A pair of superstars will hit the ice at Rogers Place tonight with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby visiting the Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid.
This is a tough schedule spot for Pittsburgh, and Edmonton is without go-to scorer Leon Draisaitl, so my Penguins vs. Oilers predictions and top NHL picks are calling for this game to stay Under the number.
Penguins vs Oilers prediction
Penguins vs Oilers best bet: Under 6.5 (-110)
The Edmonton Oilers have allowed two goals through three games since star center Leon Draisaitl took leave from the team, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are playing the second leg of a back-to-back road set.
Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid obviously can’t play the entire game, and the Oilers have only scored 1.36 goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 without No. 29 or No. 97 on the ice this season.
No Draisaitl is a huge hit to the Edmonton attack, and the Penguins could also be without No. 1 defenseman Erik Karlsson (lower body), so there’s potential that both teams will be missing key drivers of their offenses.
I also value the Pens ranking fifth in penalty-kill percentage, and the Oilers checking in above average at 11th.
Penguins vs Oilers same-game parlay
This is a tough schedule spot for Pittsburgh, and Edmonton has won 14 of its past 16 games by 2+ goals while also allowing the fifth-fewest goals per game during the 16-9-3 stretch.
Turning to Oil winger Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, he’s marked the scoresheet in seven of his past 10 games and has long-standing chemistry with McDavid. The duo has clicked for a dominant 6.34 goals and 6.18 expected goals per 60 minutes over the past three seasons.
The Penguins have only cashed the Over in 10 of their last 25 away games for -4.15 units and a -15% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Penguins vs. Oilers.
How to watch Penguins vs Oilers
Location
Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Puck drop
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet Pittsburgh, Sportsnet West
Penguins vs Oilers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Just five days ago, one of the hottest rumors making the rounds involved the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox having discussions involving Astros 3B Isaac Paredes and Red Sox OF Jarren Duran.
As typical to baseball offseason talks, however, that could all be a thing of the past just as fast as it was the hot rumor.
In her article today at The Athletic, Red Sox reporter Jen McCaffrey laid out a different path forward for the Red Sox this offseason:
Though Breslow wouldn’t commit to (Marcelo) Mayer at second or third base, a source with the team recently noted a preference for Mayer at third. After Bregman’s injury last season, Mayer played well at the position, but there’s also an idea of keeping him on the same side of the field as his natural shortstop position. He’s likely the heir to the shortstop spot after Story’s contract is up following the 2027 season.
With that in mind, it appears the Red Sox are seeking a strong defensive second baseman.
“It’s really important that we improve our defense, particularly our infield defense,” Breslow said. “Any additions that we may make, we’ll be very mindful of the defensive skillset.”
That would seem to rule out Houston’s Isaac Paredes, who has struggled defensively at third base.
You can see the whole article here (subscription required):
Inside the pivot that led the Red Sox to double down on pitching and add Ranger Suárez.
Also notes in here about the Red Sox looking to add a defense-first infielder https://t.co/gC2QquaHxV
While this doesn’t mean a deal between the two teams doesn’t eventually happen anyway, as trade talks ebb and flow all offseason and pivots/re-pivots happen all the time, it does change the outlook and perception of a deal that could possibly involve Isaac Paredes and the Red Sox to a less likely scenario.
We are officially just 2 weeks away from the trade deadline! After weeks and weeks of rumors, speculation, and plenty of CelticsBlog articles, we’re getting close to the end. At this point, the agents have played their hands, the teams have signaled their intentions (or not), and the posturing has reached its apex. I’ve never worked for a front office, but it seems like this is the time when they pull up all the options they’ve been working on for months and really decide on what to prioritize, what hard line they are going to hold to, and what they can give up. From the outside looking in, we have no idea what those internal conclusions are.
So I went to our own team and asked for their inputs for the latest staff roundtable.
What would you like to see Brad Stevens and the Celtics do at the trade deadline?
Jack Anderson
I want the Celtics to add a center. It doesn’t need to be a big swing like Nic Claxton or Ivica Zubac but they need depth. I just worry about Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and small ball as the options in a playoff series. Marvin Bagley is on a minimum salary and could be an option to give Joe another option at center because he won’t put Tillman or Boucher out there.
Ian Inangelo
I want the Celtics to add another big. I think Tatum will be a great addition when he gets back but they need another guy at the center position. Ivica Zubac or Jaren Jackson Jr would be the best case scenarios in my mind but fine with a guy like Day’Ron Sharpe or Isaiah Jackson. Just another body to have at the big man position that can provide more depth.
Mark Aboyoun
I agree with Jack that a big man is the priority for me. I’m not necessarily in the camp of bringing back Robert Williams (although I am still a fan of his). We can use a front court player who can give us minutes either in front of Queta/Garza if we go for a big name center like Ivica Zubac, but need someone who can be that third big man with the rotation with Queta and Garza.
Bobby Manning
It’s a boring answer but I feel like the Celtics standing pat will be a win. It would keep the possibility alive of Anfernee Simons staying long-term, show new ownership’s willingness to pay luxury tax even in a borderline contending season and the cliché of Jayson Tatum being the deadline addition could hold true. The Celtics haven’t thrived with the marginal upgrade by using second round picks, and they shouldn’t utilize draft capital to offload salary either. So if neither of those things happen, there’s always the chance to take a buyout swing like they did with Torrey Craig last year. And they’re now eligible to sign the ones who make higher salaries now. Their current winning situation should attract a veteran.
Anfernee Simons
Mike Dynon
Assuming Jayson Tatum will be activated before long, a couple of small moves could make the Celtics very dangerous for the postseason. First, as others have said, acquire a center who can join the Queta-Garza rotation. He won’t need to be a top-level talent, but rather (as the saying goes) a serviceable big man. Not sure who that should be, but am happy to let Brad surprise us (as usual). Perhaps Chris Boucher could be part of the deal and thus be freed from Joe Mazzulla’s purgatory.
