There's plenty to play for across Europe as we head into the stretch run of the season. The conti...

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-2 during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Crystal Palace FC at Etihad Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Manchester, England.

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Latest transfer news and rumors: Wirtz ready to snub Man City

With the MLB season underway, theScore's MLB editors look at some early storylines, surprising te...

With the MLB season underway, theScore's MLB editors look at some early storylines, surprising teams, players, and struggling stars that have defined the first few weeks of the campaign.<h3>What's the biggest early-season storyline?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780762/cropped_GettyImages-2210418216.jpg?ts=1744751044" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780762/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210418216.jpg?ts=1744751044 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780762/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210418216.jpg?ts=1744751044 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780762/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210418216.jpg?ts=1744751044 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780762/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210418216.jpg?ts=1744751044 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780762/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210418216.jpg?ts=1744751044 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Contract extensions: More players are forgoing the rigors of free agency for financial security. Both Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Garrett Crochet didn't want to negotiate their contracts during the regular season but ultimately did just that. Guerrero would have been the prize of the 2025 free-agent class, while Crochet was slated for a huge payday after the 2026 campaign. Jackson Merrill and Kristian Campbell, meanwhile, are ascending stars who took what are likely to be long-term discounts in exchange for immediate life-changing money. The horror stories we've seen unfold over the past few offseasons seem to have changed how all parties think. - Ben WrixonTorpedo bat: The odd-looking lumber has been the topic du jour since the media discovered several Yankees were using it during a record homer barrage to start the season. The bat's creator, manufacturing companies, and players testing the innovation received national attention. MLB has no issue with the fad. However, data is still being collected to see exactly what the benefits are for hitters. Only time will tell if the bat will actually revolutionize baseball or just end up being a footnote in the game's history. - Tom Ruminski<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Hitting down league-wide: Maybe it's the cold weather. Maybe it's players still finding their timing early in the season. Whatever the reason, teams are struggling to hit. Entering play Wednesday, the league batting average was .235, an eight-point drop from last year and a 13-point dip from 2023. Batting average has declined over the past several years, with the league failing to crack a .250 average since the 2017 campaign. Presumably, as the weather warms up, the hits will start falling. It's still worth watching to see how much both teams and players start finding holes for base hits moving forward. - Josh Goldberg<h3>Which team do you think is overachieving?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779138/cropped_GettyImages-2208745629.jpg?ts=1744751092" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779138/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208745629.jpg?ts=1744751092 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779138/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208745629.jpg?ts=1744751092 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779138/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208745629.jpg?ts=1744751092 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779138/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208745629.jpg?ts=1744751092 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779138/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208745629.jpg?ts=1744751092 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Luke Hales / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Los Angeles Angels: Ron Washington's team is a half game out of first place, but that's as much a product of the Astros, Mariners, and A's slow starts as it is the Angels' play. Even with a healthy Mike Trout, L.A.'s minus-7 run differential and 7-9 expected record tell a very different story than its 9-7 record. Pitching will ultimately be this team's downfall: The Angels have received the worst pitching in baseball (minus-0.1 total fWAR), and their staff owns the fourth-highest ERA (4.79). Some of their key offensive players - most notably second baseman Kyren Paris, who's slugging .805 - are going to fall back to earth as well. Maybe these Angels surprise everyone and take a small step forward, but it's hard to see them remaining atop the AL West. - Simon Sharkey-GotliebMiami Marlins: The Fish enter Wednesday at .500 after preseason projection systems had them winning 63 contests with a 0% chance of making the playoffs. But five of their eight victories were against the Pirates and Nationals, and they got clobbered by the Mets and Braves in three of their losses. Miami's schedule is about to become tougher with upcoming series against the D-Backs, Phillies, and Dodgers, so we'll see what the Marlins are really made of. The next few weeks should also offer some clarity on Matt Mervis, who has hit like Barry Bonds at times - five homers and a .676 slugging percentage - but is also among the league leaders in strikeout percentage. - Bryan McwilliamSan Francisco Giants: Few expected the Giants to keep up with the juggernauts in the loaded NL West, yet that's exactly what they've done in jumping out to a 12-5 record. Unsustainably hot starts from Wilmer Flores and Jung Hoo Lee have made this lineup look much better than it is, as the former is tied for the NL lead in home runs (6) while the latter is slugging .651. San Francisco has scored the fifth-most runs in the league (89) while striking out 25.2% of the time and managing just the twelfth-best wRC+ (104). Logan Webb and Robbie Ray have looked great, but Jordan Hicks and offseason acquisition Justin Verlander have gotten rocked. The writing is on the wall for the Giants once the Dodgers and Diamondbacks really start clicking. - Wrixon<h3>Which player's hot start has you most intrigued?</h3>Hunter Greene: The Cincinnati Reds right-hander looks like he's taken another step forward after finishing eighth in 2024 NL Cy Young voting. The 25-year-old All-Star hasn't allowed a run over his last 18 2/3 innings. He's surrendered just three earned runs on a measly 12 hits in four starts to go along with 31 strikeouts. The biggest indicator that he's leveled up is the 1.3 BB/9, a marked improvement over his career 3.4 rate. Greene, who sits in the 99th percentile for fastball velocity, could be borderline unstoppable if he continues to harness his control and command. - Ruminski<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780764/cropped_GettyImages-2207520946.jpg?ts=1744751155" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780764/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207520946.jpg?ts=1744751155 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780764/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207520946.jpg?ts=1744751155 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780764/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207520946.jpg?ts=1744751155 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780764/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207520946.jpg?ts=1744751155 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780764/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207520946.jpg?ts=1744751155 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>Shane Baz: The 25-year-old is coming off one of the best starts of his young career, dominating the Red Sox with 11 strikeouts across six innings. The Tampa Bay Rays right-hander has 27 punchouts against just four walks over his first three outings. Baz, once a top prospect, struggled through injuries for the first few years of his career, but his emergence has been a particularly welcome development for the Rays with star left-hander Shane McClanahan on the shelf to start the season. And, so far, this looks like the makings of a true breakout campaign. - GoldbergKyle Tucker: Since 2020, Tucker has been a top-10 hitter in baseball, so it's not surprising to see him having a great year, even if it's with a new team in the Chicago Cubs. What's intriguing about Tucker's hot start is that it comes as Guerrero took himself off the free-agent market. This means Tucker has a chance to become the top player available this winter if he can keep up with his scorching 40-homer, 100-RBI pace. Tucker could earn himself a contract in the neighbourhood of Guerrero's deal - or higher -if he has another strong campaign like he typically does. His performance should be one to monitor throughout the season because of the future ramifications it could have on free agency. - Mcwilliam<h3>Which struggling player are you most worried about?</h3>Christian Yelich: The Brewers outfielder finally looked like he was rediscovering his MVP form last summer - until he underwent back surgery in August. The post-procedure results haven't been close to what Milwaukee needs. Yelich's 63 OPS+ is concerning enough on its own, but his average exit velocity and hard-hit percentage are both down, and his barrel percentage is in the 25th percentile. Unfortunately, it feels like the Yelich of old may be gone for good. - Sharkey-GotliebAlec Bohm: The wheels seem to have fallen off for Bohm, as his slump from the end of last season carries over into 2025. The Philllies third baseman has been worth minus-0.6 fWAR with a .365 OPS (5 OPS+) through 16 games. He has just two extra-base hits and has only driven in four runs after plating 97 in each of the previous two seasons. His average exit velocity ranks in the 80th percentile, but his expected batting average and expected slugging percentage are both way down compared to 2024. He's also striking out at his highest clip in years (21.7%) while walking just 1.4% of the time. - WrixonMarcus Semien: The 34-year-old finished as an AL MVP finalist three times since 2019, including two years ago when he helped the Rangers win the World Series. However, it looks like Father Time is catching up to him. Semien is 7-for-60 with one homer over 16 games to start the season after slashing .237/.308/.391 with 23 homers across 159 contests in 2024. The struggles haven't been due to bad luck, as he sits 29th percentile for average exit velocity, 23rd percentile for barrel rate, 13th percentile for hard-hit percentage, and ninth percentile for bat speed. And he's still owed $98 million through 2028. - Ruminski<h3>Which recent extension is the best value?</h3>Kristian Campbell: From the perspective of the Red Sox, getting Campbell's name on that eight-year, $60-million deal was a masterstroke by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. Campbell is a dynamic young talent who can play multiple positions, and he's locked up at a rate that allows Boston to keep spending and augmenting a bright young core. If, for some reason, he doesn't pan out over the long term, this deal won't be too much of a burden for the franchise to overcome. This was a deal the Red Sox simply couldn't pass up. - Sharkey-GotliebJackson Merrill: The Padres handed Merrill a nine-year, $135-million deal earlier in April after he finished runner-up to Paul Skenes in NL Rookie of the Year voting. The contract bought out at least four free-agent seasons, allowing Merrill to potentially enter the market at age 30 or 31. Getting Merrill, a five-tool player with unlimited potential, locked in for just over $21 million annually (in his free-agent seasons) when he's in his prime is a fantastic piece of business for Padres executive A.J. Preller. Merrill profiles as at least a $30-million-a-year player if he continues to develop at this pace. - Goldberg<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778577/cropped_GettyImages-2207587079.jpg?ts=1743627836" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778577/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207587079.jpg?ts=1743627836 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778577/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207587079.jpg?ts=1743627836 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778577/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207587079.jpg?ts=1743627836 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778577/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207587079.jpg?ts=1743627836 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778577/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207587079.jpg?ts=1743627836 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Coduto / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Ketel Marte: The six-year, $116.5-million extension was a nice piece of work by the D-Backs' front office. They secured one of baseball's top position players and a core piece of a group that reached the 2023 World Series and looks capable of doing it again without breaking the bank. Marte's annual average salary of $19.4 million is a steal considering the only second basemen with a higher fWAR than the 31-year-old since 2017 are Jose Altuve ($30M annual average value until 2028) and Semien ($26M AAV until 2027). Marte has outplayed both of them over the past two years and was a big part of MVP conversations last season, ultimately finishing third for the NL award. - Mcwilliam

