The Mets are adding a veteran left-hander to their bullpen.
The team announced that they have signed 29-year-old lefty Richard Lovelady, who was released by Minnesota last Wednesday. Lovelady began the year in Toronto, but appeared in just two games before being designated for assignment and was later granted free agency.
Lovelady has pitched in parts of six seasons in the big leagues with Kansas City, Oakland, the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay, and Toronto, posting a 5.26 career ERA over 110 regular season games.
Originally a 10th-round pick of the Royals in the 2016 MLB Draft, Lovelady has held lefties to a .232 batting average during his career.
The Mets could certainly use another left-hander in their bullpen, as Jose Castillo is currently the only other healthy option.
A.J. Minter’s season is over following surgery to repair a torn lat muscle, Danny Young underwent Tommy John surgery in May, and Brooks Raley is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery, though he is on a rehab assignment and could rejoin the bullpen within the next month.
The Trevor Zegras era in Anaheim has come to a close. On Monday, he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Ryan Poehling, the 45th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
“While this was a difficult trade to make, we have and will continue to look at retooling our roster over the next couple of months,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a team statement. This transaction is part of that process. We wish Trevor the best of luck with the Flyers.” Verbeek also thanked Zegras for his contributions and efforts over the last six seasons.
On the surface, this trade comes at a strange time. Zegras’ trade value had plummeted after two difficult seasons under Greg Cronin, not to mention long-term injuries curtailing both of those seasons. The offensive production wasn’t consistent, but there were signs that he was capable of getting back to the 60-plus point campaigns he’d had as a rookie and sophomore in the NHL.
With one year remaining on the three-year contract he’d signed after a contract dispute in 2023, Zegras was likely on the outside looking in when it came to receiving an extension beyond his current deal. He had been shifted to the wing after coming into the league as a natural center and his limited deployment on the power play suggested that he did not figure into Anaheim’s long-term plans.
“When the players are in those circumstances, we all take everything year-by-year,” Verbeek said when asked in April about Zegras and pending UFA Jacob Trouba fitting into the organization long-term. “I’m certainly going to be watching to see how each of them perform and take in the whole course of the season to decide where we go. They’re obviously quality hockey players. We’ve got a lot of quality hockey players in our system, so there’s going to be a lot of things that are going happen and we’ll have to be able to figure that out and assess that at the appropriate time.”
Joel Quenneville’s hiring as head coach this past May suggested that Zegras may get an opportunity to play in the NHL under a head coach who knows how to utilize him properly. Comparisons to how Patrick Kane, a player who Zegras looks up to, was deployed in Chicago came to mind.
Chris Kreider, one of Zegras’ good friends, was also acquired by the Ducks via trade earlier in June, further suggesting that a better environment was being put in place for the former ninth overall pick.
Instead, that will come in Philadelphia with the Flyers under new head coach Rick Tocchet. Zegras reunites with good friend and former roommate, Jamie Drysdale, who was traded to the Flyers in Jan. 2024 for Cutter Gauthier and a second-round pick.
Poehling has one year remaining on the contract he signed with the Flyers in Jan. 2024, which carries a $1.9 million cap hit. A collegiate star at St. Cloud State, Poehling was drafted 25th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Montréal Canadiens but has found it difficult to lock down an everyday role in the NHL.
He seemed to have found a home in Philadelphia after a short stop in Pittsburgh following his departure from the Canadiens, setting career-highs in points in both of his seasons in the City of Brotherly Love.
In Anaheim, Poehling will likely fill a bottom-6 role, as he’s done over the past few seasons for the Penguins and Flyers. He can play both center and wing and has some edge to his game. He could also see time on the penalty kill, he had three shorthanded goals in 2023-24.
Swapping Zegras for Poehling-plus gives the Ducks some wiggle room financially—not that they need it very much right now. But with the ability to sign players like Leo Carlsson, Jackson LaCombe and Cutter Gauthier to contract extensions on Jul. 1 and Mason McTavish and Lukáš Dostál needing new deals this offseason, something was always going to have to give.
For the Flyers, it gives them a chance to see what Zegras can do—likely at center—before it comes time to extend him. A fan favorite in Anaheim, Zegras’ eventual return to Honda Center will be highly anticipated.
