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There's A Reason Why Teams Are Interested in Ottawa's Drake Batherson — And Why The Senators Should Consider A Trade

Three months after dealing Josh Norris at the trade deadline, the Ottawa Senators are reportedly fielding trade offers for winger Drake Batherson.

So much for enjoying the honeymoon period following their first playoff appearance in eight years.

Then again, that first-round exit — to the Toronto Maple Leafs, of all teams — left the Senators with a lot to think about this summer. Chief among them is: how do they go from being a playoff contender to a Stanley Cup contender?

With Florida's Matthew Tkachuk playing in his third straight final, the easy answer is finding more players who look like his younger brother than Drake Batherson.

Luckily for GM Steve Staios, there's a blueprint he can follow.

When the Panthers lost in the first round to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022, they didn't roll things back, even though they had finished with the best record in the NHL. No, they swung for the fences and traded Jonathan Huberdeau, who was coming off a 113-point season, and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to the Calgary Flames for Matthew Tkachuk in a move that was initially criticized.

The result? Three straight trips to the Stanley Cup final.

Oilers And Panthers' Conn Smythe Contenders Ahead Of The Stanley Cup FinalOilers And Panthers' Conn Smythe Contenders Ahead Of The Stanley Cup FinalThe NHL’s Stanley Cup final starts Wednesday, and players on the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers are making a strong case for winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Which brings us back to the Senators, who in a lot of ways are the kid brother of the Panthers.

After all, Brady Tkachuk is literally a younger version of Matthew Tkachuk. Ottawa also has a Marchand-type of player in Ridly Greig. And after trading Norris to Buffalo in exchange for Dylan Cozens last March, the Senators acquired their version of Sam Bennett.

The question is what type of player can Drake Batherson get them.

Can you package Batherson in a trade for Vancouver's Elias Pettersson? Or for Jason Robertson, who may have priced himself out of Dallas?

Is that too much? Too little?

Batherson, who is 27 years old, is coming off a season where he finished second in team scoring with 26 goals and 68 points. Those are not Huberdeau-type numbers. Then again, his most important statistic might be the one that is preceded by a dollar sign.

Batherson has two years remaining on a contract that carries a $4.975-million cap hit.

That’s why teams are reportedly calling. And that’s why Ottawa should at least be listening to the offers.

Tick-Tock: Ottawa Senators Continue To Navigate Contract Decisions On Six Pending UFAsTick-Tock: Ottawa Senators Continue To Navigate Contract Decisions On Six Pending UFAsWith Steve Staios seemingly looking to build the Ottawa Senators’ roster along the lines of the Florida Panthers’ model, how does he intend to deal with his six unrestricted free agents as July 1st approaches?

They know that trading Batherson is a risk, mostly because they are likely not going to find another player who produces at Batherson's level while also costing so little. But after losing to the Leafs in the first round, where Batherson managed only a goal and an assist in six games, they also know that there is another step (or three) they have to take if they are going to compete for a championship.

That means taking a chance and swinging for the fences. And leveraging a player whose value has never been higher.

It worked for Florida, which probably wouldn't have won a Cup — much less made three straight trips to the final had they not acquired Tkachuk. And if Ottawa wants to follow in the Panthers' footsteps, it could mean making a similarly difficult decision this summer.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Could The Dallas Stars Trade Jason Robertson?NHL Rumor Roundup: Could The Dallas Stars Trade Jason Robertson?After coming up short in the last two Western Conference finals, the Dallas Stars were considered a favorite to win the Stanley Cup this season, especially after acquiring right winger Mikko Rantanen.

Top image credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Cover image credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

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Mets at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 4

Its Wednesday, June 4 and the Mets (38-23) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (37-24).

Griffin Canning is slated to take the mound for New York against Tony Gonsolin for Los Angeles.

The Dodgers squared the series at one game apiece with a 6-5 win in ten innings last night. Max Muncy continued to mash launching another two home runs last night to pace the attack. He now has five in his last four games.

