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Athletics at Mariners Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for August 22

It's Friday, August 22 and the Athletics (59-70) are in Seattle to take on the Mariners (68-60). Luis Morales is slated to take the mound for Oakland against Bryan Woo for Seattle.

Seattle is riding a five-game losing streak entering this series, while the Athletics are 5-1 over the last six contests. However, the Mariners do have the upper hand with a day of rest yesterday. The two are tied at 5-5 in their 10 matchups this season.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Athletics at Mariners

  • Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: T-Mobile Park
  • City: Seattle, WA
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSCA, RSNW

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 Athletics at the Mariners

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Athletics (+185), Mariners (-225)
  • Spread:  Mariners -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Athletics at Mariners

  • Pitching matchup for August 22, 2025: Luis Morales vs. Bryan Woo
    • Athletics: Luis Morales, (1-0, 1.86 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.80 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Mariners: Bryan Woo, (10-7, 3.02 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 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 Athletics and the Mariners

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 Friday’s game between the Athletics and the Mariners:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Oakland Athletics 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 Athletics at Mariners

  • Seattle is 0-5 in the last 5 games
  • Seattle is 1-7 in the last 8 games
  • The Athletics are 5-1 in the last 6 games
  • The Athletics have a 59-70 record but are on a 3-game winning streak
  • Each of the last 3 matchups between the Mariners and the Athletics have stayed under the Total
  • The Athletics have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 3.08 units

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)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Guardians at Rangers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for August 22

It's Friday, August 22 and the Guardians (64-62) are in Arlington to take on the Rangers (63-66). Slade Cecconi is slated to take the mound for Cleveland against Nathan Eovaldi for Texas.

This is the first meeting of the season between and Cleveland has a slight advantage with a day of rest yesterday. Texas was in action on Thursday and took a 6-4 loss to Kansas City, which dropped them to 2-7 in the past nine.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Guardians at Rangers

  • Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
  • Time: 8:05PM EST
  • Site: Globe Life Field
  • City: Arlington, TX
  • Network/Streaming: CLEG, RSN

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 Rangers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Guardians (+143), Rangers (-171)
  • Spread:  Rangers -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Guardians at Rangers

  • Pitching matchup for August 22, 2025: Slade Cecconi vs. Nathan Eovaldi
    • Guardians: Slade Cecconi, (5-6, 4.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 11.57 ERA, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 10 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Rangers: Nathan Eovaldi, (11-3, 1.76 ERA)
      Last outing: 2.57 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 6 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 Guardians and the Rangers

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 Friday’s game between the Guardians and the Rangers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cleveland Guardians at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

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 Guardians at Rangers

  • Cleveland is 1-5 over the last 6 games
  • Cleveland is 3-7 over the last 10 games
  • Texas is 3-7 in the last 10 games
  • AL Central teams have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against AL West sides
  • 5 of the Rangers' last 7 games have gone over the Total with Nathan Eovaldi as the opener
  • Betting the Rangers on the Run Line with Nathan Eovaldi starting would have returned a 4.13-unit profit in 2025

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)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Sebastian Aho Ranked As NHL's 13th Best Center By NHL Network

Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho is one of the NHL's top players and heading into the 2025-26 season, he was ranked as the 13th best center currently in the league by NHL Network.

The Finnish forward has pretty much been Carolina's top player since he entered the NHL in 2016, having led the team in points in seven of his nine seasons.

Last year, Aho had a 29-goal, 74-point campaign to lead Carolina and was one goal shy of his fifth 30+ goal season.

The Finnish center is also one of the NHL's top two-way players, playing a solid and dependable two-way game.

In fact, he's also an extremely potent shorthanded threat as nobody has scored more shorthanded goals than him since he entered the league.

Aho also is second in the entire league in game-winning goals over the past three seasons and he plays a pivotal role in every situation for the Hurricanes.

Not only is he productive in the regular season, but the Finnish phenom is also nearly a point-per-game player in the postseason (84 points in 89 games) and he is the franchise's all-time leader in playoff points, goals and assists.