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MLB Roundtable: Early standouts, storylines emerge

Top Shelf, theScore's flagship hockey show, takes a weekly deep dive into the hottest topics and ...

Top Shelf, theScore's flagship hockey show, takes a weekly deep dive into the hottest topics and contentious debates in the NHL and beyond.Subscribe to the show on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thescore">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4uKsxIahXBXkpuvYHeP9Jz?si=5c270e0ec3b0405e">Spotify</a>, and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-shelf/id1784581959">Apple</a>. Episodes drop every Tuesday.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VY8ppJ_XYQI?si=amvHwmpHVbxpiu6A" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Hosts Aidan Thakkar, Levi Smith, Kyle Cushman, and John Matisz come together for a special, completely made-up awards special. Topics include:<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><ul>
<li>Introducing the "Scannies" awards show (00:00)</li>
<li>Playoff team with worst chance of advancing (02:16)</li>
<li>John Scott Award for top-performing goon (06:02)</li>
<li>Worst GM work, best captain, biggest bonehead (08:58)</li>
<li>Player with lowest impact on playoff-bound team (24:19)</li>
<li>Defensive D-man award: Why isn't this a thing? (28:20)</li>
<li>Player who carried non-playoff team all year (35:20)</li>
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Top Shelf: Handing out awards for top goon, best defensive D-man, more

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse will have a hearing Tuesday night for cross-checking Los...

Edmonton Oilers defenseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3124" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3124">Darnell Nurse</a> will have a hearing Tuesday night for cross-checking Los Angeles Kings forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/9210" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/9210">Quinton Byfield</a> during Monday's meeting between Pacific Division rivals, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.Nurse was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct for hitting Byfield in the back of the head and neck while he was down on the ice. Byfield was not on the bench to start the third frame and was later ruled out with an upper-body injury.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Darnell Nurse receives a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for this shot on Quinton Byfield 😬🤕 <a href="https://t.co/6Tz7mHveQY">pic.twitter.com/6Tz7mHveQY</a>— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) <a href="https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/1911991397781029081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The incident occurred with Edmonton down 4-0 in the game. It was a chippy clash between the Round 1 opponents, with the Oilers being assessed 53 penalty minutes and the Kings getting handed 16 through the first two periods.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Los Angeles pulled netminder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2003" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2003">Darcy Kuemper</a> after forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4520" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4520">Adrian Kempe</a> put the game further out of reach with the club's final goal in the 5-0 victory.Edmonton was down several key players in the matchup, including <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4560" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4560">Connor McDavid</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3948" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3948">Leon Draisaitl</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1723" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1723">Zach Hyman</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1993" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1993">Mattias Ekholm</a>."I think they just have their 'B squad' in trying to hurt us," Kings center <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2083" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2083">Phillip Danault</a> said during the second intermission, per <a href="https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/perry-on-danault-accusing-oilers-of-running-b-squad-to-injure-kings-what-the-f~3115299">TSN</a>."What the f----?" Oilers winger <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/34" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/34">Corey Perry</a> responded postgame. "What do you want us to do? Did he not look at what's happened to us the last couple weeks? We're not out there to hurt anybody."The Oilers and Kings are locked into a first-round matchup for the fourth straight year. Edmonton has one more game left in the regular season, while Los Angeles has two more contests remaining.The Kings secured home-ice advantage with Monday's win. Nurse has been suspended three times in his 11-year NHL career, including a one-game ban for headbutting Danault during the 2022 playoffs. He also sat out one contest in the 2023 postseason after taking a late instigator penalty against the Vegas Golden Knights.The blue-liner's first suspension was for three games for acting as an aggressor during an altercation with then-San Jose Sharks blue-liner Roman Polak in 2016.

EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 14: Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers skates during the second period of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place on April 14, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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Nurse to have hearing for cross-checking Byfield

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Details on every selection made during Monday's 2025 WNBA Draft. <figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="ROUND 1" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-CndhX" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/CndhX/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="596" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="ROUND 2" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-Gra7o" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Gra7o/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="586" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="ROUND 3" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-pNWR0" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/pNWR0/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="586" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
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2025 WNBA Draft Tracker: Catch up on all 38 picks

