Another weekend, another defeat for Tottenham Hotspur. How much longer will Ange Postecoglou remain in charge of the north London club?

The title race in LaLiga isn't quite over yet, as Real Madrid showcased some grit to eke out a narrow win on Sunday.

And in the Bundesliga, Saturday marked the 137th league edition of Der Klassiker, but it wasn't an occasion that either Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund will remember particularly fondly.

All that and more in this edition of Weekend Review as Julien Laurens, Alex Kirkland and Constantin Eckner look across Europe for the big takeaways and highlights from the weekend.

Premier League

Top takeaway: Europa League hope keeping Ange in Spurs job

Of course, there is still the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal second leg at Eintracht Frankfurt to come on, but Postecoglou's second season in charge of Tottenham is turning into an absolute nightmare. He and his players embarrassed themselves and humiliated the club and their fans in their 17th league defeat of the season, falling 4-2 at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. It was a pathetic display marred by individual mistakes, clueless management and unacceptable attitudes.

Since April 13, 2024, Spurs have lost 22 Premier League games, more than anyone else among the teams present over the two seasons.

While there's no doubt that the north London club endured an injury crisis earlier in the campaign, Postecoglou can't even blame his side's malaise on that anymore as all his players are now fit. He's continually messing up his teams and his substitutions, getting his game plans wrong. The players have lost faith in him, the fans too, and the club is already looking for who will come next.

Only the Europa League is keeping him in the job, but that could change as soon as Thursday.

Best match: Man City 5-2 Crystal Palace

Manchester City are not what they used to be and neither is Kevin De Bruyne, but there is still a bit of life and genius in the old Premier League champions and in their soon-to-be-former playmaker. From 2-0 down at home, City rallied to a superb 5-2 victory featuring five different goal scorers, with De Bruyne at the heart of everything. It was just like the good ol' days.

Best goal: Jadon Sancho vs. Ipswich Town

Despite an encouraging start to his loan spell at Chelsea, Sancho is not having a good season. Before Sunday, the last time he scored was Dec. 8 -- a drought that lasted 21 games. His wonderful curler into the top corner was worth the wait, salvaging a draw and a vital point for Chelsea in their desperate and precarious quest to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League.

MVP (and LVP) of the weekend: Joao Pedro, Brighton & Hove Albion (Marco Asensio, Aston Villa)

For this week, and this week only, let's adjust this category slightly and name our MVP and our LVP (least valuable player) as they are linked. Pedro scored two penalties in Brighton's 2-2 draw with Leicester City, one to his right and one to his left, while Asensio missed two in Villa's 3-0 win over Southampton, hitting them both to his right and into the clutches of Aaron Ramsdale. -- Laurens

LaLiga

Top takeaway: Madrid overcome Mbappé red to stay in title race

Kylian Mbappé's red card against Alavés was inexplicable. The forward's challenge on midfielder Antonio Blanco was wild, reckless -- jumping into the tackle, studs first, and connecting well up Blanco's shin -- and was only ever going to result in a sending off. Blanco was lucky to avoid serious injury. Coach Davide Ancelotti, standing in for his suspended father Carlo, blamed "all the little fouls" Mbappé had suffered until that 38th-minute dismissal, but there was no excusing the unforgivable.

Fortunately for Mbappé, Madrid were already 1-0 up, thanks to a gorgeous long-range strike from Eduardo Camavinga. Then, midway through the second half, Alavés' Manu Sánchez was sent off to level the playing field. Madrid got the 1-0 win, ensuring they remain four points behind leaders Barcelona, who had beaten Leganés by the same scoreline on Saturday. The only question now is how many games Mbappé will miss through suspension.

The referee's report stated that his challenge came "while disputing the ball." That means a ban of between one and three games, according to RFEF regulations. The punishment would only apply to competitions other than LaLiga -- for example, Madrid's Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26 -- if it extended to four matches or more, so Mbappé's involvement in the cup final shouldn't be in doubt.

Nonetheless, it's a blow to Madrid's title aspirations to be without their star forward for upcoming league games against two awkward opponents, Athletic Club and Getafe.

Best match: Betis 1-2 Villarreal

Real Betis vs. Villarreal pitted two teams battling for fifth place against each other and, with a fifth-placed finish now almost guaranteed to mean Champions League qualification, that made for high stakes. Visitors Villarreal came out on top, thanks to a stunning winner from Ayoze Pérez, a Betis player until last season. Villarreal signed him for just 4 million, and his goals -- now 13 in LaLiga -- look likely to fire them into Europe's top competition.

Best goal: Oli McBurnie at Getafe

All three of Las Palmas' goals in their 3-1 win at Getafe were special -- either of Fábio Silva's strikes could have been a goal-of-the-weekend contender -- but McBurnie's third, in the 61st minute, was pick of the bunch, the 28-year-old former Scotland international applying the finishing touch to a flowing, passing move.

MVP of the weekend: Javi Guerra, Valencia

Friday night's Valencia vs. Sevilla fixture was a clash of two great clubs, fallen on hard times. Valencia's 1-0 win took them one step closer to survival -- they're now eight points above the relegation zone -- and confirmed the fate of Sevilla coach Francisco Javier Garcia Pimienta, who was later fired. The key man for Valencia: all-action midfielder Guerra, who starred throughout, and scored the game's only goal with a cool, difficult finish seconds before half-time. -- Kirkland

Bundesliga

Top takeaway: Klassiker eases Champions League heartache

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund met for the 137th time on Saturday, and even though the two powerhouses of German football are worlds apart in the standings, the game still created plenty of excitement.

Fans wanted to see how both would bounce back from their respective losses in the Champions League quarterfinals a few days earlier, and it was initially Bayern who looked motivated by the midweek defeat as Dortmund settled in a defensive role just as they did at Barcelona on Wednesday. This time, though, they seemed willing to be the reactive side.

For a while it looked like Bayern could dispose of their arch-rivals quite easily, but Vincent Kompany's side was wasteful with their chances and thus invited Dortmund to strike first shortly after the interval. Raphaël Guerreiro and Serge Gnabry turned the scoreline with two goals, yet Bayern were not able to avoid another setback, as Waldemar Anton scored following a corner kick and an artistic move by Serhou Guirassy.

After Bayer Leverkusen could only manage a draw with Union Berlin earlier on Saturday, Bayern had the chance to pull away in the standings and essentially seal their 34th German championship win. After the Klassiker ended in a 2-2 draw, the gap between the top two teams in the Bundesliga remains six points, which leaves the door a tad open for Leverkusen to keep the title race alive until the end of the season.

As for Dortmund, they have to look at the result as a small success, yet their chances of qualifying for next year's Champions League become slimmer and slimmer. It's not unusual that they have one of their better showings of a season against Bayern, but the fact that this Klassiker was not part of a championship battle between the two teams is particularly damning for BVB.

