Francisco Alvarez, Jeff McNeil excited to return to Mets’ lineup: ‘It feels like Opening Day’

For Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez -- it feels like Opening Day. 

Technically it is -- they were sidelined for the Mets’ first 25 games of the regular season due to injuries suffered during spring training, but after working their way back over the past couple of weeks they are finally ready to roll. 

Both were officially activated from the IL on Friday and slide right into the starting lineup. 

“It’s feels good,” Carlos Mendoza said. “Getting Jeff and Alvy back helps. Coming into the year they were going to be a big part of this team and this lineup -- they went down and they went through the rehab process and now here they are. They are healthy and ready to go, I’m looking forward to watching them play.”

McNeil is slotted in at second for the series opener against the Nationals, and that’s where he’s expected to see the bulk of his playing time -- though the skipper said he “wouldn’t hesitate” to use him in center. 

The 33-year-old is open to the idea after spending time there during his rehab. 

“I played a lot of center in college,” McNeil said. “I enjoy being out there, it’s a lot of fun -- I take pride in playing lot of different positions and being really versatile, so wherever the team needs me I’m going play and I’m going to be happy to do it.” 

With his new power-hitting approach and a torpedo bat, McNeil was able to find a ton of success during his handful of at-bats in the minors -- launching a pair of homers and a double while posting stellar 1.112 OPS. 

He’s hoping to be able to carry that production over to the big-league level. 

“I feel really good at the plate,” McNeil said. “Through the rehab assignments I felt like I was hitting the ball harder than I ever have in my career -- so I feel really good with that and hopefully I can keep it going here.”

Alvarez, on the other hand, was struggling to get back into a groove at the plate. 

The 23-year-old put together just seven hits and one homer while striking out 11 times across 44 minor-league at-bats -- but he still feels confident as he continues working with his revamped swing. 

“I’m really excited to be here,” he said through a translator. “During my rehab I was working a lot on my swing to try to feel right, and when I wasn’t swinging I was working a lot on my mentality on what it is that I wanted to do -- so right now I feel really good.”

Toronto Maple Leafs' Simon Benoit Is Their Unlikely Hero: How He Earned His Role

Simon Benoit ( John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

If you told Toronto Maple Leafs fans their sixth- or seventh-best defenseman would be significantly responsible for two straight overtime goals in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, you would’ve been asked to immediately take a sobriety test. 

Lo and behold, Maple Leafs blueliner Simon Benoit – who had played exactly seven playoff games heading into this post-season, producing exactly zero playoff points in that span – was Thursday night’s hero. He scored the overtime-winner to put the Buds up 3-0 in their first-round series against the Ottawa Senators

Benoit also set up center Max Domi for the overtime-winner in Game 2, getting the primary assist.

Now – and at the risk of tooting our own horn here – you can’t say everyone didn’t see the potential for Benoit to have a coming-out party. Indeed, in THN.com’s playoff poll, your humble senior digital correspondent picked Benoit as the unlikely playoff hero. 

There was a legitimate reason why Benoit was our choice: as the regular season neared its end, Leafs coach Craig Berube was increasingly confident in Benoit.

Despite averaging only 16:33 of ice time in 78 games this season – slightly less than the 17:14 he averaged under former Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe in 2023-24 – Benoit averaged at least 19:44 in Toronto’s final five games of the regular season. In three of those five games, Berube gave Benoit at least 20:56 of ice time. 

You can’t chalk that up to the Maple Leafs playing in games where they had nothing at stake. Toronto fought for top spot in the Atlantic Division right down to its second-last game of the season, so Berube went with the players he trusted most – and that included Benoit.

Battle Of Ontario Has Turned Into The Battle Of The Big 4 — And So Far, The Senators' Stars Have Gone M.I.A.Battle Of Ontario Has Turned Into The Battle Of The Big 4 — And So Far, The Senators' Stars Have Gone M.I.A.A bottom-six forward scored the overtime winner in Game 2 and a stay-at-home defenseman matched his season goal total with the OT winner in Game 3. But the reason why the Toronto Maple Leafs have a 3-0 lead in their first-round series against the Ottawa Senators has less to do with depth scoring and unlikely heroes — and more to do with which team’s stars have shone the brightest.

Despite Benoit’s unexpected success on offense against Ottawa, his excellent defensive play has earned him Berube’s trust. 