Top Shelf, theScore's flagship hockey show, takes a weekly deep dive into the hottest topics and contentious debates in the NHL and beyond.Subscribe to the show on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thescore">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4uKsxIahXBXkpuvYHeP9Jz?si=5c270e0ec3b0405e">Spotify</a>, and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-shelf/id1784581959">Apple</a>. Episodes drop every Tuesday.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wgAuynlqJ8Q?si=NOISnTCEWMkeMw8Y" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Hosts Aidan Thakkar, Levi Smith, and Kyle Cushman cover a variety of topics with the regular season nearing its end and playoff matchups solidifying:<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><ul>
<li>Ranking top 10 Stanley Cup contenders (00:00)</li>
<li>Are Montreal and Ottawa threatening at all? (11:05)</li>
<li>Which team is Canada's greatest hope? (14:18)</li>
<li>Picking players for our All-Underrated teams (17:35)</li>
<li>John Matisz joins to talk Senators' rise (29:24)</li>
<li>Trivia! NHL "green jacket" history lesson (35:30)</li>
</ul>Skyscanner | Score Top Shelf Travel Deals<a href="https://www.skyscanner.ca/flights-to/ymqa/cheap-flights-to-montreal.html?irclickid=_lxgbpuyspokfanwqzwiup33y32220asfdu3lzcj600&amp;associateid=AFF_TRA_19354_00001&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=5933861-theScore&amp;utm_campaign=Ep18Article&amp;campaign_id=5933861&amp;utm_content=Online%20Tracking%20Link&amp;adid=1027991&amp;click_timestamp=1744310764686&amp;irmweb=&amp;irgwc=1">Flights to Montreal</a><a href="https://www.skyscanner.ca/flights-to/yeg/cheap-flights-to-edmonton-international-airport.html?irclickid=_lxgbpuyspokfanwqzwiup33y32220asax23lzcj600&amp;associateid=AFF_TRA_19354_00001&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=5933861-theScore&amp;utm_campaign=Ep18Article&amp;campaign_id=5933861&amp;utm_content=Online%20Tracking%20Link&amp;adid=1027991&amp;click_timestamp=1744310792033&amp;irmweb=&amp;irgwc=1">Flights to Edmonton</a>

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Top Shelf: Ranking Cup contenders, most underrated players, more

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NBA Power Rankings: A song to describe each team's regular season

Top Shelf, theScore's flagship hockey show, takes a weekly deep dive into the hottest topics and contentious debates in the NHL and beyond.Subscribe to the show on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thescore">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4uKsxIahXBXkpuvYHeP9Jz?si=5c270e0ec3b0405e">Spotify</a>, and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-shelf/id1784581959">Apple</a>. Episodes drop every Tuesday.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k6TNmno7ILk?si=OthDVjj_sjQ7Ezsh" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Hosts Aidan Thakkar, Levi Smith, and Kyle Cushman cover a variety of topics as the playoff picture comes into focus:<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><ul>
<li>Panthers or Senators: Who should the Leafs want? (00:00)</li>
<li>How will the playoffs impact Mitch Marner's future? (10:09)</li>
<li>Toronto's top-five postseason X-factors (15:02)</li>
<li>John Matisz chats Alex Ovechkin vs. Auston Matthews (26:09)</li>
<li>Trivia! Naming goalies with most Ovi goals against (34:43)</li>
</ul>Skyscanner | Score Top Shelf Travel Deals<a href="https://www.skyscanner.ca/flights-to/yowa/cheap-flights-to-ottawa.html?irclickid=_lxgbpuyspokfanwqzwiup33y32220fbsdu3lzcj600&amp;associateid=AFF_TRA_19354_00001&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=5933861-theScore&amp;utm_campaign=Ep17Article&amp;campaign_id=5933861&amp;utm_content=Online%20Tracking%20Link&amp;adid=1027991&amp;click_timestamp=1744135148075&amp;irmweb=&amp;irgwc=1">Flights to Ottawa</a><a href="https://www.skyscanner.ca/flights-to/ytoa/cheap-flights-to-toronto.html?irclickid=_lxgbpuyspokfanwqzwiup33y32220fbse23lzcj600&amp;associateid=AFF_TRA_19354_00001&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=5933861-theScore&amp;utm_campaign=Ep17Article&amp;campaign_id=5933861&amp;utm_content=Online%20Tracking%20Link&amp;adid=1027991&amp;click_timestamp=1744135120721&amp;irmweb=&amp;irgwc=1">Flights to Toronto</a>

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Top Shelf: How will playoffs impact Marner's future? Can Matthews catch Ovi?

With the playoffs just a few days away, theScore's NBA editors answer some of the biggest questio...

