3 PTO Options for the LA Kings Going Into the 2025-26 Season

With the NHL offseason coming to a close, the Los Angeles Kings still have some cap room to play with before training camp.

Every year, squads sign unsigned free agents to PTOs, giving them a chance to fight for a roster place without any guaranteed promise. For veterans looking to prove they still have something left in their tank—or younger guys looking to rejuvenate their career—a PTO could be the chance of a lifetime.

With some intriguingly named talent still on the market, here are three free agents the Kings could invite to camp this September to bring depth, competition, and perhaps snag a bargain signing ahead of the 2025-26 season

Jack Roslovic (Center - UFA)

One of the few actual scoring threats remaining on the board, Roslovic has the speed, playmaking ability, and overall versatility to be a natural fit in the middle-six depth for LA on the third or second line.

Roslovic is the best free agent remaining on the board, according to this article, and a PTO would give him another chance to prove himself in training camp — if he impresses, the Kings can sign him to a short-term NHL deal.

The 28-year-old still has a lot left in the tank, having played 81 games last season for the Carolina Hurricanes, averaging 22 goals, 17 assists, and 39 points. The one issue with Roslovic has been his ability to stay consistent and play at a high level for a playoff team, but with the Kings on a PTO deal, he might be motivated to.

After matching his career high with 22 goals last season, Jack Roslovic remains unsigned.

Where do you think he ends up for 2025-2026? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/aBtmXURvWl
— BarDown (@BarDown) August 4, 2025

Fit: Low-risk secondary scorer and forecheck option.

Likelihood to sign: Moderate — veteran NHL player with no offers, sexy as a PTO and bounce-back candidate.

Matt Grzelcyk (Defenseman - UFA)

Matt Grzelcyk played eight seasons with the Boston Bruins before his tenure came to an end when he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins on a one-year deal last summer.

Despite finishing with a +/- of negative 6, the lowest in his career, Grzelcyk still finished with a career high in points (40). The 31-year-old veteran is the exact type of player that the Kings need on the defensive end, especially after losing Vlasdilav Gavrikov to the New York Rangers in free agency.

This postseason showed that the Kings are missing veteran leadership, experience, and a strong power-play unit on the ice. A PTO would serve as audition territory, with LA considering where he would best fit in their roster depth.

Fit: Left-side puck-moving depth.

Likelihood to sign: Moderate — good returning offense, still out there late in free agency.

Max Pacioretty (Left Winger - UFA)

Max Pacioretty might not be the player he was a few years ago in his prime, but he is still very capable of creating shots.

Pacioretty played 37 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season and finished with 13 points, playing only half a season. A fully healthy Pacioretty can still help a team reach the next level, as the last time he played a full season was in 2021-22 with the Golden Knights.

In that season, the 36-year-old put up 19 goals, 18 assists, and 37 points with a positive +/- of 8. Again, the Kings would greatly benefit from signing a couple of these solid veterans, who still have a lot left in the tank and bring valuable experience and discipline.

You never know how the players on the market would benefit from playing with a team like the Kings, which boasts a lot of young talent and rising stars, especially now that a new GM has brought a fresh culture and a new start to the Kings.

Fit: Veteran winger for goal-scoring depth and leadership.

Likelihood to sign: Reasonable — skilled veteran with prior PTO-to-contract precedent.

Why these make sense for the Kings:

The UFA pool has thinned, especially beyond top-tier names like Roslovic. Grzelcyk and Pacioretty remain the best heading into training camp in mid-September.

All three can be signed on one-way, low-guarantee PTOs—giving LA the cap flexibility heading into training camp.

Who is the best fit for the Kings. Drop your thoughts below.

August 5, 2025

Where New Canadiens Should Fit In Lineup

The Montreal Canadiens have had a busy summer, as they brought in multiple new players. Given how this past season went for the Canadiens, it is not surprising in the slightest that they have been active this off-season.

Because of this, let's look at each of the Canadiens' newcomers and predict where they should fit on their roster.