Featured image caption: Apr 7, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (11) during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
On Monday morning, the Rockford IceHogs announced that their captain, Brett Seney, would return on a two-year AHL deal. He signed this contract ahead of becoming an unrestricted free agent.
This differs slightly from Seney’s last contract, which was a two-way deal. The Blackhawks are likely not going to need Seney in their lineup anymore, but he is a great mentor for the young players who will play with Rockford in the coming years.
Seney has already done a great job with some of the young guys who he has been around over the last handful of seasons. Rockford, as a whole, has been strong at developing players before they reach the NHL. They are a great foundational base for Blackhawks prospects to begin their pro career if needed. Seney is a big part of that.
Although Chicago’s NHL roster is going to be very young in 2025-26, mostly filled with guys who spent time with Rockford, there will still be plenty of raw players looking to grow down in the AHL.
With a new coaching staff, both in the NHL and AHL, coming into this year, a captain like Seney will be important for guys to have around.
In terms of hockey, Seney will help Rockford win games, too. In 2024-25, he had 10 goals and 29 assists for 39 points in 58 games played. The younger guys will be relied on for more offense, but the depth and leadership he provides will continue to be incredibly helpful.
The weeks leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft have been far from quiet. With Kevin Durantreportedly traded to the Rockets and rumors surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo, unanswered questions linger throughout the association ahead of draft night. History has proven the night’s pivotal role in some of the association’s most consequential, league-defining trades.
With the 2025 NBA Draft just days away, let’s revisit 12 of the biggest NBA Draft night trades that altered the course of league history.
(Note: List in chronological order)
Bill Russell traded from St. Louis Hawks to Boston Celtics (1956)
The Celtics altered the course of the NBA and North American sports at large when they traded for Bill Russell during the 1956 draft. After being selected by the St. Louis Hawks with the second overall pick, Red Auerbach’s Celtics moved Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan to acquire the eventual 12-time All-Star. Russell would go on to win an unprecedented 11 championships in Boston, capturing five MVP awards throughout his 13-year career.
Scottie Pippen traded from Seattle SuperSonics to Chicago Bulls (1987)
Seattle helped Chicago build its 1990s dynasty when it sent the fifth overall pick to the Windy City. After giving up Olden Polynice and the eighth overall pick, the Bulls swiftly selected Scottie Pippen, who would go on to form one of the NBA’s all-time duos alongside Michael Jordan. Pippen spent 11 years in Chicago as a versatile small forward, winning six titles in eight seasons, and finishing his career with seven All-Star nods and eight NBA All-Defensive First Team honors.
Chris Webber and Penny Hardaway swap between Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors (1993)
The 1993 draft had major implications for Chris Webber and Penny Hardaway's respective NBA careers. Orlando used the first overall pick to select Webber, while Hardaway found himself drafted by Golden State third overall. Shortly after, the Magic traded Webber's draft rights to the Warriors, netting them a piece of their future in Hardaway. He'd go on to form a dynamic duo with legend Shaquille O'Neal, leading Orlando to the 1995 NBA Finals. Webber captured Rookie of the Year honors with Golden State in 1993, kickstarting his eventual Hall of Fame career.
Kobe Bryant traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Los Angeles Lakers (1996)
Drafted out of Philadelphia's Lower Merion High School, Kobe Bryant was immediately traded by the Hornets to the Lakers (in exchange for Vlade Divac), where he spent 20 seasons and forged a path as one of the association's all-time greats. He would go on to win five NBA Championships, two Finals MVP trophies, and play in 18 All-Star games (1996, 2000-2016). Bryant remains the NBA's fourth all-time leading scorer (33,643). He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Kobe Bryant poses for a portrait after being selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft on June 26, 1996 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1996 NBAE (Photo by Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images)
NBAE via Getty Images
Ray Allen and Stephon Marbury swapped between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks (1996)
Ray Allen, selected fifth overall by the Timberwolves, was shipped along with Andrew Lang to the Bucks for fourth overall pick, Stephon Marbury. Allen would quickly ascend to superstar status and fan favorite in Milwaukee, cementing his status as one of the league's elite three-point shooters and all-time great shotmaker. His two titles and 10 All-Star appearances loom large throughout his career accomplishments. Marbury would be named to two All-Star teams and receive two All-NBA nods throughout his 13-year NBA career.
Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison swapped between Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors (1998)
This draft night swap between Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison, teammates at UNC, left Carter to begin his legacy with a three-year-old franchise in the Raptors. He'd go on to change the franchise forever, leading Toronto to its first-ever winning season and playoff appearance in the 1999-2000 season. Although he went on to spend his 22-year career with several teams, his most notable accomplishments came with the Raptors. He was named 1999's Rookie of the Year and won the still-iconic NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2000. Five of his eight All-Star appearances came with Toronto. Jamison forged a successful 16-year career, with two All-Star nods to his name.
Dirk Nowitzki traded to Dallas Mavericks from Milwaukee Bucks for Robert Traylor package (1998)
Robert Traylor played with the Bucks from 1998 to 2000, where he went on to help Milwaukee reach the playoffs. Traylor was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers after his first two seasons in the NBA. In stark contrast, Dirk Nowitzki earned the MVP award with the Mavericks in 2007, and later took the team to their first and only NBA Championship in 2011. He went on to be named the Finals MVP that year.
Pau Gasol traded to the Memphis Grizzlies from the Atlanta Hawks (2001)
Pau Gasol quickly became a star in Vancouver, going on to win the 2001-2002 Rookie of the Year, and leading the Grizzlies to their first playoff appearance in 2004. Later in his career, Gasol became a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
Ray Allen traded to Boston Celtics from Seattle SuperSonics for Jeff Green package (2007)
Ray Allen helped lead the Celtics to the 2007-08 NBA Championship. Allen also holds the franchise record for highest free-throw percentage at 91.4%. Jeff Green’s time in Seattle was extremely short-lived, staying for one season before the franchise was relocated to Oklahoma City. Green was an NBA All-Rookie First Team selection and played alongside Kevin Durant.
Kawhi Leonard traded to the San Antonio Spurs from the Indiana Pacers (2011)
Kawhi Leonard spent the first seven seasons of his career with San Antonio and left a tremendous impact. In 2014, Leonard led the Spurs to their fifth NBA Championship title, while also earning NBA Finals MVP. Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2018, where he quickly became a franchise staple. Leonard led Toronto to a title in 2019, picking up his second NBA Finals MVP award.
Philadelphia 76ers trade Jayson Tatum and first-round pick to Boston Celtics for Markelle Fultz (2017)
The Jayson Tatum for Markelle Fultz trade still haunts the Sixers. Tatum has been named an All-Star in six of his first eight seasons with the Celtics and helped lead Boston to a title in 2024. Fultz played 33 total games with the 76ers as a shoulder injury impacted his overall performance. He was traded to the Orlando Magic in 2019 and is currently a member of the Sacramento Kings.
Luka Doncic and Trae Young swap between the Dallas Mavericks and the Atlanta Hawks (2018)
The Mavericks acquired the rights to Luka Doncic in a swap with the Hawks for Trae Young. Doncic went on to win Rookie of the Year after the 2018-2019 season, but Young also had an impressive debut, making the swap a win-win for both teams. Doncic has emerged as one of the league's top scorers, with five All-Star and five All-NBA First Team selections. Young is a four-time All-Star, and the youngest player in NBA history to reach 12,000 points and 4,500 assists.
Mike Dunleavy told reporters on Monday about the Warriors’ offseason plans as the 2025 NBA Draft nears, and the general manager let it be known that merely attempting to bring one or some of the league’s biggest names to San Francisco will be quite challenging because of Golden State’s financial situation.
“Only because just of our salary structure and the way it works with the amount of money you can use underneath the second apron,” Dunleavy said. “That probably restricts it more than anything for us in terms of pursuing the best roster we can.
“I think we’ll look at stuff. We’ll look at players that we really like that may — we’ve just got to be — it’s just almost impossible for us to add players in the salary range of guys we were looking at last summer since we’ve added Jimmy.”
The Warriors are pretty handcuffed when it comes to pursuing stars.
Entering the 2025-26 NBA season, Golden State has $139.63 million, or 90.2 percent of the salary cap, committed to stars Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green alone. And that’s before calculating a possible contract extension with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.
Though the limitations won’t stop Dunleavy and the Warriors from searching. A trademark of the Curry era, Golden State always finds itself tied to the NBA’s brightest stars, whether on the free-agent market or through trade rumors.
