Roman Anthony, Red Sox' No. 1 prospect, promoted to majors

Roman Anthony, Red Sox' No. 1 prospect, promoted to majors originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

At last, Boston’s “Big Three” prospects will take the field together in the big leagues.

Roman Anthony, MLB’s No. 1 prospect, was called up to the Red Sox’ active roster before Monday’s series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park, per multiple reports. It’s a long-overdue promotion for the 21-year-old outfielder, who has dominated the last two seasons at Triple-A Worcester.

Anthony was seen leaving Worcester en route to Boston on Wednesday afternoon.

Anthony will join fellow top Red Sox prospects Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer in Boston’s clubhouse. Campbell cracked the Opening Day roster, and Mayer was called up on May 24.

Had it not been for a logjam in the Red Sox outfield, Anthony likely would have joined Campbell on the Opening Day roster. He finished the 2024 season with 18 homers, 65 RBI, and a .894 OPS in 119 games between Triple-A and Double-A Portland. Through 47 games this season at Worcester, Anthony notched 10 homers and 29 RBI with a .913 OPS.

He belted a 497-foot grand slam at Polar Park on Saturday:

Now, Anthony will be counted on to help revitalize a Red Sox lineup that has greatly disappointed this season. He is expected to join the team for Monday’s game and bat fifth, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.

NHL Nugget: Even More Stanley Cup Celebration Stories

Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Milestone Monday looks at some Stanley Cup celebration history from 1905, 1924 and 1980 that live on in the history books.

From chilling in a snow bank to being a dog food bowl, the Stanley Cup has been part of some wacky and unique celebrations over the decades, including in more recent years.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media. And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.  

Promo image credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

How Chapman, Adames communicate as first-time Giants teammates

How Chapman, Adames communicate as first-time Giants teammates originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Stars Matt Chapman and Willy Adames have helped the Giants to the top of the NL playoff race in their first year as San Francisco teammates.

In an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Rich Aurilia, the third baseman and shortstop explained how they’ve worked on their communication to man the left side of the infield during the 2025 MLB season.

“I think from an on-the-field aspect, getting used to playing with each other, I tend to cut in front of the shortstop from time to time, and I think that’s getting used to playing with each other,” Chapman told Aurilia. “Even at the beginning of this year, we’ve gotten a lot more comfortable playing with each other. We’re getting used to our spacing and how it goes. Our communication’s been key. 

“Willy lets me know when off-speed pitches are coming, which really gives me an advantage over at third base. I don’t wear the PitchCom, so Willy tells me what pitch is coming, keeps us communicating; we’re talking about what base we’re throwing to, what to do in certain situations.”

Adames wears the PitchCom earpiece, which he calls “way more comfortable and easier.”

Chapman, a five-time Gold Glove winner at the hot corner, also said that he and Adames are neighbors in Arizona, giving them time to heighten their chemistry in the offseason. Though they already link up plenty during the season, “hanging out, going to dinner, doing some fun stuff,” Chapman explained.

Adames has struggled all around in his first Giants season – and currently is on a short “reboot” break issued by manager Bob Melvin – but still had nothing but positivity to share about his experience alongside Chapman.

“Just getting adjusted to playing with him every day. Like, he covers so much ground,” Adames told Aurilia. “I was the one covering all the ground with the other organizations I’ve been a part of. Now with him, I can basically be like, ‘Yo, you take shortstop and third base,’ since he’s the best in the corner. 

“Getting comfortable with him and letting him have his space and not getting in his way – because, like I said, he covers so much ground – it just [makes] playing my position easier because I don’t have to worry about going to the hole … [adjusting] to how far he’s going to go … stuff like that. But it’s been pretty amazing, just to play along his side and learning from him and enjoying every day. I feel like it’s been amazing so far.”

As he mentioned, Adames appreciates playing with a jack-of-all-trades like Chapman after spending the bulk of his career as the primary infielder.

The Giants have Chapman on the books through 2030 and Adames through 2031, giving San Francisco at least five additional years of their star-studded, left-sided defensive duo. The pair is excited about what’s to come between them as they continue to stack repetitions, but Chapman and Adames also are proud of the strides they’ve already made.

“Willy coming in, we’re obviously super excited to have Willy – get to be next to each other for the next six years at least, hopefully seven,” Chapman told Aurilia, later adding, “Our communication’s been really good, and it’s only getting better throughout the course of the year.”

Chapman ended the joint interview with Adames and Aurilia with a message for the younger viewers out there.

“For the kids watching the show, I think communicating with your teammates will help you get better, will help you learn the game, will help you stay in tune with the game,” Chapman said. “And defense is a huge part. We’ve been able to win a lot of games because of our defense and our pitching. Hitting comes and goes, but your defense can always be there, and you’re effort and being involved in the game can always be there. 

“Doing those little things is going to make you a better player and a more well-rounded player.”

It’s probably wise to take notes from one of the best, if not the best, third basemen on the planet.

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Sublime Stanley Cup Final rolls on tonight. Plus: PWHL expansion draft anticipation

Sublime Stanley Cup Final rolls on tonight. Plus: PWHL expansion draft anticipationRed Light newsletter 🏒 | This is ’s hockey newsletter. Sign up here to receive Red Light directly in your inbox.

Good morning to everyone except front offices that say “as per team policy, terms were not disclosed” when they make transactions.

It’s game night, let’s get into it.