Players ranked ahead of Aho include:

  1. Connor McDavid
  2. Nathan MacKinnon
  3. Leon Draisaitl
  4. Aleksander Barkov
  5. Sidney Crosby
  6. Jack Eichel
  7. Auston Matthews
  8. Brayden Point
  9. Mark Scheifele
  10. Nick Suzuki
  11. Jack Hughes
  12. Robert Thomas

Recent Articles

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• How Will Carolina Divide Up The Net This Season?
• Sebastian Aho One Of Clutchest Players In NHL According To Key Stat
• Hurricanes Betting On Risky Approach To Give Them Competitive Edge
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• Projecting the Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Opening Night Roster
• Will The Carolina Hurricanes Alter Their Power Play Units?

Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes 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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Warriors reportedly have called Lakers about LeBron on ‘multiple occasions'

Warriors reportedly have called Lakers about LeBron on ‘multiple occasions' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors still appear interested in LeBron James.

The Stein Line’s NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Friday that Golden State would consider trading for the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar if the Warriors first can get Jonathan Kuminga to agree to a flexible, team-friendly two-year contract.

“Who would the Warriors potentially pursue in trades if Kuminga were to relent and take their two-year offer?” Fischer wrote. “As long as LeBron James’ future in Los Angeles remains uncertain, Golden State will undoubtedly be mentioned as a potential James suitor.

“I’m told that the Warriors have called the Lakers on multiple occasions over the past 18 months to see whether there is any trade pathway to pairing James with Stephen Curry, who roughly a year ago at this time was teaming with LeBron for the United States senior men’s national team on its run to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.”

Fischer added that Curry and James, despite their NBA Finals history as classic rivals, “enjoy[ed] their experience as teammates on the international stage” as members of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

That iconic era, of course, ended nearly a year ago with the Americans bringing gold back to the States, notably under Golden State coach Steve Kerr.

Whether or not Kuminga returns to the Bay is yet to be determined. However, if he does, it sounds like the Warriors will, against the 22-year-old’s wishes, dangle him as bait while going for a big catch.

“The Warriors, furthermore, are known for their penchant to go big-game hunting, starting with their original pursuit of Durant in the summer of 2016 and carrying through to their February acquisition of [Jimmy] Butler,” Fischer wrote.

The only time Curry and James were teammates ended as amazingly as it possibly could have. Golden State is right to continue kicking the tires on bringing the unreal international tandem to the Bay.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Blue Jays at Marlins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for August 22

It's Friday, August 22 and the Blue Jays (74-54) are in Miami to take on the Marlins (60-67). Shane Bieber is slated to take the mound for Toronto against Miami who has yet to announce their starter.

Both teams are coming off a day of rest for the first meeting of the season between the Blue Jays and Marlins. Miami is 3-9 over the last 12 games, while Toronto is 6-6 in the same span.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Blue Jays at Marlins

  • Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: LoanDepot Park
  • City: Miami, FL
  • Network/Streaming: Sportsnet, FDSNFL, 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 Blue Jays at the Marlins

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Blue Jays (-164), Marlins (+138)
  • Spread:  Blue Jays -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Marlins

  • Pitching matchup for August 22, 2025: Shane Bieber vs. TBA
    • Blue Jays: Shane Bieber, (2-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts
    • Marlins: TBA

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 Blue Jays and the Marlins

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 Friday’s game between the Blue Jays and the Marlins:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Toronto Blue Jays on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Marlins 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 Blue Jays at Marlins

  • Toronto is 6-4 in the last 10 games
  • Toronto is 1-3 in the last 4 games
  • Miami is 3-9 over the last 12 games
  • The Blue Jays have won 6 of their last 8 games at the Marlins
  • The Over is 7-2-1 in the Blue Jays' last 10 road games
  • The Marlins have covered in their last 3 games against the Blue Jays

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)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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It's getting close to now or never time for the 2025 Mets

Back on June 12, when the Mets' sixth-straight win moved them to a season-high 21 games over .500 at 45-24, they appeared to be some kind of unstoppable force.

