Mets calling up left-hander Zach Thornton to pitch on Friday vs. Phillies: report

The Mets are calling up left-handed pitching Zach Thornton to pitch on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. 

While it's unknown if Thornton will start or have an opener go in front of him, the young lefty takes the place of David Peterson, who was traded to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night, in the Mets' rotation.

Thornton, 24, made one start for the Mets earlier this season, allowing four earned runs in 4.1 innings against the Washington Nationals on May 20.

With Christian Scott expected to be activated off the IL for his next turn through the rotation this weekend and Kodai Senga now officially in the bullpen, the Mets' five-man rotation consists of Freddy Peralta, Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea, Scott, and Thornton, with the possibility of some openers mixed in. 

 

REPORT: Timberwolves land LaMelo Ball in blockbuster trade, weaken Eastern Conference

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 4: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets and Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talk during the game on November 4, 2024 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

When the offseason started, all eyes were on where Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown would end up. After the former got traded earlier this week, it was supposed to be the latter’s turn. And even Anthony Edwards’ name came up, not as a trade candidate this season, but as a disgruntled star who could be the next big name to start making some noise.

Not only did the Timberwolves not move Edwards, but they got him a running mate who could appeal to his desire to have more help around him. Late Wednesday night, rumors surrounding the availability of LaMelo Ball surfaced. It came as a surprise to many as the young point guard had just spearheaded an incredibly strong second half of the season for the Hornets. He played in 72 games, which was the second-most of his career, and the most since his second year in the league. He was analytically among the most impactful offensive players in the league. And it looked like he was well on his way to leading a dynamic trio of himself, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel to a new age of Hornets basketball.

Less than 24 hours after the initial reports came out, Ball was swiftly traded away, and it wasn’t like the Hornets received an offer they couldn’t refuse.

Charlotte landed a return package comprised of Naz Reid, an unprotected first-round pick, three first-round pick swaps, and three second-round picks. That isn’t nothing, but it still feels rather underwhelming for a player of Ball’s caliber, and the Hornets are likely worse after agreeing to the trade.

The aftermath speculation is that the Hornets wanted to get ahead of Ball’s second major NBA contract while selling high on a player who just had his healthiest and best season in years. Obviously, the Timberwolves got better. They lack real front court depth after trading away both Julius Randle and Reid, and will surely have to eventually address that. But Ball, Minnesota, finally provides Edwards with another creator who can consistently create advantages on offense. For years, the Wolves had gone with the band-aid fixes of Donte DiVincenzo and the shell of Mike Conley.

Ant now has a bit of the pressure taken off of him, and it should create a very entertaining backcourt with the star power and offensive capabilities to match pretty much any unit across the NBA. If the Wolves can shore up their front court with a bit more size and firepower, they now have the offensive ceiling to at least give the Thunder and Spurs a run for their money. And with those three teams, the Lakers, and Nuggets all believing they can win now, the West should once again be exciting and closely contested at the top.

The Hornets, on the other hand, get some picks back and now have a treasure trove of picks for the upcoming years. On paper, however, they are very clearly a worse team. They did re-sign Coby White, who had played incredibly well as a Hornet in the second half of the season and will provide Miller and Knueppel with ample scoring support and playmaking. But he’s still no Ball. White isn’t the playmaker or shooter that Ball is, and the Hornets could see some offensive regression because of that. He offers some more stability in a way; he’s less injury prone, having played 104 more games than Ball since Ball’s first year in the league, and his cheaper contract also gives the Hornets more flexibility moving forward.

Not only can they save some money for Miller and Knueppel’s extensions when necessary, but they also have more money to round out the rest of the roster this summer. On top of that, the draft picks will allow them to maybe go star hunting down the road. It just needs to be reiterated, though, that the Hornets, as of right now, are worse than they were yesterday.

The Eastern Conference likely took a short sigh of relief after hearing about this deal. The Hornets were probably still a piece or two short of being real contenders at the level of the Knicks, Celtics, Pistons, and Cavaliers. They lack postseason experience, as was evident in their final play-in game, and they still need a bit more depth. But the way they played down the stretch had a lot of teams sweating. They truly looked like an up-and-coming team, and it wouldn’t have surprised people if they took a jump similar to the one the Pistons took over the last couple of years.

White is a solid point guard who can replicate some of the things that Ball did, but the Hornets won’t be nearly as scary with White as their starting point guard. Because of that, this trade won’t impact the aforementioned contenders much. They got their own problems and many other and better teams to worry about. But now, teams like the Hawks, Raptors, and Magic, who are in that second or third tier of teams in the conference, will have a slightly easier time making the playoffs once again.

Zach Benson Signed To Seven-Year Extension After Tuch Trade

The Buffalo Sabres busy week leading up to the NHL Draft continued on Wednesday, as mere hours after GM Jarmo Kekalainen orchestrated a sign-and-trade of winger Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals, the club locked up restricted free agent forward Zach Benson to a seven-year, $52.5 million contract extension. 

The 21-year-old winger Benson posted a career-high 43 points (13 goals, 30 assists) in 65 games in his third NHL season and made his mark in the Sabres first playoff appearance in 15 years, scoring nine points (5 goals, 4 assists) in 13 games. 

