Connect with us

Professional Sports

Clippers' Kawhi Leonard is back at an All

With just over two minutes left to play in the first half Friday at Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets attempted to get into their offense in front of the LA Clippers bench. Nets center Nic Claxton dribbled at the top of the key while point guard D’Angelo Russell attempted to screen for forward Ziaire Williams. […]

Published

on

Clippers' Kawhi Leonard is back at an All

With just over two minutes left to play in the first half Friday at Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets attempted to get into their offense in front of the LA Clippers bench. Nets center Nic Claxton dribbled at the top of the key while point guard D’Angelo Russell attempted to screen for forward Ziaire Williams.

Advertisement

Clippers defender Kris Dunn switched off Russell and onto Williams, disrupting the handoff. The player who switched with Dunn was Kawhi Leonard, a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year who was dominating the Nets in this second quarter.

Claxton tried to swing a pass over to Russell instead of trying to hand off to Williams, and Leonard knifed in and returned a steal for a breakaway slam:

To cap that first half, Leonard received a pass from Clippers All-Star point guard James Harden, who was being double-teamed near the Nets’ bench. Leonard saw Russell slowly retreating from Dunn. Unbothered by Russell’s presence, Leonard rose from 34 feet to splash a 3-pointer to effectively end the competitive portion of the Clippers’ visit to Brooklyn:

Leonard’s 31-point performance in Brooklyn required only 14 field-goal attempts and 26 minutes, 55 seconds of court time. It was Leonard’s third 30-point game of March after having none from the time he debuted with the Clippers this season on Jan. 4 through the end of February.

In the previous game at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks had an early 14-point lead. But once Leonard went into iso mode in front of Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, it was only a matter of time before that lead was toast, and Thibodeau knew it:

When it comes to 20-point games, Leonard had three in January and three in February. In March, Leonard scored at least 20 points in 12 of the 13 games he played. The exception was a 17-point performance against the Sacramento Kings that ended with his first career overtime game-winning buzzer-beater.

Advertisement

None of this is a surprise to Leonard. The 12 20-point games in March tie his career-best in any month. Leonard averaged 25.2 points per game in March, his most since January 2023, while making 52.1 percent of his field goals.

“Just getting healthy, I think trusting it,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said about observing Leonard’s progression throughout this season. “Understanding he can play and go all out without feeling any pain or any swelling. Just took him a minute to get back in the flow of the game. He’s been out for seven, eight months.”

Leonard attributed his increase in production to a minutes bump that saw him go from 24.2 minutes per game in January to 31.4 minutes per game in February to 36.3 minutes per game in March. But his comeback from swelling and inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee was a multi-step process.

Leonard had to return to practice after missing training camp and the start of the season to strengthen his knee. He did that in December. He had to make his on-court debut and accomplished that in January. Leonard had to show he could increase his minutes without suffering any setbacks. Other than a foot injury suffered in Milwaukee that cost him two games in February, Leonard has consistently played.

March was his loud announcement that he was ready to take the next step in his comeback, which was to approximate his All-NBA status from last season, when he earned second-team honors. In March 2024, Leonard also scored 20 points a dozen times, but his knee stiffened up before he could play any regular-season games in April. His postseason was limited to two games. And his summer was ruined by his knee issues, as Leonard lost his spot on the U.S. Olympic team that won gold in Paris.

Leonard missed the preseason and the first 34 games of the 2024-25 season. Now he’s ready to do what he couldn’t do last season or any of the previous four.

Advertisement

“I want to get to the summer healthy,” Leonard told The Athletic after the Clippers won in Brooklyn. “So I can have a great summer and come in and have a good year overall. That’s what I’m banking on, that’s what I’m praying for. And hopefully it happens for me.”

This is a sentiment Leonard has expressed before. When Leonard repeats an expression, he means it and wants others to know he means it. After Leonard made his southpaw buzzer-beater against the Kings, he was asked about whether it was more satisfying given the fact that he’s missed so much time and opportunity over the last year.

“Nah, I’m not thinking about that,” Leonard said. “Just one game. My goal is to be healthy at the end of the season, so I can have a good summer and not worry about doing a whole rehab process again, missing training camp.”

Leonard’s upswing is coinciding with the Clippers playing some of their best basketball of the season. LA won 11 of 16 games in March, its best month of the season and its best March since going 13-2 in 2018-19. The Clippers had the 20th-ranked offense in the NBA through February this season but were ranked fifth in offensive efficiency in March. A big part of that was having a player like Leonard add volume to his superb efficiency.

