With the Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks winning the top two picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks fell to pick number four. Like the Blackhawks, the Vancouver Canucks also dropped two spots into the third selection.
After the lottery concluded, GM Kyle Davidson was adamant that he would take the best player available with the fourth overall pick.
Most people believe that Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg are the two best players in the draft, or at least will be the top two prospects selected, but there is a world where one of them falls to the Blackhawks at four.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are almost certainly going to take one of them. Their new Senior Executive Advisor of Hockey Operations, Mats Sundin, is Swedish. He may have a heavy influence on landing the Swedish-born Stenberg. There is also the possibility that they go with the Canadian-born star McKenna.
Second overall, the Sharks may consider a defenseman because their pipeline is thin at that position in terms of high-end talent. They have one of the best farm systems in the league, but it's mostly based on elite forwards. One of the big three defenders in the draft makes more sense for them than any winger or center.
Third overall is a wild card, too. The Vancouver Canucks, in a situation where the Sharks take a defenseman, may still go with Caleb Malhotra over whichever one the Leafs leave behind.
Malhotra is the son of former NHL player Manny Malhotra, who also happens to be the head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks, Vancouver's AHL affiliate. Their scouting department is a fan of the player, more than just because of his name.
If that's the way that the first three picks go, the Blackhawks will see one of those two forwards (McKenna/Stenberg) fall to them. Both of their playstyles would fit into the organization right away.
Gavin McKenna has off-ice communication with Connor Bedard, and Ivar Stenberg is more than familiar with Anton Frondell, both on and off the ice. Each player having an olive branch to the organization would make the transition easier.
This is all a hypothetical situation because nobody truly knows what Toronto, San Jose, or Vancouver will be thinking come June, but it is not out of the realm of possibility.
The Blackhawks need a forward with star potential more than a defenseman, but if McKenna, Stenberg, and Malhotra are all gone, they may go with a potential franchise blue-liner. The Sharks are the wild card in that regard.
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The 2026 NBA Draft lottery is just days away, and fans, executives, and players alike are speculating about which franchise will secure the coveted No. 1 overall pick, a selection that could dramatically reshape the future of a team.
The NBA Draft lottery employs a randomized drawing system to determine the selection order for the first 14 picks. These lottery selections are critical, often serving as the lifeline for franchises seeking to rebuild around standout talent. The top four picks are determined by the lottery itself, while the remaining teams in the lottery draw select in positions five through 14, according to the reverse order of their 2025-26 regular-season records.
The rest of the first round (picks 15 to 30) and the entire second round follow the same reverse order format. Every team is guaranteed one pick per round, ensuring that talent is distributed as equitably as possible across the league.
Heading into the NBA Draft Lottery, the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets each hold a 14% chance of winning the top pick due to their regular-season records. However, the lottery’s element of chance means that even teams with the worst records aren’t guaranteed the No. 1 selection.
Upsets and surprises are common with the NBA Draft Lottery. Here is how to watch and what to know about the event.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is set for Sunday, May 10 at 3 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC.
Date: Sunday, May 10
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Location: McCormick Place Convention Center (Chicago, Illinois)
What teams will participate in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery?
The 14 NBA teams that did not qualify for the 2026 NBA Playoffs are eligible for the NBA Draft lottery.
What is the format for the NBA Draft Lottery?
Under the current format, the teams with the worst regular-season records each have a 14% chance of securing the top overall pick, a system meant to prevent intentional losing, or "tanking," while still offering hope to franchises in need of a fresh start. The lottery itself utilizes a random drawing to determine the order of the first four selections in the NBA Draft. After the top four are set, the remaining lottery teams select in inverse order of their regular-season records, ensuring a fair and competitive draft order.
Who won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery?
The Dallas Mavericks captured the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, securing the coveted No. 1 overall pick for the first time in franchise history. With this opportunity, Dallas selected standout player Cooper Flagg.
The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t blow anyone away with their performance in the series opener with the Los Angeles Lakers. But when the smoke settled, OKC beat L.A. by 18 points despite star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander having a quiet night.
My same-game parlay for Thursday’s Game 2 isn’t getting in the way of Oklahoma City, even with LeBron James doing the lion’s share of the scoring for Los Angeles.
