Its Thursday, June 19 and the Mets (45-29) are in Atlanta looking to avoid being swept by the Braves (33-39).
Clay Holmes is slated to take the mound for New York against Spencer Strider for Atlanta.
Chris Sale was electric last night as the Braves blanked the Mets, 5-0. They will look to make it three in a row over their division rival tonight. Matt Olson and Ronald Acuna Jr. each went deep for the Braves, but it was Sales' night as the veteran allowed just five hits while striking out seven over 8.2 innings for his fifth win of the season.
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 Mets at Braves
Date: Thursday, June 19, 2025
Time: 7:15PM EST
Site: Truist Park
City: Atlanta, GA
Network/Streaming: SNY, FSDNSO, MLBN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Mets at the Braves
The latest odds as of Thursday:
Moneyline: Mets (+109), Braves (-129)
Spread: Braves -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Mets at Braves
Pitching matchup for June 19, 2025: Clay Holmes vs. Spencer Strider
Mets: Clay Holmes (7-3, 2.87 ERA) Last outing: 6/13 vs. Tampa Bay - 5IP, 1ER, 3H, 2BB, 3Ks
Braves: Spencer Strider (1-5, 4.36 ERA) Last outing: 6/14 vs. Colorado - 6IP, 0ER, 3H, 1BB, 13Ks
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 Mets at Braves
The Mets have won 18 of 28 games following a defeat
With Spencer Strider starting for the Braves this season the Under is 5-1 (83%)
The Mets have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games but they are profiting 1.16 units
Clay Holmes has struck out 3 opposing hitters in every start since the beginning of May but has struck out as many as 6 just once (6/7 at Colorado)
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 Mets and the Braves
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Mets and the Braves:
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 New York Mets 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:
Leicester City have been approached by Scottish Premiership club Rangers over a deal for 32-year-old defender Conor Coady, while his former club Wolves have also shown interest. (Sky Sports)
Its Thursday, June 19 and the Angels (36-37) are in Bronx to take on the Yankees (42-31).
Tyler Anderson is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Carlos Rodón for New York.
The Angels are looking to sweep the Yankees having taken the first three games of the series. Last night, New York scored for the first time in three games but were outscored and lost, 3-2. Anthony Volpe's error in the eighth inning allowed what turn out to be the winning run to score. The bats showed some life last night as Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger each went yard, but those were two of a mere three hits for the Yankees.
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 Angels at Yankees
Date: Thursday, June 19, 2025
Time: 1:05PM EST
Site: Yankee Stadium
City: Bronx, NY
Network/Streaming: FDSNW, YES, MLBN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Angels at the Yankees
The latest odds as of Thursday:
Moneyline: Angels (+215), Yankees (-266)
Spread: Yankees -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Angels at Yankees
Pitching matchup for June 19, 2025: Tyler Anderson vs. Carlos Rodón
Angels: Tyler Anderson (2-4, 4.44 ERA) Last outing: 6/14 at Baltimore - 5IP, 6ER, 9H, 2BB, 4Ks
Yankees: Carlos Rodón (8-5, 3.01 ERA) Last outing: 6/14 at Boston - 5IP, 3ER, 7H, 2BB, 4Ks
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 Angels at Yankees
The Yankees have won 16 of 29 games following a defeat
With Carlos Rodon starting for the Yankees this season the Under is 11-4 (73%)
The Yankees have failed to cover the Run Line in 5 straight matchups against the Angels
Aaron Judge is 1-19 over his last 5 games
Paul Goldschmidt is 0-10 in his last 3 games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Angels and the Yankees
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Angels and the Yankees:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Yankees 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 under 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:
For the better part of Brad Stevens’ tenure as Boston Celtics president of basketball operations, draft picks have been a bit of an afterthought.
Stevens didn’t make a first-round pick in his first three years at the helm, preferring to utilize those assets to reshape the complementary pieces around the superstar tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. That strategy delivered Boston to two NBA Finals appearances in three years, and helped the team raise Banner 18 in 2024.
But a new collective bargaining agreement is forcing teams to prioritize drafting and developing in order to piece together the complicated financial puzzle that comes with building around two big-ticket stars. Hitting on first-round picks has never felt more important for contending teams.
All of which has us pondering all of Boston’s potential pathways in the 2025 draft. Given the murky nature of the season ahead, might this be a good time for Stevens to flip the draft-day script and ponder shimmying up in the annual pick-a-palooza?
The case for Celtics trading up
The absence of Tatum as he rehabs from Achilles surgery could change Boston’s regular-season priorities. The development of younger talent should be a bigger emphasis than the past three seasons, when the Celtics were laser-focused on title pursuits.
In a quest to find low-cost talent to pair with whatever remains of this championship core, the Celtics could give beefed-up minutes to recent draftees like Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh, while also leaning heavily into any rookie they moved up to select.
Any expected growing pains are slightly offset by tempered expectations while Tatum is out, and the Celtics would embrace developing the players selected during the Stevens era.
The case against Celtics trading up
Much of what the Celtics do this summer will be steered by money.