Second, don’t trade Anfernee Simons – unless it’s for another significant difference-maker. The Anferno’s recent outburst probably enhanced what dealing him could bring in return. On the other hand, it also demonstrated what a weapon he is. It’s understood that his defense isn’t the best, and his contract is expiring and he might leave for nothing after this season. But if the Celtics add Tatum and another big, and feel they have a legit chance to reach the Finals, hanging onto Simons’ firepower could help win some playoff games. Give us a successful postseason, even if he walks later.
Nik Land
I would like to see the Celtics add another low-cost big man, similar to their previous acquisitions of Mike Muscala and Xavier Tillman. While a major addition such as Ivica Zubac would undoubtedly elevate the team, I don’t believe such a move is absolutely necessary for Boston to be highly competitive. If the Celtics were able to acquire a younger option like Day’Ron Sharpe (Nets), Karlo Matković (Pelicans), Yves Missi (Pelicans), or another big who fits a similar profile, I would be happy. All of these players are on affordable contracts that would keep the Celtics below the second apron, and each comes with team options that provide Boston with additional roster flexibility and control. That said, I think it is more likely the team ultimately stands pat.
Bill Sy
I only want one thing.
Nirav Barman
My trade priorities depend on how likely the Celtics are to retain Anfernee Simons in the offseason. Seeing how well the team is doing right now without JT is very exciting, but I think making a push solely for this year would be short-sighted. With the exception maybe of Tillman and Boucher, everyone on this team is a contributor. Outside of those two and Simons, they’re also all under contract, and should be back the following year with a healthy JT. If Brad thinks he can retain Anfernee at a reasonable price, stay pat. If not, he absolutely has to take advantage of the trade value, preferably to find a backup big, and maybe some cheap extra firepower off the bench.
Jeff Clark
My opinion on this has shifted 2 or 3 times over the last few months. I imagine that Brad Stevens is much more measured, thoughtful, and deliberate about how he approaches his job. Things can develop over time to change his mind, but I have a feeling that he’s had a plan (or several versions of plans) all along. So I’ll submit that Brad knew very well how good Simons could perform and fit into our system and he knew the drawbacks to his game and long term fit (both on the court and financially). If he decides that the right value is out there to make an upgrade to this team now and for the future, I’ll probably trust him.
All that aside, at this moment I also want to keep Simons and see if we can sign him to a more reasonable deal in the offseason. Sometimes you just need a guy that can go out and get buckets. Like everyone else, I think the Celtics need more reliable depth at the center position and hope that they can address that in a smaller move. Maybe that means that the guy we get will not play all that much in the playoffs when benches get short and (knock on wood) Tatum will be back. But we need more depth at that position and giving Joe Mazzulla more options is always a good idea.
Your Turn!
Tell us in the comments what you’d like to see Brad Stevens and the Celtics do at the trade deadline.
For the third time in four games, the Milwaukee Bucks were blown out by a Western Conference team, losing 122-102 to the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Things have tumbled quickly for the Bucks; after winning five of their last seven games, they’ve now dropped four of five. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Despite missing several big-time defensive pieces in Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein, the Thunder still made it incredibly difficult for Giannis to get going. To his credit, though, GA was still very efficient, picking up another double-double and having seven assists.
The ball pressure from OKC’s defense really made it a hard day for Rollins as well. He found his spots at times, but between Cason Wallace and Lu Dort, it was tough for him to get consistent opportunities.
Grade: C-
AJ Green
32 minutes, 15 points, 3 rebounds, 4/9 3P, -14
Green has really found his stroke in January. He’s been shooting 40.7% so far, and added a 44% performance last night. The Bucks have needed these types of performances from him, even in ugly losses.
Things keep trending downward for Kuzma as the season progresses. He wasn’t able to do much on defence guarding SGA (to be fair, few can), and according to Doc Rivers, he wasn’t in the right spots offensively. According to Rivers, he was supposed to be a screener and roller in the middle, but ended up just spacing and hoisting up five three-pointers.
Bobby continues to be a consistent offensive player off the bench for the Bucks. He added another 15 points and even distributed the ball a little bit, doling out nine assists.
Grade: B-
Pete Nance
30 minutes, 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3/5 3P, +3
What a revelation Nance has been over the last two games. Last night, he played double the minutes he did on Monday and looked pretty solid on both ends. Of the players who played more than 10 minutes, he was the only Buck to be a positive in the plus/minus.
With Kevin Porter Jr. out, Doc Rivers tapped Cole Anthony to return to the rotation and fill in as the backup point guard. He did well and was Bucks’ leading scorer at halftime. While he had his moments of good play, the bad with Anthony reared its ugly head again with some bone-headed turnovers.
Grade: B
Doc Rivers
If any team has perfected the right approach to NBA basketball in the 2020s, it’s been the Thunder. The difference between them and how Doc runs the Bucks couldn’t be more stark. The way OKC runs offense and stays locked into their principles is impressive to watch. Meanwhile, the Bucks are apparently focused on the more basic elements of basketball, like moving the ball with pace. It’s the clearest example of how the modern NBA has passed Rivers by.
Grade: D-
Limited Minutes: Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr, Gary Trent Jr.
Garbage Time: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Amir Coffey, Jericho Sims
Inactive: Myles Turner, Kevin Porter Jr, Taurean Prince, Alex Antetokounmpo
Bonus Bucks Bits
Giannis wore an All-Star patch on his jersey, commemorating his selection as a starter from the Eastern Conference. With his 10th straight selection, Giannis became the first Bucks player in franchise history to have 10 All-Star appearances with the team.
