Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Monday, Nov. 10 for forcibly throwing his water bottle to the floor while on the bench during a Nov. 8 game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The incident occurred with 6:25 remaining in the third quarter after Ingram fouled Sixers forward Trendon Watford on a driving layup at Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Watford scored the basket and the foul before a frustrated Ingram walked to the Raptors bench, sat down and threw the water bottle on the floor in disgust. The bottle made contact with a game attendant and caused a delay to dry the court.

The referees assessed a technical foul, and Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey made the free throw before Watford made his free throw to complete the and-1. By the game’s conclusion, Watford had recorded his first career triple-double with 20 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists.

Ingram had a strong game for the Raptors, recording 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists, but Philadelphia would go on to beat Toronto 130-120 in the Atlantic Division showdown.

The Raptors return to action Tuesday, Nov. 11 for a game against the Nets in Brooklyn. The 76ers host the Boston Celtics on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET in a nationally televised game on NBC.

Although the MLB hot stove is already in full effect, we’ve still got a week of season awards to look forward to as we reminisce about the 2025 season. The week starts with the reveal of the AL and NL Rookie of the Year Awards on Monday, Nov. 10.

The 2025 season was a tremendous year for rookies across Major League Baseball. Between Jacob Wilson’s incredible bat control, Nick Kurtz’s historic power, Drake Baldwin’s high-end bat as a catcher, and Cade Horton’s tremendous work on the mound, the decision in both leagues was likely a very difficult one for voters.

In the end though, neither decision seemed all that difficult. Kurtz won the award unanimously for the American League, while Baldwin took home 21 of 30 possible first-place votes.

Here’s how Baldwin and Kurtz won, who the other finalists were and previous Rookie of the Year winners in both leagues:

Drake Baldwin named NL Rookie of the Year

Despite strong cases for Cubs’ starter Cade Horton and Brewers’ infielder Caleb Durbin, the Braves’ backstop earned the award after smashing an astounding 19 home runs with a .274 average and .810 OPS.

Baldwin’s 126 OPS+ was the third-highest by a rookie catcher since 2010:

Buster Posey, 2010 (133)
Adley Rutschmann, 2022 (131)

That was enough to sway voters apparently, but it was a close race. Baldwin earned 21 of the possible 30 first-place votes. Horton earned all nine others.

Nick Kurtz named AL Rookie of the Year

The Athletics’ slugger enjoyed a historic rookie season, smacking 36 home runs and driving in 86 runs all while maintaining an OPS over 1.000, winning the award unanimously.

While both Roman Anthony and Kurtz’s teammate Jacob Wilson had tremendous seasons themselves, the sheer power that Kurtz showcased made him a runaway favorite and there are no surprises here tonight. Kurtz becomes the ninth Athletic to win the award and the first since Andrew Bailey in 2009.

How to watch 2025 Rookie of the Year announcement

The Rookie of the Year announcement ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 10. Fans can watch the reveal live on MLB Network.

2025 Rookie of the Year finalists

American League

1B Nick Kurtz, Athletics

Kurtz struggled to kick off his MLB career, slugging just .327 through his first 16 games. Then the pieces started to come together. He hammered 36 home runs in just 101 games to end the year, putting him on pace for 58 over the course of a full 162-game season. He also slashed .290/.383/.619, good for an OPS over 1.000 for the year.

That type of power would normally be enough for MVP consideration, but in a year where Cal Raleigh hits 60 and Aaron Judge does Aaron Judge things, Kurtz will likely only receive top-10 MVP consideration. What a shame.

SS Jacob Wilson, Athletics

Wilson was a huge storyline at the start of the season. The man had zero plate discipline and wasn’t hitting balls particularly hard, yet was somehow consistently finding holes. It took him 23 games to earn his first walk, yet somehow his batting average was sitting in the high-.330’s.

Wilson was a hit machine and one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball all year. Although his luck took a bit of a turn in mid-July, seeing his average drop from .337 to .311 in less than three weeks, he continued to provide consistent base knocks for an Athletics team with some serious power threats in the middle of their lineup. Should Wilson be able to maintain this level of success in the future, he could consistently be near the top of MLB in runs scored every year.

OF Roman Anthony, Boston Red Sox

If fans didn’t know any better, they’d probably think Roman Anthony was a five-year vet with multiple All-Star appearances under his belt. Anyone who watched this man at the plate saw a pro, someone who wasn’t letting the pressure of playing in Major League Baseball get to them. His Baseball Savant page is filled with red markers, labeling him as one of the best pure hitters in baseball. If he can shore up his strikeout problems, he might become one of the most complete hitters in the league for years to come.

Anthony wasn’t around for a long time in 2025, playing just 71 games. That likely will cost him Rookie of the Year, and it’s a shame that he lost his rookie status in a year that featured two historic rookie seasons from the Athletics. Regardless, Anthony could very easily wind up being the best player from this year’s rookie class.

