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There are plenty of appetizing matchups for both hitters and pitchers on Tuesday, and I'm using the player prop market at FanDuel Sportsbook to cash in.

Jose Berrios has been pitching above expectation all season, but it's time for a setback to come, and I'm fading his strikeout prop on Tuesday against a surging Astros team.

Find out why I'm going against Berrios on Tuesday as well as my two other favorite prop bets on the card.

Best MLB Prop Bets for Tuesday, July 2nd

• Kyle Gibson Over 4.5 Strikeouts (-128)
• Jose Berrios Under 4.5 Strikeouts (+102)
• Dylan Cease Over 6.5 Strikeouts (-102)

Kyle Gibson Over 4.5 Strikeouts

Gibson has some underlying regression coming for him, but he has been more than capable at striking batters out of late. 

He has punched out five or more batters in eight of 15 starts this season and in four of the last five starts. 

The righty will face a Pirates lineup that swings freely, fourth in strikeouts this season, and are going to chase Gibson’s offspeed pitches.

This number is a tad too low not to bite at Gibson’s over. 

Jose Berrios Under 4.5 Strikeouts

Berrios is a prime regression candidate, and it may come as soon as Tuesday against a streaking Astros team. 

Houston is full of capable hitters, but also disciplined ones. The team strikes out fewer than any team in baseball this season, and that can keep down Berrios’ strikeout marks. 

The right hander has a Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) of 4.96, far higher than his 3.38 mark, indicating he can see his performance decline with some negative variance. Against an Astros team that doesn’t strikeout much to begin with, I expect Berrios fails to get to five strikeouts, something he hasn’t done in four of his last five starts. 

Dylan Cease Over 6.5 Strikeouts

Cease is one of the premier strikeout artists in the big leagues, sitting down 32% of batters he has faced this season. 

Against a struggling Rangers lineup that is bottom 10 in the big leagues in batting average against right handed pitchers, this matchup should set up nicely for Cease to get to his quote of seven strikeouts. 

Cease has cleared this in 10 of 17 games this season, which translates to 58%. For what it’s worth the implied probability of this prop hitting is 50.5%. Given we need a near-average outing from Cease, I’ll bank on it at these odds. 

Arsenal are enjoying a brilliant start to the Premier League season and could now be set to make their mark in the January window after sending scouts to watch two stars face off in the same game.

Arsenal enter international break at top of Premier League table

Mikel Arteta marked his 300th match in charge of Arsenal last weekend against West Ham United with a victory and his side have entered the international break at the top of the Premier League standings.

Despite the disappointment that Martin Odegaard could miss up to six weeks through injury after he was withdrawn from the Gunners’ comfortable triumph, there is plenty to be optimistic about at the Emirates as Liverpool continue to falter.

Addressing his concern, he stated: “He had a clash, knee to knee. Immediately, he was uncomfortable. He’s not positive about it. He has a brace on it. Hopefully it’s not that bad. We haven’t had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other. The shoulder twice and then this injury. We have to wait and see the extent of that injury.

“We will find solutions, but obviously, he’s our captain, he’s a player that gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attacking.”

Declan Rice continues to put in imperious midfield performances for Arsenal and will be an obvious candidate to replace the skipper during his absence. The challenge now for the Gunners will be to maintain their form ahead of a favourable run of fixtures.

Arsenal games Odegaard could miss in worst-case scenario after new injury update

The Arsenal star suffered another problem…

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 5, 2025

The lure of a first Premier League title since 2004 is something that every Gunners supporter will dream of, and they could be about to take a step closer to achieving that feat in January if recent developments begin to evolve.

Arsenal scout Kenan Yildiz and Davide Bartesaghi

According to Tuttosport, Arsenal sent scouts to watch Kenan Yildiz and Davide Bartesaghi in action against each other as Juventus and AC Milan shared a goalless draw on Sunday night.

Turkish international Yildiz has been offered a new deal with Juve until 2030, albeit the Gunners aren’t giving up in their bid to land the sensation, who has registered two goals and four assists in eight matches this term.