The Celtics need to cut $20 million from next year’s payroll just to get off the punitive second apron, and they’d need to trim $20 million more to get below the luxury tax. Moving up in the draft slots a player at a higher annual salary.
What’s more, moving up would eliminate other swings of the bat, a risk given the crapshoot nature of picking outside the lottery.
How high can Celtics climb?
The Celtics currently own picks Nos. 28 and 32 in the 2025 NBA Draft. Unlike the NFL, there’s no widely-accepted NBA draft pick value chart, which makes it difficult to gauge just how high the Celtics might be able to climb if they packaged both their 2025 picks in hopes of shimmying up for a desired target.
Some old-school charts, like one created by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, suggest Boston might be able to get into the low 20s. More recent attempts to establish draft value suggest Boston might only be able to climb a handful of spots.
For the purposes of this exercise, the Celtics are calling the Hawks, who are slotted at Nos. 13 and 22, with the goal of moving up six spots for a player who lingers on the board coming out of the lottery.
The Hawks slide back, content with what they got at 13 and now armed with additional swings of the bat.
Let’s get to the trade-centric mock:
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, Duke
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, Rutgers
3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
The Sixers wish this was the year they could move from No. 3 to No. 1, instead of 2017.
If we were Daryl Morey, we’d be moving the No. 3 pick this year for the best available veteran and crossing our fingers on Joel Embiid’s health next season. They’ll have another lottery pick next year if that doesn’t work out.
4. Charlotte Hornets: Ace Bailey, Rutgers
5. Utah Jazz: Kon Knueppel, Duke
6. Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson, Texas
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
The Pelicans now have picks Nos. 7 and 23 after swinging a deal with the Pacers during the middle of the NBA Finals. New general manager Joe Dumars can make a splash by trying to move up in the draft, but he stands pat in this scenario.
The Rockets are almost certainly going to take a swing this summer, and it sure feels like the No. 10 pick could be a centerpiece of whatever they do.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Carter Bryant, Arizona
12. Chicago Bulls: Derik Queen, Maryland
13. Atlanta Hawks (via Kings): Egor Demin, BYU
The Hawks get an intriguing young guard with their first pick and can hunt a big man when they’re back on the clock with Boston’s No. 28 pick.
14. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Nique Clifford, Colorado State
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Heat): Asa Newell, Georgia
Newell is the move-up prize we might covet most for the Celtics, but the Thunder are so well stocked that they can roll the dice on his intriguing upside.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic): Hugo Gonzalez, Spain
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Drake Powell, North Carolina
18. Washington Wizards (via Grizzlies): Cedric Coward, Washington State
19. Brooklyn Nets (via Bucks): Thomas Sorber, Georgetown
You never want to draft for need. But undeniably, with all the uncertainty in the Celtics’ frontcourt, it feels important for Boston to at least prioritize size.
If Sorber is still on the board in the late teens, he’s a very intriguing move-up option with his two-way potential.
20. Miami Heat (via Warriors): Danny Wolf, Michigan
21. Utah Jazz (via Wolves): Will Riley, Illinois
22. Boston Celtics (via Hawks): Joan Beringer, France
Look, do I have a thing for shot-blocking, lob-finishing big men? Obviously. (Miss you, Rob.)
The Celtics need an injection of youth and athleticism, and they get all of that in a player who will still be 18 when the NBA season tips.
Normally, we’d be thinking draft-and-stash with a pick like this, but we’re wondering if you could throw him right to the wolves (the Minnesota version and beyond) and let him learn on the NBA job.
23. New Orleans Pelicans (via Pacers): Nolan Traore, France
24. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Noah Penda, France
Three Frenchmen in a row?! The L’Hexagone Trois? Aww, oui oui.
Pakistani cricketers and fast bowlers were in high demand during Thursday’s Big Bash League overseas player draft, with seven players from the south Asian nation set to appear in the T20 tournament this summer.
It’s no secret that Rafael Devers’ Boston Red Sox tenure did not end on a positive note.
The superstar slugger reportedly was not thrilled with his former team asking him to transition from third base to designated hitter in the offseason after the team signed free agent Alex Bregman, and eventually to first base earlier this season after an injury to Triston Casas, before he was traded to the Giants in a stunning blockbuster deal on Sunday.
While many have criticized both Devers’ and the Red Sox’ handling of the situation, ESPN’s Buster Olney shared on the latest episode of the “Baseball Tonight” podcast that individuals with other MLB teams he spoke to placed far more of the blame on Devers.
“Within the sport, people with other teams are appalled at how he handled that,” Olney told Tim Kurkjian. “I had one person say to me, ‘Look the team’s handling of this on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being bad, was a six.’ This person said, ‘Devers? It was a 10 out of 10 [for] how badly he handled this.'”
Even Red Sox icons, such as David Ortiz, have criticized Devers for how the young slugger carried himself as Boston’s face of the franchise.
It’s a small sample size, but in two games with the Giants, Devers has been willing to do whatever his new team needs of him, including playing first base.
It remains to be seen when, or if, Devers will take over as the team’s everyday first baseman, but if he does, it’s fair to assume the Giants hope the transition will be drama-free.
