Worldwide Sports News

July 10, 2025

Marlies' 2025-26 Schedule Features Three Games At Maple Leafs' Scotiabank Arena

The Toronto Marlies will play three games at Scotiabank Arena next season.

The American Hockey League released the regular season schedule for its 32 teams on Thursday afternoon. Toronto will begin its season in Rochester against the Americans on October 10, before returning home to play the Americans at the Coca-Cola Coliseum on October 11.

Three games at Scotiabank Arena (on Boxing Day, Family Day, and St. Patrick's Day), the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, is one less than the Marlies had last season. The Marlies played two doubleheaders with their NHL club on November 16 and March 15, and it appears that won't happen this season, unless their 1:30 p.m. St. Patrick's Day game is one.

Toronto's new opponents this season will feature the Chicago Wolves, Hartford Wolfpack, Grand Rapids Griffins, Springfield Thunderbirds, and the Iowa Wild, a team the Marlies haven't played since the 2014-15 season.

They will end their regular season at home on Sunday, April 19 against the Laval Rocket.

The Marlies' longest home stand will be five games, from Jan. 1 to Jan. 9 and March 14 to March 25. Their longest road stretch is eight games, from November 1 to November 19. Toronto's busiest months will be November and March, when they will play 13 games. They'll play on Saturday 23 times throughout the regular season.

'No Firm Offer' From Maple Leafs to Andrew Mangiapane Despite InterestAndrew Mangiapane, a player of interest for the Toronto Maple Leafs during their search for another forward, ultimately signed with the Edmonton Oilers when free agency opened earlier this month, rather than his hometown team. Instead, Mangiapane signed a two-year, $7.2 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

This announcement comes two days after Toronto made a second batch of AHL signings. The Marlies signed Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Ben King, and Nick Rheaume to one-year AHL contracts, while also re-signing Marko Sikic and defenceman Ryan McCleary to one-year deals on Tuesday.

Rheaume finished his third year of college and attended Maple Leafs development camp this summer. Four of the five players who signed AHL deals with Toronto on Tuesday have previously participated in the organization's development camp.

The Marlies also had a round of signings on Monday, inking former Marlie Marc Johnstone to a two-year AHL contract. Johnstone left the organization in 2023, signing an entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He made his NHL debut with the Penguins on Dec. 8, 2023.

This Is What Riley Nash Will Always Be Remembered For In His Maple Leafs TenureA former Toronto Maple Leafs player, with a brief history with the club, has called it a career. Riley Nash told the Western Canadian news outlet Castanet that he is retiring from professional hockey after 628 games in which he registered 63 goals and 113 assists.

Toronto also added Ken Appleby on a one-year contract, while also re-signing Reese Johnson.

Appleby spent the majority of last season with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers, posting a .910 save percentage in 24 games. The veteran goaltender put up six shutouts, the second-most in the AHL last season. Appleby last played an NHL game with the New York Islanders during the 2023-24 season.

Johnson is coming off a season where he played three NHL games with the Minnesota Wild and the rest with the club's AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild. In 49 games with Iowa, Johnson scored four goals and nine assists for 15 points. He played six games with the Marlies, scoring one assist after being acquired by the Maple Leafs at the trade deadline in exchange for future considerations.

'Mitchy Earned The Right To Go Wherever He Wants': Ryan Reaves Discusses Marner’s Depature And Time Spent With The Marlies Last SeasonBefore Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves calls it a career, he hopes to hit the milestone of 1,000 games.

The Marlies saw several departures this summer, including Topi Niemela, Roni Hirvonen, and Zach Solow, who signed in Europe; Matt Murray, now with the Seattle Kraken; Alex Steeves, with the Boston Bruins; Nick Abruzzese, with the Tampa Bay Lightning; and Kyle Clifford, whose playing career could be over after he was a coach at Toronto's development camp.

The Marlies' 2024-25 season concluded after two straight losses to the Cleveland Monsters in the North Division First Round of the Calder Cup playoffs.

(Top photo: Thomas Skrlj / Toronto Marlies)

July 10, 2025

Rays at Red Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 10

It's Thursday, July 10 and the Rays (50-43) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (49-45). Taj Bradley is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay against Walker Buehler for Boston.