National League

C Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves

Catchers aren’t expected to do much. In today’s MLB, catchers are only meant to call a good game, have great relationships with their pitching staff, and trick umpires. Baldwin did all that, and was also a stud at the dish.

Baldwin was a serviceable catcher with some very strong defensive traits. His seven blocks above average ranked in the 92nd percentile among MLB catchers. However, his bat is what really impressed fans. Baldwin’s .810 OPS was a remarkable figure, and even more impressive coming from one of the sport’s least offense-driven positions. Having a strong catcher is a massive advantage in MLB nowadays, given how thin the position is. Atlanta has set themselves up nicely in that regard.

IF Caleb Durbin, Milwaukee Brewers

If the argument for Rookie of the Year was ‘the best rookie on the best team,’ Durbin would have a tremendous case. The infielder was a catalyst for the Brewers’ offense and helped catapult the team to the best record in baseball. However, he wasn’t much more than a league average hitter.

Durbin played 136 games for the Brewers and posted a solid 2.8 WAR. He will likely be a key cog to the Brewers core for many years to come, but with so many talented rookies this year, Durbin feels like more of a longshot than most others on this list.

SP Cade Horton, Chicago Cubs

There’s no denying that Horton was one of the best pitchers in the National League this year. That’s easy to assess when considering his 2.67 ERA, 11-4 record, and 7.4 K/9. The only drawback is that he only pitched 118 innings.

Horton was a key factor in Chicago’s run to the postseason this year. His control of the zone and ability to get hitters to chase outside the zone make him a strong candidate for sustained success in MLB. That said, his lack of innings this year is his biggest case against. Did he provide enough volume for the Cubs to warrant consideration over the competition?

Previous Rookie of the Year winners

Here is every MLB Rookie of the Year winner since 2000:

2000

AL: Kazuhiro Sasaki, Mariners
NL: Rafael Furcal, Braves

2001

AL: Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
NL: Albert Pujols, Cardinals

2002

AL: Eric Hinske, Blue Jays
NL: Jason Jennings, Rockies

2003

AL: Angel Berroa, Royals
NL: Dontrelle Willis, Marlins

2004

AL: Bobby Crosby, Athletics
NL: Jason Bay, Pirates

2005

AL: Huston Street, Athletics
NL: Ryan Howard, Phillies

2006

AL: Justin Verlander, Tigers
NL: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins

2007

AL: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
NL: Ryan Braun, Brewers

2008

AL: Evan Longoria, Rays
NL: Geovany Soto, Cubs

2009

AL: Andrew Bailey, Athletics
NL: Chris Coghlan, Marlins

2010

AL: Neftali Feliz, Rangers
NL: Buster Posey, Giants

2011

AL: Jeremy Hellickson, Rays
NL: Craig Kimbrel, Braves

2012

AL: Mike Trout, Angels
NL: Bryce Harper, Nationals

2013

AL: Wil Myers, Rays
NL: Jose Fernandez, Marlins

2014

AL: Jose Abreu, White Sox
NL: Jacob deGrom, Mets

2015

AL: Carlos Correa, Astros
NL: Kris Bryant, Cubs

2016

AL: Michael Fulmer, Tigers
NL: Corey Seager, Dodgers

2017

AL: Aaron Judge, Yankees
NL: Cody Bellinger, Dodgers

2018

AL: Shohei Ohtani, Angels
NL: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves

2019

AL: Yordan Alvarez, Astros
NL: Pete Alonso, Mets

2020

AL: Kyle Lewis, Mariners
NL: Devin Williams, Brewers

2021

AL: Randy Arozarena, Rays
NL: Jonathan India, Reds

2022

AL: Julio Rodriguez, Mariners
NL: Michael Harris II, Braves

2023

AL: Gunnar Henderson, Orioles
NL: Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks

2024

AL: Luis Gil, Yankees
NL: Paul Skenes, Pirates

The school announced Turner’s death on Monday, Nov. 10, after a nearly six-week stay in intensive care at a hospital following a tragic off-campus traffic collision.

Turner, a sophomore, last appeared in a game for the Titans on Sept. 25 against UC Riverside.

A GoFundMe set up for Turner’s family details the Sept. 27 accident Turner was involved in:

‘On September 27, my beloved sister Lauren was struck by a box truck while riding her scooter. She is now in the ICU in critical condition, battling severe head trauma.’

Turner, a native of Tustin, California, appeared in 10 games this season and made eight starts. She played the full 90 minutes in the Titans’ 1-0 win over Pittsburgh on Aug. 28, which marked the program’s second-ever win over an ACC opponent.

She appeared in all 20 games as a freshman, which included four starts. Her first career collegiate goal came at home against UC Riverside on Oct. 3, 2024.

