It has been 27 long, agonizing, painful years for New York Knicks fans since they were last in the NBA Finals. So many years of promise before watching them slip away, so many years of seeing Spike Lee age courtside before our eyes. The years of Starbury, Melo, and the hopes of landing LeBron — none of it led to victory.
Now the Knicks are back. So much has changed since they faced the San Antonio Spurs in June of 1999 — heck, this was their starting five in those finals.
Charlie Ward Allan Houston Larry Johnson Kurt Thomas Patrick Ewing
It’s a good time to go through the wayback machine to remember what the world was like when the Knicks last had a chance to win it all.
Four new countries have been recognized by the U.N. since the Knicks were in the finals: Serbia (2000), Timor Leste (2002), Montenegro (2006), and South Sudan (2011)
Regular gasoline cost an average of $1.17 a gallon in the USA
The Super Bowl played in January featured the Denver Broncos beating the Atlanta Falcons. John Elway was named MVP. The halftime show was Gloria Estefan and Stevie Wonder
The No. 1 movie in America was Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, which was Mike Myers’ first movie since Wayne’s World 2
The top album in the United States was Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin, and it still slaps
E.R. was the most popular TV show in the country. It ran for another 10 years after the Knicks were in the finals. Noah Wyle took a 16 year break and released another hit medical drama in The Pitt during the Knicks’ time off
The world was still gripped by the Friends season five finale, in which Ross and Rachel got drunkenly married in Las Vegas
Queenslander holds nerve to win 6-2 1-6 6-1 1-6 6-4
Former world No 1 dispatched in searing Paris heat
Wildcard Adam Walton has pulled off the biggest victory of his career at the French Open, staying cool in the Paris heat to shock a frazzled Daniil Medvedev for the second time in nine months.
The Queenslander took advantage of one of the former world No 1’s Jekyll and Hyde days, hanging tough in the final set to come from behind and win 6-2 1-6 6-1 1-6 6-4 in three hours 22 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Cameron Boozer shoots the ball during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
One of the great things about the NBA Draft process is the gamesmanship and skullduggery. If somebody wanted, say, BYU star AJ Dybantsa, that team might plant doubts about his workouts or attitude, hoping to push him down the draft order.
Unless you get a crack at Shaquille O’Neal or Hakeem Olajuwon, where there’s no doubt who will go first, it always happens. It doesn’t always work, but somebody always does it. Sun Tzu would have loved the NBA Draft.
We’re not at all sure what’s happening with Cameron Boozer, but something is bubbling away. People are suggesting all sorts of things. There are subtle suggestions that the Washington Wizards might opt for him with #1. There are accounts that Utah may take him with the #2 pick.
This much is indisputable: Dybantsa’s family has moved to Utah and apparently quite likes living there. Dybantsa has said a couple of things that indicate he would like to stay in Utah. That would probably happen if Washington takes Boozer with the #1 pick.
And it’s worth remembering that Oklahoma City has a ton of draft picks that will devalue if they don’t make a trade to move up in the draft or at least move them further into the future.
OKC is a real wild card. If they decided that they wanted, let’s say, Boozer, they could work a trade with either Memphis or Chicago and send them a huge collection of future picks.
Barring that, the current wisdom is that Boozer will go either #3 to Memphis or at #4 to Chicago, but it doesn’t appear to be written in stone just yet.
The New York Knicks completed their sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers to advance to their first NBA Finals since the 1998-99 season, when they lost in five games to the San Antonio Spurs.
To put things in perspective, the New York Islanders were five years into their 23-season playoff series win drought at the time, coming off a 24-48-9-1 season, tied for the second-worst record in the NHL.
This was also Mike Milbury's final season as the team's head coach.
Following an 11-game winless streak, he stepped away from the bench to focus solely on his role as general manager, handing the coaching reins to Bill Stewart, who took over on January 21, 1999.
The Islanders’ leading point scorer was Robert Reichel, who had 56 points in 70 games before being dealt to the Phoenix Coyotes on March 20, 1999, for then-21-year-old Brad Isbister and a 1999 third-round pick.
Other notable Islanders from that season included Žigmund Pálffy, who was traded to the Los Angeles Kings during the 1999 offseason, and Zdeno Chara, who was in the second of four seasons during his initial stint with the Islanders.
At the time, Roberto Luongo and Mike Rupp were also prospects in the Islanders’ system, though both would be with new franchises by the 2000 offseason.
The Knicks will now face either the reigning NBA Finals champion Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in a 1999 rematch.
After the New York Knicks advanced to the 2026 NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani seized the moment to take a playful jab at the Cleveland Cavaliers on social media, reflecting the city's excitement in the team’s historic run in 27 years.
Just minutes after the Knicks defeated the Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, completing a decisive 4-0 series sweep, Mamdani tweeted a clever message: “I’d like to report a sweep,” tagging New York’s Department of Sanitation.
The department quickly joined in the fun, replying, “Clean up in Cleveland!!” The playful exchange captured the city’s jubilant mood as fans celebrated the Knicks’ dominant performance and their long-awaited return to the NBA’s biggest stage.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) May 26, 2026
Mamdani, a well-known Knicks supporter, was spotted at Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden, cheering on the team alongside fellow fans.
It's been a big week for Mamdani's favorite sports teams with Arsenal clinching its first English Premier League title since 2004, also set to play on May 30 in the UEFA Champions League final.
Dec 30, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) reacts in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
The 2026 NBA Draft is quickly approaching, and the playoffs always have a way of revealing what’s actually most important in high leverage games. Our instant mock draft immediately following the lottery tried to take a stab at how the picks will actually come off the board when the first-round begins on June 23.
Now, here’s a mock draft based on what I would do with every pick.
Boozer is the top player on my draft board, and in my estimation he’s the obvious No. 1 pick. I’ve been chronicling Boozer’s brilliance since he was in high school, and all he did as a freshman was win national player of the year in a nearly unanimous vote (59 out of 61). The Wizards should not be making team-building decisions with Anthony Davis in mind. Boozer was only four years old when AD was drafted. Washington needs shot-creation, shooting, and rebounding, and Boozer provides all of that at a high level. Alex Sarr should be a nice defensive complement to him in the frontcourt. This really shouldn’t be that hard.