They might win the NL East, or they might not, but they were a team that was going to coast to the playoffs. 

Once there, the Mets would have as good a chance as any to win the World Series -- especially with the Dodgers' superteam failing to materialize and the American League being relatively weak.

The team quickly shot the above to pieces, though, going on a 3-14 stretch that left them at 48-38 on July 2. 

That felt aberrational, though.

And after bobbing and weaving for a bit, New York ripped off a seven-game winning streak to move to 62-44 entering play on July 28, putting them close to where they were a month and a half before.

It seemed that was the turning point for the Mets. Like things had stabilized. That they were again on a clear path to October that was unquestioned.

Since then, the Mets have gone 5-16, putting their season in peril.

New York enters this weekend's series in Atlanta -- their personal house of horrors -- with a half-game lead (one game in the loss column) on the upstart Reds for the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.

And while much of the conversation right now is revolving around whether the Mets would be a serious threat in the postseason, the actual conversation should be about whether they'll get there at all.

Aug 20, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) walks back the the dugout after striking out against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park
Aug 20, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) walks back the the dugout after striking out against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park / Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

Coming off a series loss to the woeful Nationals after a feel-good series win over the Mariners and a blowout victory over the Nats on Tuesday, it's easy to highlight Thursday's loss as a microcosm of what's gone wrong this season.

New York jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and had Sean Manaea on the mound. They should've coasted to victory.

Instead, Manaea couldn't get out of the fifth inning, Tyler Rogers allowed two of the runners he inherited from Manaea to score, Ryne Stanek surrendered four runs late, and the Mets' bats couldn't muster a single run after falling behind in the bottom of the fifth.

It's been the same song and dance for the Mets during their brutal streak.

The offense is hit and miss.

The starting rotation can't get out of its own way.

The biggest bullpen acquisitions (Rogers and Ryan Helsley) have struggled, and other bullpen pieces (especially Reed Garrett and Stanek) have poured gasoline on the fire.

A lot of things have conspired to get the Mets to this point.

Manaea being out for the first half of the season, Kodai Senga missing time, and the season-ending injury to Griffin Canning put the rotation in a tough spot.

The recent injury to Francisco Alvarez (who will try to return and play through a thumb injury) and the injuries to Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil left the Mets shorthanded against the Nats. And the Alvarez injury is especially damaging considering that he had been on fire since returning from the minors -- and that he might not make it back this season at all.

Jun 17, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) walks against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park.
Jun 17, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) walks against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park. / Brett Davis - Imagn Images

Meanwhile, the aforementioned bullpen has squandered lead after lead this month, leading in part to a stretch where New York lost seven consecutive one-run games.

But while you can fairly point to the above as being contributing factors when it comes to what's happening, the main issue is that the players simply aren't performing up to expectations.

That includes the wobbles of Senga and Manaea.

It includes a bullpen that should be lockdown but has been anything but.

And it includes an offense that has struggled badly when it comes to hitting with runners in scoring position, moving runners over, and with their general approach at the plate.

Could David Stearns have assembled a starting rotation that had fewer question marks? And should Nolan McLean have been called up about a month before he was? Sure.

Are there certain little things Carlos Mendoza can do better in-game? Sure.

But this is not on Stearns, who has done a very good job as president of baseball operations. And it is not on Mendoza, who has been a stabilizing force in his nearly two years as manager.

That takes away a boogeyman to blame, which can be frustrating for fans who are trying to point fingers at something other than the players.

But it's the players who have put the team in this position, and it's the players who will have to get themselves out of it.

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NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Mason McTavish And Marco Rossi

During the dog days of the 2025 NHL off-season, Mason McTavish has become the subject of growing trade rumors.

The 22-year-old Anaheim Ducks center is an RFA coming off his entry-level contract, and the lack of any hint of a new deal has prompted some pundits to speculate about his future in Anaheim and possible trade or offer-sheet destinations.