“That would be the only limiter,” Dunleavy said about Golden State’s hands being tied after acquiring Butler. “But in terms of finding talent, improving this team, we’re going to look under every rock to try and do that.”
The Warriors’ best option might just be to re-sign Kuminga, as his development paired with improved chemistry probably is the most affordable “upgrade.”
But if there’s one thing Golden State’s vintage free-agent acquisition of Kevin Durant taught Dub Nation and the league, it’s that the Warriors shouldn’t ever be counted out in bids for top players.
The second All-Star Game voting update was released on Monday, and Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor remains on track to start at shortstop for the National League -- in what would somehow be just his first All-Star Game appearance as a Met.
Lindor leads all National League shortstops in balloting, with 1,641,053 votes. That is 429,592 ahead of the second-highest vote-getter at shortstop, Mookie Betts of the Dodgers (1,211,461 votes).
Lindor led by 422,085 votes during the first voting update last Monday, so he has increased his advantage.
Elsewhere in voting, Pete Alonso trails Freddie Freeman by about 500,000 votes for the top spot among NL first basemen.
Juan Sotois also on track to reach the second round of voting.
Soto has 1,048,781 votes, making him fifth among NL outfielders.
Phase 1 of voting ends on June 25 at 12 p.m., with the top two vote-getters at each position advancing to Phase 2 of voting (for outfielders, it will be the top six advancing).
The top vote-getter in each league becomes an automatic starter for the game.
As of now, Aaron Judgeand Shohei Ohtani are on track to be the top vote-getters in the American League and National League, respectively.
Aside from Judge, Paul Goldschmidt is the Yankees' other serious candidate in the voting.
Goldschmidt is second in voting at first base, trailing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. by roughly 70,000 votes.
Trevor Zegras has been traded from the Anaheim Ducks to the Philadelphia Flyers for Ryan Poehling, the 2025 45th overall pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
This comes shortly after Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Anaheim Ducks are in “significant discussions” with multiple teams on a Zegras trade, and the likelihood is growing that the talented he could be traded this week.
Zegras had been linked to the New York Rangers as a potential trade target in the past and it’s unclear if they were one of the multiple teams in significant discussions for Zegras.
Now, instead of landing the young forward, he’ll play in the Metropolitan Division with a Rangers rival for potentially years to come.
The 24-year-old forward would have fit the Rangers’ vision of getting younger and still competing, as the talent is there with Zegras, but it seemed he just needed a change of scenery.
It’s speculated that the Rangers will have a busy offseason in terms of making moves to shake up the roster.
“The Rangers are considering an awful lot of things,” Friedman said. “Like after the season they had last year, there are very few things that are off the table. Chris Drury has got a lot out there and he basically wants to know if you want to talk to them about something, just reach out because he’s gotta know everything that's on the table for him.”
With Zegras off the board, we’ll see who the next domino to fall is.
It's Monday, June 23 and the Cubs (46-31) are in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals (42-36). Ben Brown is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Matthew Liberatore for St. Louis.
The Cubs are 3.5 games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers but are just .500 in their last 10 games. They recently dropped their series with the Mariners 2-1. They were outscored 30-20.
The Cardinals have been on a slight hot streak. They have won six of their last 10 games and back-to-back series.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch 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.
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 Cubs at the Cardinals
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Cubs (-109), Cardinals (-110)
Spread: Cardinals 1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Cardinals
Pitching matchup for June 23, 2025: Ben Brown vs. Matthew Liberatore
Cubs: Ben Brown, (4-5, 5.57 ERA) Last outing (Milwaukee Brewers, 6/17): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
Cardinals: Matthew Liberatore, (4-6, 4.08 ERA) Last outing (Chicago White Sox, 6/17): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 4 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 Cubs at Cardinals
The Cardinals have won 4 of their last 5 home games against NL Central teams
Each of the Cubs' last 3 games at the Cardinals have gone over the Total
The Cardinals have failed to cover the Run Line in 6 of their last 7 home 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 Cubs and the Cardinals
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread, and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information, and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Cubs and the Cardinals:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the St. Louis Cardinals on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago Cubs at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
SAN FRANCISCO – Now that the 2024-25 NBA season officially has come to a close with the Oklahoma City Thunder being crowned champions, everybody’s full attention can turn to the buzz around the draft, free agency and trade rumors.