“For him to come back and do what he’s doing now, we knew he would get to this level,” Lue said of Leonard. “And when he did, we’re a different team. You can see that right now.”

The Clippers return home having already achieved an organizational goal.

In September, when president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was declaring Leonard out on a “month-to-month” basis just ahead of training camp, he mentioned how the Clippers have the NBA’s longest active streak of consecutive winning seasons. Frank also alluded to the 2021-22 season that saw the Clippers go 42-40 despite Leonard being out the entire year due to ACL surgery and Paul George missing more than half of the season.

Advertisement

Even with Leonard having to watch the first two and a half months of this season, the Clippers were able to achieve their 14th consecutive season with a winning record before March ended. Leonard contributed to that, but he is also wary of the fact that the Clippers have had solid regular seasons that have led to disappointing postseason results due to his inability to complete a postseason under Lue.

“You can tell that this organization wants to be competitive,” Leonard said in Brooklyn. “Unfortunately, things have happened to me … but it’s always a blessing to have a winning season. These guys have been playing great all year to put us in this position. I’m pretty sure our front office enjoys this.”

Now the Clippers start a five-game homestand while in the middle of a stretch of five games in seven days. LA will host an extremely short-handed New Orleans Pelicans team before a back-to-back against the Dallas Mavericks. The Clippers will have consecutive days off, then their final back-to-back of the season against the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. The final two games of the season are on the road, where the Clippers will look to complete regular-season sweeps of the Kings and the Golden State Warriors.

LA (43-32) is in the middle of the Play-In Tournament conversation in the Western Conference standings. That record is good enough for eighth place in the West but is tied in the loss column with the Minnesota Timberwolves (44-32) and the free-falling Memphis Grizzlies (44-32), while being a game behind the fifth-place Warriors (44-31).

It’s a place the Clippers don’t want to be. They have experience losing two games in the Play-In Tournament and losing their playoff spot to a team that had six more losses than them in the regular season. That happened in 2022, but that team didn’t have Leonard, who is healthy now.

“I’ve been pushing to play every game, more minutes,” Leonard said. “You know, I’ve had an unfortunate past. And I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to … get to this offseason healthy. That’s my main focus right now.”

(Photo of Kawhi Leonard: Katsanis / Getty Images)

College Sports

6 Best Sports Documentaries To Stream In Late June

Netflix has had a slew of successes translating the world of sports into compelling series with emotional storylines. Check out the very best titles across a wide range of professional leagues and competitions below. [embedded content] This 40-minute documentary is a high-stakes snackable dose of sports drama that picks up in the wake of Lewis […]

Published

on

6 Best Sports Documentaries To Stream In Late June

Netflix has had a slew of successes translating the world of sports into compelling series with emotional storylines. Check out the very best titles across a wide range of professional leagues and competitions below.

This 40-minute documentary is a high-stakes snackable dose of sports drama that picks up in the wake of Lewis Hamilton’s shocking departure from the Mercedes F1 team after twelve years and six world champions, and follows 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s promotion to the most prestigious racing league in the world.

It’s a great supplement to Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive series which exploded the league’s popularity, and proved that the elite racing community could deliver as much drama as the Real Housewives. An excuse to see Mercedes Team Principal and F1 zaddy Toto Wolff in his crisp white button down is reason enough to queue this title up.

The riveting story of one woman’s journey to overcome gender stereotypes in rural Nepal and follow her dreams of becoming a professional mountaineer, achieving historic success summiting Mount Everest ten times, the current record for female climbers.

Spanning Sherpa’s life from childhood to motherhood, an abusive marriage, and her immigration to the United States, we see her perseverance and determination impact her life on and off the mountain. Thoughtful attention is paid to her Nepalese roots and the Sherpa culture, and her effort to impart both to two daughters as they grow up in Connecticut.

Following the massive success of Formula 1: Drive To Survive, Netflix took a stab at humanizing the world of professional golf. By following major names like Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler and others on and off the course, the series was able to generate compelling suspenseful storylines around a sport without the fights, fouls, or impact of the NHL, NBA, or NFL.

The series explores player friendships and rivalries, the expanding diversity of the league, and the growing tension between the PGA-Tour and Saudi-funded LIV Golf league to provide a modern, nuanced, and evocative view on one of the world’s oldest modern sports.