Boston is riding its second six-game winning streak of the season, which is a season-high. Boston swept Colorado and Washington putting up 56 runs to 16 in that six-game stretch.

For Tampa Bay, the Rays have lost two straight then won the series finale in three consecutive series for a 3-6 record over the last nine games.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Rays at Red Sox

Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
Time: 7:10PM EST
Site: Fenway Park
City: Boston, MA
Network/Streaming: FDSNSUN, NESN, MLBN

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

Odds for the Rays at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Thursday:

Moneyline: Rays (-111), Red Sox (-108)
Spread: Rays -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rays at Red Sox

Pitching matchup for July 10, 2025: Taj Bradley vs. Walker Buehler
- Rays: Taj Bradley, (5-6, 4.79 ERA)
  Last outing: 5.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
- Red Sox: Walker Buehler, (6-6, 6.25 ERA)
  Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 2 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rays and the Red Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday’s game between the Rays and the Red Sox:

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rays at Red Sox

Tampa Bay is 9-9 in Bradley's 18 starts this season
Boston is 8-7 in Buheler's 15 starts this season
The Red Sox have won 6 of their last 8 games at home
The Under is 33-25-2 in the Rays' matchups against American League teams 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!

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)

July 10, 2025

Jimmy Rollins gives his key to how Steph Curry, Warriors can win one more title

Jimmy Rollins gives his key to how Steph Curry, Warriors can win one more title originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Programming note: The American Century Championship will air Friday, July 11, from 1-3 p.m. PT on Peacock, and again from 5-7 p.m. PT on GOLF Channel. Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13, the tournament will air locally on NBC Bay Area (KNTV) from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT.

What will it take for the Warriors to get that next NBA championship title?

Former MLB shortstop and Oakland native Jimmy Rollins has an idea, and he broke it down while speaking with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole on Thursday at the American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe.

“Rebounds,” Rollins said without hesitation when Poole asked what it would take for the Warriors to win their next ring. “A big man that can come in, you know, and play some defense. Look, Draymond [Green] is what [6-foot-7]? [6-foot-6] and he’s guarding 7-footers and he’s pushing them off the block, but there are times where length, there’s nothing you can do about it.”

In the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the Warriors were middle of the pack when it came to rebounds allowed to opponents, but in the playoffs, their lack of size was evident. Golden State was fourth worst of the 16 playoff teams while allowing 11.8 offensive rebounds per game, and third worst with 44.1 total opponent rebounds per game.

“We get a true big man that can match up, that when we play our smaller lineups that we can still get rebounds, we’ll be alright,” Rollins told Poole. “So, if we get those extra possessions that we’re giving up, I think we’ll win. That’s really it. I think our defense is great, it’s just we’re getting out-rebounded, teams are getting an extra 15 shots on us. It’s hard to win games that way.”

Time will tell if the Warriors are able to find some size soon. With the rumors of the team trying to lure Al Horford alive and well, adding a veteran presence like that would be a tremendous get for a team lacking some true size.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

July 10, 2025

Brad Friedel breaks down USMNT striker & goalkeeper dilemma! + Saudi League is now ahead of MLS?

Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros bring on legendary USMNT Goalkeeper Brad Friedel to chat all things USMNT including their current roster questions at striker and goalkeeper. Brad Friedel explains why patience is necessary as Pochettino change the culture with the USMNT. Christian and Alexis then break down the most recent results in the Club World Cup, including PSG’s annihilation of Real Madrid! Later, Christian and Alexis break down all the newest updates behind Thomas Partey’s recent arrest and why it took so long for a 4 year investigation to reach this conclusion.

July 10, 2025

Nationals at Cardinals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for July 10

It's Thursday, July 10 and the Nationals (38-54) are in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals (49-44). Michael Soroka is slated to take the mound for Washington against Miles Mikolas for St. Louis.

Washington took Tuesday's matchup over St. Louis, 8-2, to even up the series. The Nationals were on a four-game losing streak, so that was a much-needed win. The Cardinals are 2-2 in the past four games and 2-6 in the previous eight.