SAN FRANCISCO — When the Rafael Devers press conference ended Tuesday, Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey went down to the field, but he wasn’t there to take in any more of the day’s craziness. Posey spent some time catching up with former teammate Stephen Vogt, who now manages the Cleveland Guardians.
“I just gave him crap for pulling off the trade,” Vogt said a day later, smiling.
Vogt knows Devers better than most of the current Giants. His Guardians currently are neck-and-neck with the Red Sox for the final wild-card spot in the American League, and he has gone up against Devers for years as a player and manager in the AL.
In Vogt’s final season with the Athletics, he and Devers homered in the same game at Fenway Park. Earlier this season, as a manager, he watched Devers pick up five hits, five runs, two homers and three RBI during a three-game series at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
Asked what the Giants are getting in Devers, Vogt referenced his Giants debut, when he hit a 111 mph double early in the game and later singled.
“You saw it last night. You make a mistake, he’s going to bang it,” Vogt said. “He’s just a really good hitter, he’s a complete hitter and obviously the power is real. He’s going to hurt you [but] when he needs to get a single, he’ll get a single. He’ll work a walk when he needs to. He’s a top 10 hitter in baseball in my opinion. The Giants got a good one.”
Vogt is in his second year as a manager, and his debut last season was about as successful as Posey’s first year as an executive has gone so far. He was named AL Manager of the Year after leading the Guardians to 92 wins and a division title.
Vogt played just one season in San Francisco, backing up Posey in 2019. He was extremely popular within the clubhouse and remains close with Posey.
“Buster was an awesome teammate,” Vogt said Wednesday. “I’m really happy that he’s in the position that he’s in and wish him nothing but the best.”
The most notable event on the calendar is the 2025 NHL Draft, which starts in eight days. This year’s draft class is impressive, especially at the center position. That’s good news for the Boston Bruins, who will pick No. 7 overall after failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Check out our 2025 NHL mock draft below:
32. Calgary Flames (via Panthers): Bill Zonnon, RW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
Zonnon ranked fifth in assists and tied for seventh in points among QMJHL players last season. The Flames scored the fourth-fewest goals of any team in 2024-25 and could use a dynamic offensive player like him in their prospect pool.
31. Philadelphia Flyers (via Oilers): Benjamin Kindel, C, Calgary (WHL)
Kindel doesn’t have a ton of size, but his speed and playmaking ability would be a nice boost for the Flyers, who currently own three first-round picks in this draft.
30. San Jose Sharks (via Stars): Shane Vansaghi, RW, Michigan State (NCAA)
After taking a couple centers with first-round picks (including the No. 2 pick below), it’s time to add some depth on the wing in San Jose. Spartans forward Shane Vansaghi would be among the best available at the position this late in Round 1.
Shane Vansaghi tips this one in the waning seconds of the power play – his third goal of the season. Larson and Andrews get the assists. pic.twitter.com/TIeJSgqYZu
29. Carolina Hurricanes: Milton Gastrin, C, Modo Jr. (SWE-JR)
Gastrin is a reliable, two-way center who can excel in all situations. He could maybe be a Jordan Staal replacement at some point in Carolina.
28. Winnipeg Jets: Henry Brzustewicz, D, London (OHL)
Brzustewicz is poised with the puck, he has a high hockey IQ and enough offensive skill to generate scoring chances at the NHL level. He played a huge role in the London Knights winning the 2025 Memorial Cup.
27. Washington Capitals: Cullen Potter, C, Arizona State (NCAA)
Potter’s goal-scoring ability and speed make him an exciting prospect. In fact, if he falls all the way to the late first round, he could end up being a huge steal. The only concern is his lack of size at 5-foot-9.
26. Nashville Predators (via Golden Knights): Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George (WHL)
Ravensbergen is considered by many experts to be the top-ranked goalie prospect in the 2025 draft class. With veteran Juuse Saros signed long-term, the Predators could allow Ravensbergen to develop at the right pace and not rush him to the NHL. His size (6-foot-5), athleticism and poise are all impressive.
25. Chicago Blackhawks (via Maple Leafs): Sascha Boumedienne, D, Boston University (NCAA)
Boumedienne was the youngest player in NCAA hockey last season and showed tremendous improvement throughout the campaign. His hockey IQ is fantastic. After taking Artyom Levshunov at No. 2 overall last year, the addition of Boumedienne would give the Blackhawks really strong depth and high-end talent at defenseman in their prospect pool.
24. Los Angeles Kings: Daniil Prokhorov, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg Jr. (RUS-JR)
Prokhorov is a talented goal scorer with excellent size (6-foot-6 and 220 pounds). His power forward kind of style would be a nice fit on the Kings.
The Predators were the second-lowest scoring team in the league last season. Spence would be among the best goal scorers available at this stage of the draft, and his top-end speed is a nice bonus.
22. Philadelphia Flyers (via Avalanche): Blake Fiddler, D, Edmonton (WHL)
The Flyers desperately need to find a No. 1 defenseman of the future, and Fiddler would be a nice get for them with the No. 22 pick, even if he’s a few years away from making a real impact at the NHL level. His skating ability for a player listed at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds is quite impressive.