Before the game, Myles Turner (left ankle sprain) and KPJ (oblique strain) were both ruled out. Rivers said that Turner is just day-to-day, but Porter could be out for some time, with no clear timetable for his return.
The Bucks are now 10-20 since starting the season 8-5.
This is the fourth straight game that Giannis has shot the ball 13 times or less. Giannis was asked postgame how the team could get him more shots:
“I’m not the guy who will yell and cuss a teammate out and demand the ball. I’ve never done that in my career. I feel like I’ve played with teammates who understand the gravity I can cause for our team, how I can create for my teammates or for myself. Maybe because we’re young, maybe it’s because we’re not playing well, maybe guys think it’s their turn. They want to carry the team on their back and try to turn this around, but I don’t get it. It’s not like I’m not trying to be aggressive.”
I asked Bobby Portis how he handles these types of loses, especially when they come this close together:
“It’s the NBA, man, in about six or seven games, I’m about to play my 700th NBA game, which is crazy to say. So, I’ve played in a lot of different games, a lot of different moments, can’t get too high or too low. Obviously, you want to have that sense of urgency on a nightly basis; that’s something you have to have, especially where we are in the season. We’re not where we want to be, you’ve just got to have that sense of urgency every night so you can give yourself the best chance to win.”
In previous interviews, Giannis has stated that there are times when he feels some of the younger players are trying to do too much. So, I asked Giannis about what type of learning curve it takes for a young player to break out of that and progress:
“Time and experience. I was like 20, 21. I think it was my third year in the league, but then in my fourth year, it (got) better. I had great vets that taught me how to play the game, how to play unselfish basketball, play winning basketball. I felt like I was always on go mode, and they were able to tell me to find my teammates and set the tone, move the ball. There are going to be times during the game it’s going to be your turn to take over the game. I learned to read the plays, I learned to read momentum, I learned to read runs. I remember back in the day when the team went on a run, there would never be a case where I didn’t touch the ball. If you can find a clip of the team going on a run and didn’t throw me the ball in the post, to go to the free throw line, get a wide-open shot, and create this gravity. When I was younger, I didn’t know what I was doing, but they understood for me.”
Up Next
Milwaukee will have another late tip-off at home this week, welcoming the Nuggets to Fiserv Forum to finish their two-game season series. Tip-off is slated for 8:30 p.m. Central time, with the game available to stream on Prime Video. On cable, it can still be watched on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
Luis Robert Jr.’s exit marks another inflection point in the White Sox rebuild under Chris Getz.
In true Chris Getz fashion, the White Sox are once again in a position that warrants more questions than answers. On a cold and random late January night, the Sox dealt Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets for prospects Luisangel Acuña and Truman Pauley. This trade is anything but straightforward, so let’s dive into it.
Financials
The Sox set themselves up for plenty of economic flexibility. With New York footing the bill for Robert’s $20 million option exercised in November, Chicago won’t risk overpaying a player who slashed .223/.288/.372 in 210 games over the last two seasons. In most circumstances, this financial relief would be welcome. But the Sox aren’t like most teams.
Although Getz hinted that the Sox will spend their freed-up $20 million on players, fans know better than to set their expectations too high. Realistically, rather than pursuing qualified free agents, Jerry Reinsdorf will put roughly $17 million toward Munetaka Murakami’s contract this year — one that required a hard sell from Getz and Brooks Boyer — and likely spend the remaining $3 million on a pair of one-year relievers.
Signing Munetaka Murakami was an excellent move for the White Sox, but why did Jerry Reinsdorf have to be talked into it? pic.twitter.com/2p64uT7eQ7
While dealing Robert makes economic sense, money shouldn’t be the sole driver of trades.
Return
Acuña headlines a lackluster trade package that doesn’t immediately remedy the South Siders’ needs. Acuña, MLB’s No. 66 overall prospect in 2024, is best known for his glove and quickness on the base paths. He paired 60-grade speed with impact defense, generating four baserunning runs in 2025 and posting a +2 fielding run value and three Outs Above Average in 2024. For him to stay in The Show, Chicago must help Acuña improve the quality of his contact, which dropped significantly last season to under 5% for solid and barrel events. Though he didn’t blow anyone out of the water in 2025 with his production (.234/.293/.274 in 95 games), Acuña has proven he can be a faster version of Brooks Baldwin.
Pauley has more unknowns but leaves fans with plenty of wishful thinking. His stats shouldn’t be heavily weighed in his evaluation, as he has tallied fewer than 50 games between two years of summer and college ball, plus half a season in Single-A. However, the 20 inches of vertical break on his fastball puts the pitch’s dominance in the conversation with hurlers like Chris Sale and Logan Webb, which may be a strong sign of future success if he can keep it in the zone.
12th-rounder Truman Pauley signs w/@Mets for $400k ($250k counts vs bonus pool). @HarvardBaseball RHP, crazy ride on a fastball that reaches 96 mph, low-80s gyro slider as well. First over-slot bonus I've seen after the 10th rd in this year's @MLBDraft.
Acuña and Pauley both bring plenty of unlocked potential to a team that still needs to prove it can successfully develop players.
Short-Term
It’s hard to see how the Sox took a strong step in their rebuild with this trade. Although no one expected them to get an All-Star after Robert’s career-low production, they also didn’t acquire a dependable player that can slot in right field for over 100 games. Another concern with bringing in an inexperienced utility player like Acuña is that it will be hard to guarantee him enough playing time to justify trading away a starter. While Robert’s various injuries sidelined him for 62 games, it will be much harder to carve out a spot for Acuña with several other qualified bench players chomping at the bit for a starting job. In terms of immediate impact, Acuña and Pauley won’t increase the win total dramatically if at all.
