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As the NHL prepares to squarely step into our arena on Thursday with a draft for the All-Star Game teams, let’s take a moment to recognize the all-stars from our realm of fantasy hockey.

We’ll do a similar approach to how the league manages things, by forcing one selection from each of the 32 franchises to form our initial rosters. I tried to include a mix of the positions, but honestly I couldn’t get a goaltender nominated for one of the divisions — no matter how hard I tried to look the other way at some stats.

This is through a fantasy lens, so we aren’t necessarily looking for the best overall player, but rather the best value. Sometimes those criteria overlap, but not always. Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid can’t be fantasy all-star choices as they are returning the value we expected.

The preseason rankings referenced only go to the top 350 before they get too mushy, so a player listed as “not ranked” from the preseason just means they were lower than 350.

Metropolitan Division

No need to wait on the reveal from above about one of the divisions not getting a goaltender. Perhaps one of the defense can play the crease or they can just compete with an extra skater in our fantasy world. Honestly though, how could we select any of the goaltenders from this division for inclusion? Ilya Sorokin and Igor Shesterkin were supposed to be here, but neither is returning anything close to their draft value for the New York Islanders or New York Rangers. Pyotr Kochetkov got some consideration from the Carolina Hurricanes, but hasn’t been remotely consistent enough for most fantasy teams, especially because most of his value was packed into just the month of December. Even Charlie Lindgren has been fading fast for the Washington Capitals. Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry is close to making the cut, but was also an early pick in drafts, so isn’t quite passing muster when it comes to value versus investment.

Artemi Panarin, W, New York Rangers (increase from preseason rank: 63, current rank: 31): This is a no-brainer choice for the Rangers. After a down season from Panarin in 2022-23, he’s bounced back as the leader of the club and is scoring at will. He’s going to set a new career high in goals with just three more.

Seth Jarvis, W, Carolina Hurricanes (increase from preseason rank: 250, current rank: 100): With few players exceeding the expectations placed upon them, Jarvis’ modest breakout is enough to qualify him for this nod — even if his season has been a series of peaks and valleys.

Joel Farabee, W, Philadelphia Flyers (increase from preseason rank: 227, current rank: 96): He has some sneaky-good blocked shots totals that has him neck-and-neck with Travis Konecny for the fantasy lead among the Flyers forwards.

Boone Jenner, C, Columbus Blue Jackets (increase from preseason rank: 49, current rank: 138): He’s not really the lone bright spot, as some of the play from the young guns is encouraging for the future. But he’s the only Blue Jacket forward earning game-to-game fantasy relevance.

T.J. Oshie, W, Washington Capitals (increase from preseason rank: not ranked, current rank: 80): With few players to choose from for a value award here, Oshie gets the nod based on his play from just the last couple of weeks. Try to ignore the fact that he was a ghost on the ice in 2023.

Kris Letang, D, Pittsburgh Penguins (increase from preseason rank: 39, current rank: 78): Anyone have a healthy Erik Karlsson struggling to keep pace with Letang on their preseason punch card? Didn’t think so. And he’s done it with only two power-play points.

Simon Nemec, D, New Jersey Devils (increase from preseason rank: not ranked, current rank: 177): With more than a few Devils performing below expectations, there wasn’t a lot of choice for the all-star team. It’s fair to suggest that Nemec isn’t quite a fantasy starter, but his fantasy points per game are one the verge and he sits third on the team in fantasy points since Dec. 1. Maybe Jack Hughes coming back — again — can spark Nemec to an everyday role on your team.

Noah Dobson, D, New York Islanders (increase from preseason rank: 103, current rank: 13):This is how you have a breakout season. Dobson is doing it all for fantasy hockey — with not the least of his accomplishments being his lead for the Islanders in total fantasy points by a massive margin (141.5 to Bo Horvat‘s 105.5).

Atlantic Division

This fantasy all-star team might have the most pop thanks to Nikita Kucherov and Sam Reinhart making the case for inclusion from the Florida teams. As mentioned, you won’t see the Matthews, McDavids or MacKinnons of the world here, but Kucherov can be mentioned in the same breath as them again this season — and that wasn’t necessarily the outcome anticipated. He finished 12th overall for fantasy points last season with 215.2 — or 104.9 points off the lead. This season, he is currently second to MacKinnon, just 10.1 points behind.