With the playoffs just a few days away, theScore's NBA editors answer some of the biggest questions around the league.<h3>Which playoff-bound team's end-of-season form is most concerning?</h3>Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks are stumbling into the playoffs with six wins in their last dozen games and are only certain of a top-six finish due to the greater shortcomings of the play-in sides. It also doesn't bode well for an offense outside of the top 10 to lose a 25-point scorer. Damian Lillard's blood clot issue and subsequent 10-game absence has forced Giannis Antetokounmpo to carry the team on his back, averaging a near triple-double since Lillard's absence. There's a glimmer of hope that Lillard can return before the postseason, but an 11-20 overall mark against teams with records of .500 or better will do little to inspire confidence. - Michael J. ChandlerSacramento Kings: Not much has gone right for the Kings since their feel-good season in 2022-23. They finished with a 46-36 record the next year and missed the playoffs. This campaign, they let go of Mike Brown for Doug Christie in December and were forced to trade De'Aaron Fox less than two months later. Sacramento has lost seven of its last 10 games but will likely make the play-in due to the Suns' latest skid. The Kings seem headed for a tumultuous offseason, with DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis <a href="https://x.com/LegionHoops/status/1907870109299040707">reportedly</a> expected to have "tough conversations" with the team. - Donald Higney<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Memphis Grizzlies: Firing your head coach on the eve of the postseason is generally a sign that things aren't going as planned. You might expect such a drastic move to light a fire under the team, perhaps propelling the group to a few good results. Well, the Grizzlies are 2-3 since Taylor Jenkins' dismissal, with one victory coming from a Ja Morant buzzer-beater. Simply put, with or without Jenkins, Memphis hasn't played like a playoff squad for quite some time; the Grizzlies are 18th in both offensive rating (115.4) and defensive rating (116.4) since the All-Star break. They've gone 10-14 over that period and have slipped to eighth in the West. - Thomas Tittley<h3>Which title contender is most flawed?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779036/cropped_GettyImages-2207604863.jpg?ts=1743875678" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779036/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207604863.jpg?ts=1743875678 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779036/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207604863.jpg?ts=1743875678 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779036/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207604863.jpg?ts=1743875678 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779036/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207604863.jpg?ts=1743875678 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779036/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207604863.jpg?ts=1743875678 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brian Babineau / National Basketball Association / Getty</figcaption></figure>Boston Celtics: The Celtics depend heavily on 3-pointers, with 45.9% of their points coming from deep and only 40.9% coming from twos. Relying on that play style has its obvious shortcomings: In victories, Boston shoots 38.3% from beyond the arc, but, in losses, that number falls to 33.1%. Jaylen Brown's deep ball, in particular, has fallen off a cliff, as he's shooting a career-worst 32.6% on the season and made a remarkably low 27.9% in March. The Celtics lose their punch when the threes aren't falling, leaving them vulnerable to opposing defensive schemes. - Joseph Luca CasciaroDenver Nuggets: Another absurd campaign from Nikola Jokic has papered over some of the cracks in the Mile High City, though the Nuggets' defensive issues can't be covered up. That doesn't bode well for a deep playoff run. Their poor defensive rating (115.1) is the worst among teams in both conferences' top-six spots, and they're in the league's bottom half in conceding second-chance points (14.7) and allowing points off turnovers (18). The inconsistent offensive play of Jokic's supporting cast also makes defending this team an easy ask. - ChandlerLos Angeles Lakers: While swapping out Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic will increase any team's chance at a title, the Lakers are still searching for consistency heading into the postseason. Los Angeles is 15-10 since the trade deadline and is a middle-of-the-pack team in offensive and defensive rating, ranking 13th and 16th, respectively. The Lakers' key trio of Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves holds a negative-2.6 net rating in over 300 minutes played together. While James and Doncic have been responsible for improbable Finals runs individually, the tough Western Conference might be too much this season. - Higney<h3>Which team outside the playoff picture has the brightest future?</h3>San Antonio Spurs: Assuming Victor Wembanyama recovers from his deep vein thrombosis, it's hard to imagine a team better situated than the Spurs. They nailed the Stephon Castle selection, as he's a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3094606" href="https://thescore.com/news/3094606">favorite</a> to bring home the Rookie of the Year trophy. The Spurs also have all of their key players locked up long term, apart from Fox, who specifically requested a trade to San Antonio. With two first-round picks - and a <a href="https://www.tankathon.com/pick_odds">6% chance</a> at Cooper Flagg - the organization is poised to add more depth, and potentially star power, in the upcoming draft. - TittleyPortland Trail Blazers: While the Spurs are the obvious answer here, Portland has plenty of reason for hope going forward. The Blazers are on pace for their highest win total since the 2020-21 season, and their young players have begun taking strides to stardom. Shaedon Sharpe has developed into a reliable scorer, averaging 18.3 points per game. Deni Avdija is posting 23.3 points on 50.8% shooting since the All-Star break. And Scoot Henderson is showing flashes of his third overall pick potential. Henderson has scored at least 20 points eight times in 2025, including a 39-point outburst against the Nets on Jan. 14. - CasciaroWashington Wizards: A complete rebuild will enter the next stage this summer, and the Wizards' front-office architects hope it includes Flagg. Even if they miss out on the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3259324" href="https://thescore.com/news/3259324">Duke phenom</a>, the team boasts a freshman class of Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George that led the league in rookie minutes. Combined with second-year stud Bilal Coulibaly, the Wizards form a reputable young core. They have a first-round pick in each of the next seven drafts and countless second-round selections. They also have flexibility this offseason, with the potential to move Marcus Smart's and Richaun Holmes' expiring deals or capitalize on Jordan Poole's increased value. - Chandler<h3>Which coach will not be back with their current team next season?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757297/cropped_GettyImages-2185849413.jpg?ts=1732577516" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757297/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185849413.jpg?ts=1732577516 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757297/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185849413.jpg?ts=1732577516 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757297/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185849413.jpg?ts=1732577516 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757297/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185849413.jpg?ts=1732577516 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/757297/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185849413.jpg?ts=1732577516 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jesse D. Garrabrant / National Basketball Association / Getty</figcaption></figure>Nick Nurse: Despite Nurse's championship pedigree, the experienced bench boss might not make it to next season - largely because of reasons out of his control. With the Sixers' star trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey experiencing significant injury troubles, Nurse couldn't find a consistent rotation, rostering 29 players over the season. The team floundered below .500 all season as a result. Although Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey also deserves blame for putting together the roster, the coach is always the first to go, meaning Nurse's tenure could be over soon. - HigneyWillie Green: The New Orleans Pelicans are about to wrap up their fourth season with Willie Green in charge, none of which have been particularly good. A winning percentage of .457 through 324 games isn't a strong argument to keep him around. New Orleans' offense has often felt stagnant since Green's arrival; the Pelicans have finished in the league's top half in offensive rating just once in the last four years. Granted, it's not Green's fault the team has been hit hard by injuries - again. However, in a win-now league, coaches without regular-season or postseason success rarely last longer than Green has. - TittleyMike Budenholzer: The Phoenix Suns have had a disastrous season. They're outside the playoff picture, and Budenholzer has gotten into <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3233667" href="https://thescore.com/news/3233667">animated disagreements</a> with Kevin Durant on the sideline and a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3229589" href="https://thescore.com/news/3229589">reported spat</a> with Devin Booker about his vocal contributions. There was also the controversial benching of Bradley Beal and his $50.2-million salary. Beal <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3182114" href="https://thescore.com/news/3182114">blamed</a> Budenholzer for the decision and reiterated that he views himself as a starter. Suns' owner Mat Ishbia even characterized the team's season as "<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3242007" href="https://thescore.com/news/3242007">a really disappointing year</a>." The writing's on the wall. - Casciaro

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Roundball Roundtable: End-of-season talking points

Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 career goals was once considered unbreakable, but Alex Ovechkin had...

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'The GR8 Chase': Ovechkin passes Gretzky for all-time goals crown

With less than three weeks remaining until the Stanley Cup Playoffs, theScore's NHL editors share...

With less than three weeks remaining until the Stanley Cup Playoffs, theScore's NHL editors share their insight on some of the biggest topics heading down the stretch.<h3>Which team grabs the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775468/cropped_GettyImages-2204775741.jpg?ts=1742095720" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775468/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204775741.jpg?ts=1742095720 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775468/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204775741.jpg?ts=1742095720 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775468/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204775741.jpg?ts=1742095720 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775468/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204775741.jpg?ts=1742095720 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775468/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204775741.jpg?ts=1742095720 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Vitor Munhoz / National Hockey League / Getty</figcaption></figure>Rangers. This is more a slog than a race, as no club has separated itself from the pack like St. Louis did out West. So when in doubt, give me the most talented team, and that's undoubtedly the underachieving Rangers. They have a tough schedule down the stretch, but if any of the vying clubs can dig deep and go on a bit of a run, I think it's New York. A red-hot Rangers squad would be the last opponent the Capitals want in Round 1. - Josh WegmanCanadiens. No team appears to truly want the final playoff spot in the East, leaving it up for grabs night in and night out. That said, I'm giving the Canadiens an edge based on schedules. The Habs have the Blackhawks, Predators, Flyers, Bruins, and Red Wings on their upcoming slate. The Hurricanes, Maple Leafs, and Senators are the only playoff teams on Montreal's remaining docket, and Martin St. Louis' crew has played Toronto and Ottawa tight this season. - Sean O'Leary<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Blue Jackets. This might be a long shot, but let me advocate for Columbus. Yes, the whole team forgot how to score for a second there. And yes, the Blue Jackets have an absolute gauntlet of a remaining schedule. However, they've been easy to root for this year after dedicating the season to the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. Columbus has been able to rally around an unthinkable tragedy, and it'd be fitting to see the club's resilience get rewarded with a playoff berth. - Kayla Douglas<h3>Which potential Round 1 playoff matchup has you most excited?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778302/cropped_GettyImages-2204953870.jpg?ts=1743473112" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778302/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204953870.jpg?ts=1743473112 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778302/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204953870.jpg?ts=1743473112 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778302/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204953870.jpg?ts=1743473112 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778302/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204953870.jpg?ts=1743473112 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778302/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204953870.jpg?ts=1743473112 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Martin / National Hockey League / Getty</figcaption></figure>Stars vs. Avalanche. I believe these are the two teams best equipped to win the Stanley Cup this year. It would be a shame to see one of them gone before Round 2, but it'll certainly make for must-see TV in Round 1. Both squads loaded up at the deadline. Mikko Rantanen burning his former club would make for one heck of a story. But the Stars could be in tough without Miro Heiskanen, who <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3245448" href="https://thescore.com/news/3245448">may</a> not be ready for the start of the playoffs. - WegmanPanthers vs. Lightning. The Panthers and Lightning have met in the postseason twice over the past three campaigns, and both series were bloodbaths. Each team went all-in at the trade deadline this year, creating a few notable storylines. Not only would one of the league's best rivalries be Brad Marchand's first series as a Panther, but a battle for Sunshine State supremacy would also represent the first meeting between Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel since they scrapped and chirped at the 4 Nations Face-Off. This matchup would have it all. - O'LearyMaple Leafs vs. Senators. Toronto fans might not be looking forward to this potential matchup, but it'd be a real treat for everyone who enjoys some good old-fashioned schadenfreude. The Senators always come to play against the Leafs, owning a 6-1-0 record against their Ontario rivals over the past two seasons. Throw in the fact that this would be the Brady Tkachuk-led core's first time in the playoffs, along with the Leafs' penchant for underperforming in the spring, and there could be a real upset looming. - Douglas<h3>Will Ovechkin break Gretzky's goal record this season? If so, which game?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777363/cropped_GettyImages-2206391225.jpg?ts=1743015237" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777363/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206391225.jpg?ts=1743015237 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777363/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206391225.jpg?ts=1743015237 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777363/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206391225.jpg?ts=1743015237 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777363/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206391225.jpg?ts=1743015237 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777363/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206391225.jpg?ts=1743015237 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / Getty</figcaption></figure>April 13 vs. Blue Jackets. I'm going bold and saying Alex Ovechkin gets it done in Washington's final home game with a hat trick. He won't give fans much time to soak in the record-tying goal because he'll break it moments later. Ovi has always had a bit of a flair for the dramatic, so don't put it past him to make history in style. - WegmanApril 17 @ Penguins. Game 82 against the Pittsburgh Penguins is the best time for Ovechkin to do it. Let's paint the perfect scene: Ovechkin ties the record at any point before the Capitals' regular-season finale, and the focus of the hockey world is entirely on him as he gears up to play his biggest rival on the precipice of his biggest achievement. Playoff seeding is already locked up for Washington, and no one wants this to drag into next season. Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux are among the legends in attendance, and Sidney Crosby is on the ice to lend a hand in helping Ovechkin celebrate a moment that will live forever in hockey history. - O'LearyApril 10 vs. Hurricanes. Ovechkin has a razor-thin margin for error if he's going to break the record this season. He's been scoring once every other game for the past month, but notched goals in back-to-back contests for the first time since February on Tuesday. Now just three from tying and four from the record, Ovi nets four in as many games to reach 895 with room to spare. - Kyle Cushman