While You Were Sleeping

… you didn’t miss any hockey. The weekend delivered our first three-day break of the Stanley Cup Final. We’ll get another before Game 4, and again before Games 6 and 7 (if necessary). Weirdly, the only two-day break left on the schedule is between Games 4 and 5, which have travel in between. Edmonton is close to Sunrise, right?

The good news is that the extra night off gave everyone one more day to get rested and healthy for a crucial Game 3 …

Game 3 goes tonight

The series shifts to Florida, tied 1-1 after the Panthers’ Friday night win. We’ve got a lot of moving parts here. In fact, let’s break out the bullet points:

We’re not sure if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will play tonight. He missed practice yesterday, a bit of a surprise given he never left Game 2, and coach Kris Knoblauch called him a game-time decision. It sounds like he’s more likely to suit up than not, but obviously any sort of significant injury to the former 100-point forward could be big.

The Oilers already sound like they’re tired of the Panthers “accidentally” falling onto their goalie. Mattias Ekholm says “enough’s enough,” but he’s not a referee, so his opinion won’t matter much. Lobbying the officials between games is part of the playoffs, and the Oilers certainly have a case here. Let’s see if it earns them a call in the blue paint at some point the rest of the way.

Notably absent from the scoresheet so far in this series: Sasha Barkov and Sam Reinhart, both of whom have been pointless. Wait, that sounded harsh — I meant that they haven’t scored any points, not that they’ve been … you know what, you get it.

As Daniel Nugent-Bowman points out, the ice has been tilted in the Panthers’ favor in the two second periods we’ve seen so far. That could be a fluke, or it could be a lack of focus from the Oilers. (It could also be the long change, although that hasn’t been an issue in overtime.)

Game 3 is tonight at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV, Max and Sportsnet.

Has this been the best 2-game start of the era?

I think it has been. If we’re just going based on the first two games of every Stanley Cup Final since 2005, this one is at least on the podium, if not taking home gold.

That’s partly because it’s been a legitimately great start, with a pair of overtime games, plenty of offense and multiple highlight-reel plays. It’s also because the bar is kind of low. In fact, this is only the sixth time in the cap era that a Stanley Cup Final has been split 1-1 after two games. The other 14 series all saw a team take a 2-0 lead.

Of the five previous splits, three — the finals in 2015, 2018 and 2020 — didn’t feature any overtime at all. We did get one overtime in 2019, when the Bruins won Game 1 in regulation only to have the Blues come back with an OT win to square the series in Game 2. But with all due respect to those Gloria-infused days, the only final whose start really compares to this one was in 2013, when the Blackhawks and Bruins served up a triple-OT classic in the opener that was won by Chicago, followed by a Boston win midway through the first extra period in Game 2.

That series ended up being one of the better finals in recent memory, featuring an additional overtime in Game 4 and the 17-seconds game in Game 6. It didn’t go seven games, though, which I think we can all agree would be unacceptable for the Oilers and Panthers. For now, at least, we can’t complain. If this hasn’t been the best two-game start to a final in the cap era, it’s been awfully close.

Trivia time💡: Which team holds the record for the most appearances in the Stanley Cup Final without ever having a player win the Conn Smythe? Answer at the bottom of this email … among other places.

Coast to Coast

🚨 The only thing weirder than an NHL goalie is a third-string NHL goalie. Peter Baugh had a fun piece on some of the guys who held that role for championship teams, and the weird thing that connects many of them during the Cup handoff.

🐀 Speaking of weird connections, Michael Russo found one between veterans Corey Perry and Brad Marchand.

🥅 We can enjoy the final, but let’s not forget how we got here. I’ve got you covered with a ranking of the 14 series that led us to this one.

👶 The NHL Scouting Combine has wrapped up, meaning your favorite team now has a good idea of which player it will claim to be shocked was still available when their pick came up. Eric Stephens has more on the week and how much the draft process has changed over the years.

🍁 And finally, be sure to check out this slick YouTube video in which we try to explain the Canadian Cup drought. Come for the high-quality content, stay for the nagging feeling that you didn’t think my voice would sound like that.

PWHL Expansion 🔥

And then there were 8

It’s expansion draft night in the PWHL. We covered some of the basics in the last edition of Red Light, but a lot has changed since then. New homes for superstars such as Sarah Nurse and Hilary Knight are taking the spotlight, but you can track all of the moves right here. With the draft set for 8:30 p.m. ET tonight (we’ll have live coverage), I asked Hailey Salvian to check in with an update.

Sean: As someone who follows the PWHL but doesn’t know all the ins and outs, the last few days have seemed stunning to me. Are league insiders surprised too, or is this more a case where casual fans just have to play some catch up?

Hailey: Honestly, the whole process has been pretty wild.

When you see the rules — specifically that teams could initially protect only three players — you that stars are going to be on the move. But its one thing to understand that and another to see players like Knight, Nurse and Alex Carpenter left unprotected by their respective teams. Not protecting Carpenter, who ranks third all-time in league scoring, might have been the only real surprise to me over the last few weeks. Because as baffling as it is to leave Nurse or Knight unprotected, you can at least understand why teams might have made those decisions.

In terms of who signed and where, nothing was too surprising. I figured the general managers in Seattle and Vancouver would want to use their five signing slots on top players who were left unprotected, rather than negotiate with free agents who might still be available later this summer. And for the unprotected players, its reasonable that they’d want to dictate where they go, rather than take their chances in the draft.