Sam Reinhart, W, Florida Panthers (increase from preseason rank: 66, current rank: 10): Everything that comes off his stick seems to find net. His shooting percentage is up to a bonkers 27.6%. He has taken 134 shots on goal. For players with at least 100 shots in a season, he currently has the best shooting percentage in the NHL going back to 2005-06, beating Andrei Kuzmenko‘s 27.3 percent from last season. No player with more than 200 shots in a season has finished higher than 21.7% in that span (Brayden Point in 2022-23 and Leon Draisaitl in 2018-19).

Charlie Coyle, C, Boston Bruins (increase from preseason rank: 240, current rank: 108): His current output sits 57th among forwards, as Coyle has taken on the top center role we thought Pavel Zacha would fill for the Bruins this season.

Claude Giroux, W, Ottawa Senators (increase from preseason rank: 185, current rank: 77): With a lot of the Sens playing slightly subpar for expectations, Giroux has been a beacon of consistency.

Sean Monahan, C, Montreal Canadiens (increase from preseason rank: not ranked, current rank: 148): The power play can do a lot for a player. For Monahan, 51.4% of his points this season have come on special teams.

Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning (increase from preseason rank: 22, current rank: 4): As discussed above, Kucherov is hanging among the elite of the elite this season, so his value is there despite his high draft capital.

Jake Walman, D, Detroit Red Wings (increase from preseason rank: 70, current rank: 48): He’s been slowing down a bit of late, but Walman is much more than just a stabilizing presence for Moritz Seider, earning fantasy status in his own right.

Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs (increase from preseason rank: 139, current rank: 24): Rielly earned 115.6 fantasy points across the entire 2022-23 season. He has 116.2 fantasy points so far this season. Enough said?

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, Buffalo Sabres (increase from preseason rank: not ranked, current rank: 209): This is not the goaltender I thought we’d be penciling in here back in September. But Luukkonen has found a groove, pushing even an improving Devon Levi to the sidelines.

Central Division

To continue the fanciful projection for these all-star teams having to compete, this Central Division squad is going to use physicality on the blue line to try to win. The Dallas Stars had another strong candidate in Thomas Harley, but Duchene has been contributing for an extended stretch this season. It was also tempting to pick Colton Parayko from the St. Louis Blues and really lean into this rough-and-tumble defense. And, believe it or not, Josh Manson is on the fringes of inclusion here. So this team could have easily have been made up of mostly defense.

Matt Duchene, C, Dallas Stars (increase from preseason rank: 141, current rank: 98): I mean, salary doesn’t matter much for fantasy, but for frame of reference: He probably wasn’t earning the $8 million the Predators were paying him, but he sure looks like a bargain at the $3 million the Stars are giving him. What a signing, and a great steal at fantasy drafts if you took a shot!

Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis Blues (increase from preseason rank: 81, current rank: 73): As mentioned, Parayko was worthy of consideration here, as is Brayden Schenn (thanks to recent play) and even Jordan Binnington in a subtle manner (13th at his position in fantasy), but Thomas has been a steady presence all season and offers more upside than all of them.

Gustav Nyquist, W, Nashville Predators (increase from preseason rank: not ranked, current rank: 181): He had a slow October, but patience at the top of the Predators depth chart has paid off; Since Nov. 1, Nyquist sits 117th among skaters in total fantasy points. He was hardly even a sleeper after playing only three games last season.

Jonathan Drouin, W, Colorado Avalanche (increase from preseason rank: 135, current rank: 245): It took a while, but the Halifax Mooseheads connection has resurfaced between MacKinnon and Drouin since mid-December. In fact, Drouin has 1.91 FPPG since Dec. 13 — which is among the top 100 skaters.

Nikolaj Ehlers, W, Winnipeg Jets (increase from preseason rank: 42, current rank: 166): Beating out a cooled-off Gabriel Vilardi, Ehlers gets the nod here because he wasn’t a lock to perform for fantasy after getting buried on the depth chart last season.

Brock Faber, D, Minnesota Wild (preseason rank: not ranked, current rank: 49): What a star Faber has been at the age of just 21. Understanding that he wasn’t at the top of the depth chart until after new coach Jon Hynes came in, it’s wild that Faber ranks 20th in fantasy points on the blue line.

