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Damian Lillard's Trail Blazers return draws one-word Buddy Hield reaction

Damian Lillard's Trail Blazers return draws one-word Buddy Hield reaction originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Buddy Hield had an interesting take on Damian Lillard’s return to the Trail Blazers.

After ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news of Lillard’s three-year, $42 million contract with Portland on social media, the Warriors guard commented, “Real,” on Charania’s Instagram post.

While there had been rumors that Lillard, who grew up in Oakland, could return home to the Bay Area and sign with Golden State, the 35-year-old wound up signing with the team that drafted him.

Lillard faces an arduous path back to the NBA after rupturing his Achilles tendon in April. An injury of that magnitude requires extensive rehab, putting his ability to suit up for Portland during the 2025-2026 NBA season in jeopardy.

The Milwaukee Bucks waived Lillard this offseason, stretching the remainder of the $113 million left on his contract over the next five years, which paved the way for his return to Portland.

Hield and the Warriors held off on making any big moves during the offseason, with the belief that the core of Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Steph Curry can lead the team to another championship.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Manchester United agree deal to buy Bryan Mbeumo for initial £65m

  • Fee for forward could reach £71m with add-ons

  • Mbeumo wanted United despite Spurs interest

Manchester United have agreed a deal worth more than £70m to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. A fee of £65m will be paid up front and a further £6m could follow in add-ons

The Cameroonian, who scored 20 Premier League goals last season, has been a key target for Ruben Amorim. United first made an offer for Mbeumo six weeks ago and had a number of bids rejected. Mbeumo made clear he wanted to move to Old Trafford despite interest at Tottenham from his former head coach Thomas Frank, and personal terms are not thought to be an issue.

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An Early Glance At The Ottawa Senators’ 2026 Free Agent Class

It's safe to say that most of the Ottawa Senators’ 2025 free agent summer homework is done.

They've signed UFAs like Lars Eller and Arthur Kaliyev off the open market, and they've already re-signed most of the free agents they wanted to keep. That list includes Fabian Zetterlund, Claude Giroux, Nick Cousins, Tyler Kleven, Nik Matinpalo, and goaltender Leevi Meriläinen.

GM Steve Staios still has a few summer chores down on the farm. RFAs Max Guenette, Xavier Bourgault, Jan Jeník, and Donovan Sebrango all received qualifying offers, so they’ll likely figure something out this summer.

But with several players now eligible for extensions, the class of 2026 will soon creep onto the radar like a daily Ottawa summer thunderstorm.

More Sens Headlines at The Hockey News-Ottawa:
NHL.com Ranks Ottawa Senators Star Among Top 10 Forwards Under 25
Wing-Gate: Ottawa Senators Get Chirped By... The Buffalo Sabres???
Ottawa Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk Provides Full Health Update

Giroux, Cousins, and Meriläinen all signed one-year deals this summer, so their agents will be back at it before long, probably feeling like they just got up from the bargaining table. Giroux and Cousins are probably in one-year mode for the rest of their careers.

Meriläinen, however, is an RFA who has a chance to be in Ottawa for a long time. The young Finn will make $1.05 million this season, a sharp contrast to Linus Ullmark's $8.25 million. Meriläinen only got into 12 games, but he was fantastic, with substantially better numbers than Ullmark and Anton Forsberg. It would be nice if we could check in on the Sens in a parallel universe where Merilainen wasn't sent down to the minors to make room for the outgoing Forsberg.

It will be interesting to see how that all works out this season, and whether Meriläinen will suddenly need to demand more money.

Staios will have to closely monitor the career fuel gauge on his four oldest veterans — Giroux, David Perron, Lars Eller, and Nick Jensen. All of them will be north of 35 and playing this season on expiring deals.

It’s a group that brings some valuable experience, and if the Sens are in the mix for a playoff spot again, as they're expected to be, they’ll surely hold on to them, even at the risk of losing them for nothing in the summer. 

