Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Noelvi Marte, Will Vest, Jo Adell

FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS

Noelvi Marte (3B Reds) - Rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues

Reds manager Terry Francona didn’t seem very interested in giving Marte a shot the first time around when the 23-year-old infielder was called up as a result of Matt McLain’s injury; Marte sat on the bench for three games, started two and then was sent back to Triple-A. Fortunately for Marte, it ended up being a very brief return to Louisville, and he was recalled again after Christian Encarnacion-Strand landed on the IL. He was on the bench for two of the first three games afterwards, but he’s started four in a row since, and he’s hit .310/.375/.621 overall in 32 plate appearances.

Alas, that line doesn’t tell the whole story. Six of the eight runs batted in Marte has collected in the majors this season came off Orioles position players in Sunday’s 24-2 rout; he had a grand slam off Jorge Mateo and a two-run double against Gary Sánchez. Exclude those two at-bats and Marte is slugging .444. Exclude the entire game and he’s slugging .364. Still, it’s noteworthy that Marte has struck out just four times so far. He also hit .316/.386/.474 with a 16% strikeout rate in his 10 Triple-A games. On Thursday, he crushed an Edward Cabrera fastball 431 feet. At 116.7 mph off the bat, it was one of the hardest-hit homers in the league this season. This Marte certainly seems more like the player from his 2023 major league audition (.316/.366/.456) than the one who hit .210/.248/.301 after a PED suspension last year.

Marte isn’t locked in as a regular yet, so there are no guarantees here. Still, if he does establish himself as the Reds’ third baseman, he’ll almost surely offer mixed-league value. It’s a great ballpark for hitters in Cincinnati, and Marte will contribute in steals, having gone 17-for-22 in 110 major league games to date. There’s too much upside here to leave him unrostered.

Will Vest (RP Tigers) - Rostered in 8% of Yahoo leagues

Using a 35-year-old Tommy Kahnle, who last reached 50 innings pitched in 2019, as a closer isn’t in the Tigers’ best interests, even if he can do the job just fine while healthy. Beau Brieske was my choice to run away with the role, but he was a victim of one of the season’s unluckiest outings on Mar. 28, burying him with a 27.00 ERA, and now he’s on the shelf with ankle inflammation. That’s opened the door for Will Vest, who seems to have busted out at age 29.

Detroit’s 12th-round pick in the 2017 draft, Vest made his major league debut as a Rule 5 pick with the Mariners in 2021. He posted a 6.17 ERA in 35 innings that year, and the Mariners gave up on him, sending him back to Detroit. He returned to the majors in 2022, and he’s gotten stronger in every season since. Vest averaged 93.6 mph with his fastball as a rookie in 2021. He was up to 95.2 mph the following season, and he’s currently at 96.6 mph, which has helped him to strike out 32% of the batters he’s faced.

Also a strong groundball pitcher, Vest has yet to allow a barrel this season. He might not be treated as a true closer by the Tigers, but he has the team’s last two saves, and there just wouldn’t seem to be any reason to stop feeding him the ball in the ninth.

Jo Adell (OF Angels) - Rostered in 4% of Yahoo leagues

Look beyond the poor .209/.264/.358 line in 72 plate appearances to date. Everything else is trending up for Adell this year. His 14% barrel rate is in the 81st percentile of big leaguers. His .279 xBA and .490 xSLG are 79th and 75th percentile, respectively. His contact numbers are the best of his career, and his 23.6% strikeout rate is a big improvement on his career mark of 32.2% and only a little worse than the league average. That’s especially impressive given that he’s also pulling the ball more than ever before; of the 243 players with 60 plate appearances, his 52% pull rate is 23rd highest in the league.

Of course, everyone who has ever bet on this being the time Adell puts it all together has come away disappointed. But it’s not like he truly needs to put it all together. He managed 20 homers and 15 steals in 130 games last year, and he pretty clearly seems like a better player now. He still possesses absolute top-of-the-line bat speed. Only six players (Junior Caminero, Oneil Cruz, Jordan Walker, Yordan Alvarez and Shohei Ohtani) have bested his swing speed average of 76.6 mph this season. Combining that with something close to an average strikeout rate, an average flyball rate and an above average pull rate pretty much has to lead to good things. Maybe it won’t be an average that matches his .279 xBA, but .240-.250 with 25 homers and a few steals is well within reach.

Waiver Wire Quick Hits

- I’m not going to give Tigers starter Reese Olson another full writeup after just doing so three weeks ago, but he needs to be rostered in way more than 25% of Yahoo leagues.

- The Reds’ Tyler Stephenson should return from his strained oblique next week, and he’s a solid bet to be a top-10 catcher the rest of the way after ranking eighth at the position last year. He’s available in 59% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.

- Tony Gonsolin is also about to come off the injured list after allowing two runs over five innings in his fourth start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday. He wasn’t great last year, and he’ll probably miss more time due to injury at some point, but pretty much everyone starting games for the Dodgers is at least a streaming option in mixed leagues, and Gonsolin is available in 94% of Yahoo leagues.

Fantasy baseball two-start pitchers: Jack Flaherty fronts the list of terrific options for week of April 28th

Hello and welcome to the fifth 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:

Someone is going to step into Spencer Strider’s spot in the Braves rotation and likely make two starts next week (@ Rockies, vs. Dodgers), but regardless of who it is that seems like a daunting task.

We also know that someone will take the ball for the White Sox on Tuesday and will likely see two starts during the week (vs. Brewers, vs. Astros). We all know that the White Sox aren’t a smart place to go shopping for victories and regardless of who it is making those starts, I’m inclined to shy away. My best guess at the moment is Bryse Wilson.

I’m also working under the assumption that no one on the Red Sox is going to start twice next week. Sean Newcomb currently lines up for two starts, but Lucas Giolito is expected to rejoin the rotation on Thursday. Newcomb seems the most likely to get bumped from the rotation, but even if he isn’t, if they shift everyone else back, then no one would get two starts.

It's possible that Reese Olson could also double for the Tigers (@ Astros, @ Angels), if they don’t opt to use a sixth starter or a bullpen day in the middle of the week to give the rest of their rotation an extra rest. We’ll know more before the weekend is through hopefully. If he does though, I’m using him in all 15 and 12 team formats.

We're still waiting on information from the Phillies on Cristopher Sánchez (forearm) and whether or not he'll be able to make his scheduled start. If he remains on schedule, he would be lined up for two starts next week (vs. Nationals, vs. Diamondbacks). There's also a possibility that Ranger Suarez jumps into his spot in the rotation and makes those starts, which would make him an intriguing option for next week.

Nick Pivetta could wind up with two starts for the Padres during the upcoming week. The Padres have just five games scheduled, but with Kyle Hart optioned to Triple-A El Paso, they may just use the off days to go to a four-man rotation for this trip through. If he does, he'll be one of the better options on the week, taking on the Giants at home and the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Stay tuned.

No one on the Mariners is expected to start twice next week with only five games on the schedule. It's possible that Bryan Woo could on regular rest if they wanted him to start on Tuesday, but it feels like Emerson Hancock is going to stick in the rotation and take the ball on Tuesday against the Angels.