Connor Murphy, D, Chicago Blackhawks (increase from preseason rank: 117, current rank: 190): Someone has to make the all-star team right? Oh, what’s that? Even the NHL isn’t sending a Blackhawk to the festivities? Well … Murphy is at least startable most nights in deeper fantasy leagues. So … that’s a win.

Connor Ingram, G, Arizona Coyotes (preseason rank: not ranked, current rank: 179): With the sixth-most fantasy points among goaltenders, Ingram’s five shutouts are telling to how solid he has been this season in keeping the Coyotes hopes afloat.

Pacific Division

Upstart goal-scoring might be the overall theme for this squad. Especially with Adam Henrique just nosing out Frank Vatrano for the Anaheim Ducks spot, and Blake Coleman just edging past Yegor Sharangovich for the Calgary Flames. We also could have gone with any of Stuart Skinner for the Edmonton Oilers, Thatcher Demko from the Vancouver Canucks or Jacob Markstrom from the Flames for the crease here.

Zach Hyman, W, Edmonton Oilers (increase from preseason rank: 81, current rank: 14): Hyman was going to contribute, no question. But he has been a fringe top-50 play in recent campaigns, not a dominating top-20 fantasy asset like he is this season.

Brock Boeser, W, Vancouver Canucks (increase from preseason rank: 135, current rank: 57): The rate of goals scored has been slowing down, but Boeser did enough at the start of the season that he can afford to coast a bit and still make this fantasy all-star squad with flying colors.

Adam Henrique, W, Anaheim Ducks (increase from preseason rank: not ranked, current rank: 85): His recent pace has helped him push past Vatrano to take pole position on most value from a Duck. It will be interesting to see if his pace continues this strong if Henrique is flipped to a contender.

Blake Coleman, W, Calgary Flames (increase from preseason rank: not ranked, current rank: 81): MacKenzie Weegar got a long look here, as did Sharangovich, but we’ll take Coleman. He shares the team goal lead with Sharangovich at 20, but is ahead in fantasy points by a fair margin. And it’s by virtue of not being in the top 350 to start the season that Coleman gets the edge on Weegar.

Trevor Moore, W, Los Angeles Kings (increase from preseason rank: not ranked, current rank: 99): Thanks in part to Kevin Fiala sliding into the spot occupied by Viktor Arvidsson last season, this trio of Moore, Fiala and Phillip Danault has become so dangerous that Moore has the team goal lead (up four on Adrian Kempe) despite minimal power-play action.

Mario Ferraro, D, San Jose Sharks (increase from preseason rank: 247, current rank: 68): He’s head and shoulders above the rest of the Sharks when it comes to earning fantasy value. He’s the only player on the team clearing the 2.0 FPPG threshold. Hopefully he isn’t out long with his current injury.

Alec Martinez, D, Vegas Golden Knights (increase from preseason rank: not ranked, current rank: 41): Too many injuries have marred the Golden Knights campaign, as Shea Theodore or Adin Hill could have earned this nod if they’d played more games. But Martinez, despite missing plenty of games himself, is among the elite defenders of the league for FPPG.

Joey Daccord, G, Seattle Kraken (increase from preseason rank: not ranked, current rank: 117): On nobody’s radar prior to the season, Daccord has been a settling presence in the Kraken crease. He sits seventh in fantasy points among goaltenders.

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Ranking Elite 11 quarterbacks by system fit: Who could thrive at the next level

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Ranking Elite 11 quarterbacks by system fit: Who could thrive at the next level

The Elite 11 Finals annually spotlight the nation’s top high school quarterbacks, offering a firsthand look at how the next wave of signal-callers stacks up against elite competition.

With most participants already committed, it’s a valuable window into how these prospects will fit into their future college systems and translate to the next level. Here are the top 10 committed quarterbacks attending the event later this month ranked by system fit.

ESPN 300 ranking: 8

Tennessee’s scheme is plug-and-play friendly and fits Brandon’s big arm and sneaky mobility. There’s a clear trend emerging in Knoxville when it comes to quarterback traits in terms of stature, athleticism and arm strength. Brandon checks all three boxes. He’s very similar to former Vols standout Hendon Hooker and is further along developmentally than Hooker was at Brandon’s age. Though not quite as polished as Nico Iamaleava coming out of high school, Brandon throws a great deep ball, which Tennessee coach Josh Heupel requires from all his quarterbacks. By the time he arrives on campus, it’s likely at least one quarterback currently on the Tennessee roster will have hit the transfer portal.


