Jac Caglianone is starting to fulfill his promise

KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 26: Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinny Pasquantino (9) kisses Kansas City Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone (14) after his game-tying home run during a MLB game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Kansas City Royals on April 26, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

There have been some high highs and low lows for Jac Caglianone since being drafted by the Royals. He blitzed through the minors spending just 29 games in A ball, 38 in AA, and 12 in AAA before debuting with the big league club last June. That debut did not follow the stratospheric trajectory of his minor league experience. This season, Jac has gotten another chance to show that he belongs. So far, he is taking advantage of it.

Caglianone’s 2026 numbers are not going to jump off the page at anyone. His line of .263/.344/.425 is definitely in the good-but-not-great category. However, it is leaps and bounds better than his line of .157/.237/.295 last year.

These raw numbers are not what I am starting to get excited about, though the on-base percentage is much higher so far than I was expecting. It is the underlying numbers, both offensive and defensive, that suggest he is developing into a solid everyday player. Here are his Baseball Savant percentiles in 2025 vs. 2026 to help illustrate what I mean.

Jac has improved his overall skillset almost across the entire board. He is still a flawed player, mostly because of hi chase rate, whiff rate, and K%. However, he has elite exit velocity and is now getting to it at a much higher frequency. That has pushed his expected stats up into the area where it looks like he is going to be a well above-league-average hitter.

On top of that, his fielding is much, much better than last year. The arm strength was always there, the accuracy is starting to come too, so his throwing looks like it is going to be quite the weapon in right field. A full offseason of preparation to play outfield has also improved his range value immensely and he looks way more comfortable running around in the grass. We do not have a large enough sample size to say he is an above-average defender yet, but he has been so much better than last year that I am optimistic he will, at the very least, not be a liability out there. He even improved his sprint speed over last year, though that is more on a percentile basis than actually changing the top end speed. He is never going to be a burner running down balls deep in the gaps at that size.

Caglianone’s Weighted On-Base Average (wOBA), which evaluates offensive production based on actual outcomes, is encouraging so far. He ranks 122nd out of 274 MLB hitters with a wOBA of .330. His expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA) – a metric that estimates offensive production based on quality of contact, strikeouts, and walks – is .341, ranking him as well above-average among MLB hitters.

That expected value is predicated on how hard he hits the ball plus being able to barrel the ball much more often than last year. Going from a 12% barrel rate to 17% may not sound like a ton to most people, but that is a 42.5% improvement and enough to put him in the elite. We knew he could hit the ball hard and now he is accessing that ability much more frequently.

The main reason he has not posted elite numbers yet has to do with his chase rate, swing and miss rate, and his launch angle. He is chasing less than last year, so that is exciting even if he is still below-average. This might mean he will progress to a higher peak as he swings at better pitches, but for now he is still missing and striking out too much. The launch angle is the one that is keeping the balls from leaving the park in droves. A miniscule 3.8 degree launch angle is just not where you want a power hitter to be – Eric Hosmer struggled with this during his career. For Caglianone to become the 40+ home run monster we all want him to be, the ball has to get in the air more.

If you chart every ball he has put in play so far, the trend line is slightly positively sloped, but modestly enough that without the line it is hard to tell any trend at all. For Cags to become the Royals’ fearsome middle of the order slugger, this needs to have way fewer negative angles and many more in that 10 to 40 degree range.

As Jac is right now, he is on pace to end the season around 2-3 Wins Above Replacement. That means he is playing as an average-to-slightly above-average everyday major leaguer, despite the flaws. He just turned 23 a few months ago and his progression, plus his power potential, indicates that he is almost certainly going to be a good player. It looks like he may have already surpassed his lower-end threshold.

If he is now an above-average hitter, and an average-ish defensive right fielder, then he is a solid player the Royals can depend on for the next half decade. But he has to get the K% below 30% to pull that off. His ceiling is still very high, and I think we have a decent chance of witnessing something special with the combination of Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, Carter Jensen, and Jac. After last season, Cags was the one that seemed like it just might not happen, but now I am fairly optimistic he is one of the cornerstones that this team can build on.

LIV Golf races against time for investment with confirmation Saudi funding will end in 2026

  • PIF ends investment after five years and $5bn

  • LIV announces new independent board in funding push

LIV Golf has launched its search for fresh investment in a race against time to save its future after official confirmation Saudi funding would cease at the end of the 2026 season.

Hours after LIV announced the creation of a new independent board minus Yasir al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, a PIF statement formally substantiated the rumours that it was pulling the plug on the start-up after around $5bn (£3.7bn) of investment.

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Austin Reaves running out of time as Lakers stare down historic collapse

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves passing while under pressure from Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun and Deandre Ayton, Image 2 shows Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a three-point basket during a game against the Houston Rockets, Image 3 shows Austin Reaves in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform during an NBA game

Crypto.com Arena fell silent during a sequence in the fourth quarter Wednesday night.