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

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

  • Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: SNY, SNLA, MLBN

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 Mets at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Mets (+124), Dodgers (-147)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mets at Dodgers

  • Pitching matchup for June 4, 2025: Griffin Canning vs. Tony Gonsolin
    • Mets: Griffin Canning (5-2, 3.23 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/28 vs. White Sox - 3IP, 3ER, 4H, 4BB, 3Ks
    • Dodgers: Tony Gonsolin (3-1, 5.23 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/30 vs. Yankees - 6IP, 5ER, 6H, 3BB, 4Ks

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 Mets at Dodgers

  • The Mets have won 4 of their last 5 games against NL West teams
  • With Tony Gonsolin on the bump, 8 of the Dodgers' last 10 home games have gone over the Total
  • The Dodgers have failed to cover in their last 4 games against the Mets
  • Shohei Ohtani has just 1 hit in his last 3 games (1-11)
  • Freddie Freeman has hit safely in 8 of his last 9 games (16-36)

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 Mets and the Dodgers

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Mets and the Dodgers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Mets at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over 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)
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Hernández: Can Clayton Kershaw contribute to Dodgers' title chase? 'I'm gonna bet on him'

Los Angeles, CA, Tuesday June 3, 2025 - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) allowed 5 runs over 4.2 innings against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw pitched just 4 ⅔ innings Tuesday night against the New York Mets, allowing five runs (three earned). (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Before anything, Clayton Kershaw has to believe. Before he can snap off curveballs the way he used to, before he can be a dependable member of the rotation instead of last resort, he has to believe.

Clayton Kershaw believes.

Never mind the mounting evidence to the contrary — the 5.17 earned-run average through his four starts this season, the two starts that weren’t interrupted by rain in which he failed to complete five innings, the unremarkable high-80s-to-low-90s fastball, the career-low strikeout rate.

Kershaw believes he can once again be a contributor on a championship team.

“I just need to put it together for a whole game,” Kershaw said, “which I think I can do and will do.”

Read more:Max Muncy, Tanner Scott get some redemption in Dodgers' win over Mets

Who’s to say otherwise?

He’s looked finished before, and he wasn’t. Even with diminished stuff, he’s found ways to get hitters out, so why should this time be any different?

“I’m gonna bet on him,” manager Dave Roberts said.

For now, at least, Roberts doesn’t have a choice. Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell remain sidelined. So is Roki Sasaki.

The next man up would be Bobby Miller, who lasted only three innings in his only major league start this season.

In reality, Kershaw also doesn’t have a choice other than to believe. What’s the alternative?

In the wake of a 10-inning, 6-5 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night in which he pitched just 4 ⅔ innings, Kershaw’s rhetoric and demeanor were remarkably upbeat. He pointed to his recovery from the knee and foot surgeries he underwent over the winter, as well as his shoulder operation from the previous offseason.

“I mean, physically, I feel great,” he said. “I don’t feel old. My arm feels good. There’s not really any excuses. It’s just pitch better, pitch like you’re capable of. I think the stuff’s there. The stuff’s there to get people out.”

Kershaw was charged with five runs, three of them earned. He gave up six hits and three walks.

“It’s kind of in and out for me,” he said. “I think I’ll go on a stretch of making, like, 10 or 11 good pitches in a row and then just make enough bad ones to get some damage done against me.”

In Roberts’ view, his trademark slider lacked “teethiness.” More problematic was his curveball, which was particularly erratic.

“Can’t just be a two-pitch guy out there, so definitely need to throw my curveball better, for sure,” Kershaw said.

The absence of the curveball prevented Kershaw from putting away batters. He had 14 batters into two-strike counts but managed only two strikeouts while giving up four hits and a walk.

“I know he's frustrated because he's getting count leverage with guys and can't put them away by way of strikeout,” Roberts said. “He's competing his tail off, but it just hasn't been as easy as it has been for him prior to this little stretch.”

In Kershaw’s defense, he was let down by, well, his defense.

In the Mets’ two-run five inning, Max Muncy allowed a potential inning-ending double play grounder to skip through his legs. Later, Brandon Nimmo reached base on a train wreck of a defensive play by the Dodgers, allowing the Mets to score and take a 5-4 lead.

Read more:'It's costing us.' Tanner Scott's brutal season continues in Dodgers' loss to Mets

Kershaw is 37 now, with more than 3,000 innings pitched in professional baseball. He won’t win another Cy Young Award, and he knows that. The Dodgers know that too, and that’s not what they’re asking of him. What they’re counting on him to do is to take the mound every six or seven days and keep them in games, perhaps take down six or seven innings on occasion to relieve their overworked bullpen.