21. Ottawa Senators: Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor (OHL)
The Senators got back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017 but lost to the Maple Leafs in the first round. They scored more than two goals in just two of the six games. A well-rounded center with offensive upside in Jack Nesbitt would be a safe choice for the Senators.
Hensler is a good skater and a strong defender who could excel in a shutdown role. His offensive skill set needs to improve if he’s going to maximize his potential, but there’s a lot to like in his game.
19. St. Louis Blues: Braedon Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL)
Cootes led Seattle in scoring with 63 points in 60 games, nearly doubling his offensive output from the previous season. He also has strong leadership skills and captained Canada to a gold medal at the 2025 U-18 World Championship. His play style is actually pretty similar to Blues captain Brayden Schenn.
18. Calgary Flames (via Devils): Cole Reschny, C, Victoria (WHL)
If you look at the top 10 prospects in the Flames’ system, not many of them are centers. Reschny had a strong second half of the season for Victoria and his draft stock has risen as a result. He also showed dramatic improvement offensively with 92 points (26 goals, 66 assists) last season — 33 more than he had in the 2023-24 campaign.
17. Montreal Canadiens: Cameron Reid, D, Kitchener (OHL)
The Canadiens exceeded expectations this season by making the playoffs as a wild card team, and they have two first-round picks to add more premium talent to their organization.
Reid’s two-way skill set and high hockey IQ make him a good fit for Montreal in this spot.
16. Montreal Canadiens (via Flames): Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blaineville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
Carbonneau’s 46 goals were tied for the second-most in the QMJHL this past season. And he’s not just a scorer. He plays a hard, heavy game and is relentless on the forecheck. It wouldn’t take long for him to become a fan favorite in Montreal.
15. Vancouver Canucks: Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgarden (SWE-2)
If the Canucks keep this pick, Victor Eklund would be a smart choice here. The Swedish winger would add some much-needed speed, skill and toughness to the Canucks forward group.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL)
Bear’s elite offensive skill and high compete level would help make him a nice fit with what the Blue Jackets are building.
The Penguins need to find a No. 1 defenseman of the future, and Aitcheson fits the bill. He ranked third among all OHL defensemen with 59 points in 64 games last season.
10. Anaheim Ducks: Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle (WHL)
The Ducks are in the top 10 of the first round for the fifth straight year. Three of their previous four picks in this range were forwards, including Beckett Sennecke at No. 3 overall last year. With so many of the top forwards off the board, it would make the most sense for the Ducks to add a blue-chip defenseman prospect in Radim Mrtka. He plays a lot like Lightning star Victor Hedman.
The Sabres could opt to take the best center available here, but with so many of them already off the board, a wing with Martone’s offensive and physical traits makes a lot of sense. He would likely be a good fit alongside Tage Thompson at some point.
8. Seattle Kraken: Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL)
The Kraken have drafted a center in the top 10 in two of the last three years, but McQueen is too talented of a prospect to pass on here. And frankly, he might be gone at this point depending on how teams view these centers. McQueen has drawn comparisons to Ducks legend Ryan Getzlaf with his size (6-foot-5) and two-way skill set.
7. Boston Bruins: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)
It’s no secret the Bruins need a center. They haven’t drafted well at that position for a long time. Luckily for the B’s, they have a top 10 pick (their first since 2011) in a draft that’s loaded with quality centers.
O’Brien is the best center available at this point in Round 1. He has a really strong two-way skill set with the high-end offensive talent to consistently create scoring chances for himself and teammates. He tallied 66 assists in 66 games for Brantford last season.
6. Philadelphia Flyers: James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA)
Hagens didn’t score as much as some expected for Boston College, but he is an elite playmaker and a great skater. He has top-six center potential for a Flyers organization that needs more high-end talent at that position.
5. Nashville Predators: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Martin’s draft stock has risen quite a bit in recent weeks. He plays a lot like 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett, and general managers love those kinds of players.
The Mammoth jumped 10 spots in the draft lottery, allowing them to select one of the best center prospects available. Caleb Desnoyers makes the most sense here. His offensive upside is tremendous. He also won the Guy LaFleur Trophy as QMJHL playoff MVP this past season.
3. Chicago Blackhawks: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden (SWE-2)
Frondell and Connor Bedard as a 1-2 punch at center long-term is an exciting scenario for Blackhawks fans. Frondell is not only highly skilled, he plays a true power forward style of hockey.
2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL)
The Sharks drafted center Macklin Celebrini at No. 1 in 2024 and center Will Smith at No. 4 overall in 2023. But with no defenseman worthy of the No. 2 pick in this class (assuming Schaefer goes No. 1 to the Islanders), taking another forward in Misa should be an easy choice. Misa is the No. 1 ranked forward in this draft. He is the complete package offensively and led the CHL in scoring with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) in 65 games.
1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL)
The Islanders got lucky and jumped all the way up from No. 10 to No. 1 in the draft lottery. It might be tempting to take Misa here, but with veteran centers Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal signed long term, it would be hard to fault the Islanders for going with Matthew Schaefer. He could be a top-pairing defenseman for a decade.
SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants are no longer living platoon life, but they still make tweaks to their lineup depending on whether they’re facing a lefty or a righty. On Tuesday, Jung Hoo Lee led off against a right-hander. A night later he was hitting sixth against a lefty, with Heliot Ramos in the leadoff spot.
Both nights, however, included Rafael Devers in the third spot, and that wasn’t just to keep him comfortable as he settled in at Oracle Park. Devers has a .909 OPS against right-handed pitching and a .882 OPS against lefties. He hits them all, and he is likely to hit third for Bob Melvin most nights. But the manager said Wednesday that he could change his mind over time.
“I don’t worry about where I hit him. I might worry about where I need him at times,” Melvin said. “Depending on how the offense is doing, you may juggle some stuff. You could see him in the two-hole, you could see him in the four-hole, something like that. But he’s not going to venture too far from where he is.”
Devers hit second in every appearance for the Boston Red Sox this year, but he also has 270 career starts in the cleanup spot and 75 hitting third. Teams often use their best hitter second these days, but having Devers third allows the Giants to keep Willy Adames — who was starting to come around in the week before the trade — near the top of the lineup. It should benefit Adames, too.
“I know in the long run for a fact I’m going to get more pitches to hit because of him,” Adames said Tuesday night.
With a different look at the top of the lineup, Lee hit in the bottom half for the first time in his two seasons as a Giant. Lee has done a nice job against lefties this season, but he is hitting just .192 in June.
“He hits lefties fine, but Ramos has really probably done the best job in the leadoff spot,” Melvin said of Lee. “With Flo in the lineup today behind Devers, I just moved him down a little bit.”
Disappointing Return
Justin Verlander called his return from the IL “frustrating” and “inconsistent.” He paid dearly for a fastball that was middle-middle and crushed into the seats. Three of the four runs on Verlander’s line came on that pitch, which he called “one of the worst I threw all day.”
Verlander fell to 0-4 and went just 4 2/3 innings in his return from the IL on Wednesday, but the Giants had him on a pitch count since he didn’t have a rehab assignment and instead built up with live BP sessions and bullpens. This is not how anyone imagined his first three months in San Francisco going, but Verlander said he was excited by the Devers addition and hopeful that he soon can join the party. The Giants will need him, since they just traded away some crucial starting pitching depth.
Slumping At Second
The homer came shortly after Tyler Fitzgerald booted a ball with one out and nobody on. There have been mistakes on the bases and defensively lately, and Fitzgerald also is 8-for-52 over his last 17 games. In both games of this series, he was lifted for a pinch-hitter late in the game. Wilmer Flores hit for him on Tuesday and Dominic Smith replaced him in the ninth Wednesday.
“He’s a little in-between,” Melvin said of Fitzgerald. “A little late on the heater, out in front on the breaking ball … it’s a little bit of a struggle recently.”
Fitzgerald seemed to find his stride in mid-April but missed 13 games in May with a rib fracture. The latest slump has dropped his OPS to .629, and he has just two homers after breaking out for 15 last season.
Another IL Stint
In the midst of Devers Mania on Tuesday, there was some roster shuffling. Outfielder Daniel Johnson initially was optioned to Triple-A to open a spot for Devers, but he returned a couple of hours later after Jerar Encarnacion went on the IL with an oblique strain. Melvin said Encarnacion’s strain is a pretty bad one, and he’ll miss extended time.
The injury is the latest tough blow for a player who had a strong spring and looked headed for plenty of at-bats. Encarnacion fractured his hand at the end of spring and missed about two months. He was back for just eight games, going 3-for-22 with six strikeouts and no walks.
The injury occurred as Encarnacion was trying to find a way out of his slump. Melvin said he came to the ballpark on Monday’s off day and got a lot of swings in.
After a run of greats at the helm, the tourists’ early promotion of their new leader is an intriguing choice to steady a listing ship
Shubman Gill was a pretty laid-back character when he played for Glamorgan three summers ago. So laid back, in fact, that early on during his time there he parked the brand new Volvo the club had arranged for him and apparently left the keys in the ignition. Sure enough, after training, he returned to find it had been pinched.
Cue panic in the finance department at Sophia Gardens, calls to the insurers and the like. But at least his new teammates had material for some lighthearted mickey-taking. Gill, just turned 23 but already an India star on the rise, had arrived for three September rounds of the County Championship in 2022. Saying hello with 92 on debut in Cardiff, and goodbye with 119 at Hove, it sounds like he fitted in well.
Australia will face India in a blockbuster at Lord’s next June in a clash likely to be pivotal to its bid to reclaim the Women’s T20 World Cup it conceded in a rare form dip last October.
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan delivers during a 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Twenty-nine hours before his official return to the Dodger Stadium mound, Emmet Sheehan took a moment to get himself reacquainted with his home ballpark.
In an empty Dodger Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, Sheehan walked onto the field at Chavez Ravine, climbed up a slope he hadn’t toed since the 2023 season, and practiced his pitching motion a few times before returning to the clubhouse.
