Professional Sports
MLB DFS Picks, Spotlight Pitchers & Top Stacks
Monday brings a nifty nine-game featured slate with a 6:40 p.m. ET first pitch on DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo. Today we’re breaking down MLB DFS picks using Stokastic’s industry-leading tools and MLB DFS projections to learn how to build MLB DFS stacks, find the top pitchers and craft optimal daily fantasy baseball lineups. The Stokastic […]

MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers and Top Stacks | June 9
MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers
In turn, LHP Matthew Boyd is worthy of tournament consideration against the Phillies, with the oft-injured 34-year-old only 10 innings away from his largest workload of the preceding five seasons. The right-handers in the lineup for Philadelphia have struggled this season with southpaws, though they were tremendous last year. It is also worth pointing out that Bryce Harper (wrist) is on the injured list.
Atlanta is in Milwaukee starting a three-game series tonight. Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner LHP Chris Sale will be on the mound against the hometown nine. The 36-year-old has similar numbers to last season, with his strikeouts, walks and home runs each up a tick. The Brew Crew strikes out around league average against southpaws, but their power has disappeared this season with a scant .121 ISO.
Rhys Hoskins and Jackson Chourio are producing like All-Star shoe-ins, but catcher William Contreras is having his worst season against southpaws and Christian Yelich has faltered after a resurgent season last year against fellow lefties. Journeyman Daz Cameron is just happy to be on the field, and former prospect Sal Frelick is much better against righties. The matchup won’t be a walk in the park, but with no Coors Field Extravaganza, there is room under the salary cap to go with a bucks-deluxe pitcher.
Aside from a disastrous performance in his second start of the season, RHP Merrill Kelly has been steady. That game took place in Yankee Stadium, where he allowed nine runs, including a trio of taters in 3.2 innings to the Bronx Bombers. Remember the torpedo bat craze?
In the subsequent 11 starts, Kelly had a 2.55 ERA, 2.56 FIP and a 2.79 xFIP. This was accompanied by just over a strikeout per inning and only five home runs.
The Mariners perform much better on offense away from Seattle, though the team is best positioned to deal with lefties.
Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena are competent at the plate in same-handed matchups, but nothing that should overly intimidate Kelly. Switch-hitters Cal Raleigh and Jorge Polanco do their best work from the left side of the plate, so they will be the biggest worry for the 36-year-old baseball lifer. Rowdy Tellez will be in the lineup until a lefty comes out of the bullpen, and leadoff man J.P. Crawford is a contact maven but short on power.
Kelly is a top-5 option on the full slate, though he really stands out on the three-game late slate, which has some fun contests already posted across the main DFS sites.
MLB DFS Picks: Top Stacks
Main Slate Primary Target: Arizona Diamondbacks
Writing these articles every day is fun, a labor of love and also a reminder of things that go sideways. Your Ol’ Pal said some less-than-flattering things about RHP George Kirby, who had struggled since returning from injury. So naturally, he struck out a career-high 14 Angels, which also is the highest mark in the majors this season, tying RHP Max Meyer of the Miami Marlins. The goal is to be right more often than wrong, and that can be challenging in the highly variant sport of baseball.
Coincidently, the recommendation is again to target a Seattle starter; this time it is RHP Emerson Hancock. Like Kirby, Hancock was a first-round selection, though he is not on the same trajectory as his teammate and is unlikely to ever sniff an All-Star nomination, which Kirby has already earned. RHP Logan Gilbert is nearing a return, with the team wanting him to have one more rehabilitation start in the minors. This means Hancock is likely pitching for a spot in the bullpen; otherwise he is likely to be sent back down to the minors unless the team decides it is struggling RHP Bryce Miller who should be demoted instead.
Tempting fate again, Hancock is not much of a strikeout pitcher, recording more than five in just three of his 25 career starts. The 26-year-old also allows power to hitters swinging the stick from both sides of the plate, with elevated hard-hit and line-drive rates that can turn into extra base knocks.
Pretty much everyone in a Diamondbacks uniform is in play tonight, as only Alek Thomas and Jose Herrera are bats to avoid.
Main Slate Secondary Target: Los Angeles Angels
Tonight LHP Jeffrey Springs will be on the mound for the Athletics, and it appears injuries have gotten the best of the 32-year-old. In 2022, Springs had a breakout season with Tampa Bay, and he was building on that in the early portion of 2023 when he suffered a UCL injury that required Tommy John surgery, though he at least got the bag with a four-year, $31 million deal a couple months prior.
Since returning to action in 2023, Springs has had walk and home run issues, which is not a good combination. He is still a mid-rotation talent on his best days, but those have been few and far between over his 20 outings since returning to action.
Leadoff man Zach Neto, outfielder Taylor Ward and catcher Logan O’Hoppe are the trio to target, along with Angels legend Mike Trout. On the late slate, Jo Adell is worthy of consideration as a discount dandy, though he is a human wind machine when he is not making contact.
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 Chris Sale under 7.5 strikeouts, for example. This is a +EV bet, meaning it has positive expected value based on the best odds available. But smart betting with Portfolio EV isn’t about chasing isolated plays; it’s about consistently firing off a high volume of +EV wagers. With the Mass Entry tool, you can scale your action and let the math compound your edge over time.
Just like one DFS lineup won’t guarantee a takedown, one bet won’t define your night — it’s the consistent process that leads to profit.
Portfolio EV is built for bettors who want to win over the long haul. By identifying market inefficiencies, the best available odds and stacking a portfolio of +EV bets, it sets you up for compounding returns over time. This isn’t about chasing hot streaks — it’s about trusting the numbers and executing a smart, consistent and scalable strategy to beat the books.
Clearly, Sale is an amazing pitcher and future Hall of Famer, but he is projected for just over seven strikeouts tonight, and this wager is plus money for him to fail to reach eight whiffs. The projected lineup for the Brew Crew has a sub-20% strikeout rate against southpaws over the last season-plus, which means Sale is going to need to make his own magic at the plate. In this same timeframe, he has a 31.6% strikeout rate, which is stellar, but the math favors the under in this scenario.
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 […]


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.
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 […]

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.
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 […]

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.

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.
MORE BLOODY ELBOW NEWS
“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.
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 […]

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.
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 […]

MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers and Top Stacks | June 20
MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers
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.
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).
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
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.
Late Slate Primary Target: Cleveland Guardians
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
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 […]

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.
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“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. 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.
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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.”

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.
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