The Cal State Fullerton women’s soccer team will hold a candlelight vigil in honor of Turner on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 5:30 p.m. PT on the field at Titan Stadium.

‘Lauren was the funniest, most charismatic, and loving teammate you could ever ask for,’ a statement from the 2025 Titans soccer team read. ‘She was the first to celebrate other people’s wins.  She is the true definition of an amazing person.  She always carried herself with compassion, kindness, and happiness.  The impact she made on the Titans women’s soccer program is immeasurable.  She will be dearly missed by everyone but forever remembered by her Titan family.  We love you, Lauren, our No. 5 Forever.’

Zdeno Chara and Duncan Keith didn’t let their unique body types stall their dreams of playing in the NHL. Once there, the former defensemen took their careers to another level, culminating with their induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday, Nov. 10 in Toronto.

Chara and Keith joined six other former players and coaches in the latest induction class. Former NHL players Joe Thornton and Alexander Mogilny, former Boston University coach Jack Parker, former Canadian women’s coach Daniele Sauvageau, and former women’s players Jennifer Botterill and Brianna Decker were the others.

Standing 6-foot-9, Chara is still the tallest ever to appear in an NHL game.

Initially a project, he ended up playing 24 seasons in the NHL, and his 1,680 games are the most by a defenseman in league history. He won the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman in 2009, and he led the Boston Bruins to three Stanley Cup finals, winning the championship in 2011.

‘Playing youth hockey, with my size, wasn’t easy, but … I had hope,’ Chara said. ‘I had dreams to one day play in big games, but it wasn’t until I left (Slovakia) that I realized that my size was seen as an advantage. When I came to America, I was just a tall kid, could barely speak English, but I was so lucky and grateful for families that were willing to take me and accept me as their own son.’

Keith, listed as 6-foot-1, 192 pounds, won three Stanley Cup titles with the Chicago Blackhawks in his 17-year NHL career, two Norris Trophies, a Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP and two Olympic gold medals.

‘I never got to be the biggest player out there, but I got tall enough to make it,’ he said. ‘It was just one of those things, just being smaller I knew I had to be quick and fast and working hard to get that speed up. … It was survival more than anything.’

Thornton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NHL Draft and he also played 24 seasons in the NHL, leading the league with 125 points in 2005-2006, even after getting traded from the Bruins to the San Jose Sharks early in the season.

Mogilny played in 990 NHL games, amassing 473 goals and 1,032 points. He led the NHL with 76 goals in 1992-93, and won a Stanley Cup title with the New Jersey Devils in 2000.

Parker won three NCAA national championships at Boston University, three NCAA coach-of-the-year honors and five Hockey East coach-of-the-year awards, retiring as the third-winningest coach (897 wins) in NCAA history.

Sauvageau coached the Canadian women’s team to their first-ever Olympic gold medal in 2002.

Botterill is a three-time Olympic gold medalist with Canada and a five-time gold medalist at the World Championship. She was also one of the most dominant players all-time at the collegiate level with Harvard, twice winning the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top women’s collegiate player.

Decker was an Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion. She was named the best women’s college player in 2012 while playing for Wisconsin.

LAS VEGAS – Just a day after two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were indicted by federal authorities for wire fraud and several counts of conspiracy to influence sporting events with professional gamblers, Major League Baseball announced Monday that it has reached an agreement with prominent U.S. sportsbooks to place a limit on baseball wagering centered on prop bets.

The betting limit will now be limited to $200 on wagers focused on individual pitches and exclude them from parlays in hopes of decreasing the incentives of MLB players to be involved in illegal gambling.

Guardians All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase and starter Luis Ortiz have been under investigation since July for their alleged gambling activities in games, agreeing to throw specific pitches in games, and face a potential 65 years in federal prison. Ortiz was arrested Sunday in Boston, and Clase has not yet been placed in U.S. custody.

“MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process,” a league spokesperson said in a statement.

If found guilty, Clase and Ortiz will also receive lifetime suspensions from baseball.

‘I commend the industry for working with us to take action on a national solution to address the risks posed by these pitch-level markets, which are particularly vulnerable to integrity concerns,’ Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.

Manfred said he received guidance on prop betting from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who called for a ban on micro-proposition bets after MLB launched its investigation in July on Clase and Ortiz.

“By limiting the ability to place large wagers on micro-prop bets, Major League Baseball is taking affirmative steps to protect the integrity of the game and reduce the incentives to participate in improper betting schemes,’ DeWine said in a statement. “I urge other sports leagues to follow Major League Baseball’s example with similar action.’

DraftKings and FanDuel, the two largest sportsbook operators that have sponsorships with MLB, agreed to alter their baseball betting menus after talks with MLB.

