Marcus Harris has heaped further pressure on Australian opener Sam Konstas ahead of the World Test Championship final by cracking another century for Lancashire in the County Championship.
Mets DH Jesse Winker expected to miss 6-8 weeks with a Grade 2 oblique injury
PHOENIX — New York Mets designated hitter Jesse Winker is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a Grade 2 oblique strain, manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed on Monday.
Mendoza also said reliever A.J. Minter will have season-ending surgery next Monday because of a torn lat muscle. Minter had a 1.64 ERA in 13 appearances this season.
Infielder Brett Baty will take Winker's spot on the big league roster after being called up from Triple-A Syracuse.
Winker left the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals because of right side discomfort. He got hurt making a throw to the plate in the third inning during his first start of the season in left field after getting nearly all his playing time this year in a DH platoon with Starling Marte.
The 25-year-old Baty hit .204 with one homer and four RBIs for the Mets earlier this season.
“The fact that he can play some second base, obviously can play third, lefty bat," Mendoza said. “He allows me to rotate the DH a little more.”
The 31-year-old Winker, a left-handed hitter, is batting .239 with one homer and 10 RBIs this season.
Cubs put lefty Shota Imanaga on injured list after he got hurt going to cover first base
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs placed Shota Imanaga on the 15-day injured list on Monday in another blow to an already depleted rotation for the NL Central leaders.
Imanaga, 31, strained his left hamstring when he went to cover first base in the sixth inning of Sunday's 4-0 loss at Milwaukee. The Japanese left-hander has been one of the team's most reliable starters since he signed a $53 million, four-year contract with Chicago in January 2024.
Imanaga had some imaging done, and he was slated to meet with team physician Dr. Stephen Gryzlo on Monday night.
“He feels pretty good today. ... But I think we got to let the doctor look at him and let the imaging kind of guide us here," manager Craig Counsell said.
Right-hander Gavin Hollowell was recalled from Triple-A Iowa before the opener of a three-game series against San Francisco. Hollowell, 27, threw two scoreless innings in his season debut with the Cubs on April 22.
Imanaga's injury creates another hole in Chicago's rotation. Left-hander Justin Steele is out for the season with an elbow injury, and right-hander Javier Assad has an oblique issue.
Imanaga pitched five-plus innings in his previous start at Pittsburgh before departing because of leg cramps. He is 3-2 with a 2.82 ERA in eight starts.
“You’re always building depth and you’re always dealing with injuries,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “You always hope it’s not one of your best players, best pitchers, but that’s what happens. Hopefully we can figure out when we can get him back and get him back healthy. But we just got to step up. No one’s going to pause for us.”
Imanaga got hurt while covering first on a potential double play against the Brewers. He was in clear discomfort as he headed toward the bag. After the runner beat the throw to first, the pitcher grabbed the back of his left leg.
Imanaga said he had never had this kind of injury before.
“I think that’s the challenge is, with guys that have done those injuries before, they usually give you a better sense of how it feels compared to other times,” Hoyer said. “And he says he’s never been through this so a little bit of something new. But we'll have to figure it out.”
The Cubs have some options when it comes to replacing Imanaga in the rotation, along with some flexibility because of their upcoming schedule. They are off Thursday each of the next four weeks.
Cade Horton, one of their top prospects, is 2-1 with a 1.24 ERA in six starts for Iowa. The right-hander pitched six innings of one-run ball against Buffalo on Sunday.
The Cubs also have veteran right-hander Chris Flexen, who has 110 career starts in the majors.
Imanaga's slot in the rotation comes up again on Saturday at the New York Mets.
“I think we have options of how we decide to do that day,” Counsell said.
Imanaga went 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 29 starts last year, striking out 174 in 173 1/3 innings. He made the NL All-Star team and finished fourth in balloting for the NL Rookie of the Year.
Yankees' bullpen lets late lead slip away in series opening 4-3 loss to Padres
NEW YORK (AP) — Manny Machado hit a two-run double and Xander Bogaerts followed with a two-run single in an eighth-inning comeback against Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, and the San Diego Padres rallied past the New York Yankees 4-3 on a soggy Monday night for their sixth straight win.
Carlos Rodón allowed three hits in 6 2/3 scoreless innings, leaving with a 3-0 lead.
San Diego loaded the bases with two walks and a hit off Williams, who had three hitless outings after being dropped as closer but faltered in his fourth. Weaver (0-1) gave up two-out hits to Machado and Bogaerts as the Yankees lost their third game in a row.
Padres manager Mike Shildt and Fernando Tatis Jr. were ejected during the rally by plate umpire Adrian Johnson. Tatis said something when he struck out swinging, a pitch after a called second strike at the bottom of the zone. Tossed for the 15th time in his managerial career, Shildt threw his lineup card and glasses while arguing.
Ryan Bergert (1-0) earned his first major league win with a hitless seventh and Robert Suarez struck out two in a perfect ninth for his major league-high 14th save.