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

Game details & how to watch Nationals at Cardinals

Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
Time: 7:45PM EST
Site: Busch Stadium
City: St. Louis, MO
Network/Streaming: MASN, FDSNMW

Odds for the Nationals at the Cardinals

The latest odds as of Thursday:

Moneyline: Nationals (+120), Cardinals (-143)
Spread: Cardinals -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Cardinals

Pitching matchup for July 10, 2025: Michael Soroka vs. Miles Mikolas
- Nationals: Michael Soroka, (3-6, 5.40 ERA)
  Last outing: 4.0 Innings Pitched, 7 Earned Runs Allowed, 9 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
- Cardinals: Miles Mikolas, (4-6, 5.26 ERA)
  Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 8 Earned Runs Allowed, 10 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Nationals and the Cardinals

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday’s game between the Nationals and the Cardinals:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the St. Louis Cardinals on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Nationals at Cardinals

Washington is 0-5 in the last five with Soroka pitching
Washington is 2-9 in the 11 starts for Soroka this year
St. Louis is 1-4 in the last five with Mikolas pitching
The Cardinals have won 3 straight matchups against the Nationals with Miles Mikolas opening
In his last 5 starts on the mound, Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas has an 8.31 ERA
Each of the Cardinals' last 5 wins have been by 2+ runs

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!

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)

July 10, 2025

Robots are closing in! MLB to use Automated Ball-Strike challenge system during All-Star Game

The Automated Ball-Strike System plays on the scoreboard after a pitch call was challenged during the second inning of a spring training baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) — Feb. 2025 photo of the Automated Ball-Strike System plays on the scoreboard after a pitch call was challenged during the second inning of a spring training baseball game in Phoenix. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)

The MLB All-Star Game has served disparate purposes over the years. It always has been a showcase for baseball's top talent. Once upon a time, the outcome determined home field advantage in the World Series. In recent years, it has been a fashion runway for ridiculous uniforms.

This year, it will be an incubator.

The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System will take its next measured step toward regular-season implementation when it is used in the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Just as ABS was conducted during spring training, each team will get two challenges that can be made only by the pitcher, catcher or batter. Successful challenges are retained.

The player making a challenge taps his cap or helmet to let the plate umpire know that his ball or strike call will be reviewed. The ubiquitous Hawk-Eye system tracks the trajectory and location of the pitch and and a graphic of the pitch is displayed on the scoreboard while the call is being reviewed.

In the minor leagues, ABS has been tested since 2021 and the ABS challenge was implemented in 2022. Major leaguers got their first taste during spring training.

Result? Not much difference from the calls made by human umpires. Strikeouts were reduced slightly and walks increased a tick.

“We have made a lot of progress in the way the system works,” MLB vice president of on-field strategy Joe Martinez said at a media-demonstration session during spring training, “and also the way we weave the system into the game play. And we’re at a point in triple-A where we have a system that the players like, the coaches like, the umpires like and the fans like.”

The shape of a major league strike zone as called by umpires isn't the precise cube seen on television but takes a rounded form that bulges wider in the middle of the zone and tightens at the top and bottom.

Human umpires continue to improve, in no small part because pitch tracking puts every call under a microscope. MLB umpires have improved their accuracy in calling balls and strikes every year since pitch tracking technology was introduced in 2008, according to FanGraphs. Accuracy has spiked from 81.3% to 92.4%. Expressed another way, incorrect calls have been reduced by nearly 60% in 15 years.

Major League Baseball negotiated a change with the umpires association last offseason in how home-plate umpires are evaluated, effectively tightening the strike zone. The change decreased the margin of error for umpires in their evaluations, resulting in fewer called strikes off the edges of the plate.

Still, a handful of calls are missed in nearly every game, and the all-stars will have an opportunity to tap their caps and challenge at least two calls per team. Should the experiment be a hit with participants and fans, the next step will be for the 11-person MLB competition committee to consider implementing the challenge system for the 2026 regular season.