“Since the Supreme Court decision opened the door to legalized sports betting, Major League Baseball has continuously worked with industry and regulatory stakeholders across the country to uphold our most important priority,’’ Manfred said, “protecting the integrity of our games for the fans. … We look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders, including licensed sports betting operators, elected officials and regulators, to ensure we are always protecting the integrity of our game.”

Said Christian Genetski, president of FanDuel: “The legalized sports betting industry is built on a foundation of dialogue and collaboration with our league partners and the states in which we operate. This initiative illustrates our unwavering commitment to building a legal and regulated market that roots out abuses by those who seek to undermine fair competition and damage the integrity of the games we love.”

Major League Baseball, which is having its annual GM meetings in Las Vegas this week, is also scheduled to have its first MLB team, the Athletics, playing on the Las Vegas strip in 2028.

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It’s a great day for Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton.

Singleton announced on social media that he underwent successful surgery on Friday for testicular cancer after being diagnosed last week.

“Thankfully we believe the cancer was caught early with a great prognosis for me and my family,” Singleton posted on social media. “While we are still awaiting some additional test results, I fully expect to return to the field in the coming weeks.”

Singleton disclosed after a random drug test as part of the NFL’s drug testing program, doctors discovered he had a testicular cancerous tumor. Singleton played in Denver’s Nov. 6 win over the Las Vegas Raiders and underwent surgery the following day.

“I wrestled with sharing such personal information publicly,” Singleton said. “But the fact is, if it helps one person decide to pay closer attention to their body, then it’s well worth it.”

The 31-year-old linebacker is in his fourth year with the Broncos. He’s started 10 games for Denver this season. He previously played three seasons (2019-2021) with the Philadelphia Eagles.

‘Our No. 1 priority is Alex’s health and well-being, and we are grateful it appears the cancer was caught early,’ the Broncos said in a statement. ‘Alex and his family have our unwavering support as we look forward to welcoming him back on the field soon.’

Major League Baseball has a long, sordid history with sports gambling, from the Black Sox scandal at the beginning of the 20th century to Pete Rose’s admission he bet on baseball 70 years later. But MLB is also now the latest American professional league to be linked with a federal investigation concerning the relatively recent wave of legalization in sports gambling after two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were featured in an indictment that was unsealed on Sunday, Nov. 9.

Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy, for their alleged roles in a scheme to rig bets on pitches thrown during MLB games, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The 23-page indictment alleges Ortiz and Cruz agreed in advance with their co-conspirators on specific pitches that they would throw in MLB games. The co-conspirators then used the information to place hundreds of fraudulent bets on those pitches, with the winnings totaling at least $450,000.

Ortiz, through his attorney, denied the allegations and said ‘there is no credible evidence (Ortiz) knowingly did anything other than try to win games, with every pitch and in every inning.’ Ortiz was arrested on Sunday in Boston and is scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court on Monday, Nov. 10. Clase, a three-time MLB All-Star, was not in custody as of Monday morning.

The same Brooklyn-based U.S. Attorney’s Office that charged NBA player Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and others with basketball-related gambling offenses last month is handling this MLB case. The MLB allegations are considered the most serious gambling charges facing the sport since Rose was banned from baseball in 1989 for betting on games.

‘The defendants deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services. They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed. And they betrayed America’s pastime,’ Joseph Nocella Jr., the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District, said in a statement. 

Here’s a breakdown of what to know about this MLB gambling scandal involving Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, including a timeline of events and how their alleged illegal scheme worked:

How did MLB gambling scandal work?

The indictment alleges bettors wagered on the speed and type of pitches thrown by Clase, and later Ortiz as well, based on information they knew in advance by coordinating with Clase, sometimes even during MLB games. Clase often threw these rigged pitches on the first pitch of an at-bat when he entered the game in relief, according to the investigation. To ensure certain pitches were called as balls, Clase threw sliders rather than fastballs or cutters, with many of them ending up in the dirt and well outside the strike zone.

The bettors used the inside information that Clase provided about his future pitches to wager thousands of dollars on more than 100 pitch speed and ball/hit by pitch prop bets and parlays at online sportsbooks, according to investigators. Ortiz joined Clase in the conspiracy to rig pitches by the 2025 MLB season, with the two pitchers receiving kickbacks and bribes, or placing bets for themselves by proxy in certain instances.

What does MLB gambling scandal mean for players?

If convicted on all four charges, both Clase and Ortiz could face up to 65 years in federal prison. They are also facing a ban from baseball for betting on MLB games and, in Clase’s case, allegedly using a cell phone during games.

MLB betting scandal timeline

All dates are from the Justice Department indictment related to the case.

May 19, 2023

Federal authorities allege May 2023 is around when Clase first agreed to rig prop bets regarding certain pitches he threw during MLB games, in coordination with a group of corrupt sports bettors. The first such incident cited in the indictment for Clase and Ortiz occurred on May 19 when the Cleveland Guardians faced the New York Mets at Citi Field. Clase gave advance notice about a specific pitch and a bettor won $27,000 after wagering a pitch thrown by Clase would be higher than 94.95 miles per hour, according to the investigation.