“I think he's going to approach each start to give us a chance to win,” Roberts said. “And I don't know what that looks like each start, but I think that that's a starting point, and then from that point, as a game goes on, then I'm gonna have to make decisions on what we have behind him.”

Kershaw made an All-Star team just two years ago and started one the year before that. His stuff was almost as diminished then as it is now. He should be able to pitch like that again, and he’s taken a small but critical first step toward doing that. He believes he can.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Why we have Paul George to thank for the Pacers vs. Thunder NBA Finals

Dive into the 2025 NBA Finals, and you'll see that Oklahoma City and Indiana have a lot in common: Both are led by dynamic point guards, both prefer an athletic and uptempo style, and both rely on pressure defense and steals to fuel easy transition points...

And both are in the NBA Finals thanks to Paul George.

Or, more specifically, what they got back when trading Paul George away. While George watches the NBA Finals from the same couch where he watched the entire playoffs (his 76ers didn't even make the play-in), here is how both of these teams used trading George away to set up the foundation of their Finals teams.

INDIANA PACERS

There was a time when Paul George seemed poised to become a Pacers icon. Drafted No. 10 by Indiana in 2010, he spent seven seasons with the team, being voted an All-Star four times and twice leading the team to the Eastern Conference Finals. However, as George was nearing the final year of his second contract, he informed the Pacers that he would not re-sign there, forcing the team to trade a fan favorite or risk losing him for nothing.

In the summer of 2017, the Pacers traded George to the Thunder for Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo, a duo that started out solidly in Indiana, making the playoffs five straight seasons (although they were never a threat to contend). After that five-year run, things started to fall apart, and the Pacers missed the playoffs entirely in back-to-back years.

That's when Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard traded Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings for a package where Tyrese Haliburton was the centerpiece coming back (the Kings were willing to move on from Haliburton because they thought De'Aaron Fox was their future and they wanted a center to pair with him — and the Sabonis/Fox pairing did give Kings fans their only trip to the postseason in the past 19 years).

Ultimately, it is the trade of George that brings Haliburton to Indiana, and with that the Pacers had the foundation needed to build an entertaining team that has returned the franchise to the NBA Finals.

Oklahoma City Thunder

George didn't want to be traded from Indiana to OKC, it was no secret around the league that he wanted to end up in Los Angeles. However, after an All-Star season in Bricktown, George decided to re-sign with the Thunder. Even though a return home to Southern California was always at the top of his wish list.

A year later, in the summer of 2019, Kawhi Leonard was leaving Toronto (where he had just won a title) to go to the Los Angeles Clippers, but leveraged L.A. and told them to land him, they also had to get another star — Paul George. The Clippers talked to the Thunder and ultimately paid a steep price to get George:

• Shai Gilgeous Alexander
• Danilo Gallinari
• A 2021 first-round pick that became Tre Mann
• A 2022 first-round pick that became Jalen Williams
• A 2024 first-round pick that became Dillon Jones
• A 2025 first-round pick swap that has the Thunder picking 24th this season

Then Clippers coach Doc Rivers was quick to say — and continued to say — that he didn't really want to give up Gilgeous-Alexander, although even he didn't think SGA would evolve into an MVP-level player. For the Clippers, it was a trade that proved star players were willing to come to them, something that mattered in the Los Angeles market but didn't pan out on the court as they hoped.

For Oklahoma City, it ended up being a haul that may well win the Thunder a title with four more wins.

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Angels at Red Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 4

Its Wednesday, June 4 and the Angels (28-32) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (29-34).

José Soriano is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Lucas Giolito for Boston.

The Angels have taken the first two games in this series. Each game has been decided by a single run. Last night, LA won in ten innings, 4-3. Five Angels' relievers combined to allow just two hits over the final five innings to lead the Halos to victory.

Lets dive into this afternoon's matchup and find a sweat or two.