2. Utah Jazz – Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
I had Peterson over Dybantsa on my preseason board and my midseason board, and while I thought about moving off that take at times during Peterson’s bizarre freshman year, I’m sticking with it now. Peterson is just a better fit for what the Jazz need, and I do think Utah is potentially good enough for next season to be thinking about fit. Keyonte George needs a defensive-minded off-guard with volume three-point shooting next to him, and that can be Peterson. Of course, Peterson can also be so much more than that if he fully recovers from the strange soft tissue and cramping injuries that plagued his time at Kansas. Dybantsa would have some overlap with Ace Bailey if he’s the pick here. I like a lineup of George-Peterson-Bailey-Lauri Markkanen-Jaren Jackson Jr. with Walker Kessler off the bench. That feels like a playoff team with some real upside to me.
3. Memphis Grizzlies – AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
Dybantsa probably won’t still be on the board at No. 3 on draft night, but if he is it would set up a fascinating decision between him and Caleb Wilson for Memphis. I give Dybantsa the edge simply because of his shot-creation ability. There just aren’t many players in the world this size — 6’8.5 barefoot, 217 pounds, with a 7-foot wingspan — who can create shots for themselves and others like Dybantsa. I’d love to see him take a little more pride in his defense and up his three-point volume, but he’d be a wonderful addition to Memphis’ rebuild.
4. Chicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
Wilson is the obvious ‘best player available’ choice for the Bulls here. This draft has been defined by a ‘big three’ since these players were in high school, but Wilson was so good at North Carolina that it can now credibly be called a ‘big four.’ Wilson is a bit of an odd fit on the Bulls’ current roster with some overlap with Matas Buzelis, Noa Essengue, and Leonard Miller — the team’s three most appealing young players. Ultimately, that doesn’t matter. There’s a strong chance that Wilson is better than any of them, and Buzelis has developed as a shooter enough to play the three. Take Wilson and figure out the rest later.
5. Los Angeles Clippers – Aday Mara, C, Michigan
This is the first big decision of the draft. I’m torn between Mikel Brown Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg, and Mara, but ultimately it’s harder to find a 7’3 center with a 7’7 wingspan than point guards or forwards. Mara was the single biggest riser of March Madness, but I’ve been on him as a potential top-10 pick since he was entering UCLA out of Spain. His size is a game-changer in the middle, and he also has ridiculous passing feel for someone so big. I know the Clippers drafted Yanic Konan Niederhäuser at the end of the first-round last year, but I was never too high on him. After trading Ivica Zubac to the Pacers for this pick, the Clippers find their center of the future.
6. Brooklyn Nets – Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
Yeah, the Nets took four pseudo point guards in the first-round last year, but that can’t stop one of the league’s worst rosters from drafting the best available player. Brown fits that description to me as the highest-upside prospect still on the board. The Louisville guard brings super-high volume three-point shooting, creative passing, and some downhill attacking ability to an offense desperately in need of juice. Brown’s frame is very thin and he doesn’t even have hair on his face yet, but the Nets need to be thinking long-term, and Brown is oozing with potential over time.
The Kings falling to No. 7 in the lottery is a huge bummer, but the upside is that the team really wanted a point guard, and there will be multiple great ones to choose from here. There’s already rumors that Sacramento has a preference for Darius Acuff, and that would be fine, but I like Flemings more. The Houston guard is a lot more disruptive defensively off the ball, and I give him a slight edge as a live-dribble playmaker. KINGSton Flemings to the Kings would be a very good fit for both the player and team.
8. Atlanta Hawks – Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
The key to modern basketball is the intersection of positional size, shooting touch, and IQ. Wagler checks all three boxes while also having worst in class explosion and length for a point guard. How does a 6’6, one-and-done lottery pick finish the season with zero dunks? This will be the first time it’s ever happened, at least for as far back as the statistics go. The Hawks have had some trouble with smaller guards, so Wagler is at least tall while having the ability to play on or off the ball. His pull-up shooting would be really good next to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson, and the first two guys there could help insulate him defensively. He’ll probably go higher than this, but I like the fit in Atlanta.
I will have Lendeborg higher than No. 9 on my personal board, and I seriously considered him at No. 5 for the Clippers. I didn’t love his fit in Brooklyn, Sacramento, or Atlanta, but I do think he makes plenty of sense for the Mavs. Dallas should be ready to accelerate this thing around Cooper Flagg pretty quickly, in part because they don’t control their first-round pick from 2027-2030. Lendeborg will be a 24-year-old rookie, but he has unique strengths as a massive wing who can play on the perimeter or bang down low for some small ball five minutes. Critics of this pick will say Dallas already has PJ Washington, but he can be traded. Yaxel is four years younger, would be on a cost controlled deal, and in my opinion should be better pretty quickly. I like the idea of pairing Flagg with a defensive-minded forward who can stretch the floor and give the Mavs positional versatility.
I thought Quaintance would be a top-5 pick coming into the season. Instead, he rushed back from a torn ACL, and shut it down after only four underwhelming games at Kentucky. Quaintance explained his decision to end his season early to me at the combine. If he’s healthy, he has a case as the best defensive player in the class. While he’s a tad short for an NBA five at 6’9 barefoot, JQ measured well with a hulking 253-pound frame and 7’5+ wingspan. His offense is a huge question mark, but his defense should be bankable if he can stay healthy. Assuming the Bucks finally trade Giannis this summer, they will need a new identity long-term, and Quaintance can help that start on the defensive end.