All-Star notes

— All-Stars will wear what they wear during regular-season games, meaning those unsightly uniforms that were uniformly panned by players and fans the last several years will remain in a closet somewhere. This will be the first year since 2019 that players wear the regular-season uniforms of their teams.

— Department of serendipity: The All-Star Game will take place on Tuesday (7/15) in Atlanta, the number and location of Hank Aaron's historic home run in 1974 that vaulted him past Babe Ruth to become MLB's all-time leader at the time. Hammerin' Hank blasted No. 715 off the Dodgers' Al Downing at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The tribute will re-create the moment through the use of projection mapping and custom pyrotechnics at the end of the sixth inning.

— MLB All-Star week begins Saturday with the Futures Game. The MLB draft will be held Sunday, the Home Run Derby is scheduled for Monday with the All-Star Game taking place Tuesday.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

July 10, 2025

Oisin Murphy faces ‘incredibly strict’ conditions on licence after drink-driving case

Racing’s rulers are close to agreement with jockey
Murphy was fined £70,000 and banned from driving

Brant Dunshea, the acting chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, revealed on Thursday that the regulator is going to apply “incredibly strict” conditions to Oisin Murphy’s riding licence following the champion jockey’s conviction on a drink-driving charge at Reading magistrates’ court last week.

Murphy was fined £70,000, one of the highest penalties ever imposed for drink-driving in the UK, and banned for 20 months following an incident near his home in Berkshire in late April when a car that Murphy was driving collided with a tree. The jockey was nearly twice the legal limit for alcohol in his breath when tested by police around seven hours after the crash.

July 10, 2025

Former MMA fighter ‘died four times’ amid double lung transplant

Ben Askren, a former Olympic wrestler, had been hospitalized in Wisconsin with a severe case of pneumonia

Former Olympic wrestler and MMA star Ben Askren, who has been hospitalized in Wisconsin after a severe case of pneumonia, said in a post on social media Wednesday that he had undergone a double lung transplant and is in recovery.

Askren said during the Instagram video that he recalls very little of what happened over a month-long stretch from late May through the first two days of July. His wife, Amy, had said in a series of social media posts that Askren was put on a ventilator in June and placed on the donor list for a lung transplant on 24 June.

July 10, 2025

Robbie Ray replaced on National League All-Star roster due to start vs. Dodgers

Robbie Ray replaced on National League All-Star roster due to start vs. Dodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Robbie Ray earned his second MLB All-Star selection, but the Giants southpaw won’t be making an appearance in this season’s Midsummer Classic.

Ray is scheduled to start San Francisco’s matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday at Oracle Park, with the player and the club deciding to opt out of the former Cy Young winner making an appearance in the July 15 exhibition game.

Ray is being replaced on the National League’s roster by New York Mets pitcher David Peterson.

David Peterson has been added to the National League All-Star team 💪
He replaces Robbie Ray on the NL's active roster. pic.twitter.com/ng406EPxHE
— MLB (@MLB) July 10, 2025

MLB’s former rule stipulated that any pitchers making a start on the Sunday before the All-Star break would be deemed ineligible to appear in the Midsummer Classic. Now, both the team and player have the option to decide if they will appear in the All-Star Game.

The Giants pushed for Tyler Rogers to replace Ray, with the submariner posting All-Star-caliber numbers with a 1.62 ERA in 44 innings pitched during the 2025 MLB season. Ultimately, MLB opted to go with Peterson instead.

Giants have had Ray lined up for this start for a few days. It means he can't pitch in the All-Star Game, and they're pushing to have Tyler Rogers get that spot (it may be difficult since they've already had three pitchers selected). https://t.co/8sBcqH7ZrY
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) July 9, 2025

Ray has been one of the NL’s best starting pitchers this season, posting a 9-3 record with a 2.63 ERA in 19 starts. While Ray won’t pitch in the Midsummer Classic, the All-Star selection still remains on his resume, forever highlighting his stellar first half.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

July 10, 2025

Mariners at Yankees prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 10

Its Thursday, July 10 and the Mariners (48-44) are in the Bronx looking to avoid being swept in their three-game series against the Yankees (51-41).