Bartesaghi probably had the better performance on the day on a frustrating day for Juventus, featuring in a left wing-back role, playing for the entire 90 minutes.

Tempting either player away from their surroundings in mid-season will be difficult for Arsenal. Still, they are in the ascendancy when looking at the Premier League table, which may work wonders once the January transfer window opens for business.

Real Madrid centre-back Dean Huijsen has leapt to the defence of his team-mate Vinicius Junior following his temper tantrum during the 2-1 win over Barcelona. The Brazilian was enraged after being asked to come off in the second half by Xabi Alonso, with the reaction drawing significant backlash. Huijsen, however, blamed the media for making a "huge fuss" over the incident.

• Vinicius' frustration captured headlines in El Clasico win

  Vinicius Junior looked like a man possessed – a player on a mission – as he tore down the left flank in Real Madrid’s 2-1 triumph over Barcelona in last month’s El Clasico. From the opening whistle, the Brazilian was relentless, dazzling with his trademark pace and footwork, and keeping the Catalan defence constantly on edge. But despite his effervescent performance that caused the visitors considerable damage, the night took an unexpected turn. In the 72nd minute, head coach Xabi Alonso called for Rodrygo, signalling for Vini to come off.

  “Me? Me? Mister, mister! Me?" Vini Jr. shouted in disbelief as Alonso prepared the substitution. The Madrid No.7 trudged off visibly frustrated before heading straight for the tunnel. "Always me… I am leaving the team. I am leaving. It's better I leave," he reportedly muttered, bypassing the bench and disappearing from view.

  His reaction drew immediate attention – and criticism. Cameras captured his visible anger, sparking debate across Spain and in media about the winger’s temperament and professionalism. Vini did eventually return to the dugout before the final whistle, but the incident had already made headlines.

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  Huijsen blames media for creating 'huge fuss'

  Huijsen spoke to reporters on Monday and provided his thoughts on his team-mate's Clasico substitution controversy. The former Bournemouth centre-back criticised the media for overexaggerating things. His words acted as a shield for his Real Madrid team-mate, who is often in the spotlight for reasons not related to his game.

  "There's a lot written in the press, and you've made a huge fuss over something that wasn't such a big deal," said Huijsen. "He apologised, which I thought was fair, but he's an incredible teammate, a really good guy, and it's no big deal. These things happen in football."

• Vinicius apologised to Xabi Alonso

  In the aftermath of his controversial temper tantrum, the Brazil international issued a public apology, but did not mention Alonso in the statement. "Today I want to apologise to all the Madridistas for my reaction when I was substituted in the Clasico," he wrote. "Just as I have already done in person during today's training, I also want to apologise again to my teammates, the club, and the president. Sometimes passion gets the better of me because I always want to win and help my team. My competitive character stems from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents. I promise to keep fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since the first day."

  As if his theatrics after being substituted weren't enough, the apology drew further criticism for not including his head coach in the statement. However, Alonso was quick to quash any speculation, insisting that everything had been cleared up after a frank, face-to-face conversation with the attacker.

  "Has Vinicius apologised to me? We had a meeting with everyone on Wednesday, and Vinicius was impeccable," the Madrid manager told reporters last weekend. "He spoke honestly and was very good. For me, that settles the matter.

  "It was a very valuable, very positive statement. He demonstrated his honesty; he spoke from the heart. What he said was the most important thing, and I was very satisfied. I've already said it, I was very proud and the matter was settled on Wednesday itself. We trained well yesterday, I see Vini doing well, and we're all in the same boat and rowing in the same direction."

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  All eyes on Madrid's visit to Liverpool

  Real Madrid face a formidable test on Tuesday evening as they prepare to take on Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League. The clash marks the highly anticipated return of Trent Alexander-Arnold to his boyhood club, just months after leaving on a free transfer to join Los Blancos. It will also be a homecoming of sorts for Alonso, who spent five memorable seasons with the Reds during his playing career.