The game started 28 minutes late because of rain and was interrupted by another 28-minute delay with two outs in the bottom of the fourth.
Trent Grisham matched his 2024 total with his ninth home run, a two-run drive in the third off Padres starter Nick Pivetta and Anthony Volpe hit a sacrifice fly for the Yankees after missing one game because of a left shoulder injury.
Cleanup hitters were 0 for 17 with six strikeouts against Pivetta this year before Paul Goldschmidt’s sixth-inning single.
Aaron Judge walked in the first, extending his on-base streak to 31 games. He went 0 for 3, ending a 14-game hitting streak that matched his career high and dropping his big league-leading batting average to .414.
Key moment
Weaver had not allowed a run in 13 previous outings this year when he entered.
Key stat
Rodón and Max Fried have combined to go 10-3 with a 2.03 ERA while other Yankees starters are 3-6 with a 6.02 ERA.
Up next
Padres RHP Michael King (4-1) starts Tuesday against his former team, and Clarke Schmidt (0-1) goes for New York.
The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Join The Discussion As Maple Leafs Beat Panthers
Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.
After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions.
On tonight's show, Katie Gaus and Michael Augello react to the Toronto Maple Leafs holding off the Florida Panthers 5-4 in Game 1 of their second-round series.
Although the Panthers got close to coming back, Toronto hung on. But much of the focus will be on the status of goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who had to leave Monday's game.
They also react to the NHL draft lottery results.
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Game 1 - Playoff Frenzy | The Hockey NewsJoin in to Playoff Frenzy Live presented by The Hockey News and Stix.com, where we recap all of the biggest action from every night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Share your thoughts in the comments, and the hosts may discuss your message during the stream.
Comeback effort falls short as Panthers struggle early in Game 1 loss to Toronto
The Florida Panthers will have to come from behind if they’re going to advance past the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Florida looked out of sorts for much of the night, falling behind early and struggling to recover as they dropped Game 1 of the second round to the Maple Leafs by a final score of 5-4.
It was a fast start for the home team, with the Leafs tickling the twine on the game’s first shift.
William Nylander beat Sergei Bobrovsky from a sharp angle after bringing the puck down the right boards, giving Toronto a 1-0 lead just 33 seconds into the game.
Nylander struck again with just over seven minutes left in the period, jumping on an Oliver Ekman-Larsson rebound and beating Bobrovsky over the glove.
Seth Jones broke the ice for the Panthers late in the first period with Florida on the power play, firing a wrist shot over Anthony Stolarz blocker through a nice screen from Sam Reinhart.
Unfortunately for Florida, they’d allow Toronto a high-end chance immediately afterwards, and Morgan Reilly beat Bobrovsky by the blocker while on an odd-man rush to reclaim the two-goal lead just 19 seconds after Jones’ goal.
After just eight shots on Bobrovsky, the Leafs had three goals.
Toronto expanded their lead again on another goal from one of their blueliners.
This time it was Chris Tanev sending a wrist shot that bounced before beating Bobrovsky to give the Maple Leafs a 4-1 lead.
Not long after, goaltender Joseph Woll came into the game and replaced Stolarz, who had taken a hit to the head from Sam Bennett earlier in the period.
Florida came out looking much more aggressive during the third period, and they were rewarded with a couple of quick goals.
First it was Eetu Luostarinen deflecting an Anton Lundell shot past Woll just 99 seconds into the final frame, then with the Lundell line back on the ice less than three minutes later, Uvis Balinskis walked the puck down from the point and wired a shot over Woll’s glove.
Just like that, the Panthers were right back in the game with plenty of time to go.
A bad line change cost the Cats dearly as Matthew Knies went in all alone on Bobrovsky and beat him with a backhand over the glove to restore the Leafs’ two-goal lead.
With Bobrovsky on the bench, Sam Bennett scored from the bottom of the left circle, shooting a wrist shot that went off defenseman Brandon Carlo’s stick and over Woll’s right shoulder to cut the lead back to one with 1:55 to go.
That would be as close as it would get.
Florida certainly has a lot they’ll wait to clean up before Wednesday night.
On to Game 2.
QUICK THOUGHTS
Jones has goals in two of his past three games.
Brad Marchand has recorded two assists in back-to-back games and is now averaging a point per game during the playoffs.
Matthew Tkachuk picked up an assist, his sixth point in six postseason games.
Carter Verhaeghe has points in three straight games after picking up an assist on Jones’ PPG.
Also with a three-game point streak is Lundell, who has six points during the run.
Just like his buddy Lundy, Luostarinen has points in three straight games, and six points during his streak, as well.
Florida’s penalty kill, fresh off an impressive series against Tampa Bay, went a perfect 5-for-5 in Game 1.
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Guardians at Nationals prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, and trends for May 6 – Game 2
Game 2 of Washington's series against Cleveland is Tuesday night in our nation's capital. It is the second game of a Tuesday doubleheader following Monday's rainout.
