Timberwolves vs. Pacers predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and Best bets for March 24

It’s Monday, March 24, and the Minnesota Timberwolves (41-31) and Indiana Pacers (41-29) are all set to square off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Timberwolves are currently 20-15 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Pacers have a 9-1 record in their last ten games at home. Indiana won the only meeting with Minnesota on March 17, 132-130 in OT. This is the final meeting of the season.

Indiana is 8-3 over the last 11 games and enters on a four-game winning streak, while Minnesota is coming off a 41-point win over New Orleans to break a two-game losing streak. The Timberwolves are 9-2 in the past 11 games.

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.

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

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

  • Date: Monday, March 24, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
  • City: Indianapolis, IN
  • Network/Streaming:

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

Game odds for Timberwolves vs. Pacers

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Odds: Timberwolves (+110), Pacers (-130)
  • Spread:  Pacers -2.5
  • Over/Under: 230.5 points

That gives the Timberwolves an implied team point total of 114.13, and the Pacers 116.91.

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

Expert picks & predictions for Monday’s Timberwolves vs. Pacers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans Tyrese Haliburton to double-double and the Pacers to win:

"Over the last 10 games, Tyrese Haliburton has double-doubled in all 10 games, and the Pacers have gone 7-3 during that stretch. To start March (six games), Haliburton averages 18.8 points, 12.3 assists, and 5.0 rebounds over 33.0 minutes per game. He's recorded at least 12 assists in five of the previous six and grabbed at least five rebounds in four of those. He's on a heater right now, so I lean Haliburton to double-double at +105 odds and lean the Pacers to win at -130 odds."

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 NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Timberwolves & Pacers game:

  • 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 Indiana Pacers at .
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of .

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Timberwolves vs. Pacers on Monday

  • The Pacers are showing a 106% return on investment at home on the Money Line
  • 8 of the Pacers' last 10 home games stayed under the Total
  • The Timberwolves have gone 19-16 on the road against the spread this season
  • The Pacers have won 7 straight home games

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

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)

Raptors vs. Wizards Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 24

It’s Monday, March 24, and the Toronto Raptors (24-46) and Washington Wizards (15-55) are all set to square off from Capital One Arena in Washington.

The Raptors are currently 8-26 on the road with a point differential of -5, while the Wizards have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. Toronto is 2-1 against Washington this season and won the previous meeting on March 10.

The Raptors have lost four straight games to follow up three consecutive losses, including last night's 123-89 blowout loss to the Spurs. The Wizards are on a four-game losing streak as well that followed up back-to-back wins.

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.

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

Game details & how to watch Raptors vs. Wizards live today

  • Date: Monday, March 24, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Capital One Arena
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming:

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

Game odds for Raptors vs. Wizards

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Odds: Raptors (+106), Wizards (-124)
  • Spread:  Wizards -1.5
  • Over/Under: 228.5 points

That gives the Raptors an implied team point total of 113.84, and the Wizards 115.28.

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

Expert picks & predictions for Monday’s Raptors vs. Wizards game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Under between the Raptors and Wizards:

"It's hard to pick a winner between these two teams right now with the Wizards in contention for the worst record and the Raptors falling hard. Toronto has dropped the last four games and with this being the second night of back-to-back with no rest and off a blowout loss to the Spurs (123-89), I have to think Washington is favored for a reason, but not a good enough one for me. I'd rather take a stab at the Under than back the Wizards or Raptors."

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 NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Raptors & Wizards game:

  • 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 Toronto Raptors at .
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of .

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Raptors vs. Wizards on Monday

  • The Wizards have lost 4 of their last 5 games against teams with losing records
  • The Raptors' last 3 road trips to the Wizards have stayed under the Total
  • The Wizards have failed to cover in their last 3 games at home
  • Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference Southeast Division sides

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

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)

5 big Mets storylines to watch as 2025 MLB season begins

With the Mets about to break camp and travel to Houston for Opening Day on March 27 to face the Astros, they're entering one of their most anticipated seasons ever.

There have been some recent campaigns where the legitimate hope was that it would end with a parade down the Canyon of Heroes, like 2023 (which wound up being cursed from the start) and 2016 (when the Mets bowed out in the Wild Card Game a year after reaching the World Series), but something seems different about this one.

For the first time since the mid-2000s, it feels like the Mets are building something sustainable -- which is of course the stated goal of owner Steve Cohenand still-newish head of baseball operationsDavid Stearns.

The idea is to churn out impact prospects year after year while supplementing the team via trade and free agency, playing at the top of the market when it's deemed necessary.