Noah Dobson: Top-Pairing Defenseman

One of the Canadiens' top objectives this off-season was to improve the right side of their defense, and they did just that by bringing in Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. The expectation is that he will now be on their top pairing, especially with him signing an eight-year, $76 million contract with the Habs after the trade.

Zach Bolduc: Second-Line Left Wing

After acquiring Zach Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues, the Canadiens are likely going to put the former first-round pick in the best position to succeed possible. Because of this, it would not be surprising in the slightest if he ends up having a spot on the Canadiens' second line next season.

Joe Veleno: Fourth-Line Center

After being bought out by the Seattle Kraken, Joe Veleno signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Canadiens. Overall, bringing in the 2018 first-round pick is a low-risk move for the Canadiens, and they will be hoping that he can be a nice pickup for their bottom six. When looking at their depth chart, he should fit nicely as their fourth-line center.

Kaapo Kahkonen: Third-String/AHL Goalie

The Canadiens brought in veteran goalie Kaapo Kahkonen to improve their depth between the pipes. Kahkonen will be third on the Canadiens' goalie depth chart, but could also work as their backup if they feel youngster Jakub Dobes needs more time in the AHL.

Sammy Blais: Depth Forward

After a strong season in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, Sammy Blais joined the Canadiens on an NHL deal this summer. The 29-year-old forward should work well in a depth role for the Canadiens and get chances in the lineup when injuries arise.

Canadiens' Blueline Ranked Among NHL's BestIt is no secret that the Montreal Canadiens have a strong defensive group. They only improved upon this off-season, too, as they acquired star blueliner Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders last month.

Photo Credit: © Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

August 5, 2025

Cavaliers' Darius Garland may not be ready for start of training camp after toe surgery

"I feel great. The recovery process is going well."

That is all Darius Garland would say to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com about surgery on his big toe back in June after that injury severely limited him in the playoffs, a key reason for the Cavaliers' early second-round exit. Fedor next asked Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson about Garland's recovery and learned the All-Star point guard may not be ready for the start of training camp. Here is what Fedor said on the Wine and Gold podcast about talking to Atkinson.

And I asked him, I said, "You know, as a coach, you lost Ty Jerome and Darius Garland is obviously recovering from toe surgery. Are you anticipating Darius being ready for training?" And he said, "No, I don't decide these things. It's going to be up to Darius and the training staff led by Steve Spiro." But he said, "I don't expect him to, and I want him to take his time with this, and we're not going to push it. We're not going to rush it...

"We have Don (Donovan Mitchell). We have Lonzo (Ball). We have CP (Craig Porter Jr.). We are kind of covered. We also have Evan (Mobley), where we can throw it to him in a trail position and have him be a play-maker."

The Cavaliers should not rush it. How important Garland is to the Cavaliers' success was clearly evident in the playoffs — they need him fully healthy. Last season, Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists per game, shooting 40.1% from 3. In the playoffs that fell off to 18 points and 5.2 assists a game, but he played in just five postseason games because of the turf toe injury and was far less efficient, shooting just 28.6% from 3.

Cleveland enters the season as the clear favorite to grab the No. 1 seed in the East this coming season, but they need to prove they can carry that over to the playoffs this time. Coming off a 64-win season and with a very deep team, Atkinson can afford to monitor and rest players more while still racking up plenty of wins to get the top seed. What matters more is a rested and healthy Cavaliers team heading into the playoffs, because that team has a legitimate chance to make the Finals. What matters is the big picture.

And if that means Garland misses some of training camp, that's just fine.

August 5, 2025

Could William Villeneuve Earn NHL Call Up After Signing One-Year, Two-Way Contract With Maple Leafs?

William Villeneuve is returning for another season in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ organization.