Ben Lively is slated to take the mound in the nightcap for Cleveland against Brad Lord for Washington.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Guardians at Nationals
- Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
- Time: 7:30PM EST
- Site: Nationals Park
- City: Washington, DC
- Network/Streaming: CLEG, MASN2
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 Guardians at the Nationals
The latest odds as of Monday:
- Moneyline: Guardians (-115), Nationals (-105)
- Spread: Guardians -1.5
- Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Guardians at Nationals - Game 2
- Pitching matchup for May 6, 2025: Ben Lively vs. Brad Lord
- Guardians: Ben Lively (1-2, 3.72 ERA)
Last outing: 5/1 vs. Minnesota - - Nationals: Brad Lord (1-3, 4.43 ERA)
Last outing: 5/1 at Philadelphia - 5IP, 2ER, 6H, 1BB, 4Ks
- Guardians: Ben Lively (1-2, 3.72 ERA)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Guardians at Nationals - Game 2
- Washington opened the series 18-17 on the Run Line this season
- Washington has won 3 of their last 4
- The UNDER has cashed in 3 of the Nationals' last 4 games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for Tuesday’s Game 2 between the Guardians and the Nationals
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
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 1 between the Guardians and the Nationals:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cleveland Guardians on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cleveland Guardians -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
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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Nashville Predators to Pick at No. 5 in 2024 NHL Draft Order
The ping-pong balls did not fall in the favor of the Nashville Predators, who ended up with the No. 5 overall pick in Monday's NHL Draft Lottery.
The Predators, who finished the regular season ranked 30th out of the 32 NHL teams, got their lowest possible position in the Draft Lottery at No. 5. The New York Islanders, who had a 3.5% chance to win the No. 1 pick, beat the odds and landed in the top spot in the first draw.
In the draw for No. 2 overall, Utah Hockey Club jumped from the No. 14 slot to take the No. 4 pick. Since no team can jump more than 10 spots, the San Jose Sharks get the No. 2 pick, and the Chicago Blackhawks get No. 3.
The No. 5 selection in this year's draft will give the Predators their highest draft pick since they selected Scottie Upshall at No. 6 overall in 2002.
Beyond the No. 5 pick, Nashville has two additional first-round picks in the 2025 draft. The Predators own the Tampa Bay Lightning's first-round pick, which is expected to be between No. 22 and No. 26 overall, as well as the Vegas Golden Knights' first-round pick. Tampa's first-rounder was acquired in the Tanner Jeannot trade in 2023, while Vegas' came courtesy of the San Jose Sharks in the Yaroslav Askarov trade in August.
The Predators have 10 picks in the 2025 draft, including three in the first round, and two in each of the second and sixth rounds.
The full order for the top 16 NHL Draft selections in 2025 is as follows:
- New York Islanders
- San Jose Sharks
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Utah Hockey Club
- Nashville Predators
- Philadelophia Flyers
- Boston Bruins
- Seattle Kraken
- Buffalo Sabres
- Anaheim Ducks
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- New York Rangers
- Detroit Red Wings
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Vancouver Canucks
- Montreal Canadiens
The 2025 NHL Draft will take place from June 27-28 at L.A. Live's Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
More Nashville Predators content from The Hockey News
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Nashville Predators Draft Odds: NHL Announces Lottery Details
Top Nashville Predators Prospect Joins AHL Affiliate as Postseason Looms
Nashville Predators Assign Two Players to AHL Milwaukee for Calder Cup Playoff Push
WATCH: Nashville Predators' Juuse Saros Reflects on 2024-25 Season
Nashville Predators Sign Defenseman Andreas Englund to One-Year Contract
Knicks complete 20-point comeback in Game 1 OT win over Celtics
The Knicks trailed by 20 points in the third quarter, but mounted a huge comeback to force OT and steal Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics, 108-105, on Monday night.
It's their first win against the Celtics all season.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Josh Hart got the Knicks going early, taking advantage of the matchup against Kristaps Porzingis and driving to the basket for two quick buckets. Foul trouble quickly became an issue for Tom Thibodeau's group, with Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns being forced to the bench just five minutes into the game. Jayson Tatum scored 13 straight points to swing the momentum back to Boston, while OG Anunoby hit back-to-back threes to keep things close.
Towns re-entered the game with about two minutes left in the first and scored right away. Just like the Detroit Pistons did in the first round, Boston targeted Mitchell Robinson and forced him to shoot free throws as he missed both and Payton Pritchard capitalized with a three-pointer. The Celtics held onto a 26-25 lead after the first quarter, despite shooting 29.2 percent (7-for-24) from the field vs. the Knicks' 47.4 percent (9-for-19). They held an 11-8 FTA advantage and outrebounded the Knicks 17-14. Miles McBride made two threes off of the bench to help New York stay in it.