The Mets aren't the East Coast Dodgers just yet, but they're making strides.

And as the regular season begins, there's a belief the Mets have what it takes to go one or two steps beyond where they went in 2024, when their magical season ended in Game 6 of the NLCS in Los Angeles.

Here are five big storylines to watch as things get underway...

The starting rotation

Sean Manaea is expected to be out until the end of April, while Frankie Montas' return should come by some point in June. That means 40 percent of the expected rotation will be missing to start the season.

Gone along with Manaea and Montas for now is the plan to use a six-man rotation, which would've kept Kodai Senga on a more elongated schedule and allowed Clay Holmes' innings to be managed a bit as he transitions from a reliever to a starter.

New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches during a Spring Training workout at Clover Park.
New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches during a Spring Training workout at Clover Park. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

As they deal with the injuries, the Mets have turned to depth options Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning, who will be in the five-man rotation along with Senga, Holmes, and David Peterson to start the year.

The rotation has serious upside (Senga pitched like an ace in 2023, Holmes' stuff is legit, Peterson had a 2.90 ERA last season), but there's also the possibility that Senga needs time to shake off the rust, Holmes hits some speed bumps, and Peterson is inconsistent.

So the rotation bears watching early, as does the performance of Brandon Sproat in Triple-A Syracuse. If Sproat masters the level quickly, his MLB debut could come sooner rather than later -- injecting a high-upside arm into the rotation.

The second base situation

With Jeff McNeil missing the start of the season due to a mild oblique injury, the expectation is that Brett Baty will get a chance to grab the regular second base job for the time being.

Baty, who got some burn at second base last year in the minors, looked the part there during spring games. He also had a terrific spring offensively.

Since this will be Baty's fourth year getting major league time, it's easy to forget that he's had only 602 plate appearances in the bigs and is entering just his age-25 season.

The talent is there for Baty, and there's still time for him to become a real part of the Mets' future -- whether that comes in an everyday role or on the bench.

While Baty could get the bulk of the starts at second base early on, the speedy Luisangel Acuña could factor in as well -- perhaps as the starter at second against tough left-handers.

Juan Soto

Soto spent spring training doing what he always does -- hitting homers, staring pitchers down, walking a bunch, and looking like the most confident hitter on the planet.

Now it starts for real.

Soto really is a Met, and that will be fully hammered home when he steps in the box against the Astros on Thursday and again when he digs in for his first at-bat as a Met at Citi Field on April 4.

Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) rounds the bases after hitting a home run in his first at-bat for the Mets against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Clover Park.
Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) rounds the bases after hitting a home run in his first at-bat for the Mets against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Clover Park. / Jim Rassol - Imagn Images

The Mets' offense, even without McNeil and Francisco Alvarez for a bit, should be loaded. And it will orbit around Soto and Francisco Lindor, who could form one of the best 1-2 punches in baseball. If Lindor and Soto play as expected, it should create tons of opportunities for Pete Alonso, Mark Vientos, and Brandon Nimmo to do serious damage.

How dominant will Edwin Diaz be?

Even though he has a 2.60 ERA (2.10 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP while striking out 15.0 batters per nine in 204 games over his last four seasons, Diaz remains a polarizing figure.

He has been one of the best and most dominant closers in baseball each of the last four seasons he's pitched (he missed the entire 2023 campaign due to a knee injury), but that doesn't stop people from pushing the panic button at the first sign of a wobble.

In fairness, Diaz did have some hiccups last season -- including a sticky stuff suspension and a really bad stretch in May that skewed his final numbers a bit. He also went through a rough patch with his command in the postseason.

But Diaz-- as he's always been since 2020 -- was mostly dominant in 2024, which included how he pitched from June 13 to the end of the regular season on Sept. 30. In 35 games during that span, Diaz posted a 2.41 ERA (2.07 FIP) while holding batters to a .155/.252/.241 triple slash. In 33.2 innings over those 35 games, Diaz allowed just 18 hits while walking 13 and striking out 54.

Some expect perfection from Diaz, though, or at the very least a repeat of his 2022 season -- when he had one of the best relief seasons ever and garnered Cy Young votes. Diaz is unlikely to ever repeat 2022, but there's no reason to believe he won't be mostly dominant once again.

Will the bullpen reach its potential?

The aforementioned Diaz is obviously a huge part of the equation here, but the Mets' relief corps beyond him has a chance to be really good.