A household name that simultaneous represents an international soccer career, a high-profile marriage, fashion icons, and pop culture sensations, this documentary literally has something for everyone familiar with the family whether you’re a sports fan or not.

The journey through Beckham’s career from childhood to present day was especially riveting for an American viewer like me who grew up in during his rise to fame and didn’t have previous knowledge of highs and lows, wins and losses. The game clips and interviews with Victoria Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson felt like experiencing 30 years of sports and pop culture suspense at once.

The Drive To Survive team strikes once again with another behind the scenes series, this time focused on the world of international tennis. Featuring participation from ATP and WTA pros like Nick Kyrgios, Frances Tiafoe, Alexander Zverev, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, and Coco Gauff, the series not only exhibited balanced coverage of men’s and women’s sports, but the physical and mental tolls of training.

Like it’s sister F1 and PGA series, Break Point focuses on the interpersonal relationships between pros, career highs and lows, as well as the immense pressure fame and media attention bring to competing at such an elite level.

The epic 10-part series covering the Chicago Bull’s 1997-98 NBA season as they pursued their sixth championship during Michael Jordan’s final season with the team, brought together over 500 hours of unseen footage, along with in-depth interviews with players, coaches, and other commentators.

The film also covers Jordan’s journey to super-stardom, along with his first retirement after his father’s murder, and pivot to pursue a career in baseball. As with the Beckham documentary, it provided an incredible opportunity for younger sports fans to relive the magic of not just an epic career, but an entire era of basketball.

Continue Reading

College Sports

Saturday Sports

SCOTT SIMON, HOST: And now it’s time for sports. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) SIMON: NBA Finals go to Game 7, the biggest brand in basketball is sold and Cowboys Cheerleaders win a huge raise. Michele Steele of ESPN joins us. Michele, thanks so much for being with us. MICHELE STEELE: Good morning, Scott. SIMON: I’ve been […]

Published

on

Saturday Sports

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

And now it’s time for sports.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

SIMON: NBA Finals go to Game 7, the biggest brand in basketball is sold and Cowboys Cheerleaders win a huge raise. Michele Steele of ESPN joins us. Michele, thanks so much for being with us.

MICHELE STEELE: Good morning, Scott.

SIMON: I’ve been rehearsing. Ohhh-klahoma (ph) City Thunder…

STEELE: (Laughter)

SIMON: …Host (singing) the Indiana Pacers – oh, I’m exhausted – tomorrow night. It’s Game 7 in the NBA Finals. Haven’t had a Game 7 decide a championship since 2016. Now, these are two what are called small-market teams – have not been drawing huge ratings. But this has been a great series. What do you think the deciding factor is going to be tomorrow night?

STEELE: Well, you know what? I think it’s going to be – you’re not going to be shocked to hear this – but which team is going to step up and deliver when the pressure’s on, right?

SIMON: Oh, wow.

STEELE: You said it yourself.

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: Yeah, I know. I know. That’s analysis for you. But you’re right – we’re in the first Game 7 final since 2016. And the Thunder, actually, Scott, have been favored. We shouldn’t be here, because they’ve…

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: …Been favored against the underdog Pacers in every game of this series. And each and every time, this Pacers team has really demonstrated their resilience, and now they’ve forced a Game 7. We’ve got a great matchup. It’s elite defense in OKC versus the elite offense of the Pacers. But when it comes to delivering under pressure, I actually think the Pacers have the edge. Either way, OKC’s going to be rocking Sunday night.

SIMON: Listen, ESPN broke the story on Wednesday – the Buss family is going to sell the LA Lakers for $10 billion…

STEELE: That’s it?

SIMON: …To Mark – yeah, that’s all – who – Mark Walter, who also owns the LA Dodgers in baseball. This is the end of an era, isn’t it?

STEELE: Yeah, end of an era is right, Scott. Jerry Buss bought the team 1979, $67.5 million. That was still a lot of money back then.

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: But basketball was completely different. You know, Sports Illustrated wrote about the NBA’s attendance and ratings problems in 1979 and called it the winter of despair. And in comes Dr. Buss, and in comes Magic Johnson and the Showtime Lakers and the Lakers Girls, and Kobe and Shaq and championships. And now the Lakers – I’d say they’re the most recognized basketball team – right? – in the whole world. And his daughter, apparently, wasn’t really looking to sell. Jeanie Buss was…

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: …Just blown away by this $10 billion offer.