Earlier this month, The Hockey News' Patrick Present cited multiple reports claiming the Ducks sought a long-term deal, while the McTavish camp preferred a bridge contract. Meanwhile, Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon listed the Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers as potential trade landing spots for the young center. 

Eric Stephens of The Athletic brought some clarity to the situation this week, reporting Thursday that the Ducks want to re-sign McTavish. He said they see him as an important part of their lineup, indicating the two sides have “gone back and forth” on short- and long-term contract proposals. 

Stephens claimed the Ducks may not wish to go to the maximum eight-year contract. However, they're not just looking at a bridge deal. He acknowledged the trade rumors swirling about McTavish and which teams need a No. 2 center but pointed out MacTavish is equally important to the Ducks in that role.

NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Blues' Kyrou And PenguinsNHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest On Blues' Kyrou And PenguinsSt. Louis Blues right winger Jordan Kyrou became the subject of trade rumors this spring following his club's first-round playoff elimination.

Speaking of free agents, Marco Rossi and the Minnesota Wild are getting closer to a new contract. 

On Thursday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reported the two sides had made “significant progress” toward a potential signing in the coming days. He believes it's likely to be a short-term “bridge” contract. 

Like McTavish, the 23-year-old Rossi is an RFA after completing his entry-level contract. Last month, Russo reported the young center had rejected a five-year, $25-million offer and a two-year proposal at just under $5 million annually, preferring a long-term deal worth between $6 million and $7 million.

Russo had indicated that Rossi was reluctant to sign a short-term contract, fearful of being stuck in a deal that could end up being below market value. 

RG.org's James Murphy reported sources claiming the Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken were showing interest in acquiring Rossi. However, Russo's report suggests the young center will be staying with the Wild for the foreseeable future.

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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Knicks have done background work on free agent guard Malik Beasley

Malik Beasley is reportedly no longer a target of the federal gambling investigation that prevented the free agent guard from signing with a team this summer, and the Knicks have done some background work on the bench scorer.

The Knicks are among the teams that have done background work on Beasley’s situation and the likelihood of a suspension during the 2025-26 NBA season, SNY’s NBA Insider Ian Begley reported.

Attorneys representing Beasley held extensive conversations with the Eastern District of New York and have been informed their client is not being considered a target for the investigation, which centers around a gambling ring on NBA games and prop bets from the 2023-24 season, the attorneys told ESPN.

The nine-year NBA veteran was never charged during the course of the investigation.

The Knicks have already added veteran guard Jordan Clarkson to provide some bench help this offseason, looking to bolster a unit that constantly left much to be desired under previous head coach Tom Thibodeau.

New York can offer the 28-year-old Beasley the veteran’s minimum. Of course, it is expected that Beasley will garner strong interest from teams that can offer more than the Knicks. 

Before the investigation was known, the Pistons, who Beasley played for last season, were prepared to offer him a three-year, $42 million deal to re-sign. The NBA informed several clubs before free agency began of the investigation involving Beasley, and Detroit pivoted to other players.

In 82 games (18 starts) last year with the Pistons, Beasley averaged 16.3 points on 43 percent shooting (41.6 percent from three) with 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 27.8 minutes. He averaged 14 points on 37.3 percent shooting (33.9 from three) in the six-game first-round playoff series against the Knicks. The guard finished a distant second place for NBA Sixth Man of the Year, behind Boston's Payton Pritchard.

After being drafted by Denver with the 19th overall pick in 2016, Beasley has bounced around the NBA with stints in Minnesota, Utah, Los Angeles (Lakers), Milwaukee, and Detroit.

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Kitchener Rangers Sign Exciting Young Defenseman Alex Forrest

The Kitchener Rangers recently were blindsided when top 2026 NHL draft prospect Adam Valentini decided not to honor his commitment to the team, and instead, head to the University of Michigan for the upcoming season. 

Well, the Rangers had some positive news to tell their fans on Thursday. 

The organization announced the signing of defenseman Alex Forrest to an OHL Standard Player Agreement. He was taken 24th overall as the first selection of the second round in the 2025 OHL Priority Selection. 