Trailing by ten points to the Rockets, the Lakers raced down the floor and Austin Reaves shot a three-pointer. He missed it. Deandre Ayton grabbed the rebound and threw it back out to Reaves. He shot another three. He missed that one too. Ayton grabbed yet another offensive rebound. After every player on the floor fumbled the ball, LeBron James drove to the basket and threw a shot off the top of the backboard.

That sequence epitomized Game 5 of the first-round playoff series between the Rockets and Lakers in a nutshell.

The last time Reaves stepped onto a basketball court, it was April 2 in Oklahoma City. Reaves tore his left oblique muscle early in the first quarter of that game and has missed the last four weeks.

Austin Reaves hadn’t been on the floor since an April 2 game against Oklahoma City. AP

“It’s been a grind,” admitted Reaves of the recovery process. “I’ve been running around Los Angeles doing everything I could possibly do to get to this moment.”

In his absence, the Lakers kept moving forward. They kept winning. Without Reaves and the NBA’s scoring leader Luka Doncic, they built a 3-0 cushion against the Rockets while their two stars watched in street clothes from the bench.

Reaves wasn’t in the Lakers starting lineup for Game 5, but when he checked into the game midway through the first quarter he quickly realized that practice in an empty gym can’t prepare you for the pace and urgency of a playoff game. There was no runway. No warmup games. No easing back into game shape. No soft landing. He was being thrown into the fire.

And it showed.

Reaves logged nearly 34 minutes in his return, but none of them were clean. They weren’t smooth. In fact, they were downright heavy.

Reaves wasn’t in the starting lineup for game 5 — he checked in midway through the first quarter. NBAE via Getty Images

After making his first basket of the game — a three-pointer from the logo that sent the crowd into a frenzy — he couldn’t hit the ocean if he was on a boat for the remainder of the game. He went 4-for-16 from the field, and 2-for-8 from deep.

“I haven’t played in a while unfortunately,” conceded Reaves. “I wish I could have gotten in more of a rhythm before jumping into the fire like that…I wish I could have played better and made more shots.”

Fatigue. Timing. Legs that don’t quite trust themselves yet. That’s all normal for a player who was thrust back into the middle of the postseason after missing the last four weeks with an injury.

The problem? The Lakers don’t have time for Reaves to find his way back.

They lost 99-93. Two straight losses after a commanding 3-0 lead. Suddenly, what felt inevitable feels fragile. Suddenly, this series has teeth again.

And suddenly, Reaves isn’t just returning—he’s carrying the responsibility of helping this team close out the series.

Head coach J.J. Redick didn’t dress it up.

“Go find the rhythm,” he said when asked about Reaves’ performance.

That’s not a suggestion. That’s a mandate. And the Lakers need him to find it fast.

The Lakers — with Reaves — lost 99-93. Giving them two straight losses after building a 3-0 series lead. NBAE via Getty Images

“As I ran out tonight for the first time in a long time, I got chills,” said Reaves. “And then you get thrown into the fire like this.”

Reaves, a 36% shooter from beyond the arc, was supposed to lift the Lakers in that category in Game 5. Instead he mirrored the team’s biggest issue in the last two games. Through the first three games of the series, the Lakers averaged 47% from deep. In the last two games? That number has collapsed to 23%. And Reaves’ rustiness only contributed to the slide.

“I missed a lot of easy looks,” Reaves confessed. “We didn’t shoot great as a team.”

But this isn’t about missing shots. This is about missing an opportunity.

Reaves’ return was supposed to steady the Lakers. Right now, it hasn’t.

The good news for the Lakers, Reaves has been here before.

In late December, Reaves went down with a calf strain. He missed the next five weeks before returning in Brooklyn off the bench. He was rusty. His rhythm was off. He shot 3-for-9 and 1-for-5 from three.

But two days later, back in Los Angeles against the 76ers, he exploded in just his second game back. A team-high 35 points on 12-for-17 shooting and 5-for-8 from three.

We know that version of Reaves exists, and the Lakers are betting everything that it shows up on Friday in Houston.

Because if it doesn’t, this story stops being about rust and starts becoming about history. The wrong kind.

No team in NBA history has ever blown a 3-0 series lead. Only four teams in history have ever allowed a team to come back from a 3-0 series deficit to force a Game 7. That’s the cliff the Lakers are walking toward now.

One more bad night on Friday, and you’re staring right over the edge.


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The Washington Nationals offense has been resilient so far this season

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 29: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals hits a single during the first inning of a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 29, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Heather Khalifa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Over the last couple weeks, the Nats offense has not been as consistently excellent as it was to start the season. The start the unit got off to was unsustainable, so you can’t complain about that too much. However, one thing I love is that when the Nats have a bad offensive game, they tend to respond the next night. 

Last night was a perfect example of that. After getting shut out, the boys put up 14 runs on the Mets. In the games following a Nats loss where they scored two or fewer runs, the Nats have scored 6, 5, 7, 8, 4 and 14 runs in the next game. When the Nats have a bad night on offense, they respond by scoring over 7 runs a game the next night.