Long-Term
The best way to spin this trade is that the Sox are preparing to be in their prime by 2028, which is earlier than many expected. Chicago added depth to a team whose shallow end of the pool is overcrowded, but they’re starting to push their young guys closer to the deep end with every at-bat. With a surplus of prospects and an abundance of infielders, the Sox can quickly make a few trades to propel them from a fringe playoff contender to a dominant division threat in the next two years, especially if the Chicago takes Roch Cholowsky 1/1 in the 2026 draft.
Overall
For the first time in nearly a decade, the White Sox are straddling the immediate and long-term future rather than past and present. While this is refreshing, patience is still key for a team whose payroll always sits in the bottom third of the league.
Cole Messina is the only catcher we’ve got on this Purple Row Prospects list, so it’s a good thing the Rockies have All-Star Hunter Goodman manning the position right now. As a prospect, Messina combines decent plate discipline with good power potential and leadership qualities behind the dish.
The 22-year-old 6’0”, 230-pound righty, who signed for a slot bonus of just over $1 million after getting picked 77th overall in 2024, came to the Rockies after two-straight successful years in the toughest conference in NCAA baseball at South Carolina. He wasn’t the only Messina selected in the 2024 draft — his brother Carson, a pitcher, was picked in the 12th round by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Mid-season 2025 Rank: NR
High Ballot: 17
Mode Ballot: 17, 23
Future Value: 35, third catcher
Contract Status: 2024 Third Round, University of South Carolina, Rule 5 Eligible After 2027, three options remaining
MLB ETA: 2027
After barely playing as a freshman in 2022, Messina was impressive in the college wood bat Northwoods summer league (.893 OPS). He came back to Columbia his sophomore year and took hold of the starting catcher job. In 2023 he had 17 HR among his 36 XBH in 285 PA with a .307/.428/.615 line for the Gamecocks to earn first team All-SEC honors. Though he had to settle for second team All-SEC in 2024, Messina’s .326/.465/.701 line with 21 HR in 286 PA was an improvement across the board offensively.
The Rockies assigned Messina to High-A Spokane, where he was 1.5 years younger than league average. There he formed a battery with Colorado’s 2023 third rounder (and HM PuRP) Jack Mahoney, who was also drafted from South Carolina. Messina had a mess of a debut season offensively, hitting just .140/.232/.220 with a homer and a double in 56 plate appearances, which is an anemic 33 wRC+.
In 2025, Messina was sent back to Spokane as a league average aged player. He had more success offensively a second time around, hitting .259/.358/.382 with seven homers among his 31 extra-base hits in 374 plate appearances while walking in 12% of PA, good for a near league average 96 wRC+. He caught 83 games, committing 11 errors with 12 passed balls while throwing out 39% of would-be base thieves. In the final week of the year, Messina moved up to Double-A Hartford for a three game cameo, adding two singles in ten plate appearances.
There isn’t a whole lot of recent video on Messina out there, so enjoy this game-tying ninth-inning homer in the 2024 NCAA regionals:
Messina is a strong right-handed hitter who put up those good power numbers despite struggling with his approach during his junior season. There was a lot more swing-and-miss overall compared to his 2023 campaign, with higher whiff rates against fastballs than previously, and he’s always had a hard time with softer stuff. There’s plenty of power for him to tap into, especially to the pull side, and he may always have a power-over-hit approach with some walks thrown in.
With a take-charge attitude behind the plate, Messina has the right mentality to catch at the next level. He’s a solid receiver with an average arm and shows enough agility to block well even though he’s not fleet afoot.
Colorado’s third-round pick in 2024 has plus power and a big body already, so catching is going to require some body maintenance going forward. I don’t love the setup at the plate, as his hands are high and his bat is behind his body, so his path to the ball is longer and uses up too much time; he could benefit from dropping his hands the way Condon and Thomas did in their draft years. His defense behind the plate is already fringy, and if he gets any bigger he’ll have to move to first.
A bat-first college catcher who mashed for the Gamecocks the last two seasons, Messina made some defensive improvements last season, but the setup and swing is very reminiscent of Kevin Parada’s and Messina has struggled against non-fastballs at times. His poor post-draft showing in the Northwest League didn’t assuage the offensive concerns, but as third-round college catchers go, he was a reasonable pick.
Messina got a shade over $1 million as Colorado’s third rounder in 2024. He has above-average power, but I was bearish on his hit tool and defensive fit prior to the draft, and Messina didn’t do anything in pro ball to dissuade me from that notion.
First of all, if this isn’t Messina’s MLB walk-up song, I’m going to be disappointed. Messina has a path to a big league role ahead of him given the dearth of catching prospects in the upper minors for the Rockies (though I prefer Bryant Betancourt).
Messina could be a strong offensive player given his plate discipline and power potential, though because he hasn’t gotten that power into games it won’t work as a profile if Messina can’t stay behind the plate. The scouts seem to think the work ethic is there to do it though and the other intangibles are lauded as well. I’m not yet a believer and he wasn’t particularly close to making my list as a 35 FV player. If Messina can hit well against Double-A pitching in 2026, I’ll re-evaluate.
The Mets made their second major move in a 24-hour span, acquiring right-hander Freddy Peralta from the Brewers for infielder Jett Williams and righties Brandon Sproat and Tobias Myers.
Recently we’ve been hearing more and more whispers about the A’s looking to add some more certainty to the lineup. First we got the news that the front office was kicking the tires on a potential Miguel Andujar reunion, followed by a scuttled trade for future Hall of Famer Nolan Arenado. After being left at the altar by Nolan, the team was a speculative candidate to dip their toes back into the free agent pool of remaining third basemen. The two specific names mentioned in Ken Rosenthal’s report were former Mariner Eugenio Suarez and former Angel YoanMoncada. Both fit the A’s need at third base and with the season creeping closer both teams and players will soon need to make decisions.
