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How to bet Atlanta Braves futures as they rebound from horrible start

The Atlanta Braves entered the 2025 MLB season with expectations to be one of the best teams in baseball and one of the strongest World Series contenders. Those expectations were reflected in their preseason MLB futures betting odds.

Before the season, the Braves’ World Series futures odds were around +800 at most sportsbooks; only the Dodgers and (at some sportsbooks) the Yankees had shorter odds. They were also small favorites to win the NL East (+150) and had the second-highest win total over/under at 93.5.

Then the season started, and things changed quickly.

Atlanta started the season 0-7, its worst start since 2016. That rough start (to put it nicely) placed them in some inauspicious historical territory. None of the previous 29 teams that started a season 0-7 made the playoffs, and only two of them finished the season above .500.

Of course, the MLB playoff picture is much different now than it has been for most of baseball’s illustrious history. This is only the fourth season since the MLB playoff field expanded to include three wild card teams, which certainly makes it easier for a team to recover from a bad start and still make the playoffs.

That is just one of the reasons the Braves can still be optimistic about this season. The bigger reason is that they have recovered quickly from that horrible start. They are already back to within one game of .500 and within one run of a positive run differential.

The Braves futures odds of course have changed since the season began, but they are still among the biggest favorites to make the playoffs and even to win the World Series.

Let’s take a look at where the Braves futures odds stand at this early point in the season and discuss which futures bets might be worth making.

2025 Atlanta Braves futures odds

Here are both the preseason and current betting odds for some of the most popular Atlanta Braves futures betting markets. All odds are provided by either DraftKings or bet365 as of May 7.

Based on these odds, the Braves are still expected to make the playoffs. Their -135 odds imply roughly a 57% probability, which is less than the projections by reputable baseball analytics services like Baseball Prospectus (73.6% chance) and FanGraphs (68.2%).

There is also a gap between those services’ projections and the implied probability for the Braves to win the NL East or the World Series. The +320 odds to win the division imply a 23.8% chance, while Baseball Prospectus’ and FanGraphs’ projections are 25.5% and 28.1%, respectively. For the World Series, the odds imply a 5.88% chance, while Baseball Prospectus and FanGraphs are 8.1% and 7.7%, respectively.

In all markets, the analytical models are higher than the odds, which is usually the case. However, it’s interesting that the gap is much wider for making the playoffs than for the other markets. That could indicate some nice value on bets on the Braves to make the playoffs.

Atlanta Braves futures best bets

Best bet: Braves to win the NL East (+450 at bet365)

The Braves’ slow start has created some good opportunities to capture value in the futures markets. While they face an uphill battle in the standings, their performance since the 0-7 start is reason for optimism.

The offense was one of the biggest issues early on, but since then they are 7th in OPS (.758) and 8th in wRC+ (an advanced metric measuring runs created based on opponent and park factors). A few key additions to the lineup have contributed to that, namely Sean Murphy (on April 8) and Alex Verdugo (on April 17).

The reinvigorated offense appears to be sustainable. While the recent performance by guys like Murphy and Verdugo may not continue all season, it’s reasonable to expect established but struggling stars like Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies to get closer to their usual numbers at some point.

They will also get a big boost whenever 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. returns to the lineup, even if he is not 100%. Ditto for Spencer Strider and the impact he will (or at least should) have on the rotation.

The Braves still have some issues to work out, and they face some stiff competition in the National League, but the arrow is pointing up. That makes now a good time to pounce on some futures bets. It’s a perfect sweet spot where the slow start is still creating some longer odds, but they have done enough to right the ship and provide reason for confidence going forward.

All of the Braves’ futures bets discussed above look like solid values right now, but the best bet is on the Braves to win the NL East. Part of the reason is the +450 odds at bet365, which are an outlier right now compared to most other sportsbooks that have priced them between +290 and +320.

It’s still very early in the season, and the Braves’ current five-game deficit in the division is far from insurmountable. There is also reason to be pessimistic about both the Mets and Phillies.