11. Golden State Warriors – Hannes Steinbach, F/C, Washington
The Warriors could really go in any direction here, and I remain intrigued by the Mara fit from my instant mock if he’s still on the board. Given the way this draft goes, Steinbach feels like he would be a good choice to add some physicality and rebounding to the frontcourt. Steinbach’s offensive rebounding is potentially the single best skill in this draft class (behind Cameron Boozer’s brain), and he could feast off misses from Steph Curry and Brandin Podziemski to generate extra possessions.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Morez Johnson Jr., F/C, Michigan
Johnson is the best kind of tweener with the ability to be additive on both ends at either the four or the five. The 6’9 big man has a hulking 250-pound frame with 7’3.5 wingspan and boundless athleticism. He’s one of the best defenders in the class with the strength to wall up inside, the quickness to switch some screens, and outstanding ability to patrol the backline as a low man. I think he’s going to be shoot long-term, and if you agree, he has to be a lottery pick.
13. Miami Heat – Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas
I have questions about Acuff’s scoring process and worry that he might be the worst defensive player in the NBA, but at a certain point he’s too productive to continue passing on. This pick would absolutely be in play in a potential Giannis trade.
14. Charlotte Hornets – Dailyn Swain, F, Texas
The Hornets really need some beef inside, but this class just isn’t very deep in big men after Motiejus Krvias and Patrick Ngongba pulled out. I’ve liked Swain for a while as a bouncy wing stopper who made big offensive strides as a slasher and shooter during his junior season at Texas, but he wasn’t too impressive with his measurements or play at the combine. Still, this feels like a plug-and-play rotation piece for what should be an excellent team in the East next season.
15. Chicago Bulls – Brayden Burries, G, Arizona
I’d prefer Morez Johnson or possibly Jayden Quaintance here, but both are off the board in this mock. Burries will likely be long gone by the time Chicago comes on the clock at No. 15, but he would add two-way physicality to the backcourt with good shooting projection. I don’t think Burries has the shot-creation or the playmaking to be in an on-ball role that would give him star upside, but he checks a lot of boxes as a role player. He’s a player who feels like he’s pretty good everywhere but without a signature skill to fall back on.
16. Memphis Grizzlies – Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa
Stirtz is a high-volume creator who doesn’t turn the ball over and also offers floor spacing potential with a quick and accurate trigger from three-point range. He’s not the biggest lead guard and he’s likely to have some issues defending at the point of attack, but he’s such an additive player offensively that he can work in a variety of roles. I’m curious what Stirtz would look like in a faster system and more scaled down role after creating every advantage and playing nearly every minute for Iowa during his senior season.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder – Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
Ament couldn’t live up to the top-5 hype in the preseason he as struggled with physicality and failed to score efficiently from any part of the floor. Still, there’s a reason he was so highly touted entering the year, and it’s easy to see the outline of an athletic, two-way four man who can still impact the game in a more scaled down offensive role. Ament’s 29 percent usage rate was tops on Tennessee, and giving him that much offensive responsibility on a team without great spacing was always too much to ask. I’d like to see what he looks like as a more of a fourth option on offense who can space the floor and attack closeouts while using his 6’10 frame to alter shots defensively.
18. Charlotte Hornets – Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston
The Hornets have to come away with a big, and Cenac is the best available at this slot. While he’s likely a couple years away from making an impact, Cenac has elite physical tools at 6’10+, 240 pounds with a 7’5 wingspan. He has a confident shooting stroke from deep, and could be a valuable stretch five (or a four in bigger lineups) who also crushes the defensive glass down the line. He’s a bit raw right now and can struggle with his feel for the game, but the idealized version of Cenac would be a great piece for Charlotte as it continues to build a contender in the East.
19. Toronto Raptors – Labaron Philon, G, Alabama
Philon could inject some much needed juice into the Raptors’ halfcourt offense, which ranked No. 13 in efficiency during the regular season but struggled badly in the playoffs. The Alabama guard is super shifty off the bounce and will thrive in an NBA drive-and-kick game, and he offers scoring ability inside the arc with his floater. His three-point shot made a big leap this season (from 31.5 percent to 40 percent from deep while nearly doubling his volume), but there are some questions about how sustainable that is with a lower release point. Philon is very skinny and will probably never be a good defender, but this would be a very good value at this slot for a potential high-octane creator.
20. San Antonio Spurs – Cameron Carr, G, Baylor
For a 6’5 wing, Carr is extremely long (7’1 wingspan), highly explosive (44 dunks), and a really good spot-up shooter who hit 37.6 percent behind the arc on 205 attempts. There’s a case for him to go much higher than this, but his limited creation ability, shaky passing vision, and thin frame gives me some pause.
21. Detroit Pistons – Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford
No one expected Okorie to be a one-and-done entering the year as a recruit ranked outside the top-100, but his creation flashes made it undeniable while playing for a middling Stanford team. Okorie has the best first-step in the class and the acceleration to separate once he gains the initial advantage. He’s more of a scorer than a playmaker right now, which isn’t ideal for a 6’2 guard. Still, his ability to create his own offense while limiting turnovers and showing a solid three-point stroke gives him real upside in this part of the draft. I’d like to see what Cade Cunningham looks like in a more off-ball role at times, and Okorie can get him there.
22. Philadelphia 76ers – Allen Graves, F, Santa Clara
Graves would fill a position of need for the Sixers at power forward while also offering two-way upside if he can cut down on fouling. The redshirt freshman from Santa Clara forced turnovers at an incredible rate this season while also shooting 40 percent from three, but his aggressive play led to a lot of hacking that kept him in a sixth man role. Graves isn’t the best athlete, but this area of the draft feels right for an analytics darling who measured well at the combine (7-foot wingspan and 225-pound frame) and has some real skill flashes.
23. Atlanta Hawks – Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers
Lopez is a big forward who can play with the ball in his hands, but there are questions about his shooting and off-ball defense. He can look good attacking in a straight line as a driver, but he’s a bit stiff athletically when he’s in need of counters. His frame and downhill ability are worth betting on at this point, and he could offer quite a bit of upside if he figures out his spot-up three-pointer.
24. New York Knicks – Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State
Jefferson’s ability to play with physicality on both ends while also bringing connective offensive traits makes him one of the best seniors in this year’s draft. I had Jefferson as the third best player in college basketball this year. While I doubt he’ll have quite as much creation equity at the next level, his reps in a high usage, more on-ball role at ISU will serve him well in the NBA when the ball swings to him. It feels like he fits the Knicks’ ethos well,.