It was like “death by 1,000 papercuts” for the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1. They were able to hang around for a while, but the Oklahoma City Thunder kept cashing in on the Lakers’ miscues, and when it all added up over 48 minutes, the Thunder had an 18-point win.
Los Angeles doesn’t have the offensive firepower or the defense to trade blows with the reigning champs. With OKC waking up from a long slumber between series, it rolls over L.A. in Game 2.
SGP leg #2: LeBron James Over 21.5 Points
LeBron James scored 27 points in an extremely efficient effort in Game 1, hitting 12 of 17 shots. James got whatever he wanted, and OKC seemed fine with that, passing on pressures or double teams on the Lakers' star.
The Thunder were more focused on shutting down L.A.’s supporting staff. James will continue to score in Game 2, with projections north of 23 points, and I expect his field-goal total to jump back up to 20+ as long as the other Lakers are struggling.
SGP leg #3: Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 Points
Chet Holmgren is a big problem for the Los Angeles defense. The Thunder’s 7-footer led the way with 24 points in Game 1, and a lot of those were easy buckets and dunks.
His size, quickness, and energy expose L.A.’s soft interior protection, and his ability to step outside and knock down triples is almost undefendable. He’s forecasted for another 20+ point performance in Game 2.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Lakers vs Thunder predictions for Game 2.
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In the space of a week the mood has changed, with positive energy replacing suffering, and two trophies are suddenly within reach
It was a soundbite designed to go viral, the kind the ex-pros in the TV studios are always looking to confect; snappy, heavy on hyperbole, bang in the moment. Thierry Henry made it pop on Tuesday night as he interviewed Bukayo Saka on CBS Sports after Arsenal had beaten Atlético Madrid to advance to the Champions League final. “We were the Invincibles. You will be the Unforgettables,” Henry said.
There it was, as laid out by one of the greats, the goalscoring hero of Arsenal’s unbeaten bolt to the 2004 Premier League title, the last one they won.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 05: Eduardo Rodriguez #57 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a first inning pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Chase Field on May 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Rodriguez Ends Snakes’ Run of Poor Starts Eduardo Rodriguez didn’t just turn in a quality start, the veteran left-hander tossed seven full shutout innings, making the night easy for the struggling offense who then responded by posting nine runs.
Carlos Correa to Undergo Season-Ending Ankle Surgery One never likes to see a player miss the season, but this might be the time for Houston to take advantage of their injury woes and start planning for next year to be ahead of the curve.
Mar 30, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis (23), center, looks on from the bench during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
With the offseason underway for the Phoenix Suns, there are numerous pending roster decisions to be made. The fan base has already voiced their opinions, clamoring on social media and expressing who they would like to see this team add. Even if Mat Ishbia promised continuity and the core of this team will remain, some changes will follow. The Suns do need more size, as that was a clear issue against most of their Western Conference foes.
Yet the question of who should be that piece to bring some size here remains unknown. Speculation has been rampant across the Suns’ land, and in recent news, another name has popped up as a possible trade candidate.
I’d love Anthony Davis on the Suns. Obviously the injury stuff but he would be a great mentor for Khaman, and would allow us to combine Royce and Grayson’s salaries to offload them. Probably be Grayson, Royce, and Brooks for AD.
That is right, ladies and gentlemen, it is Anthony Davis! The big man who was traded in arguably the worst deal of all time is reportedly gaining some traction from Suns fans to target after the latest intel. It is stated that AD may want a trade-out of Washington, as it was not his desired destination. This would then leave the star forward on his third team in three years, as he looks for an extension.
Does this make sense for the Suns, and if so, how could they get it done?
How could it get done?
Unlike the other two renditions of this series (which, if you missed, check them out), AD makes significantly more than either Aaron Gordon or Jrue Holiday. Davis has 2 years and $121 million remaining on his deal, with a near-$63 million player option next year that he will certainly pick up. With him also wanting a long-term extension, if the Suns were to acquire him, this would be something they would have to consider alongside the Dillon Brooks extension that is expected to happen, too.
To get this deal done, the Suns would have to send either Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks or Green with Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen to get close to a salary match, as Davis is owed $58.5 million in 2026-27.
Which would make the most sense?
Since the Suns are expected to extend Brooks and keep him on the team, his inclusion in trade rumors makes little to no sense. It would be the deal with Allen, Green, and O’Neale that is over $60 million in salary. The Suns would then save some money on this deal to re-sign key free agents, but would have no more ammo for other moves. This would be the big kahuna, adding AD to bolster the front court.