The first round of the NBA draft takes place Wednesday, followed by the second round on Thursday. The Warriors own just one pick at No. 41 overall this year, and it’s highly unlikely they jump into the first round.
For the Warriors, the offseason is centered around their top pick from four years ago, an enigma of a player that has the fan base pulling one way or the other in a never-ending game of tug o’ war.
Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency will be fascinating to watch. The sides couldn’t agree on a rookie extension last offseason, and now the player and team find themselves at a crossroads of trying to figure out what’s next.
Stay alert. Turn your notifications on. Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy also wants an answer without further delay.
“I think we’re in a good spot with it, honestly,” Dunleavy said Monday at Chase Center. “We have the ability to bring him back. He’s restricted. I think there will be good dialogue. I’d like to figure something out sooner than later. That would be great.”
"I think we're in a good spot with it."
Mike Dunleavy weighs in on Jonathan Kuminga's impending restricted free agency pic.twitter.com/DuTgCHFjJR
“I also acknowledge, with restricted free agency, these things can drag out a little bit and take some time,” Dunleavy continued. “I think we feel pretty comfortable with who JK is as a player and what he can do for our organization. … It’s a main priority going into free agency.”
Free agency doesn’t officially begin until July 6 at 9:01 a.m. PT. However, teams can start negotiating with free agents on June 30, one week from now, at 3 p.m. PT.
Since Kuminga is a restricted free agent, the Warriors can match the terms of any offer he agrees to with another team. They don’t want to lose Kuminga for nothing. They won’t.
Executing a sign-and-trade is an option, and Dunleavy already has shown his creativity as a dealmaker in his tenure as GM. Remember, Klay Thompson didn’t sign with the Dallas Mavericks last offseason. He technically was traded to them by the Warriors as part of a historic six-team sign-and-trade.
The Warriors don’t want to wait this out. Kuminga and his camp likely don’t either. Coming to a resolution in the somewhat immediate future will be best for both parties, Dunleavy believes.
“I think just clarity,” Dunleavy explained. “Roster clarity in terms of what else we need to add in free agency, also what we have to spend in terms of minimums, exceptions, those different types of things. I think the sooner the better for everyone. His sake, too, I believe.
“But like I said, restricted free agency can be a little different, so we may have to be patient.”
Patience might have run out for both Kuminga and the Warriors. There have been times when he has been talked about like the next young star who holds the keys to Golden State raising another banner. There have been stretches where Kuminga is an easy 20-point scorer that nobody can contain.
There also have been longer stretches where it seems like Kuminga forgets who Steph Curry is, and coach Steve Kerr forgets Kuminga is still on the roster. Kuminga didn’t fit alongside Jimmy Butler, and then averaged 24.3 points in the final four playoff games when Curry was sidelined from a strained hamstring.
The Warriors also didn’t win any of those games, and Kuminga was given three DNPs in the Warriors’ first five playoff games.
While the NBA season officially ended Sunday night, the offseason began about 10 hours before the Thunder celebrated their championship when former Warriors star Kevin Durant was traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. A handful of teams could see Kuminga as a younger fallback option now that Durant has his newest home.
The Brooklyn Nets are known to have ample salary cap space, and Kuminga’s age, as someone who doesn’t turn 23 years old until October, fits their timeline. The Chicago Bulls have shown interest in the past, and Kuminga’s best skills as one of the game’s top athletes are in alignment with how the Bulls play best.
Whatever the Warriors do next outside of their second-round draft pick, everything ends and begins by having the best feel of Kuminga’s market. Dunleavy didn’t mince his words; he didn’t hide from the questions. The Warriors have to finally put an end to the will-they-or-won’t-they of Kuminga.
Relative to preseason expectations, the 2025 season has been a disappointment for the Boston Red Sox.
The Red Sox entered Monday in fourth place in the American League East standings, six games behind the first-place New York Yankees with a 40-39 record. On the surface, this season looks like more of the same for a club that hasn’t clinched a playoff berth since 2021.
Here’s a look at Boston’s record through its first 79 games of the last four seasons:
2022: 44-35
2023: 40-39
2024: 43-36
2025: 40-39
That’s discouraging, especially if you’re among those who bought into the bounce-back hype after a seemingly successful offseason. This year’s club is three games behind the 2024 club’s pace, and that team defined mediocrity with an 81-81 record.