The team announced on Tuesday morning that they had signed the 23-year-old defenseman to a one-year, two-way contract. Villeneuve is coming off his best season in the Maple Leafs organization, where he put up 40 points (four goals and 36 assists) in 55 games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

Since being drafted by Toronto in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Villeneuve has steadily developed into a strong, offensive-minded defenseman in the organization’s system. He scored 15 more points last season with Toronto compared to the year prior.

Villeneuve saw an uptick in opportunity with the Marlies last season after fellow 2020 draft selection Topi Niemela’s game took a dip. Near the midway point of the season, Villeneuve began getting more time on the team’s top power play, with 15 of his 40 points last year coming on the man advantage.

Alex Nylander Returns To Maple Leafs Organization, Signing One-Year AHL Deal With MarliesAlex Nylander is returning to Toronto for another season.

The Sherbrooke, Quebec-born defender, a restricted free agent, was qualified by the Maple Leafs earlier this summer, allowing them to retain his rights if he were to leave for another league. However, there’s likely interest from both sides to see how he’d perform in the NHL, after this past season with the Marlies.

Villeneuve is entering his fourth season of professional hockey with Toronto. In his final year of junior (2021-22), with the Saint John Sea Dogs, the defenseman won the Memorial Cup, scoring three points in four games at the tournament.

The defenseman, yet to make his NHL debut, has tallied 90 points (nine goals and 81 assists) in 165 AHL games with the Marlies. He also scored two assists in Toronto’s only two playoff games this past spring.

William Nylander's Father, Michael, Surprises Maple Leafs' Forward With Sweden's Top Hockey HonorToronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander has been named Sweden’s top hockey player of the year.

Villeneuve is the second-last RFA to be signed by the Maple Leafs, among those who were qualified by the club earlier this summer (Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson, William Villeneuve, Dennis Hildeby, Roni Hirvonen, and Niemela).

Toronto inked Knies to a six-year, $46.5 million contract on June 29. The Maple Leafs and Robertson settled on a one-year, $1.825 million deal on Saturday. Both Niemela and Hirvonen returned to Europe after each spent two seasons in Toronto with the Marlies.

Hildeby is the only remaining RFA to be unsigned. The 23-year-old had another strong season with the Marlies, putting up 16 wins and a .908 save percentage in 30 games. The goaltender also played six games with the Maple Leafs—his first stint in the NHL—and won three games while posting a .878 save percentage.

'They're Trying To Move Money Around': Maple Leafs Reportedly Haven't Closed Door On Signing UFA Jack RoslovicThe Toronto Maple Leafs were reportedly interested in unrestricted free agent Jack Roslovic earlier this summer, and it appears the lure may not have gone away.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Could William Villeneuve Earn NHL Call Up After Signing One-Year, Two-Way Contract With Maple Leafs?

(Top photo of Villeneuve: Christian Bonin / TSGphoto.com via Toronto Marlies)

August 5, 2025

Ready To Break Out: Metro Division

New seasons provide new opportunities, which create avenues for players to break out. The 2025-26 season will be no different, and in this article, The Hockey News take a look at the strongest candidates to make a name for themselves or ascend into stardom on the Metro Division teams.

Carolina Hurricanes: Jackson Blake

At just 21, right winger Jackson Blake has already shown an affinity for coming up in the clutch, and the fact he elevated his game during the playoffs for the Canes is a great sign. The son of former NHLer Jason Blake is coming off a solid rookie season and could easily take on more responsibility next year. He is a tenacious winger who plays bigger than his 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame. True, the Canes are deep up front, and Blake will likely stay in the bottom six, but don’t be surprised if he cracks the 20-goal mark.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Jet Greaves

Goaltending was Columbus’ downfall in 2024-25, but Jet Greaves was stellar in 11 NHL games. Greaves is undersized but makes up for it with his athleticism and aggressiveness in the crease. He won a weekly first-star honor in April, thanks to a stretch in which he went 3-0-0 with a .968 save percentage. Despite playing just 11 games, Greaves finished in the top 15 in goals saved above expected. No other Jackets goalie ranked in the top 75. Greaves, 24, has his teammates’ trust and is ready for a bigger role.