25. Los Angeles Lakers – Henri Veesar, C, North Carolina
Veesar is one of the only stretch five options in this class, but he does a lot more offensively than just shoot. The 7-footer thrived in a high-low game with Caleb Wilson by showing good passing touch and efficient scoring inside the arc. He won’t be a plus defensively at center, but giving Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves a pick-and-pop big man with good feel offensively would be a nice choice after this range of the draft was thinned out by NIL.
26. Denver Nuggets – Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech
It’s hard to find a place for all the small guards in this draft given the way the league is trending, and that means someone like Anderson could be a major steal. The Texas Tech point guard is one of the very best shooters in this draft class, and also a solid playmaker who won’t rack up turnovers. While he measured pretty small at the combine, he does have a 6’6+ wingspan that at least gives him a chance defensively.
27. Boston Celtics – Tyler Tanner, G, Vanderbilt
Tanner might be destined to return to college after being one of the most divisive players in this year’s class. He was one of the very best players in college basketball as a sophomore, but he’s just so small at a tick under 5’11 barefoot and 167 pounds with a 6’4.25 wingspan. He definitely plays bigger than his size on both ends with a sixth sense for forcing turnovers and a rare ability to dunk on your head for such a tiny guard. I have questions about his three-point shooting and creation ability at the next level. He’d be a great flier in this range.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves – Koa Peat, F, Arizona
The NBA seems to think Peat should return for his sophomore year, and it’s hard to blame them. He looks more like a run-stopping defensive end than an NBA power forward, but there’s still some potential here for a defensive wing stopper with short-roll playmaking and some play-finishing ability. His outside shot is broken and he lacks lateral quickness or agility, but he would be a fine flier in this range.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers – Zuby Ejiofor, C, St. John’s
Ejiofor is a rugged big man who can help wall off the paint defensively while adding some impressive connective passing traits in the frontcourt. He’s a disruptive defender who plays with a high motor and does all the little things good role players need to do. He’s a tad small for a five at 6’7.5 barefoot with a 7’2 wingspan and 245 pound frame, but he’ll find a way to make it work with an impressive combo of physicality and feel.
30. Dallas Mavericks – Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas
Thomas can fill it up from outside as a microwave scorer while also not making stupid decisions with the ball. He should be able to defend a little bit better than most players in his archetype. The Mavs could stand to add some off-ball offensive firepower off the bench in this slot.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 25: Tyrese Proctor #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tyrese Proctor’s rookie season came to an end Monday night as the New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 130-93, sweeping the series, 4-0.
Proctor, who rarely got off the bench in the playoffs, got 9 minutes here. He didn’t score, but he got 1 rebound and 2 assists.
The Knicks move on and will play either the San Antonio Spurs, with Mason Plumlee, or the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Jared McCain, in the finals.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 25: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on against the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND — The leap between being a great team and being a championship-caliber one is the hardest to make. This series shows that the Cleveland Cavaliers have a lot of work to do before they can say they’re on that level.
This was supposed to be a somewhat even matchup with the New York Knicks, but it wasn’t.
The Knicks dominated every aspect of the series since the fourth quarter of Game 1. That continued as they completed their sweep with a 37-point victory in Game 4.
The ending to this season was always going to be messy, but this was much worse than anyone could’ve reasonably expected.
This series, and the playoffs as a whole, were a referendum on Donovan Mitchell.
This group was constructed around Mitchell. Each player was brought here because they either cover up a weakness or accent one of Mitchell’s skills. So when Mitchell isn’t playing at a star level, things can get sideways quickly.
It’s not impossible for elite playoff teams to gameplan around a 6’2” guard who can only score at a high level. We’ve seen this throughout his four postseason runs in Cleveland, and did so again here.
Each team the Cavs ran into this postseason was able to take Mitchell out of his comfort zone.
The Toronto Raptors were physical at the point of attack and able to switch every on-ball screen. The Detroit Pistons put one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, Ausar Thompson, on Mitchell, making it difficult for him to get to his spots. And then the Knicks just crowded the paint, making it difficult to get anything going inside.
This all added up to Mitchell accumulating his lowest point total and the least efficiency in his last three postseason runs.
Throughout the playoffs, the Cavs were better with Mitchell off the court than they were with him on. They lost the minutes he’s played in 12 of the 18 postseason games. This includes every matchup against the Knicks.
Mitchell had good moments — including an impressive Game 7 in Detroit — but they made it to this point despite his play on the court, not because of it. That’s a problem.
Game 4 showed this again.
It was a four-point game when James Harden subbed out with three minutes left in the first quarter. Evan Mobley and Mitchell anchored a hybrid bench lineup without him. And by the time Harden came back into the game, it was a 12-point game.
This had been happening all postseason. Mitchell couldn’t elevate groups when Harden isn’t on the court, even when he’s going up against other teams’ bench units. As a result, the Cavs are losing the minutes Mitchell plays without Harden by 9.4 points per 100 possessions going into Game 4. Overall, the Cavs were outscored in when Mitchell is on the court by 1.4 points per 100 possessions.
It’s fair to wonder if the Mitchell and Harden pairing can ever work in the postseason. Far too often, the flaws of the backcourt — mostly on the defensive end — came through while their strengths didn’t. Those lineups weren’t outstanding offensively, and didn’t hold up well on the other end.
The duo didn’t have much time to gel in the regular season. Figuring out an entirely new playing style with under 1,000 regular-season possessions is nearly impossible. That alone could give you hope that they could improve.
“He’s helped this group and myself get somewhere we’ve never been,” Mitchell said of Harden. “And that’s with three months of work, three months of prep, three months of whatever. Now, you have a full summer of conversations, of film, of working out together, training, you have a whole year now.”
All that said, banking on them doing so is far from a guarantee, given both players’ track record in the postseason and Harden’s age.
For as inconsistent as this postseason was, the Cavs don’t get to this point without Mitchell.