Behind Diaz, there are three other legitimate late-inning options -- A.J. Minter, Reed Garrett, and Ryne Stanek -- who all have the stuff to dominate. Minter had a 2.62 ERA and 1.01 WHIP last season for Atlanta, Garrett emerged with the Mets to be one of their key relievers, and Stanek (despite a tough stretch right after he was acquired last year) was one of New York's most reliable relievers in the playoffs.

Then there's Dedniel Núñez, who was one of the Mets' best relievers last season in what was his rookie campaign. Núñez needs a bit more time to stretch out after last season ended due to injury, but the expectation is that he'll arrive quickly.

But the true X-factors here could be Jose Butto and Max Kranick, who are both viewed as potentially high-impact, multi-inning options.

Butto was a serious weapon last season, allowing just 41 hits in 74.0 innings while pitching to a 2.55 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.

Then there's Kranick, whose stuff has played up in a big way as he completes his transition from starter to reliever.

Mavericks vs. Nets Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 24

It’s Monday, March 24, and the Dallas Mavericks (34-37) and Brooklyn Nets (23-48) are all set to square off from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The Mavericks are currently 14-21 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Nets have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home. This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

The Nets are 0-3 in the past three games and 1-6 over the previous seven, while the Mavericks are 1-4 in the last five and 2-9 over the past 11.

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.

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

Game details & how to watch Mavericks vs. Nets live today

  • Date: Monday, March 24, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Barclays Center
  • City: Brooklyn, NY
  • Network/Streaming:

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

Game odds for Mavericks vs. Nets

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Odds: Mavericks (-115), Nets (-104)
  • Spread:  Mavericks -1
  • Over/Under: 218 points

That gives the Mavericks an implied team point total of 109.27, and the Nets 108.75.

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

Expert picks & predictions for Monday’s Mavericks vs. Nets game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Nets ML against the Mavericks:

"Brooklyn is a 1-point favorite and this is the first meeting of the season. While Brooklyn has lost six of the past seven, Dallas hasn't been any better at 1-4 in the previous five contests. Both teams are hard to bet on and seem to have given up most nights, but I'd lean with the small home favorite in Brooklyn."

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 NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Mavericks & Nets game:

  • 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 Dallas Mavericks at .
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of .

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Mavericks vs. Nets on Monday

  • The Nets have lost 14 of their last 17 games
  • The Over is 8-2 in the Mavericks' last 10 games
  • The Nets have covered the Spread in their last 4 games at home
  • The Mavericks are on a 4-game win streak at the Nets

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

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)

Rutgers Transfer Sues NCAA to Extend Football Eligibility

Safety Jett Elad is looking to play football for his fourth university and the chance to land a $500,000 NIL deal. In order to do that, he is taking the NCAA to court. Elad—who previously played at Ohio University, Garden City Community College in Kansas and UNLV—filed a complaint in a New Jersey federal district …

Clemens makes the team, Phillies appear to have their Opening Day roster

Clemens makes the team, Phillies appear to have their Opening Day roster originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Kody Clemens has won the final spot on the Phillies’ Opening Day roster, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters in Clearwater on Monday morning.

The left-handed-hitting Clemens and right-handed-hitting Buddy Kennedy had made it down to the final day of spring training in their competition for the last spot on the bench. Both are out of minor-league options and would have to be passed through waivers before accepting a minor-league assignment, so the Phillies knew all along they could lose whichever one doesn’t make the team unless a trade is worked out before Thursday’s opener.

Clemens has demonstrated his value as an extra man with the Phils over the last two seasons, playing seven different positions and coming up with several big hits late in games. Clemens hit a game-tying homer in the ninth inning of a game against the Nationals last May that the Phillies won in extras. In early September, he doubled in the ninth inning in Toronto to set up Kyle Schwarber’s game-winning homer. The next week, Clemens hit a walk-off single to beat the Rays.

Clemens went 16-for-52 (.308) this spring with two homers and seven RBI. Kennedy hit for power and drew walks throughout Grapefruit League play as well, and there was some thought that he might make it because of his right-handed bat. The Phillies are lefty-heavy with Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Max Kepler, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh in the starting lineup, and they use a right-handed pinch-hitter for Stott or Marsh far more often than they use a lefty pinch-hitter for Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, Nick Castellanos or J.T. Realmuto. But still, Clemens has shown enough to earn a place on the roster.

A part of the decision was likely the Phillies’ comfort in using Sosa occasionally in the outfield. He played 23 innings in left field this spring and five in center. Weston Wilson, a right-handed hitter, strained his oblique just before spring training games began and the injury was believed to carry a six-week timetable. The Phillies will ease him back but he could potentially be in play for a bench job by late-April if he finds his timing quickly in the minors. Wilson does have an option year remaining.

