing connective play and floor spacing without sacrificing size or mobility.
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor brings a lot more variation in his latest mock, with names like Swain, Graves and Allen all coming off the board well before pick 22. O’Connor has the Sixers selecting Henri Veesaar, an experienced third-year big out of North Carolina. Notable names still on the board in this mock include Jayden Quaintance, Bennett Stirtz, Tounde Yessoufou and Evans.
This sits toward the ceiling of Veesaar’s range, barring any last-minute rise. Most mocks have him going in the late first round or even into the second.
So what would justify the reach? Veesaar is quite different from most of the bigs Philadelphia has been accustomed to. He features a legitimate perimeter game and a real shooting touch, knocking down over 40 percent from three on solid volume, with enough offensive versatility to do damage in other ways as well. On paper, he has enough of an offensive arsenal to either back up Embiid or play alongside him in supersized lineups.
That said, I would be pretty surprised if Veesaar is the name the Sixers land on at 22. In many eyes he would not be the best available prospect, and it is hard to imagine the team using their highest pick on a big that many draft boards have sliding. However, if Embiid’s availability is that serious of a concern, spending draft capital on a center when the position figures to be overhauled this summer is not without logic.
The Ringer is no stranger to controversial rankings and mock drafts. J. Kyle Mann and Danny Chau are manning their draft board this cycle, and they currently have the Sixers selecting Cameron Carr at 22. Notable names still on the board include Chris Cenac, Karim Lopez, Allen and Evans.
Carr is a fascinating pick for several reasons. He boasts a real frame to grow into, measuring 6’4.5 barefoot with a 7’7.5 wingspan and 8’8 standing reach. He is one of the better off-ball shooters in this class, with a proven jumper to go along with his wiry frame. Similar to VJ Edgecombe, Carr is also an unusually good rim protector for his size and position, offering serious two-way upside in the long view.
So what makes this pick complicated? Carr will need time and development, particularly when it comes to adding weight to his frame. The defensive flashes are real, but he will need to show stronger and more consistent effort on that end, and self-creation on offense is limited at best. Still, factoring in what he brings right now, with a standout frame and a smooth jumper, it is easy to see why the Sixers might be willing to roll with Carr even if he needs some seasoning. He would provide the largest wingspan-to-height ratio among perimeter players in this class, with real vertical ability and the upside to get even better.
If the Sixers are looking for a connective wing who can provide length behind the backcourt without sacrificing perimeter shooting, there are not many names that fit the bill better than Carr.
It’s worth noting that Carr crushed the scrimmage portion of the combine Wednesday, which might put him out of the Sixers’ range.
Last up is The Athletic, led by renowned draft expert Sam Vecenie. In his mock, Vecenie has the Sixers selecting Amari Allen at 22, over names such as Graves, Joshua Jefferson and Yessoufou.
Vecenie describes Allen well in his write-up as a swiss army knife type of player with a wide range of skills. Allen has excellent size at 6’5.25 without shoes, weighing in at nearly 205 pounds, with a 6’8 wingspan and 8’3 standing reach. As a wing, he is one of the better playmakers in this class, capable of making smart reads and playing well within his strengths. Unlike many prospects, he avoids forcing risky passes and rarely turns the ball over or telegraphs his intentions. Allen also features a serviceable jumper, shooting 34 percent from three and 74 percent from the foul line. The percentages are not eye-popping, but his shot passes the eye test. It is smooth and repeatable, and with some minor tweaks, could become a real strength in the years ahead. The closest comp for Allen’s overall game is the Knicks’ Josh Hart, minus the elite rebounding.
Allen’s range varies drastically depending on who you ask. Some analytics have him as high as the late lottery, while others, as seen here, slide him deeper into the first round. Teams are always hunting for wings who can handle, pass and shoot without being a liability on defense, and Allen checks those boxes. If the Sixers want a ball handler outside of their backcourt with plenty of upside to grow into at just 20 years old, they could do a lot worse than Allen at 22.
Italian rider beats Jasper Stuyven in city centre finish
Portugal’s Afonso Eulálio retains overall lead
Davide Ballerini won stage six of the Giro d’Italia as a crash on the cobbles took out several sprint specialists near the finish in Naples on Thursday.
Italian Ballerini (XDS Astana Team) comfortably beat Belgium’s Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step) on the city centre finish after a flat 142km ride from Paestum.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 13: Simon Mathews #53 of the Washington Nationals walks out to the mound to talk with Jake Irvin #27 of the Washington Nationals during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on May 13, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a dramatic come from behind win, the Nats have a chance to sweep the Reds and get to .500 on the season. They will have to do it in an early afternoon game, which has been tough sledding for them the past few years. The Nats will also have to face a high octane arm in Chase Burns.