During the season, Benoit averaged 2:05 of shorthanded time per game  – the fourth-most on the team. While he was on the ice for slightly more chances against the Leafs during the PK, he was not far off the penalty-killing results of Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe. He also led the team in hits and was fourth in blocked shots. It’s not an accident that Benoit has become a key component of Toronto’s defense. He’s absolutely earned it.

Of course, the Leafs’ stingy defensive play is still a product of their top defensemen having sustained success defending their zone. Tanev, McCabe and Brandon Carlo are all doing their jobs in making life tough on Senators attackers. But with every shift he takes, in every game, Benoit is blossoming before our eyes. Given that he’s under contract for two more years at an average annual salary cap hit of $1.35 million, Benoit is turning into a bargain.

NHL Playoffs Are Here: Most To Prove, Cinderella Runs, Early Exits, Traditions And MoreNHL Playoffs Are Here: Most To Prove, Cinderella Runs, Early Exits, Traditions And MoreThe NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are full of storylines and tradition.

In 279 career regular-season NHL games, Benoit generated all of six goals. He may only produce at a similar rate through the rest of his career in hockey’s best league. But the playoffs are all about unlikely players stepping up and chipping in with much-needed offensive performances, and in Toronto’s strong playoff start, it’s Benoit who has emerged as a difference-maker.

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Nick Cousins, Senators Issued Fines For ‘Unsportsmanlike Conduct’ In Game 3 Warmups Against Maple Leafs

Sep 24, 2024; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senato right wing Nick Cousins (21) lines up for a faceoff in the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

The NHL has officially handed out disciplinary fines following a pre-game incident in Game 3 of the Battle of Ontario first-round playoff series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators.

On Friday, the league fined Senators forward Nick Cousins $2,083.33 – the maximum allowable under the CBA – for “unsportsmanlike conduct” during warmups. The Ottawa Senators were also fined $25,000 for their role in the same incident, as reported by The Athletic's Chris Johnston.

The fines come from a moment before Thursday’s Game 3 matchup in Ottawa when Cousins and members of the Senators sent pucks directed at Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz and into the Leafs’ side of the ice during warmups.

One of the key players involved, Cousins, previously won the Stanley Cup with Stolarz as members of the 2023-24 Florida Panthers. 

Ottawa head coach Travis Green downplayed the situation to the media on Friday, suggesting Cousins was likely just trying to get in Stolarz’s head to throw the netminder off his game.

"Nick Cousins and Stolarz have played together. I don't know. Yeah, he's probably trying to either laugh at him or make a joke or get him off his game, and it is what it is,” said Green. 

'It's An Active Investigation': How Senators Players Are Reacting to the Maple Leafs Puck Warmup Drama'It's An Active Investigation': How Senators Players Are Reacting to the Maple Leafs Puck Warmup DramaKANATA, Ont. — Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green had some fun when asked about the NHL's investigation over a pre-game incident involving his club firing pucks at Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz during warmup.

Reports of the NHL investigating the incident began surfacing Friday morning, including a video clip that appeared to show Cousins targeting Stolarz. Defenseman Thomas Chabot and forward David Perron both claimed to be unaware of the footage.

Despite the shenanigans, Stolarz wasn’t rattled. Instead, the 31-year-old earned his 11th consecutive win dating back to the end of the regular season, with a 1.53 goals-against average, a .944 save percentage, and three shutouts over that span.

Report: NHL Investigating Senators Firing Pucks At Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz In Game 3 WarmupsReport: NHL Investigating Senators Firing Pucks At Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz In Game 3 WarmupsThe NHL is reportedly investigating an incident between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs that occurred before Game 3.

Backstopping the Leafs’ win, the club holds a 3-0 stranglehold on the best-of-seven series with Game 4 set to go on Saturday.

This situation hasn’t been treated with serious regard by the Senators, but the NHL appears to be clamping down on the antics.

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

Sanchez won't start Tuesday but Phillies encouraged

Sanchez won't start Tuesday but Phillies encouraged originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

CHICAGO — Cristopher Sanchez will not take his turn in the Phillies’ rotation on Tuesday, but the news on his forearm has been promising.

At least one bit of good news during a five-game losing streak.

Sanchez played catch from up to 90 feet on Friday at Wrigley Field, three days after pitching just two innings and leaving a start against the Mets with left forearm tightness. He gave a thumbs-up as he walked back into the clubhouse pregame, signaling that it went well, and will throw a bullpen session on Sunday afternoon.