SIMON: Little hard to say no to that, yeah.

STEELE: Absolutely. And there you go. And here’s an example of, you know, the big business of sports becoming bigger.

SIMON: Have to ask – Boston Red Sox traded their All-Star third baseman, Rafael Devers, to the San Francisco Giants. Why? He was the…

STEELE: Yeah.

SIMON: He was the last guy who was on that – their 2018 championship team.

STEELE: Yeah, and you know what? He was also their best player.

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: This almost never happens. You know, you sign a guy to a 10-year deal, $313 million contract, in 2023. Usually, that means your front office actually likes the guy – you know, thinks that he could be around for a while. And then they cut bait less than two years later, midseason…

SIMON: Right.

STEELE: …Before the trade deadline.

SIMON: Make him the face of the franchise, then…

STEELE: Absolutely. I mean, this doesn’t happen unless there’s huge problems behind the scenes. There’s documented reports suggesting tension between Devers and the management of the team. You know, he didn’t really want to play first base. Like, OK, but figure that out, right? I mean, he…

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: …Is your best player. He’s a proven offensive threat. And now that big bat goes over to the San Francisco Giants, and the Red Sox are looking for an identity here.

SIMON: Yeah. Dallas Cowboys announced this week that their world-famous cheerleaders are going to get a 400% raise. I didn’t know they were so grievously underpaid.

STEELE: Yeah. A lot of people really don’t know. And I kind of only know because I’ve covered so many NFL games over my career. And I see these cheerleaders in the background, and they appear to be practicing kind of all the time. There’s a ton of obligations, not just…

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: …Not just for the game, but around the game, as well. And this is really long overdue. I mean, the Cowboys call them America’s Sweethearts. And it’s always – I’ve always thought of that with a little bit of irony because they make around $15 an hour, according to a report from The New York Times. And guess what? I’ve been down to Dallas, and these cheerleaders are as much a part of the team…

SIMON: Yeah.

STEELE: …As any player and any coach, and I’m glad they’re getting a raise.

SIMON: Michele Steele of ESPN, thanks for being with us.

STEELE: You bet.

(SOUNDBITE OF SIESTA BEATS’ “TWO TRACK”) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Continue Reading

Professional Sports

Alex Pereira responds to rumors of UFC heavyweight title fight with threatening message

Alex Pereira may have unintentionally inserted himself into the UFC heavyweight title conversation and has now cleared up his imminent plans. The UFC‘s saga involving Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall has continued on now for several months, but has now seemingly reached its culmination. Earlier this week, Jones admitted that he is not excited by […]

Published

on

Alex Pereira responds to rumors of UFC heavyweight title fight with threatening message

Alex Pereira may have unintentionally inserted himself into the UFC heavyweight title conversation and has now cleared up his imminent plans.

The UFC‘s saga involving Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall has continued on now for several months, but has now seemingly reached its culmination.

Earlier this week, Jones admitted that he is not excited by a fight against Aspinall, heavily hinting that he will not fight the interim champion after months of delaying negotiations.

And with that, UFC boss Dana White admitted that he will move on from the potential fight, despite attempting to guarantee fans for months that the fight would happen.

With Aspinall now looking for another dance partner, former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira recently shared an astonishing weight update, unintentionally adding himself to the saga.

Jon Jones and Alex Pereira at UFC 306
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Alex Pereira provides response to UFC heavyweight title fight rumors

Since losing his 205lb title against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 earlier this year, it seemed guaranteed that he would fight him in an immediate rematch.

Despite that, Ankalaev claimed that the Brazilian wouldn’t return to the sport as negotiations seemed to stall between the two.

And then once ‘Poatan’ updated fans on his current weight, which is over 240lbs, fans suggested that Pereira may end up fighting Aspinall next for the undisputed heavyweight title.

However, in an attempt to clear up any claims, Pereira has recently provided his fans with another update, stating that he will be fighting the Russian next regardless of whether a heavyweight move is on the horizon.

“Well, anywhere around the timeframe of September, October or November for me, it makes no difference, I just want to fight,” Pereira told MMAFighting.

“My focus right now is on fighting Ankalaev, fight that one in the division, get my belt back and then we’ll see what happens after.

“I have nothing to say to be honest with you, if I was able to fight at heavyweight right now (I’d say something), let these guys kill each other in that weight class right now and I’ll focus on light heavyweight,” he continued.