If you’re a casual fan who feels overwhelmed, don’t feel bad. It’s been a whirlwind for literally everyone involved, from die-hard fans to players, agents and your local PWHL writers.

Sean: What should we be expecting tonight, and are there any realistic options that could add to the surprise factor?

Hailey: Without knowing the draft order (which the league won’t be revealing until the broadcast starts) it’s hard to project exactly what might happen. My safe assumption is that once the top remaining players (like 2024 fourth-overall pick Hannah Bilka) are off the board, both general managers will look for the best players at the best price — rather than just grabbing the top scorers or most recognizable names.

Vancouver and Seattle will need to keep the salary cap — which will go up to $1.34 million next season — in mind and won’t want to spend too much on 12 players out of what will need to be a 23-player roster.

Each GM would do well to keep some money earmarked for free agency, where top players such as Natalie Spooner, Tereza Vanišová and Jesse Compher might be available, and the entry draft, with some top young talent incoming.

There will surely be some off-the-board picks, but I don’t expect any extra fireworks from side trades or truly wild selections.

Sean: When the dust finally settles, are Vancouver and Seattle going to be contenders right away?

Hailey: It’s hard to imagine Seattle and Vancouver coming out of the draft without having legit playoff-caliber rosters. If either team is bad next season, that would likely be due to user error. The rules have been set up for these teams to contend on day one.

The Votes Are In

America loves Edmonton?

Last time around, I wondered about the USA/Canada divide in this Stanley Cup Final, especially with everything that’s happened between the two nations both on and off the ice in recent months. I wasn’t sure whether that would impact allegiances, and so I asked Red Light readers what they thought.

Well, the results are in, and … well, there’s a bit of patriotism playing out, but you have to squint to see it.

Up north, we’re all-but-unanimous in backing the Oilers, and 60 percent of the Edmonton bandwagon says it’s because they’re Canadian. That’s a majority, but not as much as you might expect given how much the “bring Stanley home” message has been beaten into the ground up here.

As for you Americans, you barely seem to have noticed the cross-country stakes at all. What you have noticed is that the Panthers are a bunch of dirtbags, with the overwhelming majority of you saying that you’re rooting for Edmonton. I wasn’t expecting that, but I can only assume it’s because your entire country has fallen in love with Oilers legend Dwayne Jetski.

Trivia Answer

The answer was hiding in plain sight

After a string of admittedly tough questions, today I gave you one where the answer was staring you in the face. The record for most final appearances without a Conn Smythe win is held by the Florida Panthers, who are currently in the final for the fourth time in history but have never had a player win playoff MVP honors. (They lost the final in 1996 and 2023 and then won the Cup last year, but Connor McDavid was the rare case of a player on the losing team getting the Conn Smythe.)

Of course, we don’t know who’ll win the MVP honors this year — Sam Bennett has a sneaky good chance if the Panthers win — so maybe you don’t want to count the 2025 final just yet. If that’s the case, it knocks the Panthers down to three appearances. That would tie them with the Vancouver Canucks, who went to the final in 1982, 1994 and 2011, only to see their opponent skate off with the Cup — and the Conn Smythe.

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This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Florida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Women's Hockey

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Stay or Go: Should the Knicks keep Mikal Bridges?

Starting July 6, the Knicks will be able to extend Mikal Bridges on up to a four-year, $156 million deal, and have until June 30, 2026 to do so -- a day before he enters unrestricted free agency.

Historically with key players on expiring contracts, Leon Rose has either extended them (RJ Barrett, Jalen Brunson) or dealt them before they could potentially walk (Immanuel Quickley, Julius Randle), setting up a pivotal year for Bridges.

New York acquired the wing last offseason via trade, moving four unprotected first-round picks, an unprotected pick swap and a protected first to secure Brunson’s former college teammate and one of the premier 3-and-D wings in the league. While that tremendous haul (that implicitly included a Knicks-Nets and power of friendship premium) came with unfair expectations that hung over Bridges like a black cloud, he had a solid first year with room for improvement both internally and via coaching.

The Knicks made waves quickly after their Eastern Conference Finals ousting, relieving head coach Tom Thibodeau, a strong suggestion that they felt this roster wasn’t being maximized. Bridges was likely a big part of that, often looking lost in the offense and making headlines with a public criticism of Thibodeau during the regular season.

With his extension looming, New York will need to weigh giving him another half or full season under a new coach, or dealing him in the offseason. 

Bridges averaged 17.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 59.4 percent shooting from two and 35.4 percent shooting from three this season, keeping his iron man streak alive by playing all 82 games despite averaging a career-high 37 minutes a night. During the playoffs, he averaged 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists on 51.4 percent shooting from two and 33.3 percent from three, again playing every game.

The good? Bridges was available, absolutely nasty in the mid-range, improved defensively as the season progressed, and was always in the flow of the team, never forcing things or demanding the ball be in his hands.

This was also to his detriment at times, going entire stretches without looking at the rim and fading into the background. The real red flags on his season were a major regression in his above-the-break three-point shooting and complete aversion to contact, rim attacks, and free throws. 

There’s reason to expect improvement in some of these areas. Bridges is a career knockdown shooter and did some tweaking to his jump shot that likely needed some more time in the lab, and he could get more aggressive going to the rim in a different offense.

May 7, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) reacts after defeating the Boston Celtics in game two of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden.
May 7, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) reacts after defeating the Boston Celtics in game two of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. / David Butler II-Imagn Images

It’s hard to classify Bridges as anything more than an afterthought in Thibodeau’s offense, which gives high-volume scorers the freedom to create their own looks but can leave more passive players flailing. This combined with Bridges’ timidity left a lot on the table offensively, where it was clear he could be more of a contributor in the pick-and-roll and mid-post (like during his Christmas Day 41 points) if it were more of an emphasis.

Defensively, Bridges wasn’t up to snuff out of the gate but slowly came around, peaking in the postseason. While his playoff stats were underwhelming, he was big in the most clutch moments and games, such as Game 6 against Detroit, plus the comebacks against Boston.

This should give the Knicks enough confidence to bring him back for 2025-26 and potentially extend him after seeing how he looks. It would be malpractice to not hear our out trade offers on any player, but the options with Bridges are limited.

For one, consider what theoretical shooting guard the Knicks would want next to Brunson. They’d need size, the ability to shoot, defend, and be a secondary creator when called upon.

This describes Bridges to the tee when he’s at his best, which we saw plenty of. Meanwhile, there are few other two guards in the league with this portfolio. Dealing him in a one-for-two trade that nets the Knicks more depth is possible, but with most realistic ideas, it lowers their ceiling dramatically.

The wild card is if Milwaukee or Phoenix sees Bridges as a key piece of a Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant swap. In those cases the Knicks would have to strongly consider parting with Bridges and figuring out the rest later. 

Bridges may not have been a five first-round pick player for the Knicks, but he did enough to warrant committing to a long-term future with this core, especially with some potential improvements due.

Nothing is off the table in this team’s pursuit of a championship, but Bridges looks like a worthy piece to keep while chasing that goal.

REPORT: Golden Knights, Maple Leafs and Hurricanes Discussed Three-Team Deal Involving Mitch Marner At The Trade Deadline

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (16) adjusts his helmet after a play against the Florida Panthers during the first period of game seven of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Since the conclusion of the Vegas Golden Knights' 2024-25 season, they've been linked and named as possible favorites to land top free agent Mitch Marner. A recent report shared by The Athletic's James Mirtle states that the Golden Knights nearly completed a three-team trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes, which would have sent Marner to Vegas.

The Maple Leafs and the Hurricanes were two of the busiest teams at the trade deadline. A report shared earlier indicated that the Maple Leafs had pursued Mikko Rantanen, agreeing to a swap of Marner for Rantanen; however, Marner waived his no-trade clause. The Maple Leafs also had a pair of other deals in place for Rantanen, but the Hurricanes felt the offer from the Dallas Stars was better.

The three-way trade between these teams never formulated because the Golden Knights and the Hurricanes were apparently unable to find the right assets to complete the deal, and it remains unclear if Marner was asked to waive his no-movement clause.

The Maple Leafs also spoke with the Golden Knights last offseason about another Marner trade, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. The Maple Leafs were rejected when they asked for defenseman Shea Theodore in return, who signed a seven-year, $52-million extension with the Golden Knights just a few months later. 

Although the Golden Knights have failed to acquire Marner in a couple of instances, their chances remain high. Reports shared have mentioned that Vegas is a destination which Marner would be willing to sign with. GM Kelly McCrimmon will need to make some moves to be able to fit him under the salary cap, but the dream remains alive.

REPORT: Golden Knights Emerging As A Landing Spot For Top Free Agent Mitch MarnerREPORT: Golden Knights Emerging As A Landing Spot For Top Free Agent Mitch MarnerAccording to multiple reports, the Vegas Golden Knights are emerging as a very realistic landing spot for top free agent Mitch Marner. 

At the moment, insiders consider Ivan Barbashev and Nicolas Hague as the most expendable players on the roster, but some believe William Karlsson could be in play, and considerable interest is expected, especially from the Maple Leafs. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

REPORT: Penguins and Canadiens Showing Interest In Golden Knights DefensemanREPORT: Penguins and Canadiens Showing Interest In Golden Knights DefensemanVegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague could be available in a trade this offseason and is beginning to garner plenty of interest, now coming from the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens, according to Nick Kypreos. A Level Of Uncertainty Regarding Golden Knights' Alex Pietrangelo Health For The 2025-26 SeasonA Level Of Uncertainty Regarding Golden Knights' Alex Pietrangelo Health For The 2025-26 SeasonThe Vegas Golden Knights are heading into a peculiar offseason, filled with rumours about possible big moves and philosophical changes by the head coach, but now their veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has his health put into question.

McKeen’s Hockey Ranks Canadiens’ Prospect Pool First In The NHL

It’s been said and written a lot over the last couple of years; the future is bright in Montreal, and it seems McKeen’s Hockey agrees. The outlet, which is an authority in the field when it comes to prospect content, has ranked the Montreal Canadiens’ prospect pool as the top one in the league.

They list the Canadiens’ top 10 prospects as follows: Ivan Demidov, David Reinbacher, Jacob Fowler, Michael Hage, Joshua Roy, Logan Mailloux, Oliver Kapanen, Owen Beck, Jakub Dobes, and Adam Engstrom. There’s no denying that’s an impressive list, and if they all meet expectations, they could make the Canadiens a perennial contender.

Canadiens: Potential First-Round Pick – Logan Hensler
Should The Canadiens Enter The Nikolaj Ehlers Derby?
Canadiens: Kypreos Reveals Trade Target

I will admit I’m surprised to see Roy so high up, however. He’s quite inconsistent, and his effort level isn’t always satisfactory. To his credit, though, he did show up when he was needed in the playoffs for the Laval Rocket. It will be interesting to see how he does at camp this season. If he adopts the same approach as he did last season, he will likely achieve the same result.

Which other prospect pools make up the top-five? The San Jose Sharks come in second place with Sam Dickinson leading the way (Macklin Celebrini is no longer considered a prospect since he’s a full-time NHLer). Steve Yzerman’s Detroit Red Wings get third place with Axel Sandin-Pellikka being their most prized prospect. The Chicago Blackhawks are in fourth place, with Artyom Levshunov being top of the class, and the Anaheim Ducks close out the top five with Beckett Sennecke and Tristan Luneau being the headliners.

It will be interesting to see just how many of the Canadiens’ top 10 prospects compete for a spot on the team at the next training camp. It seems like a given that Demidov will make the cut, but who else could break through? If Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia are not re-signed, there will be chairs to fill.

Can Roy elevate his game enough? Would there be room for both Beck and Kapanen? Kent Hughes has already said that he doesn’t want to stop his team’s organic growth by bringing in too many rookies at once. There will be some interesting battles come September…

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images


Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

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Year of ‘The Narv': Carlos Narvaez has been Red Sox' unexpected MVP

Year of ‘The Narv': Carlos Narvaez has been Red Sox' unexpected MVP originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

One of MLB’s best offseason additions barely made headlines on the day the Boston Red Sox made their biggest splash.

On Dec. 11, the Red Sox acquired ace Garrett Crochet in a blockbuster deal with the Chicago White Sox. That same day, Boston added little-known catcher Carlos Narvaez in an under-the-radar trade with the New York Yankees.

While Crochet has lived up to lofty expectations as Boston’s ace, Narvaez has shattered them as the club’s MVP so far in 2025.

It didn’t take long for Narvaez to unseat Connor Wong as the Red Sox’ starting catcher. The 26-year-old rookie quickly established himself as one of the game’s premier defensive backstops, currently ranking near the top of the league in framing, blocks above average, caught stealings above average, and pop time. He ranks third among MLB catchers with six defensive runs saved.

The biggest surprise has been Narvaez’s offensive production. Through 50 games, the Venezuela native is slashing .282/.361/.459 with six home runs and 22 RBI. He boasts the sixth-highest OPS (.859) among MLB catchers with at least 100 plate appearances.

Narvaez’s breakout season has seemingly stunned everyone except his ex-Yankees teammates, including superstar Aaron Judge.

“Narvy is a hard worker, a great teammate, one of the best we ever had over here,” Judge said after Sunday’s Red Sox-Yankees series finale at Yankee Stadium, per Ian Browne of MLB.com. “I was sad to see him go, but excited for the opportunity he’s getting right now. He’s really doing his thing over there, swinging it well.

“He had a short time coming up with us for a little bit and the stuff I saw in Spring Training and stuff I heard about, everybody loved him. He outworked everybody in this room. So it doesn’t surprise me he’s having the success he is this year.”

Narvaez got a measure of revenge against his former team on Sunday, belting a three-run homer to help Boston take two out of three against New York with an 11-7 win.

Calling Narvaez the Red Sox’ early-season MVP isn’t hyperbole. As of Monday, he’s tied with slugger Rafael Devers for the third-highest fWAR on the team (2.2). Only Crochet (2.5) and star third baseman Alex Bregman (2.4) rank above him.

The Red Sox would be lost without Crochet atop the rotation, but he only takes the mound every fifth day. Devers is mashing toward his fourth All-Star nod, but he’s a designated hitter who caused off-the-field distractions with his refusal to play first base. Bregman was in the American League MVP conversation, but he went down with a devastating quad injury in May.

Narvaez, meanwhile, has been a steady presence both behind the plate and in the batter’s box. He’s one of the biggest reasons Boston’s disappointing season hasn’t yet spiraled out of control. At this rate, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him take the field in Atlanta next month for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game.

The Red Sox, still fighting their way back to .500 at 32-35, will look to carry their momentum back to Fenway Park for a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. First pitch for Game 1 is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday.

Draymond makes eye-opening claim about Caruso's role on Thunder

Draymond makes eye-opening claim about Caruso's role on Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a new Big Three, and AT&T might want to re-think its commercial.

Warriors forward Draymond Green broke down Oklahoma City’s win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show With Baron Davis,” and explained why veteran guard Alex Caruso, not young center Chet Holmgren, is the Thunder’s third-most-important player behind his undisputed No. 1 and No. 2 options, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.

“When I look at this OKC team, I actually think the third-most-important player is Alex Caruso …. I think Caruso is so important to what they do and I feel like you never game plan for him,” Green said. “So because you don’t game plan for him, he comes into these Finals and he goes crazy. But the reality is, he’s a champion, so he actually knows what to expect.”

Green believes the Pacers ultimately need to prioritize stopping a proven player like Caruso over an unproven player like Holmgren.

“If I’m an opposing coach, I’m saying ‘Caruso’s been in this moment, he’s shown us over and over again he can deliver in this moment, I’m going to make him so important to our game plan,” Green explained. “I’m going to make less of an importance in our game plan to the guy who hasn’t done it’ …

“Place that bet on the guy that hasn’t done it, and Chet hasn’t done it. I know Caruso can beat me, he’s shown he can beat me at several different points. Back then when he won a championship he showed you he can beat you. So I’m just not sure that would be the bet that I would be making.”

In 54 regular-season games, Caruso averaged 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game on 44.6-percent shooting from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point range. In 18 playoff games this year, the 31-year-old is averaging 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game on 46-percent shooting from the field and 41.6 percent from 3-point range while being one of Oklahoma City’s most consistent two-way players.

“He’s so important to everything they do,” Green added. “Defensively, he’s so important to everything they do. Offensively, he can be another guy that can handle the ball that’s smart, that makes decisions, that’s going to shoot the right shots, not take the wrong shots.”

If there’s one player who knows how important steady two-way play in the Finals is, it’s Green, who, similarly to Caruso, might not be the Warriors’ third-highest scorer on any given night but, without a doubt, was, at least, the third-most-important player during Golden State’s dynastic run.

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WNBA's “Line ‘Em Up" initiative has league's three-point line installed at outdoor courts around the country

Bethany Donaphin, a former player and now the head of league operations for the WNBA, remembers what it was like to grow up in New York City in the 1990s loving basketball. As a tween she would make it a point during recess to play basketball out on the blacktop.

Donaphin was always the only girl playing, something that looking back was a bold choice. It was a decision that took a ton of confidence and a boat load of risk to participate in a situation where she was the only girl. It took a lot of guts for a 12-year-old Donaphin to want to set herself apart, especially at a time when most girls are looking to fit in.

Donaphin’s early memories resonate for many former and current WNBA players. This idea that young girls always had something to prove and were underestimated when they stepped onto an outdoor court in a park or blacktop at school has been the inescapable reality, the status quo.

This summer the WNBA is looking to challenge that common experience with the launch of their new nationwide initiative “Line ‘Em Up,” which will paint the official WNBA three-point line on outdoor park basketball courts across the United States. The league will launch this officially in New York on Thursday at the outdoor courts of Brooklyn Bridge Park, and later in July the league will take the campaign to Indianapolis for WNBA All-Star Weekend.

“This is so necessary in order to represent the league in spaces that are iconic,” WNBA Chief Marketing Officer Phil Cook told NBC Sports about the initiative. “There's not a basketball player in the world who hasn't spent some time dribbling on an outdoor space, and we, [the WNBA] belong in that space. And women, young women, have been going to the park for as long as park basketball has been happening. They just haven’t had their representation in that space.”

The program has been teased by WNBA players including Atlanta Dream star Allisha Gray, Lynx point guard Courtney Williams, Phoenix Mercury point-forward Alyssa Thomas and Sparks sophomore wing Rickea Jackson in addition to personalities associated with the league including GMA’s Robin Roberts and ESPN’s Arielle Chambers. Last week on Instagram the teases included photos of a mysterious looking blue background which included a bright orange curved line.

Last July at WNBA All-Star in Phoenix was when Cook and his team began having conversations about how the WNBA could lay down its legacy in a tangible and more vibrant way. How could the league create something that’s representative and “replicable” but also represents the work the league has done to grow the game of basketball for women, girls and nonbinary people on a larger scale?

Over breakfast in Phoenix, Cook and his staff discussed how the league could pursue a project that wouldn’t just last during tentpole events including the WNBA Draft, the WNBA All-Star Game, the Commisioner’s Cup, the playoffs and WNBA Finals. The league was looking for something permanent.

The league enlisted the independent creative marketing company JOAN to come up with a campaign that could represent the ways in which the WNBA has attempted to challenge the status quo, grow the game and encourage empowerment of girls and young people everywhere.

Representatives from the marketing agency came back to Cook and his team with the idea to paint a WNBA three-point line on outdoor courts at parks across the country working in conjunction with different cities and parks and recreation departments.

“It’s a very simple replicable idea that we hope every single outdoor park across the country, and every driveway across the country chalks up their three point line in orange chalk,” Cook said.

Beyond New York City and Indianapolis as the first two major places to get these new orange three-point lines, Cook sees a huge opportunity for the league’s two upcoming expansion cities in Toronto and Portland to get involved in the campaign.

All of the league’s current 13 teams including the newest in the Golden State Valkyries have been briefed on the campaign and how they can look to execute painting orange three-point lines in parks within their local communities. As part of the campaign, the league will make a donation to each park that participates in painting an orange three-point line on their courts.

To accompany the WNBA’s launch of the “Line ‘Em Up” campaign, the league enlisted Korean-Canadian director Iris Kim to create a film that would introduce the program and illustrate the need for orange WNBA three-point lines across the country.

The nearly four-minute video includes shots of some of the most famous outdoor parks in the country including Rucker Park in Harlem, Venice Beach in Los Angeles, and two other New York City parks in Dykman and The Cage. Later the film introduces former players Epiphanny Prince, Chamique Holdsclaw and Sue Bird in addition to current Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles, who traveled to New York during Sun training camp to be a part of the film. The four native New Yorkers explain what it was like growing up and playing on outdoor courts and the challenges that came with often being some of only young women.

“Growing up in Queens, NY at that time, it was really hard to be a female to get on the court,” Charles said in the film. “I know I had something to prove. We’ve all been through it. All the greats, all the ones that you’re fans of.”

And that includes Holdsclaw who told the story of how she used to hustle all the guys who underestimated her.

The film also features two New York community leaders in Sharon Bond and Alex Taylor who have both founded and led organizations that try to encourage participation in basketball for women and girls. Both Bond and Taylor explain that having the new orange three-point line painted on outdoor courts is boon for representation and it sends the message that women and girls are wanted in these spaces. Bird ends the film by stating the mission statement of the entire campaign, which is that the next generation of players won’t know a world without a WNBA orange three-point line painted across America.

The campaign represents the very fact that the WNBA has become more mainstream and more accessible in the past few years. The league isn’t distant and it’s much easier now more than ever to understand that the WNBA isn’t going anywhere and will be an institution that stands the test of time.

Donaphin thinks about what it would have been like if she had an orange three-point line to accompany her during those days when she was working hard on her game and often the only girl out there doing it.

“If I had had an orange line while I was going through that process, I think it would have given not just me, but the other kids around me, an understanding that, yeah, what I was doing was completely part of of what any person would do if they if they love something,” Donaphin told NBC Sports. “And that there was a place for me there.”

Check out the new “Line ‘Em Up” website and see if the WNBA's three-point line is coming to a court near you.

Mets prospect Nolan McLean turns in another stellar outing for Triple-A Syracuse

It's become like clockwork for Mets prospect Nolan McLean.

When he takes the ball, good things happen.

On Sunday for Triple-A Syracuse, McLean piggybacked the rehabbing Frankie Montas and was fantastic over 5.1 innings.

McLean allowed one run on two hits while walking two and striking out four, lowering his ERA for the season to a sparkling 1.98.

In 11 games this season, McLean -- whose first five starts came for Double-A Binghamton before a promotion to Syracuse ahead of his appearance on May 9 -- has allowed more than two runs just twice.

He has been particularly nasty since joining Triple-A, surrendering only nine runs in 32.2 innings.

As McLean continues to dominate, the question of when his big league debut might come will start to percolate.

Right now, the Mets are pitching-rich in the big league starting rotation.

Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, and Griffin Canning are legitimate All-Star Game candidates, and Tylor Megill has held his own.

They also have depth with Paul Blackburn, who is currently pitching in relief after making one recent start when the Mets briefly went to a six-man rotation.

Beyond those six starters are Montas (whose rehab window is about to close) and Sean Manaea, who just started his rehab assignment.

If all of the Mets' current starting pitching options remain healthy and productive, and the club gets Montas and Manaea back soon, it's hard to see how they would fit McLean on the team in the near future.

However, it's also fair to wonder if the Mets would be comfortable essentially wasting McLean's bullets in the minors once he's deemed ready for the majors.

Legendary Mavericks coach Don Nelson bashes Luka Doncic trade

OKLAHOMA CITY — Don Nelson was back on an NBA stage, and it was entertaining.

The Hall of Fame coach with the second-most wins in NBA history left his home in Maui to come to Oklahoma City and receive the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. Nelson talked and joked about his innovative offenses, telling stories of playing for the Bill Russell Celtics, having Manute Bol shoot 3-pointers, and coaching Hall of Famers such as Dirk Nowitzki. Nelson talked about player loyalty.

Which led to the former Mavericks coach joining the rest of Dallas in bashing the Luka Doncic trade.

"As a matter of fact, I want everybody to know I'm wearing Luka's shoes, his new shoes from Nike, just got on the market. I'm wearing them in protest for the trade from Dallas," Nelson said. "I think it was a tremendous mistake by the Dallas franchise to trade him, and I want everybody to know that."

For Nelson, when you get a generational player on your team, you don't trade that player away.

"Because I learned from the best. I played a year for Red Auerbach. I played under him for Tommy Heinsohn and Bill Russell," Nelson said. "I had the opportunity on my way, because I always went to the games early to sit and talk with Red, philosophy. And his philosophy was when you have a great player, Bill Russell, [John] Havlicek, Sam Jones, you never lose that player. You keep him for a lifetime. You put his number up and you honor that player and that's been my philosophy.

"If you look at the players I've had over the years, Dirk and [Sidney] Moncrief and all the rest of them that I've coached,... my philosophy was always to honor the great players, not trade them away, but to add pieces to that player and make him and your franchise the best that it could be."

In Dallas, many fans are nodding their heads in agreement. At least they get a reset, thanks to the NBA Draft Lottery ping pong balls, which gave the Mavericks the chance to draft Cooper Flagg.

Nelson shared another amusing story about when the Mavericks — led by his son, Donnie Nelson, as general manager — drafted Dirk Nowitzki.

"I have to say in that draft, Paul Pierce was my favorite player," the elder Nelson said. 'We had Paul Pierce going top three. So we didn't even consider that he would be there. Wouldn't you believe that when No. 9 came up, Paul Pierce was there, and Dirk Nowitzki. I looked at Donnie and I said, 'Oh s***, Paul Pierce is my favorite player. He's going to be a star.' And Donnie says, 'Come on, Dad, you know what we've been doing for the last month.' We were hiding him in Donnie's basement so nobody else could interview him."

The rest is history.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Stars' Jason Robertson, Senators' Drake Batherson Staying Put?

The Dallas Stars' third straight elimination from the Western Conference final generated speculation suggesting management could shake things up.

Pete DeBoer's removal as coach last week was a significant step, but some observers wondered if changes were coming to the Stars' roster. 

Jason Robertson was mentioned as a cost-cutting trade candidate. The Stars have less than $5 million in cap space for 2025-26 with UFAs Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene and Mikael Granlund to re-sign or replace.

Robertson is signed through next season with an average annual value of $7.5 million and lacks no-trade protection. Despite his team-leading 35 goals this season, it was observed that the 25-year-old winger's role had changed following the trade deadline acquisition of Mikko Rantanen. 

However, a Postmedia report cited league executives claiming the Stars haven't expressed any interest in moving Robertson, nor had there been any trade talks.

The Hockey News' Adam Denker also said losing in the Western final three straight times is not a cause to make rash decisions, and Robertson is expected to be in Dallas for training camp.

Stars management could consider other options to shed salary without sacrificing scoring punch. One of them could be trading or buying out Matt Dumba. The 30-year-old right-shot defenseman has a year left on his contract with a $3.75-million cap hit. He averaged 15:18 of ice time in 63 games this season and was a healthy scratch in the playoffs. 

Blueliner Ilya Lyubushkin could also become a trade or buyout candidate. Signed through 2026-27 with a $3.25 million average annual value, he averaged 17:13 of ice time in 80 regular-season games  but was scratched from the Stars' final four games during the Western Conference final.

Jason Robertson and Drake Batherson (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

Speaking of players who aren't being traded, Drake Batherson received the support of Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer and GM Steve Staios during the club's alumni charity golf tournament on Friday. 

Batherson has two years left on his contract at a team-friendly average annual value of $5 million. Despite exceeding the 60-point plateau for the third straight year with a career-best 68 points, the 27-year-old right winger recently surfaced in the rumor mill. 

A Postmedia report last week claimed there was “no shortage of talk” that the Senators were listening to trade offers for him. 

“It's not right,” Andlauer told reporters of the Batherson conjecture. 

Added Staios: “There's no truth to that,” adding that he reassured the winger he was not being shopped. 

Staios also said the Senators wouldn't be spending to next season's projected $95.5 million salary cap. They have over $15 million of cap space with 16 active roster players under contract. He indicated contract extension talks are underway with pending UFA forward Claude Giroux and RFA Fabian Zetterlund. 

Giroux, 37, could get a slight pay reduction from the $6.5-million cap hit he earned in his recent contract. Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Zetterlund will seek a raise over his current $1.45 million. 

Assuming the pair is signed for a combined $7.5 million, it won't leave much for the Senators to fill out the rest of their roster if they're not going to the cap ceiling this year. Any attempt to bolster the defense or add more scoring could mean a dollar-for-dollar trade.

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

Athletics at Angels Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 9

It's Monday, June 9, and the Athletics (26-41) are in Anaheim to take on the Angels (30-34). Jeffrey Springs is slated to take the mound for the Athletics against Yusei Kikuchi for Los Angeles.

The Athletics picked up a 5-1 win over the Orioles, giving them the series win.

Despite Tyler Anderson only giving up three earned runs and striking out six batters, the Angels dropped a close one against the Mariners yesterday.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Athletics at Angels

  • Date: Monday, June 9, 2025
  • Time: 9:38PM EST
  • Site: Angel Stadium
  • City: Anaheim, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network West, NBCSCA

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 Athletics at the Angels

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Athletics (+133), Angels (-159)
  • Spread:  Angels -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Athletics at Angels

  • Pitching matchup for June 9, 2025: Jeffrey Springs vs. Yusei Kikuchi
    • Athletics: Jeffrey Springs, (5-4, 4.66 ERA)
      Last outing (Minnesota Twins, 6/4): 6.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Angels: Yusei Kikuchi, (1-5, 3.23 ERA)
      Last outing (Boston Red Sox, 6/3): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 5 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Athletics at Angels

  • Betting the Angels on the Money Line in all games this season would have shown a 106% return on investment
  • The Athletics' last 3 games versus the Angels have gone over the Total
  • The Angels have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.81 units

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 Athletics and the Angels

Rotoworld Best Bet

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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 Monday's game between the Athletics and the Angels:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Angels on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Oakland Athletics at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

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

Predators prospect Luke Prokop marshals Milwaukee Pride Parade

Nashville Predators prospect defenseman and the first openly gay player signed to an NHL contract, Luke Prokop, kicked off the Milwaukee Pride Parade on Sunday as the Grand Marshall.

Prokop plays for the Predators American Hockey League afillate, the Milwaukee Admirals.  

This is his second Pride parade Prokop has been a part of, marching in the Toronto Pride Parade in 2023. 

Prokop was selected by the Predators 73rd overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. About a year later, he publicly came out as gay, becoming the first NHL player under contract to do so. 

In his first professional game of his career with the Milwaukee Admirals, Prokop became the first openly gay player to play in an AHL game. 

Since coming out, Prokop has been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community not just in the NHL and AHL, but across the hockey world.  

"There is a whole community out there that will love and accept you no matter what," Prokop said in an interview with WISN 12. "Even though they may not be your blood, they'll still be your family." 

While the NHL has had a complicated past supporting the LGBTQ+, briefly banning rainbow tape and doing away with Pride jerseys, Prokop said he's received nothing but support. 

"It was scary going into it, not knowing how the reaction was going to be," Prokop told WISN 12. "But the response was overwhelmingly positive."

This past year was Prokop's first full season in Milwaukee. During the 2023-24 season, he split time between Milwaukee and the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL. In 31 games, he recorded one goal and three assists for four points. 

He's played in two Predators preseason games. The first was against the Florida Panthers in 2023, where he recorded two shots and 19:12 minutes of ice time. The second was a 3-2 loss to the Panthers in 2023. Prokop had 15:06 of ice time and a shot on goal.