Simon Nemec (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

New Jersey Devils: Simon Nemec

While the playoffs were a letdown for the Devils, they did at least get a signature double-OT goal from blueliner Simon Nemec against Carolina. It’s been an up-and-down existence for Nemec since New Jersey picked him second overall in 2022, as he played fewer NHL games this year than he did as a rookie, when he had 19 points in 2023-24. But defensemen take time to develop, and if Nemec, 21, can use that late confidence booster to build momentum, the Devils will have another ace in their back end.

New York Islanders: Isaiah George

With a new GM in Mathieu Darche, the Islanders will be interesting to watch this summer. New York has the No.1 pick in the draft, but will that player (Islanders selected Matthew Schaefer) go straight to the NHL? Either way, the Isles need a pick-me-up, and blueliner Isaiah George fits the bill. George is an excellent skater with 33 games worth of NHL reps under his belt from last season, which he split between Long Island and the AHL. He has a solid frame and comes from a great OHL London program - both big pluses.

New York Rangers: Will Cuylle

The Rangers need more players like Will Cuylle. The young power forward is big, skilled and nasty - so foes always know when he’s on the ice. New York needs the next generation to step up after the club experienced a cultural crisis this season (missing the playoffs entirely despite having a contention-worthy lineup). Cuylle is already well on his way, coming off his first 20-goal season and doubling his production from 2023-24. Given his trajectory, a 60-point campaign in 2025-25 would not be a shock.

Philadelphia Flyers: Tyson Foerster

With a great shot and a big frame, Tyson Foerster brings a lot of appeal on the right wing. Heading into his third full NHL season, he’ll be one to watch under new coach Rick Tocchet. Foerster is coming off a 25-goal season and has made incremental offensive gains year over year. Based on his skill set, it’s fair to expect 30 goals from the 2020 first-rounder - perhaps more. Whether in the OHL or AHL, Foerster has proven adept at adjusting to better competition, and so far, he’s done the same in the NHL.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Rutger McGroarty

He’ll never be popular in Winnipeg, but Rutger McGroarty has a chance to be a rarity in Pittsburgh: an impact player who was taken in the first round of a recent draft (even if the Pens didn’t draft him). Acquired from the Jets in 2024, McGroarty is a stout, two-way winger with leadership qualities. He got a taste of the NHL this year but saw most of his action in the AHL, putting up solid numbers with the Baby Pens and seeing what the pros are really like. Now, it’s time to push for a regular job on the big squad.

Ryan Leonard (Amber Searls-Imagn Images)

Washington Capitals: Ryan Leonard

Rookie Ryan Leonard didn’t play every playoff game for the Capitals, but that was very much by design. Still, the former Boston College standout and two-time WJC gold medallist (once as Team USA’s captain) showed he’s ready to make an impact in Washington. He’ll be one to watch in the Calder Trophy race thanks to his tenacious, high-energy game that blends skill and physicality. On a Caps team turning over to a new generation, the 20-year-old right winger will play a big role in his first full season.

This article appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

August 5, 2025

Celtics trading Georges Niang to Jazz for rookie RJ Luis Jr.: Report

Celtics trading Georges Niang to Jazz for rookie RJ Luis Jr.: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Minivan is on the move once again.

The Boston Celtics are trading forward Georges Niang and two future second-round picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for guard RJ Luis Jr., ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday.

The Celtics acquired Niang — a Methuen, Mass., native — from the Hawks earlier this offseason in a three-team trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta. By sending Niang and his expiring $8.2 million contract to Utah, Boston drops further under the second apron of the NBA’s luxury tax and saves more than $40 million on its luxury tax bill, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Utah is acquiring Georges Niang with part of the $26.6M John Collins Trade Exception.
Niang is on an expiring $8.2M contract.
Celtics tax bill drops from $73.1M to $30.4M.
They are now $10.2M below the 2nd apron and $1.7M over the 1st.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) August 5, 2025

RJ Luis Jr. began his college career at UMass (2022-23) before transferring to St. John’s (2023-25). The 22-year-old went undrafted in 2025 before signing a two-way contract with the Jazz in June.