Alex Pereira has talked about a move up to heavyweight previously

Now would seem to be a perfect time for ‘Poatan’ to move up to heavyweight in an attempt to make UFC history, however, he wants redemption over Ankalaev first.

With fans missing out on Jones vs Aspinall, the next best thing would seemingly be Aspinall vs Pereira, in a fight both fighters have previously talked about.

If the Brazilian successfully reclaims his title against the Russian champion, a move up to heavyweight could come soon after.

Continue Reading

College Sports

Women's Basketball Thanks Shannon LeBeauf for 14 Seasons

LOS ANGELES – Associate head coach Shannon LeBeauf and her husband, Sean LeBeauf, will be joining the Rutgers University Women’s Basketball coaching staff ahead of the 2025-26 season, the program announced Friday. “I am struggling to put into words how much Shannon has meant to me personally and to this program,” said The Michael Price Family […]

Published

on

LOS ANGELES – Associate head coach Shannon LeBeauf and her husband, Sean LeBeauf, will be joining the Rutgers University Women’s Basketball coaching staff ahead of the 2025-26 season, the program announced Friday.
 
“I am struggling to put into words how much Shannon has meant to me personally and to this program,” said The Michael Price Family UCLA Women’s Head Basketball Coach Cori Close. “She has served out her calling in the most professional, selfless, and impactful way. Tears well up in my eyes as I think about this transition, but I am in complete support of this next step for her and Sean. She is making the very courageous decision to go coach with her husband.  I completely respect this priority decision and she will always be a welcomed member of the Bruins family. We will miss her very much and we will honor her service here by continuing to build on the foundation of excellence she has been instrumental in building. Love you Shannon!”
 
LeBeauf served on Close’s staff since the Bruin head coach took the helm in 2011. She was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2019-20 campaign, also serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator. LeBeauf helped bring in UCLA’s first-ever No. 1-ranked recruiting class in 2014-15. The class included Recee’ Caldwell, Jordin Canada, Monique Billings, Lajahna Drummer and Kelli Hayes.
 
“I’m feeling a wave of emotions right now,” said LeBeauf. “UCLA has been home for 14 years, and I’m so proud of what we’ve built together. I’ve grown here—not just as a coach, but as a person. I’m deeply grateful to Coach Cori, who’s been an incredible leader and a true friend. I’ve worked with amazing people and coached remarkable young women who have left a lasting mark on my heart.
 
While it’s hard to say goodbye, I’m genuinely excited about what’s ahead. Coach Co has invited me into something meaningful at Rutgers—a chance to mentor, lead, and help re-establish a championship mindset and culture. I’m honored by the opportunity and ready to get to work.”
 
In 2021-22, she was able to secure another No. 1 ranking for UCLA; the Bruins’ recruiting class of Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Londynn Jones, Christeen Iwuala and Lina Sontag ranked first nationally. In conjunction with the UCLA coaching staff, she helped establish the “Leaders In Training” mentorship program for women’s basketball student-athletes. Before returning to Los Angeles, she coached at Duke for five seasons (2004-09). LeBeauf was also an assistant at USC from 2000-04 and Iowa from 1999-2000.
 
LeBeauf graduated in 1998 from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and communication studies, where she graduated with honors. She was a four-year letterwinner at Iowa from 1995-98 and was regarded as the team’s leading defensive player throughout that time. She led the Hawkeyes to the 1997 Big Ten Tournament title, as well as regular season titles in 1996 and 1998. Her teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament her final three seasons and made a trip to the Sweet 16 in 1996. Additionally, she was a three-time All-Big Ten Academic selection and received the 1998 Robin Roberts/WBCA Sports Communication Scholarship award and the 1998 NCAA Women’s Enhancement Post-Graduate Scholarship award.
 
A Southern California native, LeBeauf played basketball and volleyball at Cerritos High School.
 