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NHL stretch-run roundtable: East's wild-card race, Ovi's date with history

Top Shelf, theScore's flagship hockey show, takes a weekly deep dive into the hottest topics and contentious debates in the NHL and beyond.Subscribe to the show on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thescore">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4uKsxIahXBXkpuvYHeP9Jz?si=5c270e0ec3b0405e">Spotify</a>, and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-shelf/id1784581959">Apple</a>. Episodes drop every Tuesday.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/li6AZ5ziDaY?si=MRhcbjPKycTNWe6k" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Hosts Aidan Thakkar, Levi Smith, and Kyle Cushman cover a wide variety of topics as the stretch run heats up into April:<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><ul>
<li>Happy April Fools' Day! (0:00)</li>
<li>What team has surprised the most this season? (2:23)</li>
<li>Which team is the biggest joke, failing to meet expectations? (10:32)</li>
<li>A Leafs-Senators series would be chaos (16:12)</li>
<li>Draft-eligible prospects to watch in the CHL playoffs (20:48)</li>
<li>Trivia! Drafting active players with the most playoff games (29:57)</li>
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Top Shelf: A Leafs-Senators playoff series would be chaos

On the first Tuesday of every month during the 2024-25 season, we'll debate which clubs are among...

On the first Tuesday of every month during the 2024-25 season, we'll debate which clubs are among Europe's elite in our Soccer Power Rankings. In our April edition, we're identifying one key question that's hanging over each team as they all enter the stretch run of the campaign.Jump to: <a href="#Arsenal">ARS</a> | <a href="#Ajax">AJX</a> | <a href="#Bilbao">ATH</a> | <a href="#Atletico">ATM</a> | <a href="#Barcelona">BAR</a> | <a href="#Bologna">BOL</a> | <a href="#Palace">CRY</a> | <a href="#Bayern">FCB</a> | <a href="#Inter">INT</a> | <a href="#Leverkusen">LEV</a> | <a href="#Liverpool">LIV</a> | <a href="#Man%20City">MCI</a> | <a href="#Napoli">NAP</a> | <a href="#Newcastle">NEW</a> | <a href="#Forest">NFO</a> | <a href="#PSG">PSG</a> | <a href="#Madrid">RMA</a> | <a href="#Roma">ROM</a> | <a href="#Sporting">SCP</a> | <a href="#Benfica">SLB</a><h3>1. <a id="PSG" name="PSG">Paris Saint-Germain</a> 🇫🇷</h3>Previous: 1 ⚖️<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/cropped_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774752/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204011929.jpg?ts=1741734209 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Will PSG finally win the Champions League? Let's be real: this is the only question that truly matters for any PSG season. They're steamrolling the competition in France and could go unbeaten in Ligue 1. But PSG would happily rest starters and take a domestic loss if it proved beneficial to their pursuit of an elusive Champions League crown. With an exuberant squad and a favorable path to the semifinals, this could finally be their year.<h3>2. <a id="Barcelona" name="Barcelona">Barcelona</a> 🇪🇸</h3>Previous: 3 📈Can Robert Lewandowski keep up this pace? By his sky-high standards, the Polish veteran had a down season last year, scoring only 19 league goals. It was fair to question whether, at 35, Lewandowski was finally starting to decline after over a decade of elite production. He's responded emphatically to those queries. A year later, the Pichichi leader is flourishing again under Hansi Flick, offering a focal point for Raphinha and Lamine Yamal to combine with.<h3>3. <a id="Inter" name="Inter">Inter Milan</a> 🇮🇹</h3>Previous: 7 📈Can Inter continue scoring by committee? Lautaro Martinez is having his least productive scoring year since his first campaign at Inter. But his teammates are picking up the slack - 17 other players have found the net for Simone Inzaghi's team across all competitions in 2024-25. The treble-chasing Nerazzurri, leading Serie A with eight games remaining, need Marcus Thuram and Co. to keep producing.<h3>4. <a id="Madrid" name="Madrid">Real Madrid</a> 🇪🇸</h3>Previous: 5 📈Does Kylian Mbappe have another gear? After much hand-wringing about his fit alongside Vinicius Junior, the Frenchman has put his slow start behind him. Mbappe has now matched his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, by scoring 33 goals in his first season with Real Madrid, and he'll need to stay hot if Los Blancos are to overtake Barcelona in La Liga and continue their push toward another Champions League title.<h3>5. <a id="Bayern" name="Bayern">Bayern Munich</a> 🇩🇪</h3>Previous: 4 📉<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778333/cropped_GettyImages-2207072587.jpg?ts=1743509112" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778333/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207072587.jpg?ts=1743509112 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778333/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207072587.jpg?ts=1743509112 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778333/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207072587.jpg?ts=1743509112 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778333/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207072587.jpg?ts=1743509112 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778333/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207072587.jpg?ts=1743509112 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> DeFodi Images / DeFodi Images / Getty</figcaption></figure>How will an injury-ravaged defense hold up? The injury bug is biting Bayern Munich hard at the worst possible time. Trying to keep Bayer Leverkusen at bay in the Bundesliga and preparing for a Champions League quarterfinal tilt with Inter, Bayern have lost defenders Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, and Hiroki Ito in the last week, and are still waiting for goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to return. It's Eric Dier's time to shine in Bavaria.<h3>6. <a id="Liverpool" name="Liverpool">Liverpool</a> 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿</h3>Previous: 2 📉Will Mohamed Salah stick around? After their exits from the FA Cup and Champions League, and a loss in the League Cup final, Liverpool's lone commitment is the Premier League, where they have the title nearly sealed. Much of the focus at Anfield, then, is squarely on Salah, who still hasn't extended his contract. His future is genuinely uncertain. Whatever he decides, it'll have a huge ripple effect throughout English football.<h3>7. <a id="Bologna" name="Bologna">Bologna</a> 🇮🇹</h3>Previous: N/A 📈Can Vincenzo Italiano one-up Thiago Motta? The latter led Bologna on a Cinderella run last season, culminating in an unexpected Champions League berth. When he departed for Juventus, the club was expected to take a step backward. Instead, Italiano has them looking to do even better. Bologna, in a strong position to reach the Coppa Italia final, are sitting fourth in Serie A after five straight wins, including a 5-0 demolition of Lazio.<h3>8. <a id="Arsenal" name="Arsenal">Arsenal</a> 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿</h3>Previous: 9 📈How quickly can Bukayo Saka be himself again? Saka is expected to return this week after missing more than three months with a serious hamstring injury; the star winger hasn't played since undergoing surgery in December. Getting him as close to full match sharpness as possible is Mikel Arteta's most important task ahead of an enticing Champions League quarterfinal clash with Real Madrid.<h3>9. <a id="Newcastle" name="Newcastle">Newcastle United</a> 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿</h3>Previous: 17 📈Will the League Cup triumph inspire a surge? Newcastle captured their first trophy in 56 years by beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final. That guaranteed them at least a place in next season's Conference League. But the Magpies want more. As many as eight Premier League sides are in a scrap for a Champions League berth, and Eddie Howe will be hoping his team can ride the wave of positivity from the cup triumph to overcome the stiff competition.