June 3, 2023

Clase is alleged to have tipped off co-conspirators about a specific pitch in advance and bettors won $38,000 via bets placed on Clase’s pitch to be a ball and thrown under 94.95 mph. The pitch by Clase allegedly involved in the bet was slower than 94.95 mph and bounced in the dirt well short of home plate, according to a video screenshot included in the indictment.

June 7, 2023

Several wagers were allegedly placed on Clase to throw a specific pitch that would be a ball and under 94.95 mph during a game between the Guardians and Boston Red Sox on this date after Clase gave advance notice he would do so. The bets totaled $58,000 in winnings when Clase’s pitch was recorded as less than 94.95 mph and again landed in the dirt well short of home plate.

Dec. 10, 2024

The Cleveland Guardians acquired pitcher Luis Ortiz in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

April 12, 2025

Federal authorities allege Clase began to receive kickback payments and bribes in exchange for throwing specific pitches around April 2025, with the first incident cited by the investigation on this date during a Guardians game against the Kansas City Royals. Several bettors allegedly won approximately $15,000 on bets placed on Clase to throw a pitch that was both a ball/HBP and under 98.45 mph.

Clase sent a series of text messages to an unnamed co-conspirator on April 13 in which the co-conspirator confirmed to Clase that wagers had been made and won. Clase then directed the co-conspirator to send money to the Dominican Republic, where Clase is from.

‘(S)end it as if it were someone else,’ Clase allegedly wrote in a text message. ‘… for repairs at the country house.’

April 25, 2025

Clase allegedly obtained tickets for a co-conspirator and bettor in the case to attend the Guardians-Red Sox game in Cleveland on this day, and then used his cell phone during the game as part of the illegal gambling scheme. At about 3:16 p.m. ET ‒ the game began around 1 p.m. ‒ Clase is accused of texting and then having a two-minute phone conversation with the bettor in attendance.

Four minutes after that, the bettor and several other unnamed co-conspirators allegedly involved in the scheme won about $11,000 on a wager that a specific Clase pitch would be slower than 97.95 mph. The bettor allegedly visited Clase at his Ohio residence before and after the game. MLB policy prohibits the usage of unapproved electronic devices such as cell phones during games.

May 11, 2025

The unnamed bettor again came to Clase’s Ohio residence before and after a game between the Guardians and Philadelphia Phillies. Using advance and inside information from Clase, the bettor and his associates allegedly won about $11,000 by placing prop bets that a specific pitch by Clase would be a ball/hit by pitch.

May 13, 2025

The indictment alleges Clase provided money to an unnamed bettor to place wagers on Clase’s specific pitches on his behalf for a Guardians game against the Milwaukee Brewers on this day. Several unnamed co-conspirators allegedly won about $3,500 by betting a specific pitch by Clase would be both a ball and slower than 99.45 mph. One of the bettors visited Clase that night at his Ohio residence.

Clase, according to the investigation, had transferred approximately $2,500 to an individual, who subsequently transferred the money to the bettor who visited Clase’s home.

May 17, 2025

During a game between the Guardians and Cincinnati Reds on this date, Clase allegedly sent a text message to a bettor at 8:24 p.m. ET asking if the bettor was ‘ready.’ The game started at approximately 6:40 p.m. ET. About 10 minutes later, the bettor and several others allegedly won about $10,000 by placing multiple bets that a specific pitch by Clase would be both a ball/hit by pitch and thrown slower than 97.95 mph. Three days later, text messages obtained by investigators show Clase sending bank information to the bettor involved.

‘Let me know when you send the thing,’ Clase allegedly wrote in a text message. ‘I will start with 2,000.’

May 28, 2025

Between 2023 and 2025, bettors involved are alleged to have placed 16 parlay bets in which one leg of each parlay was eight specific pitches by Clase would be a ball or hit by pitch. It was successful but for one pitch on this day, according to the indictment.

About 10 minutes before the start of a Guardians game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at 1 p.m. ET, an unnamed bettor in the case and Clase exchanged text messages in which Clase confirmed he was ‘all set.’ At about 3:36 p.m., two bettors involved in the investigation placed bets totaling $4,000, including a parlay bet, that a specific pitch by Clase would be a ball or hit by pitch.

Clase threw a pitch that appeared to be a ball, according to the indictment, but Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages swung and the bettors lost their wager. About 20 minutes later, the bettor that texted Clase before the game sent a text message with a .gif of a man hanging himself with toilet paper. Ten minutes after that, according to investigators, Clase responded with a .gif of a sad puppy dog face.