Giroux, Perron, and Eller were all happy to sign here so they may be in the mix again next summer. But what of Jensen, who was traded from the Washington Capitals in the Jakob Chychrun deal? Does he want to be in Ottawa? Will that repaired hip affect his game? We don't have those answers yet, so Jensen's is the 2026 UFA storyline I find most intriguing in Ottawa.

On the RFA side, along with Merilainen, it's Shane Pinto, who's currently eligible to sign his third contract with the Sens since January of last year.

The RFA list includes Pinto, Meriläinen, Kaliyev, Jordan Spence and prospect Stephen Halliday. Lassi Thomson could be an RFA as well, but unless he plays most of the season in Ottawa, he’s more likely looking at Group 6 free agency (UFA).

Still just 23, Pinto was primarily used last season on the third line, saw limited power-play time, and missed 12 games with injury. Yet he still finished fourth in Sens' goal scoring (21). Frankly, he's probably a more impactful player than some of his teammates who are expected to be slotted above him on the depth chart.

There’s also a real chance he could push Dylan Cozens for the second-line center role — and if he does, that would have financial implications. Cozens is locked in at $7.1 million AAV for five more years and will be given every opportunity to succeed at 2C. But if Pinto becomes the 2C, he'll want 2C money. 

One could imagine experimenting with Pinto on the wing to give him more offensive opportunities. That said, his chemistry with Ridly Greig and Michael Amadio last season created one of Ottawa’s most effective lines at both ends of the ice on many nights, so there’s something to be said for not messing with that.

As an aside, even that line is getting expensive at almost $10 million right now, with Pinto about to add to that.

It certainly appears so far that Staios prefers to handle his free agency business during the off-season. But there have been exceptions, like signing Pinto two deals ago when he was coming off his suspension in early 2024, or Ridly Greig in January of this year. Ullmark almost made the list, but he signed his extension on the eve of the 2024-25 season opener.

There's already a lot to think about with the 2026 class, and the whole process is a little like a game of chess. Sure, you have to be focusing on the pieces in front of you and making smart moves. But you always have to be thinking several moves ahead.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News-Ottawa

More Sens Headlines:
Why Mason McTavish Isn’t Coming Home To The Ottawa Senators
NHL Announces Ottawa Senators 2025–26 Regular Season Schedule
Can The Senators Count On Dylan Cozens To Consistently Produce?
Expectations For The Senators' Mount Rushmore Of Old Guys
Sens Development Coach Sam Gagner Says Hockey IQ Is Teachable
Creating The Sens Opening Night Roster Based On Salary

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Devils Superstar Jack Hughes Gets Big Praise

New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes had another excellent season in 2024-25. In 62 games with the Metropolitan Division club on the year, he posted 27 goals, 43 assists, and 70 points. It was the fourth season in a row where he averaged over a point per game. 

Now, due to his incredible play over the years, Hughes has received some major praise. In a recent article for NHL.com, Adam Kimelman ranked the 10 best players in the NHL who are under 25. For it, Hughes ranked second on the list, with Ottawa Senators star Tim Stutzle being the only player ahead of him. 

Given how much success Hughes has had early on in his career, it is understandable that he has been ranked so highly by Kimelman. The 2019 first-overall pick has lived up to the hype early on in his career, and he should only get better as he continues to inch closer to his prime years. 

In 368 career NHL games over six seasons, Hughes has recorded 141 goals, 210 assists, and 315 points. His best season so far was in 2022-23, as he set career highs with 43 goals, 56 assists, and 99 points in 78 games. 

Exciting Devils Goalie Prospect Named Among NHL's BestExciting Devils Goalie Prospect Named Among NHL's BestThe New Jersey Devils are currently golden at the goaltender position, as they have veteran Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen on their NHL roster. This veteran duo worked exceptionally well together this past season, and there is no reason to believe that this can't be the case again in 2025-26.

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

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Reds at Mets Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 18

Its Friday, July 18 and the Reds (50-47) are in Queens to open a series against the Mets (55-42) at Citi Field.

Nick Lodolo is slated to take the mound for Cincinnati against Sean Manaea for New York.