“Good, very good,” manager Rob Thomson said of Sanchez’ day. “… Hopefully we dodged a bullet here.”

Zack Wheeler will start on Tuesday in the spot that would have been Sanchez’. The Phillies were off Thursday and are again Monday, so Wheeler will actually be pitching on one extra day of rest despite moving ahead of Sanchez in the order. He doesn’t like pitching on one extra day, much less two.

The Phillies’ rotation beyond Tuesday is TBD. The off-days would allow them to start Taijuan Walker, Jesus Luzardo and Aaron Nola on normal rest Wednesday through Friday before re-slotting Sanchez back in on Saturday.

Ranger Suarez is also nearing a return to the rotation. He will throw approximately 80 pitches on Sunday at Triple A in his fourth rehab start. He may make a fifth to get to the 95-pitch range, Thomson said Friday morning.

Marsh progressing

Outfielder Brandon Marsh began a rehab assignment of his own Thursday with Lehigh Valley. He was scheduled to play seven innings in center field on Friday then DH on Saturday.

Marsh is on the injured list (backdated to April 17) with a mild right hamstring strain. He is first eligible to return on Sunday.

Evan Mobley earns pay bump with DPOY award, but that could cost Cavaliers a rotation player

Evan Mobley deserved to win Defensive Player of the Year, and his timing could not have been any better. Mobley signed a max extension to his rookie contract, which kicks in next season, but with the DPOY award comes Rose Rule money — he was set to make 25% of the salary cap (five years at an estimated $224 million, starting at $38.7 million next season). Now that can jump to $30% of the cap, an estimated $45 million more over the course of the contract, and it would start at about $46.4 million next season.

The Cavaliers will gladly pay their star, but this salary bump would put them into the second luxury tax apron next season, meaning the Cavaliers will likely lose a rotation player to keep costs down. ESPN's Brian Windhorst talked about it on the Hoop Collective Podcast (hat tip Real GM).

"There's people in their organization who have said to me 'We absolutely want... we're so excited that we gave Evan this contract. And he's going to be an All-NBA player and a Defensive Player of the Year, but this bonus could cost us a player.'"

The Cavaliers have one rotation player entering free agency, Ty Jerome, who finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting. He is earning $2.6 million this season and is an unrestricted free agent, likely to receive around full mid-level exception money, around $14 million per season. If the Cavaliers want to keep him, they need to find a trade that essentially dumps the salary of someone like Max Strus or Isaac Okoro (or, they can find a trade for De'Andre Hunter). One way or another, it probably costs the Cavaliers a rotation player.

This is not a case of an owner not wanting to spend, it's the reality of the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), where the second apron — $17.5 million above the luxury tax line — serves as a virtual hard cap due to the team-building restrictions that come with it. No team is willing to stay above it for long, and the Cavaliers are no exception. When you have a deep team of stars, the kind of players who can be named All-NBA and win awards like Defensive Player of the Year, it's much harder to keep a quality roster of role players around them. It's the new reality of the NBA.

NHL Fines Senators And Cousins For Warmup Conduct Toward Maple Leafs: Coaches Didn't Seem Bothered

Nick Cousins (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

The NHL fined the Ottawa Senators $25,000 and center Nick Cousins $2,083.33 for unsportsmanlike conduct tied to an incident in warmups before Game 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The NHL investigated an incident that occurred during the warmup ahead of Game 3, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. In it, Senators players, including left winger Nick Cousins, shot pucks at Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz.

The Senators' fine goes to the NHL Foundation, while Cousins' fine, which was the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Earlier on Friday, Senators coach Travis Green and Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube weighed in on the investigation between the two teams.   

"It's an active investigation. I don't know if I should be commenting on that now," Green said, getting a few laughs from the media in attendance. He said he was kidding.

“I saw the video,” Green said. “Nick Cousins and Stolarz have played together, he’s probably trying to laugh at him or make a joke or get him off his game. It is what it is.”

Cousins and Stolarz were teammates when playing for the Florida Panthers and won the Stanley Cup together last season. They were also teammates in the early stages of their careers with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2016-17.

Berube had less to say on the incident.

“I don’t think it’s anything,” he said.

Berube even recalled warming up before a game for the Flyers in 1992 when his teammate, Keith Acton, fired pucks at the New York Rangers’ net throughout the warmup to wind them up. Whatever happened with the Sens and Leafs on Thursday, it didn’t end like the brouhaha between the Flyers and Rangers.

The investigation doesn’t seem to concern either side of the Battle of Ontario, and it’s seen as a joke or light-hearted teasing if anything.

If Cousins was looking to get Stolarz off his game, it didn’t really work, as the Leafs goaltender stopped 18 of 20 shots the Senators threw at him. It was Stolarz’s 11th straight win dating back to the end of the regular season. In that stretch, Stolarz has recorded a.944 save percentage, 1.53 goals-against average and three shutouts.

Game 4 of this series will take place on Saturday. Toronto has a 3-0 series lead over Ottawa.

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Losing streak reaches 5 for the .500 Phillies, who can't buy a big hit

Losing streak reaches 5 for the .500 Phillies, who can't buy a big hit originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

CHICAGO — The losing streak reached five games and the Phillies are .500 for the first time all season after dropping their first of three at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon.

The start of the game was delayed by 2 hours and 10 minutes by rain on a chilly, windy morning but the sun made its way out just before first pitch. The Phillies’ offense did not follow in a 4-0 loss.

They fell behind once again and continue to produce an alarmingly low number of extra-base hits. They had none on Wednesday, two on Friday and have five in their last four games. The Cubs had six in this game alone.

The last time the Phillies ended a full inning with a lead was the seventh on Sunday. They’ve played 40 since. The pitchers have had no wiggle room and the hitters haven’t been able to take a deep breath for nearly a week.

“We’re in a little bit of a rut here,” manager Rob Thomson said. “Runners in scoring position, I know we talk about it all the time, but one of these days we’re gonna come through. Really, the threat was in the seventh inning when we got two guys on. The other innings, I don’t think we got a runner into scoring position until there were two outs so you’ve got one shot at it. But you’ve got first and second with nobody out, you feel like that’s the time you need to score.”

The Phillies remain confident this is just a blip on the radar for an experienced group, but the run of mediocrity extends much farther back than the 13-13 start. They’re 46-47 since last All-Star break, 47-50 if you include the NLDS. It’s true that this is a new year, but it’s not so new a team. The Phillies returned most of the same roster and are experiencing the same issues that led to their demise last fall — too much of the lineup going cold at the same time and not enough reliability in the bullpen.

They’ve been shut out three times through 26 games. It took 90 games last season.

“We’re stringing things together and it’s just avoiding us right now,” Kyle Schwarber said. “It can be frustrating, mind-boggling, but overall, if we keep getting guys on base and into scoring position, things are going to start going our way.”

Sometimes, an offense slumps because the ball isn’t traveling over the wall. Sometimes, it’s the elusiveness of the big hit. Sometimes, it’s bad luck. Right now, the Phillies are experiencing all three problems.

They’re 26 games into the season and have only four players with more than one home run: Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott and Nick Castellanos.

Schwarber hit five homers through 10 games but wasn’t going to hit 81. The Phils need to find alternative ways to score when he’s going through a power drought or Harper isn’t locked in. This Cubs team entered the day leading the National League in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, stolen bases and, naturally, runs scored. They’ve been a three-dimensional offense. The Phillies have not.

Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, Max Kepler and Alec Bohm are all hitting below .250 with three combined home runs in 396 plate appearances. It’s just not enough.

On top of it all, there’s been misfortune. Harper crushed a ball in the third inning that, according to Statcast, would have been a game-tying home run in calm conditions. But the wind was blowing in 10 to 15 mph from left field and it was a flyout instead. Bohm laced the first pitch he saw in the top of the fourth with two outs and men on second and third but hit it directly at left fielder Ian Happ to end the inning. Realmuto hit a ball on a line with two on and two out in the eighth and Pete Crow-Armstrong needed to glide only a few feet to catch it.

“J.T. hits a bullet, Bohm hits a bullet,” Thomson recalled, shaking his head. “But we’ve got to create some runs, we’ve got to swing the bats better.”

Taijuan Walker (1-2, 2.78 ERA) lasted only three innings because he threw 86 pitches. He again limited the damage and his opponents have hit .179 this season with men on base. The bullpen did its job by allowing two runs over five innings.

But the Phillies couldn’t capitalize on the Cubs’ inability to break the game open, which was also one of the stories of their three-game series at Citi Field. The Cubs were 4-for-22 with runners in scoring position and all of that execution from the pitching staff didn’t matter.

These vets pride themselves on their ability to persevere. Less than a month into the season, it’s already being tested.

“It’s such a long season. You’re gonna go through a long stretch like this where things aren’t going your way,” Walker said. “It really just depends when it happens, you know? We’d rather do it now than late in the season. If we get it out of the way now, can get on a streak and play some good baseball, which I know we can do.”

'I Know Where It Comes From': Senators' David Perron Sees Similarities Between Blues' 2019 Cup-Winning Team And Maple Leafs

Nov 3, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube looks on during the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images

At points during the series between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs, David Perron sees a game he's far too familiar with.

In 2019, Perron joined the St. Louis Blues on a four-year, $16 million contract. Little did he know that several months later, after a mid-season coaching change, he'd be winning the Stanley Cup.

Six years later, Perron is back in the playoffs with the Senators, battling against a familiar face: Craig Berube, who guided the Blues to their first-ever Stanley Cup in 2019.

Berube has constructed Toronto as a defensively sound team that is closing lanes, blocking shots, and physical at both ends of the rink. The Maple Leafs also have more playoff experience than Ottawa, which has made it difficult for the Senators to generate success.

Perron, though, has seen this blueprint before. He sees many similarities between this Maple Leafs team and the 2019 Blues.

"At times, they have a shooting lane, and they just keep driving the puck a little deeper, they delay, they hang onto it," Perron said Friday.

"We have our fair share of o-zone time and they do as well. It's not like they are killing us on that part, I don't think. But yeah, I do see some stuff that pops in my head and I know where it comes from."

'I Don't Score A Lot Of Goals': Leafs Take 3-0 Series Lead As Simon Benoit's Heroics Put Senators on the Ropes'I Don't Score A Lot Of Goals': Leafs Take 3-0 Series Lead As Simon Benoit's Heroics Put Senators on the RopesKANATA, Ont. — After scoring the Toronto Maple Leafs' game-winning overtime goal against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, Simon Benoit took the news conference podium and was asked if it was the biggest goal of his life?

When asked point-blank whether Berube's coaching style is built for playoff hockey, the veteran forward said, "Yeah, I do," without missing a beat.

Toronto has had the upper hand over Ottawa in many categories throughout the three-game series. Their goaltending has been better, their power play is more successful, and their top players — Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares, specifically — are acting like their top players.

'When You Give Him That, He's Never Missing': Auston Matthews Breaks Out Of Goal Rut In Maple Leafs' Series-Shifting Win Over Senators'When You Give Him That, He's Never Missing': Auston Matthews Breaks Out Of Goal Rut In Maple Leafs' Series-Shifting Win Over SenatorsThirty-two seconds into the third period of Thursday's 3-2 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators, Mitch Marner showed why he was Mitch Marner.

But now comes the toughest part for the Maple Leafs: closing out the series. In recent memory, Toronto has lacked a killer instinct. In their last eight playoff appearances, they've only eliminated one team, the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023.

If anything could change under Berube, it's how the Maple Leafs approach a game where their destiny lies in their hands. In the past, their play has been out of kilter in big games.

'I Don't Think This Is Anything': No Stranger To Pregame Shenanigans, Maple Leafs' Craig Berube Recalls Getting Into One As A Player 'I Don't Think This Is Anything': No Stranger To Pregame Shenanigans, Maple Leafs' Craig Berube Recalls Getting Into One As A Player KANATA, Ont. — The Toronto Maple Leafs will keep their focus on trying to sweep the Ottawa Senators when the teams face off in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday. But Toronto head coach Craig Berube couldn't help but crack a smile as he was asked about the NHL investigating a pre-game incident allegedly involving Senators forward Nick Cousins firing a puck at Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz in warmup.

Let's see if that changes in Game 4 on Saturday, where Toronto can end the Battle of Ontario with a win in the nation's capital.

"I think as a group, it’s always a work in progress. I think that last game is always the most difficult, and we expect it to be the most competitive," Morgan Rielly said Friday.

"So for us, we’re not getting carried away with anything, we’re just focusing on building our game and growing and playing within structure and becoming more comfortable, increasing the execution."


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NFL Draft: Matthew Golden could be the fantasy wide receiver we've been waiting for on the Packers

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft brought a ripple of surprise — and excitement — when the Green Bay Packers finally broke their age-old first-round WR drought by selecting Matthew Golden. But among fantasy football obsessives, the buzz didn’t stop with the pick. In the latest crossover episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast and Football 301, Matt Harmon, Nate Tice and Charles McDonald broke down exactly why Golden could be the game-changer both the Packers and your fantasy roster need.

For two decades, the Packers have famously resisted taking receivers in Round 1, and they tend to prioritize big-bodied, outside targets. Golden bucks both trends: he’s a bit lighter than their historic athletic thresholds, and he brings a different flavor to the table than their current WR corps. As Nate Tice put it, this was surprising given Green Bay’s “usual weight thresholds,” but the move immediately made sense once you examined the room around Golden: “The positive is, the rest of the room is so big and can handle all these things. You can drop in a quote-unquote, maybe slightly undersized guy in there.”

The Packers have their big, physical outside presences — think Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson (when healthy) — and Jaden Reed thriving in the slot. This means Golden can be used as a chess piece, opening up combinations Green Bay hasn’t had in years.

Matt Harmon is as bullish as anyone on Golden’s outlook, and he zeroed in on two critical factors for fantasy success:

1) Role and Routes: Golden’s two best routes by frequency and success rate, per Harmon’s Reception Perception, are posts and digs — in other words, big in-breakers. This fits Green Bay’s offense (especially with Jordan Love) to a tee. Harmon stated: “This offense, especially with Jordan Love under center, they want to … drop, use play action or drop back and rip big in-breakers ... Matthew Golden, his route running and separation is best expressed at the breakpoint of those routes in particular.”

2) Defense Dictation: One myth Harmon wanted to bust: the Packers don’t “need a No. 1” so much as they need someone who forces defenses to pay attention and stretch the field. Golden’s speed and route nuance do that — whether he’s flying by safeties or opening the middle for Reed and Doubs. Harmon stated: “Without Christian Watson … you don't have anybody that really stretches out the defense … Golden's going to allow you to do that.”

The Packers are a run-heavy team, yes, but that’s not the whole story. With their spread of talent, defenses can’t double everyone. Harmon notes that Golden can thrive even if he’s not the “WR1” by label. Golden’s skills translate into open targets, and Harmon believes his “toughness at the catch point” has been underrated. With Reed (in the slot), Doubs (as the physical X) and a healthy tight end group, Golden’s Z-receiver skill set will put him in single coverage — a formula for rookie WR breakouts.

Going back to Christian Watson, his constant injuries mean Golden could immediately inherit deep and intermediate work — something previous Packer receivers have turned into fantasy gold. “You're basically replacing Watson. It just comes in a different package," Harmon said.

Every draft class brings “surprise” first-round receivers. But when you zoom in on Matthew Golden’s landing spot, you see the pieces falling into place for a fantasy-relevant rookie campaign:

  • Perfect scheme fit for his strengths (big posts and digs).

  • Opportunity for targets in a well-constructed, but not top-heavy, WR corps.

  • Ability to stretch the field and command defensive attention in ways that unlock the whole Packers offense.

If you’re chasing rookie WR upside in fantasy — and want a player whose skills align perfectly with what his team needs — Matthew Golden is the name to circle. The Packers and your fantasy lineup could both be long overdue for a breakout.

Bochy reflects on Giants memories with Posey, Crawford in return

Bochy reflects on Giants memories with Posey, Crawford in return originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — As he returned to face the Giants in San Francisco on Friday, Bruce Bochy was in a tie for first place in the American League West, but he had a lot on his mind. 

The Texas Rangers have underperformed at the plate, led by familiar face Joc Pederson, who somehow has zero RBI through 21 appearances. On Thursday, they got walked off in Sacramento by the Athletics, and a day after that gut punch, Bochy began his media session by giving a lengthy update on promising young starter Kumar Rocker, who just went on the IL with a shoulder injury. 

The Rangers have a lot to sort out, but Bochy is thrilled he’s doing it in San Francisco this weekend. He said this spring that he was excited to be visiting on a weekend when the organization would honor his longtime shortstop, Brandon Crawford, and on Saturday, Bochy will watch that ceremony. On his first day in town, he had a long chat with Buster Posey behind the plate during batting practice. 

As he settled into San Francisco for the second time as Rangers manager, Bochy discussed Crawford, Posey and more with local reporters: 

On Crawford’s big weekend

“It’s well deserved. This man did so much for us in helping us win championships. He was a tremendous player, a gifted defender obviously, but also a clutch hitter. A lot of great memories will go through my head when I see him out there tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it because of the great memories that we all got to share together. He was such a big part of it.”