This regular season was a disaster in so many ways. A combination of injuries to key players, the offseason acquisitions not living up to their standards, and a general step backward from most of the remaining pieces resulted in this team being 17-16 just after Christmas. For context, they didn’t lose the 16th game of the season before until the beginning of April.
This could’ve, and honestly, should’ve been a lost season. However, it wasn’t.
“He’s the number one reason we went to the conference finals,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said of Mitchell. “He took it to another level. Led even better than he did the year before. Adapted to a new roster. … With his communication, his leadership, he kind of made that work on the fly.”
For as frustrating as it ended, you don’t accidentally make it to the conference finals. That’s something you have to earn, and the Cavs proved something that they haven’t previously during this postseason run. However, just getting to the conference finals wasn’t the end goal, and there’s no guarantee that you will get back to that point.
This all makes deciding what they should do in the summer so much more difficult.
The argument for making a drastic change is straightforward. We’ve seen this group not play up to their standards in too many postseasons to run back the same basic two guard, two big structure and expect the result to be different.
Figuring out the perfect move that gets them over the hump isn’t.
Do you try to make a big swing for a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo? This would require giving up multiple key players and draft picks to do so, and then you’d have to figure out a way to retool the roster around a new number one.
Would doing everything you could to convince LeBron James to return for one more go around turn them into championship contenders?
Is there a way to retool and get younger, while not losing your standing in the conference?
There is still merit to wanting to avoid shaking things up too much. After all, this run showed that they can have postseason success. If they handle business quicker and shoot better against New York, this would be a very different conversation. A full offseason with Harden trying to figure out a more concrete playing style on both ends of the floor should help as well.
“I have no doubts that this group can get there,” Mitchell said. “I’ve said this all year. I think the biggest thing is you use this as a learning lesson. It’s a tough learning lesson, but now we know. … This team that we faced had to go through this. They’ve been together and had to go through this tough experience. So this is our turn.
“And I’m sorry for the city of Cleveland, for it to be like this, a sweep, like, that’s ass. But I told y’all last year, and I’ll say it again, we’ll be ready, and we’ll be hungry, and be locked in.”
The Detroit Tigers got a much-needed breather on Memorial Day after playing 13 straight games, winning just twice in that span. The good news is that they finished the stretch with a 4-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday behind Troy Melton’s first start of the 2026 campaign.
AJ Hinch and Co. will look to build on that victory back at home in the comfortable confines of Comerica Park starting on Tuesday against one of the few MLB teams that has been worse than them this season: the Los Angeles Angels. The Halos are one game worse in the standings than the Olde English D but have been much better of late, coming off a three-game home sweep of the Texas Rangers last weekend.
The Tigers turn to right-hander Keider Montero to try and string a couple of wins together for the first time since taking the final two games of the Rangers series at home at the beginning of the month. The 25-year-old was perfectly mid, allowing three runs on two hits (one home run) and four walks while striking out one in five frames of work in a no-decision loss to the Cleveland Guardians.
Montero has faced the American League Los Angeles team just once before back on Aug. 29, 2024, putting up almost a mirror image stat line of his last outing — three runs on five hits (one home run) and three walks while striking out five over five innings for a loss in Detroit.
The Angels will send fellow righty Jack Kochanowicz to the bump to do battle coming off his fifth quality start of the season against the Athletics in Anaheim. Also 25 years old, the third-year hurler threw six innings of three-run, three-hit ball while walking four, intentionally walking one and striking out seven in a game his team lost in extra innings.
Kochanowicz faced Detroit twice last year, getting bombed both times by the Motor City Kitties. Particularly in his second outing on Aug. 10, when he surrendered seven runs (six earned) on nine hits (one home run) and two walks while striking out one in just three innings of work; he took the loss in the 9-5 final that day.
Take a look below at how the two match up on Tuesday night.
Detroit Tigers (21-33) vs. Los Angeles Angels (20-34)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site: N/A Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 55: RHP Keider Montero (2-3, 3.83 ERA) vs. RHP Jack Kochanowicz (2-3, 4.55 ERA)
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 25: Colton Cowser #17 of the Baltimore Orioles beats the tag by Nick Fortes #40 of the Tampa Bay Rays at home plate to score on a Gunnar Henderson #2 fielder's choice in the 12th inning of the baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 25, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters! And what a happy Tuesday it is after yesterday’s wild extra-innings win. The back-and-forth game went on for over four hours, but when the dust settled, Colton Cowser was the hero once again. He tied the game with a fantastic slide in the 12th inning, then sent the Orioles fans home happy with another walk-off home run in the 13th.
You can read all of the details of yesterday’s win over the Rays in Paul Folkemer’s game recap.
It’s been an incredible few days for Cowser, who has been disappointing since his ROY runner-up season in 2024. It’s hard to look back at the excitement we felt at his future back then, now that we know what was coming next. He missed time last year and we later learned he played through broken ribs. When he was on the field, he underperformed. And it seemed like all he did was strike out. Just strike outs, as far as the eye can see.
This year, Cowser has continued to struggle at the plate and has lost his place as a primary starter. He went from up-and-coming young player to fourth outfielder faster than we could process.
And don’t get me wrong, he deserves to have lost his spot. But when you look around at the other outfielders on the team, is he really the guy who should be sitting on the bench? Taylor Ward and Leody Taveras have earned their spots in this underwhelming outfield, but Cowser should have that third spot regularly. Maybe things would be different if Dylan Beavers wasn’t injured, but I don’t know when we’ll see him again.
Tyler O’Neill is a righty batter who was signed to hit lefties. Cowser is a lefty batter. But for me, at this point, why is O’Neill starting over anyone regardless of what side of the plate they hit from? As Tyler Young wrote yesterday, something has got to give with him. His OPS is .498. That’s horrendous. Against lefties, it’s .191. His OPS, not his batting average!
This is a small sample size alert, but Cowser has shown life at the plate over the last week when he actually gets the chance to play. I’m not suggesting he’s going to turn some corner and great, but surely he can be better than O’Neill. If the Orioles are trying to win games, it seems like he’s a better option than O’Neill in every situation.