The Mets’ starting rotation has far exceeded expectations with a league-best 2.80 ERA, but can they keep that up for a full season? The Phillies’ lineup has been inconsistent with multiple key bats in the middle of the order struggling, and the bullpen has logged the 5th-worst ERA (4.78) and is tied for the most blown saves (8).

Those are potentially fixable problems and may not be fatal flaws. The Braves are not perfect, either, of course. The point is that this division is still pretty wide open, and at +450 odds, the preseason favorites are a great value.

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‘Gemstone from another world’: Alabama man finds rare meteorite

Elmore County man Joe Champion claims he recently discovered a rare meteorite in a load of soil and rock he was sorting through.

Champion identified the find as a pallasite meteorite, which are believed to form between the silicate mantle, or outer shell, and molten metal core of a differentiated asteroid (asteroids that have been altered by thermal processes and have separated into a core and mantle), according to the Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies at Arizona State University.

These meteorites are extremely rare and can be distinguished by the presence of large olivine crystal inclusions in the ferro-nickel matrix, often with a green hue.

“Pallasites were likely created in a comparatively small zone within these differentiated asteroids, and that fact may explain their rarity,” reads an article by geologist Geoffrey Notkin.

“Out of the many thousands of identified meteorites there are only about 45 known pallasites.”

Gem-quality peridot has been identified in multiple pallasite meteorites, earning it the title of a “gemstone from another world.”

Efforts to reach Champion for comment were not immediately successful.

This is not the first time a piece of space has found its way to Alabama.

Ann Hodges, 34, was napping on her couch in Oak Grove, near Sylacauga, on Nov. 30, 1954, when she was struck in the thigh by a meteorite that had crashed through her roof and ricocheted off her radio set.

Before her death in 1972, Hodges donated it to the Alabama Museum of Natural History at the University of Alabama, where it is on permanent display.

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Class 1A-3A girls soccer: Lee-Scott downs Madison Academy on penalty kicks for first AHSAA title

It didn’t take Lee-Scott Academy long to make a statement as an AHSAA program.

In their first season at a new classification, the Warriors claimed the Class 1A-3A girls soccer championship on Friday with a 3-2 victory over Madison Academy on penalty kicks at John Hunt Park in Huntsville.

While it’s the first AHSAA crown for Lee-Scott, it marks the second overall title; the Warriors won an AISA girls soccer title in 2021.

“They played way out of their mind,” Lee-Scott coach Eric Faison said of his team. “They didn’t give up, and I was scared, I was nervous, but our girls, they just didn’t give up. They grinded and they had nothing left. I mean, they had nothing left.”

Tied 2-2 after regulation and two overtime periods, Lee-Scott eighth-grader Charlee Huddleston provided the final play of the season with a made penalty kick to give the Warriors the victory.

Her mindset at the moment?

“I was just doing it for my seniors,” she smiled.

“They are so sweet. I love them so much and I just wanted them to win one last state championship.”

Lee-Scott’s pair of seniors — Scarlett Wood and Delaney Faison — are among those who bring a strong sense of chemistry to a strong Lee-Scott team looking to contend again next season.

“The reason they win is because they love each other and they give everything for each other,” Faison said. “You get some chemistry like that and that outplays talent any day. That’s what they have.”

Zarah McGreer and Emerson Mills both added goals for Lee-Scott, while Regan Boyd scored for Madison Academy in the first half and Emma Olson had a goal with 4:54 left to play as the matchup went into overtime.

Boyd had a game-high 4 shots on goal, while Lee-Scott freshman AJ Spillman led the Warriors with 3. Spillman also claimed Class 1A-3A tournament MVP as she provided the lone goal in a 1-0 semifinal win over Houston Academy.

“Everyone’s just so supportive and just so nice,” Huddleston said of the culture within the program. “It’s just really a good environment.”

Faison prided his players on embracing their roles this season and sticking together, adding that the mindset guided his team to the success it had.

“It’s a big deal. I love the facilities, and that this is such a big deal,” Faison said. “To win it our first year in AHSAA is special.

“This feels like a big-time thing.”

