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Mets vs. Marlins: 5 things to watch and series predictions | Aug. 28-31

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Marlins play a four-game series at Citi Field starting on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

5 things to watch

King Tong

Jonah Tonglaid waste to minor league hitters in the 22 starts he made this season between Double-A Binghamton (20 starts) and Triple-A Syracuse (two starts).

In 113.2 innings, he posted a 1.43 ERA and 0.92 WHIP while allowing just 58 hits and striking out an absurd 179 batters.

Tong's dominance combined with the Mets' need in the big league rotation led to his call-up, and he'll make his much-anticipated debut on Friday night.

Featuring an electric fastball and Vulcan changeup, Tong will also mix in a slider (his newest offering) and 12-to-6 curve.

Tong's over the top delivery is reminiscent of Tim Lincecum -- something that isn't lost on the rookie.

"The one that everyone always sees is Tim Lincecum," Tong told SNY earlier this season. "Loved how he threw. They called him The Freak for a reason. I would say mechanics-wise, that’s probably the one I’m most similar to, although it’s not even intentional. ... but Tim Lincecum is probably the most obvious one to me."

Mets are feeling RISPy

As the Mets ebbed and flowed over the first four months of the season, one thing was a near constant -- their struggles with runners in scoring position.

It was baffling, considering the amount of dangerous, seasoned hitters who were up and down the lineup. And the longer it went on, the more ridiculous it seemed. 

Well, things have turned.

The Mets are hitting a sizzling .388 with runners in scoring position since Aug. 12, closely aligning with the 8-3 run they're on.

A few huge turns of events during that span? Francisco Lindor broke out of his slump and has been tearing the cover off the ball for the last few weeks, and Mark Vientos has become the 2024 version of himself that helped make New York's lineup go.

Since July 28, Vientos is hitting .316/.341/.671 with seven homers, six doubles, and 22 RBI in 82 plate appearances over 20 games, bringing a new dynamic to the middle of the lineup.

Can Kodai Senga right the ship?

It's been a struggle for Senga over the last month-plus.

In 31.0 innings over seven starts, he has a 6.10 ERA (6.32 FIP) and has allowed seven home runs.

Senga also hasn't been providing much length, failing to complete 5.0 innings on four occasions during that span and never going more than 5.2 frames.

New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Citi Field
New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Citi Field / Gregory Fisher - Imagn Images

Along the way, Senga has cited his mechanics as one of the reasons for his scuffling. Meanwhile, after Senga's last start, manager Carlos Mendoza noted how many "noncompetitive" pitches Senga threw.

Senga will look to get things back on track when he starts on Sunday.

The playoff chase

By sweeping the Phillies in a three-game series at Citi Field, the Mets did three things.

  1. They pulled to within 4.0 games of Philadelphia for first place in the NL East, with four games against the Phillies coming up in Philadelphia next month
  2. They gained 3.0 games on the Reds for the third Wild Card spot in the National League, and now lead them by 4.5 games (5.0 in the loss column)
  3. They crept to within 2.5 games of the Padres (2.0 in the loss column) for the second Wild Card spot and 4.0 games of the Cubs for the first Wild Card spot

Eury Perez and Edward Cabrera are legit

Despite trudging toward another poor finish, the Marlins are dangerous to face simply because two of their starting pitchers have been really tough to hit this season.

And the Mets will face both of them during this series.

The 22-year-old Eury Perez, who starts on Friday, has a 3.44 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in what is his first season back after Tommy John surgery. 

Edward Cabrera, who gets the ball on Saturday, has a 3.32 ERA and 1.18 WHIP and is coming off a masterpiece against the Braves. Cabrera fired 7.0 innings of one-hit, shutout ball against Atlanta on Monday while walking two and striking out 10.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Mark Vientos

Vientos looks as comfortable as he has all year.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

David Peterson

Peterson has been stellar in his last two starts, allowing just two runs in 13.2 innings while striking out 18

Which Marlins player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Jakob Marsee

The rookie has been on a tear over his first 90 big league at-bats, slashing .356/.422/.667

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How To Watch The Golden Knights This Season: 2025–26 Broadcast Info Dropped

Can’t make it to a game in person? No problem — the Golden Knights have announced the team’s broadcast details for the 2025-26 regular season. 