This is how the Phillies’ 26-man roster, which needs to be submitted to the league by Thursday afternoon, looks:

Catchers (2)

J.T. Realmuto, Rafael Marchan

Infielders (4)

Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, Trea Turner, Alec Bohm

Outfielders (5)

Kyle Schwarber, Max Kepler, Brandon Marsh, Nick Castellanos, Johan Rojas

Utility (2)

Edmundo Sosa, Kody Clemens

Starting pitchers (5)

Zack Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, Taijuan Walker

Relievers (8)

Matt Strahm, Jordan Romano, Jose Alvarado, Orion Kerkering, Tanner Banks, Jose Ruiz, Joe Ross, Carlos Hernandez

Injured list (2)

Ranger Suarez (back), Weston Wilson (oblique)

2025 MLB Opening Week Team Power Rankings: Can anyone topple the Dodgers?

Welcome to the Opening Week edition of our MLB Team Power Rankings. I’ll be here every Monday throughout the 2025 MLB season to take stock of the latest developments around the league and hopefully have some fun along the way. Come September, I hope to look back at this first edition and laugh at the teams we underestimated in the preseason. After all, who doesn’t like surprises?

Let’s get started!

**Odds from DraftKings**

1) Los Angeles Dodgers

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +290
Odds to win NL West: -500

Already 2-0 after the recent Tokyo Series, the Dodgers are effectively baseball’s big bad bully. We’ve learned many times that nothing’s a sure thing in baseball, but this is the most complete roster we’ve seen in recent memory. It helps that 2025 NL MVP Shohei Ohtani gets to be all human cheat code and return to the mound this season.

2) Atlanta Braves

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +750
Odds to win NL East: +110

The Braves mostly sat out the offseason, only adding Jurickson Profar and more recently Alex Verdugo, but that’s okay when you have Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider returning from injury. Getting back to 100 wins is a real possibility.

3) Philadelphia Phillies

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +1200
Odds to win NL East: +215

On the heels of the Eagles winning the Super Bowl, can the Phillies have a parade of their own this year? It’s still a stacked and experienced roster (with Jesús Luzardo, Jordan Romano, and Max Kepler joining the club this year), but is the clock ticking on this current core’s contention window?

4) Boston Red Sox

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +2000
Odds to win AL East: +350
Odds to make playoffs: -105

The Red Sox stormed back into relevancy this offseason with a handful of impact moves, including Garrett Crochet, Alex Bregman, and Walker Buehler. The club also has some of the more interesting MLB-ready prospects in the sport with Kristian Campbell, Roman Anthony, and Marcelo Mayer. Look out.

5) New York Mets

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +1200
Odds to win NL East: +240
Odds to make playoffs: -250

The warm and fuzzy feelings from the offseason quickly gave way to the realities of spring training. Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Francisco Alvarez, and Jeff McNeil are all slated to begin the season on the injured list. It helps to remember that Juan Soto is a New York Met.

6) Arizona Diamondbacks

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +2500
Odds to win NL West: +600
Odds to make playoffs: -125

The D-Backs just missed the playoffs last year, but they are doing their best to make sure there’s no repeat. Corbin Burnes was a massive addition to the rotation and the club was able to offset the loss of Christian Walker with the trade for Josh Naylor. They might be playing for second place behind the Dodgers, but this is a dangerous team.

7) New York Yankees

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +850
Odds to win AL East: +135

The Yankees lost Juan Soto to the Mets, but they pivoted quite well in their offseason plan. They were on track to be higher on this list before injuries hit them hard this spring. Losing Luis Gíl with a lat strain is one thing, but Gerrit Cole needing Tommy John surgery is a crushing blow.

8) Texas Rangers

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +2600
Odds to win AL West: +225
Odds to make playoffs: -125

There’s a lot to like about this team with a full season from Jacob deGrom (hopefully) and Corey Seager, Evan Carter, and Josh Jung all expected to be back to full health. Of course, it’s easy to see how this could go wrong too.

MLB: Spring Training-New York Mets at St. Louis Cardinals
Everything you need to know about the start of the 2025 MLB season.

9) Houston Astros

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +1500
Odds to win AL West: +125
Odds to make playoffs: -185

It’s a new era for the Astros. In addition to saying goodbye to Alex Bregman, the club traded Kyle Tucker to the Cubs and they’ve also moved longtime second baseman Jose Altuve out to left field. Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes are the new arrivals, and spring training sensation Cam Smith (part of the Tucker trade along with Paredes) is quickly looking like a key piece for the future.