The Mets are a dominant team at home amassing a record of 33-14 this season. No team in baseball has more wins or a better winning percentage at home. As good as they have been at Citi Field, New York still trails Philadelphia by 0.5 games in the National League East.

Cincinnati has work to do in the second half of the season. They sit 7.5 games behind the Cubs in the National League Central. They have won four of their last five games to pull within 2.5 games of a wild card berth.

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 Reds at Mets

  • Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Citi Field
  • City: Queens, NY
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNOH, SNY

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 Reds at the Mets

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Reds (+137), Mets (-164)
  • Spread:  Mets -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Reds at Mets

  • Pitching matchup for July 18, 2025: Nick Lodolo vs. Sean Manaea
    • Reds: Nick Lodolo (6-6, 3.38 ERA)
      Last outing: July 10 vs. Miami - 6IP, 0ER, 3H, 0BB, 4Ks
    • Mets: Sean Manaea (0-1, 2.70 ERA)
      Last outing: 7/13 at Kansas City - 3.1IP, 1ER, 5H, 0BB, 7Ks

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 Reds at Mets

  • The Mets have won 4 of their last 5 home games against National League teams
  • 7 of the Reds' last 9 games against National League teams have gone under the Total
  • This is Sean Manaea's 2nd start of the season
  • Pete Alonso homered in the All-Star Game but is just 2-18 (.111) in his last 6 regular season games
  • Juan Soto is 12-42 (.286) in July with 3 HRs and 9 RBIs
  • Elly De La Cruz is 14-44 (.318) in July with 0 HRs and 6 RBIs

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 Reds and the Mets

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 Friday's game between the Reds and the Mets:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Mets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cincinnati Reds 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

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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Daniel Lapin, Ukraine’s next big boxing hope, on Usyk bonds after Russia ‘broke’ early career

Light-heavyweight is a trusted member of Oleksandr Usyk’s camp and hopes to star on Saturday’s Wembley undercard

Daniel Lapin pulls up a video on his phone and, having chatted away for 40 minutes, lets the images do the talking. Or, more accurately, the sounds. It is a scene he captured in the early hours of a Kyiv morning during the spring and what stands out above everything is the awful, incessant, gathering buzz of the Russian-controlled drones that plague Ukraine’s capital almost every night. Sleep is rendered impossible for residents during those attacks, partly due to the sheer noise and in huge degree to the fear that you, or your loved ones, will be struck next. “After a night like that you don’t want to train,” he says. “It can go on five nights in a row. You don’t want anything, you’re just walking around like a zombie.”

On Saturday, though, Lapin will be fully alert to the task at hand. The light-heavyweight is Ukraine’s next boxing hope, his promise and pedigree immense, and his fight against Lewis Edmondson will be a highlight of the undercard before Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois contest their undisputed world heavyweight title bout at Wembley. Lapin has seen Russia’s aggression stall his career on two distinct occasions but is closer than ever to carving out a legend of his own.

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Jaroslav Halák Officially Retires: “I’ll Never Wear The Pads Again”

He hasn’t played a competitive hockey game in more than two years, but Slovak goaltender Jaroslav Halák never officially ended his career … until now.

“I’m done,” he said in a recent interview with Tomáš Prokop of Denník Šport. “I’ll never wear the pads again.”

Halák played 25 games for the New York Rangers in 2022-23 backing up all-star goalie Igor Shesterkin. Since then, there was a PTO with the Carolina Hurricanes in the autumn of 2023 that lasted only two weeks. Then in February of 2024 he signed with his hometown club, Slovan Bratislava of the Slovak Extraliga, but that didn’t lead to any games either.

“We agreed on the last day of the transfer period, which was already a pretty crucial date in the season,” Halák was quoted last summer. “After signing, I evaluated all the pros and cons.”

His last real shot was last summer, when he was hoping to get one final chance to try out for an NHL team.