August 5, 2025

Twins at Tigers prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 5

Its Tuesday, August 5 and the Twins (52-60) are in Detroit to take on the Tigers (66-48).

Zebby Matthews is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Chris Paddack for Detroit.

The Tigers doubled up the Twins in the series opener last night, 6-3. The game featured six home runs with each side launching three. Kerry Carpenter's two-run blast in the sixth was the key blow.

Lets dive into tonight's 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 Twins at Tigers

Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Time: 6:40PM EST
Site: Comerica Park
City: Detroit, MI
Network/Streaming: MNNT, FDSNDT

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

Odds for the Twins at the Tigers

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

Moneyline: Twins (+136), Tigers (-163)
Spread: Tigers -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Tigers

Pitching matchup for August 5, 2025: Zebby Matthews vs. Chris Paddack
- Twins: Zebby Matthews (2-3, 5.67 ERA)
  Last outing: July 30 vs. Boston - 10.39 ERA, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
- Tigers: Chris Paddack (4-9, 4.95 ERA)
  Last outing: July 30 vs. Arizona - 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 0 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 Twins at Tigers

The Tigers have won their last 6 games against divisional opponents
The Twins' last 3 games against American League teams have gone over the Total
The Tigers have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 2.78 units
Chris Paddack has struck out at least 5 hitters in 4 of his last 5 starts
Gleyber Torres has hit safely in 6 of his last 8 games (9-33)

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 Twins and the Tigers

Rotoworld Best Bet

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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 Tuesday's game between the Twins and the Tigers:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Minnesota Twins 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)

August 5, 2025

Giants at Pirates Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 5

Its Tuesday, August 5 and the Giants (56-57) are in Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates (49-64).

Logan Webb is slated to take the mound for San Francisco against Mike Burrows for Pittsburgh.

Last night the Bucs scored two in the seventh and two in the ninth to rally for a 5-4 win over the Giants. Isiah Kiner-Falefa's drove in the winning run to walk it off for Pittsburgh. It was the Pirates' seventh win in their last nine games.

Lets dive into Game 2 of the series and find a sweat or two.

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

Game details & how to watch Giants at Pirates

Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Time: 6:40PM EST
Site: PNC Park
City: Pittsburgh, PA
Network/Streaming: NBCSBA, SNP

Odds for the Giants at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

Moneyline: Giants (-160), Pirates (+134)
Spread: Giants -1.5
Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Giants at Pirates

Pitching matchup for August 5, 2025: Logan Webb vs. Mike Burrows
- Giants: Logan Webb (9-8, 3.31 ERA)
  Last outing: July 30 vs. Pittsburgh - 1.59 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 11 Strikeouts
- Pirates: Mike Burrows (1-3, 3.88 ERA)
  Last outing: July 30 at San Francisco - 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts

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

The Pirates have won 3 straight home games
The Over is 5-2 (71%) in the Pirates' home games this season with Michael Burrows on the mound
With Michael Burrows starting, betting the Pirates on the Run Line would have returned a 3.18-unit profit in 2025
Oneil Cruz is without a hit over his last 3 games (0-13)

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 Giants and the Pirates

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.

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 Tuesday's game between the Giants and the Pirates:

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 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)

August 5, 2025

MLB contenders watch for fatigue as some starters experience an increased workload

CHICAGO — At age 34, Matthew Boyd is going back to what was once familiar territory for the left-hander. He has logged 130 2/3 innings so far in his first season with the Chicago Cubs, more than he totaled in the previous two years combined.

It’s a workload jump that goes against what had become conventional wisdom in the majors, where teams have frequently capped pitchers’ innings in hopes of keeping them healthy.

“Things have been going great,” Boyd said. “And I think it’s like none of us know what’s ahead. And that goes for everybody.”