Bryan Woo is slated to take the mound for Seattle against Marcus Stroman for New York.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. was electric last night. The All-Star infielder for New York homered twice in support of the major league debut of Cam Schlittler and the Yankees won 9-6 at Yankee Stadium. New York has now won three in a row.

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 Mariners at Yankees

Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
Time: 7:05PM EST
Site: Yankee Stadium
City: Bronx, NY
Network/Streaming: RSNW, YES, MLBN

Odds for the Mariners at the Yankees

The latest odds as of Thursday:

Moneyline: Mariners (-120), Yankees (+100)
Spread: Mariners -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mariners at Yankees

Pitching matchup for July 10, 2025: Bryan Woo vs. Marcus Stroman
- Mariners: Bryan Woo (8-4, 2.77 ERA)
  Last outing: 7/4 vs. Pittsburgh - 6IP, 0ER, 3H, 2BB, 8Ks
- Yankees: Marcus Stroman (1-1, 7.45 ERA)
  Last outing: 7/4 at Mets - 5IP, 3ER, 7H, 1BB, 4Ks

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Mariners at Yankees

The Yankees have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against American League opponents
The Over is 32-25-4 in the Mariners' games against American League teams this season
The Yankees have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 3.18 units
Clay Bellinger has now hit safely in 14 straight games with multiple hits 7 of games to raise his average to .281
Paul Goldschmidt is 10-27 (.370) in July
Aaron Judge is 12-29 (.429) in July with 4HRs

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 Mariners 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.

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Mariners 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 New York Yankees at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

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

July 10, 2025

Jesse Winker could be heading to IL due to back injury

Mets designated hitter Jesse Winker could be heading back to the IL just a few days after returning from an extended absence.

Winker, who exited Thursday's game against the Orioles after just one at-bat due to back tightness, is being sent back to New York for an MRI, manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game.

Mendoza noted that an IL stint is a possibility.

If Winker lands on the IL, the Mets will essentially be without a regular DH until after the All-Star break, which begins for them after Sunday's game in Kansas City.

Starling Marte landed on the IL on Tuesday, retroactive to July 7. The expectation is that he'll be able to return right after the break, with the Mets beginning the second half against the Reds on July 18 at Citi Field.

On the at-bat before he came out, Winker popped out to end the first inning. He was pinch-hit for in the fourth inning by Mark Vientos.

The 31-year-old was playing in just his second game since May 4 after returning from the injured list on Tuesday after working his way back from an oblique injury.

Winker was hitting .239 with a .739 OPS (112 OPS+) prior to his oblique injury, totaling just one home run and 10 RBI.

The lefty hit .286 with two home runs, a double, seven RBI, and five walks over five games in the minor leagues during his rehab assignment.

July 10, 2025

Rangers Most Valuable List, Players Who Deserve Praise

There's no need for us to get into an argument over this. The season is over and even the glass-bangers are sorry they made fools of themselves.

But it suddenly dawned on The Maven that I should have put together a "My Rangers Most Valuable Player List."

MY MVPS:

1. WILL CUYLLE: He sets the best example with all-round hustle and goals.

2. ARTEMI PANARIN: The Breadman is so far ahead of the other scorers, it's scary.

3. BRADEN SCHNEIDER: Growing by the season, he's the best blue liner. (And don't tell me that's not saying much.

4. VINNIE TROCHECK: He's the best go-to guy for a post-game quote.

July 10, 2025

MLB insider doubles down on Jarren Duran-to-Padres possibility

MLB insider doubles down on Jarren Duran-to-Padres possibility originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox’ outfield logjam is the elephant in the room with the 2025 MLB trade deadline approaching.

Even if they’re technically buyers ahead of the deadline, the Red Sox are expected to part ways with at least one member of their crowded outfield. The emergence of top prospect Roman Anthony has resulted in Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu being mentioned in trade rumors as Boston prioritizes pitching help.

Duran has been linked to the San Diego Padres since early June, when The Athletic reported the 2024 All-Star Game MVP was on their list of trade targets. Their interest comes as little surprise given their glaring weakness in left field.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan listed the Padres as one of Duran’s “best fits” last month, and he doubled down on that assertion Thursday by naming him as the “best match” for San Diego.