For Washington, they would be taking a flyer on Green, hoping he can transform into the guard he could be there while also getting two veteran deals to help their depth. They could eventually move those pieces if they look a bit worse than expected, but having O’Neale as a mentor to Kyshawn George could be very beneficial for their development.
Why does it not get done?
It seems both teams are reluctant to do this one. For starters, Phoenix is basically flushing all its value out in this one deal. The only other way they could make a move is if Mark Williams were signed and then traded in restricted free agency, which would handicap a team that wants financial freedom.
Not to mention that AD wants an extension, like I keep mentioning. One that is a max contract worth at least $50 million for the next few seasons. For a 33-year-old big man who has had injuries throughout his career, this would scare me if I were the Suns’ front office. If we are already invested in Booker long-term and want to be in this core, we cannot pay another max contract, especially given all the dead money on this roster from Bradley Beal’s stretch and Nassir Little’s waivers in the previous offseasons ($23.2 million).
The Suns won’t be able to escape the aprons long-term if they pursue this move, and with an aging AD, that is not a good look. I mentioned in my last piece in this series that even if you are healthy and come to Phoenix, you may still get injured. Well, for AD and the Suns, that would not be pleasant, as they would have invested so much in someone who might not play. Davis has played above 60 games twice in the last 5 years. A complaint fans had about Mark Williams this year would certainly stick for AD during his time here.
Now, there are positives to the big man that the Suns could definitely value, as he’d be a great mentor for Khaman Malauch and Oso Ighodaro. With age, Davis has gotten a bit slower on the offensive end, forcing him to play center more than power forward, which is also what the Suns need him for. His three-point has regressed, and the spacing he used to provide has not been as impactful in past years. After shooting above 30% from three for 5 straight years, he has yet to hit that mark since the 2019-20 season.
I also think the Wizards would not want to do this deal. Even if his value is at an all-time low, the package the Suns give does not really help the Wizards. Yes, it gives them proven veterans and pieces to improve their bench, but how much? Does it stunt their internal growth as well? Does Jalen Green even fit with Trae Young and Tre Johnson there? Those are real questions that have to be addressed when evaluating this, and, truly, I do not think the Wizards would want Green. Maybe it has to be a three-team deal to get done, but that makes it too complicated for a piece that I just illustrated is not worth it.
What do you think, though? Do you think the Suns should pursue Anthony Davis, and if so, what would you offer?
Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) and center Aday Mara (15) walk off the court at a timeout against Wisconsin during the second half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The 2026 NBA Draft is set to be held from June 23-24 in Brooklyn, New York. The Michigan Wolverines are set to be well represented in this year’s draft, as a trio of prospects are currently being projected to go in the first round. While Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara could still withdraw from the draft and return to Ann Arbor, both are increasingly unlikely as time goes by.
Despite the NBA playoffs still going on, mock draft season is off and running. Here’s where Yaxel Lendeborg, Mara and Morez Johnson are being projected to go in some of the latest mock drafts. Keep in mind the NBA Draft Lottery has not yet occurred, so which team will be in which draft spot is still in flux.
Wasserman compares Lendeborg to Aaron Gordon thanks to his positional versatility and size. He also views his competitiveness and determination displayed during the Final Four as endearing qualities.
His offensive versatility has been on NBA radars for years; after starring at UAB, he transferred to Michigan and helped the Wolverines win a national title, validating his production against the highest level of competition.
An improved shooter and defender who passes and rebounds, Lendeborg should look highly adaptable and easy to fit for most NBA teams.
By far the highest we’ve seen him on a mock draft, Kalbrosky of USA Today sees Lendeborg as easily a Top 10 pick. He cites how prone Memphis is to not be worried about the age of their draft picks, with a recent example being Purdue’s Zach Edey.
Keep an eye on the Grizzlies as a potential suitor for Yaxel Lendeborg, who showed on his way to winning the national championship that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan.
Woo points out that Lendeborg would fit perfectly on a team like the Thunder, who in a normal year wouldn’t be in the lottery at all. The Thunder are clearly in their championship window, so taking a player who is NBA ready and on the older side is right up their alley.