I am sure that I am just wearing my Cowser-tinted glasses after he hit two walk-off home runs in two days. But I remember 2024 Colton Cowser. If he is healthy, he should be the regular right fielder. Maybe he’ll continue to strike out and remind us all that he doesn’t deserve it. But it’s not like there are any better options at the moment, and maybe he’ll surprise us.
Tonight the Orioles will try to win their series against the Rays with former Ray Shane Baz on the mound. Baz was pretty good his last go round, also against the Rays. If he can go six innings with just one run allowed again, maybe the Orioles can win a second game in a row.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have three Orioles birthday buddies, all pitchers. Gabriel Ynoa (33) pitched for the Orioles in 2017 and 2019; John O’Donoghue (57) appeared in 11 games with the 1993 team; and Stacy Jones (59) had four appearances in 1991. But his name is Stacy! That’s really cool. Would be cooler with an E.
Not much Orioles history on this day, but here are some other fun baseball facts, courtesy of Baseball Reference:
In 1959, Harvey Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings for the Pirates. 36 up, 36 down. It was broken up in the 13th inning on an error, of all things. The Pirates lost to the Braves, 1-0.
In 1969, Hank Aaron hit his 500th double, becoming just the third player at that time to have 500 doubles and 500 home runs.
In 1995, Ken Griffey Jr. made one of the finest catches you’ll ever see to rob Kevin Bass of the Orioles. Unfortunately, it resulted in a broken wrist and Griffey missed three months.
In 1997, Sammy Sosa of the Cubs and Tony Womack of the Pirates hit inside-the-park home runs in the same inning!
And on this day last year, the Orioles defeated the Cardinals 5-2. Charlie Morton pitched six innings and allowed both runs. Félix Bautista pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save. Ryan O’Hearn had three hits, and Dylan Carlson hit his second home run. Remember Dylan Carlson?
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 25: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park on May 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Back at .500, once again. Is this our new barometer for now? Is this the thing the Phillies need to keep accomplishing to make this season feel better?
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 09: Max Rajcic (68) of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch during a spring training game against the Houston Astros on March 09, 2026 at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Cardinals are doing their best to keep their heads above water in May, going 11-9 in their 20 games played thus far. As we approach the 1/3 point of the season, once you cross that threshold, it’s no longer early anymore. At that point, they’re in it, and the “it’s early” qualifiers begin to drop off, and this group just keeps their heads down and tries to do the right thing at the right moment, and then looks up at the end of 9 innings to see where they stand. For what it’s worth, projection models are still hesitant to buy into the team. Fangraphs still has the Cardinals at only a 30% chance of making the playoffs, and they only outpace the Cincinnati Reds at this point in the division in that regard.
It would be natural, at this point, to start identifying areas of the roster that could use some additional help if the Cardinals hope to sustain into the later stages of the season. In 2025, Kyle Leahy emerged as the multi-inning bridge to Romero-Maton-Helsley, and he was highly effective in that spot. Pitching in 62 games, he posted a 3.07 ERA in 88 IP. His 3.04 FIP also speaks highly to his performance, combining to accrue 1.4 fWAR as a reliever. Among 23 primary right-handed relievers who pitched a minimum of 70 innings in 2025, Kyle Leahy ranked 9th in baseball in WPA+ (Win Probability Added). So, he was one of the 10 most positively influential relievers in baseball.
This season, since Leahy transitioned to the rotation, the Cardinals have been searching for a replacement for the vacancy he left once moving up. Matt Svanson was supposed to fill that role, and it’s been an ugly go of it for him so far. Gordon Graceffo has done an admirable job of coming into games, throwing strikes, getting quick outs, and preserving the game where it is, for the most part, but he hasn’t generated the type of swing and miss a modern relief pitcher is expected to generate. When he spoke to us on the podcast earlier this month, he referenced that and mentioned they were looking into how to get more of that out of his game. There is, however, a multi inning reliever tearing it up at AAA Memphis currently that could be an immediate solution…
Max Rajcic.
A former starter-turned reliever has been money for the Memphis Redbirds in 2026, and in almost 30 IP this season, the sample size is getting harder and harder to ignore the more season that passes. Just like Leahy, in shorter stints, the stuff is playing up, Rajcic has 5+ pitches to turn to, and his sweeper is his true out pitch. All of those things you can say about Kyle Leahy are also applicable to Rajcic. The other interesting part to this is that Rajcic is still only 24 years old, even after being drafted 4 seasons ago in the 6th round out of UCLA.
The Cardinals have already swapped out their most glaring hole in the bullpen by optioning Matt Svanson on Sunday, opting for Ryan Fernandez, who appears back to 2024 form. They also dropped Chris Roycroft back to Memphis at the beginning of April, and that has not gone any better for Roycroft since his demotion. I continue to wonder how transferable Roycroft’s 40-man spot is and if the Cardinals would swap Rajcic for Roycroft, given that Rajcic is performing at the upper minors, is younger, has more actionable pitches, and would have the full flexibility to continue to option up and down for seasons to come, whereas Roycroft is closing in on an expiration of optionablity without waivers.
The Cardinals over the last 2-3 seasons have really made hay by featuring an effective bullpen, with multiple unique weapons, at Manager Oli Marmol’s disposal. If the Cardinals can manage to continue what they have started in the early portion of the season, they will likely start to act with a little more urgency and aggression when it comes to addressing weak points on the roster that aren’t performing. It isn’t a secret that the Cardinals’ low-leverage relievers are gettable, and eliminating those areas in favor of other young ascending pieces with more upside would seem to make too much sense. Hopefully, Rajcic can get his chance soon and contribute to a Cardinals roster in need of a couple of new elements in the bullpen.
Brewers third base prospect Andrew Fischer throws to first base during spring training workouts Sunday, February 15, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. | Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome back to the Minor League Roundup!
As a reminder, you can find this roundup — covering everything you need to know about each of the Brewers’ minor league affiliates — every Tuesday morning right here on Brew Crew Ball. For consistency, all organizational prospect rankings will reference MLB Pipeline unless otherwise noted.