Without further ado, let's dig into the options for the week of April 28.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of Friday, April 11, and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Jack Flaherty (@ Astros, @ Angels)

For the third consecutive week we’re putting Flaherty as a strong play, and this time it actually looks like he’s going to make two starts. Even if the Tigers use a sixth starter to give guys extra rest, they have a seven-game week and Flaherty will still take the ball twice. He has run into bad luck with just one victory on the season, but he sports an outstanding 2.63 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and a 34/9 K/BB ratio over 27 1/3 innings through his first five starts. He should be started in 100% of leagues this week.

Jacob deGrom (vs. Athletics, vs. Mariners)

It's hard to know what exactly to think of this new version of deGrom that's purposely trying to pitch at slightly diminished velocity in an effort to remain healthy. So far, so good as he's made it through his first five starts without any injury concerns. He's still looking for his first victory on the season though despite a strong 3.33 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and a 26/7 K/BB ratio through his first 27 innings. I'd be absolutely shocked if he didn't land that first win this week and there's a possibility that he winds up with two given how strong the matchups are. He's one of the top options on the board this week and should be started in every league.

Cole Ragans (@ Rays, @ Orioles)

As of now, Ragans is currently penciled in for two starts next week, though after he exited Thursday’s start due to groin tightness, there’s no guarantee that he takes the mound at all. If he is cleared to start on Tuesday, fantasy managers should obviously be rolling the star southpaw out there. Despite his 4.40 ERA on the season, his 1.17 WHIP has been helpful and he leads the American League with 46 strikeouts through 30 2/3 innings. His xERA (2.44) and xFIP (2.54) show that he’s been much better than the inflated ERA would have you believe. Better times are coming and Ragans should be a staple in fantasy lineups each and every week – provided he’s healthy.

JP Sears (@ Rangers, @ Marlins)

It’s crazy to think that five weeks into the 2025 season we’re recommending JP Sears as a strong option for his upcoming two-start week, but the way that the 29-year-old southpaw is throwing the ball at the moment, it makes perfect sense. Sears has posted a stellar 3.21 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 23/6 K/BB ratio over 28 innings through his first five starts, though his ERA estimators are slightly higher. The fact that he’s pitching on the road for both starts is actually a positive given the way that Sutter Health Park has been playing, and the matchup against the Marlins is exactly what you’re looking for. Sears should be started with complete confidence in all formats this week.

Jack Leiter (vs. Athletics, vs. Mariners)

We're working under the assumption on this one that Leiter steps in to the rotation spot that was vacated when Kumar Rocker landed on the injured list this week. If so, Leiter returns to one of the most attractive two-steps of any starter on the board this week — battling the Athletics and Mariners with both starts coming at home. There's risk here that the blister issue crops up again, or that his pitch count could be limited in his first start back, but given the quality of the matchups and the excellent work that we have seen from Leiter this season, he's someone that you're going to want to start in any league that you can this week.

Bowden Francis (vs. Red Sox, vs. Guardians)

Francis hasn't been quite as dominant through his first five starts as he was to finish the 2025 season, but he's still been very good with a 2-3 record, 3.58 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 22/9 K/BB ratio over 27 2/3 innings. Strikeouts aren't his game, so don't expect double-digit punchouts from his two starts, but the quality ratios should be there once again this week and the chances of earning a victory are solid given a pair of decent matchups — both of them coming at home. I'd start Francis with confidence in all leagues next week.

Decent Plays

Tomoyuki Sugano (vs. Yankees, vs. Royals)

The 35-year-old right-hander has quietly done a very nice job for the Orioles through his first five MLB starts – registering a 3.54 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 9/5 K/BB ratio over 28 innings. Strikeouts obviously aren’t his game, so you shouldn’t expect more than a handful from his two start week, but he has won two games already this season and he’ll have a decent shot at adding a third to his total this week. He has gone seven innings in each of his last two starts and seems to be getting better as he gets settled in with the O’s. In 15’s I’m interested in using him this week and I may even look his way in 12-teamers if I didn’t have any better options.

J.T. Ginn (@ Rangers, @ Marlins)

Ginn has had mixed results in three starts since joining the A’s rotation, compiling a 4.61 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and a 15/6 K/BB ratio over 13 2/3 innings. He’s only gone deep enough to earn a victory once during that stretch and the Rangers knocked him around pretty good his last time out. That was in Sacramento though, and pitching on the road will actually play to his benefit this week. If you’re looking to gamble on a streamer with the intention of adding wins and strikeouts to your team, I think that Ginn is in play this week, especially in 15-team formats. Just be aware that the range of outcomes here is very high. It’s very possible that he could get blasted in that first start against the Rangers and find himself shipped back to Triple-A Las Vegas before getting the benefit of taking on the Marlins in Miami.

Tanner Bibee (vs. Twins, @ Blue Jays)

I’m having a very hard time getting a read on Tanner Bibee right now. He was obviously drafted to be a frontline starting pitcher by fantasy managers and through his first five outings he has been anything but – posting a cringe-inducing 5.19 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and a 20/14 K/BB ratio over 26 innings. It’s an extremely small sample, but he has been much better at home this season and is coming off his strongest start of the year in a victory over the Yankees. If you have him, you have to use him for this two-start week and hope for the best. Just be aware that there’s ratio risk involved.

Ronel Blanco (vs. Tigers, @ White Sox)

After a breakthrough 2024 campaign, Blanco has failed to live up to expectations through his first five starts of the 2025 season, posting an underwhelming 5.01 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 20/12 K/BB ratio over 23 1/3 innings. The only saving grace this week is the matchups are in his favor. While the Tigers are a strong team, their offense is very inconsistent and a matchup against the White Sox seems ripe for the taking. Don’t expect him to suddenly recapture the magic that he showed in 2024, but this is as good of a week as you’re going to get to roll Blanco out there this season.

Jack Kochanowicz (@ Mariners, vs. Tigers)

Kochanowicz got some love from fantasy managers as a trendy late-round selection near the end of March but he has stumbled through his first five starts on the season, posting a miserable 5.47 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 13/8 K/BB ratio over 26 1/3 innings. If we’re looking on the bright side though, that poor start means he’s probably available to be added in most mixed leagues, assuming you want to take the risk. He has pitched well in each of his last two starts and the matchups aren’t going to get much better this season. He isn’t going to deliver a big strikeout total over his two starts, but he’ll have a decent shot at a victory and shouldn’t present as a major ratio risk. I’d use him in 15-teamers where I could get him.

Bailey Ober (@ Guardians, @ Red Sox)

Ober hasn't lived up to expectations through his first six starts, registering a troublesome 5.04 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 23/7 K/BB ratio through his first 25 innings. The underlying metrics also seem to support those numbers, meaning he has actually been this bad. We know that we've seen better from Ober in the past and want to be able to rely on him for a two-start week, but the matchups against the Guardians and Red Sox — both on the road — aren't ideal. In 12-team leagues, I'd try to sit him if I had better options. In 15-teamers, I think you have to just use him and hope for the best.

Taj Bradley (vs. Royals, @ Yankees)

Bradley has all of the talent in the world he just hasn't been able to put it together consistently at the game's highest level. As you'd expect, his first five starts have been riddled with inconsistency, leading to a 2-1 record, 5.08 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 27/12 K/BB ratio over 28 1/3 innings. The strikeouts are nice, and he's a threat to earn a victory any time that he takes the ball, but you're also putting your ratios on the line any time that you trot him out there. The matchup against the Yankees in New York is particularly terrifying. It may wind up working out, and in 15-teamers you probably have to take the chance, but you're playing with fire on this one.