Best match: VfL Wolfsburg 2-3 RB Leipzig

These two opened the matchday on Friday, with Leipzig's attack running roughshod over Wolfsburg in the first 50 or so minutes. It looked like a comfortable win for interim manager Zsolt Lőw, only for Wolfsburg to get back into the game with two goals, but eventually the Volkswagen-backed club suffered their fourth consecutive loss.

Best goal: Waldemar Anton at Bayern Munich

Yes, Anton scored the goal, but what made it so spectacular was Guirassy's ability to defend the ball from Eric Dier following a corner kick. He shielded the ball with his back to Dier and the goal, before then launching a shot that goalkeeper Jonas Urbig managed to repel, only for Anton to sweep in the rebound.

MVP of the weekend: Xavi Simons, RB Leipzig

Not only did the Netherlands midfielder score twice against Wolfsburg, but he also creaated a lot of chances for his team. "He has taken a huge step; his performance was absolutely perfect today," Lőw said. The only thing Simons should have avoided was getting booked for complaining, which means he is suspended for Leipzig's next game. -- Eckner

What else you missed this weekend

Championship promotion races takes another unexpected turn

Only a week ago, it looked like Leeds United would lose out on the two top spots that grant automatic promotion to the Premier League, as they were held to their third consecutive draw. With two wins over Middlesbrough and Preston North End in the span of five days, though, Leeds are suddenly back on top of the Championship. They beat Preston 2-1 at home on Saturday in a one-sided game in which all three goals were scored within the opening quarter of an hour. It has helped Leeds that manager Daniel Farke recently decided to replace error-prone goalkeeper Illan Meslier with Wales international Karl Darlow.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United, previously top of the table, have lost three in a row, including a 2-1 loss at Plymouth Argyle, the last-placed team, on Saturday. Only a few weeks ago, Chris Wilder's team seemed a safe bet for one of the two promotion spots, but after all, it might actually be Leeds and Burnley getting directly promoted and Sheffield, who were deducted two points due to defaulted payments to other clubs two years ago, having to play the promotion playoffs. -- Eckner

Another European soccer weekend is in the books, and we have lots to talk about. Real Madrid gritted out a win ahead of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, second leg, vs. Arsenal, though Kylian Mbappé's reckless challenge (and deserved red card) shows that all is not well with Los Blancos. In the Premier League, Manchester United were thumped 4-1 at Newcastle in a result that shows how lost they are, while Liverpool rallied to beat West Ham and remain on course for the title.

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich and Vincent Kompany learned a lot in an entertaining Der Klassiker draw with Dortmund, and we have plenty to unpack from Barcelona's narrow win at Leganes, Arsenal's draw with Brentford, the Rome derby and much more. Here are some musings and reactions to the most memorable moments of the weekend.

Mbappe loses it and Real Madrid are stretched, but survive

This is when you're tempted to put on your amateur psychologist hat and offer some thoughts on Mbappe.

On Tuesday, he (along with his Real Madrid teammates) was humiliated by Arsenal at the Emirates losing their Champions League quarterfinal first leg 3-0. On Thursday, his lawyers filed a raft of lawsuits against his old club, Paris Saint-Germain, in an effort to recover the 55 million ($60m) in unpaid wages and bonuses he believes he's owed. And on Sunday, probably frustrated at the way his game was going, he earned himself a straight red with a horrendous tackle that even his coach -- Carlo Ancelotti's son, Davide, in this case since dad was suspended -- said was "a clear sending off."

Elite athletes often operate in a finely tuned equilibrium of ego and confidence, and that's a lot for anyone to take on. How he responds to this week will have a huge impact on the rest of Real Madrid's season not just in whether they bounce back against Arsenal on Wednesday, but also in their run at another LaLiga title and the Copa del Rey. It's a run that sees them keep pace with Barcelona following the 1-0 victory at Alaves on Sunday, which leaves them four points back.

Truth be told, things don't look great and not just because Mbappe will now be suspended for two games. Sunday was their first clean sheet in nine games, and their past five wins have all come by a single goal. It was the usual mixed bag of individuals doing something special (Eduardo Camavinga's goal, the customary Thibaut Courtois saves) and individuals contributing very little -- Arda Güler (to be fair, Mbappe's red card forced him to play more a striker, which is clearly not his jam) and Rodrygo (who is really having a rocky time of late) spring to mind.

Positives? Vinicius Jr. looked sharp when he came on and played a big part in the Alaves sending off that made it 10 vs. 10 for the final 20 minutes, and Dani Ceballos is back from injury (though probably not ready to start on Wednesday).

It's pretty wild to think that Ceballos' return could be so critical at this stage of Madrid's season. But given the ham-fisted, unbalanced way this team was put together, that's where we are.

Motivation looms large in Newcastle's drubbing of Manchester United

Newcastle United didn't just defeat Manchester United 4-1 because they have something to play for -- finishing high enough in the table to qualify for the Champions League -- whereas United's only meaningful games (in terms of results, anyway) the rest of the way will come in the Europa League (and, depending how things turn out Thursday night vs. Lyon, it might be just one more game). On the day, Newcastle had a better goalkeeper, better central defenders, better wing backs, better midfielders and a better center forward, so yeah, there was that too.

But you can't strip enthusiasm and purpose out of the football equation. I argued several months ago that Man United should focus on cup competitions because the league was entirely irrelevant to them as anything other than a classroom to learn Ruben Amorim's football. That, plus professional pride, should be motivating enough. But -- and it's only human -- it's hard to test a machine when key elements in that machine aren't going to be around.

Altay Bayindir probably won't be United's first-choice keeper, regardless of what happens to André Onana ahead of him in the depth chart. Victor Lindelöf and Christian Eriksen are out of contract and will be gone. Odds are that Alejandro Garnacho will be on his way too, because he can bring in some transfer funds. Joshua Zirkzee's future at this club -- if he has one -- likely won't be at center forward.

So when you have a system so built on chemistry and coordination, how are you even refining it when you know key parts aren't going to be there? And what are you actually going to learn from games like this?

Roll on the Europa League.

Der Klassiker points the way forward for Vincent Kompany and Bayern Munich

Saturday's affair ended 2-2 and if you're a Debbie Downer type, you might conclude that it wasn't a great weekend for Bayern since they ended up dropping points and failed to beat a midtable Borussia Dortmund still smarting from the midweek hiding at the hands of Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. Take a step back, though, and this was pretty good all-around for Kompany given the circumstances.

Sure, if Pascal Gross' late chip had been a little more precise, they could have actually lost the game, but on the run of play they were probably the better side. And while it's true that Dortmund were coming off a big defeat in the Champions League, psychologically losing at home to Inter when you top the Bundesliga is as tough a blow (if not tougher). Yes, it would have been nice to win this and get the chance to wrap up the title next weekend, but in truth Bayer Leverkusen's 0-0 draw at home to Union Berlin means Bayern are one step closer to the inevitable.