“Last year I completed summer training,” Halák said. “I wanted to go on the ice in Boston, but when nothing came of it, I told myself it was pointless. After that I didn’t even try anymore. I’m officially ending my career. I would like to thank my family, friends, fans and especially my wife Petra, who has been by my side my entire career.”

Former Knights, Sens Goalie Signs In SlovakiaFormer Knights, Sens Goalie Signs In Slovakia Canadian goaltender Dylan Ferguson, 26, has signed a one-year contract with HK Nitra, the Slovak Extraliga club announced on Thursday.

As recently as two weeks ago, there were rumblings that a Czech team was interested in Halák.

“Maybe there was something, but it went away,” Halák dismissed. “I wanted to stay in America, especially for the kids, since they go to school there and the sports training there is better than in Europe.”

So Halák, who turned 40 in May, won’t play long enough to match the uniform number 41, which he wore for much of his career.

A native of Bratislava, Halák was a ninth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Between 2006 and 2023, he played 581 NHL regular-season games and 39 more in the playoffs for the Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks and Rangers.

The defining year of Halák’s career was 2010. That February, he backstopped Slovakia to a fourth-place finish at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, playing all seven of his team’s games while posting a 2.41 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. Then in April and May, he led eighth-seeded Montreal to playoff upsets over Alexander Ovechkin’s Capitals and Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins in the first two rounds.

Slovak Ex-Rangers Goalie Returns To KHLSlovak Ex-Rangers Goalie Returns To KHL Slovak goalie Adam Húska, 28, has signed a one-year contract with Admiral Vladivostok, the KHL club recently announced on social media.

Halák finishes with 295 career NHL wins. He admitted last summer that getting to 300 wins was part of his motivation for wanting to continue, but he’s since backed off that stance.

“It’s been two years and I’ve come to terms with not reaching 300,” he admitted. “Looking back on my career, it’s been a good one. It would have been nicer with 300 wins, but I’ll be happy with 295.”

Now, his focus is primarily on his children. At least two of them are trying to follow in his footsteps.

“Since my son Nathan has been a goalie for three years, I’ve been focusing on him,” said Halák. “This year, my older daughter Inna joined him. Since January, she’s been trying to be a goalie as well.”

Photo © Eric Bolte-Imagn Images.

Another Goalie Moves From NHL To KHLAnother Goalie Moves From NHL To KHL Canadian goaltender Louis Domingue, 33, has signed a one-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk, the KHL club announced on Thursday.
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Brewers at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 18

It's Friday, July 18 and the Brewers (56-40) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (58-39). Quinn Priester is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Tyler Glasnow for Los Angeles.

Los Angeles finished with the most wins in the NL with 58 and was one short of tying Detroit's MLB-best 59 first-half wins. The All-Star break couldn't have come quick enough for the Dodgers. Los Angeles lost a season-high seven straight games before winning the past two for a 2-7 record over the last nine.

Milwaukee is arguably the hottest team in the NL right now, but will that continue after the break? The Brewers are one game back of the Cubs for the NL Central lead and in the top spot for the No. 4 seed after ripping off seven consecutive wins to end the first half of the year, including a three-game sweep over the Dodgers.

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 first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Brewers at Dodgers

  • Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, SNLA

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 Brewers at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (+158), Dodgers (-190)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 10.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Dodgers

Pitching matchup for July 18, 2025: Quinn Priester vs. Tyler Glasnow

  • Brewers: Quinn Priester, (7-2, 3.55 ERA)
    Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
  • Dodgers: Tyler Glasnow, (1-0, 3.52 ERA)
    Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 3 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Brewers 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 Friday’s game between the Brewers and the Dodgers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Milwaukee Brewers Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Brewers 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.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Dodgers

  • Milwaukee has won seven straight games and went 6-1 ATS in that span
  • Milwaukee is 3-0 on the ML and ATS versus Los Angeles this year
  • Los Angeles is 2-7 on the ML in the past nine games
  • The Dodgers went 5-0 out of the All-Star break last year
  • The Brewers went 4-1 out of the All-Star break last year
  • The Brewers have won the last eight with Priester pitching
  • The Dodgers are 3-3 with Glasnow pitching this season

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Twins at Rockies prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 18

It's Friday, July 18 and the Twins (47-49) are in Denver to take on the Rockies (22-74). Chris Paddack is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Kyle Freeland for Colorado.