With a righty on the mound, Blake Butera made some tweaks to his lineup. The red hot Luis Garcia Jr. is back in there at first base. Jorbit Vivas will make his first start of the series in the DH spot. With a day game after a night game, Drew Millas will also get his first start of the series, looking to redeem himself after the debacle in the Marlins game. Nats surprise ace Foster Griffin will take the mound with a chance to get his team to .500.
With a lefty on the mound, this Reds lineup looks very different. It is a new look outfield, with Spencer Steer in left, Dane Myers in center and Blake Dunn in right. Sal Stewart will move to first base and JJ Bleday will be DH. Ke’Bryan Hayes will also be in the lineup. Backup catcher Jose Trevino will get his first start of the series. Chase Burns has pitched like an ace and has electric stuff. He will be on the mound, and will look to stop the bleeding for the Reds.
The bullpens have gotten a lot of work in this series, so both starters will be expected to go deep in the game. Both teams have the right guy on the mound to do that as well. Offense has king in this series, but the pitching matchup indicates that may change today. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
Apr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) pitches in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
Carson Benge – RF Bo Bichette – SS Juan Soto – DH Mark Vientos – 1B MJ Melendez – LF Brett Baty – 3B Marcus Semien – 2B A.J. Ewing – CF Hayden Senger – C
SP: Nolan McLean – RHP
Tigers lineup
Kevin McGonigle – SS Colt Keith – 3B Riley Greene – LF Dillon Dingler – DH Gage Workman – 2B Zach McKinstry – RF Spencer Torkelson – 1B Wenceel Perez – CF Jake Rogers – C
SP: Keider Montero – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:10pm EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
The White Sox (21-21) will be looking for a sweep of their three-game series tonight in the Windy City when they take the field against the Royals (19-24).
Surprise contenders in the American League Central, the White Sox remained just 1.5 games behind division-leading Cleveland with a 6-5 win last night over KC. Colson Montgomery was the offensive catalyst for the Chisox with three hits including his 11th home run of the season and scored two runs. Tyler Davis picked up his first win of the season coming on in relief of Chicago starter Noah Schultz. Seth Lugo was bad for Kansas City allowing five runs in five innings to drop to 1-3 on the season. KC’s ace has been anything but the last month as he has allowed less than four runs in just one of his last four starts. Bobby Witt Jr. cracked his 7th home run of the season (and 7th since April 26th) for the Royals in the loss.
Kansas City turns to Kris Bubic to try and snap the Royals’ now three-game losing streak. The White Sox are gunning for their fifth straight win. They will send Anthony Kay to the bump. After struggling at the end of April, Kay has been solid in May allowing just two runs over his last two starts / 10 innings. Bubic has been good his last three starts. Over his last 17.2 innings, the left-hander has allowed 12 hits and just five runs while striking out 18.
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.
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Game Details and How to Watch: White Sox vs. Royals
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Time: 7:40PM EST
Site: Rate Field
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, CSN, Royals.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.
The Latest Odds: White Sox vs. Royals
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Chicago White Sox (+113), Kansas City Royals (-136)
Spread: White Sox +1.5 (-149), Royals -1.5 (+123)
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: White Sox vs. Royals
Pitching matchup for May 14:
White Sox: Anthony Kay Season Totals: 35.0 IP, 2-1, 4.89 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 25K, 17 BB
Chase Meidroth had his 11-game hitting streak snapped last night (0-2)
Carter Jensen was 2-2 last night, is 4-9 over his last 4 games but is hitting just .176 in May
Bobby Witt Jr. has hit safely in 11 of 12 games in May with 17 hits including 5 HRs in 49 ABs (.347)
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: White Sox vs. Royals
The Royals are 6-14 on the road this season
The White Sox are 11-9 at home this season
The White Sox are 24-18 on the Run Line this season
The Royals are 18-25 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 19 times in games involving the Royals this season (19-24)
The OVER has cashed 23 times in White Sox games this season (23-19)
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: White Sox vs. Royals
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the White Sox and the Royals:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Royals on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 8.0 runs
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Although the Philadelphia Flyers largely stuck with the same group of players throughout their run in the Stanley Cup playoffs this year, the team hopes that many of the young players who watched on standby will benefit from the experience.
Top Flyers prospects like Spencer Gill, Nikita Grebenkin (upper-body), Carson Bjarnason, Oliver Bonk, Jett Luchanko, Jack Berglund, and David Jiricek were all present in the press box for the Flyers' five home games in the postseason.