At Your Own Risk

Luis L. Ortiz (vs. Twins, @ Blue Jays)

Ortiz was a popular breakout pick this spring but has failed to deliver through his first five starts, posting a troublesome 5.19 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and a 20/14 K/BB ratio over 26 innings of work. The matchups are decent and getting to battle Chris Paddack in that first one is especially juicy, but there’s a ton of ratio risk involved here as well. If you’re already well behind in victories and strikeouts and need to make up ground, he’s worth a look, otherwise I’d probably steer clear.

Chris Paddack (@ Guardians, @ Red Sox)

To say that Paddack has struggled through his first five starts would be a massive understatement. He's 0-3 with a 6.45 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and a 20/13 K/BB ratio over 22 1/3 innings. With Zebby Matthews knocking on the door to the big leagues and Paddack being such a dumpster fire, there's always the possibility that he doesn't wind up making two starts during the upcoming week. Regardless, he should be nowhere near fantasy lineups at this point — even in the deepest of leagues.

Will Warren (@ Orioles, vs. Rays)

The 25-year-old hurler hasn't quite delivered what the Yankees were hoping for when he stepped into the rotation to start the season, posting a 4.79 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 21/10 K/BB ratio over 20 2/3 innings. The matchups are tough this week as well, taking on a pair of good offenses in hitter's parks. If you're desperate for a streaming option and want to take a shot, I can't fault you for that, just know that there's very real risk one of these starts turns into a disaster.

National League

Strong Plays

Shota Imanaga (@ Pirates, @ Brewers)

Imanaga was drafted by most fantasy managers to be a staple at the top of their rotations and through his first six starts on the season that’s exactly what he has been – going 2-1 with a 2.38 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a 27/12 K/BB ratio over 34 innings. Sure, you’d like to see more strikeouts, but you’ll absolutely take what you have gotten out of him so far. He should be an automatic start every week, especially when it’s a two-start week with a pair of favorable matchups. He’s one of the best plays on the entire board this week.

Freddy Peralta (@ White Sox, vs. Cubs)

Peralta has been a monster for fantasy managers through his first six starts of the season, going 2-2 with a 2.43 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 36/11 K/BB ratio over his 33 1/3 innings. You’d like to see at least one more victory given how well he has pitched thus far, but Peralta has been delivering ace-level production to start the 2025 season. That should continue this week with a terrific matchup against the light-hitting White Sox in Chicago before a tough divisional battle against the Cubs to finish the week. There shouldn’t be a decision here, Peralta needs to be started in every league this week.

Logan Webb (@ Padres, vs. Rockies)

Despite being doubted every season in fantasy drafts, Webb continues to exceed all expectations. He has been nothing short of dominant through his first six starts on the year, posting a 3-1 record, 1.98 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 44/10 K/BB ratio over 36 1/3 innings. If he keeps up the increased strikeout rate, the sky is the limit for him this season. He should be started every week regardless of matchups, it's just a bonus that he draws two starts for the upcoming week, one of them being at Petco Park against the Padres and the other in a premium matchup at home against the hapless Rockies.

Brady Singer (vs. Cardinals, vs. Nationals)

Through his first five starts, Singer has been everything the Reds were hoping for when they acquired him over the winter, going 4-0 with a 3.62 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 32/9 K/BB ratio over 27 1/3 innings. I’d rather see him on the road for both of these starts rather than pitching in the cozy confines of the Great American Ballpark, but Singer has done enough so far to earn our trust every week. He should be started in all formats.

Eduardo Rodriguez (@ Mets, @ Phillies)

Rodriguez has actually pitched pretty well this season, registering a 4.40 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 34/7 K/BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings through his first five starts. While the ERA looks inflated, his 2.86 xERA and 2.83 xFIP hint that much better results are on the horizon. The Matchups are tough – having to battle both the Mets and Phillies on the road – but he also has the backing of the powerful Diamondbacks’ offense and has a chance to secure a victory every time that he takes the mound. Even if the ratios aren’t pristine, he should deliver double-digit strikeouts on the week. That’s enough for me to use him in all formats this coming week.

Dustin May (vs. Marlins, @ Braves)

The Dodgers have shifted their rotation around as much as any team this season, as evidenced by this being the third time that we have written up May as a potential two-start option only to see him get moved back or have the Dodgers insert a sixth starter into the rotation. That same risk is there this week, but the fact that his first start comes against the Marlins in Los Angeles is still enough that we should be rolling him out there in all leagues. May was blasted for seven runs on 10 hits against the Cubs his last time out yet still holds a solid 3.64 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 22 innings on the season. This feels like a nice bounce back spot for him this week.

Andrew Heaney (vs. Cubs, vs. Padres)

Heaney has been an unbelievable addition to the Pirates' rotation so far, going 2-1 with a minuscule 1.72 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and a 31/6 K/BB ratio over 31 1/3 innings. He obviously isn't going to continue dominating at this level, but we have seen Heaney be a viable mixed league option in the past, so this isn't completely unprecedented. He's taking on two tough offenses but pitching at home at PNC Park for both should help to mitigate the risk of the long ball. If you have him rostered and have reaped the rewards so far, I think you continue to roll him out there this week, no questions asked.

MacKenzie Gore (@ Phillies, @ Reds)

Gore has really started to deliver on his long-held promise through his first six starts this season, going 2-3 with a 3.34 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 53/9 K/BB ratio over his first 35 innings. That strikeout total currently leads the National League and the WHIP is infinitely better than anything that we have ever seen from the 26-year-old southpaw. Both matchups and ballpark environments are tough this week, but I think you have to roll Gore out there in 12-teamers for sure based on how well he has pitched thus far. In shallower leagues, if you have better options, perhaps you can get away from it. I'm using him anywhere that I have him.

Decent Plays

Nick Martinez (vs. Cardinals, vs. Mets)

The overall line for Martinez this season looks painful, as he’s 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 23/9 K/BB ratio across 26 2/3 innings. If there’s any reason for optimism, it’s that he pitched a bit better his last time out, though that was against the Marlins in Miami. The matchups are decent enough that I could see trying to roll the dice here to make up ground in strikeouts in deeper mixed leagues. In 12-teamers I’m probably shying away though.

Griffin Canning (@ Nationals, @ Cardinals)

The Mets seem to have unlocked what the Angels never could with Canning, as he sits at 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 26/11 K/BB ratio over 26 frames in his first five starts. The WHIP is a problem, but the rest of the production is certainly worthy of being started weekly in most mixed leagues. He draws a pair of road starts for the upcoming week and neither matchup is one to shy away from. He's a player that I would be comfortable starting in all leagues.

David Peterson (vs. Diamondbacks, @ Cardinals)

Similar to teammate Griffin Canning above, Peterson sets up well this week and has been an asset everywhere except WHIP to open the 2025 season. Through five starts he boasts a 3.29 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and a 28/9 K/BB ratio over 27 1/3 innings. He makes for a strong streaming option any place where he may be available.