Minnesota won its past three series against Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, and the Chicago Cubs to earn a 6-3 record in the past nine. The Twins are in a heathy spot to be completive and steal an AL Wild Card spot. Minnesota is four games back of the final postseason spot and can make ground against Colorado here.

The Rockies ended the first half of the season with 22 wins, which is by far the worst in the MLB. However, Colorado did start 9-50 in the first 59 games, so 13-24 over the last 37 games is a significant improvement. Colorado is 1-5 over the last six games, so maybe the magic is wearing off.

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 first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Twins at Rockies

  • Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
  • Time: 8:40PM EST
  • Site: Coors Field
  • City: Denver, CO
  • Network/Streaming: MNNT, COLR

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 Twins at the Rockies

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Twins (-167), Rockies (+139)
  • Spread:  Twins -1.5
  • Total: 10.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Rockies

  • Pitching matchup for July 18, 2025: Chris Paddack vs. Kyle Freeland
    • Twins: Chris Paddack, (3-8, 4.95 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 11 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 2 Strikeouts
    • Rockies: Kyle Freeland, (1-10, 5.44 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 6 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 Twins and the Rockies

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 Friday’s game between the Twins and the Rockies:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Minnesota Twins on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over 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.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Twins at Rockies

  • Minnesota is 6-3 in the last nine games
  • Minnesota is 5-14 when Paddack pitches this season
  • Colorado is 13-24 over the past 37 games
  • Colorado is 3-14 when Freeland pitches this season

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Cardinals at Diamondbacks Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, stats for July 18

It's Friday, July 18 and the Cardinals (51-46) are in Phoenix to take on the Diamondbacks (47-50). Andre Pallante is slated to take the mound for St. Louis against Brandon Pfaadt for Arizona.

The Cardinals went 4-8 over the last 12 contests and only won one out of four series coming against the Nationals. Good news for Cardinals fans, they did sweep the Diamodbacks earlier this season at home, so there's hope for a series win here.

St. Louis has the 12th-easiest strength of schedule remaining and will head to Colorado for three games after this three-game set at Arizona.

The Diamondbacks are 1-3 over the last four games and 4-8 in the past 12, much like the Cardinals. Arizona is 5.5 games back of the final NL Wild Card spot, while St. Louis is 1.5 games back — so this series is equally important for both.

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 first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Cardinals at Diamondbacks

  • Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: Chase Field
  • City: Phoenix, AZ
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNMW, ARID

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 Cardinals at the Diamondbacks

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Cardinals (+109), Diamondbacks (-130)
  • Spread:  Diamondbacks -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cardinals at Diamondbacks

  • Pitching matchup for July 18, 2025: Andre Pallante vs.
    • Cardinals: Andre Pallante, 5-5 4.49 ERA
    • Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, Walks, and Strikeouts
    • Diamondbacks: Brandon Pfaadt, (9-6, 5.16 ERA)
      Last outing: 8.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 4 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 Cardinals and the Diamondbacks

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 Friday’s game between the Cardinals and the Diamondbacks:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Arizona Diamondbacks on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the St. Louis Cardinals 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 Cardinals at Diamondbacks

  • St. Louis is 3-0 versus Arizona this season
  • Both Arizona and St. Louis are 4-8 in the last 12 games
  • Arizona is 1-4 in the last five when Walter pitches
  • St. Louis is 0-3 in the past three when Pallante pitches

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)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Astros at Mariners Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 18

It's Friday, July 18 and the Astros (56-40) are in Seattle to take on the Mariners (51-45). Brandon Walter is slated to take the mound for Houston against Luis Castillo for Seattle.