The Clippers falling out of the play-in means the 64-win Thunder, who own this pick, have a long-shot opportunity on lottery night. The Thunder also own the 17th pick and will have an incentive to try and consolidate some of their assets, with minimal roster-spot wiggle room in the offseason. Lendeborg would be a ready-made addition to their frontcourt, and his size and versatility would be valuable immediately on a contender.
Like USA Today, Finkelstein has Lendeborg falling to the Grizzlies. He has Lendeborg falling behind a handful of younger power forwards who are being drafted more on potential than immediate production like Tennessee’s Nate Ament and Arizona’s Koa Peat.
Salerno disagrees with his CBS counterpart, as he has Lendeborg going well before the developmental bigs. In fact, Salerno has Lendeborg as the first non-underclassmen to be drafted. The Bulls could certainly use his plug and play potential from day one.
C Aday Mara
Bleacher Report: No. 14 to the Charlotte Hornets
Wasserman has Mara going just one pick after Lendeborg. He compares Mara to Andrew Bogut as situational-type center.
Michigan’s NCAA tournament run shone a light on Aday Mara’s defensive impact, advantageous finishing tools and unique skill level. Aside from the constant shot-contesting around the paint and rim, he provided the lineup significant offense as a lob target, low-post player and passer.
Turnovers, limited switchability and dreadful free-throw shooting will turn teams off, but he’s established himself as too rare of a player, even if he winds up being more of a situational center.
USA Today: No. 12 to the Oklahoma City Thunder
While Lendeborg is the more popular pick to go to the Thunder, USA Today has Mara joining the juggernaut. Oklahoma City certainly enjoys having monstrous centers, as Chet Holmgren and Mara both possess excellent court vision and passing ability for big men.
Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near the lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim.
ESPN: No. 14 to the Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets have developed rapidly in recent years with the emergence of Lamelo Ball and Kon Knueppel. However, they lack true size, as former Wolverine Moussa Diabate is their starting center. While Diabate himself is a great story, he stands just 6-foot-10. Adding five inches in Mara would help anchor the Hornets defensively for years to come.
CBS Sports (Finkelstein): No. 23 to the Denver Nuggets
Finkelstein has Mara the lowest of any of the mocks, but the Nuggets may just be the ideal fit. With Jonas Valanciunas set to be a free agent, Denver could use a center to backup Nikola Jokic. While Mara is obviously more slender than Jokic, they both play with size and excellent passing.
CBS Sports (Salerno): No. 14 to the Charlotte Hornets
Like ESPN, Salerno has Mara going to the Hornets at 14. He credits Mara with one of the largest rises in draft projections during the NCAA Tournament.
F Morez Johnson Jr.
Bleacher Report: No. 23 to the Atlanta Hawks
Wasserman comps Johnson to Montrezl Harrell, which seems spot on in my opinion. He harps on the role that Johnson will have in the NBA and how his skillset is already exactly that of a rim-running, defensive-minded power forward.
At 6’9″, 250 pounds, his combination of strength, leaping and coordination should continue to work well finishing rim runs, lobs, putbacks and low-post opportunities.
There should be equal expected value (or more) tied to his defensive projection, given his toughness inside and foot speed away from the basket.
USA Today: No. 25 to the Los Angeles Lakers
Kalbrosky credits Johnson as being the key piece to Michigan’s identity during the title run. I can’t say I disagree.
Johnson’s shooting form at the free-throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should carve out minutes at the next level.
ESPN: No. 20 to the San Antonio Spurs
Like the Thunder, the Spurs are blessed with a higher draft pick this offseason thanks to a trade with Atlanta. The Spurs are loaded with guard talent and obviously have Victor Wembanyama playing center. An athletic power forward like Johnson would pair perfectly in the San Antonio front court with Wemby.
CBS Sports (Finkelstein): No. 21 to the Philadelphia 76ers
Johnson had been a center at Illinois before transferring to Michigan. In Ann Arbor, Dusty May had him predominantly play the 4 with Mara at the 5. Finkelstein loves Johnson’s versatility next to Joel Embiid. He projects Johnson to be Embiid’s backup center and a jumbo 4 when Philadelphia wants to play big. The fit is extremely neat with the 76ers.