Well you can cross one of those speculative fits off the board. Moncada yesterday evening re-upped with the Angels, agreeing to a modest one year, $4 million contract for the upcoming campaign:
BREAKING: Third baseman Yoan Moncada and the Los Angeles Angels are in agreement on a free agent contract, per sources.
That’s a contract that the A’s easily could have outbid if they really wanted Moncada, especially after the Arenado report indicated the Athletics were prepared to take on a substantial amount of money in the scuttled deal. That can really only mean three things:
The A’s believe that Moncada, who has been repeatedly injured throughout his career, is simply not worth that “large” of an investment. The front office truly believes that their in-house options (Max Muncy, DarellHernaiz, Brett Harris) will perform as well or better than Moncada at a fraction of the rate.
There could perhaps be other negotiations going on right now that we aren’t aware of, and Moncada simply took the offer in hand. That could mean either trade talks or contract negotiations for the A’s but they waited around too long for him.
Moncada just didn’t want to come here, no matter what we offered and playing time be damned.
Any of those could be true, but I’d lean towards Option 2. The A’s are still looking for upgrades if the Arenado deal was indeed about to happen. Adding him wouldn’t have changed the heart of the batting order, but it certainly would have elevated the floor of the production coming out of the hot corner. Add in the positive influence a guy like him could have had on Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz, and the appeal is obvious.
Moncada never really felt like the type of player that really changes the outlook at third base though. While he could have another fine season at the plate his overall production probably won’t be the difference between the A’s and a chance at the playoffs. The most likely outcome is that he’s a solid batter when healthy, but just can’t stay healthy. If the A’s do end up running out of options for an upgrade over the guys here, then they might as well roll the dice and see if a Muncy or Hernaiz or Harris can break out. It’s not worth blocking that chance for a minimal upgrade in Moncada.
This could all be sour grapes but he was truly at the bottom of the list in terms of potential additions. The team is running out of legitimate upgrade options though and the past few days have made it much more likely our starter at third base on Opening Day is already on the roster. The trade market seems like the only path now for an upgrade at third base.
Have another great day everyone. And don’t forget to vote in today’s Round 2 of our CPL!
I don’t think people grasp how bad of a spot the A’s were in 3 years ago after their fire sale netted very little, and how insane it is that they are on the brink of drafting their way out of that hole. That’s something that rarely happens in football, let alone baseball.
The Yankees teams of the 1980s were a relative wasteland in the context of the franchise’s history. They made the playoffs just twice right at the beginning of the decade before falling into an extended stretch of inconsequentiality (though they did have a tough 97-win situation in 1985 that was only good for second). However, those opening years of the decade offered a glimmer of hope with a promising crop of prospects emerging on the farm, one of whom was Brian Dayett.
Brian Kelly Dayett Born: January 22, 1957 (New London, CT) Died: September 7, 2025 (Winchester, TN) Yankees Tenure: 1983-84
Dayett was born in January 1957 in New London, CT, and grew up in nearby Deep River. Despite his underwhelming size in high school, Dayett was an accomplished multi-sport athlete, but it was clear that baseball was his future. In the span of two weeks in 1975, Dayett hit for the cycle before tossing a 16-strikeout no-hitter. Following his graduation, he went to play third base for coach Norm Kaye at St. Leo University in Florida. A year later, the Yankees selected him in the 16th round of that June’s 1978 MLB Draft.
He was assigned to the Oneonta Yankees of the short-season New York-Penn League, where he batted .309 with 11 home runs and 22 stolen bases in 68 games in 1978. That year, Dayett played third, first, and even caught 26 games as the organization initially had trouble finding a spot for him defensively. He was called up to the Double-A Nashville Sounds in 1980 where he joined an exciting core of prospects that included Don Mattingly, Steve Balboni, Buck Showalter, Willie McGee, Max Winters, Otis Nixon and Rex Hudler, all playing under the management of Stump Merrill.
Willie McGee was so quick and had such a strong arm. Otis Nixon was a speedster. You knew his speed was going to get him to the big leagues. Mattingly was a self-made player who got himself stronger and a better hitter. He worked very hard everyday with a great work ethic.
In 1981, Dayett was the starting third baseman for Nashville, but found that his hitting was suffering. At the suggestion of coach Ed Napoleon, Dayett began to learn left field, and by 1982 he was a full-time left fielder for Nashville. That season, Dayett earned the Southern League MVP after tying with Balboni for the most home runs in the league with 34, and won the Southern League championship with a two-out, 13th-inning walk-off home run with Showalter on base. The following season, he was called up to Triple-A Columbus, where he again won the league’s MVP after smashing an International League-leading 35 home runs. Because of the surprising power generated from his smaller frame, Dayett earned the nickname “Bam-Bam” around this time.
That September when rosters expanded, Dayett got his first call-up to the big leagues. He made his MLB debut on September 11, 1983, pinch-hitting for Omar Moreno against the Orioles, and got a hit in his first big league AB.
Mike Flanagan of the Orioles had an 0-2 count on me. I battled back and got a hit up the middle past Cal Ripken, Jr.
He would go 6-for-29 in 11 games in that cup of coffee. Dayett was poised to break camp with the big-league squad in 1984 but suffered a hip-flexor injury at the start of the campaign. Lou Piniella was supposed to retire around that time, but he stuck around for a few months in 1984 until Dayett returned from injury. Piniella was then able to retire and became the Yankees’ hitting coach with Dayett crediting him as a mentor.
Dayett found opportunities hard to come by that season given the outfield logjam of Dave Winfield, Omar Moreno, Steve Kemp, Ken Griffey, Don Baylor and Oscar Gamble. However, he did manage to appear in 64 games and hit his first big league home run on June 22, 1984, again off of Orioles pitcher Mike Flanagan. He finished the year batting .244/.295/.402 with four home runs and 23 RBIs.