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

  • Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
  • Time: 1:35PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNW, NESN, MLBN

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 Angels at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Angels (+110), Red Sox (-130)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 10.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Angels at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for June 4, 2025: José Soriano vs. Lucas Giolito
    • Angels: José Soriano (4-5, 3.41 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/30 at Cleveland - 6IP, 0ER, 4H, 4BB, 2Ks
    • Red Sox: Lucas Giolito (1-1, 4.78 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/30 at Atlanta - 4.2IP, 1ER, 5H, 2BB, 3Ks

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 Angels at Red Sox

  • Kristian Campbell is 2-14 over his last 4 games
  • Jorge Soler is 1-16 over his last 4 games
  • The Under is 7-3 in the Red Sox's last 10 games
  • The Angels have covered the Run Line in 3 straight games against the Red Sox

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 today’s game between the Angels and the Red Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Angels and the Red Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Red Sox on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Angels at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 10.0.

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)
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Flyers Offseason: Noah Cates Contract Grade, Future Outlook

Noah Cates was a healthy scratch for the Flyers just a season ago. (Photo: Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers got perhaps their most important piece of offseason business done Monday, signing center Noah Cates to a four-year, $16 million ($4 million AAV). But was it a good deal?

Cates, 26, is now tied down in Philadelphia through the 2028-29 season, when he'll be a 30-year-old unrestricted free agent.

Cates's $4 million AAV is relatively inexpensive for a player of his talents and importance; hockey analytics site Evolving-Hockey predicted Cates to land a three-year deal worth $3.371 million annually. At a four-year term, Cates was predicted to pull in a $3.891 million cap hit.

Much like the Tyson Foerster contract, the Flyers retained a key player for, more or less, the expected market value.

Cates, along with Foerster and Bobby Brink, comprised the Flyers' most reliable line of the 2024-25 season. The trio posted an expected goals percentage of 58.3%, per Moneypuck, which ranked second amongst Flyers lines with at least 100 minutes together.

Notably, they were the clear leaders in ice time with 570.9 minutes together, and they out-scored opponents 30-23 together.

Assuming new Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet keeps Cates, Foerster, and Brink together, he'll be able to weaponize one of the most prolific checking lines in hockey once again.

NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Can Get Their Own 'Star' in Jason RobertsonNHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Can Get Their Own 'Star' in Jason RobertsonIf the Philadelphia Flyers are truly looking to swing the big trade this offseason, they need not look further than the Dallas Stars, who might have a former 100-point winger hitting the NHL trade market in short order.

One wrinkle worth discussing in Cates's new contract is the fact that there is no trade protection of any kind, like Foerster before him. The Flyers will be able to trade both players without any restrictions at any time they wish, which could be prudent if they are as active on the NHL trade market as they're expected to be.

Grade: A

With this contract, there's very little to even nitpick at, so the Flyers get an easy 'A' grade for this deal. The cap hit is cheap, and, in tandem with the lack of trade protection, allows the Flyers to continue to do whatever they want to do in the rebuild without any inhibitions.

Cates, based on Evolving-Hockey's model, has been an elite defensive forward over the last three seasons.

After signing Cates, the Flyers have $18.991 million remaining in cap space, only needing to re-sign defenseman Cam York and forward Jakob Pelletier. Even if both players sign, the Flyers figure to have a boatload of remaining cap space, and they could always put Ryan Ellis on LTIR for further strategic advantage.

The stage is set for the Flyers to make one of what could be many big trades this offseason, but finding the right deal could prove to be the biggest challenge of all.

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Cubs at Nationals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 4

It's Wednesday, June 4 and the Cubs (38-22) are in Washington to take on the Nationals (28-32). Matthew Boyd is slated to take the mound for Chicago against MacKenzie Gore for Washington.

Chicago took Game 1 of the series, 8-3, to extend their winning streak to three-straight and seven of the past eight.

The Cubs have won the last three starts with Boyd on the mound and won four of the past five. The Nats are 5-7 in Gore's 12 starts this season.

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 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 Cubs at Nationals

  • Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
  • Time: 6:45PM EST
  • Site: Nationals Park
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming: MARQ, MASN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Cubs at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Cubs (-136), Nationals (+115)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Nationals

  • Pitching matchup for June 4, 2025: Matthew Boyd vs. MacKenzie Gore
    • Cubs: Matthew Boyd, (5-2, 3.08 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts
    • Nationals: MacKenzie Gore, (2-5, 3.16 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 8 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!

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Cubs and the Nationals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cubs at Nationals

  • The Cubs have won 5 of their last 6 games on the road
  • The Over is 34-21-5 in Cubs' games this season
  • The Cubs have covered the Run Line in 3 straight games

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!

