Adversity to evolution: How Mets prospect Brandon Sproat put himself on cusp of MLB debut

Last week, the Mets called up No. 4 prospect Nolan McLean for his big league debut, and he impressed with 5.1 scoreless innings against Seattle. This has led to the question of "who’s next?"

There is likely just one more prospect who should be expected to debut during the 2025 season: No. 5 prospect, right-hander Brandon Sproat

It’s been somewhat of a roller coaster ride for Sproat, who -- less than a year ago -- was the consensus Mets No. 1 prospect and was ranked among the top 50-60 prospects in all of baseball. It now appears as if that ride is soon going to arrive at the station, Willets Point that is.

Sproat burst onto the scene last year in his first professional season after the Mets took him in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft.

In 17 starts split between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, he was basically untouchable, posting a 2.05 ERA in 87.2 innings with 110 strikeouts. Batters only hit .170 with a .523 OPS against him. He was blowing hitters away with his upper 90s fastball and leaning on a changeup and sweeper as his primary secondary offerings.

Then came his first real adversity as a professional at the Triple-A level. He made his first start with Syracuse on Aug. 8 against Worcester and allowed six runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings with three walks and four strikeouts. Sproat ended up making seven Triple-A starts to close out 2024 and posted an unsightly 7.53 ERA. Triple-A opponents hit .313 with a .957 OPS against him.

Adversity is not a bad thing. In fact, it is something the Mets organization embraces, as senior vice president of player development Andy Green told us on The Mets Pod back in spring training. 

"[Adversity] is going to come in a big league uniform at some point in time, and you can always go back to that experience in the minor leagues," Green said. "We would love for everyone to have to fight through something."

New York Mets pitcher Brandon Sproat (91) prepares to pitch against the Houston Astros at Clover Park.
New York Mets pitcher Brandon Sproat (91) prepares to pitch against the Houston Astros at Clover Park. / Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Some of that adversity was due to challenges at the Triple-A level that affect some more than others. They use the major league ball there, and it is a different ball than Double-A and below. That generally has a negative impact on pitch metrics. 

There is also the ABS challenge system, so pitchers must be more precise. On top of those changes, pitchers are facing veteran players, sometimes as much as 10 years older than them, who have much more of a plan at the plate.

The Mets were excited about Sproat’s spring training and his approach heading into this season, but it did not go according to plan for his first 15 outings. In 62 innings, Sproat posted a 5.95 ERA and struggled to miss bats, striking out only 43, which is a well below average 15.4 percent strikeout rate.

From a pitch usage standpoint, Sproat appeared to be focusing on trying to be a ground ball pitcher, with a higher use of his sinker. He was throwing it 21 percent of the time during that stretch after throwing it just one percent of the time in 2024. Overall, his power stuff wasn’t quite as powerful as it was in 2024.

His four-seam fastball’s average velocity was down nearly a full mile per hour, from 96.7 mph in 2024 to 95.9 mph in early 2025. It wasn’t just his fastball; his velocities were down across the board. 

There was some thought that Sproat was not throwing with conviction and trusting his stuff like he should. He was pitching much more defensively, just trying to outsmart hitters instead of attacking them.

In late June, there was a mental shift from Sproat. He decided, after conferring with his mental strength coach as well as the Mets organization, that he was going to just let everything loose and throw the ball nearly as hard as he could. In his eyes, there was no downside.

In nine starts since, Sproat has pitched to a 2.05 ERA in 48.1 innings with 57 strikeouts. In this span, his 30.3 percent strikeout rate was essentially double what it was earlier in the year. Opponents have hit only .144 with a .461 OPS against Sproat over the last nine starts.

For Sproat, everything has taken a step forward in the last nine starts. 

He is throwing more strikes, getting more swings and misses, his ground ball rate is up and, importantly, his line drive rate has gone down significantly. His average velocities and/or whiff percentages are up across the board for all six of his offerings from just earlier this season:

- Four-seam fastball velocity is up from 95.9 mph to 97.1, and whiff percentage is up from 18.1 percent to 32.1

- Changeup whiff rate is up from 27.8 percent to 40.6

- Sinker velocity is up from 95.3 mph to 96.1

- Slider velocity is up from 86.9 mph to 90 mph, and whiff rate is up from 20.7 percent to 24.4

- Sweeper whiff percentage is up from 31 percent to 38.6

- Curve ball velocity is up from 78.9 mph to 81.1 mph, and whiff percentage is up from 27.8 percent to 34.3

Sproat is pitching with confidence and conviction, and his stuff has ticked up across the board. He is back to routinely touching 99-100 mph, which he was not doing at all earlier in the season.

The Mets' rotation has been struggling for much of the second half, and Sproat has made the necessary adjustments that warrant a call-up. 

Having both McLean and Sproat in the rotation could provide a jolt that the Mets seem like they need as they head into the final month of the season -- as they try to make the playoffs for the second year in a row for just the third time in franchise history.

Sabres Prospect Profile – David Bedkowski

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games. 

#21 - David Bedkowski - D - (Owen Sound - OHL)

The Sabres have drafted predominantly right-handed defensemen (Radim Mrtka, Adam Kleber, Simon-Pier Brunet, Maxim Strbak, Gavin McCarthy, and Vsevolod Komarov) in the last four drafts, with the top half of their NHL blueline all left-handers. The club continued that practice at the 2025 NHL Draft, selecting Mrtka ninth overall, and after trading their second-round pick to clear Connor Clifton’s contract and acquire righty Conor Timmins, Buffalo selected another righty in David Bedkowski. 

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The 18-year-old played his first two OHL seasons with Oshawa and was traded last season to the Owen Sound Attack. The 6’5”, 215 lb. defenseman’s skill set is purely physical, as last season he had only seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 35 games, but compiled 73 penalty minutes. 