10) Baltimore Orioles

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +1600
Odds to win AL East: +270
Odds to make playoffs: -175

This offseason was a missed opportunity for the Orioles. Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, and the recently-signed Kyle Gibson were the adds to the rotation after Corbin Burnes departed for a big contract with the Diamondbacks, The failure to meet the moment feels more relevant with Grayson Rodriguez set to begin the year on the IL with elbow inflammation.

11) Chicago Cubs

Odds to win NL Central: +125
Odds to make playoffs: -140

The Cubs might only get one year of Kyle Tucker, but they are going to try to make it count. With the Brewers parting ways with more key pieces, Chicago should be looked at as the favorites in the NL Central.

12) San Diego Padres

Odds to make playoffs: +110

Despite constant trade rumors this offseason, the Padres are poised to move into the season with Dylan Cease, Michael King, and Luis Arráez on their roster. It’s a good team as currently constituted, but those names (and more?) figure to be on the block again if the team stumbles during the first half.

13) Seattle Mariners

Odds to win AL West: +250
Odds to make playoffs: -110

The Mariners arguably have the best rotation in the league, but their lineup was an obvious weak spot going into the offseason. What did they do to address it? **crickets** If that wasn’t underwhelming enough, the Mariners will begin the season without George Kirby due to shoulder inflammation.

14) Minnesota Twins

Odds to win AL Central: +210
Odds to make playoffs: +100

The Twins might rank the highest here, but they are in a bit of a holding pattern as a franchise amid ownership uncertainty. Harrison Bader and Ty France were the notable offseason pickups, so the help needs to come from within. That Royce Lewis is already hurt again isn’t a great start.

15) Detroit Tigers

Odds to win AL Central: +270
Odds to make playoffs: +110

Led by AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, the Tigers had a magical run to the postseason last year. While there weren’t any blockbuster moves over the winter, they reunited with Jack Flaherty and signed Gleyber Torres to play second base. Any step forward will likely be on the backs of their young players, and they have plenty of them.

16) Kansas City Royals

Odds to win AL Central: +270
Odds to make playoffs: +110

Are the Royals in for a letdown after their astounding 30-win improvement last year? It would be unfair to expect repeat campaigns from Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, so a lot is riding on improvements from the offense, which includes offseason addition Jonathan India.

MLB: Spring Training-Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Dodgers
Spencer Strider, Cristopher Sánchez, and Christian Yelich are on the rise while Thairo Estrada’s injury takes him off the board.

17) Toronto Blue Jays

Odds to make playoffs: +285

The vibes aren’t good. The Blue Jays failed to reach an extension with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. going into his spring training deadline, so we could very well be looking at his final season in Toronto. The same goes for Bo Bichette as he goes into his walk year. Can the Blue Jays make the most out of their last hurrah?

18) Milwaukee Brewers

Odds to win NL Central: +260
Odds to make playoffs: +125

The Brewers exceeded expectations last season by winning the NL Central after trading Corbin Burnes. This time, they’ll try to make things work without Willy Adames and Devin Williams. It’s going to be a challenge, even with Jackson Chourio ready to emerge as one of the best young players in the game.

19) San Francisco Giants

Odds to make playoffs: +205

The NL West is a tough sandbox to play in, but new president of baseball operations Buster Posey will be tasked with getting the Giants back to the postseason. Landing shortstop Willy Adames was step one. They should be in the mix, especially if Robbie Ray and Justin Verlander can help the rotation.

20) Cincinnati Reds

Odds to win NL Central: +650
Odds to make playoffs: +300

Can Terry Francona take this team to the next level? You can see it if you squint hard enough. The Reds have star power with Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene, but other questions remain. Can Nick Lodolo stay healthy? Will Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand rebound from lost seasons?

21) Cleveland Guardians

Odds to win AL Central: +300
Odds to make playoffs: +120

What have you done for me lately? After surprising under first-year manager Stephen Vogt with an AL Central title in 2024, the Guardians will once again have to prove the doubters wrong. The question, as it often has been in recent years, is whether this offense can provide enough firepower.

22) Tampa Bay Rays

Odds to make playoffs: +180

The Rays are a team without a home, not just because they are playing in a minor league stadium this season, but also because ownership no longer plans to go ahead with stadium plans in St. Petersburg. The Rays have thrived through uncertainty for years, so this year’s squad can’t be ruled out, but it's hard to imagine them hanging in there if Shane McClanahan misses significant time.

23) Pittsburgh Pirates

Odds to make playoffs: +360

What do you do when you have the best young pitcher in the game? Sit on your hands, apparently. The Pirates did shockingly little this offseason (Spencer Horwitz, Adam Frazier, Tommy Pham) to take advantage of their Paul Skenes window. It would be great to put them higher on this list, but they just don’t deserve it.