Boyd’s workload is worth watching as the Cubs try to rally in the NL Central race and go on a deep October run. He is among a group of pitchers going through a spike in innings in the heart of the playoff picture.

After spending most of his career as a reliever, Clay Holmes has 117 1/3 innings going into his 23rd start for the Mets. Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo is up to 127 innings after he finished with 66 2/3 last year. All-Stars Garrett Crochet of the Red Sox and Bryan Woo of the Mariners also are progressing toward major increases.

“That’s something we always monitor and watch,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “I know we’re in constant communication in-between starts.”

The days of predetermined innings limits, especially when it comes to young prospects and pitchers on losing teams, aren’t going away anytime soon. But more organizations appear to be going with a case-by-case approach.

“I think the reason why it’s changed a little bit and we don’t look at that either percentage increase or fixed innings increase is because it wasn’t working,” said David Stearns, the president of baseball operations for the Mets.

“I think more and more we’re trying to treat each pitcher as an individual. And if a pitcher feels good both subjectively and objectively, we try not to artificially shut them down.”

Crochet, 26, helped show what might be possible last year. The 6-foot-6 left-hander, who had Tommy John surgery in April 2022, began last season with 73 innings in 72 appearances spanning four seasons with the White Sox.

He made his first big league start on opening day. With the White Sox closely monitoring his workload in the last part of the season, he finished with 32 starts and 146 innings. He is tied for the major league lead with 141 1/3 innings going into his start against Kansas City.

“I think that I really set myself up for this season to go out there and for there really to be no leash necessary,” said Crochet, who was traded to the Red Sox in December and then agreed to a six-year, $170 million contract. “I’ve been feeling really good throughout the season and the five days in between my starts I really feel like I’m prepared and doing a lot to get my body in the right position to have success and to continue to give length throughout the year.”

Boyd was recovering from Tommy John surgery when he signed with Cleveland last year. He returned to the majors last August and went 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA in eight starts and 39 2/3 innings for the Guardians. He also pitched 11 2/3 innings for the AL Central champions in the playoffs.

That was enough for Chicago to give Boyd a two-year, $29 million contract in free agency. And he has delivered so far, making the NL All-Star team while going 11-4 with a 2.34 ERA in 22 starts.

Boyd pitched a career-high 185 1/3 innings for Detroit in 2019, but he hasn’t approached that territory since. The Cubs gave him nine days off between starts over the All-Star break, and Boyd has frequent conversations with manager Craig Counsell and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy about his workload and how he is feeling.

The Cubs also have rookie right-hander Cade Horton, who is up to 102 2/3 innings this season — including his time with Triple-A Iowa — after he totaled 34 1/3 innings in the minors last year.

“This is an area where the industry has not maybe figured out the answer, so you’re just trying to keep getting better answers,” Counsell said. “I think in the past, we were just relying on history. I think now we’re relying on the data we collect from the actual player.”

Communication is one thing, but an array of metrics and biomechanical analysis is at the center of the decision-making process when it comes to pitchers and rest.

“There’s tangible things that you just keep an eye on,” Boyd said. “You have your spin data, you have your velocity. We have biomechanics tracking. It’s like, ‘Hey, the mechanics are getting out of whack. ... Is there something we need to address? How do you address that?’

“There’s so many different avenues you can go down and levers you can pull if you will. And it’s not as cut and dry as like 20% increase, 50% increase (in innings).”

August 5, 2025

NBC SPORTS & UCREPORT ENTER PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NAVY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL THROUGH 2027

NBC Sports and UCReport today announced a multi-year partnership with the Navy All-American Bowl through 2027.

August 5, 2025

Dodgers activate Max Muncy from injured list, but also put Tommy Edman on the shelf

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Max Muncy from the injured list and put fellow infielder Tommy Edman on the list.

Muncy has been out since July 2, missing nearly five weeks with a bone bruise in his knee after a collision on a tag play during a game against the Chicago White Sox. The veteran slugger had been on a monthlong roll at the time of his injury, boosting his OPS to .832 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs.