CBS Sports (Salerno): No. 21 to the Detroit Pistons
Like Finkelstein, Salerno has Johnson going 21st overall. However, he projects the Pistons to have that spot. While Detroit doesn’t need a backup center, the power forward spot has been a revolving door after Tobias Harris. With Harris aging, it would behoove Detroit to take a young, long-term option in this draft.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 01: Detroit Tigers Framber Valdez (59) watches the game from the railing in the dugout during the game between Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers on May 1, 2026 at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI (Photo by Allan Dranberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s hard to think of a bleaker week of Detroit Tigers baseball in recent memory. During the whole length of a seven year rebuild there were no hopes and dreams to be crushed. The 2024 stretch drive came out of nowhere, while the collapse late in 2025 came with such a huge margin of error already built up, that it was only in the final few games where it really looked like the club wouldn’t even land a wild card spot. The Tigers entered the 2026 season for the first time really acting like a team with expectations and goals. Now those goals stand directly in harm’s way, and in last night’s debacle in Detroit, it was left-hander Framber Valdez, the key offseason signifier that the Tigers were finally really serious about winning, who was at the center of things in all the wrong ways.
Right from the first inning in Tuesday night’s matchup against the Red Sox, the 32-year-old left-hander was on tilt as hitters signaled in pitches and/or pitch locations from second base. Were the Red Sox actually seeing his grips in the glove from second base? Was he tipping pitches in some other way? Were they simply going on pitch location based on where Dillon Dingler was setting up? Hard to say. It’s even possible that they were simply cold signaling without any idea what was coming, knowing Valdez’s reputation for losing his cool at times and trying to get under his skin. Still, considering how consistently he was hit around in this one, odds are they were picking something up.
With two outs in the first, Wilyer Abreu singled and stole second base, and could be seen holding a hand to his helmet right before Valdez went into his motion, indicating to Trevor Story in the batter’s box. Story reached on a one-hopper that Zach McKinstry couldn’t handle, and he promptly had Valdez timed up and stole second base. Ceddane Rafaela followed with a three-run homer.
This continued in the third inning as the Red Sox seemed to know what was coming, and a parade of singles had baserunners behind Valdez at second base throughout the inning. Valdez certainly seemed preoccupied with staring down those runners at points during the inning. By the time he gave up back-to-back solo shots in the fourth inning, with no one on second base for any of those, he was on red and pumped a fastball into Story’s upper back. Story took umbrage, as they say, and there were some choice words with the benches clearing, but Valdez stoically made no move or response, and no real fracus developed. Things actually seemed entirely calmed down when lobbying from the Red Sox finally convinced the umpiring crew to toss Valdez from the game and then warn both benches.
First things first, this is on Framber Valdez, though possibly with a bit of Dillon Dingler mixed in. There’s nothing illegal about signaling from second base whether they were picking up his grip in the glove, as Eric Hosmer and several other former MLB players were speculating on social media, or whether Dillon Dingler was signaling pitch position too early, or whether they had nothing at all and simply know that Valdez is a hot-head who will sometimes go to pieces if you give him some extra things to worry about.
When a very good and generally very consistent pitcher starts giving up a parade of solid singles, and then the home runs start flying, experienced hands at baseball watching will always suspect tipping. But it’s crucial to remember that it’s on the pitcher or occasionally the catcher, who are tipping said pitches, to adapt. Plenty of coaching work goes into making sure in bullpens that their pitchers hold their glove and take their grips the same way everytime. Pedro Martinez famously worked on his grips extensively enough that he could change his grip precisely to a different pitch as he was already into his delivery. Catchers know they have to be careful with their glove to not give anything away before their pitcher goes into his motion. Plenty of work goes into that as well, sometimes flashing a false location as they get set for the pitch when there’s a runner on second base in view of the hitter.
The Pitch Com system has made illegal electronic sign stealing of the sort the Houston Astros infamously practiced, a thing of the past. However, pitchers still have physical cues for what they’re about to throw, and a savvy team of experienced major league hitters have the vision and knowledge to know what to look for, and to spot it if a pitcher is giving something away. This is a team of players managed until last week by Alex Cora, let’s remember. Getting pitches is a part of the game that Cora clearly focuses heavily on.