  As for Vini, few opponents seem to inspire him quite like Liverpool. The 25-year-old has faced the Premier League giants five times, scoring as many goals – including a stunning brace at Anfield that spearheaded Madrid’s remarkable 5–2 comeback victory in the Champions League knockouts after falling two goals behind in the 2022–23 season. 

  Tuesday's encounter also provides Alonso's men an opportunity to avenge last season's 2-0 loss at the same venue. Madrid will be licking their lips at the prospect, as Arne Slot’s men have lost six of their last eight games.

David Alaba has rejoined Real Madrid group training and is expected to be in the squad for Sunday's La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano, providing a major boost for Xabi Alonso. The defender returns from a calf injury that has seen him miss four games, as the club continues to cope with injuries to Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal and Aurelien Tchouameni.

• Alaba's return provides crucial defensive relief

  Madrid have received a significant defensive boost as Alaba has rejoined group training and is poised to make his return to the squad for match against Vallecano, according to a report from .

  The 33-year-old defender's return provides a timely solution for manager, whose squad has been severely depleted by injuries, particularly in defence.

  Alaba participated in the majority of group exercises during Friday's training session at Valdebebas, with the outlook for his recovery described as "very positive." The Austrian international is expected to complete Saturday's final session without issue and be named in Alonso's squad for the trip to Vallecas.

  The comeback of the experienced centre-back is a critical development for Real Madrid, who are facing an injury crisis in their backline. Alonso remains without four key players for the upcoming league fixture.

  The injury list includes starting right-back Carvajal and fellow centre-back Rudiger, whose absence has compounded Madrid's defensive woes.

  Furthermore, the club is without key defensive midfielder Tchouameni, who was the latest player to be sidelined. The Frenchman is suffering from a semitendinosus muscle injury in his left leg and is not expected to reappear until after the upcoming international break. His target is reportedly the match against Elche on November 23. Youngster Franco Mastantuono also remains unavailable.

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  Four-match absence follows calf strain

  Alaba has been sidelined for Madrid's last four matches after sustaining a strain in his right calf muscle, identified as a soleus injury. The setback occurred at the end of the first half of the club's league match against Getafe on 19 October.

  His injury, coinciding with Rudiger's spell on the treatment table, forced Alonso to field a makeshift defensive partnership. The manager has had to consolidate a centre-back pairing of Eder Militao and 20-year-old summer signing Dean Huijsen.

  This pairing was further disrupted during Alaba's absence, with Spanish international Huijsen also missing the Champions League match against Juventus, highlighting the precarious lack of depth Alonso has been navigating.

• A difficult start to the 2025-26 season

  The injury has been a frustrating interruption for Alaba, who has had a limited impact on the 2025-26 campaign. The defender, whose contract expires in 2026, has struggled for consistent fitness and game time.

  Prior to his injury, the Austrian had featured in only four matches for Madrid this season, accumulating just 145 minutes of playing time.

  His involvement has been sporadic, receiving minutes from the bench against Real Sociedad and Levante in La Liga, and making one start on the second matchday of the Champions League in Almaty.

  His return to fitness is therefore crucial not only for the team's immediate needs but also for Alaba himself as he looks to re-establish his role as a cornerstone of the Madrid defence.

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  What next? Vallecas test and historic Austria call-up

  Provided he passes Saturday's final fitness test, Alaba will be in line for minutes in Sunday's La Liga encounter at Vallecas. Following the match against Rayo Vallecano, Alaba's immediate focus will shift to international duty. The defender has been called up by manager Ralf Rangnick for a potentially huge international break for Austria.

  The Austrian national team are on the verge of securing qualification for the next World Cup, an achievement they have not managed in 28 years. The country's last appearance at the tournament was in 1998 when it was held in France.

  Austria will face Cyprus on Saturday, November 15, before a match against Bosnia-Herzegovina the following Tuesday evening. Alaba's return to fitness will be a welcome sight for Rangnick, who will rely on his captain's leadership and experience as his side attempts to make history.

Manchester United are in the market for new talent and could look to beat Real Madrid to a signing that could revolutionise their engine room under Ruben Amorim.