For Sheehan, such dry tosses are part of his normal pre-start routine. In any ballpark where he pitches, he likes to get a feel for the mound and its surroundings before the game.
The only difference this time: how long it had been since he’d taken the bump in a big-league stadium.
After an auspicious rookie season in 2023, in which his 4.92 earned-run average belied the potential he flashed with his low-arm-slot and high-velocity delivery, Sheehan missed all of last season and the first three months of this campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
On Wednesday, he finally completed the long road back, spinning four impressive innings in a 4-3 walk-off win over the San Diego Padres that ended on Will Smith’s pinch-hit home run in the ninth.
"It was awesome,” Sheehan said, after giving up just one run while striking out six batters. “Once I was out there, it was kind of just back in compete mode once you see a hitter in the box. But definitely before and then after, [I was] feeling the emotions of just the past year, for sure."
A former sixth-round draft pick who blossomed into one of the organization’s top pitching prospects during an impressive minor-league career, Sheehan became one of the Dodgers' many recent homegrown pitchers to endure a major surgery after injuring his elbow in spring training last year.
As he worked his way back, though, his relatively seamless recovery process had fueled excitement throughout the organization.
His stuff still looked sharp, from a mid-90s mph fastball to a tantalizing changeup-slider combination. His command had been surprisingly consistent during a minor-league rehab stint, collecting 16 strikeouts against only one walk in three outings with triple-A Oklahoma City.
And against the Padres on Wednesday, the 25-year-old right-hander looked like he had hardly missed a beat.
He threw 65 pitches, 43 for strikes. He didn’t issue a walk, while yielding only three hits. And the lone score against him came when second baseman Tommy Edman failed to corral a hard-hit one-hopper with two outs in the top of the second.
“Emmett was fantastic,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Going into it tonight, [I wanted him to] trust his stuff, be on the attack with his mix. And he did just that. He flooded the zone, kept them on their heels.”
Sheehan wasn’t the winning pitcher. That honor went to another former prospect, left-hander Justin Wrobleski, who followed Sheehan with five stellar innings of long relief in which he flashed his own promising signs (including a fastball that touched 99 mph at one point) after an up-and-down start to his big-league career.
For most of his outing, Wrobleski was protecting a 3-1 lead the Dodgers took in the bottom of the fifth, when Max Muncy hit a leadoff triple, Hyeseong Kim followed an Andy Pages sacrifice fly with a double, and slumping rookie catcher Dalton Rushing plated the game’s go-ahead runs on a two-run single.
"You look at the growth of two young pitchers, and what they did today against a very formidable ball club," Roberts said. "And also Dalton, being the catcher back there with the fingers, I thought it was a big night for him, as well."
With the Dodgers’ relievers worn out from back-to-back bullpen games the previous two nights, Wrobleski went back to the mound in the ninth and gave up two runs after a Muncy throwing error put him in a jam.
But Smith made sure it didn’t matter, coming off the bench in the bottom of the inning to whack a walk-off home run just over the right-field wall.
Will Smith (16) celebrates with his Dodgers teammates after hitting a walk-off home run in the ninth inning of a 4-3 win over the Padres on Wednesday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers (46-29) have now clinched a series victory in this four-game set against the Padres (39-34), with the chance for a sweep Thursday. Overall, they are 17-11 in what has been a daunting 28-game stretch over the last month, extending their lead in the National League West to 4½ games.
“It's definitely been a long few weeks, playing some really good ball clubs, dealing with injuries and everything,” Smith said. “But yeah, we're just sticking together as a team, grinding through it one day at a time. … Try to play good baseball and see what happens.”
Despite the late dramatics, it was Sheehan’s return that had the biggest implications on the rest of the Dodgers’ season, giving their shorthanded rotation a badly needed, and highly intriguing, new option.
While discussing Sheehan before the game, Roberts said the Dodgers always “liked his makeup, his toughness, his ability to repeat his delivery, the swing-and-miss stuff, the preparation.”
But the way he navigated his Tommy John recovery — returning to action 13 months after undergoing the procedure last May — had added another element of optimism among team officials.
Emmet Sheehan delivers against the Padres on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Roberts noted how Sheehan had increased his physical strength during his rehab, with the once lanky 6-foot-5 pitcher (who joked that he was so nervous during his rookie season, he lost weight from hardly eating) now possessing noticeably more mass.
Roberts also explained how Sheehan has “had a chance to watch a lot of baseball, learn and then now apply it.”
“I think that's going to make him a better major league pitcher,” Roberts said.
One start back, signs of such growth were already present — from the way Sheehan attacked the strike zone, put away hitters and commanded a mound he had longed to pitch off the past two years.
“He’s not afraid, he’s not gonna run from it and he’s gonna trust his stuff,” Roberts said. “To be prepared for tonight and not feel [out] his way back to the big leagues, in a big ball game, a lot of credit goes to him.”
In this week's Closer Report, Daniel Palencia continues to thrive in the ninth-inning role for the Cubs. Will Vest seems to have dodged an injury scare in Detroit. Matt Strahm And Garrett Whitlock leads potential closer stashes should the Red Sox look to deal away Aroldis Chapman following their trade of Rafael Devers.
Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings
Tier 1: At the Top
Josh Hader - Houston Astros
Hader allowed a run last Thursday, just his fifth of the season, before holding on for his 18th save against the White Sox. He then pitched a pair of scoreless outings, falling in line for a win both times. With four wins, 18 saves, a 1.45 ERA, and 48 strikeouts over 31 innings, the 31-year-old left-hander has been the most valuable closer in fantasy.
Tier 2: The Elite
Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners Edwin Díaz - New York Mets Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians Mason Miller - Athletics
Muñoz didn't see a save chance this week. After not pitching in eight days, he tossed a scoreless ninth with an 8-0 lead over the Red Sox on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Díaz converted his 15th save last Thursday against the Nationals and pitched a scoreless inning against the Braves on Tuesday in a non-save situation.
Suarez was hit for five runs and took the loss against the Diamondbacks on Saturday. He then surrendered a walk-off solo homer in a tie game against the Dodgers on Wednesday. The five-run appearance was his second such outing of the season, with 10 of his 12 earned runs coming over the two games.
Duran didn't have his best week, either. He gave up a run against the Astros on Saturday to take the loss, then surrendered a run to blow the save chance Sunday.
In Cleveland, Clase has been hittable of late, giving up two hits in four of his last seven outings. It cost him a save Saturday against the Mariners as he allowed two runs on two hits and three walks before stranding the bases loaded Tuesday to convert a save against the Giants. He then worked around one hit, striking out one batter for his 16th save on Wednesday.
And it's been an odd season for Miller, who gave up another three runs in a non-save situation against the Royals on Friday before striking out two batters in each of his next two outings for a save and a win. The 26-year-old right-hander has maintained his elite velocity, averaging 101 mph, and continues to collect strikeouts. Miller seems to have moments where he loses his command and unravels. Though it might be tough to stay in a consistent groove when the team has put him in fewer save situations over the last two months.
Tier 3: The Solid Options
Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox Devin Williams - New York Yankees Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers Camilo Doval - San Francisco Giants Will Vest/Tommy Kahnle - Detroit Tigers Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs David Bednar - Pittsburgh Pirates Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays Emilio Pagán - Cincinnati Reds Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals
Scott has been lights out in June after a rough second half of May. He pitched three clean innings this week, collecting two saves and a hold. The 30-year-old left-hander is up to 14 saves with a 3.63 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a 40/4 K/BB ratio across 34 2/3 innings. Scott's 3% walk rate is by far the best of his career and the lowest among closers.
Chapman recorded the final two outs in a non-save situation against the Yankees on Friday, then struck out the side for a save on Monday against the Mariners. The 37-year-old veteran lefty has converted 13 saves with a 1.45 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and a 43/9 K/BB ratio across 31 innings.
Williams struck out one batter in a clean frame to earn a save against the Royals last Thursday. He struck out one in a scoreless inning in a non-save situation against the Angels on Monday. Williams has been effective since stepping back into the closer role following Luke Weaver's hamstring injury.
Megill also had a strong week. He gave up a run but held on for the save Friday against the Cardinals before striking out the side Sunday for his 15th save. Meanwhile, Doval hasn't seen the mound this week, as the Giants produced no save chances.
Vest was charged with a blown save and a loss after giving up three runs against the Reds on Sunday. He was removed from the contest with an apparent finger injury. He was able to pass all tests and avoid the injured list.
Bautista converted back-to-back save chances against the Angels, then tossed a scoreless frame against the Rays on Tuesday. The 29-year-old right-hander touched 100 mph for the first time this season on Saturday and has improved throughout the season in his return from Tommy John surgery. Bautista has posted a 2.92 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 32/17 K/BB ratio across 24 2/3 innings.
Hoffman worked around a walk with no strikeouts in a scoreless inning to fall in line for a win on Tuesday for his only appearance this week. The 32-year-old right-hander has picked up six wins with 17 saves while posting a 5.52 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 43/9 K/BB ratio across 31 innings.
Palencia has been outstanding for the Cubs since taking control of the ninth-inning role. He made four scoreless appearances this week, picking up two saves and a hold. The 25-year-old right-hander has converted seven saves with a 1.67 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and a 29/10 K/BB ratio across 27 innings.
Bednar worked a clean inning for a save against the Cubs on Friday, then took the loss against Chicago with a run allowed on Sunday. Meanwhile, Helsley surrendered a solo homer in a non-save situation for his fourth straight outing in which he's allowed a run in. And in Tampa, Fairbanks worked around a hit and a walk, holding the Mets scoreless on Friday for his 13th save.
Pagán continues to get the job done for the Reds. He tossed a scoreless inning against the Tigers on Sunday, then worked around two walks, striking out two batters for his 17th save against the Twins on Tuesday. Behind Pagán, Tony Santillan hasn't produced the same strikeout rate that he flashed last season, but he's been effective nonetheless with 15 holds and a 2.65 ERA over 34 innings.