“I see him as a true core piece that fills all the boxes,” Kekäläinen said last month. “(Zach has) got skill, he’s got hockey sense, he’s got instincts, he’s relentless, he’s a competitor. What a great playoff he had and, again, I’m so excited about the level that he can get to.”

The extension takes some of the sting off of the trades of Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram earlier in the week. The 30-year-old winger was headed to free agency on July 1, even after the Sabres reportedly had increased their offer on a long-term deal. Kekalainen was not prepared to go the maximum eight years and in excess of $10 million per season on the veteran winger who scored 33 goals last season, as the Capitals did on an eight-year, $84 million deal. 

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

What will the Sabres do to fill the void after the departure of Alex Tuch?

The trade with Chicago is being lauded as an excellent return for the Sabres, but the departures of Byram and Tuch total 44 goals, and while Kekalainen hopes that the growth of youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, and Noah Ostlund will help fill the gap, the Sabres GM is not ruling out exchanging some draft capital to help bolster the lineup next season. 

“I've told all the teams that have inquired about the #4 pick, that we're just going to listen for now, take notes, and see what they think is the value of #4. We value that very highly ourselves. We know there's a great prospect available there, that's going to be two, three years away, or maybe even more, before they can make an impact on our team.” Kekalainen said. “We want to keep getting better as a team. We had an exciting year, but still disappointing at the end, but we'll gather that information around the league and see what the values, and if we don't think it's as much as making the pick, then we'll make the pick.”

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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MLB Home Run Predictions Today: Best HR Prop Bets, Picks, Parlay & Odds for Thursday, June 25

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The dinger run continues with another +550 in the bag last night, pushing this homer heater to 8-16 SU for 20+ units over the last eight articles.

There's still a hole to climb out of, but with summer here, I'm letting the good times roll with home runs and MLB player props

I'm pushing a lot of chips into the middle in this Cubs vs. Mets game and taking a hitter on both sides in a great run environment with two of the hottest sticks in baseball. 

Let's also add friend of the show, Brandon Marsh, back to the card. He's been killing it in the Washington series and has a great setting to hit his third homer vs. the Nationals this week.

These are my favorite home run props for Thursday, June 25. 

  • UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.

Best MLB home run props today

Player to hit a HROdds
Cubs Pete Crow-Armstrong+335
Mets Bo Bichette +504
Phillies Brandon Marsh+670
💲Today's HR parlay+16840

Home run pick: Pete Crow-Armstrong (+335)

This is a little outside my usual price range, but we're talking about the hottest hitter in baseball, Pete Crow-Armstrong.

He leads the league in both slugging and wRC+ over the last two weeks, has crushed a league-best six home runs during that span, and paces all hitters with 10 bombs in June.

Citi Field is set up for offense tonight with 14-mph winds blowing out to center field, two taxed bullpens, and a pair of starters who have been generous lately.

Freddy Peralta has allowed 26 runs over his last 31 innings, and is coming off a start where he surrendered 10 runs and two homers. He may also be asked to wear some innings with the Mets missing several high-leverage bullpen arms.

The first three games of this series have already produced 43 runs, and I'm expecting the offenses to keep rolling Thursday night. I'm buying PCA at +300 or better. 

  • Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: SNY, Marquee Sports Network

Home run pick: Bo Bichette (+504)

Bo Bichette is not the punching bag he was last month.

Over the last two weeks, he's been a Top-5 hitter in wRC+, slugging, and wOBA. He hit his 10th homer of the season last night and owns a 1.135 OPS over his last four series with eight multi-hit games in 12 contests.

The winds are blowing out to center field at 14 mph tonight, and this series has been nothing but runs through three games in two days.

Bichette lost Juan Soto, but Francisco Lindor is back and provides more punch to the lineup. The former Jay also gets a great matchup against left-hander Matthew Boyd.

Boyd is returning from injury, was pitching to a 6.00 ERA before going down, threw just 58 pitches in his last rehab start, and is backed by a bullpen that could be down four arms after yesterday's doubleheader.

Bichette has seen the lefty five times and taken him deep once. I am all-in on runs in this game, and this is my favorite home run prop on the home side. I'd play it down to +425.

  • Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: SNY, Marquee Sports Network

Home run pick: Brandon Marsh (+670)

Oh look, it's me betting a Brandon Marsh home run again for the third straight day.

He cashed at +660 on Tuesday, and although he didn't go deep yesterday, he followed it up with a three-hit game — his second straight.

Over the first three games of this series against Washington, Marsh is 7-for-13 with two homers, and gets another great opportunity today to leave the yard for a third time in the series.

There are double-digit winds blowing out to left field, Marsh has already seen plenty of this bullpen (including a homer off closer Brad Lord), and Cade Cavalli is still pitching above his underlying numbers. Over the last month, he ranks among the bottom 40 starters in baseball in xERA.

Left-handed hitters are batting .303 against him this season with an .807 OPS, and the warmer weather appears to be catching up to him. Opponents own an .840 OPS against Cavalli in June, compared to an OPS below .700 earlier in the season.

I'm once again playing Marsh at any number that starts with +600.

  • Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NBCSP, Nationals.TV
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
  • HR picks: 20-121, -18.33 units

Today’s HR parlay

Cubs Pete Crow-ArmstrongBet Now
+16840
Mets Bo Bichette
Phillies Brandon Marsh

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Should the Cardinals buy or sell? Chaim Bloom’s deadline plan

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JUNE 15: Dustin May #3 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates after recording the third out of the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium on June 15, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The St. Louis Cardinals announced a change in the chain of command yesterday, but the majority of us believe this is how things were mostly run anyway. With the shift, though, my personal hope is that Bill DeWitt III and Anuk Karunaratne will defer all baseball related decisions to Chaim Bloom and his staff.

The press conference touched on some of those ideas, with Bloom mentioning that this team could play its way into a slight deviation from the plan but DeWitt Jr. also stating that rentals are off the table. Changing the plan would be a big shift after hearing that the long-term has always been the focus. The team’s recent play, though, may call for a pause on any of those additions and it appears more likely we will see players traded away.

Chaim Bloom could still buy and sell at this year’s deadline as the Cardinals sit in a postseason spot

On the latest episode of Cardinals on My Time, I had a trio of content creators break down seemingly all angles of what the Cardinals could do during this trade deadline. We touched on the typical trade pieces, but there was also some disagreement for who we think stays or goes. Let me know where you agree or disagree with what we said!

Thanks as always!

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Hurricanes Sign Depth Defenseman To Extension

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Juuso Valimaki to a one-year contract extension that will pay him $900,000.

The Finnish blueliner joined the organization in January, with the team acquiring him from the Utah Mammoth for future considerations.

Valimaki, 27, was a first-round selection in the 2017 NHL draft and has played in 271 career NHL games with Calgary, Arizona and Utah.

The 6-foot-2 blueliner played primarily for the Chicago Wolves this past year after returning from injury, posting seven goals and 23 points in 27 regular season games as well as five goals and 14 points in 21 playoff games.

Valimaki provides the team with solid defensive depth, one that has both NHL experience and some offensive touch.


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LeBron James tops list of available NBA free agents ahead of 'tampering' period

Now that the 2026 NBA Draft is done, the league's attention turns to the start of free agency, with the official "tampering" period beginning on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.

But teams and free agents can't sign their contracts until July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET when the NBA's moratorium on signings ends.

There has already been some action well before the free agency start, as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu plans to sign a five-year, $112 million contract to return. Also returning to their teams are Washington Wizards guard Trae Young, who agreed to a four-year, $212 million deal, and Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who is set to ink a four-year, $185 million extension, the largest contract in NBA history for an undrafted player.

Here are the best remaining NBA free agents:

LeBron James (unrestricted)

Age: 41

25-26 stats: 20.9 ppg, 7.2 apg, 6.1 rpg (51.5% FG, 31.7% 3-pt FG)

No one should be doing what James is doing at his age, but one more run with the Lakers before retirement, and the Reaves re-signing would still make them a playoff threat in the West.

Zach LaVine (player option)

Age: 31

25-26 stats: 19.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.3 apg (47.9% FG, 39% 3-pt FG)

LaVine's $49 million option makes him prime trade bait unless there is a team out there willing to hand the 31-year-old injury-prone playmaker another massive deal. Going back to the Sacramento Kings in the long term would be a questionable move as well.

Jalen Duren (restricted)

Age: 22

25-26 stats: 19.5 ppg, 10.5 reb, 2 apg (65% FG)

The Detroit Pistons can offer Duren a five-year deal, worth up to $287.1 million, after he made the All-NBA third team this season. The question is whether Detroit wants to or will be foolish enough to pay that, especially after his disappearing act in the playoffs.

James Harden (player option)

Age: 36

25-26 stats: 23.8 ppg, 8.0 ast, 4.8 rpg (43.4% FG, 37.5% 3-pt FG)

Like every contender in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers have to decide on an aging yet still effective and championship-less Harden, whose $42.3 million option would be hard to pass up for any other player.

Kristaps Porzingis (unrestricted)

Age: 30

25-26 stats: 16.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.5 apg (44.6% FG, 33.8% 3-pt FG)

With Al Horford back in the mix with a new two-year, $14 million deal, the Golden State Warriors now turn their attention to Porzingis, whose injury history makes him a risk no matter where he ends up next season.

Andrew Wiggins (player option)

Age: 31

25-26 stats: 15.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.7 apg (47.5% FG, 41.4% 3-pt FG)

Wiggins' player option is worth $30.2 million, so staying put would be the wise move. But moving on would complicate the Miami Heat's plans for building a competitive roster.

Rui Hachimura (unrestricted)

Age: 28

25-26 stats: 11.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg (51.4% FG, 44.3% 3-pt FG)

The NBA is all about stretching the floor and shooting, and any team could use a sharpshooter like Hachimura, who has hit 40% or better from downtown in each of the last three years.

Norman Powell (unrestricted)

Age: 33

25-26 stats: 21.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg (47% FG, 38% 3-pt FG)

The Heat need Powell on the roster, especially because of his shooting. Will Powell look to score one final big payday elsewhere, or does he stay around, hoping the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade puts them back in the mix for a title?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best NBA free agents available ahead of official 'tampering' period

Mike Babcock Hires Former Senators Head Coach In Edmonton

Former Senators head coach D.J. Smith has found his next NHL opportunity, and it will be alongside one of hockey's most polarizing figures.