June 15, 2025

The indictment alleges Ortiz joined the scheme with Clase around June 2025 and agreed in advance to throw balls instead of strikes before a Guardians game against the Seattle Mariners on June 15 in exchange for bribes. Ortiz was the scheduled starting pitcher in the game. The bettors agreed to pay Ortiz a $5,000 bribe for throwing the rigged pitch and Clase a $5,000 bribe for arranging the rigged pitch, according to the indictment.

The investigation included text messages and a phone call exchanged prior to the game between Clase and an unnamed bettor. The bettors allegedly won a payout of $26,000 after placing several wagers on a specific pitch by Ortiz.

An associate of Clase then corresponded with one of the unnamed bettors involved on June 16, according to the indictment, and directed the bettor to electronically transfer $10,000 in smaller increments. Clase later exchanged text messages with the bettor and Ortiz in which all parties confirmed the delivery method.

June 18, 2025

Ortiz sent text messages to Clase in which he included a photograph of an identification card for an individual in the Dominican Republic and wrote: ‘Clase, tell them to put the 90 thousand pesos there are and to keep the other ones,’ according to the indictment. ‘Keep the 200 and the 90 to that person today please.’

The next day, Clase sent Ortiz a photo of a wire transfer receipt for 90,000 pesos as well as an audio message in which he directed Ortiz and his associates to lie about the purpose of the funds.

‘They’re going to ask him what is that payment for over there,’ Clase allegedly said. ‘Tell them that this is payment for a horse. You got that.’ Ortiz later responded, ‘Okay, perfect.’

June 27, 2025

Federal authorities allege Ortiz again rigged a pitch with co-conspirators before a Guardians game against the St. Louis Cardinals on this day. Ortiz agreed with his co-conspirators to throw a ball in exchange for a $7,000 bribe from the bettors for throwing the rigged pitch. Clase received a $7,000 bribe for arranging the rigged pitch, according to the indictment.

Clase was captured on bank security camera footage withdrawing $50,000 in cash before the game and provided $15,000 to a co-conspirator. That same co-conspirator was captured on camera depositing $15,000 at the same bank branch approximately one hour later. That money was allegedly used to wager on Ortiz’s rigged pitch during the game, with a payout of about $37,000 when Ortiz successfully threw a ball. In total, by rigging pitches for bribes, Ortiz caused his co-conspirator bettors to win at least $60,000 in fraudulent wagers in June 2025, according to the investigation.

July 28, 2025

Aug. 31, 2025

MLB, after an agreement with the MLBPA, announced Clase and Ortiz would remain on non-disciplinary paid leave ‘until further notice’ with the sports betting investigation still ongoing. Clase and Ortiz are allowed to contact the Guardians organization while on leave, but don’t have access to team facilities.

Nov. 9, 2025

The Justice Department announced it unsealed indictments for Clase and Ortiz related to their alleged roles in an illegal MLB betting and gambling scheme.

A two-game winning streak has Bill Belichick doing crazy things — like appreciate the media.

Roughly an hour after North Carolina beat Stanford 20-15, Belichick made his way to the lectern for his postgame news conference. 

“Thanks for your patience,” Belichick said.

And about 15 minutes into the news conference, the 73-year-old coach was answering what a UNC spokesperson said would be the last question, but Belichick interjected and chose to spend about 12 more minutes with reporters. 

“We got time for a couple of more, if you want,” Belichick said. “I know I’ve kept you hanging here, so I can go a little longer, if you want.” 

After nearly 27 minutes, Belichick finally put a bow on his question-and-answer session, closing by saying, “OK, thank you. Thanks for your patience. Appreciate it.” 

What!?!

It was the longest postgame news conference through his nine games as UNC coach. In the other eight games, Belichick’s average postgame news conference lasted just under 10 minutes. In his weekly news conference leading up to the Stanford game, Belichick went for nearly 29 minutes, which was his longest presser since the 45-minute introduction in his first appearance as the leader of the Tar Heels on Dec. 12, 2024. 

The season-low was just over eight minutes following UNC’s 21-18 loss at Cal. But that’s the week the Tar Heels started to see their improvement show up on the scoreboard. 

Following another gut-wrenching loss, a 17-16 defeat against No. 16 Virginia in overtime, Belichick clocked in at just under nine minutes in that postgame presser. In the two weeks since, UNC (4-5, 2-3 ACC) has earned back-to-back wins.

What Bill Belichick said after UNC’s 2-game win streak

After the latest victory against Stanford (3-7, 2-5), the six-time Super Bowl champion provided key insight on the ‘learning curve’ that occurred during his time at UNC, most notably answering a question about adjusting to coaching at the college level.

‘I don’t think it’s as much about the level. In retrospect, I think I could have done a better job in looking at some of our players and putting them in a better position to be successful. I think we have tried to do that more as we’ve gone forward, and I think it’s benefited some of them. Some of those, if we could have identified a little bit sooner, that would have been helpful. But we didn’t. It’s nobody’s fault, it’s just kind of the way it was,” Belichick said.