More important, I think, is this game showed Kompany what mistakes not to repeat in the return leg against Inter, where they will have to overturn a 2-1 deficit at San Siro. For one, Thomas Müller is in great form and with Jamal Musiala unavailable, it's a no-brainer that he gets more than the 15 minutes he got in the first leg. So too is Serge Gnabry, whose 28-minute cameo saw him bag a goal, an assist and plenty of highlight reel material. Raphaël Guerreiro is far more effective as an attacking fullback than he is in the hole, and Aleksandar Pavlovic came through nearly half an hour unscathed, which means he too can give you an option on Tuesday night.

(On the flip side, Harry Kane is having a rough time right now. But it's not as if he's going to be dropped partly because he can turn it on at any time, partly because there's literally nobody else.)

If you're Dortmund, you take the point and note that you're eighth in the table, while you were 11th less than a month ago. The first half was pretty turgid, but the direction of travel is evident and upward. The main question, with five games to go, is whether they'll get where they want to be (top 4) before they run out of Bundesliga games.

Liverpool running on fumes, but makes no difference to imminent title celebrations

Smart PR people know how to space out good news.

Late last week, we had the announcement that free agent-to-be Mohamed Salah had extended his deal through 2027. I imagine we'll get club captain Virgil Van Dijk, also out of contract in June, to make a similar announcement this week. (The way, when asked whether he knew anything about it, he smiled and said "he didn't, but he did" is a dead giveaway.) And then, the following week, after Tottenham Hotspur at home on April 27, roll on the title celebrations.

Jurgen Klopp's crown, in 2019-20, was historic because it was the first since 1990, but that one was in the COVID-19 era. This one will feel different if only because the fans will be a huge part of it.

Following Sunday's 2-1 win over West Ham, Liverpool are 13 points clear. Like a lot of their recent outings, it was far from flawless. They started well, took the lead and then fell away, going through a rough patch and eventually conceding a freak (but deserved) equalizer. Then it was Van Dijk, fittingly, who headed home the winner.

Liverpool's form over the past few months will no doubt have played a part in the club's decision over Salah's new deal. With Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes calling the shots, it was never going to be a case of "pay him what he wants." The bump in salary (around 10%) and the fact it's a two-year contract (not three) suggest they didn't get carried away and, if anything, they understand the need to address the squad in the summer, given the spring dip.

Salah's gem of an assist for Luis Díaz's goal reaffirms the fact that he can do things with the ball few others can. But if they get things right in the summer, he'll be the cherry on top, and not as central to the club's fortunes as he was this year.

Quick hits

10. Man City's comeback only makes you want Kevin De Bruyne to stick around: The Belgium international scored a goal, delivered an assist, hit the woodwork and generally showed how a quick mind and gifted feet can wreak havoc with any opponent, even at age 33. Manchester City went two goals down at home to Crystal Palace and you wondered if the wheels were, once again, going to come off for Pep Guardiola against one of the better counterattacking sides in the league. It didn't work out that way, largely because of De Bruyne's contribution, as they went on to win 5-2 and stay on track for a Champions League spot. De Bruyne knows his body better than anyone, but it's curious how he was an unused sub -- fit enough to be on the bench, but evidently not fit enough to come on even with five subs -- on five occasions this season. Despite this, he has already played more league minutes than last season and, more tellingly, he has more goal contributions than every single Manchester City player except for Erling Haaland. Are we sure he doesn't have another season or two in him at the highest level?

9. Barcelona get the kind of win some say wins you titles: You know, those days when things get ugly, you're not playing well, you get out of jail but you still gut it out? That's what Barca's trip to face Leganes -- who had already beaten them at Montjuic this season -- was like. LaLiga's second-from-bottom club only lost thanks to Jorge Saenz's own goal, which only came about because Óscar Rodríguez attempted a needless backheel in the middle of the park, giving the ball away to Gerard Martín. Beyond that, Wojciech Szczesny had to make some big saves and Iñigo Martínez made a huge tackle. Hansi Flick did give some starters (Frenkie de Jong, Pau Cubarsí, Gavi) a rest and Barca also had (some) chances, but the game ought to have been a reminder that when their intensity and focus drop just a little, they become vulnerable.

8. Dusan Vlahovic? Fixed (minus the goals). Kenan Yildiz? Fixed. Teun Koopmeiners? Almost. Juventus made the right choice: It doesn't mean that Igor Tudor is a great manager or even a particularly good one, just that Juve made the right decision in getting rid of Thiago Motta. Maybe Motta really was a genius with an outside-the-box, hyper-sophisticated brand of football. The problem is, history is littered with misunderstood geniuses and when, on top of nobody having the foggiest notion of what is being asked of them, they're also disliked by their players and they don't get results, there's only one outcome. Tudor's football -- as we saw in the 2-1 win against Lecce -- is simpler, but it has the great merit of being absorbed and understood by his players, especially the big guns. Vlahovic, who didn't score but delivered two assists, is productive again (and playing). Yildiz was man of the match -- meaning the Alessandro Del Piero comparisons don't seem that fanciful -- and Koopmeiners actually scored, looking as good as he has since he arrived at the club. What Tudor is doing isn't rocket science, but it's exactly what Juve needed.

7. Oihan Sancet delivers when it matters as Athletic Club break their streak: Three straight scoreless draws, including the first leg of their Europa League clash with Rangers on Thursday, suggested things might be going south for Ernesto Valverde's crew, especially with tricky away ties against Real Madrid and Real Sociedad to come. But it was Sancet who came through big time and cued the 3-1 comeback win against Rayo Vallecano that give them breathing room in La Liga. (They are six points clear of fifth place.) Sancet has had his critics at times, but the numbers speak for themselves. He is the fourth-leading scorer in LaLiga despite not being an outright center forward and despite starting just 17 league games.

6. Rome derby ends in draw, but Lazio have the upper hand: There are two big takeaways here. One is that Lazio are a better team. Maybe not a more talented one, but more of a team, a group put together to play a certain way under coach Marco Baroni. And that matters. That probably explains why they're sixth, three points out of the top four and while they're still alive in Europe despite their defeat away to Bodo Glimt in their Europa League quarterfinal, first leg. As for Roma, they look like what they are: a haphazardly assembled group of individuals who rely on moments of brilliance, like Matìas Soulè's equalizer. That said, let's remember Roma were 15th in early December, just two points from relegation and now they're seventh. A lot of the credit has to go to Claudio Ranieri who became Roma's third manager this season and who, if he retires in June (as he says he will), will ride off into the sunset undefeated in the Rome derby. For a guy who is Rome born and bred, that's some achievement.