Does any play stand out?

“He was so creative with how he could come up with plays. There wasn’t a play that he didn’t think he could make and that’s what you love about him, and there were times he came up with a way to make the play. The one that always will stand out is the double play in the World Series with what was at stake, he and [Joe] Panik, what a beautiful chemistry those two had.”

On Posey’s influence on the 2025 Giants

“I’d say as much as anything they’re playing loose and playing the game right. You know, BoMel [Bob Melvin] does such a great job here, and I’m sure Buster has helped relax things with how approachable he is and how well he communicates. But it’s hard for me to say, because I haven’t seen a lot of [the Giants].”

Could he have imagined Posey being a president of baseball operations?

“I can’t say I should be surprised. I talk about [the] leadership he provided for us and helped us get some World Series rings. He’s a leader and I’m not surprised to see him leading an organization. I’m sure it’s done a lot for the fans, the players, the front office, to have their guy that’s leading the way now.”

On being back for a second time

“I think as time goes, yeah, you still have those memories and the first time there’s emotions and things, but with more time away, you’ve gotten kind of used to it. I came in here knowing I would see some friends here. The first time was a really crazy time, but this time has been a lot quieter.”

On his impression of Jung Hoo Lee

“A really, really nice player. He’s a really good hitter, a gifted center fielder, a good thrower. He’s a really nice all-around baseball player and I know he’s done a great job.”

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Emery engineering has Rashford and Aston Villa on the rise for FA Cup

Manager’s changeable lineups have pushed striker to usurp Ollie Watkins and likely lead the attack at Wembley

Unai Emery keeps his Aston Villa players on their toes. Sometimes he tells his squad the lineup the day before a game, on other occasions half an hour before they depart the team hotel for the stadium on a match day. Training tends to offer some clues but of late there have been surprises. Emery, a hugely emotional character, has been known to make impulsive, snap calls. Morgan Rogers, a rare mainstay and one of Villa’s trio of undroppables, recently described how his manager’s decision‑making can feel like flip‑of-the-coin stuff.

When the teamsheets are released an hour before kick-off at Wembley on Saturday, the eyeballs will jump towards the most intriguing selection dilemma: will Emery favour Marcus Rashford or Ollie Watkins?

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NFL Draft: 3 favorite, 3 least favorite picks of Round 1

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Here’s a recap of the favorite and least favorite Round 1 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft from the latest "Yahoo Fantasy Forecast / Football 301" podcast, based on what Charles McDonald, Nate Tice and Matt Harmon discussed:

McDonald:Mason Graham, DT, Cleveland Browns  

Loved how the Browns traded down, acquired extra draft capital from Jacksonville, and addressed a genuine roster need. There's a lot to like about the fit alongside Myles Garrett and Graham could bring significant pass rush ability.

Harmon:Armand Membou, OT, New York Jets

There's reason to be high on Membou’s aggressive play and tone-setting style. He can be a finishing piece for a Jets offensive line that’s been in rebuilding mode. There's potential for Membou and Olu Fashanu to be dynamic, young bookends and keys to a run-first Jets identity.

Tice:Mykel Williams, EDGE, San Francisco 49ers 

The pairing of Williams with Nick Bosa was perfect — Bosa as the finesse rusher, Williams bringing power and run defense. It's an ideal selection for the Niners’ defensive needs and style.

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - JANUARY 02: Jaxson Dart #2 of the Mississippi Rebels throws a pass during the first half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against the Duke Blue Devils at EverBank Stadium on January 02, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Jaxson Dart was QB2 of this NFL Draft after the Giants selected him. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
James Gilbert via Getty Images

Tice: Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants

None of the QBs in this draft class other than Cam Ward were first-round material. The Giants are in “win now or develop” limbo — stuck with veterans and now asking Dart to step into a questionable situation behind a shaky line.

McDonald:Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers  

Hampton is a fine player, but there's reason to question the value here for the Chargers, who still have glaring needs, especially on the interior offensive line. The Chargers aren’t good enough to justify using a premium pick on a running back and the move doesn’t make their offense materially better.

Harmon: Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts 

A first-round TE is a luxury pick for a team that has needs elsewhere and a questionable QB situation. Warren isn’t an urgent upgrade given the Colts’ receivers weren’t being maximized anyway, and his skills overlap with what the Colts already have on the roster.

To hear more NFL discussions, tune into "Football 301" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.