Elite Prospects Draft Guide said that it would be an understatement to say Bedkowski has a mean streak. “He punishes. He hurts, retaliates, beats down, knocks, and crushes opponents with open-ice hits and bone-rattling contact along the boards.”  That mean streak is something that most of Buffalo’s blueline has been missing for years, but it will be at least a few years before the Toronto native can bring that physicality to the NHL roster.

Warriors reportedly eyeing Cody Martin as potential target in NBA free agency

Warriors reportedly eyeing Cody Martin as potential target in NBA free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors appear to have a player in mind to add to their bench depth.

Golden State is interested in free agent wing Cody Martin, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported.

“Another name on the Warriors’ list of bench targets, sources say, is Cody Martin,” Fischer said. 

Entering what would be his seventh NBA season, Martin averaged 6.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 rebounds over nearly six seasons with the Charlotte Hornets — not too shabby.

But Martin struggled after getting traded to the Suns at the 2024-25 NBA trade deadline and averaged 3.7 points per game while making just three of 27 3-point attempts over 14 games with Phoenix. That is all before mentioning that the 29-year-old Martin has dealt with his fair share of injuries, playing in just 93 of a possible 246 games over his last three campaigns.

Martin clearly isn’t the most exciting option, but he is generating interest from competitive teams beyond the Warriors.

“The veteran swingman has received interest from numerous playoff teams this summer but is said to be waiting to see whether an opportunity with Golden State proves to be his most attractive option … or if it’s better to let the season start and see what opportunities arise after training camps begin,” Fischer wrote.

Golden State seemingly is waiting for the end of the Jonathan Kuminga saga to begin rounding out its roster. Once that happens, Fischer reiterated that the Warriors probably will go after other end-of-the-rotation pieces. 

“We’ve reported previously that Seth Curry and Malcolm Brogdon are candidates for a Warriors roster spot after Kuminga’s situation is resolved and the above three signings are completed.”

For now, Dub Nation must wait and see.

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Brewers fans are hoping ‘Uecker magic’ will carry the team to a deep October run

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers fans offer a supernatural explanation for their team’s surprising surge to the top of the major league standings.

And they believe it can continue carrying them all the way through October as the Brewers seek to win their first World Series title.

“It’s Uecker magic,” said Bonnie Bruhn, a 79-year-old Brewers fan from the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis, Wisconsin.

As the Brewers prepare to honor Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Uecker, fans are hoping the team can pay tribute to him by making the deep playoff run that has eluded this franchise lately.

Uecker, who died Jan. 16 at age 90 after fighting small cell lung cancer, had broadcast Brewers games for 54 years. He remained loyal to his hometown team even after his chats with Johnny Carson and appearances in beer commercials and the “Major League” movies made him a national celebrity.

The Brewers are holding a celebration of life for the man nicknamed “Mr. Baseball” before their afternoon game with the San Francisco Giants. The pregame ceremony will be hosted by Bob Costas, Uecker’s longtime broadcast partner on NBC national telecasts.

There already has been plenty for Brewers fans to celebrate this season, as they own the best record in the major leagues and hold a seven-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

Milwaukee didn’t send a single position player to the All-Star Game, yet the Brewers are ranked second in the majors in runs scored thanks to a lineup with a tenacious approach that has manager Pat Murphy comparing his players to woodpeckers because they “keep pecking away.”

Rookie third baseman Caleb Durbin used a different comparison this week.

“It feels like we’re sharks out there,” Durbin said. “We smell blood. Once we get runners on and start scraping those first couple runs across, we want that big inning.”

The Brewers (80-48) could go just .500 the rest of the season and would still end up with the best record in franchise history. They were 25-28 and 6 ½ games behind the Cubs on May 24, but they’re 55-20 since.

That surge includes a franchise-record 14-game winning streak that had some strange coincidences.

Milwaukee scored 12 runs in its 12th straight win. The Brewers extended the streak to 13 when Christian Yelich used a special Uecker-themed bat in a game for the first time and homered twice in a victory over Cincinnati. The Brewers’ 14th straight win featured a go-ahead homer in the 11th inning from light-hitting utilityman Andruw Monasterio, who happens to wear No. 14.

Bruhn noted a couple of those examples as she talked Brewers baseball while waiting in line to get her free hamburger from George Webb, a local fast-food chain that gives away burgers whenever Milwaukee wins at least 12 straight games. Bruhn also explained just how much faith she has in this year’s team.

After the Brewers’ last 12-game winning streak in 2018, Bruhn said she got her free burger from George Webb but kept it in the freezer “in a little baggie just to remind us it would happen again.”

“‘Til a week ago we threw them away, because we knew that we were going to get fresh hamburgers,” Bruhn said. “It was just a sign that we trusted the team to win 12 in a row.”

The question is whether this Brewers team can be trusted to carry over its regular-season success into the postseason.

Milwaukee has reached the playoffs six of the last seven years but hasn’t won a postseason series since reaching Game 7 of the NL Championship Series in 2018. The Brewers have lost 11 of their last 13 postseason games.

Yelich noted the random nature of postseason baseball and said the Brewers’ playoff history is pretty irrelevant because there’s so much turnover from year to year. Yelich and pitcher Brandon Woodruff are the only players remaining from that 2018 team.

“Each team has just as good of a chance as winning the World Series as losing in the first round every year,” Yelich said. “It’s baseball. You line out a few nights in a row, you’re out of the postseason. If you have some ground balls that find the holes in the right situation, you’re probably going to move on.”

Last year, the Brewers led the New York Mets 2-0 in the decisive third game of the NL Wild Card Series before two-time NL reliever of the year Devin Williams allowed four runs in the ninth inning.

Uecker closed what would end up being the final broadcast of his legendary career that night by saying, “That one has some sting on it,” before heading down to console the Brewers players in a silent locker room.