5. Monaco crush Marseille as Roberto De Zerbi's project hangs in the balance: I was excited to see what De Zerbi could achieve in Marseille given the highs he reached with Brighton. Second place behind Paris Saint-Germain seemed like a minimum hurdle -- given they have the second-highest wage bill in the league -- but as much as results, you were looking for growth. De Zerbi's football isn't easy to metabolize, but with no European games, you figured they'd get stronger as the season wore on. Instead, they've now lost five of their past seven games and the 3-0 defeat at Monaco could have been worse if not for some big saves from Gerónimo Rulli. De Zerbi (and Marseille) have some thinking to do.

4. Mikel Arteta may deny it, but Arsenal are focused on Real Madrid, as they should be: No manager is going to say they're giving up on the league, but actions speak louder than words and when you saw Arsenal's lineup -- Kieran Tierney at left back, Jorginho and Oleksandr Zinchenko in midfield and, most importantly, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka on the bench -- it was obvious what was going on, and it was the right call too. Never mind the 3-0 advantage they hold from their first leg vs. Real Madrid: ninety minutes (plus stoppage time) can be an eternity at the Bernabeu. And, if anything, the second-stringers who came in were highly motivated; Arsenal could easily have won this game rather than settling for a 1-1 draw. Brentford aren't Real Madrid and Yoane Wissa isn't Mbappe, but the fact that they limited them to three shots and an xG of 0.24 bodes well.

3. Simone Inzaghi rotates his team, Marko Arnautovic devastates and Inter Milan stay top in Serie A: The first bit isn't a surprise: making five changes from the midweek win over Bayern is the sort of thing Inzaghi has been doing all season long. The second part is a nice bonus, though, as Arnautovic opened the scoring, thundering through the area before smacking it into the roof of the net and his no-look around-the-corner assist for Lautaro Martínez was a gem too, as Inter won 3-1 against Cagliari. Arnautovic is now 35 and anyone who has followed his career knows that you rely on him at your peril, because he can be maddeningly inconsistent. But his skill set (size, strength and creativity) is a nice complement to Inzaghi's other options -- Mehdi Taremi's workrate and whatever it is Joaquín Correa offers -- off the bench.

2. Chelsea come back to snatch a point at home vs. Ipswich, but dependency on Cole Palmer is still a big issue: At halftime, 2-0 down, they were booed off the pitch. In the end, it finished 2-2 and Chelsea might have won if not for two huge Alex Palmer saves. (But then, so could Ipswich if Liam Delap's finishing had been better.) The draw leaves Chelsea sixth, one spot outside Champions League qualification. They can still turn it around, but it's striking how much this team looks for Cole Palmer at every turn. The back four (at least the one that played on Sunday) aren't much of an attacking threat, so he's the one who has to drop deep to collect the ball. The wingers (other than Jadon Sancho who scored a stunning equalizer after coming on) tend to slow things down, and their crosses disappear into a throng of bodies in the Ipswich box. Nico Jackson, probably still not fully fit, struggled against two big central defenders, which meant Palmer had to end up taking more shots on goal than anyone. We can blame youth all we like, but this remains a poorly constructed squad (relative to the resources spent) and one that will get better only when it weans itself off of Palmer. Productive as he is, he's only 22 and he can be much more effective if the parts around him are working as they should.

1. Tottenham's problems are leaks at the back, not to the media: Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou set himself up for it when he complained about injury information and the like finding its way into media reports and vowing "to deal with the mole." Sure, dressing room trust is a thing and when it's violated things can get very bad, very quickly. But that's not what appears to have happened here and, believe it or not, news of Wilson Odobert's calf pain is not hugely relevant in the grand scheme of things. The more pressing concern is Tottenham's defending, which was all over the place in a 4-2 defeat to Wolves. Postecoglou rightly mixed things up with a view toward the Europa League return leg against Eintracht Frankfurt this week, but some of the worst culprits on the day -- like Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario -- are likely to start in Europe, so you can't even blame that.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and reigning champion Boston Celtics are the consensus favorites to win this season's title, showing +180 and +190 odds, respectively, at ESPN BET as the NBA postseason is set to begin.

However, the Los Angeles Lakers, arguably the league's buzziest team since their stunning trade for Luka Doncic in February, lurk just below and are easily the betting public's favorite squad.

The Lakers are +1300 to win the 2025 NBA Finals, fourth on ESPN BET's odds board, but have attracted a leading 16.7% of bets and 19.5% of handle at the sportsbook. Other sportsbooks report similar metrics, with FanDuel reporting a whopping 27% of money backing LeBron James and company, while BetMGM names them as its second largest liability.

"In terms of liability, it's the Lakers and then everyone else," ESPN BET director of North American sports trading Adrian Horton said over email. "They were attracting interest over the first half of the season, but it's really kicked into high gear since the Luka trade. As the team continues to perform and the betting public continues to back them, we'll be pulling against the Lakers in just about every playoff scenario."

The book further reports that L.A. has taken a leading 23.9% of bets and 27.6% of handle since acquiring Doncic on Feb. 1.

The Celtics, the favorites to begin the 2024-25 campaign after going wire-to-wire as favorites last season, are still garnering their fair share of action, with DraftKings reporting more wagers (34%) and handle (24%) backing them than anyone else.

Oklahoma City, who locked up the NBA's best record during the regular season, were second fiddle to Boston in the odds all season before narrowly pulling ahead on the eve of the playoffs. Action is mixed on the Thunder across the sportsbook marketplace.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will enter the postseason with the third-best odds to win it all, showing +575 at ESPN. Despite ending the regular season with the Eastern Conference's best record, the Cavs couldn't overtake the Celts for favorite status because they began the campaign with such low expectations, entering the season at +4000 to win it all. That said, Cleveland is a top-three team to capture the title by bet-share at most sportsbooks.

Other big movers from the beginning of the season include the Houston Rockets, the West's No. 2 seed, (100-1 to 80-1) and the Detroit Pistons (1,000-1 to 250-1), who are BetMGM's third largest liability.

Two other recent champions, the Golden State Warriors (+1500) and the Denver Nuggets (+3000) are also in the running, ranking fifth and sixth on ESPN BET's odds board, respectively, and they are also among the top bet and handle attractors across the sportsbook marketplace.

CINCINNATI -- Tommy Helms, the slick-fielding infielder for the Cincinnati Reds who was the 1966 National League Rookie of the Year and had two short stints as the team's manager, has died. He was 83.

The Reds Hall of Fame and Museum said Helms' wife, Cathy, told the organization that her husband died Sunday in Cincinnati. The cause of death was not provided.

Helms was known more for his glove than his bat in 1,435 games over 14 seasons. He was an All-Star in 1967-68 and won Gold Gloves as the NL's top-fielding second baseman in 1970-71, years in which he and shortstop Dave Concepcion formed the best double-play combination in the game.