The Edmonton Oilers officially announced Tuesday that Mike Babcock is their new head coach and that Smith will be his associate coach. The hirings reunite the pair more than a decade after they first worked together with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

For Senators fans, the hiring is notable, not only because he worked in Ottawa, but because he'll now be working alongside Babcock, who's been the talk of the league. 

Whether it was Anaheim, Detroit, Toronto, or Columbus, there seemed to be no end to the negative stories about Babcock's past treatment of his players and coaching methods. When the news broke about Edmonton's interest, all the stories have been retold over the past couple of weeks.

His brief return to the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 ended before he ever coached a game amid controversy surrounding reports that he had asked players to show him photos from their personal phones.

As Smith rejoins Babcock, he does so with eyes wide open.

Their relationship dates back to 2015 when Babcock hired Smith as an assistant coach with the Leafs. At the time, Smith was one of the hottest young coaches in hockey after leading the Oshawa Generals to a Memorial Cup title.

Smith spent four seasons on Toronto's bench, helping oversee the early stages of the Maple Leafs' rebuild before being hired by Ottawa as head coach in 2019 to help guide their rebuild.

Although the Sens never made the playoffs under Smith, he was good with the media and a popular coach with the players, but probably could have dropped the hammer a little more often. When mistakes were made, sometimes glaring ones, player ice times and power play deployments were rarely affected.

Over four and a half seasons behind the Ottawa bench, Smith posted a record of 131-154-32 in 317 games, which ranks second in franchise history in coaching wins behind only Jacques Martin, the man who replaced him on an interim basis during the 2023-24 season.

After leaving Ottawa, and try and stay with me here, Smith quickly resurfaced with the Los Angeles Kings under Jim Hiller, who had worked with Smith under Babcock in Toronto. Initially hired as an assistant coach, Smith was elevated to interim head coach in March after the Kings fired Hiller. LA responded with an 11-6-6 record down the stretch under Smith's guidance, but it wasn't enough. The Kings hired Peter Laviolette as their new head coach, so Smith was out. Hiller then resurfaced as Toronto's new head coach.

Tracking the flow chart of the NHL coach recycling program can sometimes be exhausting.

For next season, Smith was able to lean on an old connection and thus, won himself an exciting new opportunity in Edmonton. Though based on the state of Babcock's reputation, it's fair to wonder if there was really that much competition for the job.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This story was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more at the links below:

San Jose GM Describes Why He Traded William Eklund To Ottawa
Shark Bait: Did The Senators Get Enough For Their Ninth Overall Pick?
Should Canadian NHL Teams Have Concerns About American Players?
Brady Tkachuk Had a Chance to Write His Own Story. He Chose Matthew's

SEC basketball schedule: League releases teams' home, away conference opponents

The SEC, one of the strongest conferences in men's college basketball, top to bottom, unveiled its home and away opponents for 2026-27 league play on June 25.

The conference had four teams in USA TODAY Sports' way-too-early top 25 in early April — including four in the top 10. The league will look to get back on track after failing to produce a Final Four team in the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament, a year after Todd Golden led Florida to the league's first national title since Kentucky in 2012.

The SEC produced a nation-leading 10 bids for the 2026 NCAA Tournament, down from a record-shattering 14 teams the year prior. They had four teams make the Sweet 16, but only one team advance to the Elite Eight.

Here's each team's full home-and-away opponents for the 2026-26 men's college basketball season:

SEC men's basketball conference opponents 2026-27

Teams listed in alphabetical order.

Alabama

  • Home/Away: Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State
  • Home: Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt
  • Away: Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M

Arkansas

  • Home/Away: Alabama, LSU, Missouri
  • Home: Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Oklahoma
  • Away: Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt

Auburn

  • Home/Away: Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss
  • Home: Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee
  • Away: Arkansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Texas, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt

Florida

  • Home/Away: Georgia, South Carolina, Texas
  • Home: Kentucky, Ole Miss, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt
  • Away: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, Tennessee

Georgia

  • Home/Away: Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina
  • Home: Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Texas, Vanderbilt
  • Away: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M

Kentucky

  • Home/Away: Ole Miss, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
  • Home: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, South Carolina, Texas A&M
  • Away: Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas

LSU

  • Home/Away: Arkansas, Auburn, Texas A&M
  • Home: Florida, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vanderbilt
  • Away: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma

Ole Miss

  • Home/Away: Auburn, Kentucky, Mississippi State
  • Home: Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt
  • Away: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Missouri, South Carolina

Mississippi State

  • Home/Away: Alabama, Ole Miss, South Carolina
  • Home: Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, Texas, Texas A&M
  • Away: Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vanderbilt

Missouri

  • Home/Away: Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee
  • Home: Alabama, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas A&M
  • Away: Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Texas, Vanderbilt

Oklahoma

  • Home/Away: Georgia, Missouri, Texas
  • Home: Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
  • Away: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M

South Carolina

  • Home/Away: Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State
  • Home: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M
  • Away: Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vanderbilt

Tennessee

  • Home/Away: Kentucky, Missouri, Vanderbilt
  • Home: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, South Carolina
  • Away: Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M

Texas

  • Home/Away: Florida, Oklahoma, Texas A&M
  • Home: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee
  • Away: Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Vanderbilt

Texas A&M

  • Home/Away: LSU, Texas, Vanderbilt
  • Home: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee
  • Away: Florida, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina

Vanderbilt

  • Home/Away: Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas A&M
  • Home: Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas
  • Away: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SEC basketball schedule: Conference releases home, away opponents

Phillies vs Nationals Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for June 25

The Phillies (44-36) are up 2-1 on the series over the Nationals (41-40) and up 4 -2 on the year. Washington has outscored Philadelphia, 35-31 on the year, while the Phillies have outscored the Nationals, 20-17 this series.