Continue Reading

Professional Sports

MLB DFS Picks, Spotlight Pitchers & Top Stacks

Friday wraps up the workweek with a thrilling 13-game featured slate locking at 7:05 p.m. ET on DraftKings and FanDuel. Yahoo is reaching forward to add the 6:40 p.m. ET game in Pittsburgh, so be sure to register for contests in a timely fashion. As always, the best way to find top MLB DFS picks […]

Published

on

MLB DFS Picks, Spotlight Pitchers & Top Stacks

Friday wraps up the workweek with a thrilling 13-game featured slate locking at 7:05 p.m. ET on DraftKings and FanDuel. Yahoo is reaching forward to add the 6:40 p.m. ET game in Pittsburgh, so be sure to register for contests in a timely fashion. As always, the best way to find top MLB DFS picks is via Stokastic’s industry-leading tools and MLB DFS projections to figure out how to build MLB DFS stacks, identify top pitchers and build strong daily fantasy baseball lineups top to bottom. The Stokastic MLB DFS Top Stacks Tool loves both sides of the Coors Field Extravaganza, and the Yankees in New York present an alternative path. Aces abound, with LHP Max Fried rising above the fray, though Zack Wheeler, Hunter Brown and Clayton Kershaw have strong matchups. Young Haden Birdsong is the best fantasy point-per-dollar option, looking like the SP2 on DraftKings and Yahoo.

MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers and Top Stacks | June 20

Sign up with promo code EMAC15 and get 15% off your first week of a MLB DFS Max or Core subscription!

MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers

Main Slate Primary Pitching Target: LHP Max Fried (NYY vs. BAL)

Yankees vs. Orioles – 3.4 implied runs
First Pitch: 7:05 p.m. ET
$10,000 at DraftKings
$10,000 at FanDuel
$49 at Yahoo

The Stokastic MLB DFS Top Pitchers tool sees plenty of options for the ace of the day. Hunter Brown will be taking on a mostly right-handed Los Angeles lineup with the marine layer coming into play tonight in Anaheim. Clayton Kershaw is no longer at the apex of his powers, but he still should be able to hold his own against an inconsistent Washington Nationals offense in Dodgers Stadium tonight.

In New York, LHP Max Fried gets a matchup against a Baltimore offense that has been showing signs of life but still doesn’t have a full complement of hitters, with Tyler O’Neill, Ryan Mountcastle and Jorge Mateo all on the shelf. The Orioles have scored the fifth-most runs in the league over the last 30 days, though in June, they have tallied four or fewer runs in 10 of 17 games.

Fried ranks third with his 1.89 ERA and eighth overall with his 0.951 WHIP, while his 11 quality starts are the second most in the league this season. Plus his nine wins match teammate Carlos Rodon atop the leaderboard. Aside from Ramon Urias, the rest of the projected O’s lineup has been a hot mess against southpaws this season, posting a sub-.100 ISO and a 25.8% strikeout rate. This is a far cry from last year when the same hitters had a .158 ISO and a 24.1% strikeout rate against lefties. Danger is always right around the corner with the Batters of Birdland, but we are now looking at nearly a half a season of subpar results.

Across his last 1,101 batters faced, it has been fellow lefties with the most production against Fried, while he has held opposing-righties to a scant .077 ISO, a solid 22.8% strikeout rate and only a 5.1% barrel rate.

Main Slate Value Pitching Target: RHP Hayden Birdsong (SF vs. BOS)

Giants vs. Red Sox – 3.6 implied runs
First Pitch: 10:15 p.m. ET
$8,000 at DraftKings
$8,300 at FanDuel
$40 at Yahoo

Temperatures in Francisco will be sliding into the upper 50s at first pitch tonight, which should enhance pitching-friendly Oracle Park. Young RHP Hayden Birdsong will be on the mound, and he has a nice mix of salary relief, as well as a solid floor on DraftKings and Yahoo, where two starting pitchers are required.

Wilyer Abreu (oblique) is expected to return from the injured list, but that is small consolation for the Red Sox, who need to replace Rafael Devers, along with the still injured Alex Bregman and Tristan Casas (out for the rest of the season).

Birdsong started out the season in the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever. Since moving into the rotation, the soon-to-be 24-year-old has seen his pitch count steadily increase (80, 88, 88, 93, 104) while averaging five innings per appearance, with his six frames in Coors Field last Thursday matching his personal best.

There was quite a bit of Twitter kerfuffle in the season-long fantasy world, with Birdsong commanding some ridiculous waiver bids across the big-money leagues when it was announced that he was going to be replacing Jordan Hicks (since traded to Boston as part of the Devers deal) in the rotation.

While he was the top prospect in the San Francisco system, graduating to The Show last season, Birdsong projected more as a single-inning or potentially four- to five-out reliever. He was a sixth-round selection in the 2022 MLB Draft after mostly working as a multi-inning reliever for two seasons at Eastern Illinois.