When the Reds signed Helms out of Charlotte, North Carolina, as an amateur free agent in 1959, he was thought to be the team's shortstop of the future. But while Helms was moving through the minor leagues, Leo Cárdenas was establishing himself as one of the major leagues' best shortstops.

When Helms earned a roster spot to start 1966, the Reds had him replace Pete Rose at second base and had Rose move to third. Rose couldn't get comfortable at third, so Helms moved to the hot corner after just 20 games and became the NL's second-leading fielding third baseman. He also had one of his best offensive years. He batted .284, and his nine homers and 72 runs were career highs.

Helms split time between short and second base in 1967 and was the full-time second baseman in 1968. He had been a fixture in the Reds' lineup for six seasons before becoming part of the blockbuster trade with Houston that brought Joe Morgan, César Gerónimo and Jack Billingham to the Reds. Those three became key pieces to the Big Red Machine teams that won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and 1976.

Helms played 417 games at second base for the Astros from 1972-74 and then had limited roles with the Astros, Pirates and Red Sox the next three seasons.

His only postseason appearance was on the 1970 Reds team that swept the Pirates in the NLCS and lost in five games to Baltimore in the World Series.

Helms became a Reds coach in 1983, first under manager Russ Nixon and then under Vern Rapp and Rose. Helms managed 27 games in 1988 while Rose was serving a 30-day suspension for making physical contact with an umpire. He managed 37 more in 1989 after commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti banned Rose for life for gambling on baseball.

Helms was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1979. He was preceded in death by sons Tommy Jr. and Ryan. Both played in the minor leagues in the early 1990s, Tommy Jr. in the Chicago Cubs organization and Ryan in the Chicago White Sox organization.

Imagine you're sitting at home on a Saturday evening, and you know you need to put the phone down, but your favorite team played an afternoon game. Which MLB teams do you most want to watch? We're back for our second annual MLB Watchability Index to identify this season's must-see squads.

The original formula was years in the making, but after conducting further research this offseason, we've tweaked it just a bit. We'll grade each team in five categories, plus the potential for up to five bonus points. The maximum total score is 40 points.

Here are the categories, all fitting into a general idea of: "What makes baseball exciting?"

Star power (10-point scale): We'll use our MLB Rank top 100 list as a guideline.

Young talent (10-point scale): We love young players! This focuses on players in their first or second seasons in the majors plus potential call-ups from the minors.

Baserunning (5-point scale): Speed is exciting. This includes not just stealing bases but overall team speed.

Defense (5-point scale): Does the team play good defense or have extraordinary defenders capable of highlight-reel plays?

Minutiae (5-point scale): Ballpark, uniforms, mascots, unintentional comedy, broadcasters, colorful characters, etc. -- fun factors that might make you want to tune in to watch this team.

Bonus (5-point scale): Anything else I want to reward.

In general, good teams are more fun to watch than bad teams, so while this isn't a power ranking, we should expect the best teams to rank high. Let's get to it.

Jump to team:

American League
ATH | BAL | BOS | CHW | CLE
DET | HOU | KC | LAA | MIN
NYY | SEA | TB | TEX | TOR

National League
ARI | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL
LAD | MIA | MIL | NYM | PHI
PIT | SD | SF | STL | WSH

30. Chicago White Sox (10 points)

Star power: 1 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 1

Bonus (2): +2 for the possibility they could chase their own single-season loss record

The White Sox won 8-1 on Opening Day, which put them over .500 for the first time since Opening Day of 2023. Look, they probably won't be as bad as last year's 121-loss season, but the early returns don't exactly look promising.

They do have a couple of rookies in the rotation who are worth watching in Sean Burke and Shane Smith, but the real pitchers to watch are top prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith, who both started the season in Double-A. Maybe they get called up, but there's also little need to rush them to the majors.

29. Colorado Rockies (12.5)

Star power: 1 | Young talent: 3 | Baserunning: 1.5 | Defense: 4 | Minutiae: 1

Bonus (2): +1 for Brenton Doyle's arm (repeat bonus from 2024), +1 for mountain views

Outside of the defensive ability of Doyle in center field and Ezequiel Tovar at shortstop, there isn't much to go with here as the Rockies remain stuck in a rut of irrelevance. They even keep sticking with the same managers, with Bud Black headed for a seventh straight losing season in Colorado.

Rookie starter Chase Dollander, arguably the Rockies' best pitching prospect ever, just made his major league debut, so that's exciting. Good luck in Coors Field, Chase.

28. Miami Marlins (13)

Star power: 2 | Young talent: 3 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 1

Bonus (3): +3 for the possibility of more weird, inexplicable managerial decisions

If weird, inexplicable managerial decisions are your thing, a game against the Mets last week showed why you might want to check out Miami. The Mets were leading 6-5 in the sixth inning and had runners on first and third with one out when first-year Miami skipper Clayton McCullough intentionally walked Juan Soto to load the bases for Pete Alonso. OK, that was weird enough. There were 15 intentional walks last season with runners on first and third. But seven of those came with two outs, five others came in the bottom of the ninth or later in a tie game, and one came with the count already 3-0 against Aaron Judge. That leaves just two that sort of replicate this decision -- and both were issued by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (to Jesse Winker and Yordan Alvarez).

Here's the kicker: Alonso is a prime candidate to hit into a double play, but McCullough then brought the infield in. Mets play-by-play man Gary Cohen, one of the best in the business, was beside himself. "What is going on? Why? Why would you set up the double play and then not play for the double play?" Alonso then doubled over the head of center fielder Derek Hill, who, as Cohen pointed out, was playing extremely shallow. It's going to be a long season for the Marlins.

27. Minnesota Twins (14)

Star power: 3 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 1 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 3

Bonus (3): +1 for Prince Day on June 10, +1 for Joe Ryan's four-seamer, +1 for having a Harrison, a Bailey and a Griffin on the roster -- as first names

The Twins ranked low last year, and I'll repeat what I said then: The team itself is probably better than this ranking, but there isn't a lot of glitz and glamour here. No big star (Carlos Correa's shine has dulled and Byron Buxton really never got there in the first place), no big masher, no speedster on the bases or must-see ace on the mound. The youth score will go up if Emmanuel Rodriguez and Luke Keaschall get called up -- which might be the case given the early struggles of the offense.

26. Pittsburgh Pirates (15)

Star power: 4 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 3 | Defense: 1 | Minutiae: 3

Bonus (2): +1 for Paul Skenes' pitching highlights, +1 for Andrew McCutchen still getting the job done

Well, we got suckered last year, when the Pirates got off to a 9-2 start -- and that was before Skenes was even called up. Quote from the 2024 edition of this story: "This is not an overreaction to Pittsburgh's hot start. Nope. THIS IS A SCIENTIFIC SURVEY." We ranked the Pirates No. 10 overall. Turned out, it was most definitely an overreaction to Pittsburgh's start.