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This bank is closing more than 30 branches

T.D. Bank will close several branches in the coming months.

According to The Street, the bank will close nearly 38 locations by June 5.

“We’ve made the difficult decision to eliminate some roles that are no longer aligned with our business model,” TD Bank said in a statement. “We are committed to supporting impacted colleagues fairly, with respect and providing resources to assist with the transition.”

NJ.com reports the bank decided to close the brick-and-mortar locations due to a shift to digital banking and evolving customer habits.

The T.D. Bank branches that are closing are located in nearly a dozen states. Here is a full list of closings state by state, according to Parade Magazine:

Connecticut:

North Branford – 1289 Foxon Road, North Branford

Torrington Commons – 215 High St, Torrington

District of Columbia:

Georgetown – 1611 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.

Florida:

Beville Nova – 1590 South Nova Road, Daytona Beach

Main Blvd – 160 NW Main Blvd,

Lake City South Beach 5th Street – 500 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach

Maine

Fairfield – 112 Main St, Fairfield

Fort Kent – 62 West Main, Fort Kent

Gorham – 95 Main Street, Gorham

Houlton – 6 North St, Houlton

Massachusetts

Bradford – 860 South Main St, Bradford

East Longmeadow – 465 North Main St, East Longmeadow

Framingham – 420 Franklin St, Framingham

Holyoke – 50 Holyoke St, Holyoke

Methuen – 547 Broadway, Methuen

Tewksbury – 2345 Main Street, Tewksbury

New Hampshire

Bristol – 10 North Main St, Bristol

Contoocook – 884 Main St, Contoocook

Hampton – 40 High St, Hampton

Wilton – 905 Elm St, Wilton

New Jersey

Cedar Grove – 85-107 Pompton Avenue,

Cedar GroveMarlton – 191 E Route 70,

MarltonRingwood – 145 Skyline Drive,

RingwoodRaritan Township – One Royal Rd, Raritan Township

Spring Lake Heights – 555 Warren Avenue, Spring Lake Heights

New York

42nd and Madison – 125 Park Avenue, New York

45th and Lexington – 451 Lexington Avenue, New York

Dolson Avenue – 156A-B Dolson Avenue, Middletown

Downtown – 136 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh

Greenlawn – 460 Pulaski Road, Greenlawn

Pennsylvania

Chestnut Hill – 8600 Germantown Pike, Philadelphia

Frazer – 101 Lancaster Avenue, Frazer

Morrisville – West Trenton Ave & Carlisle Ave, Morrisville

South Carolina

Columbia Main – 1501 Main Street, Columbia

Thornblade – 6 Elmshorn Drive, Greer

Virginia

Centreville – Centreville Drive and Machen Road, Centreville

Reston – 1750 North Hampton Avenue, Reston

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Jets-Stars game 2 free livestream: Where to watch NHL Playoffs second round, TV, channel

The Winnipeg Jets play against the Dallas Stars in game 2 of their NHL Playoff series tonight. The matchup will begin at 8:30 p.m. CT on TNT. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Stars enter this matchup with a 1-0 series lead, as they defeated Winnipeg 3-2 in the series opener.

During the victory, Mikko Rantanen led the Dallas offense. He ended the game with three goals, so he will look to perform similarly this evening.

Notably, Rantanen leads the Dallas squad with eight goals and seven assists in the postseason.

In order to bounce back tonight, the Jets will need to rely on their star forward Kyle Connor. He leads the team with 12 points and eight assists in the NHL Playoffs, so he will try to continue his offensive success this evening.

Connor is coming off a rough game, as he failed to record a point on Wednesday.

Fans can watch game 2 of this NHL Playoff series for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

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86-year-old woman killed in Shelby County traffic crash

An 86-year-old woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash Thursday in Shelby County.

Alabama State Troopers on Friday identified the victim as Adrienne N. Holderby. She lived in Chelsea.

The wreck happened at 1:45 p.m. on U.S. 280 in Chelsea.

Senior Trooper Vu Quang said Holderby was driving a Honda Accord that was struck by a GMC Sierra 2500 driven by 54-year-old Thomas D. Hopkins of Wilsonville.