Man Utd preparing for trip to Anfield

Renewed optimism is in the air at Old Trafford after a victory over Sunderland before the international break showed a degree of competence that hasn’t always been present this season.

Nevertheless, Manchester United travel to Anfield on Sunday as the Premier League gets back underway, which will be a stern test of character for a group that needs to start putting points on the board.

Delving into Amorim’s side, it is clear that midfield is one area that could be improved once the January transfer window opens. However, BBC reporter Simon Stone doesn’t believe Red Devils target Carlos Baleba will arrive at Old Trafford in January.

He explained: “No, I don’t. (believe Baleba will join Man Utd in January). Why would Brighton sell halfway through the season? It wouldn’t really make sense and unless someone leaves, who would be left out to accommodate them?

“I think Casemiro has done OK. It is more how effective Bruno Fernandes is being. I just don’t see a world where Fernandes is left out and there are too many ‘number 10s’ already.”

Arsenal and Man Utd lead clubs looking to sign "exciting" French defender

The Gunners could be set to do battle with their Premier League rivals for the signature of a versatile defender.

By
Dominic Lund

Oct 13, 2025

While Sekou Kone continues to impress at Carrington and could be one option, there is still room for another figure to enrich the Red Devils centrally as they bid to find their way back to being one of the elite sides in English football.

Now, they could be set to compete with Real Madrid to secure a midfielder who is becoming one of Europe’s most in-demand players due to his performances.

Man Utd looking to beat Real Madrid to Adam Wharton

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are looking to beat Real Madrid to sign Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and could offer £60 million to acquire the England international.

With uncertainty over Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro’s future at the club, the Red Devils are willing to act swiftly to thwart the La Liga giants, who see the former Blackburn Rovers man as an ideal replacement for Toni Kroos.

Capable of breaking up play and building the game in equal measure, Wharton has registered a solitary assist in ten appearances across all competitions this term, helping Crystal Palace’s early charge for European football.

Oliver Glasner won’t want to lose his prize asset, who was dubbed “incredible” by Eberechi Eze. However, Manchester United are prepared to act before other clubs can snare their pursuit of the Three Lions star.

Bringing new blood into the squad is something Amorim will hope can reignite the Red Devils’ fortunes, albeit recruiting Wharton will be easier said than done.

Aaron Judge snapped out of his postseason slump with a two-run home run in the first inning of Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night but it wasn't enough for the Yankees, who lost the game 7-6 and had to watch the Dodgers celebrate on their home field in the Bronx.

While Judge's bat helped give the Yankees an early lead, his bad play in the field in the fifth inning helped the Dodgers get back in the game. Judge dropped an easy catch in center in what was a disastrous inning for the Yankees that saw them lose their 5-0 lead entirely.

Judge had a brutally honest line after the game, telling the media, "I think falling short in the World Series will stick with me until I die, probably."

The Yankees haven't won a World Series since 2009. They'll likely have more shots at it during Judge's career, but falling short on the biggest stage sure has to sting.

Arsenal confirmed on Monday that young centre-back Katie Reid has been hit with a devastating injury blow and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season. The Lionesses prospect is set to undergo surgery shortly after becoming the latest player to suffer a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, a serious knee injury that continues to plague women's football.

• Arsenal issue statement on Reid

  Arsenal shared the devastating injury news about Reid in an official statement that read: "We can confirm that Katie Reid has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury during a recent training session. Katie will undergo surgery in the coming days and is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. Katie had enjoyed an impressive start to the season, making seven appearances for us and winning our Player of the Month award in September. Her fine form was rewarded with a first call-up to the England senior squad in October. Katie is being closely supported by our medical team at Sobha Realty Training Centre, and everyone at Arsenal looks forward to seeing her return to action as soon as possible."