Look, the Pirates are watchable every fifth or sixth day when Skenes starts, but otherwise? I'll pass, at least until Oneil Cruz learns to play center field. It doesn't help that the Pirates started the season with two PR disasters in the Roberto Clemente sign situation and missing "Bucco Bricks" being discovered at a recycling park. At least it's a great ballpark.

25. Los Angeles Angels (15.5)

Star power: 5 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 1.5 | Defense: 1 | Minutiae: 3

Bonus (3): +1 for Ron Washington, +1 for NOT having to watch Anthony Rendon struggle again, +1 for Kenley Jansen's cutter

The Angels are off to a nice start. Maybe they'll even be surprise contenders in a potentially weak AL West. But the team's star power is pretty much limited to Mike Trout, as young veterans such as Nolan Schanuel, Logan O'Hoppe and Zach Neto have graduated out of the "youth" category without becoming established stars, although Neto could develop into one after a promising sophomore campaign.

The youth score could go up if 23-year-old Kyren Paris proves to be the real deal after a strong start at the plate. I'm skeptical given the fact that he hit .167 in the minors last season, but he has been crushing it early on.

24. Cleveland Guardians (15.5)

Star power: 4 | Young talent: 4 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 1

Bonus (2): +1 for the spicy stadium mustard, +1 for longest World Series title drought

I'm not trying to insult a team that reached the American League Championship Series last season, but the primary highlights are the great Jose Ramirez and a bullpen that was one of the best of all time. But ... bullpens. We love you, we love you not, but we don't really tune in to watch relievers.

Steven Kwan is an entertaining, scrappy player who puts the ball in play and covers everything in left field. Kyle Manzardo, Brayan Rocchio and Jhonkensy "Big Christmas" Noel fit into the young category, but the more intriguing young players are prospects Travis Bazzana and outfielder Chase DeLauter, two guys we could see in the second half. (DeLauter will have to bounce back quickly from core muscle surgery in March.)

23. Seattle Mariners (16)

Star power: 5 | Young talent: 1 | Baserunning: 3 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 2

Bonus (3): +1 for the Sunday cream-colored jerseys, +1 for summer days in Seattle, +1 for Bryan Woo's fastball/sinker combo

As a Mariners fan, I was ready to give up on watching them on a regular basis after they hit .162 in their first eight home games -- aside from the marine layer making it a difficult place to hit, the park seems to be in their heads at this point (the Mariners do hit OK on the road). Then, the next game, they rallied from a 5-0 deficit in the final two innings to beat the Astros on Randy Arozarena's grand slam and three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Baseball, man, it has a way of sucking you back in.

22. Washington Nationals (16.5)

Star power: 2 | Young talent: 7 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 2

Bonus (1): +1 for pitcher Brad Lord making the Opening Day roster after working at Home Depot in the offseason

This team is a lot more interesting than it was in 2024, when Washington ranked last on the Watchability Index after starting the season with Jesse Winker in left field and Eddie Rosario in center. The Nationals were somehow 19-18 in early May before reality set in and they eventually turned to a younger, more dynamic outfield: James Wood, Jacob Young and, in September, top prospect Dylan Crews.

That trio, along with shortstop CJ Abrams and starter MacKenzie Gore, forms the core of the 2025 team. Wood looks like he's going to be a star, but Crews continues to appear overmatched at the plate, and as brilliant as Young is defensively in center field, he offers no power.

21. Tampa Bay Rays (17.5)

Star power: 1 | Young talent: 7 | Baserunning: 4 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 1.5

Bonus (1.5): +1 for those glorious Devil Rays throwback jerseys, +0.5 for Yandy Diaz's biceps

The selling point for the Rays is the group of players just entering the majors, not just Junior Caminero's ceiling as a power hitter but a wave that includes Curtis Mead along with Shane Baz and Kameron Misner. The last two fit on our scale of players entering their first or second full seasons, even though those guys aren't all that young.

Now, if and when Carson Williams and Chandler Simpson (104 steals in the minors) get called up, the Rays will instantly become a lot more intriguing. Williams could be one of the game's next star shortstops, and Simpson has the potential to be baseball's premier burner on the basepaths. But, for now this team lacks star power and some of the defensive dynamism we've seen from it in the past.

20. Toronto Blue Jays (17.5)

Star power: 6 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 1 | Defense: 4.5 | Minutiae: 2

Bonus (2): +1 for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s extension, +1 for cotton candy fries (it took until 2025 for somebody to invent this?!)

One of the best things about Guerrero's extension is that Jays fans can enjoy the season without worrying about what will happen to the face of their franchise in free agency. But we're all winners here: We don't have to spend all season speculating about potential Guerrero trades.

The Jays can improve on this ranking if Anthony Santander hits 44 home runs again or Bo Bichette returns to form or Max Scherzer finds his way back into the rotation. Amazingly, Toronto got off to a nice start even though Guerrero and Santander both failed to go deep until Santander finally homered over the weekend.

19. St. Louis Cardinals (18)

Star power: 2.5 | Young talent: 5 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 3.5 | Minutiae: 3

Bonus (2): +1 for not trading Nolan Arenado, +1 for Masyn Winn's arm

The Cardinals are at least interesting as they transition to a younger roster. We'll see what Winn can do in his sophomore season, how speedster Victor Scott II will fare and whether Jordan Walker will finally hit enough to match his prospect hype. Eventually, starter Quinn Mathews will be up and JJ Wetherholt, the team's first-round pick in 2024, is in Double-A, putting him in line for a possible promotion as well.

The starting pitching probably ultimately limits the team's upside, and Ivan Herrera's injury after a hot start is a bummer, so Cardinals fans will have to be patient -- which isn't really in their playbook.

18. Detroit Tigers (19)

Star power: 4 | Young talent: 7 | Baserunning: 1.5 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 3

Bonus: +1.5 for Colt Keith, Spencer Torkelson and Dillon Dingler, all character names in Taylor Sheridan's next TV project

The Tigers have Tarik Skubal, and he's awesome to watch whenever he is on the mound. They also have an intriguing young group in Jackson Jobe, Trey Sweeney and Keith, but this doesn't necessarily register as the most exciting team around. They're certainly not flashy on defense or on the bases. Maybe Riley Greene graduates to star status this season, and the possible reemergence of former No. 1 overall picks Casey Mize and Torkelson certainly adds an intriguing subplot to the season.

17. Houston Astros (19.5)

Star power: 7 | Young talent: 3.5 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 2

Bonus (3): +1 for Hunter Brown's changeup, +1 for Yordan Alvarez's presence, +1 for Jose Altuve's left-field adventure

You can't lose Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker and expect to rank highly in watchability. Houston does still have Alvarez and Altuve, however, and Brown is quickly becoming one of my favorite pitchers. Cam Smith is one of the more intriguing rookies to watch after the Astros surprisingly promoted him to start the season, but he has struggled early so we'll see if he can avoid a demotion. Jake Meyers and Jeremy Pena are fun defenders, and when Framber Valdez has his sinker dancing in on right-handed batters he's as good as any starter in baseball.