Only Bonk and Luchanko managed to play in a game, the Flyers' Game 4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, and Jiricek was a participant in warmups.
All of the players, however, got to see and hear what playoff hockey was like in Philadelphia.
The intensity of the games against seasoned opponents like Pittsburgh and Carolina, the cheers and boos from the crowd, and the boisterous standing ovation following the end of the season, which Flyers general manager Danny Briere lauded multiple times in his end-of-season press conference.
"We always ask a lot about our fans, and we ask them to invest in the team and spend money and time to come and see us. What they did last game was truly, truly amazing," Briere said to start his press conference.
"I wanted them to know that it was our players who took notice of that. I probably had seven or eight guys in my exit meetings that specifically mentioned how the fans reacted at the end of the game. They knew how special it was to play in the playoffs in Philadelphia. They didn't realize how special it was."
Now that the Flyers have gotten a taste of that, they want everyone to be hungry to get back to the playoffs every year and continue to learn and improve.
That includes the prospects who will be important parts of this process in the near future.
"We didn't know our fans would react the way they did, which was fantastic. That was amazing. Along the way, we didn't know if Oliver Bonk or David Jiricek would play games, but they got the chance to go on the ice for a few warmups. That was all part of the experience," Briere said.
"We had Jack Nesbitt and Spencer Gill here at the end of the season. Even though they couldn't play, they came in, spent a few days being around the team to see what it was like, the atmosphere of the playoffs, and get a taste of how exciting it could be. It goes beyond just the guys who were playing. A lot of our young guys were here. To have them around to experience that, we hope will help their development."
With Noah Juulsen a pending free agent and the future of Rasmus Ristolainen uncertain, it would certainly seem that Bonk and Jiricek have strong chances to parlay that experience into roster spots and improvement in their games next season.
Luchanko, who replaced Matvei Michkov for Game 4 against Carolina, will assuredly make his bid to make the Flyers out of training camp for a third consecutive season.
Berglund played seven playoff games with the SHL's Farjestad BK before helping the Lehigh Valley Phantoms with their playoff push on an AHL tryout, then watched the Flyers from afar.
The Flyers hope that all of these prospects will take something from the two-round playoff run and apply it in the near future.
Sacramento Kings guard Keegan Murrand and Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey both underwent ankle surgeries this week, and both are expected to be back for the start of the season.
Giddey has been bothered on-and-off by ankle issues for a couple of years and had arthroscopic surgery on his ankle to clean that up, the team reported.
Medical Update: Josh Giddey recently underwent a successful right ankle arthroscopy.
Giddey is scheduled to start basketball activities in approximately three months and is expected to return for the start of training camp. pic.twitter.com/yCFBm8Nfub
Giddey was limited to 54 games last season, primarily due to a hamstring injury. Giddey is coming off a career year, where he averaged 17 points, 9.1 assists and 8.3 rebounds (8.3) per game (all career highs) while shooting 36.4% from 3-point range. The Bulls reached an extension with him last year and he is locked in for three more seasons at $75 million.
Murray had surgery to remove loose bodies from his ankle, reports James Ham of The Kings’ Beat. Murray is expected to be back on the basketball court in six to eight weeks and will be back for training camp, according to the report.
Murray had missed time starting in January with a sprained ankle. He came back for four games in February, aggravated the injury and was out for the remainder of the season. Due to ankle and other health issues earlier in the season, Murray played in just 23 games for the Kings last season, averaged 14 points per game, and struggled with his shot due to all the injuries.
He is locked in with the team, having signed a five-year, $140 million extension off his rookie contract that kicks in next season.
Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinal between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks shifts back to Orange County tonight, with Vegas up 3-2 in the series.
In my Golden Knights vs. Ducks props, I'm targeting Jack Eichel, Cutter Gauthier, and Pavel Dorofeyev.
Jack Eichel has been killing it this postseason for the Vegas Golden Knights. After leading the team in 2025-26 with 63 assists, he's notched 14 helpers in the playoffs, which is also first on the Golden Knights roster.
Eichel has cashed the Over in assists in four straight games, and he has four helpers across Games 4 and 5 combined.
The veteran was a key factor on Tuesday, setting up two of the Golden Knights' three goals. He's also notched 10 SOG across his last three contests.
Opportunities continue to present themselves for Eichel, and he's skating alongside the red-hot Pavel Dorofeyev, who cannot be stopped right now.
Game 6 Prop #2: Cutter Gauthier Over 0.5 assists
+175 at BET99
The Anaheim Ducks may be on the brink of elimination, but Cutter Gauthier is certainly doing all that he can to keep his squad alive.
The youngster has five of his eight playoff assists across the last two contests. He tallied a pair of helpers in the heartbreaking Game 5 loss, and he also had his hand in three of Anaheim's four goals in Game 4.
Gauthier also had four SOG in each of the last two games, and he's been important in generating opportunities for the red-hot Beckett Sennecke on the power play.
Sennecke scored with the man advantage in Game 5 thanks to a helper from Gauthier, and his line also scored Anaheim's second goal of the contest. Gauthier's line — on even strength and the power play — has netted five of the last six goals for the Ducks, with Gauthier assisting on all five.
Game 6 Prop #3: Pavel Dorofeyev Over 2.5 shots on goal
-125 at BET99
Dorofeyev played hero for the Golden Knights in Game 5, scoring the OT winner thanks to an apple from Eichel.
The Russian has three goals across his last two games, and he's cashed the Over in SOG in back-to-back outings. Dorofeyev put four pucks on net in Game 4, and another four in Game 5.
Dorofeyev is averaging 2.63 SOG per contest in these playoffs, and his confidence is sky-high right now after a two-goal performance on Tuesday. That also means Vegas will be looking to get him the puck as much as possible, and playing alongside an elite playmaker like Eichel only strengthens this play.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 13: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a pitch during the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While Shohei Ohtani has been struggling at the plate recently, he’s made opposing hitters look even worse. Wednesday night was arguably his best pitching start of the season with seven scoreless innings and eight strikeouts against the San Francisco Giants.
Perspective is important with Ohtani, who has legitimately had a rough go of it while hitting of late, such that he didn’t hit Wednesday night and won’t hit on Thursday to gain some semblance of rest. But even with his hitting struggles, Ohtani still has a 122 wRC+, making him still a well-above-average hitter, just below his own standards.
But he’s thriving on the mound. After Wednesday’s performance, Ohtani has a minuscule 0.82 ERA with 50 strikeouts against 11 walks in 44 innings.
Ohtani has led the National League in ERA after all seven of his starts, and led the majors in ERA after five of them, including each of the last three. The only thing keeping him off the leaderboard at times this season is the lack of innings.
Ohtani didn’t pitch until the Dodgers fifth game of the season, got extra time in between then and his second start in order to line up with a team off day the day after said start in Toronto, and even got extra time before Wednesday’s start with Blake Snell inserted into the rotation earlier than planned last weekend.
So Ohtani has been straddling the line of qualifying for leaderboards, needing at least one inning per team game played. What’s stayed consistent though is his performance, lasting at least six innings in all seven of his starts, including seven innings in each of his last two outings.
After Tuesday’s start he’s up to 44 innings, through 43 Dodgers games.
Of his 44 innings, 38 of them have been scoreless frames, plus single runs in six different innings, two of those tallies unearned. For what it’s worth, even if those other two runs were earned, Ohtani’s updated 1.23 ERA would would still lead the majors, with New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlitter next-best at 1.35. Ohtani’s 2.17 xERA is second-best in baseball, behind only Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes.
Here are the dates Ohtani has led the NL in ERA to date in 2026 (at the end of that day):
I included May 14 as well because with 44 innings, Ohtani will continue to qualify through Thursday’s game, the Dodgers’ 44th of the season. And nobody is close enough to pass him for the top spot.
Counting his time on the mound last year, Ohtani now has a 1.88 ERA in 21 starts and 91 innings with the Dodgers. Put another way, the man with the top two home-run seasons in franchise history also has the lowest ERA in team history with a minimum of 90 innings.
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 12:Topias Vilen #38 of the New Jersey Devils during the second period of the game against the Ottawa Senators on April 12, 2026 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Two more free agents in the New Jersey Devils system are forwards Xavier Parent and defenseman Topias Vilen. While both are restricted free agents, that’s where a lot of the similarities end. Parent plays up front in a scoring role for Utica after not hearing his name called in his draft year while Vilen was 129th overall in 2021 and spends more of his time trying to keep the puck out of his team’s net, although he does have some offensive skill to boot. So with both up for new contracts this summer, let’s learn a bit more about them and look into whether or not the Devils should be bringing either or both back.
Who is Xavier Parent and What Has He Done as a Devil?
Xavier Parent is another undrafted forward that the Devils found and signed into their system, although he’s had to work his way up a bit more than most. Parent began his professional career with the Adirondack Thunder, the team’s ECHL affiliate. He would put up 51 points in 50 games, earning him a 14 game AHL stint with Utica that same season where he would put up three goals and three assists. This would result in him being promoted to the AHL full time for 2023-24, where he would play 71 games with 15 goals and 30 assists. His 2024-25 season would see a dip in his point total to 36, but he would actually score more goals (19) in 10 fewer games. These two seasons of being a strong AHL contributor would result in Parent being signed to a one year NHL entry level contract for 2025-26.