Houston is 4-3 against Seattle this season and 3-1 in the last four, but struggled entering the All-Star break. The Astros are 1-5 over the last six games after going on a 6-1 stretch prior to that. Houston is leading the AL West by 5.0 games and has the second-easiest strength of schedule remaining.

For Seattle, they are the team 5.0 games back of Houston and are coming off a three-game sweep of Detroit that should have the Mariners feeling good, not to mention Cal Raleigh's home run derby title.

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 first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Astros at Mariners

  • Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: T-Mobile Park
  • City: Seattle, WA
  • Network/Streaming: SCHN, RSNW

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 Mariners

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Astros (+113), Mariners (-134)
  • Spread:  Mariners -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Astros at Mariners

  • Pitching matchup for July 18, 2025: Brandon Walter vs. Luis Castillo
    • Astros: Brandon Walter, (1-2, 3.98 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Mariners: Luis Castillo, (6-5, 3.41 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 6 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 Mariners

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 Friday’s game between the Astros and the Mariners:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Astros Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Houston Astros at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

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 Mariners

  • Houston is 4-3 versus Seattle this season
  • Seattle is 3-0 in the last three games
  • Seattle is 6-0 to the Over in the last six games
  • Houston is 4-2 to the Over in the last six games
  • Seattle is 4-1 in the last five when Castillo pitches this season
  • Houston is 2-5 when Walter pitches this season

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Forsberg: Expect Celtics to do more roster ‘tinkering' this offseason

Forsberg: Expect Celtics to do more roster ‘tinkering' this offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics have done plenty of heavy lifting this offseason to overhaul their roster. But that doesn’t mean their work is done.

After replacing four members of their 2024 championship core — Jrue Holiday (trade), Kristaps Porzingis (trade), Luke Kornet (free agency) and Al Horford (expected to sign elsewhere) — with the likes of Anfernee Simons, Georges Niang, Luka Garza and Josh Minott, the Celtics shed a significant amount of salary but still are barely over the second apron of the NBA’s luxury tax.

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As president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has clearly stated, Boston’s goal is to get under that second apron to avoid punitive-building roster penalties, which means at least one minor move is coming. But with superstar Jayson Tatum sidelined indefinitely with a ruptured Achilles tendon, Stevens and Co. could opt for more drastic changes to further cut costs and reset the roster.

“You still have salary to trim, even if it’s just a little to get off that second apron,” Celtics Insider Chris Forsberg explained Thursday on Arbella Early Edition. “I just think there’s going to be bigger cuts.”

The C’s also are heavy on guards and wings but light in the frontcourt, which currently features Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman Sr., Garza and rookie Amari Williams. So from a practical standpoint, it would make sense to explore trading for a big man.

“I do look at this roster, and it’s still a little bit unbalanced,” Forsberg said. “We’ve got to see what emerges in that frontcourt. I think there’s some tinkering left to do here if the right deals emerge.”

Recent additions Simons and Niang — who are making $27.7 million and $8.2 million, respectively, on expiring contracts in 2025-26 — are logical trade candidates, while Sam Hauser’s name has been floated in rumors as well. The question is what the market looks like for these players, and whether Stevens feels there’s more value in waiting until the season to explore potential deals.

“I think Brad was pretty honest when he when he met with us last week and said they don’t want to sacrifice draft assets to move off money,” Forsberg added. “But I do think as you get into the season, some of those conversations will change, and teams’ needs will change around the league, and maybe that will open up opportunities.”

Regardless of how that market develops, Forsberg believes we’ll see at least one more shoe drop in Boston over the next few months.

“I would be very surprised if the roster we see here on July 17th is the same one that’s there on October 17th when the team tips off the season,” he added.

Check out Forsberg’s full discussion with Trenni Casey and Kayla Burton on Early Edition below.

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NHL Trade Rumors: Blackhawks Should Check In On Yegor Chinakhov

The Chicago Blackhawks haven’t made any huge splashes this offseason. They have made it clear that 2025-26 is another developmental year. There was no reason to overspend on free agents who won’t be as helpful when the team is ready to win. 