In the past, the Nats sometimes let a bad game carry over into the next performance. Now, with Matt Borgschulte, it is clear that they are making the adjustments and fixing what went wrong in the previous game. The other night, the Nats had zero extra base hits and 13 ground outs. Last night, they had 6 extra base hits and just 6 ground outs. 

Watching this offense is a ton of fun because of this resiliency. There will be some nights where they just don’t have it, but they will not let that linger. Sure, they have been slowly regressing to the mean and are not a top 5 offense anymore. However, they are still second in runs and top 10 in most offensive categories. 

Based on where they are in the roster building process, an elite offense is too much to expect. James Wood, CJ Abrams and Daylen Lile are the only three guys you can truly call very good hitters. Outside of that, the Nats have role players who can step up some nights, but not on a consistent basis.

However, those role players have done a nice job chipping in. Joey Wiemer had his crazy hot start to the season, Jorbit Vivas has had some nice moments and Curtis Mead has had a few amazing offensive nights. Luis Garcia Jr. is also a guy who is underperforming a bit right now, and I think he will get hot before too long. Jacob Young’s underlying data also looks better.

Overall, I think this offense will be a solid unit. They are very unlikely to end the season being the second highest scoring team in the league, but being a slightly above average scoring offense does not feel unrealistic. As long as Wood and Abrams stay consistent, they have the starpower. They also have a deep bench that allows Blake Butera to play the matchups.

You saw the Nats take advantage of matchups well last night. Curtis Mead and Joey Wiemer both matched up well with the lefties the Mets threw out there, which is why Butera put them in the lineup. Meanwhile, you have guys like Garcia and Vivas who hit righties well. There is also Jose Tena, who has proven himself to be an excellent pinch hitter.

This is not the most talented offense in the world, but it has starpower, and useful pieces. That allows the unit to be adaptable and score against different types of pitchers. The deep bench also allows Blake Butera to ride the hot hand.

The offense has been clicking all season, but they are finally getting some help from most of the pitching staff too. Outside of Zack Littell, the rotation has been stepping up their game lately. Cade Cavalli and Foster Griffin have both been excellent lately, while Jake Irvin is showing signs of improvement. Miles Mikolas has been better in his new role as well.

If this team can get consistent pitching, they could surprise some people as the season goes along. This is not a great team, or even a good one, but so far this season it has been a very watchable one, especially when they are on the road.

There are going to be nights this season where it is not pretty. The talent is not fully in place yet and the pitching staff is not great. However, this team has been resilient and fun. When they get knocked down, the Nats get back up the next game. You can see that in their offensive performances after a bad loss. This team clearly does not like losing, and that is a sign of a good culture. 

Credit to Blake Butera and the coaching staff for instilling this resilience. In addition to being resilient, it is also clear that this Nats team does their homework and learns from their mistakes. After bad games, they usually clean up their act the next night, and I think that is a great sign for the future of the team.

Royals vs A's Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Kansas City Royals and the Athletics clash today in the rubber match of a three-game set at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, CA. 

My Royals vs. Athletics predictions are targeting the hosts to add to KC’s misery on the road in the finale. 

Read more in my MLB picks for Thursday, April 30. 

Who will win Royals vs A's today: Athletics moneyline (-125)

The Athletics have won two of their last three contests, and they walked away with a 5-2 victory on Wednesday evening. They’ve now won five of their last eight meetings with the Kansas City Royals, and one of their better starters takes the hill today in Jeffrey Springs. 

The lefty has a 3.79 ERA this season, and he’s held opponents to a .197 average.

While the Royals are hitting .304 against him, it’s a small sample size of 23 at-bats, and Springs allowed just one earned run against KC last season in one start. He’s also given up just one earned run in two of his three home outings in 2026

As for the Royals, Noah Cameron gets the call, and he owns a 5.13 ERA. On the road, his ERA sits at 5.59, and he’s surrendered 13 earned runs across his last three starts.

The Royals are just 3-11 on the road, and it'll get worse here.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Cameron’s xERA sits at 6.98, which is towards the bottom of the majors. His opponent xwOBA, xBA, and xSLG are also among the worst in the big leagues.

Royals vs A's Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 (-105)

While I don’t expect either pitcher to be completely lights-out, we likely won’t see a bunch of runs, either.

The Under has cashed in five of the last six meetings. KC ranks 23rd with 4.1 runs per game, while the Athletics are 19th with 4.2. 

Three of the Royals’ last four games have hit the Under, and the Athletics have cashed the Under in seven straight contests.

Also, both ball clubs struggle against left-handed hurlers. Kansas City is batting .229 off southpaws, while the Athletics have hit .217 against lefties. 

Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 7-9, -5.94 units
  • Over/Under bets: 8-8, -1.34 units

Royals vs A's odds

  • Moneyline: Royals +108 | A's -126
  • Run line: Royals +1.5 | A's -1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5

Royals vs A's trend

The Athletics have hit the Moneyline in 14 of their last 22 games (+8.00 Units / 33% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Royals vs. A's.