-- Towns stayed hot and made two straight jumpers to open the second quarter, giving him 10 points already. Towns picked up his third foul and Boston began to take control of the game, going on a 15-5 run to build an eight-point lead. The "hack-a-Shaq" approach against Robinson continued, slowing down the Knicks' fastbreak offense.
Precious Achiuwa then replaced Robinson, playing for the first time all playoffs, and helped Hart grab an offensive rebound that lead to a much-needed Jalen Brunson three-pointer. That would be the last good possession of the half for New York, as Boston closed on a 13-3 run and took a commanding 61-45 lead at the half. The Celtics upped their shooting to 41.7 percent with Tatum (13 points), Jaylen Brown (14 points), and Pritchard (13 points) leading the way. Towns still had the 10 points at the break for the Knicks, while Brunson had just nine points on 3-for-9 shooting.
-- Things continued to go Boston's way in the third quarter as two Derrick White three-pointers and an Al Horford dunk gave them their biggest lead of the night, 72-52. Towns also picked up his fourth foul on an offensive charge, sending him back to the bench.
But the Knicks didn't give up, going on a 9-0 thanks to two Anunoby threes. A Brunson three with about a minute left in the third quarter cut the Celtics' lead to eight, but a Horford three before the buzzer made it a 84-75 game heading into the fourth. The Knicks won the third quarter 30-23 with Towns on the bench for half of it as Anunoby had 12 points and Brunson had nine.
-- McBride opened the fourth quarter with his third three-pointer and KAT grabbed an offensive board and scored to make it a four-point game. Anunoby stole it from Tatum and went the length of the court for a game-tying dunk. Jrue Holiday made his second three-pointer of the night to go up 89-86 and force a Thibodeau timeout with 6:24 remaining. Brunson tied the game for the ninth and tenth times of the game before giving them a 94-91 lead -- their first since early in the second quarter (33-31). He then hit another three while guarded by Horford, taking advantage of the mismatch on the perimeter.
White and Anunoby traded threes and Holiday tied the game at 100-100 with a layup. Anunoby and Tatum missed go-ahead buckets, giving the Knicks a chance with 5.1 seconds remaining. Brunson inbounded to Towns, who found the star guard on the backdoor cut, but he missed the game-winning floater. NY won the fourth 25-16 to force OT.
-- Mikal Bridges came up with a huge steal in OT, leading to an Anunoby and-one dunk and then hit a three of his own to go up 106-100. It was just his second three-pointer on a tough shooting night. Towns fouled Brown on the floor with three seconds left and Bridges wrestled for the ball with Brown as time expired to complete the comeback and steal Game 1 on the road.
-- The Celtics missed an NBA playoff record 45 three-pointers.
Who was the game MVP?
Anunoby, who took over in the second half and helped lead the comeback. He finished with 29 points on 10-for-20 shooting, including 6-for-11 from three, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Highlights
WHAT A MOVE BY JOSH HART ON KRISTAPS PORZINGIS pic.twitter.com/hAZF1Quyct
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 5, 2025
Deuce from the corner 🎯
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 5, 2025
(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/1D8Kf7FFXv
JOSH HART HUSTLE ⚡️
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 6, 2025
(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/tp5G7h103o
Jalen Brunson hits the floater 👀
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 6, 2025
(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/rUVuHBr16j
JALEN BRUNSON FOR THREE
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 6, 2025
(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/nkugCui5hL
HERE COME THE KNICKS! pic.twitter.com/sJGUX9kOzB
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 6, 2025
ANOTHER OG THREE!
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 6, 2025
(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/eYdkOySbs4
OG THROWS IT DOWN! 💪 pic.twitter.com/h2gxl7Gb7Q
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 6, 2025
OG AND ONE pic.twitter.com/9JJqPMDcMg
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 6, 2025
What's next
The Knicks and Celtics will play Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Hyeseong Kim shares joyful moment to remember with Shohei Ohtani in Dodgers' win
The Dodgers’ biggest player waited for their smallest one in the visiting dugout at LoanDepot Park on Monday night.
There, in a moment of joy captured by television broadcast cameras, the two shared a celebratory mid-game embrace.
Like many Asian-born players of his generation, Hyeseong Kim has long looked up to Shohei Ohtani. At first it was from afar, Kim following the Japanese superstar closely while beginning his own career in the Korean Baseball Organization. Then, this winter, the pair became coincidental training partners, occasionally working out at the same Southern California facility together as Kim (who, like Ohtani, is represented by Creative Artists Agency) prepared for his own move to the major leagues.
Kim ultimately signed with the Dodgers, even though the speedy 5-foot-10 infielder likely could have secured more money and regular playing time elsewhere. One of the main appeals was the opportunity to play alongside Ohtani and the club’s collection of other big-name talent.
Read more:‘Couldn’t deliver.’ How Dodgers’ lacking lineup depth was exposed in loss to Braves
In the Dodgers’ 7-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Monday, Kim finally got that chance, sharing a starting lineup with Ohtani for the first time since being called up to the big leagues last week.