So, why should we still believe the 2025 Red Sox will be any different?
While we understand the reluctance to buy in, there are several reasons for optimism as we approach the halfway point in the season. Keep reading if you need convincing…
The AL East is still there for the taking
Fourth place isn’t so bad when only six games separate the Red Sox from the first-place Yankees, who have struggled mightily as of late. New York recently lost six consecutive games with three straight shutouts during that stretch. Boston, meanwhile, won four straight series (including a sweep of the Yankees) before dropping two of three against San Francisco over the weekend.
Make no mistake: The American League East remains up for grabs. The Red Sox haven’t been this close to the top of the division at this point in the season since 2021. They were nine games back on June 23 last year.
Boston seemingly won’t have to worry about the Baltimore Orioles, who are a stunning 33-44 after entering the season as a popular World Series pick. The Toronto Blue Jays (41-36) are two games ahead, but they’ve started to come back down to earth after going 11-3 from May 29 to June 11. The Tampa Bay Rays (43-35) are only 3.5 games ahead of the Red Sox despite greatly outperforming their preseason expectations.
The AL East isn’t the powerhouse it used to be, and it’s still on the table for Boston with three months left to play.
In the Wild Card conversation
Of course, the more realistic outcome for the 2025 Red Sox is one of the three AL Wild Card spots. As of Monday, Boston is only a half-game behind the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Guardians (39-37) for the third and final Wild Card berth. The Rays and Blue Jays are first and second in the Wild Card spots, respectively.
There’s no reason the Red Sox shouldn’t remain in the Wild Card mix. The only non-division-leading AL teams with better run differentials than Boston (+15) are the Rays (+70) and Texas Rangers (+16).
The bullpen is much improved
The Red Sox have turned one of their most glaring weaknesses into one of their biggest strengths.
Last year, Boston’s bullpen ranked 24th in MLB with a 4.39 ERA. This season, it ranks sixth with a 3.35 ERA.
Offseason signing Aroldis Chapman has helped the cause with an All-Star-caliber season. The 37-year-old closer has been lights-out, recording a 1.41 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and only nine walks over 35 appearances (32 innings).
Garrett Whitlock’s return to a relief role has also paid dividends. The right-hander has a 2.82 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 28 appearances.
Other key contributors include Greg Weissert (2.83 ERA), Justin Wilson (2.08 ERA), and Brennan Bernardino (3.10 ERA). If the Red Sox end their playoff drought, their improved bullpen will be one of the biggest reasons why.
The rotation is heating up at the right time
A month ago, the Red Sox’ starting rotation was the club’s biggest disapointment. It was a disaster after ace Garrett Crochet with no starters stepping up in the No. 2 spot.
That has changed over the last two weeks. Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito have rebounded from their rough starts to the campaign with multiple quality outings in that span. Hunter Dobbins has been a mixed bag, but he has mostly impressed as a rookie unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight.
If Walker Buehler snaps out of his slump, it’ll go a long way toward keeping Boston in postseason contention.
Reinforcements are coming
June has been the Red Sox’ hottest month despite the absence of All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, who has been out since May 23 due to a quad injury. Bregman looked like an AL MVP candidate before going down, posting 11 homers and 35 RBI with a .938 OPS in 51 games.
According to manager Alex Cora, Bregman’s return feels like it’s going to be “sooner rather than later.” Not only will he bring a much-needed boost to the Rafael Devers-less lineup, but he’ll also solidify Boston’s best possible infield alignment: Bregman at third base, Trevor Story at shortstop, rookie Marcelo Mayer at second, and the Abraham Toro/Romy Gonzalez tandem at first.
Also nearing his return is designated hitter Masataka Yoshida, who has yet to play in a game this season due to offseason shoulder surgery. Cora said Yoshida could begin a rehab assignment soon now that the team’s DH spot is open.
Huge trade deadline ahead
It looks like the fate of the 2025 Red Sox will rest in the hands of chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.
Boston hasn’t had a winning record in August since 2019. One could argue the organization’s lackluster trade deadlines have been to blame, especially over the last two seasons.
!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}}))}();
In 2023, the Chaim Bloom-led Red Sox acquired only infielder Luis Urias and reliever Mauricio Llovera. Last year, Breslow traded for relievers Luis Garcia and Lucas Sims, catcher Danny Jansen, and veteran left-hander James Paxton.