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  ACL injuries the plague of women's football

  The news continues the worrying trend of ACL injuries within women's football. Reid is the seventh WSL player to suffer such a problem this season, and it's still only November. Arsenal team-mate Manuela Zinsberger, Lionesses star Michelle Agyemang, and Tottenham's Maite Oroz have also been ruled out for the long term with ACL injuries and it's a problem that remains a major issue in the game. Reid's Arsenal team-mate Beth Mead has also previously suffered an ACL tear and spent almost a year on the sidelines before making a successful return.

  Reid's injury comes at a time when she has been impressing for the Gunners. The 19-year-old won Arsenal's player of the month award for September and saw her impressive performances rewarded with a first call up to Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses squad. However, she subsequently withdrew due to a "small injury" and has now suffered a serious problem that will keep her out of the game for a long time.

• Reid 'devastated' by injury setback

  Reid has revealed her devastation at her injury in a post on social media. She posted on Instagram: "I am devastated to share that I have ruptured my ACL. There's been lots of tears and I am sure there will be many more to come, but I am extremely grateful for the love and support around me. The road to recovery starts now and I'll give my all to be back stronger."

  The Arsenal star's friends and team-mates have been quick to offer support. Alessio Russo replied "the comeback will be incredible," while Leah Williamson added "you got this" and Agyemang wrote "with you all the way, my girl."

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• What is being done about the rise in ACL injuries?

  The prevalence of ACL injuries in women's football had led FIFA to fund research into whether hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles could be a factor. Female footballers are two to six times more likely than men to suffer an ACL injury and Simon Augustus, senior lecturer in sport biomechanics at Kingston University, is hoping to find out why.

  He told : "We want to examine whether athletes may be more predisposed to injuries because of the functional changes in terms of their anatomy and physiology during the menstrual cycle. We know hormones fluctuate during different phases of the cycle but we don't yet know how much of an influence that may have on the risk of injury.

  "We know some injuries are unavoidable, but we're attempting to help those individuals who injure their ACL outside of impact actions. Those are the ones where we might have more chance to intervene and prevent them from taking place by utilising strength training or tweaking technique. There are so many different factors involved with ACL injuries. We are starting to research this from an individual approach and look at an athlete's whole profile and putting protocols in place to reduce risk."

Former Celtic centre-forward Chris Sutton was particularly scathing of the club’s recruitment after they lost 2-0 to Dundee in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Speaking on Sky Sports after the match, the pundit said: “Celtic have massive problems. They have to get to January and still stay in touch. This is a bang average Celtic team and I think Brendan recognises that.

“The signing of Kelechi Iheanacho summed everything up. That was desperation. I’m not saying he’s a bad player but you think back to when Celtic were rotating Giorgos Giakoumakis and Kyogo Furuhashi, that quality, that’s the difference.”

It is hard not to point to the recruitment department when looking for the reason why Celtic have failed to score in six competitive matches already this season.

Celtic needed a striker in the summer, before they sold Adam Idah, and they failed to bring in Kasper Dolberg from Anderlecht, before selling Idah without getting a replacement in. Kelechi Iheanacho then arrived on a free transfer, but they were still down another forward.

Meanwhile, Hearts signed Claudio Braga from Aalesund on top of keeping Lawrence Shankland, and have fired their way to the top of the Premiership table.

What Celtic can learn from the recruitment at Hearts

Tony Bloom invested in Hearts and brought his data expertise with him to bolster their recruitment, and it already looks to have paid off big time for the Jam Tarts.

Braga scored 11 goals and provided six assists in 37 appearances in the second tier of football in Norway in the 2025 and 2024 campaigns for Aalesund, per Sofascore, before his move to Scotland in the summer.

The versatile forward, who can play as a number ten, a second striker, or as a centre-forward, scored two goals against Kilmarnock on Saturday to take his tally to eight goals in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

Braga’s highlights from their win over Kilmarnock in the clips above show that he can operate in positions all over the pitch, with almost a free role because of Shankland’s presence as the focal point for the team.

The Portuguese star is free to roam around the pitch and drop deep when needed to get touches of the ball to make things happen for Hearts, as evidenced by his statistics.

As you can see in the table above, Braga takes around 43 touches per game on average and has been directly involved in six goals in eight matches to show that he is making the most of those touches.