ESPN 300 ranking: N/A — three-star

Duke offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer is looking for a run-pass option quarterback with consistent accuracy and high-level production in the run game. Walker is that guy. He’s strikingly similar to Darian Mensah, the quarterback Duke brought in via the transfer portal, only Walker has a stronger arm. The Blue Devils want a dynamic runner at quarterback — something former QB Maalik Murphy wasn’t — and that’s what Walker is. A true playmaker, he also has a sky-high ceiling for development as a passer. Walker’s commitment is more evidence that the perception of Duke is shifting among top-tier recruits.


ESPN 300 ranking: 157

It’s easy to see why Arizona State’s coaching staff loves Fette considering he’s a mirror image of current quarterback Sam Leavitt. Fette is a sandlot-style riverboat gambler who thrives when the play breaks down. He looks like a pocket passer, but has the athleticism of a runner and can stress defenses with his legs. Coach Kenny Dillingham will use a lot of smoke and mirrors with shifts, motions, personnel groupings and backfield action to maximize Fette’s dynamic skill set and make him a threat both inside and outside the pocket.


ESPN 300 ranking: 6

Bell enters an ideal situation. The Longhorns don’t need to rush him, and instead can allow him to develop at his own pace. His fit is quite akin to Arch Manning‘s, and if Bell follows a similar blueprint he will get bigger, stronger and more mature over time. He already displays the tools of a high-level passer and adds value as a more capable runner than Quinn Ewers did in Steve Sarkisian’s system. Bell is a naturally gifted passer with a long track record of performance against elite competition, so he is ready to make the jump.


ESPN 300 ranking: N/A — three-star

Regardless of Carson Beck‘s production this fall, Coleman will be able to deliver the dynamism that Miami showcased with Cam Ward at the helm, which will make the Hurricanes much more difficult to defend. Coleman is the type of player Miami will prefer at quarterback in the long run. He has moxie, a gunslinger’s mentality and a live arm capable of making off-platform plays look routine. Remind you of anyone?


ESPN 300 ranking: 155

It’s easy to see shades of former Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams when watching Jonas Williams. He’s a naturally creative and improvisational quarterback. The play is never over, sometimes to a fault, but often to devastating effect. Williams can move the launch point and change arm angles, especially when asked to get the ball out quickly on screens and underneath throws. He thrives in chaos and can run the play-action offense Lincoln Riley loves to employ.


ESPN 300 ranking: 16

Henderson is another signal-caller with similarities to Darian Mensah, who played for current Houston coach Willie Fritz at Tulane. Landing Henderson was a huge win for Fritz. Henderson is a terrific athlete who can reach 20.6 mph max speed, an elite number for a quarterback. We’re intrigued to see whether he sticks at quarterback or moves to another position. For that reason, he’s more of a developmental player who needs to get more consistent in the passing game, but he has a high ceiling regardless of position.


ESPN 300 ranking: 198

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Huhn has the kind of stature coach James Franklin and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki love. Though not as mobile as Drew Allar, Huhn is very athletic in the pocket. He can extend plays and shows strong anticipation off play-action. Huhn loves to play under center, which is a valuable trait in a Penn State offense that blends shotgun and traditional looks. With a scheme that frequently shifts the launch point through varied play-action concepts, Huhn’s footwork and functional mobility make him a natural fit.


ESPN 300 ranking: N/A — three-star

It’s still unclear exactly what North Carolina’s offense will look like under Bill Belichick, but recent quarterback additions offer a clue. The Tar Heels brought in dual-threat options in South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez and 2025 commit Bryce Baker. Neither is a traditional pocket passer, nor is Burgess. He’s a great get for North Carolina with his athleticism, live arm, quick release and developmental upside. He also won’t be thrust into action immediately. Once the staff understands his strengths, he’s the kind of player it can build a system around. Though not as tall, he’s reminiscent of NC State’s CJ Bailey.