Forrest, 16, won’t have much of a jersey change from what he’s used to. During the 2024-25 campaign, the St. Catharines, Ontario, native played for the Oakville Rangers U16 AAA. In the OMHA division, Forrest was regarded as the top defenseman and backed it up with his play and production. He recorded 39 points (10 goals, 29 assists) in 34 games, first amongst all blueliners in the OMHA. 

“Alex is an elite-level skater, skilled, and an extremely competitive kid, and we feel he will be a great fit with our hockey club,” said Kitchener Rangers GM Mike McKenzie. 

Top NHL Draft Prospect Adam Valentini Not To Honor OHL Commitment With KitchenerTop NHL Draft Prospect Adam Valentini Not To Honor OHL Commitment With KitchenerSour news hit the Kitchener Rangers organization, losing a high-end player just before training camp starts. 

After his season ended in the wildcard round of the 2025 OHL Cup, he joined the St. Catharines Falcons of the GOJHL for their playoff run. Forrest didn’t look out of place playing against older and tougher competition in his 13-game playoff stint, recording one goal and three assists. 

“A confident puck-mover with elite mobility, Forrest thrives with the puck on his stick, constantly shifting, manipulating defenders, and creating space through slick edgework and deception. His ability to walk the blueline and activate below the dots made him a dangerous dual threat all season long for the Oakville Rangers,” PDA Evaluations wrote regarding Forrest’s game. 

Hockey Canada identified the fleet-footed offensive defenseman as a promising prospect. Forrest was invited to partake in Hockey Canada’s U17 Summer Development Camp. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Latest OHL News:

Sarnia Sting Fourth-Overall Pick Brenner Lammens Signs Right Before Training Camp Opens Up Sarnia Sting Fourth-Overall Pick Brenner Lammens Signs Right Before Training Camp Opens Up Just like the Peterborough Petes and Kingston Frontenacs had to do with their 2025 first-rounders, the crueling long wait is over for the Sarnia Sting. Their fourth-overall selection has officially signed and is ready to throw his body through whatever gets in his way at the OHL level.  Kingston Frontenacs Sign 2025 First-Rounder Aleks Kulemin, Son Of Former Toronto Maple Leafs Forward Kingston Frontenacs Sign 2025 First-Rounder Aleks Kulemin, Son Of Former Toronto Maple Leafs Forward The Kingston Frontenacs have officially recruited both of their first-round draft picks from the 2025 OHL Priority Selection, even though one of them took a little longer to get over the finish line.  2025 First Overall Pick Kaden McGregor Finally Signs With Peterborough2025 First Overall Pick Kaden McGregor Finally Signs With PeterboroughBetter late than never. The Peterborough Petes have finally put pen to paper with the 2025 first overall pick. 
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52 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History of Jersey #52

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 52 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today we look at the history of jersey #52. Almost every player on this list has a bad reputation of some sort. 

Let's take a look. 

Adam Foote - 2006-08 - Foote was the first player to wear #52 for the Blue Jackets in their history. In August of 2005, Adam Foote signed a 3-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. At the time, it seemed like a wonderful thing. A long-time star chose to sign with a young expansion team, and things were looking up. He would be joining a team with guys like Rick Nash, Sergei Federov, Todd Marchant, and Geoff Sanderson. After just a few months, Foote was given the C after Luke Richardson stepped down as the captain.  

In his first season with Columbus, he would play in 65 games. He scored six goals and had 22 points, which was good enough for third among defensemen on the team. The 2006-07 season saw him play 59 games. Foote only scored three goals and had 12 points. His first two seasons in Columbus weren’t going too well. In the third and final year of his contract, he would play in 63 games for the CBJ, scoring one goal and totaling 15 points. He was actually on pace to have his best year in a CBJ uniform.

On February 26th of 2008, Adam Foote was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a pair of draft picks. The rumor was that Columbus was trying to re-sign Foote, but Foote was pricing himself out of Columbus. The rumors back then were that Foote, and his agent set their contract demands so high because they knew Columbus wouldn’t accept them, essentially forcing his way out of Columbus.