<h3>10. <a id="Forest" name="Forest">Nottingham Forest</a> 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿</h3>Previous: N/A 📈<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777908/cropped_GettyImages-2206933603.jpg?ts=1743509181" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777908/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206933603.jpg?ts=1743509181 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777908/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206933603.jpg?ts=1743509181 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777908/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206933603.jpg?ts=1743509181 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777908/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206933603.jpg?ts=1743509181 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777908/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206933603.jpg?ts=1743509181 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Rob Newell - CameraSport / CameraSport / Getty</figcaption></figure>When will this dream become reality? Nottingham Forest haven't fallen off like many expected they would, and they now find themselves in an excellent position to return to Europe's top competition. Nuno Espirito Santo, doing arguably the best coaching job of anyone on the continent this season, also has his team in the semifinals of the FA Cup. This could end up being Forest's greatest campaign since the days of iconic boss Brian Clough.<h3>11. <a id="Napoli" name="Napoli">Napoli</a> 🇮🇹</h3>Previous: 10 📉Can Antonio Conte drag Napoli to the title? Napoli's focus has been entirely singular for months. Since they were knocked out of the Italian Cup in December, it's been Scudetto or bust. Conte has been touted as the team's biggest X-factor all year, and that's only become more true since Napoli sold star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia during the January transfer window. The fiery bench boss needs to showcase all his nous for Napoli to reel in Inter.<h3>12. <a id="Leverkusen" name="Leverkusen">Bayer Leverkusen</a> 🇩🇪</h3>Previous: 8 📉Is there any magic left? It appeared as though Bayer Leverkusen had used up all nine of their lives to fuel last season's historic accomplishments. At various points this year, it looked like the magic had evaporated. But Leverkusen have rediscovered some of the late-game heroics that were so prevalent in 2023-24, and now sit only six points back of Bundesliga leaders Bayern. What else can Xabi Alonso pull from the hat to reduce that gap?<h3>13. <a id="Bilbao" name="Bilbao">Athletic Bilbao</a> 🇪🇸</h3>Previous: 13 ⚖️Just how powerful is home cooking? Athletic Bilbao are on a mission in Europe. The San Mames, their raucous stadium, will host this season's Europa League final, and Bilbao are determined to take part in that match on May 21. Their intoxicating last-16 win over Roma, in which the home crowd roared them to a decisive second-leg victory, showed how much of a boost the Basque fans can provide for Nico Williams and his teammates.<h3>14. <a id="Palace" name="Palace">Crystal Palace</a> 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿</h3>Previous: N/A 📈Can Eberechi Eze light up Wembley? Crystal Palace have won seven of their eight games since the start of February, conceding just four goals in that spell. Oliver Glasner has built a solid team with a sturdy spine, but for Palace to keep rolling, they need Eze to continue sparkling. The Eagles, seeking their first major trophy, are in the semifinals of the FA Cup and will be counting on their most electrifying player to make the difference on the big stage.<h3>15. <a id="Roma" name="Roma">Roma</a> 🇮🇹</h3>Previous: N/A 📈<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759440/cropped_GettyImages-2188764207.jpg?ts=1733612797" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759440/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188764207.jpg?ts=1733612797 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759440/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188764207.jpg?ts=1733612797 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759440/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188764207.jpg?ts=1733612797 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759440/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188764207.jpg?ts=1733612797 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759440/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188764207.jpg?ts=1733612797 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Silvia Lore / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Is this a mirage? Roma were 12th in Serie A, just four points above the relegation zone, when Claudio Ranieri took over. They're now four points off a Champions League place. The turnaround has been remarkable. They've won seven straight league games, but five of those have been 1-0 victories over Serie A's punching bags. Their final eight matches include tilts against Juventus, Lazio, Inter, Fiorentina, Atalanta, and Milan. The real test starts now.<h3>16. <a id="Atletico" name="Atletico">Atletico Madrid</a> 🇪🇸</h3>Previous: 5 📉Is Atletico's season going to fizzle out? An ill-timed run of one "true" win in seven matches has cratered Atletico Madrid's season - they technically beat Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League clash last month, but lost the tie on penalties. Their title push has stalled, and their season now rests on the Copa del Rey semifinal against Barcelona. If they bow out there too, it's going to be a slow, dispiriting march toward the offseason.<h3>17. <a id="Sporting" name="Sporting">Sporting CP</a> 🇵🇹</h3>Previous: N/A 📈Can Viktor Gyokeres go out on a high note? It's been a turbulent year for Sporting CP, who lost their coach midseason and have dealt with distracting transfer stories for months. Through it all, Gyokeres has been unflappable. The Swede has 30 goals in 26 league matches, putting him in the mix for the European Golden Shoe as the continent's most prolific scorer. Widely expected to leave the club in the summer for a monstrous fee, he could lead Sporting to their second consecutive league crown before departing.<h3>18. <a id="Ajax" name="Ajax">Ajax</a> 🇳🇱</h3>Previous: N/A 📈Time for a philosophical shift? Francesco Farioli has transformed Ajax in his first season. The Italian tactician has brought a defense-first approach to the famously forward-thinking club, and it's paying off: Ajax have 11 wins and one draw in their last 12 league games, and lead the Eredivisie by nine points after shutting out second-placed PSV on the weekend. Ajax's first non-Dutch head coach since 1998 could inspire a culture change if he delivers a title.<h3>19. <a id="Benfica" name="Benfica">Benfica</a> 🇵🇹</h3>Previous: 11 📉Any plans for May 10? If so, cancel them. That's when Benfica host Lisbon rivals Sporting in the penultimate round of the Primeira Liga season. There's every chance the two Portuguese giants could be level on points atop the table heading into that contest; Benfica are currently three points back, but have a game in hand. Late-season, one-off title deciders between bitter foes don't come around all that often. Here's hoping the stakes remain high.<h3>20. <a id="Man City" name="Man%20City">Manchester City</a> 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿</h3>Previous: 14 📉<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770703/cropped_GettyImages-2199819928.jpg?ts=1739638281" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770703/w220xh124_GettyImages-2199819928.jpg?ts=1739638281 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770703/w320xh180_GettyImages-2199819928.jpg?ts=1739638281 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770703/w640xh360_GettyImages-2199819928.jpg?ts=1739638281 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770703/w768xh432_GettyImages-2199819928.jpg?ts=1739638281 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/770703/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2199819928.jpg?ts=1739638281 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Alex Livesey - Danehouse / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Can Omar Marmoush fill Erling Haaland's shoes? Manchester City remain hopeful that Haaland's ankle injury won't be season-ending. Even if he returns at all, he'll only do so in the final few weeks of the campaign. For a team already in a dogfight for a Champions League spot, that's a massive blow. Marmoush, who has four goals in seven league matches since joining the club in January, now needs to be Pep Guardiola's main man.Dropped out: Marseille, Atalanta, Lazio, Brighton &amp; Hove Albion, PSV Eindhoven, Fenerbahce On the cusp: Monaco, Juventus, Mainz