‘But as we played more games and got more opportunities to see our guys work together, find the right combinations, and help them improve and put them in positions that are maybe a little better for their skill set, that’s helped some of their production as well. So going back to the early part of the season, there’s a number of moving parts there, but again, in retrospect, I think I, and we as a staff, could have done a better job. 

‘If we knew then what we know now, there’s some things we would have done differently, but some of those we had to experience. Things we thought we could do, things we didn’t do very well, other things that we maybe weren’t sure we could do, we were actually able to do OK. That’s been part of our learning curve.’

That learning curve started with an 0-5 mark against Power Four competition, including blowout losses to TCU, UCF and Clemson. But throughout the process, Belichick has remained adamant that the Tar Heels have shown steady improvement. 

‘Look, I’ve said 1,000 times that we’ve improved significantly over the course of the season, individually and collectively,” Belichick said. “Our team defense, our team offense, our kickoff coverage, I mean everything. It’s not just one guy or one thing. It’s a collective effort.’

Can UNC football make a bowl game?

Following two losses by a combined four points, the Tar Heels have seen positive results in the past two weeks to give themselves a chance at bowl eligibility.

UNC travels to Wake Forest (6-3, 3-3) on Nov. 15 (4:30 p.m., CW Network) before closing with games against Duke (5-4, 4-1) and N.C. State (5-4, 2-3). The Heels need two wins over their last three games to become eligible for the postseason.

‘Right now, we’re gonna think about what we have, how we can correct our mistakes from the Stanford game, how to get better, and talk about the things we did well, things we didn’t do well, and then we’ll go on to Wake Forest,” Belichick said. 

“Just let everything else take care of itself.’

Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them torbaxley@usatodayco.com.

Week 10 of the 2025 fantasy football season was a mix of the unexpected and the unbelievable.

With ‘Monday Night Football’ pending, the top-12 at quarterback includes Davis Mills (QB1), Dillon Gabriel (QB9), and Tyler Shough (QB12). Additionally, Matthew Stafford notched his fifth top-eight finish in six games, while Jaxson Dart got his fourth in five outings. At running back, Jonathan Taylor (48.1 half-PPR points) outscored the top two fantasy wideouts combined by 5.8. The RB3 (Jahmyr Gibbs) outpaced the WR1 (Drake London) by 15.3 half-PPR points. That gap alone was more than the WR16 (Puka Nacua, 14.9) posted. Meanwhile, the back end of the TE1 group included names like Colby Parkinson, Jackson Hawes, and Luke Farrell. Lovely.

Here’s a look at Week 11 fantasy football rankings. Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception) and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format. Scroll to the bottom to view the complete rankings.

Our team at USA TODAY Sports has you covered with plenty of content to help with your Week 11 waiver wire and roster decisions. Looking for up-to-date player news? We’ve got it. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our content:

Waiver wire and trades: 8 players to add | 6 players to drop | 9 buy low, sell high candidates

Please note: These rankings will change significantly as the week goes on. Check back on Sunday morning for final updates.

(The risers and sleepers sections will focus on players available in at least half of Yahoo leagues. All snap and target data from PFF.)

Week 11 fantasy football quarterback rankings: Risers and sleepers

Bengals QB Joe Flacco (52% rostered) – Since taking over the Bengals’ starting gig in Week 6, Flacco is astonishingly fantasy’s QB1 in points per game. The 40-year-old had racked up 18.8, 26.0, 24.3 and 32.7 fantasy points in his four outings prior to the bye. In Week 11, he’ll take on a Steelers team that’s ceded the seventh-most fantasy points to the position.
Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett (29%) – Brissett has been impressive in his own right. Since Week 6, the veteran ranks as the QB9 in points per game and has yet to post fewer than 19.4 fantasy points. He’s an excellent streamer against a 49ers defense that’s given up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks since Week 5.
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers (38%) – Rodgers is coming off one of the worst games of his lengthy career, but he’ll be in a great position to bounce back in Week 11. The Steelers will take on the Bengals, who have surrendered the second-most fantasy points to signal-callers in 2025. Six passers have surpassed 20 fantasy points against this defense, and none have dipped below 14.2.
Other QB sleepers – 49ers QB Mac Jones (9%), Commanders QB Marcus Mariota (14%).