That message from Uecker still resonates with Brewers fans, who believe in their hearts he’s playing a role in this special season.

“Uecker is contributing, because after the last game, he said this one really stings,” Bruhn said. “He knew he wasn’t coming back for another game. So we’ve got to win for him.”

And they know the longtime broadcaster is still cheering on every victory.

“I’m glad they’re doing it for him after his passing,” said Steve Ebert, a 62-year-old Brewers fan from outside West Allis. “Bob’s looking down, going ‘Go Brew Crew, go.’”

Serena Williams built her legacy on defiance. Why lend it to Ozempic culture? | Bryan Armen Graham

From Compton outsider to American nonpareil, she came to embody resistance to toxic norms. But her embrace of GLP-1 drugs feels like capitulation to ideals she once rejected

When Serena Williams was featured in a People magazine story on Thursday morning discussing her 31lb weight loss, the rollout had all the hallmarks of an advertisement draped in the thin veil of an all-caps EXCLUSIVE.

Vogue’s social channels amplified their own access, NBC’s Today show gave her a one-on-one segment and Elle published a carefully packaged interview in which Williams declared she wanted to break the stigma around weight-loss drugs, each of them in lockstep with what appeared to be a hard 9am press embargo. This vintage Jill Smoller quadrafecta was not a spontaneous confessional; it was a coordinated media blitz pegged to the US Open, the tentpole event of American tennis, which kicks off on Sunday in earnest.

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Two-start pitchers: Tarik Skubal leads the outstanding options for the week of August 25

Hello and welcome to the 21th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2025 MLB season.

I'll be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week, as well as some streaming options to keep in mind.

Thinking ahead with your weekly strategy can give you an advantage on the waiver wire and hopefully be a difference-maker in the standings at the end of the season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

The Dodgers only play six games next week, so with six starters in their rotation currently that means that they’ll each pitch once and no one will line up for two starts.

The Pirates plan to finally promote Bubba Chandler from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, though he’ll work in a bulk role out of the team’s bullpen rather than as a traditional starter. We aren’t sure yet which day he will make his Pirates’ debut, and that throws the rest of the rotation into flux. If he goes on Tuesday, he would pitch in bulk roles twice next week (@ Cardinals, @ Red Sox).

With Landen Roupp (knee) heading back to the injured list, the Giants have a need for another starter to fill their rotation once again. The expectation is that Carson Whisenhunt will step back in – and right into a two-start week against the Cubs and Orioles. Whisenhunt posted a 5.02 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 12/7 K/BB ratio over 14 1/3 innings in his first three starts with the Giants.

We aren’t quite sure yet how the Braves plan to incorporate the return of Chris Sale into their starting rotation. They could either go to a full six-man rotation and keep everyone else around, or they could bump an underperforming option like Bryce Elder from the mix. If they go to a six-man, Elder would line up for two starts next week (@ Marlins, @ Phillies). If they bump Elder and stick with a five-man rotation, then Hurston Waldrep would make those two starts. Regardless, we should have plenty of interest in Waldrep and none in Elder for fantasy purposes.

We are also awaiting official word on what the Orioles will do to incorporate Kyle Bradish back into their starting rotation. Brandon Young and Cade Povich have each pitched well lately, so it’s hard to see them bumping either from their rotation at the moment. If it’s not them, maybe Tomoyuki Sugano goes to the bullpen? Otherwise, they roll with a six-man rotation at least this trip through the rotation. If they go six, it would be Sugano making two starts next week (vs. Red Sox, @ Giants). If they go five and bump Young or Povich, then Bradish would also make two starts next week.

At the moment, it sounds like the Astros may go to a six-man rotation with Lance McCullers Jr. returning from the injured list during the upcoming week. If that’s the case, none of their starters will go twice. They could opt to keep Hunter Brown on regular rest though and send him to the hill twice (vs. Rockies, vs. Angels), though that has yet to be confirmed. He should be locked into fantasy lineups regardless though, it would just be an added bonus to get double the volume – especially with a pair of premium matchups.

Without further ado, let's dig into the options for the week of August 25.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of August 22 and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Tarik Skubal, Tigers, LHP (@ Athletics, @ Royals)

The best pitcher in baseball lines up for two starts this week, which instantly makes him the top overall play on the board regardless of matchups. Those aren’t bad either though. He should be a favorite to win in both starts and he should have no problem adding to his Major League-leading strikeout total (200) against two offenses with plenty of swing and miss to their games. Look for Skubal to continue strengthening his resume in a bid for back-to-back Cy Young awards in the American League.

Cam Schlittler, Yankees, RHP (vs. Nationals, @ White Sox)

The 24-year-old right-hander has impressed through his first seven big league starts, posting a 3.22 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and a 38/16 K/BB ratio across 36 1/3 innings of work. He seems to be getting better each time out as well, spinning five innings of one-run ball against the Twins with six strikeouts two starts ago before shutting out the Rays in Tampa Bay over 6 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts to earn his first victory his last time out. The matchups couldn’t be much better – getting to battle the Nationals at home before taking on the lowly White Sox in Chicago. He makes for an excellent streaming option in any leagues where he’s still available and should be started in all formats for the upcoming week.

Luis Gil, Yankees, RHP (vs. Nationals, @ White Sox)

We haven’t seen the best of Luis Gil since returning from the injured list, but that’s to be expected after such a long layoff to open the season. Fortunately, the matchups are lined up perfectly for him this week to get his 2025 season on track. I’d be surprised if he didn’t secure a victory and approach double digit strikeouts with solid ratios over his two starts this week. Start with full confidence in all leagues.

Jacob deGrom, Rangers, RHP (vs. Angels, @ Athletics)

Fantasy managers will need to pay close attention to make sure that deGrom is actually going to start against the Angels on Monday after the Rangers skipped his last start due to shoulder fatigue. You know the deal with the star right-hander by now, as long as he’s healthy enough to take the mound, he should be locked into fantasy lineups. He has been brilliant this season, going 10-5 with a 2.76 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and a 148/30 K/BB ratio over 140 1/3 innings in 24 starts.