Regional coverage includes 69 games that will be available through Scripps Sports and the Knight’s streaming service, KnightTime+. In Southern Nevada, Scripps will air on The Spot-Vegas 34, with additional stations streaming games across the organization’s designated television territory. Viewers outside the local broadcast area can access games through ESPN+. 

The Knights are set to appear in 15 nationally televised matchups, airing on ESPN and Turner Sports. 13 of those games will be exclusive to the two networks, including the season opener against the Los Angeles Kings on October 8, which will be broadcast live from T-Mobile Arena on TNT. 

In addition to television and streaming options, every Golden Knights home and away game will be carried on the the VGK Radio Network and the FOX Sports Radio Las Vegas (98.9 FM/1340 AM). Spanish-language broadcasts of home games will be available on Deportes Vegas (1460 AM). 

The full list of national television broadcasts for the Golden Knights can be found below and is subject to change.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2025-26 NATIONAL TV BROADCASTS

Wed. Oct. 8 vs. Los Angeles – TNT, MAX

Thu. Oct. 9 at San Jose – ESPN+, Hulu

Tue. Dec. 2 vs. Chicago – ESPN+, Hulu

Tue. Dec. 9 at N.Y. Islanders – TNT, MAX

Wed. Dec. 17 vs. New Jersey – TNT, MAX

Wed. Jan. 14 at Los Angeles – TNT, MAX

Thu. Jan. 15 vs. Toronto – ESPN

Thu. Jan. 29 vs. Dallas – ESPN+, Hulu

Sun. Feb. 1 vs. Anaheim – ESPN

Wed. Feb. 25 at Los Angeles – TNT, MAX

Sun. March 1 at Pittsburgh – TNT, MAX

Sun. March 8 vs. Edmonton – ESPN

Thu. March 19 vs. Utah – ESPN+, Hulu

Thu. March 26 vs. Edmonton – ESPN

Sat. April 11 at Colorado – ABC

In addition to the broadcast schedules for ESPN and Turner Sports, the National Hockey League announced that Vegas’ game in Carolina on October 28 has been adjusted from 4:30 p.m. PT to 3:30 p.m. PT. 

Golden Knights Reveal 2025-26 Regular-Season Schedule, Open At Home Versus KingsGolden Knights Reveal 2025-26 Regular-Season Schedule, Open At Home Versus KingsLAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights will open their regular season at home against their Pacific Division rival Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 8, before hitting the road for three straight games.
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Canadiens: The Rebuild Episode 3

The third installment of the popular Crave documentary The Rebuild: Inside the Montreal Canadiens dropped promptly on Thursday at 12:01 AM, and it’s just as good as the first two episodes. This week, the series focuses on two elements that helped turn the team’s fortunes around last season: the acquisition of Alexandre Carrier and the arrival of Jakub Dobes with the team.

This time around, the cameras also give a peek at what life is like for the players who are plying their trade under Pascal Vincent with the Laval Rocket. We take a road trip to Utica with the AHL club, highlighting the differences between the life of a minor leaguer and an NHL pro. While the Canadiens’ players are in Florida, getting ready to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the farm team is in Utica, taking on the Comets. Speaking about their destination, former Habs prospect Logan Mailloux says it’s a “get in and get out” city, in stark contrast with the Canadiens’ Quebecers taking a stroll on the beach in Sunrise.

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The look inside the life of the Rocket player probably came because goaltender Dobes was recalled, unlike Mailloux, Joshua Roy, or Rafael Harvey-Pinard. It’s interesting to see the players on the bus ride to Utica, playing cards and just killing time, much like the Canadiens do on their road trips, but in far less comfortable settings.