Garcia and Sims were solid before becoming massive disappointments in Boston. Jansen gave the Red Sox a much-needed right-handed bat, though he wasn’t exactly the slugger many fans had envisioned. Paxton was in the midst of a bounce-back season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he again failed to stay healthy in a Red Sox uniform.
It wasn’t a lack of effort by Breslow, but none of his deadline moves made a meaningful difference as the Red Sox missed the playoffs for a third straight year.
Boston cannot afford to strike out at the trade deadline again. If still in the hunt come late July, Breslow must be willing to make bold, aggressive moves that energize the team for August, September, and potenitally October.
The 2025 Red Sox still have a chance to be different, but their success will almost certainly hinge on the moves they make from now through July 31.
It's a big week for Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios and his amateur scouting staff. They'll gather to make a total of six amateur player selections this Friday and Saturday in the annual NHL Draft.
However, in a strange twist this year, Staios and his team won’t actually be at the draft.
In a classic case of trying to fix something that didn’t appear to be broken, the NHL has made a major change to decentralize the event. In other words, the Senators and the 31 other NHL teams will be staying home to make their selections.
Here's how it's expected to play out.
Staios and his staff will meet somewhere in Ottawa on Friday and Saturday to make their selections remotely. They’ll begin with their first pick at 21st overall, relay that choice to a Senators employee in Los Angeles, and the selection will be announced by a special guest.
That guest could be a current or former player, or a celebrity with ties to the team. That's a trend the Senators may have nudged forward in 2020 when former Jeopardy host, the late Alex Trebek, announced Tim Stützle’s name in a recorded message.
The only exception to this new format will be the New York Islanders’ first overall pick, which Commissioner Gary Bettman will announce.
As for the players, the NHL has invited only the top 50 prospects to attend in person, based on the final rankings from NHL Central Scouting. Other prospects are welcome to go, but they didn't get a formal invitation.
Once the Senators make their first-round pick, the player will be brought into what the league is calling a “virtual hockey house,” complete with Senators branding in the background. There, through a two-way camera setup, the newest Senator will meet Staios and the rest of the staff for the first time, a virtual interaction that may be televised. There may also be a reporter in the room for a quick in-person interview with the player.
The move to this decentralized format was announced earlier this year, but by the time the GM meetings rolled around in March, some general managers had already begun to rethink it. It hasn’t turned out to be the cost-saver many had hoped, raising the possibility this could be a one-and-done experiment.
But it should be an interesting one, and one thing is certain. The incredible, high-tech 2024 Draft presentation at The Sphere in Las Vegas has left Los Angeles with an extremely tough (impossible) act to follow.
Your Handy 2025 Senators Draft Guide
After their splashy 21st overall selection, and barring a trade, Senators fans are in for a long wait before their next pick. Barring a trade, they won’t select again until the final pick of the third round, or 96th overall.
Here's what they have in their draft arsenal and how they acquired each pick:
Round Two:
They don’t have a second-round pick. It was packaged up back in March as part of the Fabian Zetterlund trade.
Round Three
They do have a third-round pick, but it’s not their own. The Sens traded away their original third-rounder last summer as a sweetener to convince the St. Louis Blues to take Mathieu Joseph’s contract off their hands.
The 2025 third-round pick they do have came from the Florida Panthers at last year’s deadline in the Vladimir Tarasenko deal. But its value dropped sharply over the past two months after Florida went on to win another Stanley Cup. So, it’s the final pick of the third round.
Round Four
While the Senators may hold the last pick of the third round, they’ll have the first pick in the fourth—originally belonging to the San Jose Sharks, the NHL’s worst team this season. That gives Ottawa back-to-back picks at 96 and 97.
The fourth-rounder came in the Zetterlund deal. The Senators dealt away their own fourth-round pick last July to the Edmonton Oilers as part of the Roby Jarventie trade, which brought back Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson.
Et cetera
The Senators then have one pick in each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds, all their own.
Round one of the NHL Draft is set for this Friday night (June 27th) at 7pm in Los Angeles.
Steve Warne, Site Editor The Hockey News Ottawa (Banner image credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images)
It's Monday, June 23 and the Red Sox (40-39) are in Anaheim to take on the Angels (37-40). Walker Buehler is slated to take the mound for Boston against Jack Kochanowicz for Los Angeles.