This most recent season saw Parent start in the AHL and by season’s end he would hit 20 goals for the first time, as part of his 39 points in 63 games. His performance the past three seasons finally earned him a shot with the Devils in mid-December. Parent would go scoreless in five appearances, and in all honesty, wasn’t given much opportunity to showcase anything, as he played less than 10 minutes in four of those games.
What Will Parent Do Going Forward? What is His Value?
As an RFA, it’s likely Parent is brought back to the Devils; he’s been a strong contributor for the Comets and there’s still potential that entering his age 25 season, Parent could still carve out an NHL role for himself. That’s not to say that it is a guarantee, but the potential for him to be a bottom six player in New Jersey is absolutely a number above zero. Regardless of whether he gets to that level or not, the Devils still need their farm team(s) to not be a dumpster fire. Parent has been a strong contributor for a weak Utica team, so with him still being under team control, there’s little to no reason for the Devils to not bring him back.
Parent is guaranteed at least a modest raise, as he will be coming off of his entry level deal, however he probably isn’t anything more than a league minimum player. He hasn’t done anything at the NHL level, so he more than likely gets another two way deal that sees him on a different salary structure depending upon which league he is in. Still, a raise is probably in order, even for Parent’s AHL salary; it won’t be a huge increase, but the raise is still due.
Who is Topias Vilen and What Has He Done as a Devil?
Vilen, unlike Parent, was an NHL draft selection of the Devils back in the fifth round in 2021. He would spend two more seasons post-draft in his native Finland before signing his entry level deal at the end of 2022-23. He would not make any appearances for Utica that season, meaning the start of his entry level deal slid to 2023-24. His first season would be spent mostly in Utica (aside from a six game stint in Adirondack) where he would put up 29 points (two goals, 27 assists) in 58 games. He would have similar stats in 2024-25 (58 games, one goal, 23 assists) while spending his entire season with Utica this time.
Vilen would get a bit more opportunity in 2025-26, as he would again post consistent numbers (61 games, four goals, 23 assists) for the Comets, but he would also earn a quick end of season cup of coffee with New Jersey. While Vilen would get more ice time in his games with the parent club than Parent did (somewhat naturally due to the positional difference), he also was kept off the score sheet.
What Will Vilen Do Going Forward? What is His Value?
Vilen still has quite a bit of room for unlocking some untapped potential. He just completed his age 22 season, and defenders typically do not hit their prime until closer to their late 20s. He’s shown himself to have some good offensive skills and his defense doesn’t appear to be a detriment either. At the same time, he hasn’t established himself as a true difference maker, because if he had, he would/could have been a regular in New Jersey by this point. Perhaps some of that is due to him being blocked by the Devils having a number of veteran left shooting defenders, but he also wasn’t given any NHL action until the end of this past season either.
Vilen’s value isn’t much different from Parent’s; perhaps the argument could be made he gets an extra year on his next deal, or a bit more money due to being younger and holding more potential, but in terms of accomplishments, both are pretty even. This upcoming season could be an important one for Vilen, as his play could determine if he is on the path to being an NHLer (either in New Jersey or as a trade asset for the Devils) or if he projects as a long-term AHLer.
What I Would Do With Them and What I Think the Devils Will Do
This is the rare week where I say to bring both players back. Vilen and Parent are both restricted free agents, and since neither is due more than a raise to league minimum for non-entry level contracts, it’s not costing the team much to keep both in the fold. If contract spots are the concern, there are other players the Devils should be ridding themselves of before either of these guys are on the chopping block. Vilen intrigues me a bit more since defensemen take longer to progress towards their potential, and the fact that he’s only played in two NHL games. Parent I think will be more of an AAAA player: really good at the AHL level, good enough to be a spot/fill-in player at the NHL level. I think the Devils will probably have the same thoughts as myself in terms of bringing both back. It will be interesting to see if either takes another step or leap in their development (particularly Vilen) and how that could help both Utica and New Jersey.
Your Take
Now I’d like to hear your thoughts as to what the Devils should do with Topias Vilen and Xavier Parent. Do you agree both should be brought back since they are restricted free agents under team control? Could you see Parent as a depth contributor in New Jersey? Do you think there’s more to Vilen than what he’s shown so far and could that result in him eventually being an NHL regular? Leave any and all comments down below and thanks as always for reading!
COVERS INTEL: Fox has done well vs. Minnesota guards Ayo Dosunmu (injured) and Mike Conley (old) in this series. Jaden McDaniels 
Jack Eichel
Cutter Gauthier