Speaking to the camera on the beach in Sunrise, David Savard, Carrier, Samuel Montembeault, and Mike Matheson discuss what playing in the AHL is like and how, once you’ve tasted the NHL, you don’t want to go back down. Interesting stat: only 20% of AHL players will go on to play 200 or more NHL games in their career. This statistic shows how much more work is left once an NHL team drafts a player.

It’s interesting to hear that it was Dobes who asked to do a rookie lap, something rookie netminders do not normally do, before he got his baptism of fire against the Panthers. The segment on that game also reminds us that, on top of the rookie goaltender’s fantastic performance in Sunrise, the win was also the result of a brace of goals by Kirby Dach, something people might have forgotten amongst the negativity the big center faces because of multiple injuries. It’s great to see just how pleased his teammates are for him and how he comes to the bench to celebrate to the sound of numerous “Alberta beef!” cheers; we even find out what that nickname is about.

The cameras also take us into the broadcasting booth, where Pierre Houle is as enthusiastic as can be about the Canadiens’ 4-0 win over the champions, multiplying the “Ma parole!”. There’s a reason why the duo he forms with Marc Denis is so well-loved in the Montreal market; his passion for the game transpires in every word.

This episode also captures blueliner Alexandre Carrier’s reaction to the trade that brought him home days before Christmas. While he was acquired on December 18, he didn’t get a chance to practice with the team before the post-Christmas road trip and tells the camera he was basically trying to survive that first practice, as it was a lot to take in.

The cameras are also privy to a Savard whiteboard coaching session in which the veteran blueliner breaks down the Panthers’ power play and explains to his younger teammates what the penalty kill has to do to neutralize it. The newly retired rear guard looks like a natural at the whiteboard, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him remain around the team in some coaching capacity. Martin St-Louis also tells the camera that having players who can coach themselves like that is an indication that you are in a good place.

On the business side of things, we go behind the scenes of a marketing meeting in which France Margaret Belanger pitches the idea of a standing room section to owner Geoff Molson. We then see them go on a reconnaissance mission to the new section, which would actually be very high up and have an obstructed view. The aim is actually to provide a lower-cost experience for fans, with a more party-like feel. With a capacity of 21,105, the Bell Center is already the largest arena in the NHL, 1,388 seats ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks’ United Center, but the organization seems determined to increase that lead.

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

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US Open: Daniil Medvedev fined $42,500 for racket meltdown

  • Russian enraged by umpire decision in first-round exit

  • Former world No 1 destroyed racket after match

Daniil Medvedev was fined $42,500 by the US Open on Wednesday – more than a third of his $110,000 prize money from this year’s singles at the tournament – for his meltdown after a photographer wandered on to the court at match point.

Tournament referee Jake Garner docked Medvedev $30,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and another $12,500 for racket abuse. When Sunday’s first-round match ended in defeat for Medvedev he repeatedly smacked a racket against his chair, destroying the equipment.

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Dawn Staley confirms she interviewed for Knicks head coaching job, would have accepted it

Multiple NBA front office personnel have told NBC Sports that Dawn Staley is the name to watch as the first woman hired as a head coach in the NBA. She has proven her coaching chops, leading the South Carolina women to three NCAA titles and coaching the USA women to a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics. Additionally, she is an eight-time WNBA All-Star and a three-time Olympic gold medalist as a player. More than all that, the executives say Staley has the presence to command an NBA locker room and would have the respect of the players.

The Knicks gave her an interview during their head coaching search this summer, Staley said on the Post Moves podcast with Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston (hat tip Hoops Rumors).

"I interviewed for the Knicks. It was the same interview that everybody else that was in their candidate pool. Same thing... I thought I did pretty well. I was well prepared... If the Knicks would've offered me the job, I would've had to do it. Not just for me, it's for women. … To break open that. And it's the New York Knicks, and I'm from Philly, but it's the freakin' New York Knicks."