Despite being 6.0 games behind the New York Yankees, the Red Sox are making ground in the AL East. They have won seven of their last 10 games and start a series against the struggling Angels. An Angels team that has lost six of their last 10 games and is one of the worst batting teams in the MLB.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch 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.
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 Red Sox at the Angels
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Red Sox (-125), Angels (+105)
Spread: Red Sox -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Red Sox at Angels
Pitching matchup for June 23, 2025: Walker Buehler vs. Jack Kochanowicz
Red Sox: Walker Buehler, (5-5, 5.95 ERA) Last outing (Seattle Mariners, 6/17): 3.1 Innings Pitched, 8 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
Angels: Jack Kochanowicz, (3-8, 5.38 ERA) Last outing (New York Yankees, 6/18): 5.1 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries, and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions, and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Red Sox at Angels
The Red Sox have won 4 of their last 5 series
The Under is 7-3 in the Red Sox's last 10 games
The Angels have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 3.27 units
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline, and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Red Sox and the Angels
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 Monday's game between the Red Sox and the Angels:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Red Sox on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Angels at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Justin "Regs" Reguly has won the Caps Gaming Heatwave HUT Summer Showcase in NHL 25.
The tournament had five days of qualifying rounds with players using base HUT cards before the 16 top players advanced to a best-of-three playoff bracket.
On his run to the finals he defeated Babs91babs91 2-1, Geimer 2-0, and Erikeu1989 2-0. He then defeated Sauceshow 2-1 in the finals to take home the $1,000 grand prize.
It's Monday, June 23 and the Nationals (32-46) are in San Diego to take on the Padres (42-35). Mitchell Parker is slated to take the mound for Washington against Stephen Kolek for San Diego.
The Padres took down the Kansas City Royals in the series with a 3-2 win yesterday. Randy Vasquez was one of the top performers from the game. He only gave up two runs in 7.0 innings.
The Nationals dropped their previous series against the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1. It was an exciting series that had 41 runs scored.
Despite the National's recent success at the plate, they have lost eight of their last 10 games.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch 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 Nationals at Padres
Date: Monday, June 23, 2025
Time: 9:40PM EST
Site: Petco Park
City: San Diego, CA
Network/Streaming: Padres Television Network, MASN 2
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 Nationals at the Padres
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Nationals (+146), Padres (-175)
Spread: Padres -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Padres
Pitching matchup for June 23, 2025: Mitchell Parker vs. Stephen Kolek
Padres: Stephen Kolek, (3-2, 3.59 ERA) Last outing (Los Angeles Dodgers, 6/18): 6.1 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries, and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions, and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Nationals at Padres
The Padres have won 4 of their last 5 games against teams with losing records
The Padres' last 4 home games versus the Nationals have gone over the Total
The Padres have covered in their last 5 games against the Nationals
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 Nationals and the Padres
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 Monday's game between the Nationals and the Padres:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Diego Padres on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals 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:
Mitch Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights continue to be paired together, and once again, Insider Elliotte Friedman had a lot to say when connecting the player and the organization.
“I think there's a lot of people just wondering about, is Vegas the team to beat here? “If you ask most people about Marner and where they think, you know, a lot of people are kind of like, they think, rightly or wrongly, they think that Vegas is the team to beat.”
As it stands, the 28-year-old is still with his hometown team and the team that drafted him fourth overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, but come July. 1, Marner will be free to sign elsewhere. Throughout his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Marner has been praised and cherished as a hometown hero, but he has also been ridiculed and criticized for his playoff performances and the perception that he drained the Maple Leafs for every dollar in his first contract.
Following his entry-level contract, Marner signed a six-year, $10.93-million AAV, making him the third-highest-paid player on the team and resetting the market. In the regular season, Marner was worth every cent, but in the playoffs, the Markham, ON native struggled to live up to his cap hit. In 70 career postseason games, Marner has scored 13 goals and 63 points, but in games 5-7, Marner has zero goals and just seven assists in 20 games.
If Marner signs with the Golden Knights, he would instantly become their highest-paid player, although Jack Eichel could surpass him on his next deal. Some reports have stated that Marner may take his time with the process and doesn't feel pressured to sign on July 1st, which would build up the suspense and could cause a stressful offseason for the Golden Knights front office.
Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.