ESPN 300 ranking: N/A — three-star

Cherry is the prototypical athletic pocket passer for Jeff Brohm’s system. He’s decisive, releases the ball quickly and anticipates plays well. Combine that with Brohm’s tried-and-true scheme, and it’s easy to see why Louisville is a destination for quarterbacks such as Cherry who are looking to up their game. He is similar to Cardinals transfer quarterback Miller Moss in both skill and style. Cherry thrives in quick-game concepts, excels in the intermediate passing attack and is highly effective off deep play-action. Louisville is attractive for Cherry because it always layers good skill players around its quarterback.

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Panthers-Oilers Game 6 preview: Can the Oilers force a Game 7?

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Panthers-Oilers Game 6 preview: Can the Oilers force a Game 7?

Will Tuesday night’s matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers be the final game of the 2024-25 season? Or will there be one more on Friday?

The Panthers lead 3-2 in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final ahead of Game 6 (8 p.m. ET, TNT/Max). If they win, they skate the Cup on home ice. If the Oilers win, Game 7 is back in Edmonton.

Here are notes on the matchup from ESPN Research, as well as betting intel from ESPN BET:

More from Game 5: Recap | Grades

Matchup notes

Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers
Game 6 | 8 p.m. ET | TNT/Max

With a 3-2 lead ahead of Game 6 on home ice, the Panthers are now -400 favorites to win the Cup and the Oilers are +300; those numbers are adjusted from prior to Game 5, when both clubs were -110. As for the Conn Smythe Trophy, Sam Bennett remains the leader, but his odds have shifted from +150 to -190. Brad Marchand (+300), Connor McDavid (+700) and Leon Draisaitl (+700) round out the top four.

The Panthers are seeking to become the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions by beating the same team since the Montreal Canadiens did so against the Boston Bruins in 1977 and 1978 — for the Habs, those were titles No. 2 and 3 of four straight earned between 1976 and 1979. A Panthers win would be the fourth Stanley Cup for a team based in the state of Florida this decade (the Tampa Bay Lightning won in 2020 and 2021).

The Oilers are facing elimination for the first time in the 2025 playoffs. Last year, they were 5-1 when facing elimination — including three wins in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final after falling behind 3-0. Road teams facing elimination in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final have gone 6-6 in the past 12 occurrences.

Marchand is having a superb Stanley Cup Final, scoring six goals thus far. That marks the most goals in a Cup Final since Esa Tikkanen (1988, also six). Marchand is the first player to score five or more goals with multiple teams in a Cup Final, and his five road goals in this series are the most in a single Cup Final since Jack Adams had six for the Vancouver Millionaires in 1922. With multiple multigoal games in the Cup Final, Marchand joins Jeff Friesen (New Jersey Devils, 2003) and Max Talbot (2009, Pittsburgh Penguins) as the only players to pull off that feat in the past 30 years.

Teammate Sam Bennett is also entering historic territory. With a goal in Edmonton in Game 5, he became the fifth player in NHL history with a streak of six straight road games with a goal. He is also the fourth active NHL player to score 15 goals in a single postseason, joining Zach Hyman (16, 2024), Alex Ovechkin (15, 2018) and Sidney Crosby (15, 2009).

Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky tied the NHL record for most road wins in a single postseason (10). The other five goalies tied atop the list are: Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues, 2019), Braden Holtby (Washington Capitals, 2018), Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings, 2012), Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary Flames, 2004), Martin Brodeur (Devils, 2000 and 1995).

With three goals in this series, Edmonton’s Corey Perry tied Mark Recchi (Bruins, 2011) and Igor Larionov (Detroit Red Wings, 2002) for the most goals by a player age 40 or older in a single Cup Final.

McDavid scored a point in every home game he played since the 4 Nations Face-Off break — a run of 17 straight games, with 36 points in that span. He reached 150 playoff points in 95 games, the third-fastest player in NHL history to reach that benchmark, behind Wayne Gretzky (68 games played) and Mario Lemieux (86).

With one more game-winning goal this series, Draisaitl would become just the third player in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) — and first since 1977 — to have three game winners in a single Stanley Cup Final. The previous players to do so are Jacques Lemaire (1977) and Jean Beliveau (1965 and 1960), both of whom accomplished the feat for the Canadiens.