Trevor Williams (vs. Mets, @ Reds)

Usually a reliable streaming option for his two-start weeks, we have seen Williams stumble through his first five starts this season — posting an uninspiring 5.11 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and a 21/7 K/BB ratio over 24 2/3 innings. His xERA (3.89) and xFIP (3.91) seem to think he has been a bit better than the inflated ERA indicates though, so if you think that this is the week that his luck starts to even out, you could try rolling him out there in deeper leagues. He'll be on my bid lists for sure, though I won't be confident about it.

At Your Own Risk

Germán Márquez (vs. Braves, @ Giants)

At this point, you know exactly what you’re getting from Márquez. He’s capable of throwing the occasional gem – even at home – but is also very likely to get clobbered from time to time. If you need strikeouts and a shot at a victory and don’t mind throwing your ratios to the wind, you could try shopping here. I wouldn’t advise watching his starts though, as they aren’t for the faint of heart.

Chase Dollander (vs. Braves, @ Giants)

You’d like to think that the Rockies’ top pitching prospect would get at least a bit more love than his teammate above, but Dollander has registered a miserable 7.91 ERA and 1.71 WHIP to go with his 21/7 K/BB ratio over 19 1/3 innings. He has also served up a league-leading eight home runs, and making one of his starts at Coors Field this week isn’t going to help that. He’ll give you strikeouts, which may be enough for you to throw him out there, just know what you’re getting yourself into.

Edward Cabrera (@ Dodgers, vs. Athletics)

In his first three starts since returning from the injured list, Cabrera has struggled to a 6.14 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 14 2/3 innings, though he has racked up 18 strikeouts in the process. That’s kind of what you should expect to get from the 27-year-old right-hander. He possesses strikeout upside that’s hard to find on the waiver wire, but he’ll also negatively impact your ratios most weeks. Taking on the Dodgers in Los Angeles isn’t going to help, but a home date with the A’s to finish the week is much more palatable. If you really need the strikeouts and can stomach the ratio hit, then he’s worth a look.

Miles Mikolas (@ Reds, vs. Mets)

Every time he pops up for two starts I'll be here to tell you that it's a bad idea to stream Miles Mikolas. This week is no exception. The fact that he has to battle the Reds in Cincinnati before facing the Mets at home only adds fuel to that fire. I get that he's coming off one of his best starts of the season, but he still holds a gruesome 5.70 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 23 2/3 frames on the year and has recorded only 13 strikeouts in total. He shouldn't be started anywhere except the deepest of NL-only leagues.

Streamer City

Here are a couple of my hand-picked streaming options for the upcoming week that are readily available in most fantasy leagues. I’ll track these results throughout the season so you can see how my recommendations have performed.

American League

Osvaldo Bido, Athletics, RHP (@ Marlins - Friday 5/2)

We're going to keep attacking the weaker offenses in the league wherever we can, and the Marlins definitely qualify there. Bido hasn't been great overall this season, but he should be able to handle this Marlins' offense without much trouble. The fact that it's in Miami instead of West Sacramento actually benefits Bido as well. He's only rostered in six percent of Yahoo leagues and makes for a nice streaming play.

National League

Jordan Hicks Rockies, RHP (vs. Rockies - Saturday 5/3)

Hicks has had his ups and down so far this season, but he has continued to rack up strikeouts even when he isn't at his best. Getting to take on the pitiful Rockies' lineup in the pitcher-friendly confines in San Francisco seems like a recipe for success. Hicks is rostered in only 13 percent of Yahoo leagues at the moment and looks like one of the best streaming options that's readily available for next week.

Last Week's Review

David Festa Twins, RHP (vs. White Sox - Wednesday 4/23)

Not exactly what we were looking for from Festa, but not a complete disaster either. He gave up two runs on four hits and three walks over his four innings of work while punching out five. He would have been in line for a victory if he would have made it through five innings, but needing 84 pitches to get through four it simply wasn't in the cards.

Andrew Abbott Reds, LHP (vs. Marlins - Wednesday 4/23)

This one should be graded as an incomplete, as the Reds shuffled their rotation and instead of drawing a premium matchup against the Marlins, Abbott will battle the Rockies at Coors Field on Friday. We'll see how it goes.

NHL Nugget: How The New York Islanders Got Their Name And Logo

The four stripes on the hockey stick on the New York Islanders' logo weren't there at the beginning. (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Weekend's Way Back When rewinds to 1972 when the New York Islanders franchise was born.

When it came to the name for the Long Island team, it was a no-brainer. But the Islanders' iconic logo keeps it all about hockey, home turf and Stanley Cup championships.

 Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.       

Lakers vs. Timberwolves Odds, predictions, recent stats, trends and Best bets for April 25

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Preview

It’s Friday, April 25, and the Los Angeles Lakers (50-32) and Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33) are all set to square off from Target Center in Minneapolis.

The series is tied 1-1 and is now headed to Minnesota.

The Lakers are currently 19-22 on the road with a point differential of 1, while the Timberwolves have a 8-2 record in their last ten games at home.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Lakers vs. Timberwolves live today

  • Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
  • Time: 9:30PM EST
  • Site: Target Center
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming:

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 NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Lakers vs. Timberwolves

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Lakers (+126), Timberwolves (-150)
  • Spread:  Timberwolves -3
  • Over/Under: 205 points

That gives the Lakers an implied team point total of 101.84, and the Timberwolves 103.4.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Lakers vs. Timberwolves game

NBC Sports Bet 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.

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is betting on LeBron James under 23.5 points...

Thomas: "Today is a good day to fade James. He's gone under this number in both games. He's struggled from deep and has deferred to Luca Doncic enough to consider him a worthy fade option"

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 Lakers & Timberwolves game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Minnesota Timberwolves on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Lakers at +3.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 205.

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!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Lakers vs. Timberwolves on Friday

  • The Timberwolves have won 18 of 34 games following a defeat
  • 6 of the Timberwolves' last 8 home games in the postseason have gone over the total
  • The Timberwolves are 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 games at home

This series has been a dogfight so far, with both teams struggling to get going on offence. The under has cashed in both post-season matches, as well as in all four regular-season meetings. With the series lead on the line, it would be a surprise if the scoring gets out of hand.

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!

Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

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

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

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Blackhawks Prospect Drew Commesso Has An NHL Future

Image

Coming into 2024-25, the Chicago Blackhawks were expected to use a goalie tandem of Petr Mrazek and Laurent Brossoit. Well, Brossoit was hurt before the season even began and never returned to action. 

That opened the door for Arvid Soderblom to take the gig, and he did. It was an impressive year for him, as there were times he was the number one over Mrazek. 

The Hawks made a big-time move ahead of the trade deadline, however, that changed the present and future of the organization's plans in the net. 

In sending Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers, Spencer Knight came the other way. He is seen as the goalie of the future in Chicago. What that means for Soderblom and the other goalies in the system remains to be seen.

There is a long-term backup to Knight needs to be solidified. Chicago has options for that spot. 

One goalie who should have an NHL future is Drew Commesso, whether it's with Chicago or elsewhere. Commesso is currently playing for the AHL's Rockford IceHogs. 

Commesso was a second-round pick (46th overall) by the Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Draft. He has since had success with Boston University, Team USA at different levels, and now with the Hogs down in Rockford. 

He made his NHL debut in 2024-25 but didn't get more than one start and two appearances. In 39 games with Rockford in 2024-25, Commesso had a 2.54 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. 