Philadelphia is looking for the series win over Washington after back-to-back wins of 14-9 and 5-4. The Phillies lead the MLB in batting average (.308) and SLG (.571) over the past week (five games), plus ranks second in runs scored (41) and OPS (.916).

Washington has dropped three of the past four games and five of the previous seven. Over the last week, the Nationals pitching rotation has a 5.19 ERA (23rd), a .284 OBA (26th), and a 1.40 WHIP (22nd) over six games. As an offense, Washington has 12 homers in the last six games, ranking first in the MLB, and fifth in SLG (.473).

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 the 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 Phillies at Nationals

  • Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026
  • Time: 6:45 PM EST
  • Site: Nationals Park
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV

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 Phillies at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies (-174), Washington Nationals (+143)
  • Spread: Phillies -1.5 (-104), Nationals +1.5 (-115)
  • Total: 8.5

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Nationals

  • Thursday's pitching matchup (June 25): Cristopher Sanchez vs. Cade Cavalli 
  • Phillies: Cristopher Sanchez 

2026 stats: 105.0 IP, 9-3, 1.80 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 121 K, 20 BB

  • Nationals: Cade Cavalli  

2026 Stats: 77.1 IP, 4-4, 4.07 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 82 Ks, 28 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • The Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber is hitting .252 with 72 hits, 29 home runs and 52 RBI over 286 at-bats
  • The Phillies’ Adolis Garcia is hitting .195 with 45 hits and 84 strikeouts over 231 at-bats
  • The Nationals’ James Wood is hitting .265 with 82 hits, 20 home runs, and 49 RBI over 310 at-bats
  • The Nationals’ Jacob Young is hitting .225 with 54 hits and 49 strikeouts over 240 at-bats

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 Phillies at Nationals

  • Philadelphia is an MLB-worst 30-50 ATS
  • Washington is an MLB-best 50-31 ATS
  • Philadelphia is 41-34-5 to the Under, ranking fourth-best
  • Washington is 48-30-3 to the Over, ranking second-best
  • Philadelphia is 15-23 ATS on the road, ranking second-worst
  • Washington is 21-20 ATS at home

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

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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.

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Phillies at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.5

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Cubs reportedly acquire David Peterson in a trade with the Mets

NEW YORK — The Chicago Cubs have patched a hole in their depleted rotation by acquiring struggling left-hander David Peterson in a trade with the New York Mets, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move hadn’t been announced.

The Cubs placed Ben Brown and Edward Cabrera on the 15-day injured list, adding to their injury woes in their rotation. Brown has a neck strain, and Cabrera is sidelined with a left hamstring strain.

Jameson Taillon, Cade Horton and Justin Steele also are on the IL. Matthew Boyd is set to come off the injured list and start in Brown’s spot in the series finale against the Mets.

New York received minor league slugger infielder Cole Mathis in the trade. The 22-year-old Mathis, a second-round pick in the 2024 amateur draft, is batting .272 with 10 homers and 39 RBIs in 39 games over two stops this year.

The 30-year-old Peterson is 3-6 with a 6.09 ERA in eight starts and eight relief appearances this year. He is eligible for free agency after this season.

Braves at Padres series recap: Consistently calamitous in California

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 22: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves looks on before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on June 22, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Death. Taxes. This current era of the Atlanta Braves having nearly nothing go right for them whenever they’re in California. Petco Park has especially turned into a house of horrors for the Braves, as Atlanta has now lost nine straight games on the road against the Padres (if you’re including the 2024 NL Wild Card series) and haven’t looked particular inspiring in most of them.

What makes the following recap so disappointing is the fact that the Braves were heading into this series buoyed by the success that they had against the NL Central-leading Brewers during their most recent series at home. Now granted, the Braves did drop the final game of that series in ugly fashion but at the same time, the Braves kind of made that a habit during their successful run earlier this season. A series win is a series win, especially against a top-tier team like Milwaukee.

Unfortunately, the momentum did not carry over from Cobb County to California and now, things are back to looking bleak after a brief weekend respite. Let’s go ahead and get into this series.


Monday, June 22

Padres 1, Braves 0

Michael King had been having a rough go of it on the mound for San Diego as he had come into this start having given up at least three runs in each of his past five starts. I’d have to imagine that his eyes lit up once he saw those navy blue “A” hats and the jerseys with the tomahawks across the chest because those seem to always inspire confidence in the San Diego hurler.