Week 11 fantasy football running back rankings: Risers and sleepers

Cardinals RB Emari Demercado (37%) – In Week 10, Demercado finished with just three fewer snaps than Bam Knight and ran one more route. Knight also picked up an ankle injury at the end of that contest and didn’t return. If Knight were to be out, Demercado would be in the RB2 conversation against a 49ers defense that’s allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to the position. Even if Knight plays, Demercado is in play as a flex option.
Rams RB Blake Corum (11%) – While Kyren Williams is still the lead back for the Rams, Corum has carved out enough of a role to make himself viable in deeper leagues. The 24-year-old has totaled 13 touches in three consecutive games. Corum remains one of the more valuable handcuffs in all of fantasy.
Giants RB Devin Singletary (25%) – While Tyrone Tracy Jr. dominated snaps this week, Singletary had enough of a role to make himself useful to managers desperate for RB production. The veteran has now racked up 10 and 11 opportunities (carries plus targets) over his last two games, respectively.
Buccaneers RB Sean Tucker (7%) – Among running backs with at least 80 carries in 2025, Rachaad White’s 3.7 yards per carry ranks sixth-worst, and his 1.3 yards after contact per attempt ranks fifth-worst. Tucker hasn’t fared much better, but White’s inefficiency has led to an uptick in usage for the 24-year-old. Over the last two games, Tucker has 21 carries to White’s 23, including a four-to-three edge in red zone attempts.
Other RB sleepers – Titans RB Tyjae Spears (36%), 49ers RB Brian Robinson Jr. (24%).

Week 11 fantasy football wide receiver rankings: Risers and sleepers

Buccaneers WR Tez Johnson (32%) – While Emeka Egbuka has cemented himself as the clear WR1 for Tampa Bay, Johnson is emerging as the WR2 with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans out of the lineup. In Week 10, the 23-year-old finished second on the team in snaps (57) and routes (39), while generating five targets. It was Johnson’s third consecutive game with at least five looks. Johnson also finished with three red zone targets, tied for third-most at the position. Johnson will be a WR3 against the Bills in a game that’s bound to be a high-scoring affair.
Broncos WR Troy Franklin (54%) – Is Franklin the new WR1 in Denver? While Sutton still had the edge in snaps (53 to 45) and routes (29 to 27), Franklin had far more targets (9 to 4). In fact, since Week 7, Franklin’s 37 targets rank fifth at the position and are 11 more than Sutton has generated. While the matchup with the Chiefs is a tough one, Franklin’s volume puts him in the top-30 conversation.
Jaguars WR Parker Washington (41%) – Granted, it was only Jakobi Meyers’ first week with the team, but with Brian Thomas Jr. nursing a high-ankle sprain, Washington led the team in snaps (54), routes (30), and targets (7). The 23-year-old turned that volume into three receptions for 33 yards and a score. The fact that he did it against a tough Texans defense will make him easier to stream against a stringy Chargers’ secondary.
Bears WR Luther Burden III (6%) – With D.J. Moore banged up and putting up a goose egg in Week 10, it’s possible that we’ll see Burden’s role increase as the season continues. Bears head coach Ben Johnson said, ‘There’s a strong argument we should get him the ball more,’ and that makes him worth a speculative add in deeper leagues.
Other WR sleepers – Packers WR Christian Watson (32%), Patriots WR Kyle Williams (2%), Jets WR Adonai Mitchell (1%).

Week 11 fantasy football tight end rankings: Risers and sleepers

Bears TE Colston Loveland (46%) – While Cole Kmat out-snapped the rookie 45-to-42 in Week 10, Loveland had the edge in routes (23 to 19) and targets (4 to 2). In Week 11, he’ll face a Vikings defense that’s allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends since Week 5.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth (11%) – On the season, the Bengals are allowing 19.4 half-PPR points per game to opposing tight ends, which is 4.2 more than the next-closest team. For comparison, fantasy’s TE1 (Trey McBride) is averaging 14.1 half-PPR points per game. Cincy had ceded more than 10 points to six tight ends in their last five games, including 25.6 to Freiermith in Week 7.
Other TE sleepers – Buccaneers TE Cade Otton (42%), Giants TE Theo Johnson (42%), Texans TE Dalton Schultz (34%).

Week 11 fantasy football defense (D/ST) rankings: Risers and sleepers

Bears DST at Vikings (28%) – On the season, only two teams have allowed more fantasy points to opposing defenses than the Vikings. Using Yahoo scoring, the only team that has failed to total at least seven fantasy points against Minnesota was the Bengals in Week 3. Through nine games, the Vikings have taken 34 sacks while committing 16 turnovers.
Dallas DST at Raiders (7%) – In 2025, only the Titans are ceding more fantasy points to the opposition’s defense than the Raiders. In fact, Vegas has surrendered double-digit fantasy points in six of its last eight games. Meanwhile, the Dallas squad has had its moments recently, posting 15 and 13 fantasy points in two of its last three contests.
Other D/ST sleepers – Falcons vs. Panthers (11%), Titans vs. Texans (1%, only if Davis Mills starts).

Week 11 fantasy football kicker rankings: Risers and sleepers

Vikings K Will Reichard (41%)
Bears K Cairo Santos (29%)
Jets K Nick Folk (3%)

Week 11 fantasy football rankings: PPR, half-PPR and standard