16. San Francisco Giants (20.5)

Star power: 5 | Young talent: 1.5 | Baserunning: 3 | Defense: 3 | Minutiae: 4

Bonus (4): +1 for all the times we'll hear Buster Posey's approach described as "old school," +1 for Patrick Bailey's pitch framing, +1 for Jung Hoo Lee's swing, +1 for Mustache May

Maybe we're swayed by the Giants' hot start, but this might be the season they break out from the anonymous mediocrity of the recent past. Lee is healthy after injuring his shoulder early last season and looks terrific. Logan Webb is always a joy to watch as he moves the ball around the strike zone, and Justin Verlander is Justin Verlander, now an intriguing watch to see if he has anything left at age 42.

There isn't much on the youth side (I'm not counting Lee there since he played in Korea's highest league before coming to San Francisco), especially with top prospect Bryce Eldridge beginning the year on the IL in Double-A with a wrist injury.

15. Cincinnati Reds (20.5)

Star power: 6 | Young talent: 3 | Baserunning: 3 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 2

Bonus (4): +1 for Terry Francona's return, +1 for Matt McLain's return, +1 for Elly De La Cruz's surprising range at shortstop, +1 for De La Cruz's everything else

A year ago, I viewed the Reds as an exciting up-and-coming team. De La Cruz and Hunter Greene lived up to their hype and graduated into stars, with Greene looking even better so far in 2025, but several of the other young players failed to completely take off.

There are also mixed messages here: Last year, the Reds ranked third in the majors in stolen bases but near the bottom in overall baserunning value. Their defensive metrics were weak in 2024 but have been strong early on in 2025.

Pitchers Rhett Lowder, who started the season on the IL with a forearm strain, and 2024 top pick Chase Burns, could impact the rotation in the second half, raising that youth score.

14. Baltimore Orioles (21.5)

Star power: 5 | Young talent: 5 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 3 | Minutiae: 3.5

Bonus (3): +1 for those glorious orange jerseys (the all-orange uniform, however, is a sartorial disaster), +1 for the B&O warehouse, +1 for Zach Eflin's control

What a difference a year makes. Last season, the Orioles were coming off a 101-win season, had traded for Corbin Burnes and had the hottest prospect in the game in Jackson Holliday. While they still made the playoffs, it seems fair to say the Orioles appear a lot less interesting entering 2025.

Ignore Gunnar Henderson's slow start coming off the injury in spring training; he'll be fine. But the other young players haven't really taken off in a big way, including Holliday, who has a poor strikeout-to-walk ratio, raising concern about the ultimate upside of his hit tool (he's still very young though). Coby Mayo is struggling in Triple-A and Heston Kjerstad hasn't hit in the big leagues. Maybe Samuel Basallo will make an impact later on.

The Grayson Rodriguez injury is a bummer, but the biggest bummer is the Orioles didn't land an impact starter in the offseason.

13. Athletics (22)

Star power: 2 | Young talent: 10 | Baserunning: 1 | Defense: 1 | Minutiae: 4

Bonus (4): +2 for my pal Eric Karabell dropping a Jim Thome comp on Nick Kurtz, +1 for Jacob Wilson's contact skills, +1 for Mason Miller's fastball

First of all, it's surprisingly pleasant watching these games being played in Sacramento, at a quaint minor league park with an outfield berm for spectators. Frankly, it's a better viewing experience than the old stadium in Oakland was, with those awful dark shadows in the outfield and empty seats.

Mostly, however, the A's have a fun group of young players: Wilson and Lawrence Butler and Miller and Tyler Soderstrom, who is off to a huge start. Kurtz will be up soon enough to join them as well. The A's probably don't have the pitching to compete, but the kids are fascinating.

12. Kansas City Royals (22)

Star power: 8 | Young talent: 1.5 | Baserunning: 3 | Defense: 3 | Minutiae: 4

Bonus (2.5): +1 for Bobby Witt Jr.'s mullet, +1 for Seth Lugo's nine-pitch repertoire, +0.5 for Jac Caglianone minor league home run highlights

How much of this score is simply just Witt? A lot of it. Put it this way: How many players in baseball history have hit for power, hit for average, stolen 30 bases a season while also being one of the fastest runners in the league and played Gold Glove defense at one of the two marquee defensive positions? It's a very short list.

Witt isn't a one-man grade, however, as Cole Ragans is one of the top starters in the game, plus games at Kauffman Stadium always remind me of George Brett, and when the Royals wear those baby blue jerseys it's about as good as it gets.

11. Texas Rangers (22.5)

Star power: 5 | Young talent: 8 | Baserunning: 2.5 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 2

Bonus (3): +1 for dreaming on a full season from Jacob deGrom, +1 for Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker being in the same rotation, +1 for those 1970s throwbacks

The Rangers ranked fifth a year ago coming off a World Series title but tumbled a bit in this edition. Some of the star power is in question: Marcus Semien declined last year and is really struggling to begin the season; Adolis Garcia was incredible in 2023 but not in 2024; and deGrom still has to prove he can rise to his previous level.

Wyatt Langford and the rookie combo of Leiter/Rocker make for an intriguing youth trio, although Langford just landed on the IL with an oblique strain. The biggest knock against watching the Rangers: Watching a game played at Globe Life Field is like watching baseball played in an airplane hangar.

10. Arizona Diamondbacks (23)

Star power: 8 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 4 | Defense: 3 | Minutiae: 3

Bonus (3): +1 for Zac Gallen's goggles, +1 for Corbin Carroll's exit velocities, +1 for Ketel Marte "underrated" references

Several of the Diamondbacks have graduated from youth to veteran, so they lose points in that category, dropping them in the overall rankings. Carroll remains one of the game's most exciting players, although he's not stealing bases this year and might never come close to that 54-steal season he had as a rookie. Marte is one of the game's hidden gems, and Corbin Burnes helps give the rotation some star power. Josh Naylor is a fun player and even leads Carroll in stolen bases, 4 to 1. I love watching Gallen and his ability to change speeds and Justin Martinez throwing flameballs out of the bullpen.

9. Milwaukee Brewers (24)

Star power: 3 | Young talent: 8 | Baserunning: 5 | Defense: 3.5 | Minutiae: 3

Bonus (1.5): +1 for Jackson Chourio's hot start (but take a walk, Jackson!), +0.5 for Jesus Made hype

As always, the Brewers punch up: They're young and athletic, they scrap and claw, and they have a budding superstar in Chourio. Christian Yelich can still do some damage, and William Contreras, while off to a slow start, has emerged as the best catcher in baseball. Throw in Bernie Brewer, sausage races and a bullpen that always does the job, and this is a team that I expect will be closer to the top than everyone imagines in the NL Central. RIP, Bob Uecker.

