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NBA Playoff Notes: How high are the stakes for Knicks' Tom Thibodeau?

There is plenty at stake in New York and around the NBA as the playoffs start. Here’s a look at the ramifications for some playoff teams: 

KNICKS: As noted on this week’s Putback, the stakes are high for Tom Thibodeau entering the playoffs. If the Knicks beat Detroit and are competitive in the second round against Boston, I’d assume Thibodeau will be fine. Given Thibodeau’s success in New York, this is the most likely scenario.

But if the Knicks struggle against Detroit or are noncompetitive in the second round against Boston, there will be tough conversations about the franchise’s next steps.

The post-mortem analysis will include an assessment of Thibodeau. Would the Knicks head coach survive a subpar playoff performance?

It all depends on how team president Leon Rose and owner James Dolan view the season.

Thibodeau has been on shaky ground in the past and survived. Rose made the decision to stick with Thibodeau amid past uncertainty. In hindsight, keeping Thibodeau was the best decision Rose could have made.

The head coach has helped guide the Knicks to their best three-year run since the late 1990s.

He is also under contract for four more seasons. Earlier in the season, I thought Thibodeau would survive any playoff shortcomings and be back next season. But that’s not the case anymore. I think anything is on the table if the Knicks struggle in the playoffs, including a coaching change.

No matter what happens this spring, the Knicks will have to decide on Mikal Bridges’ extension. Bridges is eligible for a four-year, $156 million deal on July 1. The Knicks gave up five first-round picks in order to acquire Bridges. So it would be surprising if they didn’t secure him long-term to an extension if everything goes well in the playoffs. If things go sideways, New York could include Bridges in a deal for a significant return. 

OTHER EASTERN CONFERENCE RAMIFICATIONS

PACERS: The Pacers want to retain 2025 free agent Myles Turner. But the team also reportedly wants to remain below the luxury tax. In order to achieve both of those goals, the Pacers may have to shed salary via trade.

They have several options if they want to go this route, including Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, and Aaron Nesmith. The club’s playoff performance – and the performances of its role players – will likely factor in to any roster decisions made around Turner.

BUCKS: The Nets aren’t the only NBA team keeping a close eye on the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Several teams operated at the NBA trade deadline with a potential run at Antetokounmpo in mind. Why would teams see an Antetokounmpo trade as a remote possibility? That belief stems – in part – on Antetokounmpo’s own stance. He has said in the past that his top priority is to win. In acquiring Damian Lillard and Kyle Kuzma via trade and making high-stakes coaching changes, Milwaukee has operated like a team desperate to win. But the results haven’t been great. Will another subpar playoff performance cause Antetokounmpo to request a trade? That’s part of what is at stake for Milwaukee this spring. The Nets, it should be noted, have a bevy of assets to offer in a trade for Antetokounmpo – or another star. Brooklyn owns four first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft and has 13 tradeable first-round picks in the next seven drafts.

HAWKS: After losing to Orlando on Tuesday, the Hawks face an uphill climb to qualify for the playoffs. Whether their season ends later this week or after a first-round loss to Cleveland, the Hawks will have a significant decision to make with Trae Young. Young has a player option in 2026 and is eligible for a four-year, $230 million extension in the offseason.

Do the Hawks want to make that financial commitment to Young while building around Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and, presumably, rookie Zaccharie Risacher? That’s a big question for Landry Fields & Co entering the offseason.

WESTERN CONFERENCE RAMIFICATIONS

TIMBERWOLVES: The most pressing issue for the Timberwolves is stopping Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and the Lakers. The big picture facing the Wolves: how much is ownership willing to spend on the roster? Naz Reid could test free agency. He has a $15 million player option for next season. Nickeil Alexander-Walker will be an unrestricted free agent. Julius Randle has a $30 million player option. The Timberwolves are facing a significant tax bill. It would be extremely challenging to keep all three of Randle, Alexander-Walker, and Reid.

Worth noting on Randle: the Heat have had interest in him at different points over the past few seasons. Randle could exercise his player option and be traded. The Nets, Bulls, and Pistons are among a small group of teams projected to have cap space this offseason. On the other side of Timberwolves-Lakers, James has a player option for 2025-26.

ROCKETS: The Rockets are in an enviable position. They won 52 games in the regular season and have a bevy of assets to swing a trade this offseason. Houston can acquire five additional first-round picks over the next five drafts and has several players – Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Dillon Brooks, Fred Van Vleet- who would draw interest in the trade market.

Houston’s performance in the postseason will impact their approach in the offseason. The No. 1 question for Houston this summer: what would you trade for Kevin Durant? Durant will be available via trade and will presumably be moved to one of his preferred destinations. It’s well known that he and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka have a strong connection. The Rockets obviously would have competition for Durant. The Mavericks are among the teams who pursued him aggressively at the trade deadline. They continued to search for ways to land Durant even after he made it clear through back-channels that he didn’t want to be traded. So Dallas will almost assuredly explore the Durant market again this summer. Will Houston be in an as well? On the other side of the Warriors-Rockets series, Golden State will have a decision to make on restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga was not in the Warriors’ rotation during their play-in win over Memphis on Tuesday.

KINGS: Sacramento has been underwhelming this season after firing head coach Mike Brown, trading De'Aaron Fox and acquiring Zach LaVine.

With Brown out, the Kings front office is under the microscope. Owner Vivek Ranadive is expected to take a hard look at the front office in the offseason. Obviously, a strong playoff run would factor in to any decision Ranadive makes on Monte McNair and his group. Other teams viewed Wes Wilcox’s move from the Kings to the University of Utah as a sign of uncertainty in Sacramento. The Kings face the Mavericks in the Play-In tournament on Wednesday night.

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Rockies at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 16

Its Wednesday, April 16 and the Rockies (3-14) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (13-6). Germán Márquez is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Bobby Miller for Los Angeles.

Los Angeles won yesterday's meeting, 6-2, to go up 2-0 in the series. Will Smith smacked the only homer of the game and Jack Dreyer recorded his second win of the season after 1.2 innings on 28 pitches and four strikeouts.

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 Rockies at Dodgers

  • Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: COLR, SNLA

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

Odds for the Rockies at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Rockies (+252), Dodgers (-314)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

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

Probable starting pitchers for the Rockies at Dodgers

  • Pitching matchup for April 16, 2025: Germán Márquez vs. Bobby Miller
    • Rockies: Germán Márquez, (0-2, 4.60 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.2 Innings Pitched, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Dodgers: Bobby Miller, (2-4, 8.52 ERA in 2024)
      Last outing: Making his season debut

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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rockies and the Dodgers

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes Bobby Miller to go Under 5.5 strikeouts versus Colorado:

"Bobby Miller is making his first start of the season tonight and while the Rockies are a more than acceptable opponent, I like the Under 5.5 strikeouts at -125 odds. Miller does not have an outs prop for tonight, which means 5.0 innings or going more than two times through the order is unlikely. Even when Miller went 5.0-plus innings last year, he was 4-2 to the Under on this number and 10-3 to the Under overall. I'd go down to 4.5 for +110 or better if that pops up before first pitch."

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 Wednesday's game between the Rockies and the Dodgers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Los Angeles Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Five biggest X-factors for Celtics who could spark another title run

Five biggest X-factors for Celtics who could spark another title run originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Every NBA champion has one or two superstars who play a significant role in their team lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but winning 16 games over four playoff rounds doesn’t happen without supporting players stepping up along the way.

There are a couple games every playoff run that require someone to come off the bench and provide a spark offensively.

The Celtics know this fact better than most franchises.

Don Nelson hit a clutch shot toward the end of Game 7 in the 1969 NBA Finals. Glenn McDonald scored eight points off the bench in the triple-overtime Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals. Cedric Maxwell led the C’s with 24 points in Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals. Leon Powe scored 21 points off the bench in Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals. Kelly Olynyk scored 26 points off the bench in a Game 7 victory in the 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals.

Which players will be X-factors for Boston in the 2025 playoffs?

Here’s a list of five candidates, ranging from starters to role players, ahead of Sunday’s Game 1 of the first round against the Orlando Magic.

Kristaps Porzingis

The Celtics are at their best when they hit a lot of 3-pointers. Porzingis is a 7-foot-3 center who can score in the paint and step outside the 3-point line and make shots consistently. There aren’t many players like him.

He scored 34 points on 8-for-13 shooting from beyond the arc in an overtime win against the New York Knicks earlier this month.

Porzingis is also an X-factor defensively because he is so good at protecting the rim. Whether it’s on drives to the basket in the halfcourt or fast breaks, Porzingis consistently blocks shots or forces opponents to alter their shots to evade his long reach. And the Celtics will need this rim protection because three of their potential playoff opponents — Knicks, Cavs, Thunder — ranked top 10 in points in the paint this season.

We saw plenty of examples of Porzingis’ impact at both ends of the floor during the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.

This sequence from Game 1 shows how effective Porzingis can be as an outside shooter and a shot blocker:

Of course, the concern with Porzingis is always health-related. He missed most of the 2024 playoffs due to injury. But since returning in March from a battle with an illness, he has consistently stayed healthy and played quite well.

If Porzingis can play a full postseason, the Celtics might be even tougher to beat than they were a year ago.

Payton Pritchard

Pritchard took a huge leap in his development this season, setting career highs with 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He shot 47.2 percent from the field and 40.7 from 3-point range. He’s the favorite to win the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award.

There will be a moment when the C’s need Pritchard to hit shots and give the team a boost of energy at both ends of the floor. Pritchard played OK in the 2024 playoffs. His best series was the second round against the Cavs, but he struggled in the Finals and scored three or fewer points in four of the five games versus the Mavs.

Can Pritchard be more consistent offensively in this year’s playoffs? If the answer is yes, the C’s will be very difficult to defend.

Sam Hauser

Hauser is one of the league’s best 3-point shooters and led Boston with a 41.6 3-point percentage this season. His ability to get hot from beyond the arc and hit five, six, or seven 3-pointers can totally change a game.

Hauser was pretty inconsistent from 3-point range in the 2024 playoffs. He hit more than three 3-pointers in just three of Boston’s 16 postseason games. He shot 2-for-9 from beyond the arc in the conference semifinals and 1-for-14 in the conference finals.

Hauser was able to stretch the floor on offense and not get burned defensively in last season’s title run. He was even a good defender at times in those four series, including some matchups against Kyrie Irving in the Finals. If that’s the Hauser the Celtics get for most of the 2025 playoffs, they’ll be in good shape.

Jrue Holiday

Holiday’s experience — two NBA titles and two Olympic gold medals — is so valuable to the Celtics. He is a steady, calming presence in high-pressure situations.

The veteran point guard made so many clutch plays in the 2024 playoffs. Whether it was a momentum-changing 3-pointer, a key offensive rebound or a steal, he consistently made the right decisions at both ends of the court. Whenever the Celtics offense is becoming too iso-heavy or bad shots are being taken, he settles everyone down and gets the team back on track.

Holiday’s ability to knock down 3-pointers and shoot around 90 percent from the foul line will make him a very important player in this Boston playoff run. How much will his finger injury impact him? You could argue he’s played his best basketball of the season the last month-and-a-half despite nursing this injury. He shot 38.6 percent from 3-point range in March and 41.7 percent in April.

The Celtics were 14-2 this season when Holiday scored 15-plus points. His best performances almost always translate into wins.

Luke Kornet

Kornet played just 10.2 minutes per game in the 2024 playoffs. It wouldn’t be surprising if that number goes up this year because the veteran center was highly effective in a lot of games this season.

Kornet scored 10-plus points in nine of his last 14 regular season games. He grabbed eight or more rebounds six times during that stretch, including a 16-rebound performance in a win over the Spurs on March 29. Kornet is very good in the pick-and-roll, too, with his ability to finish on lobs at the basket.

In fact, the Tatum-Kornet pick-and-roll combo was one of the best in the league this season:

The Celtics like playing with two centers on the court, especially in certain matchups. Kornet’s ability to produce at both ends of the floor alongside Porzingis or Al Horford is quite valuable.

He plays his role extremely well, and he might be asked to do it more in this playoff run than in previous years.

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Red Sox at Rays prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 16

Its Wednesday, April 16 and the Red Sox (9-10) are in Tampa to take on the Rays (8-9).

Sean Newcomb is slated to take the mound for Boston against Zack Littell for Tampa Bay.

These teams have split the first two games of the series. Boston won last night, 7-4. Alex Bregman went 5-5 with a couple of home runs to lead the Sox to the win.

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 Red Sox at Rays

  • Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
  • City: Tampa, FL
  • Network/Streaming: NESN, FDSNSUN

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 Rays

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Red Sox (+121), Rays (-143)
  • Spread:  Rays -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Red Sox at Rays

  • Pitching matchup for April 16, 2025: Sean Newcomb vs. Zack Littell
    • Red Sox: Sean Newcomb (0-2, 4.97 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/11 at White Sox - 4IP, 6ER, 6H, 2BB, 6Ks
    • Rays: Zack Littell (0-3, 6.88 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/10 vs. Angels - 4IP, 7ER, 8H, 1BB, 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 Red Sox at Rays

  • Tampa Bay is just 6-11 on the Run Line this season
  • The Rays' last 4 games have gone OVER the Total
  • Alex Bregman is now hitting .321 for Boston this season
  • Rafael Devers is 1 for his last 18 and is sporting a .222 average for the season

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 Rays

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 Wednesday's game between the Red Sox and the Rays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Tampa Bay Rays on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Boston Red Sox 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:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Royals at Yankees prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 16

Its Wednesday, April 16 and the Royals (8-10) are in Bronx trying to avoid being swept by the Yankees (10-7).

Kris Bubic is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Clarke Schmidt for New York.

Jasson Dominguez went t-3 including a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the sixth inning to propel the Yankees to a 4-2 win last night. Max Fried went 6.2 innings to notch his third 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 Royals at Yankees

  • Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: Yankee Stadium
  • City: Bronx, NY
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNKC, AmazonPV

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 Royals at the Yankees

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (+140), Yankees (-167)
  • Spread:  Yankees -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Yankees

  • Pitching matchup for April 16, 2025: Kris Bubic vs. Clarke Schmidt
    • Royals: Kris Bubic (2-1, 0.96 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/11 at Cleveland - 6IP, 2ER, 6H, 2BB, 5Ks
    • Yankees: Clarke Schmidt
      2024: 16GP, 85.1IP, 5-5, 2.85ERA, 30BB, 93Ks

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 Royals at Yankees

  • The Yankees have won 3 of their last 4 games
  • KC has lost 4 of their last 5 games
  • Both games in this series have stayed UNDER the Total
  • Bobby Witt Jr. has hit safely in 8 straight games (11-26)
  • Jasson Dominguez is now 6-12 over his last 4 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 Royals 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 Wednesday's game between the Royals and the Yankees:

  • 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 Kansas City Royals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Tigers at Brewers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 16

Today, April 16th, the Tigers (10-7) are in Milwaukee to take on the Brewers (9-9). Keider Montero is slated to take the mound for Detroit against Jose Quintana for Milwaukee.

The Tigers are hoping to put together a better offensive performance than yesterday, when they were shut out by Quinn Priester and the Brewers.

Despite the loss, the Tigers are still 1st in the AL Central due to their 10-7 record.

Yesterday’s win for the Brewers couldn’t have come at a better time. They erased a three-game losing streak.

Now we have a duel between Keider Montero and Jose Quintana to decide the series.

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 Tigers at Brewers

  • Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
  • Time: 1:10PM EST
  • Site: American Family Field
  • City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin, FanDuel Sports Detroit

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 Tigers at the Brewers

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Tigers (+124), Brewers (-147)
  • Spread:  Brewers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Brewers

  • Pitching matchup for April 16, 2025: Keider Montero vs. Jose Quintana
    • Tigers: Keider Montero, (0-0)
      First start of the season
    • Brewers: Jose Quintana, (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 7 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 0 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 22 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 Tigers at Brewers

  • Betting the Tigers on the Money Line in all games this season would have shown a 111% return on investment
  • The Total went under in 10 of the Brewers' 18 games this season

 
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 Tigers and the Brewers
 
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 Wednesday's game between the Tigers and the Brewers:

  • 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 Detroit Tigers at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
 
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Columbus Knows What They’re Up Against

Image

The Columbus Blue Jackets are going to win their games. Their locker room is galvanized and their goalie Jet Greaves is playing as well as any goalie in the NHL currently. This is something the Montreal Canadiens have to worry about IF they continue to lose. They still hold control their playoff destiny.

Blue Jackets defenseman, Dante Fabrro talked about this scenario.

“We have to do what we can do. Just win hockey games and put pressure on them. I’ve felt we’ve been doing a pretty good job of that so far and again it’s coming down to the last game for each of us now. We were all watching last night in the hotel room and the third period, overtime and the shootout. Coming into today we knew this was a big game and we came out the winner.”

It’s about playing desperate hockey and Adam Fantilli spoke to that.

“It’s awesome. We dropped a couple of games we weren’t happy about and knew we had to win games. We are trying to do our part and doing a great job of it. Jet (Greaves) has been playing great. We’ve been in desperation mode for however many games.”

It’s simple, yet complex. The Canadiens just have to take care of business. At the very least, get the game into overtime. Sometimes that’s easier said than done and the Carolina Hurricanes aren’t going to roll over but they might sit some of their starters. There is an opportunity here. 

No team ever wants to back in. You want to go into the playoffs hot. So far, the Canadiens aren’t doing it right but they’ll get another crack at it.

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Braves at Blue Jays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 16

It's Wednesday, April 16 and the Braves (5-12) are in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays (10-8). Spencer Strider is slated to take the mound for Atlanta against Chris Bassitt for Toronto.

Toronto won Game 2 of the series yesterday, 6-3. Kevin Gausman earned the win with 6.0 innings of six hits allowed, six strikeouts, zero walks, and two earned runs. The Blue Jays offense scored all six runs via two homers and a force-out in the third and fifth innings. The series is tied 1-1 after Atlanta won 8-4 on Monday.

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 Braves vs. Blue Jays live today

  • Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
  • Time: 1:07PM EST
  • Site: Rogers Centre
  • City: Toronto, ON
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNSO, Sportsnet

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

Odds for the Braves at the Blue Jays

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Braves (-147), Blue Jays (+123)
  • Spread:  Braves -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

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

Probable starting pitchers for the Braves at Blue Jays

  • Pitching matchup for April 16, 2025: Spencer Strider vs. Chris Bassitt
    • Braves: Spencer Strider, (0-0, 7.00 ERA over two starts in 2024)
      Last outing: Making season debut after 15-day IL
    • Blue Jays: Chris Bassitt, (1-0, 0.98 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.2 innings pitched, 1 earned run allowed, 5 hits allowed, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Braves at Blue Jays

  • The Braves have won their last 4 games following a loss
  • The Blue Jays' last 4 games have gone under the Total with Chris Bassitt on the mound
  • The Blue Jays have covered in 3 straight games with Chris Bassitt as the opener

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 Braves and the Blue Jays

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Blue Jays +1.5 at home versus the Braves and Strider Under 16.5 Outs:

"Spencer Strider is making his season debut after missing almost all of 2024 with an elbow injury. Strider was coming off an impressive NL CY Young contender type of season in 2023 with 20 wins and 5 losses over 32 starts (3.67 ERA, 281 Ks). However, we can't expect Strider to be in that form or go more than two times through the order here, so his 16.5 outs prop is a good bet to the Under in my opinion.

Toronto's offense got back on track in the second half of Monday's meeting (4 runs in the 6th and on) and it showed early yesterday (6 runs in the first five innings). A run or two off Strider should be enough to cover, if not win this game outright."

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 Wednesday's game between the Braves and the Blue Jays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Atlanta Braves on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Toronto Blue Jays at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

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

Giants at Phillies prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 16

Its Wednesday, April 16 and the Giants (12-5) are in Philadelphia for Game 3 of their four-game series against the Phillies (10-7).

Robbie Ray is slated to take the mound for San Francisco against Aaron Nola for Philadelphia.

The Phillies evened the series at a game apiece with a 6-4 win last night. Bryce Harper and JT Realmuto each went yard to pace the attack for Philly. Justin Verlander gave up four runs in just 5.2 innings to take the loss for the Giants.

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 Giants at Phillies

  • Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
  • Time: 6:45PM EST
  • Site: Citizens Bank Park
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSBA, NBCSP

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 Giants at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Giants (+118), Phillies (-140)
  • Spread:  Phillies -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Giants at Phillies

  • Pitching matchup for April 16, 2025: Robbie Ray vs. Aaron Nola
    • Giants: Robbie Ray (3-0, 2.94 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/11 at Yankees - 4IP, 1ER, 2H, 4BB, 7Ks
    • Phillies: Aaron Nola (0-3, 5.51 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/11 at St. Louis - 5IP, 2ER, 5H, 4BB, 7Ks

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 Giants at Phillies

  • Betting the Giants on the Money Line in all their road games this season is showing a 146% return on investment
  • The last 3 games started by Aaron Nola have gone under the Total
  • Alec Bohm has hits in his last 2 games (2-8) but is hitting just .122 (6-49)

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Giants and the Phillies

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 Wednesday's game between the Giants and the Phillies:

  • 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 San Francisco Giants at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

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

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

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

Mets at Twins: How to watch on SNY on April 16, 2025

The Mets face the Twins in Minnesota on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • The Mets' team ERA of 2.34 is the lowest in baseball
  • Juan Soto has homered in back-to-back games
  • Pete Alonso leads the National League with a 1.195 OPS and 242 OPS+
  • Huascar Brazoban is serving as the opener with Griffin Canning unable to start due to illness
  • Following today's game, the Mets return to New York to open a seven-game homestand on Thursday
METS
TWINS

Francisco Lindor, SS

Edouard Julien, 2B

Juan Soto, RF

Byron Buxton, CF

Pete Alonso, 1B

Ty France, 1B

Jesse Winker, DH

Trevor Larnach, DH

Brandon Nimmo, LF

Ryan Jeffers, C

Luisangel Acuña, 2B

Brooks Lee, 3B

Tyrone Taylor, CF

Willi Castro, SS

Brett Baty, 3B

DaShawn Keirsey Jr., RF

Hayden Senger, C

Harrison Bader, LF

What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here. 

Posted on

Vancouver Canucks 2025 NHL Draft Lottery Odds Set

Mar 18, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) and forward Elias Pettersson (40) and forward Brock Boeser (6) and forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki (23) celebrate Boeser’s goal against the Winnipeg Jets n the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The Vancouver Canucks 2025 NHL draft lotterry odds are offically set. Regardless of what happens on Wednesday versus the Vegas Golden Knights, the Canucks will finish the campaign with a 97.9% chances of drafting 15th overall. As for their other odds, according to NHL Tankathon, Vancouver has a 1.1% chance of getting fifth overall, and a 1.1% chance of landing the 16th overall pick.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Canucks Quinn Hughes Joins Elite Company With 350th Career Assist

Each Of Brock Boeser’s Seasons With The Canucks Described In Less Than Four Words

Canucks Quinn Hughes Nominated For The 2025 King Clancy Trophy

If the Canucks do end up with the 15th overall pick, it will be the second time in franchise history they select from this slot. The only other time was in 2022, when they selected Jonathan Lekkerimäki. The Swedish winger made his NHL debut this season, recording three goals and six points in 24 games with Vancouver.

The San Jose Sharks have the best odds of winning first overall this year, at 25.5%. The second-best odds are the Chicago Blackhawks at 13.5%, followed by the Nashville Predators in third at 11.5%. Teams can only move up ten spots in the draft lottery, which means even if the Canucks win the lottery, they will not move up to first overall.

Vancouver concludes their season on Wednesday against the Golden Knights. This game will be emotional for players and fans, as it could be the final Canucks game for players like Brock Boeser and Pius Suter, who are pending unresticted free agents. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT from Rogers Arena.

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Hockey News
Posted on

ICYMI in Mets Land: Juan Soto heating up; Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez getting closer

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Tuesday, in case you missed it...

Posted on

NBA Rookies Haven’t Exceeded Their Meager Expectations

Sometimes the NBA Rookie of the Year race features highly touted prospects like Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, or Luka Dončić and Trae Young. This season, it comes down to Stephon Castle, Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher—a trio of players who despite moments of brilliance did not statistically stand up to top predecessors.

During the 2024 NBA Draft, analysts predicted a weak 2024-25 rookie class. In terms of scoring, at least, they were right. Only five rookies in the 2024-25 regular season averaged double-digit points per game—there were at least eight in each season since 2017-18, and the post-NBA/ABA merger record is 14.

The average NBA player this season scored 17.0 points per 36 minutes on the court, but the average rookie scored just 13.7. That gap of -3.3 is the largest of any of the past 40 seasons.

It’s not as if this season’s youngsters were picking their spots with greater efficiency on that lower volume. The league’s average true shooting percentage in 2024-25 was 57.6%, while first-year players collectively shot only 53.7%. That disparity is the largest since 1990-91, when that season’s rookies shot 4.4 percentage points below the NBA average.

The decline of rookie scoring, though, is a broader trend. Of the past 40 seasons, nine of the bottom 10 in rookie scoring frequency, according to the aforementioned calculation, have occurred since 2013-14. Similarly, eight of the bottom 10 years ranked by rookie scoring efficiency have also come during that recent time span.

Players are on average entering the league younger than ever before, even though the ability to jump straight from high school as Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett once did no longer exists. As NBA paychecks have gotten bigger, projected high lottery picks have been incentivized to be one-and-done in college, though NIL and revenue sharing under the pending Housesettlement could alter that equation. Additionally, there’s been an increase in international prospects declaring for the draft at a younger age.

The five youngest rookie classes in NBA history (weighted by minutes played) are 2023, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2025. Naturally, these less-experienced players are having more difficulty adjusting to the NBA.

Using a more holistic metric than simply scoring, however, this year’s rookie class appears to be weak, but not a historical outlier. The rookies this season accumulated 0.054 win shares per 48 minutes—the ninth lowest of the past 40 seasons, but still significantly above recent seasons such as 2014, 2015 and 2017, as well as the infamously unproductive 2001 cohort.

In xRAPM, another all-in-one individual player statistic created by Jeremias Engelmann, three players who debuted this season graded out as having a greater-than-average impact on their teams—the Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, along with the Portland Trail Blazers’ Donovan Clingan. Three may sound low, especially when compared to eight in 2023-24, but the average for a season is typically around four such rookies, and two seasons ago there was only one: the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler.

Rookie performance isn’t necessarily correlated with future success, especially for teenagers, such as Sarr and fellow Washington Wizards lottery pick Bub Carrington (No. 1 overall pick Risacher also just turned 20). A list of recent lottery picks who posted a negative xRAPM in their rookie season includes Giannis Antetokounmpo, Trae Young, Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards and Cade Cunningham.

And if nobody from the 2024-25 rookie class ever pans out, the NBA still has next season—and Cooper Flagg.

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Posted on

Cubs at Padres Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 16

Its Wednesday, April 16 and the Cubs (12-8) are in San Diego for the final game of their three-game series against the Padres (14-4).

Matthew Boyd is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Nick Pivetta for San Diego.

Last night the Cubs evened the series at one game apiece with a 2-1 win in ten innings. Ryan Pressley got his first win with Chicago with a perfect ninth inning and Caleb Thielbar notched his first save retiring the Padres in the tenth.

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 Cubs at Padres

  • Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
  • Time: 4:10PM EST
  • Site: Petco Park
  • City: San Diego, CA
  • Network/Streaming: MARQ, SDPA

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 Padres

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Cubs (+101), Padres (-121)
  • Spread:  Padres -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Padres

  • Pitching matchup for April 16, 2025: Matthew Boyd vs. Nick Pivetta
    • Cubs: Matthew Boyd (1-1, 1.59 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/11 at Dodgers - 6IP, 3ER, 4H, 3BB, 7Ks
    • Padres: Nick Pivetta (2-1, 1.59 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/11 vs. Colorado - 7IP. 0ER, 3H, 1BB, 10Ks

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 Padres

  • The Padres are now 13-5 on the Run Line this season
  • Cubs' games are 13-6-1 to the OVER this season
  • Fernando Tatis Jr. is riding a 5-game hitting streak (7-25) but his batting average has actually dropped during the streak to .354
  • With two more hits yesterday, Kyle Tucker is hitting .313

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 Cubs 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 Wednesday's game between the Cubs 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 Chicago Cubs at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

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

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

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