He ended his tenure with Columbus by playing in 187 games and totaling 49 points. He would play until 2011, and then he decided to retire. He is currently the newly named head coach of the Vancouver Canucks. 

Craig Rivet - 2011 - Originally drafted by Montreal in 1992, where he played the first 12 years of his career, he came to the Jackets at the end of his career in 2004. Rivet, who was the captain of the Buffalo Sabres at the time, was waived by Buffalo on February 23, 2011. On February 26, 2011, Rivet was claimed on re-entry waivers by the Jackets, where he played in 14 games and totaled 1 point. After announcing his retirement, in October of 2011 he signed with the ECHL's Elmira Jackals. It was later discovered that he signed the contract to obtain his United States permanent residency.

Kerby Rychel - 2015 - Rychel was drafted by Columbus in the first round of the 2013 draft and is the son of former NHL enforcer Warren Rychel. Unfortunately, the book on Kerby Rychel is really short. After playing just 37 games over two seasons, Rychel was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman Scott Harrington. Rychel would go on to play only 6 more NHL games in his career. 

He spent two seasons playing for Columbus' AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons, and Lake Erie Monsters. He would help the Monsters win the 2016 Calder Cup by totaling 27 points in 37 games. 

In 2019, he would leave for Swedish club Örebro HK of the Swedish Hockey League. He would quickly terminate that contract when KHL club HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk offered him a deal on September 3, 2019. The team would terminate his contract after only seven games when he failed to score a single point. 

Rychel is officially retired. 

Emil Bemström - 2020-24 - The Blue Jackets drafted Emil Bemström in 2017, #117 overall. Although he wasn’t a high draft pick, many draft experts thought the CBJ had found a decent player—a shifty skater who would score with a very good shot.

Bemström made his NHL debut during the 19-20 season. He would play in 56 games that season, scoring 10 goals and 20 points. Additionally, he played five playoff games in the bubble in 2020 but would fail to score a point.

During the shortened 2021 season, Bemström played 20 games in the NHL, but he also played for HIFK in Liiga. He would only score three goals and total five points for the Jackets. For HIFK however, he had 17 points in 16 games. During a game in May of 2021, Bemström would net a natural hat-trick against the Nashville Predators, his first NHL goal since March 2020.

The 2021-22 season Bemström would only play 41 games for the Jackets. He scored six goals and had 11 points. He would also play four games for Cleveland of the AHL scoring two goals.

In the 2022-23 season, Bemström would see his time split between Columbus and Cleveland. In Cleveland, he would play in 21 total games, scoring 14 goals and totaling 31 points. He seemed to be able to score and assist at will. In Columbus however, it was a different story. He played in 55 games, scoring seven goals for 22 points, and would average 12 minutes a game on ice.

Fans have a love/hate relationship with Emil Bemström. Most people think of him as a top prospect with unlimited potential, but what they need to realize is that he was a 4th round pick. Although a lot of scouts and draft experts didn’t think Bemström would even play in the NHL, he has shown that he can at least score a few goals.

But on April 13th, 2023, against the Pittsburgh Penguins, that love/hate relationship came to a head. Through no fault of his own and simply doing what he is being paid to do, he scored a power-play goal. The Penguins were winning the game at the point 2-1, with a little over three minutes left to play. Johnny Gaudreau would go on to win the game for the Jackets in OT. This win sealed the Jackets' fate in that they would not secure the worst record in the NHL, thus losing out on the chance to draft #1 overall. A large portion of CBJ fans turned on Bemström for this, unfairly. He seemed to have been forgiven after the Blue Jackets were able to secure Adam Fantilli.

Bemström's time in North America has come to an end after it's been reported that he will be signing with SC Bern of the Swiss National League. 

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More From THN Columbus

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Dodgers at Padres prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 22

Its Friday, August 22 and the Dodgers (73-55) are in San Diego to take on the Padres (72-56).