And during the top of the fifth inning, the two co-starred in a sequence that put the game out of reach — Kim collecting his first MLB hit on a leadoff single, before Ohtani launched a home run that made the score 5-0.
After Ohtani rounded the bases, Kim was the first to greet him, sharing a high-five near the on-deck circle. Back in the dugout, it was Ohtani’s turn to return the favor, putting his hands on his new teammate’s helmet while cracking a wide smile and jumping up and down.
"Even [though] he hit his home run, he celebrated for me, he gave me congratulations,” Kim said through interpreter Joe Lee, after going two for four with a stolen base. “It was a great honor."
"Just an amazing performance by Kim,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, Will Ireton. “Really good, just overall."
The Dodgers (24-11) had plenty of other contributors Monday, en route to winning their seventh game in the last eight.
They got two hits each from Freddie Freeman (including a third-inning home run, the 350th of his career), Mookie Betts (his fifth multi-hit game out of the last six), Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández (who left the game early with left hamstring tightness).
They got four solid innings of bulk relief from Ben Casparius, the rookie right-hander who has been stretched out to compensate for the Dodgers' recent rotation injuries.
Even badly slumping outfielder Michael Conforto got in on the action, breaking a 30 at-bat hitless streak with a badly needed single in the sixth.
But all of it paled in comparison to Kim’s breakout performance. He got his first two career hits, his first career RBI and, most memorably, a brief but gleeful moment of recognition from the best player in the game.
"I would say I'm still not comfortable with him, because he's a big star,” Kim said of Ohtani with a laugh. “But he always asks questions, always talks to me. So that makes for a good adjustment and adapting."
Kim has had to do much adapting since signing his three-year, $12.5-million contract with the Dodgers in January. While the 26-year-old already possessed game-changing speed, and what other teammates described as potential Gold Glove-caliber defensive abilities, the transition to the high-velocity pitching he would face in the majors required a total overhaul of his swing.
Read more:Dodgers giving Korean rookie Hyeseong Kim every chance to succeed
The early results weren’t pretty. Kim looked overmatched at the plate while going six for 29 in Cactus League play. He didn’t make the cut for the Dodgers’ opening trip to Japan, and was sent to triple-A Oklahoma City for the start of the regular season.
But over the last month, Kim made quick progress with his mechanics. He added more pop by better incorporating his powerful lower half. He maintained his pre-existing contact ability (Kim was a .308 hitter during eight seasons in the KBO) while also hitting the ball with more consistent authority.
“He just used to pop up out of the ground [on each swing], so he couldn’t use the strength that he had,” co-hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc said. “That was a big thing, but also just getting the overall swing more functional.”
Kim’s strides were significant enough that, when Tommy Edman went on the injured list with an ankle injury last week, the Dodgers felt comfortable summoning him for his first call-up.
Originally, the plan was to keep him around for a week, let him “cut his teeth,” as Roberts put it, in an MLB environment, then send him back to triple A to continue his development.
Read more:'Big brother, little brother.' How Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages bond is helping Dodgers
But given the way Monday went, circumstances might be changing.
“For him to come in here, throw out a knock, get a couple hits, play good defense, it was just really exciting,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He just adds that spark to our ballclub.”
Drawn into the starting lineup to face Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara, a former Cy Young Award winner working his way back from a Tommy John surgery, Kim flashed all the tools that made him a coveted international free agent this winter.
He went the other way on both of his hits, following up his line drive in the fifth inning with a bloop RBI single in the sixth.
He stole his second base in as many nights, scampering to second two pitches before Ohtani went deep.
He also made what should have been a web gem, charging to field a slow-rolling grounder in the eighth inning before flipping a highlight-reel toss with his glove that Freeman dropped for an error at first base.
“He could be a nice little weapon,” Freeman said postgame, an impressed look on his face.
Hernández’s injury, which he suffered while making a running catch in the gap in the third inning, could pave the way for Kim to get a more extended stay in the big leagues. Hernández is scheduled for an MRI scan on Tuesday, but the Dodgers were already planning to fly another player to Miami in case he requires an IL stint.
In the meantime, Kim is expected to get a second consecutive start Tuesday. It could come in center field, a position he played regularly during his time in Oklahoma City to expand his versatility.
“Honestly, I just think everyone loves Hyeseong,” Roberts said. “Everyone’s pulling for him."
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Mets Notes: Brett Baty’s role in return to big leagues, DH rotation ‘fluid’ with Jesse Winker sidelined
The Mets officially received some tough news on Monday, as Jesse Winker is expected to be sidelined for 6-to-8 weeks after suffering a Grade 2 oblique strain he suffered during Sunday’s doubleheader against the Cardinals.
Winker was playing the field for the first time this season in Game 1 of the double dip, and he suffered the injury making a throw home trying to stop Nolan Arenado from scoring on a sacrifice fly.