How to watch Royals vs A's and game info

LocationSutter Health Park, West Sacramento, CA
DateThursday, April 30, 2026
First pitch3:05 p.m. ET
TVRoyals.TV, NBCSCA
Royals starting pitcherNoah Cameron
(2-1, 5.13 ERA)
A's starting pitcherJeffrey Springs
(3-2, 3.79 ERA)

Royals vs A's latest injuries

Royals vs A's weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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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.

Celtics vs 76ers NBA Playoff Game 6 Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 30

The Philadelphia 76ers are alive! Philadelphia took Game 5 in Boston, 113-97, behind a 28-11 fourth quarter. Joel Embiid led the game in scoring with 33 points and eight assists, while Tyrese Maxey recorded a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds.

Boston is up 3-2 in the series and has a chance to close out the series in Philadelphia tonight. The Celtics had another rough night from deep in Game 5. Boston shot 28% from three (11/39), which is right in line with the 26% mark in Game 2's loss. The Celtics shot 43%, 36%, and 45% from three in their three wins.

Philadelphia shot 50% from the field, 36% from three, and 87% from the free throw line in Game 5. The 76ers were a +23 in the second half and played desperate in Boston. At home, the 76ers are 0-2 in the series with 8 and 32-point losses.

Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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Game Details and How to Watch Live: 76ers vs. Celtics

  • Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026
  • Time: 8:10 PM EST
  • Site: Xfinity Mobile Arena
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: NBC Sports / Peacock

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA 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!

Game Odds: 76ers vs. Celtics

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Boston Celtics (-230), Philadelphia 76ers (+190)
  • Spread: Celtics -5.5
  • Total: 212.5 points

This game opened Celtics -5.5 with the Total set at 212.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups: Celtics vs. 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers

  • PG Tyrese Maxey
  • SG VJ Edgecombe
  • SF Kelly Oubre Jr
  • PF Paul George
  • Joel Embiid (probable)

Boston Celtics

  • PG Derrick White
  • SG Jaylen Brown
  • SF Sam Hauser
  • PF Jayson Tatum
  • Neemias Queta

Injury Report: Celtics vs. 76ers

Boston Celtics

  • None

Philadelphia 76ers

  • Joel Embiid (abdomen) is PROBABLE for Game 6

Important stats, trends and insights: 76ers vs. Celtics

  • Boston ranks second best in the NBA with a 51-36 ATS mark
  • Boston is an NBA-best 52-35 to the Under
  • Boston is 27-16 to the Under as the road team, ranking third-best
  • Boston is an NBA-best 27-16 ATS on the road
  • Boston is 17-9 ATS as a road favorite, ranking fifth-best
  • Philadelphia is 47-41 ATS and 21-23 ATS at home
  • Philadelphia is 7-9 ATS as a home underdog
  • Philadelphia is 47-41 to the Under and 10-6 to the Under as a home underdog

Rotoworld Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday’s Celtics and 76ers’ game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Celtics’ Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Celtics -5.5 ATS
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 212.5

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

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

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Timberwolves vs. Nuggets – NBA Playoffs – Game 6 predictions: Odds, stats, trends and best bets for April 30

Still trailing in the series and facing a Game 6 in Minneapolis, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets appear to actually be in the driver’s seat against the Timberwolves.

Its only been one game since Minnesota lost their starting backcourt of Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles), and as a result the Timberwolves are still trying to find their way. While Denver is a bit banged up as well, they did not lose one of the Top 10 players in the league. Finding a rhythm and flow at both ends of the court is imperative if Minnesota wants to avoid going back to Denver for Game 7.

The issue on defense may be the bigger challenge. After holding the Nuggets to under 100 points in Games 3 and 4, the Timberwolves allowed 125 points in Game 5 and were waxed from the jump. Jokic secured a triple-double of 27-12-16 and Denver is back in the series as a result. Julius Randle had 27-9-6 (points, rebounds, assists) but he will probably need even better numbers in Game 6 if Minnesota is to prevail. They simply are down too many major weapons to look elsewhere for help. Yes, Ayo Dosunmu was adequate with 18 points in Game 5 but who replaces his energy and production off the bench now that he is starting in place of the injured DiVincenzo? Possibly Terrence Shannon Jr.?

Denver will look to simply rinse and repeat their effort from Game 5. They found their rhythm on offense and intensity on defense. They are rightful favorites in Game 6 even though they trail in the series and are on the road tonight.

Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content. 

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets

  • Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026
  • Time: 9:30PM EST
  • Site: Target Center
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA 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!

Game Odds: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Minnesota Timberwolves (+200), Denver Nuggets (-245)
  • Spread: Nuggets -5.5
  • Total: 224.5 points

This game opened Nuggets -6.5 with the Game Total set at 224.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule! 