Triple-A Nashville Sounds (30-20)
Opponent this week: Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays)
Record this week: 4-1
Standout performances:
Luis Lara (No. 5): 7-for-18, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 5 BB, 3 K Luis Matos: 5-for-13, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K Akil Baddoo: 4-for-16, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 6 K Tyson Hardin (No. 17): 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K Thomas Pannone: 8 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 8 K Coleman Crow (No. 25): 4 1/3 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Tyson Hardin, who was promoted to Triple-A Nashville last Sunday, had another great start in his second appearance with Biloxi. Hardin has now pitched 12 2/3 innings with the Shuckers, allowing just two earned runs and 13 strikeouts while walking six. If you want to nitpick, he’s given out too many walks thus far, but he only walked 1.59 batters per nine innings in 21 starts last season. Given the rest of his numbers, it’s hard to ask for anything better from the 24-year-old righty as he adjusts to Triple-A.
Start #2 in AAA for Hardin
5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 ER
Really nice to see that much whiff against the four-seam this time out. Command has been spotty in both starts, but it's still great to see him start this well at the level. https://t.co/Hdvp5mZlFkpic.twitter.com/9tENoOlGMS
Coleman Crow made another start for Nashville, allowing six hits and three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. Not a perfect line by any means, but Crow has impressed in his two appearances with Milwaukee. His performance next time he makes a spot start in Milwaukee will say more about his long-term potential than his Triple-A outings.
Thomas Pannone, who made one appearance for the Brewers back in 2023, pitched eight innings this week. He allowed four runs, so his ERA doesn’t look great, but he didn’t walk a batter while striking out eight.
The Sounds’ lineup this week was led by the Luises. Matos is now slashing .367/.457/.500 since clearing waivers and being outrighted to Nashville. Lara has continued to rake in Triple-A, and at this point, there might be no keeping him down. Brewers manager Pat Murphy has said that Lara won’t be up until there’s regular playing time, but if there’s any room for him in the lineup, he should be the first outfielder called up.
The other consideration with Lara is the “Super Two” deadline, which is quickly approaching. Normally, players need three years of service time before becoming eligible for salary arbitration. However, players who rank in the top 22% of service time among those with between two and three years of service qualify for “Super Two” status, allowing them to become arbitration-eligible a year early. Because of this, the Brewers are somewhat incentivized to keep Lara in Triple-A until they’re confident he won’t qualify.
Cooper Pratt (No. 4) only went 4-for-20, but hit a no-doubt home run. Jett Williams (No. 3) went 5-for-26 and struck out 10 times. Despite the off weeks, both prospects still have OPSes over .900 for the last month. Luis Rengifo currently has the fourth-worst OPS among qualifying batters, while Joey Ortiz would rank fifth if he qualified, so I’d keep an eye on these two (and Eddys Leonard: see video below). Pratt has already signed an extension, so Super Two status isn’t a factor for him. Williams, meanwhile, feels like a strong candidate to arrive shortly after the deadline passes.
— Nashville Sounds (@nashvillesounds) May 21, 2026
Jeferson Quero went 4-for-14 with a pair of RBIs, although none of his four hits went for extra bases. Brock Wilken went 3-for-17 with a double and nine strikeouts. Akil Baddoo, who was activated yesterday from the IL after starting a rehab assignment on May 15, hit two home runs in 16 at-bats.
— Nashville Sounds (@nashvillesounds) May 22, 2026
Next week’s opponent: Gwinnett Stripers (Atlanta Braves)
Double-A Biloxi Shuckers (23-21)
Opponent this week: Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox)
Record this week: 6-0
Standout performances:
Dylan O’Rae: 11-for-22, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 7 BB, 3 K Jesús Made (No. 1): 10-for-28, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K Blake Burke (No. 16): 7-for-23, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 4 BB, 7 K Jaron DeBerry: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K Manuel Rodriguez: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
After a few relatively lackluster weeks, No. 1 overall prospect Jesús Made produced eye-popping numbers once again with a 13-RBI week. For context, Dylan O’Rae — who leads the Shuckers in hits and batting average — has 13 RBIs all season. Made now leads the entire Southern League in RBIs, with 35, and is slashing .277/.353/.452. Guess who ranks second in the Southern League? Blake Burke, with 33.
Burke has found another level since being promoted to Double-A at the end of last year. He’s tied for the Southern League lead with 12 home runs and has an OPS of .866. He profiles as a 1B/DH in the majors, so with Andrew Vaughn, Jake Bauers, and Gary Sánchez all healthy, there’s no reason to rush him through the farm system. Still, if he keeps this up, he’ll end up in Nashville sometime soon.
Jaron DeBerry continues to do nothing but rack up strikeouts. He’s now punched out 49 batters in 41 1/3 innings, but the rest of his profile remains uneven. DeBerry owns a 5.66 ERA and 1.45 WHIP, largely because he’s been extremely volatile: four very rough blow-up outings have inflated his numbers, but he’s held opponents to two runs or fewer in his other five appearances. The right-hander could very well become a useful major league pitcher, but he’ll need to find more consistency to do so.
Jaron DeBerry's Last 3 Starts ⤵️
19.0ip, 3.79 ERA, 5bb, 27k, .162 AVG
DeBerry is also the 1st BLX pitcher w/ 6.0+ip and 8+k in 3 consecutive starts since Brandon Woodruff in 2016 💪 pic.twitter.com/VV9wo3OkR4
Finally, Manuel Rodriguez had another good outing this week. His ERA is still near 5.00, but he’s only allowed two earned runs in each of his last three outings.
Next week’s opponent: Columbus Clingstones (Atlanta Braves)
High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (20-16)
Opponent this week: Great Lakes Loons (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Record this week: 3-2
Standout performances:
Josiah Ragsdale: 9-for-20, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 7 K Andrew Fischer (No. 6): 7-for-19, 1 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 6 BB, 6 K Josh Adamczewski (No. 10): 4-for-15, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 8 BB, 4 K Marco Dinges (No. 9): 4-for-16, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K Wande Torres: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K Braylon Owens: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
A 2025 seventh-round pick, Josiah Ragsdale spent his first weeks as a member of the Brewers organization in Low-A, but started this season in Wisconsin and has quietly been one of the Timber Rattlers’ best players. After this week’s 9-for-20 showing, Ragsdale is now slashing .292/.423/.442 with three home runs and 17 stolen bases, good for fifth in the Midwest League.