“Obliques are tricky, we’ll feel it here,” Carlos Mendoza said Monday.
One area they’ll particularly feel it is in their designated hitter rotation -- where Winker has filled a little bit more than half of the at-bats thus far this season as part of a platoon with veteran Starling Marte.
Marte is expected to take on more playing time in his absence -- and he is in the lineup against the righty for Monday’s series opener in Arizona, but the skipper says the DH rotation will be fluid moving forward.
“We have options,” he said. “Marte will see time, but we have to take care of him too. [Mark] Vientos, [Brandon] Nimmo, some of those guys will some reps there as a DH -- there’s a lot of different ways I can go there.”
Another option set to rejoin the roster with Winker’s injury is Brett Baty, as first reported by SNY's Andy Martino.
Baty turned things around following a brutal start to the season -- hitting .333 with a .429 OBP over his last seven big-league games, but he was sent back down to Triple-A due to a roster crunch following Jeff McNeil’s return.
The youngster missed the last couple games with Syracuse due to a toe injury, but he was able to go through a full workout each of the past two days and Mendoza expects him to be a player off the bench starting Monday.
His role this time around will be similar to earlier this year.
“It definitely helps having him back,” the skipper said. “He can play some second, some third, another lefty bat for us. That allows me to move some guys around not only when I’m writing out the lineup, but when we’re making in game moves as well.”
Flyers Mock Draft 2.0: NHL Draft Lottery Nightmare Realized
The Philadelphia Flyers are confirmed to hold the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft following Monday's draft lottery results. In other words, this was the worst-case scenario for the Flyers.
Before the draft lottery, Philadelphia had a 9.5% chance of picking either first or second, but those picks now belong to the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks, respectively.
The Isles moved up nine spots to win the lottery, and to make matters worse, the Utah Hockey Club jumped the Flyers, moving up 10 spots to receive the No. 4 overall pick.
So, by the end of it all, the Flyers ended up with the sixth pick, despite having the highest odds for the fifth pick and finishing with the fourth-worst record in the NHL.
While this outcome is invariably going to sting in the moment for Flyers fans, there are still plenty of prospects worth discussing. The following mock draft is my gut feeling for the top-six teams at the moment, followed by my reasoning for the Flyers' draft selection post-draft lottery.
Flyers Mock Draft 2.0
1. New York Islanders: James Hagens, C, Boston College
2. San Jose Sharks: Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie Otters
3. Chicago Blackhawks: Michael Misa, F, Saginaw Spirit
4. Utah Hockey Club: Porter Martone, W, Brampton Steelheads
5. Nashville Predators: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats
With the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select...
Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford Bulldogs
I think most Flyers fans would like to see with the Orange and Black go with Anton Frondell here, but I'm not nearly as high on Frondell as some are.
In my mock draft 1.0, I selected Frondell, who has an elite shot and can be a bully along the walls, at pick five, but there's a growing concern about his true position at the next level. Plus, he's not great in transition, and the Flyers desperately need strong puck transporters.
Are the Flyers the team that can unlock Frondell's potential and find his best position? Given their recent draft and development history, I wouldn't bet on that.
Someone I would bet on, though, is Brantford's Jake O'Brien.
Not to conjure up some old memories, but O'Brien is far better than former draft bust Jay O'Brien was. Not to worry, friends.
O'Brien, 17, has the build of a prototypical center at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds. Like most young athletes his age, he'll need time to physically mature and fill out his frame.
The Toronto, Ontario, native is a playmaker in the purest sense, finishing second (66) to only Michael Misa (72) in assists amongst OHL draft-eligible skaters this season.
I watched more of Jake O'Brien recently and wow, was I ever impressed.
— Ben Misfeldt 🇨🇦 (@BBMHockey) March 14, 2025
High IQ player with advanced playmaking ability. Has so many tools. Just hasn't quite put it all together.
He will go top-10 in June. Here are some playmaking clips from his last 10 GP (#44).#2025NHLDraftpic.twitter.com/yHTbQMAKyY
Additionally, O'Brien, with his 98 points, was a distant second to Misa (134) in overall scoring, but he was notably level with Porter Martone, albeit while appearing in nine more games.
The drop off between a Martone and an O'Brien might feel or seem significant based on the differing media coverage between the two, and while Martone is certainly the better prospect, O'Brien absolutely deserves his flowers, too.
In this scenario, Caleb Desnoyers goes earlier than anticipated with Nashville opting to draft for need, which leaves the Flyers with question marks at the center position in Frondell and Roger McQueen.
I like O'Brien better than all three of them, plus he's ranked seventh on Bob McKenzie's latest rankings, which are largely based on industry consensus.
While McKenzie's scouts around the NHL like Frondell and Desnoyers a bit more than O'Brien, the latter is more the Flyers' speed.