Expected Starting Lineups: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets

Minnesota Timberwolves

  • PG Mike Conley
  • SG Ayo Dosunmu
  • C Rudy Gobert
  • SF Julius Randle
  • PF Jaden McDaniels

Denver Nuggets

  • PG Jamal Murray
  • SG Christian Braun
  • SF Cam Johnson
  • C Nikola Jokic
  • PF Spencer Jones

Injury Report: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets

Minnesota Timberwolves

  • Anthony Edwards (knee) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
  • Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
  • Bones Hyland (knee) is questionable for tonight’s game

Denver Nuggets

  • Aaron Gordon (calf) is questionable for tonight’s game
  • Peyton Watson (hamstring) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game

Important stats, trends and insights: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets

  • The Nuggets are 26-17 on the road this season
  • The Timberwolves are 28-15 at home this season
  • The Nuggets are 46-41 ATS this season
  • Minnesota is 40-47 ATS this season
  • The OVER has cashed in 54 of the Nuggets’ 87 games this season (54-33)
  • The OVER has cashed in 39 of the Timberwolves’ 87 games this season (39-48)
  • Ayo Dosunmu averaged 14.8 points per game during the regular season but is now leading the Timberwolves through 5 games of the postseason averaging 21.8 points per game
  • Dosunmu scored 18 starting in place of Donte DiVincenzo in Game 5
  • Mike Conley has tallied 4 assists each of the last 2 games due in large part to his minutes increase (Anthony Edwards injury).
  • Julius Randle is averaging 8.0 rebounds per game in this series
  • Randle has grabbed 9 boards in each of the last 2 games

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 NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
 
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Timberwolves and Nuggets game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Nuggets -5.5 ATS
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 224.5
  • Team Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Nuggets’ Team Total OVER 115.5.

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

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) 
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) 
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick) 

Good Morning San Diego: Padres lose series to Cubs, get day off before hosting White Sox

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 29: Miguel Andujar #41 of the San Diego Padres runs towards home plate after hitting a solo homerun during the fifth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park on April 29, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Diego Padres dropped a series for the first time since the opening week of the season with a 5-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, but they had opportunities to prevent that. In the end, the offense did not do enough, and the bullpen struggled to keep runs off the board. Miguel Andujar and Nick Castellanos hit their first home runs for San Diego. Both came in the bottom of the fifth inning and broke up what was a no-hit shutout for Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon. The home runs allowed the Padres to tie the game 3-3, and with Adrian Morejon coming out of the ‘pen, most of San Diego thought the team could author another late-inning comeback to take the rubber match of the series. Instead, the Cubs manufactured a run off the left-hander following a leadoff walk to Michael Busch to start the top of the sixth inning. A ground out pushed him to second base before a double by Matt Shaw put runners at second and third with one out. Pete Crow-Armstrong hit another ground out for the second out of the inning, but Busch scored from third and Chicago took a 4-3 lead. Bradgley Rodriguez came in to get the final out of the inning, but the damage had been done.

Jason Adam came on in the top of the eighth after Rodriguez worked a scoreless seventh and he surrendered a solo home run to Shaw that gave the Cubs a 5-3 lead. The Padres had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the eighth inning. Chicago reliever Corbin Martin allowed three walks to open the inning, which loaded the bases for Fernando Tatis Jr. with no outs. Martin was pulled from the game and Tatis Jr. faced Ben Brown. Tatis Jr. hit a flyball to center field, which allowed a run to score and left runners at first and third with the score 5-4 and Manny Machado coming to the plate. Machado saw one pitch before hitting a ground ball to second base, which resulted in an inning-ending double play and essentially put an end to the game.

The Padres have the day off before hosting the Chicago White Sox for three games.

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Game 6 Aftermath: How the game was lost for the Penguins

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 29: Parker Wotherspoon #28 of the Pittsburgh Penguins embraces Arturs Silovs #37 of the Pittsburgh Penguins after a overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Six of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The postmortem for an elimination game is always something. Add in the twist that Game 6 was a 1-0 OT loss and that takes it to a new level. On the simplest of terms, it doesn’t take much more than the surface level fact that you can’t win if you don’t score. That proved to be a major issue for the Penguins, who only combined to score four total goals in their four playoff losses – two of them coming via shutout.

In that way, it’s a team loss. The power play was woefully ineffective again, going 0/2 on the night and never even threatening to score. The same personnel was used, which personally I can’t knock, but the mindset was the same and the urgency to create wasn’t there. Not a great formula.

The Penguins managed 42 shots, which looks all well and good in the boxscore but didn’t manage to get many from the middle of the ice on goal, a credit to the defensive work of Philadelphia that was on point throughout Game 6 and almost all of the series. Pittsburgh’s strengths of generating off the rush and creating odd-man situations was completely erased. Slot chances that didn’t get deflected away were nearly as absent.

There were plenty of flashes where it could have been different, as happens in every game. Egor Chinakhov and Tommy Novak struck iron. Bryan Rust got a great chance from down low. Evgeni Malkin had a few looks at the net. Dan Vladar was on his game and there was no fortunate bounce or crazy play to capitalize on for Pittsburgh in Game 6.

In the end, it’s always a mistake that ends a 1-0 overtime playoff game and while there wasn’t a singular moment, the Pens pushed their luck too far. Their worst line let them down, it’s easy to point to Anthony Mantha’s non-play along the wall that helped lead to an odd man rush for Owen Tippett. Tippett zoomed around Ryan Shea, who didn’t have a great game and was pushed into deep water. Erik Karlsson, who played 36:22 on a night where the next closet player in icetime on either team was Travis Sanheim’s 31:20, couldn’t cover it up. Arturs Silovs could, as he did throughout most of the night. The puck was laying in the crease, plenty of open net in front of it for Porter Martone. Martone’s shot was foiled by Silovs’ discarded stick getting in the way.

The Pens had to ice the puck, trapping those players all working on a 1:30+ shift. Ben Kindel lost the faceoff cleanly. Mantha and Elmer Soderblom both opted to stay deep in the zone as the Flyers moved the puck along the blueline. It got to Cam York, and he leaned into a wrist shot that finally was one Silovs couldn’t stop. Ball game and season.

There was a dichotomy in overtime where the Penguins legitimately were carrying play and showing a much stronger level, but also draining out faster. At one point Bryan Rust motioned the bench that he wanted a change, only to wave it off when he had to fall back into the play and defend. You couldn’t literally hear him sigh but it was easily understandable in the moment. Even Kindel, the youngest player on the team, was skating much slower by the end. It was like a team chugging unevenly to the finish line.

Try as they may, the Penguins hit empty and then got caught. Game 6 was one of the best games they had in the series and certainly the best goaltending performance they’ve received in a long, long time- and yet they didn’t score a single goal either. It’s a tough result to swallow and brutal way to end a season.

Erik Karlsson’s perspective tends to be right on the money, his post-game comments sum it up.

“We got everyone playing up to their full potential all year. Then come this time of the year, you’re going to need a little bit more. And we just couldn’t reach that level, unfortunately,” Erik Karlsson said.

“If we reach this level of play from Game 1, we’re in a much better situation. Unfortunately, we didn’t. So today, great effort from the guys. Today, we played the way that we intended to right from the beginning, but all the credit to them. They bent. They bent hard, but they didn’t break. That’s why they’re moving on, and we’re not. And as much as it sucks, you gotta realize that you’re playing against good players and other good teams. And we were outplayed for the series.”

Ultimately, the Penguins came close and gave it their all, but just couldn’t get quite enough to advance. It happened in Game 6 and will be the lasting takeaway from their short experience in the 2026 playoffs.

Giants vs Phillies Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game 1

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The San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies clash this afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader, with first pitch scheduled for 12:35 p.m. ET. 

My Giants vs. Phillies predictions are targeting Philly to grab another win, with Cristopher Sanchez in line for another dominant outing. 

Read more in my MLB picks for Thursday, April 30. 

Who will win Giants vs Phillies today: Phillies moneyline (-145)

The Philadelphia Phillies won the series opener on Tuesday, 7-0, before Wednesday’s contest rained out. Philly’s offense finally showed some promise in their first game since Rob Thomson was fired.

Today, Cristopher Sanchez takes the hill for the hosts, and he’s been impressive this season.

The lefty has a 2.94 ERA and a 2-2 record across six starts, also striking out 43 in 33 2/3 innings of work. At home, Sanchez is even better, compiling a 1.16 ERA. For comparison, his ERA sits above 6.00 on the road. He also had a 1.93 ERA against the San Francisco Giants last year across two appearances.

Logan Webb, meanwhile, has allowed at least three earned runs across each of his last three outings, and his 4.86 ERA overall rises to 5.00 on the road. The Phillies haven’t had a ton of success against him, but it’s a small sample size, and they’re coming off a seven-run performance. 

Covers COVERS INTEL: The Phillies have won three of their last five meetings with the Giants at Citizens Bank Park.

Giants vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Under 7 (-115)

The Under has hit in three straight meetings, and the pitching matchup is solid. Sanchez is electric, and he clearly feeds off the Citizens Bank Park atmosphere. 

Although Webb has given up some runs lately, he’s still a guy who gives the Giants a respectable five or six innings each start. In fact, he’s gone at least six innings in each of his previous four starts.

Even if Webb gives up some runs, San Fran has faith he can still compete. 

We’re also looking at two teams that do not score a lot of runs. The Phillies are 27th in runs scored, and the Giants are 30th. Despite numerous stars on each roster, the results aren’t there so far.

We’ll see some runs here, likely more from Philly, but it’ll be a low-scoring contest. 

Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 7-9, -5.94 units
  • Over/Under bets: 8-8, -1.34 units

Giants vs Phillies odds

  • Moneyline: Giants +122 | Phillies -144
  • Run line: Giants +1.5 | Phillies -1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5

Giants vs Phillies trend

The Phillies have hit the team total Under in 27 of their last 40 games (+12.20 Units / 26% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Phillies.

How to watch Giants vs Phillies and game info

LocationCitizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
DateThursday, April 30, 2026
First pitch12:35 p.m. ET
TVNBCSBA, WCAU-NBC10
Giants starting pitcherLogan Webb
(2-3, 4.86 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcherCristopher Sanchez
(2-2, 2.94 ERA)

Giants vs Phillies latest injuries

Giants vs Phillies weather

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.

Champions League review: a stone-cold classic, Díaz’s perfect timing and a defensive puritan

The first leg of the semi-finals produced a nine-goal thriller and a tense evening in Madrid. Next week’s matches are set to be a treat

Football’s role as a leading hot-take commodity was taken to the nth degree after Tuesday’s nine-goal slugfest between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in Paris. Best game ever? What happened to the lost art of defending? Proof that France and Germany’s dominant clubs enjoy the luxury of not being challenged in their domestic leagues so they can keep their powder dry for the latter stages of the Champions League? Proof that the best attackers in Europe are sequestered at PSG and Bayern Munich? All of the above may well be true.

The debate will continue until next Wednesday’s second leg in Munich. Those who said it was the competition’s best ever semi-final – it had the most goals of any 90-minute match in the Champions League last-four – forgot previous contenders. “The best match I have ever coached,” said Luis Enrique. The PSG coach omitted to mention La Remontada of 2017, when his Barcelona team won 6-1 at the Camp Nou to complete the greatest comeback of all. And how about last season’s 7-6 semi-final double-header when Inter edged Barça? Only when the second leg delivers the same excitement can accusations of recency bias be dismissed.

Continue reading...

MLB Home Run Predictions Today: Best HR Prop Bets, Picks, Parlay & Odds for Thursday, April 30

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There was a lot of flip-flopping yesterday with games getting rained out and guys not getting into the lineup, but I hit a winner for the third straight day and now have to thank the baseball heavens because of it. It's the only reason the balls are finally leaving the yard, and the MLB player props are starting to hit. 

Kazuma Okamoto is starting to figure it out at the plate, and he's a great option to target in the day's nightcap.

These are my favorite home run props for Thursday, April 30. 

  • UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.

Best MLB home run props today

Player to hit a HROdds
Astros Yordan Alvarez+320
Blue Jays Kazuma Okamoto +600
Mets Juan Soto+310
💲Today's HR parlay+8860

Yordan Alvarez (+320)

The rain stopped us yesterday, but our MLB picks are getting the best hitting matchup at a better price today with Yordan Alvarez vs. Chris Bassitt. Alvarez at +320 to go deep is still +EV, per Covers projections. The fair price for the best hitter in baseball to go yard sits closer to +270.

Alvarez is a freak. He leads baseball in multiple standard and advanced metrics and hasn’t homered in four straight games — his longest drought of the year. He may also have this matchup circled, as Bassitt has struggled against him. Alvarez is 5-for-22 with five home runs and a 1.598 OPS vs. Bassitt in his career.

Winds are blowing out to right field today, which is even better for the left-handed Alvarez than yesterday's wind. Bassitt has also allowed all of his home runs this year to left-handed hitters.

  • Time: 12:35 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: MASN, Space City Home Network

Kazuma Okamoto (+600)

The Toronto Blue Jays lineup is turning a corner.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is ripping the ball, Ernie Clement is going yard, George Springer is back, and Kazuma Okamoto is putting it together.

There’s still some swing and miss with the rookie, but he’s adjusting. He owns the best Blast Contact numbers on the team and is squaring the ball up at a 54.5% clip over the last seven days.

Pair that with Top-3 bat speed and a strong HR price, and he’s the target indoors vs. Bailey Ober and a bottom-tier Minnesota Twins bullpen.

Minnesota doesn’t have a true closer right now and is using a three-man committee late. Eric Orze is part of that mix, just blew a save yesterday, and is likely unavailable. The fair price is around +500.

  • Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: SN1, MNNT

Juan Soto (+310)

Take me to square town, but Juan Soto has his swing locked in and draws a matchup with Miles Mikolas that belongs on any HR card.

Soto’s swing speed and Blast Contact% over the last two weeks have been elite — he’s squaring everything up. This is a stat-padding spot against Mikolas, who has struggled and is likely to hand things over to a vulnerable Washington Nationals bullpen. In Mikolas’ last three starts, the Nats have allowed 29 total runs.

Soto 2+ total bases at even money is also on the card. It’s the hottest bat against one of the softest matchups available.

  • Time: 1:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Nationals.TV, SNY
Jinglis' 2026 Transparency Record
  • HR picks: 9-50, -2.9u units

Today’s HR parlay

Astros Yordan AlvarezBet Now
+8860
Blue Jays Kazuma Okamoto
Mets Juan Soto

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.

Knicks vs Hawks NBA Playoffs Game 6 Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 30

The Knicks took Game 5, 126-97, to put themselves in the drivers seat of the series. New York is up 3-2 with the series back in Atlanta.

New York is in a close out position and coming off its best shooting effort of the series in Game 5. The Knicks shot 57% from the field and 42% from three with 48 rebounds to the Hawks' 27. New York has won the last two games by 16 and 29 points. They are arguably playing the best ball in the series.

Atlanta looks to avoid a first round exit and what better place to do that than at home. The Hawks have lost by double digits in every loss this series and won by a combined two points in their two wins. Atlanta is 1-4 in their last five playoff home games.

Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content. 

Game Details and How to Watch Live: Hawks vs. Knicks

  • Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026
  • Time: 7:10 PM EST
  • Site: State Farm Arena
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA 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!

Game Odds: Hawks vs. Knicks

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Atlanta Hawks (+124), New York Knicks (-148)
  • Spread: Knicks -2.5
  • Total: 213.5 points

This game opened Knicks -2 with the Total set at 213.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups: Hawks vs. Knicks

Atlanta Hawks

  • PG CJ McCollum
  • SG Nickeil Walker-Alexander
  • SF Dyson Daniels
  • PF Jalen Johnson
  • Onyeka Okoungwu 

New York Knicks

  • PG Jalen Brunson
  • SG Josh Hart (questionable)
  • SF Mikal Bridges
  • PF OG Anunoby
  • Karl-Anthony Towns

Injury Report: Hawks vs. Knicks

New York Knicks

  • Josh Hart (back) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 6

Atlanta Hawks

  • None

Important stats, trends and insights: Hawks vs. Knicks

  • Atlanta is 46-41 ATS this season and 22-21 ATS at home
  • Atlanta is 44-42 to the Over but 28-15 to the Under as the road team
  • Atlanta is 8-8 ATS as a home underdog and 8-8 on the total
  • New York is 47-41 ATS this season
  • New York is 16-27 ATS as the road team, ranking second-worst
  • New York is 48-40 to the Under and 28-15 to the Under as the road team

Rotoworld Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Hawks and Knicks’ game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Hawks’ Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Hawks +2.5 ATS
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 213.5

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

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

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Mets place Luis Robert Jr. on IL due to herniated disc

The Mets have placed outfielderLuis Robert Jr.on the 10-day IL due to a lumbar spine disc herniation.

Robert was sent for an MRI on Wednesday after his back issue didn't improve with treatment.

Since he has not played the last two games, the IL stint is backdated to April 27.

In a corresponding move, infielder Eric Wagaman was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. was DFA'd and replaced by right-hander Austin Warren.

Losing Robert is the latest blow to a Mets lineup that is already without Francisco Lindor (calf) and Jorge Polanco (Achilles and wrist).

Polanco has been making progress and could return sooner rather than later.

Lindor is expected to get a follow-up MRI in roughly two weeks, at which point more about his timeline should be known. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said last week that Lindor could have a "relatively quick progression" if all goes well.

As far as Robert, the Mets had slow-played his buildup in spring training and had been giving him scheduled days off in an effort to prevent an injury -- to no avail. 

Aside from Robert, New York has six outfield options on the active roster -- Juan Soto, Carson Benge, Tyrone Taylor, MJ Melendez, Austin Slater, and Brett Baty.

Pirates star Jared Jones excels in first rehab assignment start with Bradenton

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Jared Jones #37 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 27, 2024 in New York City. The Pirates defeated the Yankees 4-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The road back to pitching in Major League games took a significant step in the right direction for Jared Jones on Wednesday.

Jones made his first appearance of the 2026 season for Single-A Bradenton, marking the first time he pitched against live competition in over a year.

The results? Arguably the best performance by any Pirate in the minor leagues all season.

Jones delivered three perfect innings against the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

The rehab assignment start went well for the 24-year-old right hander. Jones didn’t allow a base runner and struck out five, throwing 41 pitches (30 for strikes).

He struck out the last batter he faced in every inning and the final two in the first and third frames.

The Pirates are building Jones back up to be a starter at the major league level.

Jones earned a spot on the Opening Day roster in 2024 following an eye-opening spring.

The 2020 second-round pick earned a 4.14 ERA in 22 starts with the Pirates striking out 132 and allowing a 1.19 WHIP in 121.2 innings.

Jones missed all of 2025 with a right arm injury that required surgery. Jones experienced discomfort in spring training and tried to rest, but eventually needed surgery to heal his arm issues. 

He last appeared in an MLB game on September 27, 2024, against the Yankees.

Pittsburgh needs Jones to be a considerable part of the rotation, or even back end of the bullpen, to help a staff that doesn’t have strong depth.

The Pirates have lost four in a row, including the first three of a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Jones will continue to make rehab assignments across the Pirates’ affiliates and could return to the Bucco staff by the end of May or early June.