Kyle Davidson, however, is not shy about adding pieces that he thinks can help the team in the long term. On Thursday, a player like that may have become available. 

Rumors are out there that Yegor Chinakhov has requested a trade away from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Now, every team that could use a talented forward for their bottom-six is going to be inquiring. 

Yegor Chinakhov, 24, still has youth on his side, so he will be attractive to the Blackhawks. There is some upside to his game, which makes him worth considering for a team that lacks NHL forward depth. 

His upside likely won't lead to him becoming a star, but he's a productive bottom-six forward with some skill. In 175 games with the Blue Jackets, Chinakhov has 71 points. Having that many points in a limited role isn't anything to ignore.

When he's healthy, which has been somewhat of an issue, he can be a productive player. He has a great shot, which is his ace tool, but he has to be on the ice to use it. If a fresh start is what he's looking for, Chicago may be a good landing spot for him to rejuvenate his career. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Ranking Every NHL Arena Media Meal (Part 2): Venues 17 to 24 Revealed

Welcome back to the second part of our summer-long series ranking NHL media meals. With the schedule revealed this week, I've started booking road trips for the upcoming season, which is also making me hungry and excited for the media meals next season. This week, we count down the No. 17 through 24 media meals in the NHL.

Ranking Every NHL Arena's Media Meal Part 1: The Bottom 8 Revealed (Nos. 25–32)Ranking Every NHL Arena's Media Meal Part 1: The Bottom 8 Revealed (Nos. 25–32)As I write this, I feel blessed that I get to travel as often as I do. And while on the road covering the Toronto Maple Leafs, I like to see what every city has to offer in terms of restaurants, amenities, etc.

These are better than most media meals, but not what I would call S-tier. But who knows? Perhaps that will change in 2025-26. One of my plans for this season is to give every city a chance to move up or down the rankings following each visit.

With that said, here are rankings for the mid-tier to lower-ranked media meals in the NHL.

TikTok · David AlterTikTok · David AlterCheck out David Alter’s video.

No. 17:Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers boast one of the fanciest setups in the NHL, featuring a small, specially-appointed table with a fancy cloth and real cutlery reserved for home front office executives. This meal used to be quite expensive at $20 plus tax and tip, but they've since reduced it to $15, which was a welcome change. The decreased price appeared to correlate with a smaller protein selection, though the quality remained decent. For some reason, they had an abundance of salad dressings. You name it, they had it. And they had a lot of it. They also offered a great dessert selection from a local Alberta creamery. Even though there was a fee, I was on a list and didn't have to pay, which I appreciated. They also serve pizza during intermissions and offer various snacks and assorted drinks.

No. 18:Florida Panthers

From Stanley Cup finalists to Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers are not winners of the media meal prize. They usually offer a choice of one or two proteins. It's not bad for just $13 US. They have cherry coke on fountain, which I always appreciate, as many venues do not. You also get hot dogs and cookies; during the playoffs, they even changed it up, offering a marshmallow and Rice Krispy treat covered in chocolate on a stick. Upstairs, they usually have some sort of hot food, such as chicken 'tendies' or empanadas, along with chips. They also had candied popcorn in the colors of the Florida Panthers, which I really liked. It's these little bonuses that stopped them from falling further down the list.

TikTok · David AlterTikTok · David Alter331 likes, 9 comments. “#Leafs #media #meal for Game 6 against the Panthers. The hot dog was great. Same with the chicken and plantains. Hopefully there will be some more left this #NHL season.”

No. 19: Vegas Golden Knights

The drawback to Vegas is that they take cash only, and I actually didn't have any on me. So, a shout-out to the Mayor of Las Vegas, Gary Lawless, for telling the staff not to charge me for dinner, which I very much appreciated. They offered a good selection, although I didn't have time for the three-color cauliflower. What truly elevates the Vegas experience is the amazing candy and treat selection upstairs. This contributed to a great dining experience. They also offer cold brew coffee for those hot Vegas nights, which I definitely dig.