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)
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Suns hiring Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as next head coach: Report

Suns hiring Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as next head coach: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phoenix Suns’ coaching carousel has made another stop.

Phoenix is hiring Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott to be the franchise’s next head coach, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday.

Ott and fellow Cavs assistant Johnnie Bryant reportedly were among the finalists for the Suns’ head coaching job. Suns star Devin Booker was involved in the hiring process and had Ott as his top choice, Charania reported.

Ott will become the Suns’ eighth head coach since the franchise selected Booker in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft. Only one of Ott’s predecessors has held onto his position for more than two years (Monty Williams, 2019-23).

Phoenix has fired its head coach after each of the last three seasons. Williams was fired after a second straight second-round playoff exit in 2022-23, Frank Vogel was one-and-done after a first-round playoff defeat in 2023-24 and Mike Budenholzer’s lone season with the team resulted in a 36-46 record with no playoff berth.

Ott has been coaching in the NBA since 2012. His previous stops include the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Cavaliers.

One player Ott may not get the opportunity to coach in Phoenix is Kevin Durant. The 15-time All-Star is expected to have a “robust market of approximately four to six seriously interested teams this offseason,” Charania reported.

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Phillies at Blue Jays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 4

It's Wednesday, June 4 and the Phillies (37-23) are in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays (31-29). Mick Abel is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against José Berríos for Toronto.

Philadelphia won the first game of the series, 8-3, to break the Blue Jays five-game winning streak and snap Philly's four-game losing streak. Toronto has gone 2-4 in Berrios' last six starts, while this is Abel's second start.

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 Phillies at Blue Jays

  • Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
  • Time: 7:07PM EST
  • Site: Rogers Centre
  • City: Toronto, ON
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSP, SnetONE

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 Phillies at the Blue Jays

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Phillies (-107), Blue Jays (-112)
  • Spread:  Blue Jays 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Blue Jays

  • Pitching matchup for June 4, 2025: Mick Abel vs. José Berríos
    • Phillies: Mick Abel, (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts
    • Blue Jays: José Berríos, (2-2, 3.86 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 9 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!

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Phillies and the Blue Jays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia Phillies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over 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.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Phillies at Blue Jays

  • The Phillies are on a 4-game win streak at the Blue Jays
  • This season the Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios has an ERA of 3.86
  • The Phillies have covered in their last 3 games against the Blue Jays

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!

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)
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Lizzie Deignan ‘incredibly emotional’ as she hits the road for final race in Britain

  • Tour of Britain will mark end of era for the 36-year-old

  • Cat Ferguson, 19, will make her debut in four-day race

An emotional Lizzie Deignan will end her years racing on home roads with a farewell appearance in the four-day Tour of Britain, which begins in Dalby Forest. “I’m really pleased that the race starts in Yorkshire and finishes in Glasgow, because I’ve got amazing memories of my career there,” she said. “I’m really excited about it.”

Deignan retires at the end of this season and described herself as “incredibly emotional” about ­coming to the end of a career that included an Olympic silver medal at London 2012 and a Commonwealth Games gold medal in Glasgow in 2014, as well as victory in the first women’s Paris-Roubaix and the world road race title in 2015.

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Draymond offers brutally honest NBA Finals take after Knicks' loss

Draymond offers brutally honest NBA Finals take after Knicks' loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

You either win an NBA championship, or go home empty-handed. There is no consolation prize.

A team might make it all the way to the end, but if they don’t win, they’re in the same boat as the 28 other teams who are trying to figure out what they need to do to successfully scale the NBA mountaintop.

Warriors forward Draymond Green knows a thing or two — or four — about winning a championship, but he also is familiar with the sting of losing in the NBA Finals, and explained on the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis” podcast a brutally-honest perspective on teams, like the New York Knicks, for example, who found themselves close to reaching the Finals before losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, but were not close to hoisting the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.

“If you want me to be quite honest with you, I personally think making it to the NBA Finals is one of the worst seasons you can have,” Green said. “And the reason being … going to the NBA Finals and winning a championship, those two things are so far apart. You can get to the NBA Finals and not be close to winning an NBA championship.

“Making it to a conference finals, you’re so far away from winning a championship, and it looks like it’s close because you’re one series away.”