Celtic can learn from the recruitment that Hearts have done for multiple reasons. One, that they do not need to splash £10m on a player from a major European league, as Braga was picked up from the second tier in Norway and has outscored every Celtic player in the Premiership.

Two, that the recruitment needs to be well thought through. Hearts knew they had Shankland leading the line, so they signed the Portuguese ace to be the perfect partner for him.

Celtic, meanwhile, signed two left-wingers, despite Daizen Maeda scoring 33 goals as a left-winger last season, and did not sign a right-winger to replace Nicolas Kuhn, whilst they also sold Adam Idah, a target man and physical presence, and signed Iheanacho, who does not have a similar profile to Idah.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Despite being signed to be the main number nine, Iheanacho has the attributes and the quality to be Brendan Rodgers’ own version of Braga, but the Hoops do not have their own Shankland.

Why Kelechi Iheanacho can be Celtic's own Claudio Braga

For all of the former Manchester City man’s strengths, the Nigeria international is not a target man. He is not going to cause too many problems for opposition defenders with his physicality.

Per Sofascore, Iheanacho has won 1.5 duels per game and won just 38% of his duels in total, whilst Shankland has won 4.4 duels per game and 44% of his total battles on the pitch.

He does not look suited to being the sole number nine for Celtic as a target man, because of his lack of physicality, and that is not his fault, because it is something that the recruitment team should have factored in when they made the signing.

Last season, Michael Carrick utilised Iheanacho as a second striker behind another number nine, which meant that he had the license to drift around the pitch and get involved in the game, instead of being isolated up front.

This means that he has the potential to be Celtic’s own Braga because of his ability to play off another striker. Meanwhile, Maeda is more suited to playing out wide, and has been utilised on the left and right flanks this season, after scoring 33 goals as a left winger last term, per Transfermarkt.

As you can see in the table above, Iheanacho has shown great technical ability and link-up play in the Premiership this season, but he has yet to score a goal from open play.

Shankland’s presence and physicality occupy opposition defenders and create space for Braga to ghost into and score, but Celtic do not have a number nine like that who can take the pressure off Iheanacho.

Instead, it currently looks like he has to play the role of Shankland and Braga on his own, which may be why the Hoops have struggled so much in front of goal.

Iheanacho’s position for Middlesbrough and the qualities that he has shown in the Premiership so far suggest that he is more suited to playing like Braga, off another striker, but Rodgers does not have that outlet in the centre-forward position that Hearts do.

Forget Yang: Rodgers can solve Maeda blow by unleashing Celtic star in new role

Celtic could solve their Daizen Maeda injury blow by unleashing this star in a new role.

1

By
Dan Emery

Oct 20, 2025

Maeda is a winger, not a target man, so he is not the answer. Therefore, the Hoops need to dip into the market in January to sign a striker who can complement Iheanacho and get the best out of him in the second half of the season, so that he can be as effective as Braga.

About three months removed from surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder, an injury he suffered after a dislocation during Game 2 of the World Series, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani said Wednesday that he's still experiencing "discomfort" but that it's "not really debilitating."

"I do feel like there’s some discomfort that I have to still overcome, [but] it’s not really debilitating," Ohtani said through an interpreter, via . "Just a limited range of motion. I’ve gone through it with the elbow before. With the shoulder, it’s a little bit more complicated. I do believe that’s the part that I have to be patient with."

Ohtani's shoulder may not be 100 percent yet, but he certainly looked to be in MVP form while taking batting practice at the Dodgers' spring training site at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.

While Ohtani continues to recover from shoulder surgery, he's also gearing up for a return to the mound, as he hasn't pitched in a regular season game since August of 2023, after he underwent surgery to repair a UCL tear that September.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Wednesday said that Ohtani won't pitch when the club begins Cactus League play, but that he will see game action as the designated hitter. The plan is for Ohtani to begin pitching in regular season action come summertime.