During that December’s winter meetings, Dayett and pitcher Ray Fontenot were traded to the Cubs for for Henry Cotto, Ron Hassey, Rich Bordi, and Porfi Altamirano. Injuries again hampered the start of his season, bone spurs in both ankles limiting him to a bench role for the first three months. He hit a pinch-hit grand slam off 20-game winner Tom Browning in May of 1985. He was slated to take over as the Cubs’ starting left fielder in 1987, but they then signed Andre Dawson in free agency, and Dayett was relegated to splitting time with Rafael Palmeiro, Jerry Mumphrey, Bob Dernier and Dave Martinez. All the same, he appeared in a career-high 97 games, slashing .277/.348/.452 with five home runs, three of which came off of Astros pitcher Bob Knepper.
That winter, the Cubs sold Dayett’s contract to the Nippon Ham Fighters of NPB, where he signed a four-year, $3.75 million contract. He knew the general manager of the team, Tak Kojima, from their shared time with the Yankees. Injuries cropped up again in Japan, causing Kojima to lose his job as Dayett was his second American signing to get injured.
Dayett retired from professional baseball following the 1991 season and took several management jobs in Independent baseball. Between 2002 and 2014, he served as a minor-league hitting coach in the Astros’ and Rangers’ systems, before Parkinson’s disease forced him to retire. He passed away from the disease at the age of 68 in Winchester, TN, just before the beginning of autumn last year on September 7, 2025.
Dayett was a promising minor league player whose power tantalized. However, a string of unfortunate injuries in combination with competition for playing time prevented him from ever putting together a consistent stretch of starts, and you wonder if he could have reached his full potential with some better luck.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
When discussion about a Freddy Peralta trade came up during the offseason, there was one consistent message sent with any rumor: If the Brewers decide to trade Peralta, they were not just looking at prospects. They wanted MLB-ready talent that would be under team control for several years. In their trade with the Mets for Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat, they got what they wanted (even if it meant trading Tobias Myers as well). Both players are top talents who are ready to impact the major-league team immediately.
Let’s start with Williams. His natural position is shortstop, but because he was behind Francisco Lindor in the Mets organizational depth chart, he likely wasn’t going to break into the majors there. As a result, he had been splitting time between second base, shortstop, and center field in the minors. In Milwaukee, he will have a better chance to grab the shortstop job competing against Joey Ortiz. The problem is that there’s also competition behind Williams. In the Brewers’ list of MLB Pipeline prospects for 2025 (which now includes Williams), the top four prospects (Jesús Made, Luis Peña, Williams, and Cooper Pratt) all can play shortstop. Even if Williams grabs the shortstop job in 2026, he could quickly lose it as soon as Made is ready to come to the majors. Not only that, but Brice Turang has a solid grip on second base, taking a potential spot away there as well.
However, this is where his flexibility can help in the Brewers’ system. The Brewers’ outfield could use a boost as well. While Jackson Chourio and Sal Frelick are both locked in to starting jobs in the outfield, neither is a strong center fielder. Both can cover center well, but would benefit more from remaining in the corners. Blake Perkins and Garrett Mitchell are the current leaders to start in center. Perkins is an excellent defender but doesn’t offer much for offense. Meanwhile, Mitchell hasn’t shown that he can stay healthy for a full season yet. As for Christian Yelich, he’s basically a full-time designated hitter who might get a few corner outfield starts — and that’s not the ideal alignment. Jake Bauers will get more starts in the outfield than Yelich does. Outfield prospects for the Brewers are thinner, with their top two prospects being Braylon Payne and Luis Lara — both outside the Brewers’ top 10. If the Brewers need coverage in the outfield, Williams has a chance to earn playing time there.
Since Williams hasn’t debuted in the majors yet, a minor league start to the season is likely for him, if only for service-time manipulation. Once Williams debuts, his role will be dependent on what the Brewers need. If Ortiz is struggling at the plate, Williams could be a shortstop. If neither Perkins nor Mitchell step up in the outfield, he could spend time out there. Even in a worst-case scenario, we could see Williams take a role similar to Andruw Monasterio as a utility player for his first season. He could rotate between second, shortstop, and center field, racking up starts as other players get days off. The only concern in that scenario would be a backup for third base, since Williams has not spent any time there.
Meanwhile, Sproat will factor in to the Brewers’ rotation plans almost immediately. His service time is a little tougher to handle, since he recorded 22 days of major league service in 2025. That won’t matter much for the Brewers, though. Rotating through starters with options was a regular occurrence for them, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him on the shuttle between the majors and minors for at least part of the season. Where he starts will depend on what happens during spring training.
Following the departure of Peralta and Myers, here are the potential starters for the Brewers in 2026:
Brandon Woodruff
Jacob Misiorowski
Quinn Priester
Chad Patrick
Logan Henderson
Aaron Ashby
DL Hall
Brandon Sproat
Robert Gasser
Coleman Crow
Carlos Rodriguez
Angel Zerpa
Of those starters, only the top three are locked into starting rotation jobs in 2026. Patrick and Henderson have the early inside track for the other two but aren’t a lock yet. Ashby and Hall are wild cards who could stick to the long-relief role or get a chance to make the rotation. Sproat, Gasser, Crow, and Rodriguez all will fight for jobs, and one or more could force their way into the rotation. I also included Zerpa, who was mentioned as a potential starter when he was acquired.
Here’s one of the most interesting parts of that list. Other than Woodruff, every player on that list has at least one minor league option remaining. Misiorowski and Priester likely won’t be optioned and will be on the team. It’s likely the same with Ashby, who has established himself as a dependable reliever at a minimum. Hall, Rodriguez, and Zerpa each have just one option left. Gasser, Henderson, and Patrick each have two options. Sproat and Crow have a full three options available. If battles are close in camp, those options will play a factor. Players with one option may have a stronger chance to make the team to avoid burning that option right away. On the other side, players with a full three options have significantly more flexibility, and using the option would not hurt it in future seasons.