The Knicks, just like the Minnesota Timberwolves, who lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals, had a successful season. By most accounts. However, without that championship trophy, Green believes those teams are left doing a similar level of soul-searching as other teams around the league.

“Even if the Knicks made it to the NBA Finals and didn’t win it, that’s not some accomplishment to me,” Green added. “You get nothing for making the NBA Finals except a couple tens of thousands of dollars more than the conference final loser and you get another three weeks short of summer.

“You walk with nothing. The [other] team goes on and celebrates and has this incredible summer and you’re kind of left stuck trying to figure out ‘Were we really close? Do we need to run it back with this team? What’s the tweak we need to make?'”

That soul-searching in the wake of disappointment might lead a team down the wrong path.

“‘You’re kind of left in this position of ‘Ahh, maybe we’re one tweak away.’ But what you should understand about this thing is one tweak could actually, it’s like Jenga sometimes, one tweak on a roster could make the whole thing fall.”

Could that one wrong tweak be the Knicks firing coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, for example?

While New York and Minnesota might be kicking themselves for failing to make the Finals, either the Pacers or the Thunder soon will be in the same boat, regardless of if they made it all the way.

“Yeah, making it to the Finals is great, but if you don’t win it, it’s almost worse,” Green concluded. “You might as well have lost in the first round.”

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The Thunder team I played for could have been a dynasty. This one still can

Etan Thomas (third left with headband) as part of the Thunder in March 2010. Photograph: Larry W Smith/NBAE/Getty Images

I was in Oklahoma City last month as the Thunder clinched their Western Conference semi-final against the Nuggets in Game 7, and saw first-hand the Thunder run Denver off the court. The game wasn’t even close. The Thunder outplayed them on both sides of the court.

Defensively, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault put the 6ft 5in Alex Caruso on in the 6ft 11in Nikola Jokić and, surprisingly, it worked. With Chet Holmgren or Isaiah Hartenstein providing help-side support, I watched a frustrated Jokić struggle to get to his spots. His usual tricks – flopping, drawing fouls – didn’t work. The Thunder defense moved in perfect sync, and it completely disrupted Denver’s rhythm.

It was absolutely beautiful to watch. The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named league MVP shortly afterwards, beating Jokić into second, and he thoroughly deserved the award.

Their superior defense was on display again in the Western Conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the Game 5 win that sealed the Thunder’s progress to the NBA finals, I watched them destroy the Timberwolves and defense was once again the key. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards described the Thunder’s defense as: “One string, 15 puppets on one string.”

Related: The New York Knicks’ season is over, but a divisive inquest has only just begun

That’s what’s driven their rise all year. In a league where defense is often overlooked or criticized, the Thunder have made it their identity. And now, they’re just four wins away from an NBA title.

But as I have been enjoying this current Thunder team, I can’t help but think back to the Thunder team I played for in 2010.

The Thunder are heavily favored to beat the Indiana Pacers in the NBA finals, which start on Thursday, and they are the youngest team to ever make the finals since … the Thunder did so with a whole different cast in 2012. But I can say with 100% confidence, that if the Thunder kept that team – with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka – they would have won multiple championships.

Back in 2009-2010, when I was part of the roster, the Thunder were extremely young. Scott Brooks was the coach. It was James Harden’s rookie year. I remember when I first met him, he shook my hand and said: “Nice to meet you sir. I grew up watching you play in college with Syracuse. You was blocking everything and dunking everything”

That’s when I realized I was now the old man in the room. But it also hit me – Harden was in the same position I’d once been in when I joined the Washington Wizards as a rookie, meeting guys like Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Christian Laettner.

Throughout that season, myself, Kevin Ollie and Nick Collison, who were some of the elder statesmen on the team, would sit and watch the younger guys, shaking our heads and saying, “These young cats have no idea how good they are going to be”.

It all started with KD.

He was the youngest player to ever lead the league in scoring at the time. And his work ethic was something I had never seen before.

I remember after one practice, KD was doing this drill he liked – playing one-on-one against an invisible defender. But he went at it with the intensity of someone competing in the NBA finals. Every move was as sharp and deliberate as possible. Everything was at game speed.