“No player and team have been linked as strongly as Duran and the Padres — and that’s without any knowledge of how the Red Sox intend to handle the deadline,” Passan wrote. “Roman Anthony’s emergence has put Boston in a position to float Duran and Wilyer Abreu in trade discussions, and whether it’s now or over the winter, Boston wants to use its surplus of bats to fill voids elsewhere.

“Left field in San Diego is among the biggest voids in the game. The Padres have tried eight players in left this season, and collectively they’re barely have an OPS of over .600. A Duran-Jackson Merrill-Fernando Tatis Jr. outfield would be a factory of dynamism that would be under team control through the end of the 2028 season.

“The Padres might need to get creative — beyond shortstop Leo De Vries (who’s believed to be off-limits) and catcher Ethan Salas, their farm system is middling — but nobody does creativity like GM A.J. Preller. And whether that means facilitating a deal through a third team or including one of their high-leverage relievers such as closer Robert Suárez, San Diego is willing to go places most other organizations would never consider.”

The Red Sox’ primary outfield currently consists of Duran in left, Ceddanne Rafaela in center, and Abreu in right. Anthony has spent 19 games in right and nine as the designated hitter, though his recent switch to left field suggests Boston is preparing to make it his primary position.

Theoretically, the Red Sox could take advantage of Rafaela’s versatility and move him to second base, with Duran sliding to center and Anthony sticking in left. But Rafaela is arguably the best defensive center fielder in the game, and moving him to second would give top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer no clear path to consistent playing time when third baseman Alex Bregman returns from injury.

It’s a complicated situation for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, but he told WEEI on Thursday that trading one of his outfielders isn’t a necessity.

“It’s something that you would have to consider if there was an opportunity to improve the team elsewhere,” Breslow said on The Greg Hill Show. “But I think it’s really important to point out that we don’t have to trade one of the outfielders simply because we have more guys that are capable of contributing than can start every night.”

Duran is slashing .262/.318/.438 with an MLB-leading 10 triples, eight homers, and 50 RBI in 93 games. He has caught fire in July, posting a 1.154 OPS with 11 RBI in eight games.

Riding a six-game win streak, the Red Sox will wrap up their first half with a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.

July 10, 2025

Just How Good Can Islanders Prospect Daniil Prokhorov Be? Development Path Routes

New York Islanders fans have a lot to be excited about with prospect Daniil Prokhorov.

The 18-year-old winger from Krasnodar, Russia, was the club’s 2025 second-round pick (No. 42), and he quickly turned heads at development camp with his impressive skating, awareness, intensity, and personality.

His game centers around his 6-foot-6, 218-pound frame, as he utilizes his size and strength to drive to the net and win puck battles, while also possessing a long stride and impressive agility for his size.

Daniil Prokhorov. More 💥pic.twitter.com/sf5ZxIkCx2
— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) June 28, 2025

Fans fell in love with Prokhorov’s game at the camp, but the Islanders' front office has been impressed by the young forward for a while, and so have their cross-town rivals, the New York Rangers.

Speaking with RB Sports (Hockey), Prokhorov gave some insight on the draft process, notably mentioning how he knew the Islanders would be his landing spot:

“I had the best talk with Islanders. Like I knew them for 20 years. [The New York Rangers] wanted to choose me at the 43rd [pick]. But I said that they won't succeed, because [the New York Islanders] will choose me at the 42nd.”

Well, Prokhorov was right, as the Islanders took him with the 42nd pick, forcing the Rangers to select winger Malcom Spence.

Prokhorov was arguably the best player on the ice at the Islanders' development camp, but he still has a long way to go before reaching the NHL, notably by rounding out his two-way game while becoming a more consistent and reliable winger.

GOALS? GOALS. #LGI | @UBS pic.twitter.com/OXRlsqJ8Qy
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) July 2, 2025

The question is, how good can this kid be?

Can he turn into a Valeri Nichushkin type?

The Sarnia Sting selected Prokhorov with the 42nd overall pick in the CHL Import Draft. He has played for the KHL's junior league team, St. Petersburg Dynamo, over the last two seasons, recording 20 goals with seven assists for 27 points in 43 games.