O'Brien is an expert manipulator when he's on the puck, and he's sneaky-good defensively, too. A responsible player all around who can be a handful to contain when paired with equally opportunistic players, like a Matvei Michkov or an Alex Bump.
He's a pass-first player, so he'll have to develop his shot and mentality as he goes along. When O'Brien adds some mass and if he adds an extra gear of speed to his game, he could really become a menace.
St. Louis Blues star Robert Thomas was the 20th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and while it took him some time to hit his stride, he would be the No. 1 center on a number of aspiring contenders.
Thomas, 25, is a little shorter and bulkier than O'Brien at 6-foot, 190 pounds, but they play a very similar game. Both centers are smart, instinctive, creative, responsible, and not afraid to engage physically when necessary.
And, Thomas, of course, now has back-to-back 80-point seasons under his belt, on top of his 77-point 2021-22 season.
Not every good center in the NHL was a No. 1 pick. Whether it's O'Brien or another player they draft, the onus is on the Flyers to develop the kid they draft into his best self.
O'Brien, with his size and skillset, could very well be the talisman they crave if all goes according to plan.
‘Remain respectful’: Willie Rioli escapes sanction for message to Bulldogs player Bailey Dale
- Port Adelaide forward apologises after message for Bailey Dale
- AFL gives warning but will not take further action against Rioli
Willie Rioli has apologised for a threatening private message sent to a Western Bulldogs player that caused a stir and was referred to the AFL.
No further action will be taken by the league after the Port Adelaide forward contacted a teammate of Bulldogs opponent Bailey Dale.
Continue reading...2025 NHL Lottery Mock Draft: Where Schaefer, Misa, Hagens And More Could Fall
The NHL draft lottery went live this year, and the drama was real, with the New York Islanders moving all the way to No. 1 once the balls were read out.
The Utah Hockey Club won the second draw, so they moved up from 14th overall to fourth.
So let's get to the fun part and mock draft the first 16 picks of the 2025 NHL draft, shall we?
1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL): The Islanders could honestly use high-end help at any position for the future, so let's just go with the best player available here. Schaefer is a game-changing defenseman who can do it all, and while he missed most of the season due to injury, it won't take him long to get into an NHL uniform on Long Island.
2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL):The Sharks could probably use a D-man more at this point, but with a pick this high, only a forward would be prudent based on this class. Misa is an incredibly skilled and competitive center who would make for a daunting one-two punch down the middle with Macklin Celebrini. With Will Smith there too, the Sharks have the option of putting one of them on the wing.
3. Chicago Blackhawks: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL): Connor Bedard needs help and Martone could be his Tom Wilson or Matthew Tkachuk. Martone has plenty of skill, but he's also big and mean. The Hawks have the luxury of already having Bedard and Frank Nazar at center, but they could use a power forward.
4. Utah Hockey Club: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden (Swe.): GM Bill Armstrong likes his players big, though Utah could use more size up front. Frondell gets the nod here over James Hagens because he's bigger and stronger. On his own merits, Frondell also has a wicked shot and has proved he can handle himself against men, helping Djurgarden get promoted to the Swedish League recently.
5. Nashville Predators: James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA): A bit of a gift here for the Predators, as Hagens brings excellent skill and perhaps the best hockey IQ in the draft class. He's in a great situation at Boston College and should probably stick there another year to get stronger, but Hagens is the type of elite talent Nashville needs.
6. Philadelphia Flyers: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL): Desnoyers would be loved by Flyers fans: He brings skill, leadership and a 200-foot game that doesn't have any holes in it. He's a strong kid playing on one of the best junior teams in Canada and he absolutely racked up the points for Moncton this season.
7. Boston Bruins: Viktor Eklund, RW, Djurgarden (Swe.): If you're going to play for the Bruins, you have to work and Eklund will do that. Eklund plays much bigger than his frame and has an unceasing motor, on top of enough skill to get him onto Sweden's world junior team this past winter. He also helped Djurgarden's pro team get promoted to the SHL.
8. Seattle Kraken: Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City (WHL): Coming off a scintillating world under-18s with gold-medal Canada, Smith brings a little bit of everything to a Kraken pipeline that is still growing. He's a great skater with size and physicality and the offensive potential was really on display at the World Men's Under-18s.
New York Islanders Win NHL Draft Lottery: Who Should They Pick First Overall?The NHL draft lottery was broadcast live for all to see, and the balls fell in the New York Islanders’ favor.
9. Buffalo Sabres: Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie (OHL):Sabres fans need a reason to cheer and Aitcheson will lift them out of the seats one way or another. He put up a bunch of points from the blueline this year, but his trademarks come in his own end, where the Colts D-man is a physically punishing intimidator who has no problem dropping the gloves.
10. Anaheim Ducks: Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL): With so many young players already in the lineup, the Ducks can think more long-term here. McQueen missed much of the season due to injury and scouts worry about his back, but Anaheim can be patient. If he turns out, he's a 6-foot-5 center who can shoot the puck and has top-five skill in the draft class.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford (OHL): The Penguins need a center of the future and O'Brien is a whip-smart pivot who can play in all three zones and produce offense at an elite clip. Get him in the same dressing room as Sidney Crosby in a year or two and you've got a perfect mentorship situation.