What that also means is the Brewers can rotate through starters with less concern during the season. Even though that’s a deep list, it may not stay that way. Coming out of camp in 2025, the Brewers’ rotation was decimated by early injuries. Ashby, Myers, and Woodruff all opened the season on the injured list. Aaron Civale joined them a few days into the season, and Nestor Cortes a few days after that. The injuries were so deep that they had to sign Jose Quintana late in camp and then trade for Priester just a week and a half into the season. In total, 18 different pitchers started at least one game for the Brewers in 2025 (including the playoffs). That number is inflated because some were openers — at least four regular relievers (Ashby, Hall, Trevor Megill, and Rob Zastryzny) made a start. Of those 18 pitchers, 10 of them made at least four starts, and that doesn’t include Cortes, who entered the season in the rotation but only made two starts before being traded. The opportunity will be there for Sproat in 2026. Whether he earns a job in camp or starts the season in the minors and comes up to provide midseason depth, he will have a chance to prove himself.
The Brewers did what they wanted in the trade of Peralta and brought in young, MLB-ready talent. Both Williams and Sproat are already ranked high in the Brewers system and ready to play in the majors. We won’t have to wait long to see what they have to offer. They will be a part of the 2026 team, even if it doesn’t happen right away.
The New York Islanders fell flat to conclude their seven-game road trip on Wednesday night in Seattle.
The Seattle Kraken dominated portions of the games, ultimately winning 4-1. The Islanders received seven power plays and scored on just one of them. The special teams futility became the main story.
There was a clear opportunity to grab at least one, if not two, points outright. Ilya Sorokin sparkled, but it didn't matter.
The offense was quiet, with Head Coach Patrick Roy noting they passed up too many shots, especially on the power play.
Defensively, Roy singled out their poor tracking in their own zone, letting Seattle dominant possession.
The entire team was not happy.
"I think tonight we gave up a few turnovers and odd-man rushes, and they capitalized,” Ryan Pulock said. “That’s kind of the difference. In the second period, we kind of gave it to them. They scored, and then we were chasing."
If you look at the road trip as a whole, it's not a disaster by any stretch. Yes, the Pittsburgh Penguins did catch the Islanders in the standings for second place, but the Islanders maintain a two-point gap above the Philadelphia Flyers (who collapsed and lost from 3-0 and 4-2 leads against Utah on Wednesday).
Now, the Islanders return home, and they'll have a chance to rattle off wins and give themselves a big cushion.
How they play over the next 14 days, in a stretch of eight games in 13 days, will decide whether General Manager Mathieu Darche buys, sells, or stands pat at the trade deadline.
So, who do the Islanders face? First, the red-hot Buffalo Sabres in a Saturday matinée inside UBS Arena. Buffalo is 6-2- 1 in January, and the Sabres occupy the top wild-card spot in the playoff race.
After that, the Islanders head to Philadelphia for what becomes a seismic, potentially season-shifting game with the Flyers. A regulation win could see the Islanders move six points clear of Philadelphia, a ginormous gap.
A regulation loss could shrink the gap to two points or fewer, depending on Saturday.
Then comes a home-and-home with the New York Rangers on consecutive days, two games the Islanders simply have to have. The Rangers are utterly lifeless, last in the Eastern Conference and flailing.
January ends with the Nashville Predators visiting UBS Arena on Saturday, the 31st.
February begins in Washington, D.C., and a road trip to see the Capitals on Monday, February 2nd. The very next day, the Islanders host the Pittsburgh Penguins in UBS Arena for another huge game, potentially for second in the Metropolitan Division.
Finally, the mad dash to the Olympics ends in New Jersey, where the Devils host the Islanders to conclude the pre-Olympic portion of the season.
Eight games in 13 days. Six games against divisional foes, with four against teams positioned between second and sixth in the division.
Of the eight games, six come against non-playoff teams. Only the Penguins and Sabres occupy a seat at the table.
If, even with a returning Bo Horvat, the Islanders fall flat, do not be surprised if talk turns to selling at the deadline. It'll be very hard to justifying keeping Jean-Gabriel Pageau, despite his excellence, if the Islanders are outside the cut line and on a run of poor form.
The value they could receive for him would be gigantic.
If the Islanders excel, it's quite likely they'll make a purchase or two. There'll be plenty of options to hunt for, big or small.
Make no mistake, it's a favorable schedule, despite the heaviness. Four games at home, four on the road (with two in Madison Square Garden and the Prudential Center, so not exactly road trips either). It's a more-than manageable stretch, on where if the Islanders play their best, you can easily envision a 6-2-0 run.
If the wheels come off, they could just as easily find themselves outside a playoff spot heading into the Olympic break.
Any way you slice it, it's time for the New York Islanders to make a big statement.
The San Diego Padres and catcher Luis Campusano may be in the final weeks and months of their relationship. It also could be extended into the season if Campusano can put together a solid showing in Spring Training that earns him a spot on the Padres’ roster. Freddy Fermin will handle the catching duties as the primary catcher in San Diego, but Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball says president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller should look at adding another catcher to the mix to create some depth at the very least or perhaps solidify the backup role.
Padres News:
A report from Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic earlier this week named pitchers Lucas Giolito, Nick Martinez and Justin Verlander as possible free agent targets for the Padres. Gaslamp Ball asked its readers which of the three right-handers they would add to the rotation in this week’s Padres Reacts Survey.
Preller has spent the last couple seasons trading away much of his farm system. The depleted system is highlighted with the fact that catcher Ethan Salas is the only Padres prospect to make Baseball America’s top-100 list.