Hell have to decide whether to stay in the KHL or come over to North America.

We saw an Islanders prospect, Jesse Nurmi, last season decide to play in juniors after being selected by the London Knights 58th overall in the 2024 CHL Import Draft. He went on to win the Memorial Cup, developing on this side of the pond to prepare for his first season with the organization.

Given the language barrier, the different ice surface, and the different style, it makes perfect sense for Prokhorov to follow in Nurmi's footsteps.

However, the one caveat to leaving home is the age of players he will play against. While the MHL age max is 20, just like it is for the OHL, Prokhorov would likely be making the jump to the KHL this season.

Given his size, it may make sense for him to develop against men, since banging bodies and playing that hard-nosed style are his strongest assets.

The Hockey News reached out to Prokhorov's representatives but have yet to garner a response.

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Michael Ostrower contributed to this story.

July 10, 2025

Four NHL Coaches Who Will Have The Biggest Effect In Their New Position

The NHL’s coaching carousel was in full effect over the off-season with nine new hires looking to make an immediate impact.

Some of these bench bosses are making their NHL head coaching debuts, while others have been around for years.

The players make it happen on the ice, but the coaches are a huge part of the success or failure a team has each season. Sometimes, the bench boss can even help a team perform above expectations.

Here are four coaches who will have the biggest effect in their new position.

Mike Sullivan, New York Rangers

It was a rough year for the New York Rangers on and off the ice. After winning the Presidents’ Trophy and advancing to the Eastern Conference final in 2023-24, they had a huge drop-off last season.

The Rangers missed out on the playoffs and finished fifth in the Metropolitan Division. At one point, former coach Peter Laviolette was under fire for saying he didn’t have a message for the team after a 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in April.

Mike Sullivan (Peter Carr/The Journal News/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Mike Sullivan was the perfect choice to lead the Blueshirts behind the bench. Sullivan won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins and is invested in managing a competitive team. With that, he was appointed the coach of Team USA for the 4 Nations Face-Off and the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics.

Joel Quenneville, Anaheim Ducks

After resigning as coach of the Florida Panthers during the 2021-22 season, Joel Quenneville is returning to the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks.

He resigned after an investigation into how the Chicago Blackhawks handled sexual assault allegations determined he was one of the people who had an inadequate response.

In July 2024, the NHL reinstated Quenneville, current Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman and former Blackhawks VP of hockey operations Al MacIsaac.

Quenneville is ready to push the Ducks and give them an opportunity to end a seven-year playoff drought. The team improved by 21 points from 2023-24, and the second-winningest coach in NHL history and two-time Jack Adams Award winner can take Anaheim to that next step.

Adam Foote, Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks had a campaign to forget on many levels last year. From the J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson rift to the Quinn Hughes injury and the team underperforming all season long, it wasn’t ideal for GM Patrik Allvin and the rest of the front office.

Despite not executing expectations last season, the Canucks aren’t that different from when they advanced to the Western Conference final in 2023-24. With the right preparation and leadership from new coach Adam Foote, Vancouver could be back in the mix.

Foote was an assistant coach for the Canucks for the last three seasons. He knows the core players of this team and understands what could be done to get the best out of them again.

“I’m really excited about it,” Canucks right winger Conor Garland told The Hockey News' Carol Schram in late May. “I loved having him as an assistant. It's obviously going to be a little different now. I’m assuming as the head, we won’t be able to talk and hang out as much at the rink. But he was a lot of fun, and he's a very smart guy.”

Rick Tocchet, Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers get to experience the reincarnation of Rick Tocchet. He played parts of 11 seasons with the Flyers before retiring in 2001-02. Now, he’s back as the bench boss following his time with the Canucks.

It didn’t take long before Tocchet was able to turn around the falling Canucks into a Stanley Cup contender. In his first full season in Vancouver in 2023-24, he ended a four-year playoff drought, advanced to the conference finals and won the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year.

It’s a huge task and a huge ask, but maybe Tocchet has another quick turnaround in him with his Flyers next season.

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