.@JosiahRagsdale brings home Alastre with a single in the 2nd🔥
— Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (@TimberRattlers) May 23, 2026
Braylon Payne now ranks second in the Midwest League with 10 home runs, behind only Andrew Fischer. As a reminder, Payne hit eight home runs in nearly 300 at-bats last season in Single-A. His batting average is up 20 points, to .260, while his OPS (.569) is also up in a major way (nearly 200 points). These are clear signs of development, which is exactly what you want to see from a 19-year-old prospect who has all of the athletic tools to succeed at the big-league level someday.
With Fischer, Payne, Josh Adamczewski, and Luis Peña on the roster, some of the Timber Rattlers’ other players have flown a bit under the radar. One of those guys is catcher Marco Dinges. Even after a breakout 2025 season, Dinges — the Brewers’ No. 9 prospect — doesn’t get quite as much coverage as some of the other prospects on the roster.
This may be because, unlike Fischer, Adamczewski, Peña, and even Ragsdale, he rarely puts together huge statistical weeks. However, Dinges has been remarkably consistent all season, putting together a .261/.397/.468 slash line with six home runs.
Speaking of Peña, he started his rehab assignment in rookie ball over the weekend. In five at-bats over two games, he’s recorded a single, double, and RBI.
Pitchers Wande Torres and Braylon Owens, both of whom have made multiple appearances in this column, had the two best outings among Wisconsin pitchers. Ethan Dorchies (No. 18) has had a rough start to his season, but bounced back this week, pitching three innings and allowing two hits and a lone earned run.
Next week’s opponent: Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals)
Single-A Wilson Warbirds (23-21)
Opponent this week: Delmarva Shorebirds (Baltimore Orioles)
Record this week: 4-2
Standout performances:
Brady Ebel (No. 13): 9-for-22, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K Juan Ortuno: 6-for-19, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 6 BB, 3 K Pedro Ibarguen: 4-for-13, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 5 BB, 3 K Jarrette Bonet: 6 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K Carlos Carra: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
Brady Ebel, a 2025 first-round compensatory pick, has now had 16 hits over his last two weeks, including nine this week. Ebel had a scholarship offer from LSU, but instead chose to sign with Milwaukee. The 18-year-old shortstop got off to a bit of a slow start, but after a strong two-week stretch, his slash line is up to .242/.388/.362 — a mark that looks even more impressive when you remember he could still be in his first college season.
Brady Ebel earned the Carolina League Player of the Week award🏅getting on base at a .500 clip and collecting 5 XBH including his first 2 professional home runs for the @wilsonwarbirds 🔥#ThisIsMyCrewpic.twitter.com/TWYEOUuJRq
— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) May 25, 2026
In last week’s column, I mentioned Pedro Ibarguen had been hitting .353/.433/.510 over the last month in his first full season in Single-A. He didn’t slow down much this week, adding a pair of doubles and walking more than he struck out. Juan Ortuno has also been steadily producing for the Warbirds, and this week wasn’t an exception.
Jarrette Bonet, who was named the Brewers organization’s Pitcher of the Month back in April, had allowed at least four earned runs in each of his three starts in May. He bounced back in a big way with his best start of the year, going 6 1/3 one-hit innings while striking out six and walking one. Carlos Carra (6.63 ERA) also had a quality start.
Jarrette Bonet has been named the Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April 🎖️
Bonet started his professional career strong with a 26:9 K:BB ratio over 23.1 IP and struck out at least 5 batters in all but one of his outings while running his 4-Seam up to 96.6 mph🔥… pic.twitter.com/mp7lTTvhgK
— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) May 8, 2026
Next week’s opponent: Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs)
Player of the Week
My heart wanted to give this week’s award to Ragsdale, but Andrew Fischer just continues to produce. By “produce,” I mean on the stat sheet, but he also produces more than his fair share of highlights.
Andrew Fischer’s 13th homer of the year is a MOONSHOT for the High-A @TimberRattlers 💪
The @Brewers’ No. 6 prospect has homered in four of his past six games and sports an 1.089 OPS in the month of May: pic.twitter.com/YNALXvIpZA
Fischer had more hits than strikeouts this week and added three more home runs — the most in the Brewers’ organization — to bring him to a Midwest League-leading 13 for the year. The strikeouts are concerning, and will be until he manages to string together a few weeks with lower whiff totals, but at some point, you have to trust that the guy with a .266 batting average and 1.012 OPS in his first professional season can figure it out eventually.
Andrew Fischer hit his 12th HR of the season a moment ago
Florida Complex League Yankees:L, 3-8 (7) at FCL Blue Jays
1B Richard Matic 2-2, 2B, 2 BB — perfect day at the plate RF Wilberson De Pena 0-3, HBP C Queni Pineda 1-2, 2 BB, K, SB, picked off 3B Leni Done 0-3, BB, 2 K SS Dexters Peralta 1-4, 2 RBI, 3 K — since the first run scored on a wild pitch, his two-run single in the third marked FCL Yanks’ only ribbies on the afternoon LF Estivenzon Montero 2-3, K, picked off DH Austin Green 1-3 2B Christofer Reyes 0-3, K, SB CF Isael Arias 0-3
Stanly Alcantara 3.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 3 K, HR, WP, 2 balks — difficult to hit but primarily because he had no idea where the ball was going Sunayro Martina 1 IP, 4 H, 5 R (5 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, HR, HBP (loss) — the flip side is that this is just, uh, bad despite zero walks; turned a 3-3 ballgame in the fifth into a comfortable 8-3 lead for FCL Jays, capped by Brock Tibbitts’ three-run bomb Marco Manzano 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, HBP — pitching savior of the day