It will be interesting to see how long Birdsong can hold his own before the league catches up to his deceptive delivery and if he can make countermoves against these adjustments. We are probably a couple months away from this starting to occur, so that isn’t much of an issue tonight, but it is important to understand how both fantasy and actual baseball analysts are divided in their assessments of Birdsong.

Jarren Duran and Abreu hold the platoon advantage tonight, and they will likely be the toughest outs, along with journeyman switch-hitter Abraham Toro. Youngsters Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer are still very green, and that should give Birdsong the edge against them. Trevor Story, Ceddanne Rafaela and David Hamilton are below-replacement-level bats against righties, which bodes well for the Giants tonight.

MLB DFS Picks: Top Stacks

Main Slate Secondary Target: New York Yankees

Yankees vs. Orioles – 5.68 implied runs
First Pitch: 7:05 p.m. ET
Opposing Starter: RHP Tomoyuki Sugano
DK Top Stack %: 6.3%
FD Top Stack %: 7.1%

The Stokastic MLB DFS Top Stacks Tool loves Arizona tonight as the Diamondbacks will be in Coors Field against LHP Austin Gomber. Game-time temperatures are going to be in the upper 80s with a 10 to 15 mph breeze out towards right field.

Heck, even the downtrodden Colorado offense has a 5.3 implied run total, courtesy of both the weather and a matchup against RHP Zac Gallen, who allowed four or more earned runs in six of his last seven starts. The Rockies got to him for four home runs and six total runs in Arizona one month ago. Pretty much anyone in the D-Backs lineup is in play, though it will cost a pretty penny, while the lefties for the Rox look solid and carry a more palatable cap hit.

Turning our attention to the Bronx, it is going to be a warm evening in Yankee Stadium with a 10 to 12 mph breeze out to right field, further augmenting the fun to be had by lefties. Baltimore will be riding with “rookie” RHP Tomoyuki Sugano, who has a 14.1% strikeout rate, a low 7.4% swinging-strike rate and an elevated 9.9% barrel rate. The 35-year-old is on a one-year, $13 million deal with the Orioles, and he has been a solid contributor, getting by on guile, ground balls and limiting fly balls. However, there are only so many tricks that he can use against an offense as strong as the Yankees.

Last night, New York ended a six-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. The team has scored the third-most runs in the league this season, though it has been mired in the doldrums with just 14 in the last eight games, including the seven scored yesterday.

Aaron Judge ($6,600) and Jazz Chisholm ($5,100) are expensive on DraftKings, but outfielders Trent Grisham ($4,000) and Giancarlo Stanton ($3,700) will help lower the cost of stacks. Cody Bellinger and Anthony Volpe also profile well against Sugano, which makes the Yankees a strong Coors Field countermove. Baltimore has a solid bullpen, though it has seen a lot of work over the last week.


Stokastic’s MLB DFS Single Lineup Simulator is a game-changing tool that transforms lineup construction through powerful, data-driven simulations — essential for serious DFS players. See how the Simulator analyzes this single lineup for today’s MLB DFS slate:


Late Slate Primary Target: Cleveland Guardians

Guardians at Athletics – 4.8 implied runs
First Pitch: 10:05 p.m. ET
Opposing Starter: LHP Jeffrey Springs
DK Top Stack %: 6.4%
FD Top Stack %: 6.1%

It looked like LHP Jeffrey Springs was on track to being a late-bloomer, though he suffered a torn ACL in 2021 and then an elbow injury, which resulted in Tommy John surgery in 2023. Springs came over with fellow lefty Jacob Lopez from Tampa Bay this offseason.

Going from Tropicana Field to Sutter Health Park is quite the dichotomy for a pitcher, with the sizeable boost to offensive production bestowed upon hitters. Even with a sub-5.00 run total, the Guardians are still projecting out as an above-average stack, particularly on the five-game late slate.

Targeting the right-handed batsmen will be key, which bodes well for Lane Thomas and David Fry, who are likely to be in the top half of the order with a southpaw toeing the rubber tonight. This duo is off to a slow start this season, though both have a solid track record with the platoon advantage. Switch-hitters Jose Ramirez and the always smooth Carlos Santana are in play as well, with shortstop Gabriel Arias a strong discount dandy on DraftKings ($3,200) and FanDuel ($2,400).

Today’s Top Sports Betting Picks

If you’re serious about making sharp MLB DFS picks, you already know that long-term success starts with using the right tools. The same approach applies to sports betting — and that’s where Portfolio EV shines.