After practice, we all went in – showered, ate, got treatment, talked. Some of the coaches watched film with players. Then we came back out to the court, and KD was still out there, going full speed with his one-on-one moves. Dripping with sweat. He’d been at it for nearly two hours.

I had never seen that kind of focus before. But when the team’s star is working that hard, everyone else falls in line-and that’s exactly what happened. The whole team rose to his level. Even after someone had a big game, they were back in the gym the next day, working like they’d just lost. They were running defensive slides and drills in the middle of the season, when most teams were cutting practice time.

Harden fell right in line and worked hard every day. Even when he made rookie mistakes, he picked up the work ethic quickly. It was clear – if KD didn’t have a problem being criticized, Harden couldn’t either.

I watched Harden study KD closely – how hard he worked on his shot, his offensive moves, his cuts to the basket, how he moved without the ball. Even after dropping 40 the night before, KD went right back to work. And Harden noticed.

Then there was Russell Westbrook – fearless, relentless. He trained harder than anyone and played like a Tasmanian devil, all intensity and energy. He’d pick up full court, never taking a play off. I remember Coach Brooks telling the staff, “If we don’t get this guy to slow down, he’s going to wear himself out.” But he never did. He just kept going – full speed, all the time.

Westbrook was being mentored by Maurice Cheeks, who really took him under his wing, guiding and encouraging him. I remember hearing them talk on the plane after games – you could feel the intensity and passion in Russ’s voice. That hunger was real, and it was going to take him far. And it did.

Then there was Jeff Green – one of the most underappreciated players on that Thunder team, in my opinion. He was an integral part of their success. He never complained about shots, touches, or a lack of recognition. He just showed up and did his job. Too quick for most power forwards, too strong for most small forwards, and incredibly efficient. He didn’t back down from anyone. And his ability to guard positions 2 through 5 made him invaluable.

Ibaka was young, athletic, and raw – but he was soaking everything in. He watched KD’s work ethic, Westbrook’s intensity, Green’s professionalism, Harden’s shooting (he even did all the shooting drills Harden did on his own time), and Thabo Sefolosha’s defensive awareness. Thabo, by the way, was also a key part of that team.

Let me be clear: I’m not placing blame on the organization or any player for why this group didn’t stay together and become a dynasty. But the talent was there. And they were only going to get better. This will go down as one of the biggest what-ifs in NBA history – not if they would’ve won a title together, but how many they could have won if they’d stayed together.

This current OKC team has similar levels of talent. But this time, there’s a real chance to finish what they started. And with the NBA finals starting Thursday, they have the chance to begin a championship run – one that could last for years.

  • Etan Thomas played in the NBA from 2000 through 2011. He is a published poet, activist and motivational speaker

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Astros at Pirates Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 4

It's Wednesday, June 4 and the Astros (33-27) are in Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates (22-39). Ryan Gusto is slated to take the mound for Houston against Mike Burrows for Pittsburgh.

The Astros won Game 1 of the series 3-0, despite 8.0 innings from Paul Skenes and one earned run allowed. The Pirates have now lost three of the past four games, while the Astros have gone 7-2 over the past nine and 3-1 in the previous four.

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 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 Astros at Pirates

  • Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Network/Streaming: SCHN, SNP

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 Astros at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Astros (-140), Pirates (+118)
  • Spread:  Astros -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Astros at Pirates

  • Pitching matchup for June 4, 2025: Ryan Gusto vs. Mike Burrows
    • Astros: Ryan Gusto, (3-2, 4.62 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.2 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Pirates: Mike Burrows, (0-1, 8.64 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.1 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 2 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!

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Astros and the Pirates:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Houston Astros on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over 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.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Astros at Pirates

  • AL West teams have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against NL Central sides
  • The Under is 67-47-7 for the Pirates' and the Astros' games combined this season
  • Houston has lost the last five starts by Ryan Gusto
  • The Over is 2-0 in Mike Burrow's two starts

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!

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)
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Mets at Dodgers: How to watch on SNY on June 4, 2025

The Mets continue a four-game series with the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Wednesday at 10:10 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • Juan Soto has reached base 10 times in his last 22 plate appearances, including home runs on Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday
  • Francisco Lindor has nine hits in his last 20 at-bats, and has smacked four home runs in his last five games
  • Pete Alonso has reached base in 10 consecutive games, and has hit three home runs during that span
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What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.