It felt a lot like 2024 on this particular night as Atlanta was unable to really get anything going against King as he tossed seven strong innings. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s pitching staff did a tremendous job of making San Diego’s lineup scuffle as well and we ended up having a predictable pitchers’ duel in Petco Park. Grant Holmes was once again unable to get deep into a start and while he did a great job of limiting San Diego’s damage, it was certainly annoying to see him give up a dinger to the currently-struggling Manny Machado

As such, since Atlanta’s offense was unable to make anything happen in response to the Machado homer, the Braves ended up having to deal with Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller, which meant that the Braves ended up losing by one run.

Tuesday, June 23

Padres 7, Braves 6

I’m not going to lie to you, the second inning of this game felt a LOT like 2025 when this team was seemingly allergic to success. That was when something truly rare for the Braves at Petco Park happened for them: A big inning. Atlanta put up four (yes, four!) runs in the second inning with Rowdy Tellez plating two RBI on a single, Michael Harris II smacking a double that brought in Drake Baldwin and Matt Olson welcoming Kyle Hart into the game (who inherited a bases-loaded mess from Griffin Canning) by walking the bases loaded. Atlanta was up 4-0 in the second inning! Life was good! I could taste colors! I could see sounds!

Then it was almost as if the Braves remembered the stadium and state that they were playing in and things went to pot almost immediately afterwards. In the immediate next frame, JR Ritchie proceeded to have a nightmare inning after getting the leadoff runner out. The next six runners all reached base safely as two consecutive walks turned into a horror inning for Ritchie. Once the smoke cleared, a four-run lead had quickly turned into a one-run deficit and frustration abounded in the visitors’ dugout.

Fortunately, Atlanta did respond after Ozzie Albies cashed in a Money Mike single by cracking a double to tie the game up and then Mauricio Dubón came up big yet again as he hit a dinger at Yuki Matsui’s expense to put Atlanta back in front.

However, this is California (and it’s Petco Park in particular) which means that the good times couldn’t possibly last for long. Carlos Carrasco ended up getting pressed into duty for two innings in this one and the second inning is when the other shoe finally dropped. Fernando Tatis Jr. came into this series with a grand total of two (2) homers across the entire season. He left this series with three, as his third homer of 2026 was hit off of Cookie Carrasco and it tied the game at six. The Braves ended up having to deal with Adrian Morejon and (two innings of) Mason Miller, which meant that the Braves ended up losing by one run in extras after Manny Machado (of course) walked it off.

Wednesday, June 24

Padres 5, Braves 2

The Braves did not have to deal with Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller since they were both down, but nonetheless, they were unable to make anything happen against David Morgan, Wandy Peralta and Jason Adam so the Braves ended up losing and getting swept in a three-game series for the first time all season. Joey Bart hit a home runs off of JP Sears in order to chase him from the game, so that was cool. Other than that, this was a fitting end to yet another horror show of a series in San Diego for the Braves.


Yep, there’s no sugarcoating this. This is some bad baseball being played by the Braves at the moment. Never mind the fact that Petco Park has suddenly turned into a nightmare factory for Atlanta, the Braves are in a serious funk right now and it’s honestly starting to get annoying. It’s one thing to go through a slump like this — it happens to all teams and if it didn’t, we’d regularly see the best teams win around 120 games and winning 100 wouldn’t really be anything special. With that being said, it’s starting to get really concerning!

The Braves just need a spark right now and while there are plenty of candidates on this team who are clearly capable of doing something to really get the rest of the team going, it’s hard to see who’s going to do it at the moment. It also doesn’t help that any time the offense makes something happen, the Braves end up in a situation like we saw on Tuesday when any good times are extremely short-lived and they’re back in the mud again. Whether it’s the inconsistent offense or the unreliable starting pitching, there’s a lot that needs to be fixed at the moment.

Whatever the case may be, things have got to get fixed and soon. Considering how far ahead the Braves were in the standings not all that long ago, it’s actually kind of wild that it’s very much possible that the Phillies may catch and possibly even surpass the Braves in the NL East race soon. Atlanta still has the upper hand but if this continues for much longer, the once-inconceivable could happen and Atlanta could have a fight on their hands with not even the All-Star break having passed yet. That’s how quickly things have changed in this division and if the Braves want to avoid the nightmare scenario, they will have to find their groove quickly.

Unfortunately, there’s still one more California series left in this road trip which means that things could very get worse before they get better. There was a time when a series against the team of San Francisco’s caliber would’ve had both the team and the fans licking their chops at what’s to come. Now, it just feels like there’s a sense of foreboding doom at the moment. Again, it’s just a moment but it sure would be nice to see the Braves break out of this slump as soon as possible. I genuinely thought that we might’ve seen Atlanta break out of it with that series win against the first-place Brewers but the California nightmare has ensured that this slump continues for at least another few games.

The 2026 Colorado Rockies my dad would have loved

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 2: TJ Rumfield #7 and Troy Johnston #20 of the Colorado Rockies in action against the Los Angeles Angels during a game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 2, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Scott Strazzante/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The 2026 Colorado Rockies season has been bittersweet for me. I’m ecstatic that the team has been playing better and that the new front office has a clearer sense of direction, but I’m also saddened that my dad isn’t here to enjoy the climb.