Take a bet like Miguel Rojas under 0.5 total hits + runs + RBIs (HRR). On the surface, it’s a simple play. But behind the scenes, it’s a +EV bet — meaning it’s mathematically profitable based on the best odds available. And with Portfolio EV, you’re not relying on one-off picks. You’re stacking dozens — even hundreds — of +EV wagers at scale using the Mass Entry tool, turning small edges into long-term profit.

Just like one DFS lineup won’t win you a GPP, one smart bet doesn’t build a bankroll. But a consistent process does. This isn’t about chasing hot streaks. It’s about making smart, data-backed decisions every day and letting the math do the heavy lifting.

Rojas should be in the lineup tonight against LHP MacKenzie Gore, which is far from an easy matchup. The 36-year-old infielder failed to accrue a hit, run or RBI in 16 of his 25 starts. It is never fun rooting for a player to do literally nothing on offense, but with +166 odds and “true odds” of +141, the 8.1% expected ROI is too tempting to ignore.

How to get the most out of your MLB DFS picks with Stokastic Sims!

Continue Reading

High School Sports

Long Island's new soccer team signs 16

Dylan Lopez can kick it with the pros. Long Island’s newest soccer team, the Fighting Tomcats, has signed the 16-year-old, a soon-to-be Connetquot High School senior varsity star, as the start-up squad’s youngest player. “They’re obviously much older than me,” Lopez told The Post minutes after inking his deal with the National Premier Soccer League […]

Published

on

Long Island's new soccer team signs 16

Dylan Lopez can kick it with the pros.

Long Island’s newest soccer team, the Fighting Tomcats, has signed the 16-year-old, a soon-to-be Connetquot High School senior varsity star, as the start-up squad’s youngest player.

“They’re obviously much older than me,” Lopez told The Post minutes after inking his deal with the National Premier Soccer League squad that calls Hofstra University home.

“I think just playing with them in this environment is really going to push me and just get used to a higher level,” added the midfielder, who dreams of taking his talents to Spain one day.

The Ronkonkoma native’s deep desire is exactly what the club’s owner — Massapequa soccer legend Jim Kilmeade, the brother of Fox News host Brian Kilmeade, who is also an investor — is shooting for with the new team of 30 that’s almost entirely local.

Explore More

“We believe that we can identify and launch players into European careers,” Jim said, adding that the Tomcats are also developing a free youth academy on Long Island.

Lopez gets the best of both worlds with his deal that has no compensation.

Playing with the Tomcats, formally called the American Soccer Club, won’t prohibit him from playing with his competitive Atlantic United travel team, or Connetquot next fall.

Long Island’s newest soccer team, the Fighting Tomcats, has signed 16-year-old Dylan Lopez.Long Island’s newest soccer team, the Fighting Tomcats, has signed 16-year-old Dylan Lopez. Photo courtesy of Dylan Lopez

“When you live on Long Island, you don’t really get opportunities like these,” Lopez said. “It’s usually those people in Europe that get these chances.”

Now, the teen being recruited by Sacred Heart University has the chance to show what he’s made of on a grander stage.

Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post’s signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here!


The moment is a dream come true for his mom and twin brother, Brandon, with whom Lopez has played his entire life.

“He’s always been there,” Lopez said of his sibling, who is one minute younger. “Every time we’re on the field, it’s always a competition between us. And we just keep pushing each other — going back and forth. It’s really helped me … and he’s super excited for me.”


Fox News host Brian Kilmmeade and his brother Jim have launched a new semi-professional soccer club on Long Island nicknamed the “Fighting Tomcats.”
Fox News host Brian Kilmeade (left) and his brother Jim have launched a new semi-professional soccer club on Long Island nicknamed the “Fighting Tomcats.” Dennis A. Clark

Bragging rights among family — and friends — are full-time for the food runner at Stella Trattoria in Blue Point, who had to call out of work when he got the good news.

“They’re all going to be shocked,” Lopez said. “It’s going to be a good senior year.”


Put your best foot forward as the sun is finally expected to shine this weekend, with two 5K runs that go for great causes.

The “Hope Is Here” run, which raises money for parental mental health awareness, kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday at First Responders Memorial Park and Ball Field in Islandia, with a registration fee of $45.

The Sayville Fire Department is also hosting its annual 5K at the same time, with a registration fee of $40, starting at the town’s firehouse.

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending