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Sam Bennett's Hit On Leafs' Stolarz Is Part Of How The Panthers Play To Win

Sam Bennett, Morgan Rielly and Joseph Woll (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

The NHL reportedly won’t give Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett supplemental discipline after a controversial hit on Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz. 

It was another physical play from a Panthers team whose competitive style walks the line between acceptable and unacceptable. Many people saw Bennett’s hit on Stolarz as completely unacceptable and reckless behavior. But as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and the Athletic's Chris Johnston reported, Bennett likely won't even have to pay a fine or miss a game.

It’s no wonder Florida sticks with that style.

The Panthers have already been punished for other reckless hits in these playoffs. Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad was suspended two playoff games for a hit on Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel in Game 4 of their first-round series, while Florida defenseman Nikko Mikkola was fined for boarding Lightning center Zemgus Girgensons. That didn’t stop Bennett from getting physical in pursuit of the puck and making contact with Stolarz’s head.

Florida’s robust physical play is part of its identity. The Panthers led the NHL in hits with 2,446 – 233 more hits than the next-most physical team. The Panthers were also the most penalized team in the NHL, with 853 penalty minutes. 

Florida coach Paul Maurice knows what his team should do to win games when they matter most. If the Panthers win games by playing overly aggressively without receiving harsher penalties that curb reckless plays, you can’t completely fault them for employing that style of play.

Bennett came out Tuesday and said there was no intent to injure Stolarz, that he reached out to the goaltender afterward, that he didn’t notice he made contact with him until later and didn't believe there was much force. That’s all fine and dandy – and as a side point, it would’ve been nice to see Bennett face media accountability Monday night after the game instead of taking the easy way out and waiting until Tuesday.

But the reality Stolarz was injured, whether it was by a shot to the mask earlier in the action, by the hit or by both, and all NHL players are supposed to be in control of themselves on the ice, regardless of intention.

That hit won’t help his reputation as someone who walks the line between acceptable and non-acceptable play and occasionally crosses it. The next time something like this happens with Bennett, the NHL will have a hard time ignoring it.

Leafs coach Craig Berube clearly didn’t see Bennett’s hit as acceptable, telling media it was “clear as day” an elbow to the head. But again, imagining the Panthers are going to shy away from contact is dreaming in technicolor.

This is who they are and who they’ve been built to be, and it could be a safety concern. Unless something drastically changes, their opponents will have to be careful not to get sucked into their play and to protect themselves.

'Elbow To The Head. Clear As Day': Will Sam Bennett Be Suspended For His Hit On Leafs' Anthony Stolarz? 'Elbow To The Head. Clear As Day': Will Sam Bennett Be Suspended For His Hit On Leafs' Anthony Stolarz?We'll find out very soon whether or not the NHL will impose supplemental discipline on Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Holloway, Tucker Were Never Options For Blues In Playoffs

St. Louis Blues forward Dylan Holloway was not returning this season after injuring his left hip April 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images)

ST. LOUIS – Dylan Holloway and Tyler Tucker were never options to play for the St. Louis Blues during the Stanley Cup playoffs, general manager Doug Armstrong said on Tuesday.

Holloway, a forward who had a breakout season with 63 points (26 goals, 37 assists) in 77 games this season after signing an offer sheet last summer while a member of the Edmonton Oilers, was injured April 3 in the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Hockey News learned Holloway’s injury was to his left hip.

"Holloway and Tucker were done," Armstrong said. "Holloway got injured in that game. We didn't think it was going to be as serious as it was. He needed to get some work done, but he'll be 100 percent for training camp."

It was a tough blow for the 23-year-old who was also a plus-21 during the regular season and fueled the Blues’ second line with Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou.

As for Tucker, he was injured late in the third period of a 5-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round, suffering a lower-body injury to his left leg that listed the defenseman as day to day.

He may have been an option later in the postseason had the Blues advanced, but they lost the series against the Jets in seven games and was never an option the rest of that series.

"Tucker's injury, we all saw in the playoffs," Armstrong said. "It was a non-surgical candidate, but he was going to be out a while."

There were other injury candidates, including to that of Robert Thomas, who had a lower-body injury he suffered in the regular-season finale against Utah Hockey Club that lingered at times in the playoffs. The center said he was fine.

"If you're healthy enough to play, then you're healthy, so we're not going to use anyone's individual ailments as an excuse for not playing tomorrow night," Armstrong said. "... We had two guys injured and that was it."

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Late announcer Jim Fagan's voice will return with the NBA to NBC, courtesy of AI

A view of the NBC Sports logo banner during an NFL game
Starting in the fall, NBC Sports will broadcast NBA games for the first time since 2002. (Scott Winters / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images)

Many people remember the late Jim Fagan as the rugged voice that proudly informed 1990s and early-2000s basketball fans that they were watching the NBA on NBC.

The distinct sound of Fagan's voiceovers, with John Tesh's rousing "Roundball Rock" playing in the background, will be forever linked to the era when Michael Jordan dominated the sport and players like Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan were just starting to build their legacies.

Fagan died in 2017 at age 72 after battling Parkinson’s disease. His voice, however, will soon be more than just a fond memory for basketball fans.

Read more:Charles Barkley rips 'idiots' at ESPN, future home of 'Inside the NBA,' for saying 'Lakers saved the NBA'

NBC Sports announced Tuesday that through the use of AI voice synthesis technology — and through a partnership with Fagan's family — the announcer's voice will be heard on "select title sequences, show opens, and promos" when the NBA returns to the network this fall after more than two decades. Fagan's voice will be used to "supplement traditional voiceover work by other artists hired by NBC Sports," the network said in a news release.

That announcement came days after NBC Sports revealed that it was bringing back "Roundball Rock" as its NBA anthem. On Tuesday, the network dropped a promo video featuring both the classic song and Fagan's AI-generated voice. Any nostalgic vibes felt by old-school NBA fans definitely were not coincidental.

“For many basketball fans, Jim’s unique and recognizable voice immediately conjures a deep sense of nostalgia for a special time in NBA history,” NBC Sports president Rick Cordella said in the news release. “His voice perfectly captured the magnitude of the heavyweight matchups and stars that he was introducing. It’s been a joy to work with Jim’s family to recreate his voice and honor his legacy. I’m excited we’re able to introduce his voice to a whole new generation of fans.”

Four hours after the promo video was posted on YouTube, it had received 25 comments, most of which criticized the decision to use AI to generate the voice of someone who is no longer alive. But Fagan's daughters, Jana Silvia Joyce and Risa Silvia-Koonin, said in NBC's news release that their father would have been "thrilled."

Read more:LeBron James begs off attending the Met Gala, where he is the honorary co-chairman

“We’re deeply grateful that NBC Sports had the vision to honor our father’s legacy in such a meaningful way," Silvia Joyce and Silvia-Koonin stated. "He took great pride in his work with NBC Sports, especially in helping set the stage for some of the most memorable moments in NBA history. Knowing that his voice will once again be part of the game he loved — and that a new generation of fans will get to experience it — is incredibly special for our family. He would be so thrilled and proud to be a part of this.”

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

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Brady Tkachuk Calls Trade Rumors Linking Him To Rangers A ‘Lie’

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Early on in the 2024-25 season, there were rumors linking Brady Tkachuk to the New York Rangers. 

According to Larry Brooks of The New York Post in December, the Rangers made Brady Tkachuk their primary trade target.

Senators general manager Steve Staios quickly shot down these rumors while Ottawa owner Michael Andlauer even accused the Rangers of soft tampering. 

Senators General Manager Reportedly Planned To Meet Brady Tkachuk Over Rangers Trade RumorSenators General Manager Reportedly Planned To Meet Brady Tkachuk Over Rangers Trade RumorThe Senators are reportedly not happy about the Brady Tkachuk trade rumors linking him to the Rangers.

When addressing the constant trade rumors around his name during exit interviews, Tkachuk made sure to emphasize that he has no intention of leaving the Senators organization. 

“Obviously it’s a lie,” Tkachuk said. “All those articles, stories … It’s just not true. But I think it’s on me if I let that bother me or take me off what I’m trying to do. Everyone knows that I’ll do whatever it takes to win. Seeing this fan base, this excitement, see how much they rallied around us, everybody’s waiting for it. Everybody wants to accomplish the same thing and win the Stanley Cup.”

In response to the soft tampering accusations made by Andlauer, the Rangers denied any sort of wrongdoing. 

“This is an irresponsible accusation, and we defer to the commissioner’s office,” a Rangers spokesperson said in reply to Andlauer’s comment. 

The Senators ended up making the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Meanwhile, the Rangers regressed from their Presidents’ Trophy-winning season and missed the playoffs altogether, marking a catastrophe of a year.

It likely won’t mean bringing in Tkachuk, but Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury will certainly be busy this summer.

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Thunder's Sam Presti voted NBA Executive of the Year

Thunder executive Sam Presti had already built a team that was a No. 1 seed with an elite young core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. Yet, last year's playoffs exposed some holes in the roster — they needed toughness — and Presti had a great offseason filling those by signing big man Isaiah Hartenstein and trading Josh Giddey to Chicago for Alex Caruso.

Those moves, leading the Thunder to a 68-win season and a team expected to come out of the Western Conference, earned Presti the NBA Executive of the Year award.

This is an award voted on by Presti's peers, the other lead executives/GMs around the league.

Presti got 10 first-place votes, with six second-place and six third-place votes. Cleveland's Koby Altman finished second in the voting with six first-place votes, with the Pistons' Trajan Langdon third. The Rockets' Rafael Stone finished fourth, and the Clippers' Lawrence Frank was fifth. In total, 13 executives got a top-three vote. The complete voting results can be seen here.

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Josh Hart dispels notion that Knicks got lucky in Game 1 win over Celtics: 'We flew around'

Trailing by 20 points midway through the third quarter, the Knicks found a way to fight back and come away with a dramatic 108-105 overtime win in Game 1 against the Boston Celtics.

While the improbable road win has given New York an early lead in the series, there is a prevailing thought that the Celtics simply had an off night, as evidenced by their abysmal 15-of-60 (25 percent) three-point shooting and Kristaps Porzingis playing just 13 minutes.

Will Boston have another game in which they miss 45 shots from beyond the arc? It’s safe to say that’s highly unlikely, but as Josh Hart said on Tuesday, the Knicks deserve credit for the way that they executed on the defensive end.

Plus, it's not like the Knicks played at the top of their game either, yet they found a way to win.

“It’s twofold, right? I don’t think we played our best basketball. We got outrebounded by 10, we gave up 24 second-chance points, we gave up some easy fastbreak dunks that we shouldn’t have," Hart said.

"When a team isn’t playing well it’s ‘why are they not playing well?’ Is it because they’re just off that day, or is it because the defense or the other team is playing well and forcing them into playing that kind of style?”

To illustrate his point, Hart brought up how the Detroit Pistons were able to disrupt the Knicks and keep them from playing their best game in any of the six contests from their first round matchup.

“We’ve got to give Detroit credit, because Detroit did not allow us to play our best game. Fortunately for us, we were able to win that series without playing our best game in any game that whole series,” said Hart, who scored 14 points and added 11 rebounds over 45 minutes in Game 1 in Boston.

“Obviously, [the Celtics] had some shots that they didn’t make that were makeable shots for them, but I feel like we executed our game plan,” Hart said. “We played with physicality and energy. We flew around.”

But now the Knicks face a new challenge heading Wednesday’s Game 2: the proverbial post-big-win hangover.

Tom Thibodeau’s squad may have been on the winning end of one of the more dramatic comebacks in recent playoff history on Monday night, but the head coach knows the key is moving on and being prepared for what comes next.

“That’s the challenge for everybody. I think in the playoffs, that’s sort of the nature of the beast,” Thibodeau explained. “It’s very emotional, there are great highs, there are lows. You have to navigate both, and no matter what happens, you don’t carry it over into the next game. You have to reset and be ready to do it all over again.”

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'Hate To Bet Against Him In Golf': Inside William Nylander's Standout Playoffs With Maple Leafs

May 5, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (88) celebrates his first of two goals as Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues (17) reacts during the first period of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

When William Nylander slotted home his fifth goal of the postseason on Monday night against the Florida Panthers, he stuck his tongue out in celebration before being embraced by his linemate Max Pacioretty.

The 29-year-old has been red-hot all playoff long. During the first round against the Ottawa Senators, Nylander scored three goals and seven assists for 10 points in six games.

Two of his three goals in the series came in Game 6, when Toronto ended Ottawa's season. His play is a testament to his work ethic all season long. What can't be forgotten, too, is his ability to be a game-breaker when Toronto needs it most.

And after a strong start in Game 1 against the Panthers, which included a Nylander goal 33 seconds in, he continued the onslaught with another goal 12 minutes after.

Nylander finished the game with three points, putting himself in a three-way tie with Mikko Rantanen and Kyle Connor for the most points during the NHL playoffs.

‘He's a Pit Bull With Some Nice Hands’: How Matthew Knies Continues To Evolve Into Playoff Difference-Maker For Maple Leafs‘He's a Pit Bull With Some Nice Hands’: How Matthew Knies Continues To Evolve Into Playoff Difference-Maker For Maple LeafsMatthew Knies is only 22 years old, but he's not playing like it on the NHL’s biggest stage in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

"I don't know about his golf game, but I would hate to bet against him in golf because he seems like he would never miss a small putt," Max Pacioretty smiled on Tuesday morning, reflecting on Nylander's performance throughout the playoffs.

The forward has never shied away from the pressure, either.

In early January, the Maple Leafs were boo'd off the ice inside Scotiabank Arena after a third straight loss. The next day, Nylander spoke with the media and addressed the losing streak, saying, "I mean, it's only been three games, so what's the big deal, really?"

‘Doesn't Really Matter If They Boo’: Mitch Marner And William Nylander Respond To Boos Amid Maple Leafs’ Three-Game Losing Skid‘Doesn't Really Matter If They Boo’: Mitch Marner And William Nylander Respond To Boos Amid Maple Leafs’ Three-Game Losing SkidLosing 4-1 on Tuesday, the Leafs were booed off the ice for the second straight game at Scotiabank Arena.

In the following game, a 4-3 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils, Nylander had two goals and an assist, including the game-winner in the extra frame. Nothing appears to faze him.

"He's got ice in his veins," Pacioretty added Tuesday.

"Sometimes in the playoffs, after a good game like he had in Game 6, it's easy to kind of sit back and say, 'You know, I'm good here for a little bit.' But he comes out and scores 30 seconds in, first shot of the game, and it kind of shows how clutch he is and how well he's able to perform under pressure."

It's going to be a difficult series against the Panthers after what we witnessed in Game 1, with Anthony Stolarz going to the hospital after Sam Bennett's forearm caught him in the head.

'I Don't Know Yet': Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz Questionable For Game 2 Vs. Panthers'I Don't Know Yet': Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz Questionable For Game 2 Vs. PanthersAlthough Anthony Stolarz reportedly left Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher and was evaluated in hospital, there's still a chance, according to head coach Craig Berube, that he starts Game 2 for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has mentioned it numerous times: it's going to be a physically demanding series. Toronto needs to remain composed throughout the Panthers' in-game shenanigans.

"Nothing bothers him. He just goes out and plays," Berube said before Game 1 of the series.

"It may not be on that shift for him or the next shift, or even the one after that, but at some point, I think he understands that he's going to get an opportunity, and when he does, he makes teams pay."

Maple Leafs’ ‘Business-Like’ Mindset Overcomes Potential Playoff Disaster to Advance to Second RoundMaple Leafs’ ‘Business-Like’ Mindset Overcomes Potential Playoff Disaster to Advance to Second RoundKANATA, Ont. — When the final horn sounded at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrated their 4-2 win against the Ottawa Senators, pushing them through to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

They've done a good job of it, with Nylander at the forefront of their goal scoring in Game 1. It'll be fascinating to see if it continues throughout the series as it gets tougher.

Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

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“We Want To Get This Right”: Kyle Davidson Provides Update On Coaching Search

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The Chicago Blackhawks will make the third overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. This is after the lottery results that took place on Monday night. 

The Blackhawks will select in the top three for the third consecutive year. If they continue to add young pillars to the franchise, it won’t be long before they are contending again. 

After the event ended, GM Kyle Davidson spoke at a presser. After all of the questions about the lottery were answered, Davidson was asked about the current coaching search.  

“No real timeline, we’re going through the process right now,” Davidson said when asked about the search. “We want to get this right.”

There isn’t much news there, but he made it clear that a widespread search is ongoing. He also mentioned that interim head coach Anders Sorensen is in the mix for the job and that all of the young players were better under him. 

It likely won’t be Sorensen, but Davidson and his staff need to consider all options. This is a very important move in Chicago’s rebuilding process. 

“We're looking to check a number of boxes, but ultimately we want someone that’s excited about what’s going on in Chicago,” Davidson said when describing what is needed in a candidate. That shouldn’t be hard with all the young talent they are building with. According to him, it’s an “appealing job” based on what he sees on his phone. 

Checking all of the boxes could mean several things, but the new coach will inherit a young roster that is still learning to win. The next head bench boss will have the responsibility of getting this roster to turn a corner on the ice.  

It won’t be too long before Davidson finds his coach. With the third overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft looming, a coach may want to be a part of that process, although it isn’t necessary. For now, Davidson will keep the search going and leave no stones unturned. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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MLB Power Rankings roundup: Red Sox slipping amid inconsistent start

MLB Power Rankings roundup: Red Sox slipping amid inconsistent start originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox can’t get out of their own way.

After going 81-81 during the 2024 MLB season, Boston has remained mediocre at 18-18 to begin 2025. Alex Cora’s group is 4-9 in one-run games, and the bullpen hasn’t helped matters with a league-leading eight blown saves. On top of those ongoing issues, the Red Sox must find a replacement for Triston Casas after the first baseman went down with a season-ending knee injury.

While it hasn’t been smooth sailing for Boston so far, it’s reassuring that the American League East has arguably been the worst division in baseball. The Red Sox are only 1.5 games behind the first-place New York Yankees as of Tuesday.

So, how do the Red Sox stack up against the rest of the league? Here’s where they rank amongst the 30 MLB teams, according to several national outlets:

The Athletic (Chad Jennings): 12th

“Honestly, Casas had not been very good. Negative WAR. Below-average offensive numbers. Just a brutal start to the season. But last week’s knee injury left the Red Sox with a glaring hole at first base, a position at which they have no obvious replacement. Getting Bryan Bello and Lucas Giolito off the IL should stabilize the rotation — Bello has been great through three starts — but the Red Sox now face a curious decision at first, and they seem hesitant or unwilling to move Rafael Devers to the position. Is there a way to get creative with top prospects Roman Anthony or Marcelo Mayer (neither of whom plays first)? Will they add someone? The Red Sox clearly were banking on Casas turning things around, but injuries continue to plague him, and an uneven Red Sox season is now left with a fresh dose of uncertainty.”

CBS Sports (Matt Snyder): 16th

“Tanner Houck was an All-Star last season. He had a 2.18 ERA through 16 starts. His numbers are brutal right now, but he looked great last time out and a lot of the horrible numbers could be pinned on one start. It’s worth watching.”

Bleacher Report (Joel Reuter):15th

“The Red Sox still sit second in the AL East standings even after a pair of series losses last week, and they welcomed catcher Conner Wong back to the active roster on Friday. How many teams are regretting not signing Alex Bregman while watching him hit .317/.396/.583 with 13 doubles, eight home runs and 27 RBI through his first 35 games in a Red Sox uniform?”

MLB.com (Will Leitch): 12th

“Some cracks are starting to show with the Red Sox’s pitching. The bullpen has been blowing leads like crazy lately, but even more worrisome is the shoulder inflammation that put Walker Buehler on the injured list. The team is trying to stay optimistic.

“We don’t think it’s that serious,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Miss two starts and hopefully come back as soon as the [15] days are over.”

“But we are talking about shoulder inflammation here, with a pitcher who doesn’t exactly have the cleanest injury history.”

USA TODAY (Gabe Lacques): 11th

“Just brutal to lose Triston Casas for the season with a gruesome patella injury.”

theScore: 15th

“Boston’s off to an inconsistent start, as the club’s left multiple wins on the table. The Red Sox are 4-9 in one-run games and haven’t overcome a deficit of more than two runs on the season. They’ll attempt to piece things together at first base following Triston Casas’ season-ending knee injury.”

FOX Sports (Rowan Kavner): 13th

“The potential for greatness is still there. The results, so far, have not been there. The offense has the second-most strikeouts and third-highest whiff rate in MLB and just lost Triston Casas for the season, the defense leads the league in errors, and the pitching staff has been mediocre overall. There are still plenty of reasons for optimism. Kristian Campbell looks like the best rookie in the sport, new additions Garrett Crochet and Alex Bregman have looked like stars, and eventually top prospect Roman Anthony should enter the fold. I still expect better days ahead.”

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: AJ Smith-Shawver, Josh Smith, and Stephen Kolek

The early season dust has settled and more of the obvious breakout players and impact rookies are unavailable. So, we need to look a bit deeper to find gems on the waiver wire.

Fear not, because there are still a handful of players that are widely available and have the chance to be difference-makers in both the short and long term.

Syndication: Arizona Republic
Top fantasy baseball prospects: Jordan Lawlar sizzling hot, Jacob Misiorowski impresses again
A look at the top fantasy baseball prospects who can help in 2025 and the coming years.
  • Christopher Crawford
    ,
  • Christopher Crawford
    ,

Here are three players that are under 40% rostered on Yahoo leagues that you should strongly consider adding.

If you want a larger list, Eric Samulski wrote his extended waiver wire piece on Sunday.

AJ Smith-Shawver, SP Braves

(18% Rostered on Yahoo)

Smith-Shawver is coming off the best start of his career where he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Reds and struck out five batters without allowing a run. The Braves have been reluctant to give him a long leash in their rotation so far this season, but this strong start could be a tipping point.

It’s amazing to see a pitcher as young as Smith-Shawver complete eight innings and allow one total hit. He’s just 22 years old and the last pitcher to hit those marks that young was Michael Wacha over a decade ago.

While this start was tremendous, many of the same problems that have plagued Smith-Shawver were still present.

Walks have been a problem for him at every age and every level. He’s walked 11% of the batters he’s faced through his major league career and at least 10% of the batters he’s faced at every minor league stop where he’s thrown at least 25 innings. This problem is persistent and likely not going anywhere.

The issue is twofold for Smith-Shawver: his command isn’t great to start and he throws his splitter nearly as much as his fastball.

That splitter and every splitter is not a pitch that’s meant to be thrown in the strike zone very often. So, he relies on hitters to chase for a relatively high percentage of the strikes he needs and sometimes that doesn’t happen despite the pitch being downright nasty.

When it does happen, he can strike out hitters in bunches and keep traffic off the bases. When it doesn’t, he’ll struggle to complete five innings.

Interestingly, Smith-Shawver has increased the usage of his fastball in each of his last two starts since being recalled from Triple-A. It surged ahead of his splitter to become his primary pitch and he leaned on it early in counts to get ahead against the Reds.

He dropped his arm slot and release height a good bit so far this season and that’s added a few inches of arm-side run and a smidge more induced vertical break to that pitch. Compared to the only other meaningful MLB sample we have for Smith-Shawver back in 2023, the whiff rate on his fastball has jumped up from 11.4% to 20.5%.

Any more confidence in his fastball can instantly turn him into a reliable mid-rotation arm for a Braves team that’s desperate for consistency from their staff. With a secure role and legitimate strikeout upside, Smith-Shawver shouldn’t be so widely available.

Josh Smith, SS/3B/OF Rangers

(20% Rostered on Yahoo)

The Texas Rangers are in a bit of disarray at the moment. Expected to be an offensive juggernaut, they’ve scored the fewest runs per game in the American League through just over a month of play. That prompted them to fire esteemed hitting coach Donnie Ecker, demote Jake Burger, and release Leody Tavares over the weekend.

Yet, for all their woes, Smith just keeps chugging along. He’s hit four home runs, stolen three bases, has a .311 batting average, and an .864 OPS over 102 plate appearances. That’s a great start for someone that was meant to occupy a bench and utility role.

When Josh Jung was hurt, he filled in at third base. When Wyatt Langford was hurt, he mixed in the outfield rotation. Corey Seager just missed 10 games and Smith was the Rangers’ temporary shortstop. All in all, he has started at least one game at every position besides pitcher and catcher already this season.

That versatility is great for the Rangers and also great for our fantasy teams. Holding a player like Smith who’s eligible at 3B, SS, and OF on Yahoo can help maximize bench spots since he can sub in for nearly any player in your lineup.

Now with Seager back, Smith has hit lead-off in consecutive games with one of those starts coming at shortstop and the other in center field. There’s practically no doubt he continues to be an every day player, no matter where that may be. He could even pick up first base eligibility if 27-year-old rookie Blaine Crim scuffles as Burger's replacement.

There aren’t any glaring improvements in his profile at the plate though. He’s shortened up a bit and that’s allowed him to make more contact. Also, he’s hitting the ball on the ground more often and pulling fewer fly balls. His walk rate has risen a bit, but overall this hot start can largely be attributed to solid batted ball luck.

Nevertheless, an every day player on an offense that’s due to improve that’s eligible at this many spots who’s hot right now needs to be more widely rostered.

Stephen Kolek, RP Padres

(2% Rostered on Yahoo)

This one is for the deep league folks. More so, the very deep league folks.

Kolek was a Rule-5 pick by the Padres ahead of last season, debuted for them as a 27-year-old rookie, and spent the whole year in their bullpen.

In fact, he’d been a reliever for the bulk of his professional career with just two seasons in the minors working as a starter in 2022 and 2019.

Yet, the Padres indicated they wanted to move him to the rotation during spring training. His 5.21 ERA and 18.5% strikeout rate out of the bullpen didn’t scream potential starter, but he had a deep repertoire led by a nasty sinker with some outlier traits. The vision was there.

Once again, his 6.38 ERA and 18.0% strikeout rate starting at Triple-A this season didn’t demand promotion. The Padres desperately needed another arm though and gave him the call this past Sunday.

And it was a great debut! He pitched 5 1/3 innings, didn’t allow a run, and struck out four batters.

The Pirates struggled to square up his deep arsenal as he threw five different pitches at least 10% of the time and pounded the bottom of the zone with sinkers to force nine ground balls on 14 total balls in play.

His command was excellent and his velocity held strong around 94-95 mph throughout. That’s someone that looks like they can stick in a rotation for the foreseeable future. It’s an added bonus that he’s eligible as a relief pitcher in most formats, which can represent a bit of a cheat code in your lineups to get starting pitcher points from a relief slot.

Finding more swing-and-miss can elevate him to mixed league relevance in time.

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Mets at Diamondbacks Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 6

It's Tuesday, May 6, and the Mets (23-13) are in Phoenix to take on the Diamondbacks (18-17). David Peterson is slated to take the mound for New York against Zac Gallen for Arizona.

New York took Game 1 in the series, 5-4, surviving three eighth-run innings from Arizona to hold on. Both teams recorded eight hits yesterday with three different Diamonbacks having multi-hit games.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Mets at Diamondbacks

  • Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
  • Time: 9:40 PM EST
  • Site: Chase Field
  • City: Phoenix, AZ
  • Network/Streaming: SNY, ARID, MLBN

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

Odds for the Mets at the Diamondbacks

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Mets (-104), Diamondbacks (-115)
  • Spread:  Diamondbacks 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mets at Diamondbacks

  • Pitching matchup for May 6, 2025: David Peterson vs. Zac Gallen
    • Mets: David Peterson, (2-1, 3.06 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
    • Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen, (2-4, 4.93 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Mets and the Diamondbacks

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s game between the Mets and the Diamondbacks:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Mets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Mets at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Mets at Diamondbacks

  • Betting the Mets on the Money Line in all games this season would have shown a 106% return on investment
  • In his last 5 home starts on the mound the Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen has an ERA of 5.36
  • The Mets are 6-5 on the ML in Game 2's this season

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

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

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

Bakersfield Condors Forward Roby Jarventie Signs With Tappara In Liiga

© Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Bakersfield Condors forward Roby Jarventie has signed a three-year contract with Tappara Tampere in Finland's Liiga, the team announced.

Jarventie only appeared in two games for the Condors this season, recording two assists in a November game before being forced to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

The 22-year-old was acquired by the Edmonton Oilers in a trade with the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson in July 2024. He was set to be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

A second round selection of the Senators in 2020, Jarventie recorded 38 goals and 88 points in 138 career AHL games. 

The Tampere, Fin., native recorded one assist in seven career NHL games, all with Ottawa. 

Jarventie led Liiga in goals by a rookie in 2020-21 while a member of Ilves. He represented Finland twice at the World Junior Championship, capturing a silver medal in 2022.

Roby will have the opportunity to play with his brother Emil who is under contract with Tappara next season. Emil was a seventh round selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.  Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.   

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Phillies at Rays prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 6

It's Tuesday, May 6, and the Phillies (19-15) are in Tampa to take on the Rays (16-18). Zack Wheeler is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against Drew Rasmussen for Tampa Bay.

Philadelphia and Tampa Bay both had off days on Monday and are coming off winning series as they prepared for this three-game series. The Phillies have won six of the past eight games, while the Rays have won the last two.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Phillies at Rays

  • Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
  • Time: 7:05 PM EST
  • Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
  • City: Tampa, FL
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSP, FDSNSUN

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

Odds for the Phillies at the Rays

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Phillies (-124), Rays (+104)
  • Spread:  Phillies -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Rays

  • Pitching matchup for May 6, 2025: Zack Wheeler vs. Drew Rasmussen
    • Phillies: Zack Wheeler, (2-1, 3.48 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.2 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Rays: Drew Rasmussen, (1-2, 2.64 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 3 Strikeouts

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

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s game between the Phillies and the Rays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Tampa Bay Rays at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Phillies at Rays

  • The Phillies are on a 3-game win streak at the Rays
  • The Under is 7-3 in the Rays' last 10 games
  • The Phillies have covered the Run Line in 3 straight games at the Rays

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

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

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