I’ve missed being able to talk to him about the Rockies to lament losses, rejoice in the big wins, and theorize what the best course of action for the team is. My older brother and I will text each other about things happening during the game (usually venting frustrations about relievers giving up a lead), but there is still that missing piece for both of us. Even attending Rockies games since his passing has felt like there was an empty seat where he should have been with us, eating a hot dog and sipping a Coke.

June has turned into a particularly tough month as it marked a year since my dad passed away after his battle with cancer. June features my dad’s birthday, my parents’ wedding anniversary, and the anniversary of his passing, all within a week. Add in Father’s Day later in the month, and that’s a lot of emotional tolls to pay. I’ve thought about him a lot this month, and my mind has lingered on the idea of how much he would have loved the team’s new look this year, particularly in the player personnel.

My dad loved the Rockies and loved to cheer for the players. He’d have to rely on me to inform him about players initially, but would make his decision based on watching them play.

As I’ve watched the new faces of the 2026 Rockies, I couldn’t help but try to figure out some of the players that would likely be among his new favorites.

TJ Rumfield

There is no doubt Dad would absolutely enjoy watching TJ Rumfield. The rookie first baseman has been nothing short of amazing in his first year of big league action and has been a steadying presence at the Rockies’ most tumultuous position. His dedication to working hard and playing the game “the right way” is quite evident in his performance night after night. Dad always loved those players who spoke softly, worked hard at their craft, and let their play on the field do the talking. Rumfield so often reminds me of a mix of Todd Helton and DJ LeMahieu by his approach at the plate and the fact that I’m not sure I’ve heard him speak more than a single sentence at any given time. It’s hard not to admire the way Rumfield plays baseball and, hopefully, continues to have a fantastic season and career.

Troy Johnston

There is always a need for those fan favorite players that are mostly here for the vibes, with an added bonus of playing well. Troy Johnston checks those two boxes relatively easily. What makes Johnston such an easy player to root for is that he appears to be an infectiously joyful individual. In a world where so many star athletes approach the game like it’s a typical 9-5 because of their dedication to being the best, Johnston reminds us that it’s okay to have fun and be goofy. The defense may leave a lot to be desired, but his bat and clutch hits have been a joy to behold. I’ve also enjoyed those moments of levity where he hops into interviews to ask teammates why they are so handsome. Dad loved players like Johnston who become part of the heart and soul of a team, even for a short while.

Tomoyuki Sugano

There is always a love-hate relationship when it comes to a majority of Rockies pitchers. You rejoice when they are excellent, but curse them when they struggle. And yet, every once in a while, a pitcher comes along that you can’t help but root for every time out, no matter what, because of what he brings to the table. Tomoyuki Sugano is that type of pitcher. I can imagine that Dad would be skeptical of Sugano, like so many of us. Sure, he had a great career in Japan, but the home runs were an issue in 2025, and he’s old by baseball standards. It only took a couple of starts for Sugano to prove that he’s easily one of the most reliable and consistent starters for the Rockies this season. He is in the mold of the “old school” pitchers that pound the zone and locate very well, which my dad grew up following. When we would plan out our annual trip to Coors Field, a major part of it would be trying to figure out which starting pitcher we would see that day. Sugano is the pitcher Dad would be thrilled to see in person.

Moving forward

Through the rest of the 2025 season, the changes of the offseason, and the growth of 2026, I’ve longed for those days when I could recap what’s happening in the world of the Rockies with my dad. Having suffered through so many bad seasons, he deserved a year like 2026, where hope has begun to flourish, and that classic LoDo magic was re-conjured. He deserved to root for players like those listed above.

And yet, in a way, I can’t help but feel that this season is something of a gift from beyond for me. The team is full of players that he would adore, and he would cheer for each of them as much as he could. As I watch the players above alongside others not mentioned, I can feel like I’m still watching games with my dad, even if he isn’t here physically.

Baseball was the greatest source of bonding that I had with him, and I’m grateful that the 2026 Rockies and the new faces on the team have enabled me to enjoy that bond even more through one of the most difficult things I’ve ever experienced.


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Multiple analysts speculate that the Celtics are ready to trade Jaylen Brown

Nov 3, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens and guard Jaylen Brown (7) talk on the sideline in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Life comes at you fast, doesn’t it? A few months ago, the Celtics headed into the playoffs as one of the favorites to come out of the East with a real chance at winning the NBA title. A first round exit later, and the team appears ready to move on from Jaylen Brown.

How did we get here?

Like it or not (and I don’t think I like it) it appears that the Celtics are actively trying to trade Jaylen Brown. Which begs the question: Why?

We may not get an answer till all is said and done (and even then we might not know the full truth for years, if ever). If the above reports are true (and who knows, maybe they are all just smoke, but there sure is a lot of it), then something changed at some point.

Some quick thoughts and speculations:

Does Jaylen Brown want a new team?

We’ve heard the speculation about this for months (if not years). Brown got a taste for being the number one option and he absolutely loved every minute of it (and thrived in that role). Yet Jayson Tatum exists and should be fully healthy and returned to his place as the number one man in Boston this fall. Maybe Jaylen just doesn’t want to play the role of 2nd best (or 1A or whatever) anymore.

He got his title in Boston. He got multiple huge contracts in Boston. Maybe he feels like he’s done all he can do here and wants his next challenge elsewhere.