12. New York Rangers: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): For a team in need of a culture refresh, Martin would be a great future building block. He's a farm-boy strong center who dazzled at the World Under-18s for Canada and played great for a Soo team that didn't have much else. Great skater who competes and plays the right way.
13. Detroit Red Wings: Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL): Scouts absolutely love Cootes, who has the triumvirate of skating, skill and hockey sense. He didn't have much help in Seattle, but still drove the play, contributed in all situations and got results. Another player who made a difference for Canada at the recent World Under-18s.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle (WHL): There's a lot of potential in Mrtka thanks to his big frame and length. Coming over to North America from Czechia during the season, Mrtka really found his offense as time went on and while that won't be his calling card, it's nice to know he has it in his quiver.
NHL Draft Lottery Through The Years: From McDavid And Matthews To Bedard And CelebriniThe NHL draft lottery is the most exciting time of the post-season for the clubs that missed out on a playoff spot.
15. Vancouver Canucks: Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL): While he got hurt near the end of the year, Bear showed scouts enough to have them impressed. High compete, a 200-foot game and intense as a competitor, Bear has a very coach-friendly game. The fact he can put the puck in the net regularly doesn't hurt, either.
16. Montreal Canadiens (from CGY): Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin (NCAA): The Habs have a lot of great young players in the lineup already, so we'll go with potential here. Hensler is a great skater with size and strength and while he didn't put up big numbers as a freshman, he's still pretty young. With time and patience, he could be a solid defender.
James Harden still has the support of Clippers' front office despite dismal playoffs
Clippers All-Star James Harden has been highly criticized for another dismal playoff performance against the Denver Nuggets, but he does have a supporter in the organization.
President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank views Harden as having done a “great job leading the way” while Kawhi Leonard sat out the first 34 games because of right-knee injury management and liked how the team responded to the 16-year veteran.
Frank spoke with reporters at a season-ending news conference Monday about how Harden played in 79 games this season, played the fifth-most total minutes in the NBA (2,789), was fifth in the league in assists (8.7), averaged 22.8 points per game and was the only player this season with 1,500 points, 500 assists, 100 steals and 50 blocks.
Read more:Clippers upset they failed to meet their expectations for season: 'I'm pissed off'
Frank did not mention how Harden was underwhelming in the postseason, averaging just 18.7 points per game in the series the Clippers lost to the Nuggets and how he scored just 33 points combined in Games 4, 5 and 7 losses, including seven points in Game 7.
“When it was James this year with no Kawhi, with Norm [Powell] and [Ivica] Zubac and the rest of the group, we really asked James to do a lot,” Frank said via Zoom because he was away with his family at a New York hospital because of a family medical issue.
“And at his age to deliver what he did…[He played in] 79 games, and he does that time and time and time again. We have a deep appreciation for that sort of availability and to be able to deliver and do what he did…We have a great level of appreciation for what James did this year.”
Harden has a player option for next season that pays him $36 million, and he has to let the Clippers know his decision by June 29. He can decide to opt-in, which means he can’t get an extension, or he can opt-out and work with the Clippers on an extension.
Frank said Harden, who will be 36 in August, is the team’s “first priority.”
“Now, because James has a player option, it would be irresponsible for me not to have contingency plans with it,” Frank said. “But I’m going in with the intent that if he doesn’t pick up his option, that we’re going to be able to reach an agreement that works well for James and works well for the Clippers.”
Frank was happy that Leonard was healthy following the season and that his best player has two years left on his deal for $100 million.
Powell, 31, has one year left on his contract at $20.4 million and he also will be looking for an extension. Zubac begins his three-year extension for $58.6 million next season, Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn and Bogdan Bogdanovic are all under contract and are top role players. Nicolas Batum has a player option for $4.9 million, but is expected to return.
The Clippers will look to improve their team in the draft — they have a first-round pick (29th overall) and a second-round selection. They can use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception of $14.1 million per season and they have trade exceptions of $6.5 million, $4.2 million and $2.1 million.
“Make no mistake, we want to contend in the present,” Frank said.
Read more:James Harden disappoints again as Clippers are eliminated by Nuggets in Game 7 rout
“We also will plan for the future and we’ll take the necessary steps to implement it.”
Frank said what happened in Game 7 in which the Clippers trailed by 35 points was “extremely embarrassing and also uncharacteristic” for this team. But he offered some perspective on the entire season.
The Clippers finished the season with a 50-32 record, won 18 of their last 21 regular-season games and were the fifth seed in the West.
“So, I don’t want to diminish the fact that we lost in a seven-game series,” Frank said, “and also not share the fact that [I’m] very prideful about the inspired play we had for much of the year.”
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.