Muncy returned more quickly than the initial six-week projection for his recovery. He was batting fifth and playing third base at Dodger Stadium when Los Angeles opened a homestand against the St. Louis Cardinals.

“He’s put in a lot of work to get back with this timeline,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Getting him back lengthens and strengthens our lineup.”

But just when Muncy is healthy enough to return, the NL West-leading Dodgers are losing Edman after he aggravated his injured right ankle.

Edman left a game in Boston after apparently spraining his ankle while running the bases, and he came out of the Dodgers’ game against Tampa Bay with pain from running the bases again.

“Don’t know how long it’s going to be, but I do think that he’ll be back at some point,” Roberts said. “The main thing is when he gets back, how we can make sure that this doesn’t happen again. It’s kind of a ligament strain, tendons, whatever it is.”

Edman also missed time in May with a sprained ankle. Last year’s NLCS MVP is batting .228 with 12 homers and 44 RBIs this season.

Edman joins the lengthy list of Dodgers hoping to return soon from injuries to bolster the defending World Series champions’ repeat bid. Los Angeles didn’t make a bold move at the trade deadline last week, deciding to roll with its current roster while aiming for full health in October.

Utilityman Kiké Hernández went out with a sprained left elbow, and he isn’t close to returning despite undergoing multiple procedures including platelet-rich plasma therapy and cortisone shots.

“We’re not there yet, as far as worrying the season is lost” for Hernández, Roberts said.

Other injury news is more encouraging: Second baseman Hyeseong Kim is swinging a bat and taking grounders in anticipation of returning from left shoulder bursitis as early as this weekend, while reliever Tanner Scott will throw another batting practice session soon in his recovery from left elbow inflammation.

Roki Sasaki is still on the injured list on his bobblehead night. The rookie right-hander has been out since May 8 with a right shoulder injury, but he will throw three live innings after hitting mid-90s velocity in his most recent mound session. If his arm continues to feel good, he will get a minor league rehab assignment, Roberts said.

August 5, 2025

South Korean superstar Son Heung-min is signing with LAFC for MLS-record transfer fee

LAFC has landed Son Heung-min, a Premier League player in the prime of his career who has the ability to connect with South Korean fans.

August 5, 2025

The Three Teams The Rangers Should Worry About

If I'm Mike Sullivan – and I'm looking ahead to 2025-26 – the three teams I'd be worrying about are the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators.

That trio of clubs includes the ones the Rangers had a chance to beat out for a playoff berth but failed

New York's closing record was 39-36-7 for 85 points.

The Devils finished with 91 points (42-33-7) as did Montreal (40-31-11) whereas Ottawa closed at 97 points (45-30-7).

Contrast the above final points with the preseason projections. Only the Devils were picked to finish ahead of New York.

Ottawa was projected to wind up seventh in the Atlantic Division and Montreal eighth in the same division

"What's scary for the Rangers is that all three teams – Devils, Canadiens and Senators – all are on the upswing. And all have one thing in common; they have a young squad and only figure to get better in the upcoming season."

Pressing Rangers Questions And Answers When a club like the Rangers finishes in the NHL's subterranean depths, it raises questions that must be answered before the autumn leaves start to fall. (Now don't be a wise guy and tell me that they're falling already.)

And now you know why Mike Sullivan should be analyzing the Habs, the Sens and our good friends across the Hudson River.

Study hard Mike, 'cause the Sens, Habs and Devils are not fooling around. So don't let them make a fool of you!

August 5, 2025

Aaron Judge will rejoin the Yankees on Tuesday after IL stint

ARLINGTON, Texas — Aaron Judge will be activated by the New York Yankees when their captain is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list after being sidelined because of a flexor strain in his right elbow.

Maybe the two-time AL MVP slugger can help get them back on track.