For the second time in as many days the New York Mets completed a headline trade. The Mets and Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a trade to send ace pitcher Freddy Peralta and pitcher Tobias Myers from Milwaukee to New York in exchange for infield/outfield prospect Jett Williams and pitching prospect Brandon Sproat. The Mets also made a free agent signing, adding reliever Luis Garcia on a one-year deal.
Cody Bellinger and the New York Yankees finally reached common ground and the top remaining free agent position player agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million deal to bring him back to New York.
Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette and Ranger Suarez were introduced as new members of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mets and Boston Red Sox, respectively, Wednesday.
Winners of three straight, Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets (26-15) are in the City of Brotherly Love tonight to take on Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers (23-19). Now sitting second in the Southwest Division – just 2.5 games behind Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, the Rockets take the court against a 76ers’ team looking to get right after losing three of its last four.
Kevin Durant and his 25.9 points per game is of course the headliner for the Rockets but all of a sudden sophomore guard Reed Shepherd has stepped up during the winning streak scoring 14, 11, and 21 points shooting 11-23 (47.8%) from beyond the arc. Philadelphia lost 116-110 at home to Devin Booker and the Suns Tuesday night. Rookie V.J. Edgecombe led Philly with 25 points in the loss.
Paul George (knee) and Joel Embiid (ankle) did not play against the Suns. While neither is the player or specifically the defender they were in their respective primes, their size is needed tonight to compete against a Houston team that dominates the boards. Led by Alperen Sengun (9.3 RPG), the Rockets average 49 rebounds per game – 16.1 on the offensive end - and most importantly, are outrebounding their opponents overall by an average of 6.6 boards per game.
This is the first of two meetings this season between the two teams.
Lets take a closer look at the matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Rockets at 76ers
Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Time: 7PM EST
Site: Xfinity Mobile Arena
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: Space City Home Network,NBC Sports Philadelphia
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA 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!
Game Odds: Rockets at 76ers
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Houston Rockets (-125), Philadelphia 76ers (+105)
Spread: Rockets -1.5
Total: 220.5 points
This game opened Rockets -2.5 with the Total set at 221.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups
Rockets
PG Amen Thompson
SG Josh Okogie
SF Kevin Durant
PF Jabari Smith
C Alperen Sengun
76ers
PG Tyrese Maxey
SG V.J. Edgecombe
SF Paul George
PF Dominick Barlow
C Joel Embiid
Injury Report
Houston Rockets
Aaron Holiday (back) is questionable for tonight’s game Steven Adams (ankle) is OUT for tonight’s game Fred VanVleet (knee) is OUT for tonight’s game
Philadelphia 76ers
Paul George (knee) is questionable for tonight’s game Joel Embiid (ankle) is probable for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Rockets at 76ers
Philadelphia is just 11-12 at home this season
Houston is 11-12 on the road this season
Houston is 20-21 ATS this season
Philadelphia is 24-18 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 22 of Philly’s 42 games this season (22-20)
The OVER has cashed in 19 of Houston’s 41 games this season (19-21-1)
The 76ers lead the all-time series against the Rockets, 78-77
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 NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s Rockets and 76ers’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the 76ers on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the 76ers +1.5
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 220.5
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
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 NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
There are some suprises on the list as Baseball Prospectus is much higher on Ty Johnson than other prospect sites (other than our own, which ranked Ty Johnson our No. 5 prospect last week), most notably Baseball America where he was ranked 22nd.
Some recently acquired prospects have provided some juice to the system: Slater de Brun cracks the top ten and is ranked the highest of any player the Rays acquired in the Shane Baz deal; Michael Forret, also acquired in that trade, is 9th. Anderson Brito, whom the Rays acquired on the same day in the Brandon Lowe swap, is ranked 6th.
Jose Urbina slots in at 10th after being ranked 19th by Baseball America. Sitting just outside the top ten is outfielder Jacob Melton, who is ranked 11th and highly regarded.
At the top of the list, sits Carson Williams, whom Baseball Prospectus still believes in despite his reputation for “walking a knife’s edge of offensive production.” Carson Williams had fallen from the top spot on the Rays list for several publications although he was recently considered one of the top shortstop prospects in baseball.
The Ottawa Senators hit Music City to wrap up their three-game road trip and take on the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena tonight.
My Senators vs. Predators predictions and top NHL picks are calling for Ottawa to head north with a win, and winger Drake Batherson to pick up his 45th point of the season.
Senators vs Predators prediction
Senators vs Predators best bet: Drake Batherson Over 0.5 points (-135)
Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson is second in points per 60 minutes on the club, and the Nashville Predators have surrendered 12 goals across their past two games and the fourth-most goals per game on the season.
Additionally, Batherson has sneaking statistical correction coming. He’s been on the ice for a monster 5.59 expected goals per 60 minutes across the past eight games, but Ottawa has only scored 3.69, and Batherson has missed the scoresheet in four of eight.
Considering the matchup and the fact Bthat atherson was on the ice for 4.37 goals per 60 minutes with just 3.95 xGF/60 through the first 39 games of the season, I expect No. 19 to return to the scoresheet tonight.
He picked up a point in 25 of those first 38 games, too.
Senators vs Predators same-game parlay
While I don’t put oodles of faith in James Reimer bailing the Sens out night in, night out, the veteran goalie sports a .911 SV% with 2.93 goals saved above expected, and Ottawa can win most nights with league-average play in nets.
The Sens are fifth in expected goals percentage at 5-on-5 while allowing the fewest per 60 minutes and rank seventh in power-play percentage, after all.
Nashville will have trouble scoring tonight, and the Preds are also likely to receive better goaltending after Justus Annunen and Juuse Saros combined for an unsustainably low .826 SV% the past two games.
The Senators have covered the puck line in eight of their last 11 away games for +8.35 units and a 50% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Predators.
How to watch Senators vs Predators
Location
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN5, FDSN-South
Senators vs Predators latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