Estévez made two appearances against the Athletics over the weekend, taking the loss with a solo homer allowed on Sunday. He then pitched a clean inning for his 20th save against the Rangers on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Finnegan tossed a scoreless inning against the Marlins in a non-save situation on Friday, then surrendered three runs and blew the save chance against the Rockies on Monday.
Tier 4: Here for the Saves
Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels Shelby Miller - Arizona Diamondbacks Dylan Lee/Raisel Iglesias/Pierce Johnson - Atlanta Brave Matt Strahm/Orion Kerkering/Jordan Romano - Philadelphia Phillies Robert Garcia/Luke Jackson - Texas Rangers
Jansen surrendered two runs against the Orioles on Sunday, then struck out two batters in a scoreless inning against the Yankees on Monday before tossing a clean frame Wednesday for his 15th save. Behind him, Reid Detmers continued his scoreless innings streak with a pair of shutout appearances.
Miller was looking to convert his second save since Justin Martinez landed on the injured list, but surrendered two solo homers to blow the lead and take the loss against the Blue Jays on Monday. The 34-year-old right-hander remains the favorite for most save chances in Arizona.
While it looks to be a committee in Atlanta for the time being, Lee has pitched the ninth inning in each of his last two appearances. He pitched the ninth with a four-run lead against the Rockies on Saturday, then held the Mets scoreless in the ninth of a tie game Tuesday. And it's another committee situation in Philadelphia, with Strahm and Kerkering picking up saves for the Phillies this week.
The uncertainty continues in Texas, where Garcia picked up a save against the White Sox on Friday before he was charged with a blown save on Saturday. Jackson stepped in on Sunday to convert his ninth save.
Tier 5: Bottom of the Barrel
Calvin Faucher - Miami Marlins Seth Halvorsen - Colorado Rockies Brandon Eisert/Steven Wilson - Chicago White Sox
Relievers On The Rise/Stash Candidates
Garrett Whitlock has been pitching well in high leverage for the Red Sox. He went through a rough stretch from April 30 to May 13, giving up nine runs over six outings. Since then, he's allowed just one run over his last 15 innings with a 17/5 K/BB ratio while picking up four wins and a save in that span. The 29-year-old right-hander has produced a solid 2.89 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 46/14 K/BB ratio across 37 1/3 innings on the season. Should the Red Sox fall behind in the standings over the next month, Chapman could be an ideal trade candidate, with Whitlock possibly in line to step in for saves in Boston. We could see a similar situation play out in St. Louis, with Helsley likely on the trade block until the deadline. Should the Cardinals move the 30-year-old pending free agent, Phil Maton figures to be the next in line for save duties. Maton, himself a free agent following the season, has posted a 2.05 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 34/10 K/BB ratio across 26 1/3 innings.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza gave an injury update on Brett Baty after Wednesday's 5-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves, saying the infielder was unavailable for the second straight game due to right groin tightness.
"He wasn't available today," Mendoza said. "So we gave him another day. Took BP, ran some sprints. We'll see where we're at tomorrow."
When asked about the possibility of an IL stint for the 25-year-old, Mendoza said he's made "some progress" but the team will make a decision on Thursday.
"We'll see, we'll see tomorrow," Mendoza said. "See how he reports tomorrow, if he's able to do something or we have to make a decision there."
He added: "So yeah, depending on whether he's available because the past two night he hasn't been available. Again, we'll see where we're at. There was some progress today because he ran and all that, but again, not there yet."
Baty left Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh inning and was listed as day-to-day. He said he felt the injury when "going for a foul ball towards the tarp."
Mendoza went on to say that he'll have to talk with David Stearns about if the team will bring someone up in case Baty can't play Thursday in the series finale against the Braves. New York will then head to Philadelphia for a three-game set with the Phillies this weekend.
Dodgers fans stand and some tip their caps after singer and social media personality Nezza sang the national anthem in Spanish before a game against the Giants at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers on Thursday will announce their plans to assist the immigrant communities recently impacted in Los Angeles, according to a team spokesperson.
The announcement will mark the Dodgers’ first public comment regarding the recent unrest in the city since federal immigration agents began launching raids throughout the Southland almost two weeks ago.
The Dodgers initially declined to make any public comment when the raids first began. But their silence had become divisive among parts of their fan base, leading to increased calls on social media in recent days for the team to address what was happening around the city.
Manager Dave Roberts was asked about the situation last week, saying, “I just hope that we can be a positive distraction for what people are going through in Los Angeles right now.”
Utilityman Kiké Hernández also spoke out on social media on Saturday, writing: “I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and human rights.”
The Dodgers became embroiled in a related controversy last weekend, when singer and social media personality Nezza sang a Spanish version of the national anthem at Dodger Stadium, in an act of protest against the immigration raids, despite being asked by a team employee to sing in English.
To this point, the only other local professional sports teams to issue public statements in the wake of the raids have been soccer clubs LAFC and Angel City FC, which both acknowledged the “fear and uncertainty” being felt throughout the L.A. community.
The full breadth of the Dodgers’ plans was not immediately clear. But, their silence on the situation will soon be broken.