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Oilers coach: We’ve overcome difficult situations before

Kris Knoblauch keeps faith in his Oilers as he reflects on losing Game 5 in Edmonton.


Scoring leaders

GP: 22 | G: 15 | A: 7

GP: 21 | G: 11 | A: 22


Best bets for Game 6

Evander Kane over 4.5 total hits (+107): The Oilers need to be more physical if they hope to have a legitimate shot at pushing this series to a Game 7. Saturday’s team total of 25 hits, including only a pair from Kane, isn’t going to cut it. An aggressive difference-maker when he’s at his best at nearing, but not crossing, the line as he has too often this series, the winger will be one to watch from the get-go Tuesday. Notably, he registered 17 total hits through both overtime games to open this series in Edmonton. Win or lose, Kane is going to serve as a factor. Hopefully for the Oilers, not by earning himself time in the penalty box.

Stuart Skinner under 25.5 total saves (-120): If Skinner — presuming coach Kris Knoblauch goes with his No. 1 netminder to start Game 6 — struggles, or the rest of the Oilers fail to perform well enough out front, he won’t last long enough in the crease to make 26 saves before all is said and done. The leash will be short in this must-win contest. Or perhaps Edmonton’s team defense rises to the occasion and prevents more scoring chances in support of their starting goaltender, as it did in earlier rounds versus Dallas and Vegas.

Connor McDavid first period anytime goal-scorer (+600): After Leon Draisaitl scored the opener in Game 1, the Panthers are perfect in four straight games at catching the back of the net first, outscoring Edmonton 11-4 altogether in the initial period. The Oilers understand reversing that trend would go a long way in helping them survive, particularly by forcing Florida to sway from their stifling defensive play. Who better to look to than McDavid, who finally found the back of the net this series in Saturday’s losing effort? The sport’s best player needs to shoot more, and he knows it. He’ll be revved right up to make a statement, early. — Victoria Matiash

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Ohtani allows 1 run, 2 hits in 28-pitch inning

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Ohtani allows 1 run, 2 hits in 28-pitch inning

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani jogged off the pitcher’s mound and leaned against the dugout railing while strapping on his elbow guard and batting gloves. He was thrown a towel to wipe the sweat off his face, then walked to the batter’s box to face San Diego Padres ace Dylan Cease without taking any practice swings.

With that, Ohtani began his quest to once again do what many in the sport consider impossible.

Ohtani made his pitching debut from Dodger Stadium on Monday, giving up a run in his lone inning of work, then struck out in his first plate appearance as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ designated hitter, marking the first time he has pitched and hit in a game since Aug. 23, 2023. He would eventually finish 2-4 with two RBIs in his club’s 6-3 victory.

Ohtani is close to 21 months removed from a second repair of his right ulnar collateral ligament but faced hitters only three times before essentially rejoining the Dodgers’ rotation, his last session, from Petco Park in San Diego last Tuesday, spanning three simulated innings and 44 pitches.

Ohtani communicated to the Dodgers that facing hitters hours before games, then cooling off and having to ramp back up to DH later that night, was more taxing on his body than doing both simultaneously, prompting him to return to pitching sooner than expected. These initial starts will basically function as the continuation of Ohtani’s pitching rehab. On Monday, he was basically utilized as an opener.

Ohtani reached 99.9 mph and 100.2 mph with his fastball but also uncorked a wild pitch while utilizing 28 pitches to record the first three outs. Fernando Tatis Jr. led off with a bloop single and Luis Arraez followed with a line-drive single. Ohtani should have recorded a strikeout of Manny Machado, who went around on a two-strike swing. But first-base umpire Ryan Blakney ruled otherwise, bringing the count to 2-2 and later prompting a sacrifice fly to score the game’s first run.

Ohtani followed by inducing groundouts to Gavin Sheets and Xander Bogaerts, and with that, his pitching debut was over.

The Dodgers hope it’s the first of many starts.

Ohtani, 30, functioned as a transformative two-way player from 2021 to 2023, winning two unanimous MVPs and also finishing as the runner-up to Aaron Judge. On offense, Ohtani slashed .277/.379/.585 with 124 home runs and 57 stolen bases. On the mound, he posted a 2.84 ERA with 542 strikeouts and 143 walks in 428⅓ innings.

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