Blake Snell is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Yu Darvish for San Diego.

The Dodgers' lead in the National League West is down to a single game over the Padres entering this weekend series. Los Angeles blitzed the Rockies Thursday, 9-5, to earn a split in the four-game series. Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages each went yard in the win for the Dodgers. San Diego doubled up the Giants on Thursday to take three of four in their series against San Francisco. Manny Machado picked up a couple hits and drove in three to lead the attack for the Friars.

Lets dive into the series opener 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 the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Dodgers at Padres

  • Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
  • Time: 9:40AM EST
  • Site: Petco Park
  • City: San Diego, CA
  • Network/Streaming: SNLA, SDPA

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 Dodgers at the Padres

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Dodgers (-124), Padres (+104)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Padres

  • Pitching matchup for August 22, 2025: Blake Snell vs. Yu Darvish
    • Dodgers: Blake Snell (3-1, 1.80 ERA)
      Last outing: August 16 vs. San Diego - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Padres: Yu Darvish (2-3, 5.97 ERA)
      Last outing: August 17 at Dodgers - 9.00 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 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!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Dodgers at Padres

  • This season Yu Darvish has an ERA of 6.05
  • The Padres have covered in 5 of their last 7 games with Yu Darvish on the mound
  • The Dodgers have won 4 of their last 5 games against teams with winning records
  • Blake Snell has not allowed a run in his last two starts (11 innings)
  • Manny Machado is riding a modest 4-game winning streak (6-16)

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Padres

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 Friday's game between the Dodgers and the Padres:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Diego Padres 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 fromNBC

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)
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Royals at Tigers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 22

It's Friday, August 22 and the Royals (66-62) are in Detroit to take on the Tigers (76-53). Ryan Bergert is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Casey Mize for Detroit.

Detroit is 5-2 versus Kansas City this season, but both teams enter this series hot. The Tigers are 7-1 in the last eight games and 10-3 over the previous 13. For the Royals, they are 6-1 over the past seven games and 10-4 in the last 14. The Tigers have won the last four series, while the Royals have taken the previous three.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Royals at Tigers

  • Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Comerica Park
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: Apple TV+

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

Odds for the Royals at the Tigers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (+136), Tigers (-162)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Tigers

  • Pitching matchup for August 22, 2025: Ryan Bergert vs. Casey Mize
    • Royals: Ryan Bergert, (1-1, 2.78 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.69 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Tigers: Casey Mize, (12-4, 3.63 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.68 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 10 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 Royals and the Tigers

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 Friday’s game between the Royals and the Tigers

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Kansas City Royals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards 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 Royals at Tigers

  • Detroit is 5-2 versus Kansas City this season
  • Detroit is 7-1 in the past 8 games
  • Detroit is 10-3 in the past 13 games
  • Kansas City is 6-1 in the last 7games
  • Kansas City is 10-4 in the last 14 games
  • The Tigers have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against American League teams
  • 7 of the Royals' last 8 divisional matchups have gone under the Total
  • The Tigers are 3-7 against the Run Line on the last 10 occasions that they've had a rest advantage

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)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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St Mirren v Rangers: Pick of the stats

St Mirren v Rangers: Pick of the stats
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  • St Mirren are unbeaten in three league games against Rangers (W2 D1), their longest such run since going five without defeat from August 1983 to August 1984.
  • Rangers have conceded more goals in their past two league visits to St Mirren (four) than they had in their previous 10 beforehand (three).
  • St Mirren are one of two sides, along with Aberdeen, yet to score in this season's Scottish Premiership, while only Dundee (nine) have mustered fewer shots than the Buddies (13) in the division so far.
  • Rangers have drawn both of their league games this season; on only seven occasions have they failed to win any of their opening three matches of a league campaign, most recently in 1989-90 under Graeme Souness.
  • Having drawn both of his Premiership games in charge so far, Russell Martin could become only the second Rangers manager to fail to win any of his first three league matches in charge of the club, after John Greig, who won none of his first six in 1978.