Holderby was pronounced dead on the scene.

The investigation is ongoing by troopers.

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Birmingham bishop calls U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV ‘shepherd for God’s people during global uncertainty’

Bishop Steven J. Raica, head of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, reacted to the election of the first U.S.-born pope, calling it a surprise gift of a shepherd through a time of global uncertainty.

“With profound joy and heartfelt gratitude, we welcome the joyful news of the election of His Eminence Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, O.S.A., as the new Bishop of Rome—our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV,” Raica said in a released statement. “It is, indeed, a surprise, one filled with grace. The Holy Spirit has once again stirred the Church in a remarkable way, gifting us with a new Supreme Pontiff to shepherd God’s people during this time of global uncertainty into a future filled with hope and truth.”

EWTN Global Catholic Network, founded by Mother Angelica and headquartered in Irondale in the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, will be an important vessel of information about the new papacy as the largest Catholic TV network in the world.

EWTN CEO Mike Warsaw released a statement reacting to the new pope, considered the 267th in church history, starting from St. Peter, named by Jesus to lead the Christian church and considered the first pope by Catholics.

“It is with great joy that I welcome the election of Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV,” Warsaw said. “The election of a new pope is always an historic moment in the life of the Church, but the election of the first American-born Pope is particularly momentous. The new Holy Father carries with him enormous experience as a missionary priest and bishop which no doubt will help to shape his ministry as the 266th successor of Saint Peter. On behalf of the global EWTN Family, I want to assure Pope Leo of our prayers as he begins his service to the universal Church.”

Raica reflected further on the new pope’s setting a tone of unity for the church.

“In his first greeting to the Church and to the world, Pope Leo XIV offered the words of the Risen Christ: ‘Peace be with you,’” Raica said. “These are not simply words of comfort; they are a commission. Just as Christ breathed peace upon His disciples and sent them forth, our new pope comes to us as a bridge-builder (pontifex), a messenger of reconciliation in a world so deeply divided and in need of healing. His voice, echoing the Risen Christ, now becomes a point of unity for the global Church and a moral compass for the wider world.

“The name he has chosen—Leo—calls to mind strength, courage, and steadfastness. The last Pontiff to bear this name, Pope Leo XIII, gave the Church the encyclical Rerum Novarum, the foundational text of modern Catholic Social Teaching during the Industrial Revolution. In this same spirit, Pope Leo XIV ascends to the Chair of Peter not only as a successor of the apostles, but also as a successor of courageous advocacy by his predecessors, especially for the dignity of the human person, for workers, for the poor, and for justice.

“As an Augustinian, our new Holy Father brings the deep spiritual wisdom of St. Augustine—his love for truth, his restless search for God, and his profound understanding of grace. As a missionary bishop in Peru, he has walked alongside the poor, learned from the humble, and witnessed firsthand the hope that blossoms even in the most forgotten corners of the world.

“The Church desires in her pope what every disciple of Christ longs for: one who boldly proclaims the Resurrection, who pastors the flock with compassion and strength, who teaches the Gospel with clarity, and who leads us ever more deeply into the mystery of God through the sacraments.

“Here in the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, we offer Pope Leo XIV our warmest welcome, our filial devotion, and, most importantly, our prayers for the fruitfulness of his Petrine ministry. We pray that the Lord may bless him with wisdom like Solomon’s, courage like Leo’s, and the heart of a shepherd after God’s own heart. May he lead us ever more faithfully toward Christ, the Good Shepherd, Whose peace he now bears to the whole world. Ad multos annos, Pope Leo XIV!”

The Friday mid-day Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Birmingham was dedicated to prayer and thanksgiving for the new pope.

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Maple Leafs-Panthers game 3 free livestream: Where to watch NHL Playoffs second round, TV, channel

The Toronto Maple Leafs play against the Florida Panthers in game 3 of their NHL Playoff series tonight. The matchup will begin at 6 p.m. CT on TNT. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Maple Leafs enter this matchup with a 2-0 series lead, and they are coming off a close 4-3 win. During the victory, four Toronto players scored one goal: Max Domi, Max Pacioretty, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner.