Roberts added that, given that Ohtani will be returning to his two-way duties in '25, that the Dodgers may see fit to encourage him to steal fewer bases than the 59 he swiped this past season. Los Angeles's skipper also said he could look to give the reigning National League MVP some extra days off as well, via the .

Ohtani, for his part, said he'd like to play as much as possible but added that he'd heed the team's wishes.

"But if the team feels like I should get a break," Ohtani added through an interpreter, "I'll follow that."

Ohtani, in his first season in Los Angeles after signing a $700 million contract in December of '23, authored a campaign for the ages as a full-time hitter, becoming the first member of the 50-home run, 50-stolen base club while posting a robust .310/.390/.646 slash line in 159 games played. He then helped the Dodgers win the World Series against the New York Yankees.

He and the Dodgers will begin Cactus League play on Feb. 20. The club opens the '25 season in Tokyo, Japan against the Chicago Cubs on March 18.

It might be a little premature, but there is a slight sense of optimism around West Ham United at the moment.

Granted, they are far from safe, but there was plenty to be encouraged by in the win over Newcastle United in the Premier League last weekend, as well as in the latest victory over Burnley.

For example, Freddie Potts – while knocked back injury – has seized his opportunity with both hands after back-to-back starts in the top-flight, showing Nuno Espírito Santo what he had been missing.

Interestingly, there is another overlooked talent in the West Ham squad who, with the proper coaching, could have a Potts-esque impact on the side.

Potts' journey to the first team

With his father and brother playing for West Ham, and him coming up through the academy, it always felt like a matter of when, not if, Potts would earn his first start for the club.

However, it would be fair to say that it’s perhaps taken a little while longer than most expected, but that is mainly down to him proving himself out on loan over the last two years.

His first move saw him join League One side Wycombe Wanderers for the 23/24 campaign, and to say he did well would be an understatement.

In all, the Barking-born ace made 43 appearances for them across all competitions, in which he scored two goals, provided three assists and was named the Player of the Season.

Then, last year, he joined Championship side Portsmouth, where he made 38 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal and providing four assists.

The 22-year-old didn’t win an individual award last season, but he clearly impressed enough to go on the Hammers’ pre-season tour in the summer, and then finally, after a few appearances off the bench, make his first competitive start for the club against the Magpies.

Overall, while it’s taken a while to happen, it’s now undeniable that Potts is one of West Ham’s most exciting players, but there is another underused gem in the squad who could be just as good with the proper coaching.

The West Gem who could be another Potts

West Ham are blessed with several genuinely exciting youngsters in the academy at the moment, like Preston Fearon and Josh Landers.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, there is another young gem in the first team squad who possesses the raw ability to have an impact similar to the one Potts has had of late: Luis Guilherme.

The 19-year-old gem joined the club from Palmeiras last summer, and while he hasn’t exactly hit the ground running since then, he remains a hugely exciting talent.

For example, one of his significant strengths is his ability to play all over the pitch. While he is primarily a winger, he has also spent time playing as a ten, up top, as a second striker, and out on the left.

This ability to play where the manager needs him is just one of the reasons why he could have a real impact on the Hammers this season, and the second is his mercurial style of play.

Described as a “complete” and “electric” attacker with “the world at his feet by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, the youngster is someone who can, at his best, get the fans on their feet, and considering the atmosphere at the London Stadium this season, that sounds like something Nuno could do with.

Moreover, he is not just some one-trick pony either, with Mattinson pointing out that while “shooting from distance is one of Guilherme’s strengths”, he can also “turn past players with ease” thanks to his “elite ball manipulation.”

In more good news for the manager, the teen phenom could also perfectly fit into the counter-attacking style that worked so well at Nottingham Forest, as according to Mattinson, he is a player who “thrives on transitions.”

Ultimately, it’s true that West Ham fans have not seen him at his best, but if Nuno can get the best out of him, then he could have another player capable of impacting the side as much as Potts.

West Ham's "supreme" star is going to be their biggest talent since Kudus

The incredible talent will become more important to West Ham than Kudus ever was.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 7, 2025