On Wednesday night, Rockford took a 1-0 series lead over the Chicago Wolves in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. It was a tight 2-1 win that came in overtime thanks to a sudden-death goal scored by Artyom Levshunov. 

Without Commesso's brilliance, Rockford would have never pulled off the win. He made some game-changing saves throughout, including on high-danger chances in the final minute of regulation. 

"Just a continuation of the way he's been the last month and a half, two months," interim head coach Mark Eaton said of Commesso after the big win. "He's been so solid, making the saves that you expect him to make, but then making the big ones when called upon."

In the second half of this AHL season, Commesso has seemed to turn a corner in his development, which has allowed the IceHogs to elevate their overall game in front of him. It was apparent in their first postseason victory of this potential run. 

"Drew's been huge." IceHogs captain Brett Seney said following the victory. "All year, he's been great. The second half, especially down the stretch, he's won us a lot of games. He made a couple of huge saves tonight that turned the tide for us. He lets our [defense & forwards ] play a little more free." 

When skaters know that they have a solid netminder back there, they can play to their strengths with a lot more confidence. That much was clear with Commesso in the net on Wednesday. 

Next up for the IceHogs is Game 2 of this series on Friday night. If Rockford wins, they will move on and play the Milwaukee Admirals in the second round. If the Wolves take this one, a decisive game three will take place on Sunday. 

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

Astros at Royals prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 25

It's Friday, April 25, and the Astros (13-11) are in Kansas City to take on the Royals (12-14). Hayden Wesneski is slated to take the mound for Houston against Seth Lugo for Kansas City.

The Houston Astros are coming off a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays. They last played on Wednesday. They won 3-1. Ryan Gusto picked up the win. He pitched 5.2 innings, gave up three hits, and just one earned run.

The Royals have won four straight and are coming off a sweep of the Colorado Rockies.

Michael Lorenzen was fantastic on the mound. He picked up the win and struck out seven batters.

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

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Astros at Royals

  • Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Kauffman Stadium
  • City: Kansas City, MO
  • Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City, Space City Home Network

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

Odds for the Astros at the Royals

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Astros (-123), Royals (+104)
  • Spread:  Astros -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Astros at Royals

  • Pitching matchup for April 25, 2025: Hayden Wesneski vs. Seth Lugo
    • Astros: Hayden Wesneski, (1-1, 3.91 ERA)
      Last outing (San Diego Padres, 4/19): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Royals: Seth Lugo, (1-3, 3.90 ERA)
      Last outing (Detroit Tigers, 4/19): 6.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

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

  • The Astros have won 4 of their last 5 at AL Central teams
  • 4 of the Astros' last 5 matchups against American League teams have gone under the Total
  • The Astros are 7-3 against the Run Line in their last 10 games with a rest advantage

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

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Astros and the Royals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Houston Astros on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Kansas City Royals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

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

NFL Draft: Don't worry, fantasy football managers — Omarion Hampton will take over in L.A.

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

The NFL Draft is always full of twists, debates, and speculation — especially when it comes to backfields that seem crowded on paper. The Los Angeles Chargers, after snagging Omarion Hampton in the first round, now sport an intriguing running back combo with free-agent signing, Najee Harris. Still, after listening to the latest Yahoo Fantasy Forecast/Football 301 with Nate Tice, Matt Harmon and Charles McDonald, it’s clear: Hampton should seize the lead-back role sooner rather than later.

Let's dive into why.

Charles McDonald put it plainly: “I love the player and in theory, I love the fit with that style of offense, you know, power run game. We're not trying to hide who we are. We're going to give our running back a million carries.” Hampton’s bruising, no-nonsense running style is the exact profile Greg Roman’s run-first offense needs. Where Harris has carved out a niche as a volume plodder, Hampton’s explosiveness and finishing ability add much-needed spark.

The consensus among the crew was that the Chargers’ offensive line — especially the interior — remains questionable. This means they’ll need a back who can create on his own, break tackles and not just rely on perfectly-blocked runs. Hampton’s college tape is full of examples where he churns out yards after contact, something this offense desperately needs: “Even in the Super Bowl ... consistency down and down is not there,” McDonald noted about offensive-line play. “But you know, when you got Saquon Barkley, all you need is to move someone just a little bit. If you have a big block on a Saquon Barkley touchdown run, everyone goes, 'Mekhi Becton great game, great game, great game.'”

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

With average run blocking, Hampton’s burst and tackle-breaking make him the better fit to squeeze out value from those tough runs.

Harmon offered a realistic take: “[Najee] Harris is going to get the veteran deference probably in September and, like, he's going to lead the team in carries. But by December, like, Hampton is going to be the guy you want.”  

That progression is familiar: veterans get chances early, but talent usually rises to the top. Harris may hold off Hampton for a bit, but when you look at the combination of vision, burst and power that Hampton brings, you can see a backfield takeover coming. He’s simply too dynamic to sit.

Harmon further noted that the bones of Roman’s running scheme were visible last year despite the talent gap at running back: “I actually just think the backs were a bigger issue than people wanted to make.”  

The implication is clear — swap in a true difference-maker like Hampton, and suddenly, the entire offense could look more cohesive and threatening. Explosive runs, broken tackles and home-run plays become part of the weekly script.

Despite Harris’ pedigree and steadiness, the overwhelming sentiment is that the lead-back torch should (and will) pass to Hampton. It’s not just about who you draft in the first round or who stands atop the depth chart in August, but who gives your team game-changing value, especially behind a shaky o-line in a run-first system.

“By December, Hampton is going to be the guy you want,” Harmon doubled down. And if the Chargers want to maximize their offense — and fantasy managers want a late-season league winner — they’d be wise to get ahead of the curve and ride Omarion Hampton.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Bruins Plan To Be Busy This Off-Season

Jeremy Swayman (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

Having missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years, the Boston Bruins' off-season plans have been the subject of recent media speculation.

On Wednesday, Bruins CEO Charlie Jacobs expressed confidence in president Cam Neely and GM Don Sweeney getting the club back into playoff contention next season. During the hour-long press conference, Sweeney indicated he will use “every mechanism possible” to improve the roster during this off-season.

Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic reported Sweeney emphasized bolstering the Bruins' depth on the wings, indicating they only have two legitimate top-six wingers (David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie) under control. Geekie is an RFA with arbitration rights. Sweeney said contract talks are underway with the 26-year-old left winger.

Shinzawa believes the Bruins also need another top-six center. However, he thinks Sweeney will stand pat this summer due to the high cost of addressing that need.

Nick Goss of NBC Sports Boston suggested Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets as the best potential free-agent targets for the Bruins. However, it's uncertain if they'll be available when the UFA market opens on July 1.

Goss felt Sweeney could attempt to bring in a winger or two through the trade market. He pointed out the Bruins have considerable draft capital to use as trade bait, with four first-round picks and five second-rounders over the next three drafts.

Meanwhile, Joe Haggerty of Boston Sports Journal wondered if the Bruins might make any surprising moves involving their veterans. He noted that Jeremy Swayman is their only high-priced veteran lacking no-trade protection for next season. 

Haggerty cited Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman musing whether Swayman could be a trade candidate, citing his struggles this season following his ugly contract extension negotiations last summer. However, Friedman believes the Bruins will remain patient with the 26-year-old goaltender, hoping he rebounds next season. 