No. 20:Toronto Maple Leafs

Since I am based in Toronto, I don't have to frequent the media meals. However, I often choose to partake. During the height of the pandemic, they reverted to free meal vouchers, which I loved because I could use the $25 credit and pay a few extra dollars to get some delicious Edo sushi. In December 2023, the media meals returned. They were okay, but sometimes consisted of nothing more than basic burgers and worse. It's not bad, but for $15 plus taxes, it could be better. Sometimes they'd offer Mexican food, and it was okay. Their best nights are when they offer Asian cuisine. During the playoffs, they switched to vouchers where $15 would get you $25 worth of concession food. It's not a great value proposition, and the selection was limited to 300-level choices, excluding any of the new, fancier restaurants due to renovations. I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for next year, as I believe they have the potential to move up the list. Upstairs, many media members settle for the free Pizza Pizza.

TikTok · David AlterTikTok · David Alter143 likes, 14 comments. “It’s #media #meal time for Game 5 between the #Leafs and Panthers in the #NHL #stanleycup playoffs. Refusing to have the voucher so I enjoyed the free #pizza. And jelly beans.”

No. 21: Calgary Flames

The Flames' media meal is fairly basic, with the main event typically being chicken thighs. For Alberta, I was hoping for some Grade-A beef. The real saving grace that kept them from falling further down the list is the adjacent commissary for employees, which offers a vast and reasonably priced selection. Media members were also allowed to partake, and I opted for this over the main meal, at a fraction of the cost.

No. 22: Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets offer a decent meal at an okay price, but it's not particularly memorable. The best part of their offerings is an ice cream machine. Also, their Tim Hortons coffee seems to be superior to any other Tim Hortons coffee I've had. This could be because there's a standalone Tim Hortons location right next to Nationwide Arena. It's hard to explain. The Blue Jackets are the only team that has an emotional support dog greeting you as you come out of the elevator. His name is Jaxon, and he's a very good boy.

TikTok · David AlterTikTok · David Alter1292 likes, 36 comments. “Media #meal time in Calgary for #Leafs vs #Flames. Unique to this city, they have a staff cafeteria where the value proposition absolutely slaps.”

No. 23:Washington Capitals

The Capitals actually spent a season operating on a voucher system similar to the Maple Leafs, where $10 would get you $30 worth of food, and it was actually really good. However, I do like that they eventually transitioned to a traditional media meal. It's another one of those small buffet spreads, typically featuring only one protein option. If you didn't like the dressing they put on the beef, you pretty much weren't eating. The Caps do have a good snack game in the press box, though, with more sweets than savory options.

No. 24:Winnipeg Jets

The Jets' meal is fairly pricey at $17 plus tax, and there wasn't much going for it. Winnipeg is a very underrated food city, and they actually have an awesome food court next door that many of my colleagues opt for instead. I went to Saburo for an awesome Korean Fried Chicken platter. It was delicious.

(Top Image Credit: David Alter on TikTok)

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Rangers acquire José Ruiz and cash from the Braves for Dane Dunning in swap of right-handers

ARLINGTON, Texax — The Texas Rangers acquired right-hander José Ruiz and cash considerations from the Atlanta Braves on Thursday for right-hander Dane Dunning.

The 30-year-old Ruiz has split the season between Philadelphia and Atlanta and both teams' Triple-A affiliates. He will report to Triple-A Round Rock.

Ruiz made 16 relief appearances for Philadelphia before being designated for assignment June 1 and claimed off waivers by the Braves on June 7. He pitched in two games for Atlanta, and is 1-0 with an 8.82 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings in the 18 combined games.

The Venezuelan is 11-9 with a save and a 4.62 ERA in 282 career games in nine seasons with San Diego, the Chicago White Sox, Arizona, Philadelphia and Atlanta.

The 30-year-old Dunning had a 3.38 ERA in 10 2/3 innings without a decision in five games this season for Texas. After being acquired from the White Sox in December 2020, he was 26-32 with a 4.36 ERA in 122 games for Texas.