In order to win this evening, the Maple Leafs will need a great performance from their star forward Nylander. He currently leads the team with 13 points and six goals in the postseason.

In order to bounce back tonight, the Panthers will need to rely on their forward Sam Bennett. He leads the Florida offense with four goals in the NHL Playoffs, so he will try to find the back of the net tonight.

Notably, Bennett failed to record a point last game.

Fans can watch game 3 of this NHL Playoff series for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

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Class 5A girls soccer: Westminster Christian wins 3rd straight title

Same opponent, same result.

Westminster Christian defeated St. Michael Catholic in the championship round of the third consecutive season, earning a 2-1 victory Friday in the Class 5A girls title game at Huntsville’s John Hunt Park.

Westminster’s Caleigh Lewis scored the game-winner in the 58th minute, heading the ball into the net on a corner kick by Annie Collier.

“One of the good things about having really good players is you tell them to get in the box and go get it,” Westminster coach Brian Daughtery said. “They went and got it.”

The same teams played for the Class 4A title in 2023 and 2024, with Westminster winning both. Daughtery noted the Wildcats (18-3-1) won the 2025 title despite a complete roster turnover after losing 12 seniors from the 2024 title team. The Wildcats also moved up to Class 5A this season.

Westminster played Friday without Ava Martinez, a top attacker who suffered a collarbone injury in the semifinal victory over Springville.

“This by far the best team I’ve ever been on,” Westminster’s Calli Solan said.

The teams played to a 1-all at halftime on Friday, as Westminster’s Lewis scored in the 24th minute and St. Michael’s Abagial Smeraglia scored the equalizer seven minutes later.

Collier assisted on both goals and was named tournament MVP.

St. Michaels (14-4-3) outshot the Wildcats 17-7, but Westminster goalkeeper Piper Blazier responded with 11 saves. St. Michaels goalkeeper Regan Gregory had two saves.

This post will be updated.

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Trump firing first Black librarian of Congress by email a ‘disgrace,’ Alabama Democrat says

President Donald Trump’s abrupt firing of Carla Hayden, the first female and the first Black librarian of Congress, via a terse email is a “direct attack” on the legislative branch, according to Alabama’s lone Democrat in Congress.

An aide to Trump sent Hayden, who was well-liked by elected officials on both sides of the political aisle, a short email notifying her she was “terminated effective immediately,” according to CBS News correspondent Scott MacFarlane.

Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, the only Democrat in Alabama’s congressional delegation, called on members of both parties in Congress to call out the firing.

“Dr. Carla Hayden is an extraordinary public servant, revered by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress. As the People’s Librarian, she has championed efforts to modernize the Library of Congress and ensure that its contents are accessible to all Americans. And through her historic tenure as the first African American and first woman to hold this role, she has blazed trails for generations of aspiring scholars,” Sewell said in a statement Thursday night.

Hayden’s termination, Sewell continued, “is not only an affront to her years of patriotic service, but a direct attack on the independence of a treasured American institution charged with documenting and preserving our American story.”

The congresswoman said the termination “is just the latest in his ongoing attempt to whitewash our history and replace dedicated public servants with loyal sycophants.

“Democrats and Republicans in Congress should join together,” Sewell said, “and call this out for what it is—a disgrace.”

Hayden was serving a 10-year term that was set to expire next year, according to NPR.

A pro-Trump group claimed Hayden was obstructing the president’s agenda by promoting children’s books with “radical content” and works authored by Trump critics, the outlet reported.

“The current #LibrarianOfCongress Carla Hayden is woke, anti-Trump, and promotes trans-ing kids,” the American Accountability Foundation said on its X account earlier Thursday, just hours before the firing was made public. “It’s time to get her OUT and hire a new guy for the job!”

Hayden’s firing came the same day the Trump-appointed acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was terminated.

Cam Hamilton, the acting FEMA director, disagreed with Trump on the agency’s future, telling a congressional committee that FEMA should not be eliminated.

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