After firing Tom Thibodeau despite his leading the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, the Knicks cast a wide net in their search for Thibodeau's replacement. Adding Staley to that mix was the smart move. Knicks' president Leon Rose interviewed a number of people for the job, and a couple of coaches without prior head coaching experience got deep into the process. However, in the end, the Knicks went with a proven and well-traveled coach in Mike Brown.

Staley said she may have cost herself the job by asking pointed questions about whether the Knicks were ready for the attention and pushback that hiring a woman would cause. "Because it would. It would. Because you're going to be asked questions that you don't have to be asked if you hire a male coach," Staley said on the podcast.

Staley didn't get this job — and said she wouldn't take just any NBA job offered — but she's a name to watch when the NBA coaching carousel spins around again. NBA front offices have their eye on her.

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Pirates at Cardinals prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for August 28

Its Thursday, August 28 and the Pirates (59-75) are in St. Louis looking to take a third game in their four-game series against the Cardinals (65-69).

Braxton Ashcraft is slated to take the mound for Pittsburgh against Miles Mikolas for St. Louis.

The Bucs were held to three hits last night but squeaked two runs across the plate and that was enough for a 2-1 win. Rookie Bubba Chandler won his first career game allowing just one hit in four scoreless innings. Sonny Gray was the hard-luck loser allowing just the two runs - one earned run - over seven innings.

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

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

  • Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025
  • Time: 2:15PM EST
  • Site: Busch Stadium
  • City: St. Louis, MO
  • Network/Streaming: SNP, FDSNMW

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 Pirates at the Cardinals

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Pirates (+108), Cardinals (-129)
  • Spread:  Cardinals -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Pirates at Cardinals

  • Pitching matchup for August 28, 2025: Braxton Ashcraft vs. Miles Mikolas
    • Pirates: Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.70 ERA)
      Last outing: August 22 vs. Colorado - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (6-10, 5.17 ERA)
      Last outing: August 22 at Tampa Bay - 13.50 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 10 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 1 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!

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

  • In his last 5 starts Miles Mikolas has an ERA of 6.43
  • The Pirates have covered in their last 3 games against the Cardinals
  • The Pirates are 4-1 in their last 5 games
  • Miles Mikolas has struck out just one hitter in three of his last four starts...and just three in the other start
  • Bryan Reynolds is 4-13 (.308) in this series

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

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Pirates and the Cardinals

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 Thursday's game between the Pirates and the Cardinals:

  • 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 Pittsburgh Pirates 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 fromNBC

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Rockies at Astros prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 28

Its Thursday, August 28 and the Rockies (38-95) are in Houston to take on the Astros (73-60).

Kyle Freeland is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Jason Alexander for Houston.

The Astros rebounded from a loss Tuesday night and evened the series at a game apiece with a 4-0 win over the Rockies last night. Framber Valdez bounced back from a rough start against the Tigers last week allowing just three hits over seven innings to earn his 12th win of the season. Yordan Alvarez homered for the first time in just his second game since returning from the disabled list (hand) earlier this week.

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

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

  • Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025
  • Time: 2:10PM EST
  • Site: Minute Maid Park
  • City: Houston, TX
  • Network/Streaming: COLR, SCHN, 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 Rockies at the Astros

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Rockies (+192), Astros (-235)
  • Spread:  Astros -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Astros

  • Pitching matchup for August 28, 2025: Kyle Freeland vs. Jason Alexander
    • Rockies: Kyle Freeland (3-13, 5.31 ERA)
      Last outing: August 23 at Pittsburgh - 9.00 ERA, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Astros: Jason Alexander (4-1, 18.00 ERA)
      Last outing: August 21 at Baltimore - 3.38 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 3 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!

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

  • 7 of the Rockies' last 8 games in Houston have stayed under the Total
  • The Astros have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 2.36 units
  • The Astros have won 11 straight home games against the Rockies
  • The Astros have won Jason Alexander's last 5 starts and 7 of his 8 starts this season
  • Christian Walker is 7-25 (.280) over his last 6 games

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

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Rockies and the Astros

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 Thursday's game between the Rockies and the Astros:

  • 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 Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)