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CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 17: Joe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns is introduced prior to a game against the Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio.

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NFL Offseason Tracker

Welcome to our final look at the various individual awards in the Association and who we think me...

Welcome to our final look at the various individual awards in the Association and who we think merits end-of-season recognition for their performances.<h3>Rookie of the Year</h3>3. Alex Sarr (Wizards): Sarr has climbed back into the third slot of our Rookie of the Year race after a tenacious second half of the season. The 7-footer's six highest-scoring contests have all come after the All-Star break, including a terrific 34-point performance against the Denver Nuggets in mid-March.2. Zaccharie Risacher (Hawks): The No. 1 overall pick has been the definition of steady this season. Risacher has started 65 of his 67 games for a team that will almost certainly make the play-in and still has an outside shot at the East's sixth seed. The Frenchman is the only rookie with three 30-point games and became just the 10th teenager in NBA history to score at least 36 points during Sunday's win over the Milwaukee Bucks.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>1. Stephon Castle (Spurs): Castle took a stranglehold on the Rookie of the Year trophy after his teammate Victor Wembanyama was sidelined for the rest of the campaign with deep vein thrombosis. In the absence of last season's award winner, Castle was thrust into a more prominent role for San Antonio. Since Wembanyama's exit, Castle is second among Spurs in points per game (17.4), third in assists (4.1), and sixth in rebounding (4.5).<h3>Defensive Player of the Year</h3>3. Dyson Daniels (Hawks): The Great Barrier Thief recently became the first player in 16 seasons to record more than 200 steals in a single campaign and is averaging 3.1 takeaways per game. While his case is purely based on numbers, he's the lone bright spot on the Hawks' 18th-ranked defense. He won't win the award, but still merits praise for an outstanding campaign.2. Draymond Green (Warriors): Green is close to adding another Defensive Player of the Year award. Over the last 15 contests, the Warriors are third in defensive rating (109.7) and fifth in opponent points (108.9). He's averaging 3.1 stocks (steals and blocks combined) in March, the <a href="https://www.teamrankings.com/nba/player-stat/steals-plus-blocks?split=last_4_weeks">fourth-most</a> over the last four weeks.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777318/cropped_GettyImages-2197285030.jpg?ts=1743000175" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777318/w220xh124_GettyImages-2197285030.jpg?ts=1743000175 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777318/w320xh180_GettyImages-2197285030.jpg?ts=1743000175 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777318/w640xh360_GettyImages-2197285030.jpg?ts=1743000175 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777318/w768xh432_GettyImages-2197285030.jpg?ts=1743000175 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777318/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2197285030.jpg?ts=1743000175 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Chris Schwegler / National Basketball Association / Getty</figcaption></figure>1. Evan Mobley (Cavaliers): Despite Green's ascension, Defensive Player of the Year remains Mobley's award to lose. The Cavaliers have consistently been one of the NBA's best defensive units with the 23-year-old at the helm. He leads the team in blocks (1.6) and is a key reason for Cleveland's <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/opponent-shooting?dir=A&amp;sort=Less%20Than%205%20ft.%20FG%20PCT">second-ranked</a> defense at the rim.<h3>Most Improved Player</h3>3. Tyler Herro (Heat): The 25-year-old has become the Heat's No. 1 option, and he's up for the challenge. Herro is averaging a career-high 23.7 points on 46.9/37.5/86.9 shooting splits paired with 5.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists. He boasts 3.6 offensive win shares (his previous high was 1.3 in 2021-22) and has played in a career-high 71 games. Availability is the best ability.2. Dyson Daniels (Hawks): The Australian is one of the NBA's elite defenders, but it's his offensive strides that have him in line for this honor. Daniels is averaging 14.1 points this season, up from 5.8 in 2023-24. He's also playing a career-high 33.9 minutes per night and posting personal bests in assists (4.3), rebounds (5.8), field-goal percentage (48.6), and 3-point percentage (33.9).1. Cade Cunningham (Pistons): The 23-year-old has made a big leap this year, posting a career-high 25.7 points and shooting a personal-best 46.2% while dishing 9.2 assists per contest. Cunningham has also led the Pistons to a respectable 42-33 record, recording more wins than they have in any of their last five seasons.<h3>Sixth Man of the Year</h3>3. Malik Beasley (Pistons): Beasley has been a vital player for a Pistons squad that has its grasp on a playoff spot. The 28-year-old is shooting the leather off the ball, averaging 16.3 points - the most since his 2020-21 campaign - while knocking down 42.3% of his 9.2 3-point attempts per game.2. Ty Jerome (Cavaliers): The Cavs unearthed one of the league's best bench bucket-getters in Jerome. The former first-round pick has given the East's best team points at will, averaging 12.2 points on impressive 50.9/43.1/86.8 shooting splits.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777572/cropped_GettyImages-2203712512.jpg?ts=1743114355" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777572/w220xh124_GettyImages-2203712512.jpg?ts=1743114355 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777572/w320xh180_GettyImages-2203712512.jpg?ts=1743114355 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777572/w640xh360_GettyImages-2203712512.jpg?ts=1743114355 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777572/w768xh432_GettyImages-2203712512.jpg?ts=1743114355 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777572/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2203712512.jpg?ts=1743114355 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brian Fluharty / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>1. Payton Pritchard (Celtics): Whenever a player breaks an NBA record, he deserves some recognition. Pritchard has set a new 3-point shooting mark off the bench after knocking down a historic 237 treys this season. The Oregon product went nuclear in early March, hitting 10 threes and dropping a career-best 43 points in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers.<h3>Coach of the Year</h3>3. Mark Daigneault (Thunder): OKC's 62 wins are a franchise best since its move in 2008. The Thunder own the second-best net rating (13.0) ever, trailing only the 72-win Chicago Bulls (1995-96). They also have the top defensive rating (106.1) and their best-ever offensive mark (119.1). A flawless final stretch could see Daigneault and Co. become the third team to win 70-plus matchups.2. J.B. Bickerstaff (Pistons): The Pistons have their highest win total since 2015-16 and are in position to make the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. Bickerstaff has created an electric offense, and the team currently own its best offensive rating (114.9) in franchise history and the league's third-best net rating since the Feb. 6 trade deadline.1. Kenny Atkinson (Cavaliers): The Cavaliers have managed three separate double-digit win streaks this season. Atkinson transformed the Cavs into the best offense in the league (121.5) with the second-best net rating (9.7). Cleveland has its highest win total (60) since the 2009-10 campaign, the final season of LeBron James' first stint with the Cavs.<h3>Most Valuable Player</h3>Please check out our most recent <a href="https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/3094586">MVP Ranking</a><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3094586" href="https://thescore.com/news/3094586">s</a> for a detailed look at the top 10 candidates for the award.3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks): The Greek Freak remains firmly on the podium. Averaging 30.2 points on an otherworldly 60.1% field goal shooting, no other player in the league is making more than Antetokounmpo's 11.9 shots per game. With Damian Lillard sidelined, it's going to take an MVP-caliber run from Antetokounmpo to give the Bucks any chance.2. Nikola Jokic (Nuggets): Jokic was making a stellar push to close the gap, but a five-game absence due to elbow and ankle injuries might put the award slightly out of reach for him. Regardless, the 30-year-old remains in the top three in points, rebounds, and assists per contest on the campaign - a truly historical feat for the three-time MVP.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775621/cropped_GettyImages-2204969698.jpg?ts=1742182977" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775621/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204969698.jpg?ts=1742182977 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775621/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204969698.jpg?ts=1742182977 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775621/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204969698.jpg?ts=1742182977 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775621/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204969698.jpg?ts=1742182977 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775621/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204969698.jpg?ts=1742182977 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Gary Dineen / National Basketball Association / Getty</figcaption></figure>1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder): The talismanic leader is poised to become the seventh straight MVP born outside of the United States following a late-season push for the award. The Thunder have won 16 of 17 due largely to the consistent displays of the league's leading scorer, and his 2,334 total points are 377 more than the next closest competitor.