Max Scherzer, Blue Jays, RHP (vs. Twins, vs. Brewers)

Now that he’s finally healthy and over the thumb issue that plagued him for most of the season, we have seen the vintage version of Max Scherzer show up for the Blue Jays. In 11 starts on the season he holds a 3.60 ERA, an elite 1.08 WHIP and a 56/15 K/BB ratio over 60 innings of work. He’s a threat to earn a victory each and every time he takes the hill and he’ll get the added benefit of making both starts at home during the upcoming week. The matchup against the Brewers to finish the week is tough, but it’s not enough to sit Scherzer for a two-start week. As long as he’s healthy and taking the baseball for the Jays, fantasy managers should keep rolling with him.

Noah Cameron, Royals, LHP (@ White Sox, vs. Tigers)

Noah Cameron has been a revelation for the Royals this season, compiling a 2.53 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and an 83/31 K/BB ratio across his first 103 frames. He has been a viable fantasy asset in most weeks and looks like a particularly strong play for his upcoming two-start week. He’ll be a big favorite to earn a victory against the White Sox to open the week before finishing with a home tilt against the division-leading Tigers. They’re much worse against left-handed pitching though, which makes that start much less terrifying. I’d be starting Cameron with confidence in all leagues for the upcoming week.

Decent Plays

Tanner Bibee, Guardians, RHP (vs. Rays. vs. Mariners)

Tanner Bibee has been seemingly struck by a bit of bad luck this season as his ERA (4.62) sits significantly higher than his xFIP (4.23) and xERA (3.78). His elevated WHIP (1.29) and diminished strikeout rate from last season are discouraging, but he hasn’t been nearly as bad as his overall line would indicate. He has really struggled of late though, giving up four runs or more in four of his last five outings. With the way the Guardians are playing right now, he’s in prime position to earn a victory this week and should approach double digit strikeouts with the added volume of the two-start week. Just don’t expect pristine ratios.

Shane Smith, White Sox, RHP (vs. Royals, vs. Yankees)

While he hasn’t won many games this season, Smith has done a nice job through his first 22 starts for the White Sox – posting a 4.12 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 102/47 K/BB ratio over 107 innings. The matchups aren’t great for the upcoming week, especially the battle against the powerful Yankees on Sunday, but at least he’ll be making both starts at home. He should be able to keep his ratios in check and will provide help in the strikeout department, making him worthy of a start in most leagues.

Lucas Giolito, Red Sox, RHP (@ Orioles, vs. Pirates)

Giolito struggled against the Yankees on Thursday evening, but overall he has pitched pretty well across 19 starts for the Red Sox, going 8-2 with a 3.63 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and an 87/34 K/BB ratio over 106 2/3 innings. Both of the matchups seem to work in his favor this week, especially the home tilt against the Pirates on Sunday, making him a strong streaming option in any shallower formats where he may still be available.

Martin Perez, White Sox, LHP (vs. Royals, vs. Yankees)

The 34-year-old southpaw was terrific in his return to the White Sox’ rotation on Wednesday, allowing just one unearned run over 5 1/3 innings against the Braves. Fantasy managers should know by now that trusting Perez for fantasy purposes never seems to work out well. That being said, he has provided quality ratios throughout the season and could continue to do so once again in a two-start week. It’s playing with fire trying to throw him against the Yankees over the weekend, but I’ve seen worse plays work out before.

Bailey Ober, Twins, RHP (@ Blue Jays, vs. Padres)

While Bailey Ober has been a disaster for the majority of the 2025 season, we have at least seen flashes that he is starting to figure things out. Over his last three starts he holds a 3.18 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and a 15/2 K/BB ratio over 17 innings. Of course he surrendered four or more runs in each of his six starts before then, and seven or more in three of those. I would like to trust the track record and blindly throw him here, but the matchups against the Blue Jays and Padres both look to be challenging. I’d still roll the dice here in 15-teamers but I may try to find a better option if I could in shallower leagues.

Shane Baz, Rays, RHP (@ Guardians, @ Nationals)

Baz has been a colossal disappointment for fantasy purposes this season, registering a cringe-inducing 5.22 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 143/52 K/BB ratio. The stuff is there, but the consistency has been a major struggle for him while allowing a league-high 80 earned runs and serving up 26 long balls. On paper, matchups against the Guardians and Nationals on the road look like a good spot for Baz to get back on track this week, but you just never know what you’re going to get here. In 15-teamers, you probably have to roll with it and hope for the best.

At Your Own Risk

Bryce Miller, Mariners, RHP (vs. Padres, @ Guardians)

Bryce Miller struggled in his return from the injured list, surrendering four runs on four hits – including a pair of home runs – over five innings against the Mariners. It’s not like he was pitching well before the long layoff either, as he sports a disappointing 5.87 ERA and 1.51 WHIP over 53 2/3 innings through his first 11 starts on the season. He also draws a pair of tough matchups this week. I understand fantasy managers wanting to trust him and throw him out there after waiting it out through the injury, but I’d prefer to want to see Miller get right before throwing him to the wolves. It’s possible that in 15-teamers you can’t get away from it and need the extra volume, but I’d try to sit him in 12’s if at all possible.

Walker Buehler, Red Sox, RHP (@ Orioles, vs. Pirates)

Buehler hasn’t been what the Red Sox were hoping they would get when they signed him to a one-year, $21 million deal over the winter. The 31-year-old right-hander holds a troublesome 5.40 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and an 82/54 K/BB ratio across 110 innings. There were reports on Thursday evening that the team is considering moving Buehler to the bullpen, so it’s possible that he won’t even make a start against the Orioles on Monday at all – which would completely sap him of any lingering fantasy value in deeper leagues. If he doesn’t pitch out of the bullpen over the weekend and does get the call for Monday, he’s fine if all you’re looking for is wins and strikeouts. Just don’t expect him to suddenly turn things around and become an asset in ratios.

J.T. Ginn, Athletics, RHP (vs. Tigers, vs. Rangers)

There’s really not a whole lot to like about Ginn’s two-step this week. He holds an underwhelming 4.95 ERA and 1.37 WHIP over 60 innings on the season. His strikeouts have been solid, with 66 punchouts in his first 17 appearances, but that’s the only real positive that he has going for him here. In addition to the two matchups being against quality offenses, he’s set to do battle against Tarik Skubal and Jacob deGrom. Pass.

Kyle Hendricks, Angels, RHP (@ Rangers, @ Astros)

There are occasions where streaming Kyle Hendricks and his middling ratios and poor strikeout rate make sense in two-start weeks where both matchups line up in his favor. This is not one of those weeks. He has to go on the road to battle two tough offenses that have been smashing right-handed pitching, making him a difficult time to envision any sort of success here. If you’re desperate for volume and feel like rolling the dice, by all means go ahead. I’ll be staying away.

National League

Strong Plays

Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies, LHP (@ Mets, vs. Braves)

Sanchez has worked himself into the conversation for the National League Cy Young award, posting an 11-4 record, 2.46 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 169/38 K/BB ratio over 157 innings of work. He has been especially good as of late, allowing just six earned runs over 26 1/3 innings with a pair of wins and 30 punchouts over his last four starts. Both opponents this week are divisional foes that are very familiar with him, but that’s no reason to shy away from this exceptional left-hander. Start him with complete confidence in all league sizes.

Jesus Luzardo, Phillies, LHP (@ Mets, vs. Braves)

Luzardo has been maddeningly inconsistent this season, but it coming off of one of his best starts of the year – a 12-strikeout gem over six innings of one-run baseball against the Mariners. We usually don’t like to attack the Mets with left-handers, but Luzardo has had success against them in the past and he should also be a favorite to win against the Braves over the weekend. There’s more ratio risk here than we’d usually like to take on with Luzardo, but the strikeouts should be elite and the win equity is solid as well. He’s an easy start in all formats.

Hunter Greene, Reds, RHP (@ Dodgers, vs. Cardinals)

Greene has returned from the injured list and hasn’t missed a beat, allowing just three runs over 12 1/3 innings in his first two starts back while recording 18 strikeouts. It’s tough to trust anyone against the vaunted Dodgers’ offense, but the matchup against the Cardinals to finish the week makes up for that. Expect more good things from the fire-balling right-hander this week. He’s an easy start in leagues of all sizes.

Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers, RHP (vs. Diamondbacks, @ Blue Jays)

After complete and utter domination to begin his big league career, we have seen Misiorowski struggle a bit over his last three starts – registering a 9.64 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and a 15/8 K/BB ratio across 9 1/3 innings in his last three starts. While those struggles are worrisome, we’re still betting on the talent here and he’s a threat to earn a victory every time he takes the mound with the Brewers’ offense backing him. This looks like a good week for him to get back on track. Keep the faith.

Quinn Priester, Brewers, RHP (vs. Diamondbacks, @ Blue Jays)

Priester has been an exceptional addition to the Brewers’ rotation this season, posting a 3.44 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 104/45 K/BB ratio over 128 1/3 innings in his first 24 appearances (19 starts). He should be locked in as an every week starter in most fantasy formats in his single start weeks, and is an easy play in all doubles. Enjoy the added production from the extra volume.

Kodai Senga, Mets, RHP (vs. Phillies, vs. Marlins)

Kodai Senga and his elusive ghost forkball have continued to befuddle major league hitters this season to the tune of a 2.58 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 99/50 K/BB ratio across his 104 2/3 frames. He was inexplicably blasted by the Nationals his last time out, but that seems to be more of a blip on the radar than a trend that we should expect to continue. The matchup against the Phillies is much more challenging than the battle against the Marlins to finish the week, but we’ll gladly roll with both here. He’s an easy play in all formats.

Decent Plays

Sean Manaea, Mets, LHP (vs. Phillies, vs. Marlins)

We have seen mixed results from Manaea through his first eight appearances on the season, posting an elevated 5.15 ERA to go along with a quality 1.12 WHIP and a 45/8 K/BB ratio over his first 36 2/3 innings. What’s concerning is how he has been pitching recently – giving up four runs or more in each of his last four starts. In 15-teamers he’s probably fine to throw out there again this week, but I’d have some trepidation about using him in 12-team leagues given the recent struggles.

Michael McGreevy, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Pirates, @ Reds)

Fantasy managers have finally gotten their wish with McGreevy entrenched in their rotation for the remainder of the season, though the results haven’t been as good as expected thus far. A matchup against the Pirates to start the week seems like the perfect place for him to get back on track. Overall, the 25-year-old hurler holds a 4.42 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and an underwhelming 33/7 K/BB ratio through his first 57 innings. The diminished strikeout rate should be offset by the added volume of a second start this week, making McGreevy a strong streaming option.

Jameson Taillon, Cubs, RHP (@ Giants, @ Rockies)

Taillon delivered an extremely impressive performance in his return from a nearly two-month stay on the injured list, allowing just one run on five hits over six strong innings in a victory over the surging Brewers. He gets two very strong matchups for the upcoming week and even though the battle against the Rockies is at Coors Field, there’s a good shot that he earns a victory there. He may have been cut loose in shallower leagues and would make for a terrific streaming option in places where he may be available.

Edward Cabrera, Marlins, RHP (vs. Braves, @ Mets)

Cabrera has been an absolute revelation in the Marlins’ rotation this season, registering a stellar 3.52 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 126/39 K/BB ratio over 117 2/3 innings in his first 22 starts on the season. He’s coming off of a two-start stretch though in which he allowed 11 runs over 9 2/3 innings against the Guardians and Cardinals, which leaves reason for concern heading into a pair of divisional battles against much stronger offenses. In 15-teamers you have to trust the track record and hope for the best, but if you’re concerned with your ratios, I could see reasons to leave him on the bench in 12-team formats.

Sandy Alcantara, Marlins, RHP (vs. Braves, @ Mets)

We have seen an extreme amount of inconsistency from Sandy Alcantara this season, which is to be expected following a full missed season due to injury in 2024. Overall, the 6.04 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 134 innings are obviously terrible and not something that you’d be looking for from a fantasy perspective. We know what type of upside is hiding in that right arm though and Alcantara is coming into the week off a pair of dominant starts against the Red Sox and Cardinals in which he surrendered just two total runs over 13 innings while racking up 16 strikeouts. I’m a gambling man by nature, but I like to think that trend continues this week. I’d be firing him up in all leagues in which I had him rostered this week.

Mitch Keller, Pirates, RHP (@ Cardinals, @ Red Sox)

At this point, Mitch Keller pretty much is who he is. He holds a middling 4.34 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 145 innings on the season while punching out 116 batters. That means we’re staying away from most of his single start weeks unless it’s a premium matchup and considering him when he toes the slab twice. Fortunately for us, this is one of the weeks where he gets consideration. He’ll take on a Cardinals’ offense that struggles against right-handed pitching before finishing up with a tougher battle against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. There’s enough meat on the bone here for me to be interested in 15-team leagues for sure. In 12’s it would depend on whether I was trying to prioritize wins and strikeouts or protecting ratios.

JP Sears, Padres, LHP (@ Mariners, @ Twins)

The re-injury to Michael King has opened the door for JP Sears to seize a spot in the Padres’ rotation for the time being. He looked good his first time back out, allowing just one run over six innings in a victory over the Giants. You’d prefer that he was making these two starts at home, but fortunately he’ll still be in a pair of pitcher’s parks. The Mariners have a legitimate offense that inspires fear in opponents while the Twins have been struggling mightily to score runs. I think Sears makes for a fine streaming option in leagues in which he’s available.

At Your Own Risk

Brandon Pfaadt, Diamondbacks, RHP (@ Brewers, @ Dodgers)

Pfaadt has somehow managed to secure 12 victories on the season despite a troublesome 4.95 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 113/31 K/BB ratio over 140 innings in his first 26 starts. That would make him a streaming option at best in good matchups for fantasy purposes. You’d hope that you would be able to use him for most two start weeks, but at the Brewers and at the Dodgers is about as bad as it can possibly get in terms of matchups. I know it’s hard to do, but the right play is probably to sit him this week in most leagues.

Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks, LHP (@ Brewers, @ Dodgers)

It has been disappointing to see Rodriguez struggle as much as he has this season – getting knocked around to a 5.40 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 115/46 K/BB ratio over 116 2/3 innings. The strikeouts have been fine, but everything else has been crushing fantasy managers throughout the season. Now he’ll have to battle the best two teams in the National League with both starts coming on the road. This looks like an easy avoid for me this week.

Tanner Gordon, Rockies, LHP (@ Astros, vs. Cubs)

Never Rockies. It’s that simple. Never Rockies. It doesn’t even matter that Gordon has been awful this season and that the matchups are both abysmal, there’s simply no upside to trying to stream this two-start week. Stay as far away as possible.

Andre Pallante, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Pirates, @ Reds)

Pallante has held down a spot in the Cardinals’ rotation throughout the season but has been very underwhelming through his first 25 starts, going 6-11 with a 5.17 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 92/47 K/BB ratio over 134 innings. Can I squint and see paths to a useable fantasy week here with a matchup against the Pirates at home to kick things off, sure. I just think the overall upside to this play is limited with his poor strikeout rate and the likelihood of him imploding your ratios are far greater than you’re going to want to take on. He’s just not someone that I have any sort of faith in.

Brad Lord, Nationals, LHP (@ Yankees, vs. Rays)

Whether it has been out of the bullpen or in the Nationals’ rotation, Brad Lord has done a nice job in 41 appearances (12 starts) this season, putting together a 3.46 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 77/31 K/B ratio over 96 1/3 innings. I just think that it’s playing with fire trying to throw him against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. It gets a little easier against the Rays over the weekend, but there’s still not a whole lot of upside here for fantasy purposes. He’s not as bad as some of the options on the list here, but he’s also not someone that I would be going out of my way to try to stream.

Warriors reportedly have ‘strong affinity' for Pelicans' Trey Murphy III

Warriors reportedly have ‘strong affinity' for Pelicans' Trey Murphy III originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are interested in trading for another player to complement Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.

Golden State has been aggressive in looking for potential trades to fill out the roster, and they have a big interest in New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported.

“Sources say that the Warriors have a strong affinity for Murphy and have made outreach to New Orleans as recently as this summer,” Fischer said. “Yet sources say that the Pelicans, to be clear, have batted away calls for the 25-year-old, valuing him highly. The two-way forward will be playing on a contract in 2025-26 — at precisely $25 million — as desirable as his talent.

With contract talks at a standstill with Jonathan Kuminga, the Golden State front office has been looking elsewhere to find young talent that could complement their core trio. Murphy III would fit in with coach Steve Kerr’s motion-heavy offense, especially considering his shooting skills.

“You could certainly understand why the Warriors would want Murphy,” Fischer said. “It’s not hard to picture his length, defensive prowess and 3-point shooting meshing nicely alongside Curry, Butler and Draymond Green. Murphy is a career 38% shooter from deep; having enough shooting to surround their three core pillars is among the reasons why the Warriors have been willing to go only so far in their Kuminga talks.”

The 25-year-old averaged 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last season with the Pelicans.

Kuminga and the Warriors still are in a stalemate in contract negotiations, with the 22-year-old appearing unwilling to sign a deal that would make it easier for him to be traded next season. That level of long-term security seems to be the sticking point, which has prompted the front office to inquire about trading for other players.

With Curry, Green and Butler still performing at a high level, the challenge for the front office will be to find cheap, young players that can fill out the roster and perform when needed.

Murphy III could be that missing piece if the Pelicans are willing to part with him, though they have a steep asking price so far.

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Athletics at Mariners Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for August 22

It's Friday, August 22 and the Athletics (59-70) are in Seattle to take on the Mariners (68-60). Luis Morales is slated to take the mound for Oakland against Bryan Woo for Seattle.

Seattle is riding a five-game losing streak entering this series, while the Athletics are 5-1 over the last six contests. However, the Mariners do have the upper hand with a day of rest yesterday. The two are tied at 5-5 in their 10 matchups 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 first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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Game details & how to watch Athletics at Mariners

  • Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: T-Mobile Park
  • City: Seattle, WA
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSCA, 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 Athletics at the Mariners

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Athletics (+185), Mariners (-225)
  • Spread:  Mariners -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Athletics at Mariners

  • Pitching matchup for August 22, 2025: Luis Morales vs. Bryan Woo
    • Athletics: Luis Morales, (1-0, 1.86 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.80 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Mariners: Bryan Woo, (10-7, 3.02 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 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 Athletics 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 Athletics and the Mariners:

  • 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 Oakland Athletics 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 Athletics at Mariners

  • Seattle is 0-5 in the last 5 games
  • Seattle is 1-7 in the last 8 games
  • The Athletics are 5-1 in the last 6 games
  • The Athletics have a 59-70 record but are on a 3-game winning streak
  • Each of the last 3 matchups between the Mariners and the Athletics have stayed under the Total
  • The Athletics have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 3.08 units

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

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)

Guardians at Rangers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for August 22

It's Friday, August 22 and the Guardians (64-62) are in Arlington to take on the Rangers (63-66). Slade Cecconi is slated to take the mound for Cleveland against Nathan Eovaldi for Texas.

This is the first meeting of the season between and Cleveland has a slight advantage with a day of rest yesterday. Texas was in action on Thursday and took a 6-4 loss to Kansas City, which dropped them to 2-7 in the past nine.

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 Guardians at Rangers

  • Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
  • Time: 8:05PM EST
  • Site: Globe Life Field
  • City: Arlington, TX
  • Network/Streaming: CLEG, RSN

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 Guardians at the Rangers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Guardians (+143), Rangers (-171)
  • Spread:  Rangers -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Guardians at Rangers

  • Pitching matchup for August 22, 2025: Slade Cecconi vs. Nathan Eovaldi
    • Guardians: Slade Cecconi, (5-6, 4.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 11.57 ERA, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 10 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Rangers: Nathan Eovaldi, (11-3, 1.76 ERA)
      Last outing: 2.57 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 0 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 Guardians and the Rangers

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 Guardians and the Rangers:

  • 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 Cleveland Guardians 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 Guardians at Rangers

  • Cleveland is 1-5 over the last 6 games
  • Cleveland is 3-7 over the last 10 games
  • Texas is 3-7 in the last 10 games
  • AL Central teams have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against AL West sides
  • 5 of the Rangers' last 7 games have gone over the Total with Nathan Eovaldi as the opener
  • Betting the Rangers on the Run Line with Nathan Eovaldi starting would have returned a 4.13-unit profit in 2025

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)

Sebastian Aho Ranked As NHL's 13th Best Center By NHL Network

Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho is one of the NHL's top players and heading into the 2025-26 season, he was ranked as the 13th best center currently in the league by NHL Network.

The Finnish forward has pretty much been Carolina's top player since he entered the NHL in 2016, having led the team in points in seven of his nine seasons.

Last year, Aho had a 29-goal, 74-point campaign to lead Carolina and was one goal shy of his fifth 30+ goal season.

The Finnish center is also one of the NHL's top two-way players, playing a solid and dependable two-way game.

In fact, he's also an extremely potent shorthanded threat as nobody has scored more shorthanded goals than him since he entered the league.

Aho also is second in the entire league in game-winning goals over the past three seasons and he plays a pivotal role in every situation for the Hurricanes.

Not only is he productive in the regular season, but the Finnish phenom is also nearly a point-per-game player in the postseason (84 points in 89 games) and he is the franchise's all-time leader in playoff points, goals and assists.

Players ranked ahead of Aho include:

  1. Connor McDavid
  2. Nathan MacKinnon
  3. Leon Draisaitl
  4. Aleksander Barkov
  5. Sidney Crosby
  6. Jack Eichel
  7. Auston Matthews
  8. Brayden Point
  9. Mark Scheifele
  10. Nick Suzuki
  11. Jack Hughes
  12. Robert Thomas

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

Warriors reportedly have called Lakers about LeBron on ‘multiple occasions'

Warriors reportedly have called Lakers about LeBron on ‘multiple occasions' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors still appear interested in LeBron James.

The Stein Line’s NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Friday that Golden State would consider trading for the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar if the Warriors first can get Jonathan Kuminga to agree to a flexible, team-friendly two-year contract.

“Who would the Warriors potentially pursue in trades if Kuminga were to relent and take their two-year offer?” Fischer wrote. “As long as LeBron James’ future in Los Angeles remains uncertain, Golden State will undoubtedly be mentioned as a potential James suitor.

“I’m told that the Warriors have called the Lakers on multiple occasions over the past 18 months to see whether there is any trade pathway to pairing James with Stephen Curry, who roughly a year ago at this time was teaming with LeBron for the United States senior men’s national team on its run to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.”

Fischer added that Curry and James, despite their NBA Finals history as classic rivals, “enjoy[ed] their experience as teammates on the international stage” as members of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

That iconic era, of course, ended nearly a year ago with the Americans bringing gold back to the States, notably under Golden State coach Steve Kerr.

Whether or not Kuminga returns to the Bay is yet to be determined. However, if he does, it sounds like the Warriors will, against the 22-year-old’s wishes, dangle him as bait while going for a big catch.

“The Warriors, furthermore, are known for their penchant to go big-game hunting, starting with their original pursuit of Durant in the summer of 2016 and carrying through to their February acquisition of [Jimmy] Butler,” Fischer wrote.

The only time Curry and James were teammates ended as amazingly as it possibly could have. Golden State is right to continue kicking the tires on bringing the unreal international tandem to the Bay.

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Blue Jays at Marlins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for August 22

It's Friday, August 22 and the Blue Jays (74-54) are in Miami to take on the Marlins (60-67). Shane Bieber is slated to take the mound for Toronto against Miami who has yet to announce their starter.

Both teams are coming off a day of rest for the first meeting of the season between the Blue Jays and Marlins. Miami is 3-9 over the last 12 games, while Toronto is 6-6 in the same span.

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 Blue Jays at Marlins

  • Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: LoanDepot Park
  • City: Miami, FL
  • Network/Streaming: Sportsnet, FDSNFL, 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 Blue Jays at the Marlins

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Blue Jays (-164), Marlins (+138)
  • Spread:  Blue Jays -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Marlins

  • Pitching matchup for August 22, 2025: Shane Bieber vs. TBA
    • Blue Jays: Shane Bieber, (2-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts
    • Marlins: TBA

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 Blue Jays and the Marlins

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 Blue Jays and the Marlins:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Toronto Blue Jays on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Marlins 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 Blue Jays at Marlins

  • Toronto is 6-4 in the last 10 games
  • Toronto is 1-3 in the last 4 games
  • Miami is 3-9 over the last 12 games
  • The Blue Jays have won 6 of their last 8 games at the Marlins
  • The Over is 7-2-1 in the Blue Jays' last 10 road games
  • The Marlins 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)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

It's getting close to now or never time for the 2025 Mets

Back on June 12, when the Mets' sixth-straight win moved them to a season-high 21 games over .500 at 45-24, they appeared to be some kind of unstoppable force.

They might win the NL East, or they might not, but they were a team that was going to coast to the playoffs. 

Once there, the Mets would have as good a chance as any to win the World Series -- especially with the Dodgers' superteam failing to materialize and the American League being relatively weak.

The team quickly shot the above to pieces, though, going on a 3-14 stretch that left them at 48-38 on July 2. 

That felt aberrational, though.

And after bobbing and weaving for a bit, New York ripped off a seven-game winning streak to move to 62-44 entering play on July 28, putting them close to where they were a month and a half before.

It seemed that was the turning point for the Mets. Like things had stabilized. That they were again on a clear path to October that was unquestioned.

Since then, the Mets have gone 5-16, putting their season in peril.

New York enters this weekend's series in Atlanta -- their personal house of horrors -- with a half-game lead (one game in the loss column) on the upstart Reds for the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.

And while much of the conversation right now is revolving around whether the Mets would be a serious threat in the postseason, the actual conversation should be about whether they'll get there at all.

Aug 20, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) walks back the the dugout after striking out against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park
Aug 20, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) walks back the the dugout after striking out against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park / Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

Coming off a series loss to the woeful Nationals after a feel-good series win over the Mariners and a blowout victory over the Nats on Tuesday, it's easy to highlight Thursday's loss as a microcosm of what's gone wrong this season.

New York jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and had Sean Manaea on the mound. They should've coasted to victory.

Instead, Manaea couldn't get out of the fifth inning, Tyler Rogers allowed two of the runners he inherited from Manaea to score, Ryne Stanek surrendered four runs late, and the Mets' bats couldn't muster a single run after falling behind in the bottom of the fifth.

It's been the same song and dance for the Mets during their brutal streak.

The offense is hit and miss.

The starting rotation can't get out of its own way.

The biggest bullpen acquisitions (Rogers and Ryan Helsley) have struggled, and other bullpen pieces (especially Reed Garrett and Stanek) have poured gasoline on the fire.

A lot of things have conspired to get the Mets to this point.

Manaea being out for the first half of the season, Kodai Senga missing time, and the season-ending injury to Griffin Canning put the rotation in a tough spot.

The recent injury to Francisco Alvarez (who will try to return and play through a thumb injury) and the injuries to Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil left the Mets shorthanded against the Nats. And the Alvarez injury is especially damaging considering that he had been on fire since returning from the minors -- and that he might not make it back this season at all.

Jun 17, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) walks against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park.
Jun 17, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) walks against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park. / Brett Davis - Imagn Images

Meanwhile, the aforementioned bullpen has squandered lead after lead this month, leading in part to a stretch where New York lost seven consecutive one-run games.

But while you can fairly point to the above as being contributing factors when it comes to what's happening, the main issue is that the players simply aren't performing up to expectations.

That includes the wobbles of Senga and Manaea.

It includes a bullpen that should be lockdown but has been anything but.

And it includes an offense that has struggled badly when it comes to hitting with runners in scoring position, moving runners over, and with their general approach at the plate.

Could David Stearns have assembled a starting rotation that had fewer question marks? And should Nolan McLean have been called up about a month before he was? Sure.

Are there certain little things Carlos Mendoza can do better in-game? Sure.

But this is not on Stearns, who has done a very good job as president of baseball operations. And it is not on Mendoza, who has been a stabilizing force in his nearly two years as manager.

That takes away a boogeyman to blame, which can be frustrating for fans who are trying to point fingers at something other than the players.

But it's the players who have put the team in this position, and it's the players who will have to get themselves out of it.