8. Atlanta Braves (25.5)

Star power: 9 | Young talent: 7 | Baserunning: 1 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 3

Bonus (3): +1 for Spencer Schwellenbach's deep repertoire, +1 for Spencer Strider's return, +1 for Michael Harris II glow-in-the-dark swag

We have to try to separate the Braves' awful start here as they should turn into a playoff contender, but other than Marcell Ozuna, nobody is hitting, which is what happened last season.

For now, they still rank high in star power. Strider returns this week after dominating in his Triple-A rehab and immediately becomes one of the must-watch starting pitchers. Not far behind is Schwellenbach, my preseason sleeper Cy Young candidate, who crushed it his first three starts and does indeed look like a Cy Young candidate.

The big question: When will they get Ronald Acuna Jr. back -- and how good will he be?

7. New York Yankees (26)

Star power: 8 | Young talent: 5 | Baserunning: 2 | Defense: 3 | Minutiae: 4

Bonus (4): +1 for torpedo bats, +1 for Paul Goldschmidt hitting leadoff, +1 for Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s custom cleats, +1 for Aaron Judge's Titanic blasts

Even without Juan Soto, the Yankees move up the rankings this season -- thank you, Aaron Judge and your potential for a 60-homer season. They also have one of the most intriguing rookies of 2025 in Jasson Dominguez; after hearing about him for years, let's see what he can do. Second-year catcher Austin Wells has All-Star potential, while Ben Rice is off to a big start filling in for Giancarlo Stanton at DH. The loss of Gerrit Cole means Max Fried needs to have a big year as the new staff ace.

6. New York Mets (26)

Star power: 10 | Young talent: 2 | Baserunning: 2.5 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 5

Bonus (4): +1 for Gary, Keith and Ron, +1 for the whole "how will Juan Soto do in New York with this big contract?" thing, +1 for winning the USA Today best stadium food award, +1 for the Jose Siri experience

What's not to like here? A lineup featuring three of the biggest names in the sport in Soto, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. The best broadcast crew in the business (the other day, Keith Hernandez was not only talking about the sponsor of his Little League team as a kid, but the sponsors of the other teams). Great uniforms. An owner who wants to win. Passionate and demanding fans. And the angst that comes with not having won a World Series since 1986.

5. San Diego Padres (28.5)

Star power: 7 | Young talent: 7 | Baserunning: 3.5 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 5

Bonus (4): +1.5 for Luis Arraez's ability to almost never strike out, +1 for Jackson Merrill's new contract, +1 for the Petco Park vibe, +0.5 for Leo De Vries hype

The Padres have a well-balanced score: Star power in Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Dylan Cease (although he's off to a shaky start); Merrill single-handedly gives them a nice score in the youth category; they've been aggressive stealing bases early on (including Machado); and they clean up things like ballpark atmosphere, broadcast crew and one of the best uniform sets in the majors. Michael King has turned into a top starter, and Yu Darvish, once he returns, is a longtime favorite.

Of course, the big question is: Can they keep pace with the Dodgers? Let's put it this way: Given last year's postseason, Padres-Dodgers is the No. 1 series to watch in 2025.

4. Chicago Cubs (28.5)

Star power: 4 | Young talent: 8 | Baserunning: 5 | Defense: 5 | Minutiae: 4.5

Bonus (2): +1 for day games at Wrigley, +1 for Shota Imanaga's 91 mph fastball/splitter combo

The Cubs ranked sixth a year ago but didn't live up to that score, missing the playoffs once again while being a little less entertaining than we predicted. This year, we're even higher on their watchability. They have one of the most intriguing groups of young players with Pete Crow-Armstrong, rookie Matt Shaw and starter Ben Brown, and their defense up the middle is electric with PCA, Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner.

What they have lacked is the marquee headliner. Now, Kyle Tucker is off to a great start and is on the way to earning himself a huge contract and might even play himself into MVP consideration, but as good as he is, he has never been a guy you switch the channel to watch. Maybe that changes this season.

3. Philadelphia Phillies (29)

Star power: 10 | Young talent: 3.5 | Baserunning: 3 | Defense: 2.5 | Minutiae: 5

Bonus (5): +1.5 for Bryce Harper's Phanatic gear, +0.5 for Matt Strahm's baseball card collection, +1 for stories John Kruk can't tell on air, +1 for Zack Wheeler's splitter, +1 for the best uniforms in the majors

Harper is one of the sport's iconic figures, and his at-bats remain must-watch TV. Kyle Schwarber might not be one of baseball's best all-around players, but he proves that a three-true-outcomes approach can be entertaining. The Phillies also have perhaps the best rotation in the majors, with Cristopher Sanchez now throwing 96 and Jesus Luzardo looking poised for a big year after coming over from the Marlins. Wheeler is a joy to watch, as is Aaron Nola, who outthinks batters more than he overpowers them.

That young talent score is dependent on Andrew Painter reaching the majors at some point -- but also keep an eye on outfielder Justin Crawford (son of Carl), who begins the year in Triple-A.

The Phillies are good, they have fun players, they have the best mascot and they play in front of sellout crowds. Now they just need a World Series title.

2. Boston Red Sox (31)

Star power: 7 | Young talent: 10 | Baserunning: 4 | Defense: 4 | Minutiae: 4

Bonus (2): +1 for Garrett Crochet's fastball, +1 for Wilyer Abreu's hot start

The Red Sox are oozing with talent on the position-player side: Abreu, Rookie of the Year candidate Kristian Campbell and Ceddanne Rafaela, plus Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer in Triple-A. Jarren Duran was last year's breakout star, a guy who did everything -- hitting, defense, running the bases. Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers have done it for years, and Crochet gives Boston a Cy Young candidate.

I don't know how good the Red Sox will be -- Walker Buehler looks shaky and the back of the bullpen has to prove itself -- but this is going to be an entertaining team.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (32)

Star power: 10 | Young talent: 7.5 | Baserunning: 2.5 | Defense: 2 | Minutiae: 5

Bonus (5): +2 for the Shohei Ohtani returning to the mound, +1 for Mookie Betts being Mookie, +1 for Teoscar Hernandez's joy, +1 for Decoy

Don't be a hater. The Dodgers are clearly one of the most entertaining teams not just of 2025 but of all time. Ohtani is the sport's biggest star, a global icon whose every at-bat is worth checking out. And now he's slated to pitch again. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a pleasure to watch, and Blake Snell -- currently on the IL -- is as nasty as any pitcher in the game when he gets on one of his dominant stretches.

Throw in Dodger Stadium, Chavez Ravine, the most anticipated rookie of the season in Roki Sasaki, Dodger Dogs (OK, overrated), great uniforms and Mary Hart watching from behind home plate, and the Dodgers earn the top ranking for the second year in a row.