Manager Aaron Boone said after New York’s fourth consecutive loss, 8-5 to the Texas Rangers in 10 innings, that Judge will be available for the middle game of the three-game series.

“Judge tomorrow,” Boone said, without elaborating when asked about his return.

While Boone didn’t reveal then what the specific plans were, he had said before the game that Judge would be the designated hitter when he first returned to the lineup. He said the outfielder could also play catch while in Texas, which will help determine when he could return to playing in the field.

After hitting off Yankees minor league pitchers at the team’s complex in Tampa for the second day in a row, Judge traveled to Texas and was there for the series opener. He didn’t speak to reporters in the clubhouse after the game.

Judge hasn’t played since July 25 because of the elbow strain. An MRI showed no acute damage to his ulnar collateral ligament and he had a platelet-rich injection July 27, when he was placed on the IL in a move retroactive to the previous day.

His .342 batting average was still the best in the majors. He was fourth with 37 homers and fifth with 85 RBIs.

New York will have an open spot on its active roster because Boone said newly acquired outfielder Austin Slater was headed to the IL. Slater, acquired from the Chicago White Sox, exited in the second inning because of left hamstring tightness after running out a fielder’s choice grounder.

Giancarlo Stanton has been the Yankees’ starting DH for all of his 32 games this season, including the opener against the Rangers when his 10th homer was a two-run shot in the fourth that put the Yankees up 5-4. He missed the first 70 games of the season with inflammation in the tendons of both elbows, and Boone said he wouldn’t play the outfield in Texas if Judge does DH during the series.

The first time Judge said he felt pain in the elbow was July 22 at Toronto, after he made a strong throw home when George Springer singled to right. An inning later, Judge winced after catching a fly in the right-field corner and throwing to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. Judge was caught by a YES Network camera clenching his right hand in a fist.

The Yankees arrived in Texas after being swept in a three-game series at Miami and falling to third place in the AL East behind Toronto and Boston. They were in first place to start July, but are now 5 1/2 games behind the division-leading Blue Jays, and currently in a wild-card spot 2 1/2 games behind the Red Sox with 49 left in the regular season.

When asked if the current stretch, which includes an 18-28 record since June 13, was weighing on his team, Boone said he felt that it was.

“Doesn’t matter,” Boone said. “Nobody cares how stressful it is, or that’s all just noise, excuses, whatever. We’ve got to play better, and we’ve got to win, and we know that.”

August 5, 2025

Blackhawks Announce Centennial Celebration Nights And Promotions

On Tuesday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks announced the celebration nights and promotional schedule for their centennial season, which is coming up in 2025-26.

The season’s celebration will be divided into four chapters. There will also be 17 giveaways, including seven bobbleheads.

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xbetter start brushing up on your history🔍 promo schedule🗓️ ➡︎ https://t.co/HlBI4GJrxo

The bobbleheads include Stan Mikita (October 17th vs Vancouver), Tony Esposito (November 15th vs Toronto), Denis Savard (November 23rd vs Colorado), Chris Chelios (December 13th vs Detroit), Brent Seabrook (January 4th vs Vegas), Duncan Keith (January 17th vs Boston), and Tommy Hawk (March 6th vs Vancouver).

Amongst other giveaways, player pins for Spencer Knight, Alex Vlasic, and Frank Nazar are on the list as well. You can see the entire promotional schedule with themed nights here:

Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) on XHere is your centennial season nights/promotions for the 2025-26 Chicago Blackhawks! It is divided into four chapters. There are going to be 17 giveaways and 7 of them are bobbleheads! Note: the Blackhawks Hall of Fame celebration is still TBD

The chapters of each celebration are titled "The Originals", "The Madhouse", "The Banner Years", and "The Next Originals", each for a different era of Chicago Blackhawks hockey.

All season long, fans will be able to come and be excited about their favorite NHL team through memories that span a lifetime. There is going to be a lot of energy at the United Center on these nights.

One note is that the Blackhawks Hall of Fame celebration still has a TBD date. That will be announced at a later time.

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