Swayman's difficult season contributed to the Bruins' decline this season, but they won't part ways with him. They have no one within their system or in the trade and free-agent markets to replace him as their starter. Their odds of a bounce-back season are greater with Swayman manning their crease.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Avalanche Big Guns Need To Start Firing

Martin Necas (Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)

It’s hard to win hockey games when you don’t score goals.

After exploding for five in Game 1, the Colorado Avalanche were limited to four goals total in Games 2 and 3.

Bookmark The Hockey News Colorado Avalanche team site so you never miss the latest newsgame day coverage, and information on the Avalanche players.

This cannot continue.

For the Avalanche to advance past the Dallas Stars, things have to change. The players responsible for carrying the offensive load need to step up.

The big guns need to start firing.

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Valeri Nichushkin

Valeri Nichuskin scored the Avalanche’s only goal against the Stars in Game 2. That said, he has a lot more to give the team. 

He has only scored one goal on eight shots in three games. That shooting volume is fine, but fine shouldn’t be enough for Nichuskin, who is playing nearly 22 minutes a night.

Martin Necas

Martin Necas was a great addition to the Avalanche for the regular season. Now that it’s the playoffs, it’s time for him to prove if he is a big-game player or not.

In three games, he has one assist, and four shots in 22:43 of ice time per game. For someone who plays with Nathan MacKinnon as much as he does, Necas has to dig deep down and find more offense to give.

Brock Nelson 

Things aren’t rosy for Brock Nelson in the playoffs right now. He hasn’t had great success with faceoffs (44.2 percent) and isn’t producing offensively (zero points) despite playing in the Avalanche’s top-six forward group.

It’s probably no accident that both Nichushkin and Nelson are struggling (considering they are linemates). It may be up to Jared Bednar to mix up the top-six so that the players who aren’t having success on the scoresheet can get the boost that they need to begin producing.

Things aren’t dire yet, however, if the Avalanche can’t turn things around on home ice on Saturday, the players may be practicing their golf swings earlier than expected.

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Steph's sister Sydel shares who she roots for when Warriors play Suns

Steph's sister Sydel shares who she roots for when Warriors play Suns originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Love runs deep in the Curry family, but there are decisions to be made when it’s time for business.

Sydel Curry-Lee, the sister of Steph and Seth Curry and wife of Phoenix Suns guard Damion Lee, attended one of Phoenix’s final regular-season games when her brother Steph and his Warriors came into town on April 8 at PHX Arena.

Lee used to play on the Warriors with Steph from 2018 to 2022, so it was easier for Curry-Lee to choose her allegiance during games. But now with a Western Conference rival, Curry-Lee explained who she roots for when her husband faces one of her brothers.

“People always ask me, ‘Who do you cheer for when my brothers come in town?’ The answer is always who pays the bills,” Curry-Lee said on her “Straight to Cam” podcast with her co-host and WNBA star Cameron Brink. “The Suns pay the bills. So we want everyone on the team to play well for whichever team [Lee] is on.

“I cheer for my brothers when they score. We want them to have 50 but lose. And we want Damion to play, score and win.”

Fair enough.

Curry-Lee also noted how special these moments have been to share with her and Lee’s children.

“Now that Stephen and Seth are kind of on their way out [of the NBA], like they’re going to play less years than they have already played. So I’m definitely trying to cherish these moments and make sure my kids know just how freaking awesome their uncles are,” Curry-Lee said. “So taking them to each game is super important for me.”

Seth was traded to the Charlotte Hornets during the 2023-24 season, so those opportunities of playing against his brother-in-law as an Eastern Conference team don’t come as often.

Nonetheless, it’s always a good time when the Curry family and extended family come together.

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Rangers at Giants prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 25

Its Friday, April 25 and the Rangers (14-11) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (17-9). Nathan Eovaldi is slated to take the mound for Texas against Justin Verlander for San Francisco.

The Rangers are coming off a game and series loss against the Athletics. Jacob deGrom went 5.1 innings, gave up six hits, two earned runs, and have six strikeouts.

The Giants remain hot with a 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. That marks their fourth win in five games.

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

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Rangers at Giants

  • Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
  • Time: 10:15PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: Apple TV+

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 Rangers at the Giants

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Rangers (-108), Giants (-111)
  • Spread:  Giants 1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at Giants

  • Pitching matchup for April 25, 2025: Nathan Eovaldi vs. Justin Verlander
    • Rangers: Nathan Eovaldi, (1-2, 2.64 ERA)
      Last outing (vs LA Dodgers, 4/19): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Giants: Justin Verlander, (0-1, 5.47 ERA)
      Last outing (vs LA Angels, 4/20): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rangers at Giants

  • The Giants have won 4 of their last 5 games at home
  • The Under is 4-1 in the Rangers' last 5 games
  • The Rangers have failed to cover the Run Line in 7 of their last 9 road 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 tonight’s game between the Rangers and the Giants

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 Rangers and the Giants:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Francisco Giants on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Texas Rangers 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

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)

2025 NBA Playoffs results, highlights, recap April 24 including Thunder breaking Grizzlies hearts

INGLEWOOD, Calif — The only blowout on Thursday night was in the one series where the games had been incredibly tight in the first two games. Let's break it all down.

CLIPPERS 117, NUGGETS 84 (Los Angeles leads series 2-1)

Maybe the billions Steve Ballmer spent to build a new home — the Intuit Dome — for his basketball team was worth it.

In their first-ever playoff game inside their new home — which was rocking and loud — the Clippers' offense just clicked. This wasn't simply the cliche "role players play better at home" — everyone on the Clippers played well and the team was energized top to bottom. Every Clipper talked postgame about the energy from the crowd.

"It was crackin,' it was loud. Just how I expected it to be," James Harden said. "That's one of the reasons why we jumped out to a huge lead."

The other big takeaway from this game: Denver is in trouble.

The Clippers are asking questions the Nuggets can't answer. Their depth of talent — Nicolas Batum had a huge game with four no-dip 3-pointers plus three blocked shots— is too much for a thin Denver squad.

Nikola Jokic had an efficient triple-double of 23 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists, but take him out of the equation and the Nuggets shot 34.9% on the night. During the regular season, in moments like these, the Nuggets asked their MVP to do more, but against Ivica Zubac and a quality Clippers defense, can he?

"I mean, I don't know," Jokic said. "I'm just trying to play the game how I know how to play the game. Maybe I should be. Maybe I shouldn't. As long as we have an open look, I think we need to be satisfied. Sometimes we miss, sometimes we make. I think we need to get open looks; that's the most important thing."

Additionally, Michael Porter Jr. said that he is playing at about 30% due to a sprained shoulder.

Denver has less than 48 hours to answer those questions, Game 4 is Saturday afternoon back at Intuit, and if they don't they will be in a hole they will not climb out of against a Clippers team finding its stride.

THUNDER 114, GRIZZLIES 108 (OKC leads series 3-0)

This game just ripped the hearts out of the Grizzlies and their fans.

Memphis came out with the desperation of a team down 0-2 in a series — the Grizzlies had a 40-point first quarter (they had 36 in the entire first half of Game 1). Memphis seemed to do everything right. Ja Morant was getting to the rim, Scotty Pippen Jr. was draining 3-pointers, everything was clicking and Memphis built up a 27-point lead.

Then Lu Dort undercut an airborne Ja Morant — with what seemed a reckless play — and Morant went down hard. He left the game not to return.

That's when the Thunder started to turn things around and make a comeback. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31, Jalen Williams 26, but the real star was Chet Holmgren, who knocked down five 3-pointers on his way to 24 points.

OKC came from 29 down to get the win, the second-largest playoff comeback win in NBA history.

"I just thought out of halftime, we kind of reconnected to who we are. We were very out of character in the first half," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said, via the Associated Press.

Now OKC is up 3-0, Morant's status for Game 4 is over, and the brooms are out. It suck for Memphis, this should have been their day.

KNICKS 116, PISTONS 113 (New York leads series 2-1)

New York is the more talented team in this series. It took three games, but the Knicks finally showed it.

Karl-Anthony Towns was draining 3-pointers (4-of-8) and also getting deep post position, or getting the ball on the move to the basket and not stalling out the offense in Isolation.

"I just got opportunities to do things on the offensive end," KAT said. "We found a way in transition to get me some good looks, and I was able to capitalize on that to start the night off."

Jalen Brunson not only got buckets but dished out nine assists. Four Knicks scored 20+ points. Plus the Knicks defended better, particularly Mikal Bridges on Cade Cunningham (he scored 24 but needed 25 shots to get there).

Expect a desperate Pistons team in Game 4, they know their season is essentially on the line, they can't go down 3-1 in the series.

However, if the Knicks play like they did in Game 3, it will not matter.

Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Stock Watch: Aroon Escobar, Sean Linan headline rising prospects

We’ve reached an exhilarating moment for dynasty managers where a plethora of upper-echelon prospects — Roki Sasaki, Dylan Crews, Kristian Campbell, Jasson Domínguez, Jackson Jobe, Cam Smith and (since-demoted) Matt Shaw — made Opening Day rosters around the league. They’ve been supplemented by a handful of impactful early-season arrivals — Nick Kurtz, Chandler Simpson, Luke Keaschall and Chase Dollander — and there are still a couple potential superstar-caliber talents — Roman Anthony, Bubba Chandler and Jordan Lawlar — on the doorstep of breaking into the majors in full-time roles.

We took a glimpse into the future a couple weeks ago in this space with an in-depth look at the next wave of elite dynasty prospects headlined by Sebastian Walcott, Leo De Vrieswho went 5-for-5 with two homers and hit for the cycle earlier this week at High-A Fort WayneWalker Jenkins, Jesús Made, Bryce Eldridge, Max Clark, Konnor Griffin and Chase Burns.

This week’s column take a bit of a deeper dive, especially for fantasy managers that aren't fully immersed in the expansive dynasty space, into a handful of relatively obscure prospects making some serious noise in the lower minors. There are probably 10-plus additional names that could've been featured in this space, but this week's selections include Aroon Escobar, Sean Linan, Bryce Cunningham, Brandon Clarke and Luis Morales. Without further delay, let's dive into the prospects.

Aroon Escobar, INF, Phillies

After being limited to just 24 games last year in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League due to shin splints, Escobar has gotten off to a sizzling-hot start this season at Low-A Clearwater, hitting .386/.500/.684 with four homers through 15 games. What makes the 20-year-old infielder compelling for dynasty purposes is that he’s added some additional over-the-fence-pop this season without selling out completely to get to it, striking out just 22.9 percent of the time, after walking more than he struck out the previous two years across 57 games between the Florida Complex League and Dominican Summer League. Simply put, there aren’t a ton of glaring weaknesses in his offensive profile, which is spearheaded by an above-average hit tool. He’s not going to steal bases, but the emerging combination of offensive tools give him a realistic shot to reach the majors in a couple years as an offensive sparkplug and viable starting-caliber infielder. He’s several hyperspace jumps away from the big leagues, which amplifies the risk factor, but his long-term stock is clearly on the rise on the strength of his early-season performance. He’s worthy of a speculative roster spot in all dynasty formats and is rapidly emerging as one of the more intriguing hitting prospects in the lower minors.

Sean Linan, SP, Dodgers

There might not be a hotter pitching prospect in the dynasty landscape right now. Linan has exploded out of the gate this season at Low-A Rancho Cucamonga with an absurd 0.87 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 40/4 K/BB ratio across 20 2/3 innings (four appearances, three starts). The 20-year-old’s eye-popping 54.1 percent strikeout rate has been fueled by a potentially elite changeup, which has drawn comparisons to Devin Williams’ signature offering, according to a report earlier this week from Baseball America’s Josh Norris. I’m not a scout, but you don’t really need to be one to see how effective the offering has been so far. There’s still plenty of development ahead here, but he’s about ready to test waters at High-A Great Lakes, and possibly even make the leap to Double-A Tulsa later this summer. If he continues on his current trajectory, Linan is going to finish the year as one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in the game.

Bryce Cunningham, SP, Yankees

Cunningham hasn’t skipped a beat in his highly anticipated professional debut after being selected in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft, recording a pristine 3.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 22/2 K/BB ratio across 18 innings (three starts) for High-A Hudson Valley. It shouldn’t shock dynasty managers to see him dominate lower-level competition after a standout collegiate career for perennial powerhouse Vanderbilt. The 6-foot-5 righty boast mid-to-upper 90’s fastball velocity, which he pairs with a slider/changeup combination, and has a chance to blossom into one of the better pitching prospects in the fantasy landscape. He needs to continue throwing strikes and improving his command if he’s going to reach elite prospect status, but it’s challenging to envision a more encouraging start to his pro debut. The 22-year-old righty figures to reach Double-A Somerset in a couple weeks and should be on fantasy managers’ radar screens.

Brandon Clarke, SP, Red Sox

The Yankees aren’t the only ones with a potential breakout pitching prospect from the early portion of last year’s draft. The division-rival Red Sox appear to have unearthed a gem of their own in Clarke, who is off to a spectacular start to his professional debut for Low-A Salem with a microscopic 0.93 ERA, 0.41 WHIP and 17/2 K/BB ratio across 9 2/3 innings (three starts). The 22-year-old southpaw, who was an unheralded fifth-round pick last summer, is reportedly sitting in the upper-90’s with his fastball and even peaking in the triple-digit range that he pairs with a deadly sweeper, according to Baseball America’s Geoff Pontes. The typical TINSTAAAP caveats apply here, but Clarke is showcasing future frontline starter potential in the early stages of the year and needs to be rostered in all dynasty formats.

Luis Morales, SP, Athletics

We’ve touched on Marlins southpaw Robby Snelling recently in this space as the Double-A pitcher making the leap, but he’s not the only one at the level making serious strides. Morales cracked Rotoworld’s season-opening dynasty rankings update on the strength of last year’s 24.9 percent strikeout rate at High-A Lansing, and scary-looking arsenal, which is headlined by a near triple-digit fastball that he pairs with an above-average slider. The flamethrowing 22-year-old righty has made the transition to the upper minors appear seamless with a sublime 2.33 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 22/8 K/BB ratio across 19 1/3 innings (four starts) for Double-A Midland. The combination of prodigious raw talent and improving command make it easy to envision him missing bats at the highest level down the road. He’s going to dominate in the upper minors if he’s consistently throwing strikes based on the quality of his stuff. He’s a name dynasty managers need to monitor closely in the coming weeks.

NHL Playoffs: Surprise Scorers, Blues And Wild's Wins And More Storylines From April 24

Nate Schmidt (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Day 6 of the Stanley Cup playoffs was full of surprising moments, good and bad. 

The Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning are heading into dangerous territory as both teams are yet to earn a victory in their respective series. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues comfortably won their first game at home.

Here are the storylines from all four contests from Thursday.

Florida Panthers Defeat Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 (FLA Leads Series 2-0)

After a 6-2 loss in Game 1, the Lightning went through another discouraging defeat. This time, the Panthers shut them out 2-0 and snatched both games in Tampa Bay’s Amalie Arena.

While it’s not ideal to be down 2-0 in the series, the Bolts will play their next game on the road at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla.

Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 19 shots the Lightning fired his way. Defenseman Nate Schmidt scored his third goal of the playoffs, which puts him tied for third in the NHL for goals with Pavel Buchnevich, Nathan MacKinnon and Adrian Kempe.

He had five goals in the regular season. Not even Schmidt can believe it, but he’ll take what he can get to help the team.

“I’m going to save my stick… make sure it doesn’t go anywhere,” Schmidt told reporters after the game.

Toronto Maple Leafs Defeat Ottawa Senators 3-2 OT (TOR Leads Series 3-0)

The Senators face elimination after the Maple Leafs defeated them in overtime for the second straight game. 

This contest had a similar feeling to Game 2, where Toronto also won 3-2 in overtime. Even defenseman Simon Benoit was involved in the game-winner, taking a slapshot that beat Sens netminder Linus Ullmark with the help of a screen.

Despite being down 3-0 in the series, Ottawa is not lacking in belief that they can make a comeback.

“We are not going to lay down and go away. We are going to be ready to play,” Sens coach Travis Green said after the game.

Added Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk: “It's been done before, and I have the belief that it can be done again."

The Leafs’ power play and star players stay hot, with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner recording two points each. Marner now has six points while Matthews has five in three games. 

Battle Of Ontario Has Turned Into The Battle Of The Big 4 — And So Far, The Senators' Stars Have Gone M.I.A.Battle Of Ontario Has Turned Into The Battle Of The Big 4 — And So Far, The Senators' Stars Have Gone M.I.A.A bottom-six forward scored the overtime winner in Game 2 and a stay-at-home defenseman matched his season goal total with the OT winner in Game 3. But the reason why the Toronto Maple Leafs have a 3-0 lead in their first-round series against the Ottawa Senators has less to do with depth scoring and unlikely heroes — and more to do with which team’s stars have shone the brightest.

Minnesota Wild Defeat Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 (MIN Leads Series 2-1)

The Wild took the lead in the series against the Vegas Golden Knights in a complete performance. The Wild won 5-2 for the second straight outing, and as the underdogs, they’re giving the Knights a run for their money.

Kirill Kaprizov continues to lead the team to glory with a two-goal night. He’s now the NHL’s joint leader in points with Kempe, recording seven in three games. 

This contest wasn’t a walk in the park against the 2023 Stanley Cup champions. Vegas made a valid push in the later stages of the match, drawing three power plays in the final frame. 

However, Filip Gustavsson was Minnesota’s best penalty-killer, finishing the game with 30 saves and a .938 save percentage. 

After the game, the Wild players credited the spirited crowd, who helped them push to their series lead. 

“You can’t hear anything,” Gustavsson said.

St. Louis Blues Defeat Winnipeg Jets 7-2 (WPG Leads Series 2-1)

The Blues destroyed the Winnipeg Jets in Game 3. St. Louis had two standout players in this performance in terms of production in D-man Cam Fowler and left winger Pavel Buchnevich.

Fowler seized his opportunity ever since he was traded to the Blues from the Anaheim Ducks earlier during the regular season. In this game, he scored one goal and a career-high five points. 

Buchnevich scored the first hat trick of these playoffs, with one tally on the power play. 

Toward the end of the game, the Jets became physical and undisciplined. The Blues took advantage and capitalized on three power plays out of eight attempts.

Blues coach Jim Montgomery approved of the team’s performance.

“What I liked was our fierce, competitive attitude,” he told reporters. “Our start was incredible."

St. Louis has one more game at home on Sunday before heading back to Winnipeg to continue the series.

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Report: NHL Investigating Senators Firing Pucks At Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz In Game 3 Warmups

Apr 24, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz (41) looks up the ice in game three of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

The NHL is reportedly investigating an incident between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs that occurred before Game 3.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, there were "allegations of pregame shenanigans" in warmups, and it's still undecided whether the NHL will discipline players for the incident.

Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch followed up on Dreger's tweet, confirming that Senators players were lobbing pucks into the Maple Leafs' end during warmups. "Found it odd and didn't think anything of it at the time," Garrioch added.

Dreger then said his source indicated that this was the incident in question, and that Senators players were shooting pucks at Stolarz during warmups. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman also reported that the NHL is reviewing an incident in which Nick Cousins fires a puck at Stolarz in warmup.

It's worth noting that Cousins and Stolarz were a part of the Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup-winning team last season.

The Senators lost to the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime on Friday and now enter a pivotal point in the series: trying to stave off a Toronto sweep. The last time the Maple Leafs swept a team in the playoffs was in 2001, against Ottawa.

Stolarz has been the better goalie of the series, winning all three games and sporting a .926 save percentage in that span. The 31-year-old hasn't lost a game since Mar. 15 against Ottawa, 12 games ago.

The Senators have been trying to get under Stolarz's skin throughout this series. It began with Ridly Greig sliding into the goaltender in Game 1 before the two got penalties in Game 2 after Stolarz chopped and got physical with Greig.

"It was just caught up in the heat of the battle. Just one of those things that, it didn’t matter. I didn’t even know who it was," Stolarz said after Game 2. "It’s just one of those, you’re in the heat of the moment, and it is what it is."

In the second period of Game 3, Stolarz and Shane Pinto got into it after Pinto nudged the puck away from the goaltender's stick after a whistle. The ref pulled Pinto away with Stolarz smiling on.

"Yeah, I mean, I just stay out of it. I kind of talked to the refs a little bit tonight and just said, 'Watch my back and I’ll behave.'" Stolarz said after Game 3 on Thursday. "Like I said, they’re going to try to come to the net. They got some big guys. It’s just up to me to just fight through traffic, find that puck and smother it."

After contributing to Toronto's Game 2 overtime-winner, Simon Benoit scored in overtime Thursday to send the Maple Leafs out of the Canadian Tire Centre with a 3-0 series lead.

'I Don't Score A Lot Of Goals': Leafs Take 3-0 Series Lead As Simon Benoit's Heroics Put Senators on the Ropes'I Don't Score A Lot Of Goals': Leafs Take 3-0 Series Lead As Simon Benoit's Heroics Put Senators on the RopesKANATA, Ont. — After scoring the Toronto Maple Leafs' game-winning overtime goal against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, Simon Benoit took the news conference podium and was asked if it was the biggest goal of his life?

Ottawa now has its back against the wall. And the Maple Leafs have their toughest task yet: ending the Senators' season.

"It’s the hardest thing in the NHL to end a team’s season. When it comes to overtime like that, critical moments, it just takes a bounce," Matthew Knies said.

"You knew it was going to be a rebound or a chaos in front of the net kind of goal. I think that’s what we got. We just figured it out and played simple and played hard and we came out with the win."


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