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NHL Power Rankings: Each team's best hope to win an award

Top Shelf, theScore's flagship hockey show, takes a weekly deep dive into the hottest topics and contentious debates in the NHL and beyond.Subscribe to the show on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thescore">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4uKsxIahXBXkpuvYHeP9Jz?si=5c270e0ec3b0405e">Spotify</a>, and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-shelf/id1784581959">Apple</a>. Episodes drop every Tuesday. (Sometimes on Thursday too!)<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4qsTOXqSDcU?si=dT_t9AJlC9JNGhqD" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Hosts Aidan Thakkar, Levi Smith, and Kyle Cushman cover a wide variety of topics in another jam-packed late-March episode:<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><ul>
<li>John Tortorella out in Philadelphia (01:30)</li>
<li>Who has a better all-time legacy: Ovechkin or Crosby? (03:00)</li>
<li>Has Macklin Celebrini surpassed Connor Bedard? (14:30)</li>
<li>Why Toronto will win a Stanley Cup with Auston Matthews (23:55)</li>
<li>Rasmus Andersson's staredowns are back! (33:00)</li>
<li>Trivia! Can you name the players with the longest suspensions since 2000? (35:20)</li>
</ul>Skyscanner | Score Top Shelf Travel Deals<a href="http://skyscanner.pxf.io/bOkNgm?sharedid=Ep15Article">Flights to Toronto</a><a href="http://skyscanner.pxf.io/RG6Ja2?sharedid=Ep15Article">Flights to Cancun</a>

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Top Shelf: Does Ovechkin or Crosby have the greater legacy?

Major League Baseball is officially back Thursday, and theScore has you covered with everything y...

Major League Baseball is officially back Thursday, and theScore has you covered with everything you need to know heading into Opening Day.<h3>Predictions 🔮</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775987/cropped_GettyImages-2205277383.jpg?ts=1742391618" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775987/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205277383.jpg?ts=1742391618 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775987/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205277383.jpg?ts=1742391618 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775987/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205277383.jpg?ts=1742391618 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775987/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205277383.jpg?ts=1742391618 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775987/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205277383.jpg?ts=1742391618 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Daniel Shirey / Major League Baseball / Getty</figcaption></figure>2025 season staff predictionsOur MLB experts make their picks for each division winner, playoff teams, World Series champion, and our top three players for each major award. Projecting the American League was an almost impossible task, with no real standout teams among the group. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3223311" href="https://thescore.com/news/3223311">Read more ... </a><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>MLB The Show 25 season sim If you don't trust our experts, put your faith in a video game. We simulated the season with MLB The Show 25 and, if you're not a fan of the New York Yankees, you probably won't like the results. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3229907" href="https://thescore.com/news/3229907">Read more ...</a>Teams under most pressure to win World SeriesIt may seem strange to have the reigning World Series champs on this list, but all eyes are on the Los Angeles Dodgers after another offseason spending spree. Not only will they be expected to repeat, but they'll be the favorites to win every series all summer. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3243671" href="https://thescore.com/news/3243671">Read more ... </a>Teams that will take a step back in 2025A new season brings new hope, but not every team will take a step forward in 2025. We focus on three AL clubs and two NL teams that will likely fall short of their 2024 win totals. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3167817" href="https://thescore.com/news/3167817">Read more ...</a>Teams that will be better in 2025While we're predicting regression for some, we're predicting improvement for others. The Boston Red Sox look poised to threaten for the AL East title, while the 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers will be a team to watch after a championship hangover last year. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3167807" href="https://thescore.com/news/3167807">Read more ... </a><h3>Featured analysis ✍️</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773739/cropped_Paul_Skenes.jpg?ts=1741288738" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773739/w220xh124_Paul_Skenes.jpg?ts=1741288738 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773739/w320xh180_Paul_Skenes.jpg?ts=1741288738 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773739/w640xh360_Paul_Skenes.jpg?ts=1741288738 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773739/w768xh432_Paul_Skenes.jpg?ts=1741288738 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/773739/w1080xh607_Paul_Skenes.jpg?ts=1741288738 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Julian Catalfo / theScore</figcaption></figure>Paul Skenes in Year 2: Rethinking what's possibleSkenes is almost singularly focused on fulfilling the promise that comes with being the No. 1 draft pick in 2023. He wants to stuff the back of his trading cards with innings and strikeouts like aces in the heyday of the starting pitcher. He says he wants to pitch 240 innings this season, which hasn't been done since 2014. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3241366" href="https://thescore.com/news/3241366">Read more ...</a>10 biggest storylines this seasonVladimir Guerrero Jr.'s future with the Blue Jays is just one of many notable storylines we're focused on heading into the season. The A's and Rays will be playing in minor-league stadiums, and we also hope to see healthy returns from stars Mike Trout, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Spencer Strider. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3243673" href="https://thescore.com/news/3243673">Read more ...</a><h2>Betting odds 💵</h2><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3246783" href="https://thescore.com/news/3246783">World Series odds</a>: There are few things more rewarding than cashing in on a futures bet at the end of the season. ESPN Bet/theScore Bet has options for all fans ahead of Opening Day. The Dodgers open as heavy favorites (+275), but no team has repeated as World Series champs since the Yankees in 1998-2000.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="2025 World Series odds" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-9QVve" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/9QVve/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="565" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3249788" href="https://thescore.com/news/3249788">MLB awards odds</a>: Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr. are co-favorites to win the AL MVP at +300 (25% implied probability) at theScore Bet/ESPN Bet.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 5: Opening day at Oracle Park before the game between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres on April 5, 2024 in San Francisco, California. The Padres defeated the Giants 3-2.

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