24) Athletics

Odds to make playoffs: +850

For a team without an official city affiliation who will be playing in a minor league ballpark until who knows when, there’s actually some optimism here. Spending money goes a long way, which the A’s have done with free agent Luis Severino and extensions for Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler. Probably not a playoff team, but more interesting than they have been in a minute.

25) St. Louis Cardinals

Odds to make playoffs: +360

This is a transition year for the Cardinals, with president of baseball operations John Mozeliak on his way out and Chaim Bloom set to take the reins. That translates to the roster, where Nolan Arenado is still on the team despite a very public trade process playing out over the winter. It’s reasonable to expect the club to trade anything that isn’t nailed down a few months from now.

26) Washington Nationals

Odds to make playoffs: +850

You can begin to see the wheels turning here, as James Wood and Dylan Crews look like future centerpieces for the franchise. The club added some complimentary pieces (Nathaniel Lowe, Josh Bell, Paul DeJong, Michael Soroka) this offseason, but not enough to push them to contention just yet.

27) Los Angeles Angels

Odds to make playoffs: +900

The Angels did a lot of things this winter, but will it matter? The odds are against it. Perhaps the most important move is Mike Trout sliding over to right field. Anything close to a full season from Trout would be a gift to the Angels and baseball fans in general. Pretty please?

28) Colorado Rockies

Six straight sub-.500 seasons and little reason to think that’s changing anytime soon. One glimmer of hope, though? 2023 first-round pick Chase Dollander is getting closer to the majors.

29) Miami Marlins

The Marlins continue to be stripped down the studs. Following a rash of moves last season, the club traded Jake Burger and Jesús Luzardo this offseason. Even with Sandy Alcantara coming back (and Eury Perez later this year), things look extremely bleak. This could be one of the weakest offenses in recent memory.

30) Chicago White Sox

Could things actually be worse than last year? After setting the single-season record with 121 losses in 2024, the White Sox are slated to move into the season with veteran Martin Perez and a cast of relative unknowns in their rotation. Luis Robert Jr. will likely be traded if he can actually stay healthy, so this figures to be another ugly year for the White Sox even with some interesting prospects on the way.

Mets vs. Yankees: How to watch on SNY on March 24, 2025

The Mets face the Yankees on Monday at 1:10 p.m. on SNY.

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


Mets Notes

  • This is the Mets' final spring training game before they break camp
  • After Monday's game, the Mets travel to Houston to prepare for Opening Day on Thursday against the Astros at 4:10 p.m. on SNY

YANKEES
METS

Ben Rice, 1B

Francisco Lindor, SS

Jasson Dominguez, LF

Juan Soto, RF

Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2B

Pete Alonso, 1B

J.C. Escarra, C

Brandon Nimmo, LF

Everson Pereira, DH

Mark Vientos, 3B

Oswaldo Cabrera, 3B

Jesse Winker, DH

Pablo Reyes, RF

Luis Torrens, C

Ismael Munguia, CF

Brett Baty, 2B

Oswald Peraza, SS

Jose Siri, CF


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

Watch Heat fans chase after Butler following Warriors practice

Watch Heat fans chase after Butler following Warriors practice originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Wherever Jimmy Butler goes in public, a crowd eventually might follow.

Similar to new Warriors teammate Steph Curry, Butler is one of the more recognizable players in today’s NBA, and after Golden State’s practice on Monday at Barry University in Miami ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Heat, Butler was reminded of his stardom when a crowd of fans chased after him as he walked from the gym to a nearby car.

The fans then surrounded the car and took selfies, presumably with Butler through the window, before clearing out as the Warriors star’s car drove away.

While the majority of fans in the video were not wearing any team gear, it’s fair to assume a large portion of them are Heat fans.

Butler spent five-plus seasons in Miami, leading the Heat to two NBA Finals appearances (2020, 2023) in four years, and clearly still has many fans in the area despite his rocky departure.

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Draft pick watch: Bruins' lottery odds improve after sixth straight loss

Draft pick watch: Bruins' lottery odds improve after sixth straight loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

When the Boston Bruins traded away several veteran players, including captain Brad Marchand, before the March 7 NHL trade deadline, they had the ninth-worst record in the league based on points percentage.

Fast forward to Monday, March 24, and the B’s are tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the seventh-worst record after another embarrassing loss Sunday night. The Los Angeles Kings extended the Bruins’ losing streak to six games with a 7-2 victory over the Original Six franchise.

If Bruins management was hoping for a post-trade deadline downturn that would improve the team’s chances in the 2025 NHL Draft lottery, it has come to fruition so far.

This is the worst Bruins team since the 2015-16 squad that missed the playoffs. Sunday’s defeat marked the 12th time Boston has allowed six or more goals in a game this season, the most for the team since the 2006-07 campaign, per 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Ty Anderson.

Moving up two spots in the lottery order over the last few weeks might not feel like a massive jump, but it would be hugely beneficial to the Bruins to end up with the No. 7 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft compared to the No. 9 pick.

The Bruins desperately need an infusion of elite-level young talent to bolster what is considered one of the three-worst prospect pools in the league. This draft has plenty of good centers in the top 15 picks, and that’s a position Boston very much needs to upgrade.

What are the chances of the Bruins falling further in the standings? Well, they would really have to collapse, and get some help from other teams, to fall a few more spots.

The fifth-worst record — currently occupied by the Philadelphia Flyers, based on points percentage — is probably the furthest the B’s could drop. However, the Bruins have the sixth-easiest remaining schedule in the league from now through the end of the regular season, so there are a bunch more winnable games still left for this team.

If the Bruins do finish with the seventh-worst record — which is where they stand today (tied with the Penguins) — here are the odds they’d have in the draft lottery, per Tankathon.

  • No. 1 pick: 6.5 percent
  • No. 2 pick: 6.7 percent
  • No. 3 pick: 0.2 percent
  • No. 7 pick: 44.4 percent
  • No. 8 pick: 36.5 percent
  • No. 9 pick: 5.6 percent

The Bruins could jump up as high as No. 1 or fall as low as No. 9 in the lottery if they finish with the seventh-worst record.

There isn’t much left for the Bruins to play for over the final 10 games of the regular season. The best outcome for the B’s over this span would be to lose as many games as possible and then get lucky in the draft lottery next month.

Jimmy Butler calls return to Miami Tuesday 'Another game… I don't even think about it'

Things got messy in Miami — Jimmy Butler never hesitates to burn a bridge on his way out of town. From the moment Heat decision-maker Pat Riley said after last season that he was not going to give Jimmy Butler the max extension he wanted, we all knew what was coming. Butler eventually demanded a trade, was suspended multiple times by the team, and it was all a massive distraction from which the Heat have never recovered (Miami had lost nine straight before Sunday's win against tanking Charlotte).

Tuesday night, Jimmy Butler returns to Miami in a Golden State Warriors uniform — and the welcome may not be very warm. It's a big, emotional game... unless you ask Butler.

"Another game for me," Butler said Saturday night after a win in Golden State, via the Associated Press. "Another game that we're expected to win, for sure, though."

Butler wasn't done, including talking about his Miami years, via Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.

"We was all right. We didn't win like we were supposed to. We made some cool runs. We had some fun...

"I was traded from there, yadda yadda yadda. Yeah, it didn't end the way people wanted it to, yadda yadda yadda. But that's so far behind me now, I don't even think about it."

It's easy not to think about it, given that the Warriors have gone 16-3 with Butler in the lineup and look like a threat in the West.

However, picking up that 17th win may be challenging with Stephen Curry expected to miss the game with a lower back contusion (Curry has flown to Miami and joined the team for the six-game road trip they are starting but is not expected to play at the start of the trip). No Curry means the ball will be in Jimmy Butler's hands more, giving Heat fans more chances to express their feelings. All of which makes this must-watch TV.

Justin Verlander’s Quest for 300 Wins Remains Alive and Well at 42

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Justin Verlander knows that his career is in its twilight, given his age and a series of injuries to his neck and arm. He’s also well aware that if he wants to achieve his longtime dream of winning 300 games, he needs to capitalize now.

The 42-year-old Verlander, who signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the San Francisco Giants in January, has been healthy and missing bats while ramping up his pitch count this spring training.

“This is a big year for me,” the veteran right-hander said in an interview inside the Giants’ clubhouse at Scottsdale Stadium.

Verlander is sitting on 262 wins. Can he reach 300? The mark has become as rare in baseball as condor sightings in California. Randy Johnson was the last to do it, ironically for the Giants on June 4, 2009, during the first game of a rainy doubleheader at Washington’s Nationals Park.

At 45, Johnson was the 24th pitcher and sixth left-hander to reach that vaunted plateau. He finished his career with 303, and everyone wondered at the time if there would be any others.

Behind Verlander there’s no one even close: Max Scherzer at 216, Clayton Kershaw at 212 and Gerrit Cole at 153. All appear beyond their prime years of production.

“I definitely think I can do it,” Verlander said. “I need a few [good] years. I need two extremely, extremely good years, three overall. Just give me two healthy years where I make 30-plus starts a year. If I make 30-plus starts for three more years it’s definitely possible.

“Based on how I feel right now, yes.”

Verlander retooled during the winter, which used to be a time to rest his arm. He had a sore muscle behind his right shoulder in 2023, delaying his debut for the New York Mets until May 4. That injury “was totally my own fault,” he said. Last year, after being traded back to the Houston Astros, he suffered an inflamed capsule in the same shoulder and didn’t make his first start until April 19. A neck injury then wiped out most of June and all of July.

This was after Verlander missed practically two seasons—2020 and 2021—with the Astros after Tommy John surgery, sandwiched between a pair of American League Cy Young Award-winning seasons when he notched 21 wins in 2019 and 18 more in 2022. 

Last year was a lost season in Houston. He was 5-6 with a 5.48 ERA in only 17 starts and 90 1/3 innings. He knew this offseason something had to change. All the injuries, he said, were related.

“That all caught up with me,” he said. “I got to Christmas and suddenly I realized I just can’t do that anymore. If I don’t throw and it gets late in the spring like last year, I’ll just run out of time.

“So, I kept throwing all offseason. Another reason I did that was because I changed my mechanics. The neck injury last year just pointed out some flaws in my body I hadn’t been aware of. It’s not as if I’m a golfer and can take 1,000 swings a day. There’s only so many pitches you can throw.”

Over the course of his 19-year career, he’s averaged 28 starts and 178 innings a season. He’s aiming to get back to that—and so far, so good. Verlander has gone through the spring looking much like his old self, swinging his arms low in his motion before coming over the top to deliver each pitch from the windup and throwing at 95 mph. 

He’s made five spring starts, allowing no more the one earned run in any of those outings, plus striking out 15 in his 16 innings. After pitching five innings of three-hit, shutout ball against the Chicago White Sox on March 17, he left the mound to an ovation and tipped his cap to the crowd. And that was on the road at Glendale’s Camelback Ranch.

No wonder Giants manager Bob Melvin tagged Verlander as his No. 2 starter sandwiched between ace Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, a veteran left-hander who’s also trying to resurrect his career after a series of surgeries.

“He’s been fantastic,” Melvin said about Verlander earlier in the spring. “Look, a healthy Justin Verlander has shown to be very unique in what he’s done as long as he’s done it. He’s fully healthy now and we feel very good about him.”

The Giants themselves are a reclamation project under Verlander’s old friend and new president of baseball operations Buster Posey, who returned from hip surgery in 2019 and missing the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season before one last renaissance in 2021 gave his playing career a satisfactory final note.

Posey said he sees a lot of himself in Verlander.

“It was very evident after talking to him how motivated he is,” Posey said in January after signing him. “You don’t get to the level of greatness he’s accomplished in his career having just the utmost fortitude and desire to be the best.”

Which is just the type of player the Giants need right now. They finished 80-82 last season missing the playoffs for the third year in a row and seventh time in the last eight years dating back to 2016 when Posey was still their catcher and Bruce Bochy their manager. The two teamed together to win the World Series three times every even year from 2010 to 2014.

“We wouldn’t have won any of those World Series without Buster,” Bochy said this spring in an interview. “There’s no question about it.”

Verlander liked the direction of the organization and accepted its recent struggles. 

“This team has a lot of upside that is really being overlooked,” he said just after he signed. “From everything I’ve seen and heard, the culture that Buster has built is something that’s really special.”

About what’s left in his own career, Verlander added: “I’ve accomplished enough in my career. I wouldn’t be back if I didn’t think I would be great. I really think I can be back to the pitcher I was a couple of years ago when I won a Cy Young.”

The 300-win accomplishment still beckons, but it’s getting very late in the day.

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McLaren teammates Norris and Piastri ‘nervous and excited’ by F1 title duel

  • McLaren pair had 1-2 finish in Chinese GP on Sunday
  • Norris: ‘We’re two competitors who both want to win’

Lando Norris says his McLaren team will be “nervous” about the prospect of him going head-to-head with his teammate, Oscar Piastri, for the F1 title. Norris and Piastri have one victory each after the opening two rounds of the Formula One season.

The British team, seeking their first world champion since Lewis Hamilton claimed his maiden crown in 2008, have said their drivers are free to race each other. Although Norris has claimed McLaren are prepared for an intra-team duel, he acknowledged there could be bumps along the road.

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