Perhaps when he met with Brad Stevens last month, he let them know that he would welcome a new home but wouldn’t make a public demand. Or perhaps everything was copacetic until the Giannis trade fell through, and now Jaylen has decided he wants out.

Does the team want to trade Jaylen? (and why?)

The first part of that question seems to be pretty evident. The second part is harder.

Perhaps the team looked at our competition and decided that we can’t win with our current makeup. Brad has already said publicly that he wants to change our play style and needed to get Joe players that fit that play style. Either they don’t think Jaylen fits the style they want, or they think he’s the best asset they have to make those changes.

Perhaps it has more to do with finances. It actually makes a lot of sense that the team took a look at the 2nd apron rules and decided that there’s no good way to build out a team around 2 supermax contracts. So one of them has to go. The caveat here is that they were apparently willing to take on Giannis and extend him at his max. But perhaps he was the one all-in exception to the rule (and only if the price wasn’t too high).

Maybe it is just some combination of all of the above.

What’s next?

So what now? I guess we are going to get a steady diet of trade rumors, speculation, and breathless opinions from talking heads (and silly bloggers like myself).

This is unchartered territory for Brad Stevens. He has generally been pretty tight lipped and stealthy with his moves, but he couldn’t contain the noise around the Giannis situation. If they are trying to maximize their return for Jaylen, maybe it makes sense to get the word out that they are shopping him, to start a bidding war.

We’ve tried to figure out reasonable trade packages for Jaylen that make sense to us. Frankly, nothing I’ve seen or come up with myself leaves me really excited for the near future. It is hard finding another star that matches Jaylen’s level that would be available and a good fit for the Celtics. So that leads you to trading a dollar for 3 quarters and a few other cents that may or may not add up to a dollar. How does that make us more of a contender both now and in the future than just keeping Jaylen Brown? I don’t know.

I still have a lot of faith in Brad Stevens to figure this all out. I never saw the Derrick White trade happening. I couldn’t have predicted the Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis deals. Hopefully he has something even more surprising and productive in mind for the next step. I’m officially on the very edge of my seat.

As usual, stay tuned to CelticsBlog for updates and of course feel free to join in the discussion in the comments below.

Shohei Ohtani seeks to sync up with struggling catcher Dalton Rushing as the Dodgers sweep despite a rough start

MINNEAPOLIS — Shohei Ohtani forcefully rebounded from a rough inning on the mound to earn yet another win for the major league -leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

The two-way superstar carried his struggling catcher Dalton Rushing along with him, showing there’s even more to his marvelous game than simply pitching and hitting.

Ohtani had eight strikeouts over six innings before yielding to the bullpen in the 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins, and he helped himself at the plate with an RBI single to spark a three-run third inning that put the Dodgers in front for the rest of the night.

But the bottom of the second at Target Field — where the Twins announced their first sellout of the season — was ugly.

Three hits off Ohtani loaded the bases with one out, before he and Rushing got crossed up on a pitch that escaped the catcher’s glove and zipped toward the backstop to let in a run. Two more scored on Ryan Kreidler’s single that gave the Twins a 3-1 lead.

Rushing, the 2022 second-round draft pick who temporarily has taken over as the primary catcher while three-time All-Star Will Smith is on the injured list with neck inflammation, was expecting an off-speed pitch. Ohtani threw a 101 mph fastball, wincing with slumped shoulders as he saw the run come across. Rushing was charged with a passed ball, making one of the three runs against Ohtani unearned.

“They were just out of sync early, and you could tell,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think both guys were frustrated and trying to get on the same page.”

Ohtani, through his interpreter after the game, offered his usual diplomatic assessment about his work with Rushing, who’s in his second major league season.

“The in-game flexibility, reading the swings, reading how the hitters are really taking their approach during the game — that’s how I see what adjustment needs to happen,” Ohtani said. “In that sense, I personally realized we just have to be better at being on the same page and communicating throughout the game.”

Rushing, for his part, particularly was upset with himself that Ohtani had to essentially take over the pitch calling process to get through the night.

“Good thing he’s as good as he is and he can take control of the game, but it’s pretty embarrassing,” said Rushing, who also went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts and a foul pop out at the plate. “They’ve always got my back. Once again, it’s embarrassing that I need support like that. I’m a grown man, and it’s a pretty tough pill to swallow.”

Ohtani, who has pitched through lingering soreness in his left knee and a blister on his right middle finger, has logged quality starts of six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs in 11 of 13 turns. The four-time MVP award winner has also reached base safely in 23 straight road games, batting .381 with 24 RBIs over those contests.

Ohtani had an 0.74 ERA over his first 10 starts with Smith as his catcher. Since the injury, over three turns with Rushing behind the plate, Ohtani has a 4.34 ERA.

“Showing Rush my pitching style I’m capable of, that’s really another way of being able to communicate,” Ohtani said. “In an ideal world, where I want to be is both of us to pitch in and really be able to shine because we have very different talents.”

Rushing doesn’t have to be concerned about losing his role, Roberts said.

“It’s a work in progress. He wants to do really well and he expects a lot of himself, so when he’s not doing what he expects then he gets frustrated,” Roberts said. “I think the good thing is he still understands his priority is to serve the pitchers and be behind the plate, but the last few games he’s had a tough go of it.”