Wrist position of the hand in the glove can indicate a breaking ball or changeup just by the slight twist of the forearm required to get a grip around the side of the ball. Some pitchers will visibly tense their upper body and even their face when they’re determined to throw a fastball past a hitter. Even a subtle flexing of the forearm for a spread out grip on a splitter can cue the very best in the game, who by definition have outstanding vision, that a splitter is coming. You may have noticed that Casey Mize always takes his splitter grip first as he looks in at his catcher with his arm hanging down, then adjusts in the glove whether he’s actually changing from a splitter to another pitch or not, just to make it harder to pick any of this up.
Point being, this is all part of the game. An experienced pitcher like Framber Valdez has to know better. If there’s a runner on second, you have to keep your glove closed and hooded from the man on second as you take your grip and until you’re ready to go into your motion. You have to do everything exactly the same way every time, and if you don’t, it has to be your own move to try and send a false signal to the many eyes watching. An experienced pitcher like Framber Valdez, should he suspect the runner on second is signaling home, should be crafty enough to use this against his opponents by showing them one grip and changing to another right as their motion begins. This is a cat and mouse game that works both ways.
Part of the reason analysts who’ve done deep dives into the Houston Astros electronic sign signaling scandal generally come away doubting the schemes effectiveness for most hitters, is that they often got the signals wrong. Hitting a good major league fastball is hard even when you know it’s coming. When you’re signaled via trash can that a breaking ball is coming, and then you get a fastball, well you have no chance of barrelling it up.
What you don’t get to do anymore, is throw at a guy to get them to stop or pay them back. True, that was how things worked for much of the game’s history, but these are different times.
As AJ Hinch would say, this is all part of the competition. More simply, it’s all in the game, baby. On Tuesday night, Framber Valdez failed to compete. He didn’t adjust once he began to suspect he was giving something away, he didn’t act oblivious and then try to use it against them by flashing false signals. Instead, he just lost his focus. The two home runs that proceeded Story getting plunked, came with no one on second base. By then, Valdez was a mess, and you can see catcher Dillon Dingler drop his head the instant Valdez released the pitch into Story’s back. Maybe I’m reading too much into body language, but I don’t think so. Dingler knew the score, and he knew what had happened immediately.
In the old days, drilling Story was absolutely a common response. But for over a decade, Major League Baseball has made it very clear that they want these kinds of retaliatory beanballs out of the game. The risk of a fastball to the head is just too dangerous. And it’s a mentally weak response, when, had he just stayed composed and tried to use the signaling back against the Red Sox, he might have stopped the bleeding or at very least, given the Tigers some much needed innings. Even just keeping your cool and pitching like normal is a professional response. Losing your cool and potentially hurting your already hurt team even more, is not the professional response here, obviously.
The only thing Valdez did about the entire situation to help the team was to lie about his intent afterwards. Had he admitted it, we’re talking about a guaranteed suspension for the Tigers’ best pitcher currently healthy, at a time when they desperately needed him to help hold things together until the injury list starts to clear up towards the end of the month. No one is buying that it was accidental, though the way Valdez was booted from the game after the Red Sox spent a few minutes complaining to the umpires, who then apparently gave in, was bizarre, but there’s nothing to be gained by admitting it either. Everyone within the contest knew the score there, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Valdez ends up suspended for a start anyway, right when the Detroit Tigers can least afford it.
None of this is to personally attack Framber Valdez. He’s never had any off the field incidents or given reason to think he’s a terrible human, but he was certainly selfish and immature in his response to a bad night on the mound. He came to Detroit with a reputation tainted by the occasional bout of hot-headed foolishness on the mound, and we got a good example on Tuesday night. The hope, was that AJ Hinch, as Valdez’s former manager in 2018-2019, knew him well enought to polish some of his rough edges, and would be able to get through to him and into a place of better maturity on the mound. This incident will be the test of it.
The Tigers need Valdez to do what he’s here to do, pitch well. Not to get distracted and hurt the team out of some old school sense of “sending a message” when it’s his own responsibility to keep collected, watch his hand and glovework, and not give anything away. His actions were self-absorbed, and the very opposite of team focused. Other than maybe a teammate or two, the only person who can potentially get this through his head is Hinch, and there needs to be a very serious conversation had about this penchant for losing his cool and doing something stupid in a game.
Astros fans have seen this show before. Typically, Valdez goes right back to being Valdez, pitching well and showing no effects. More than likely this isn’t going to carry over into future performances. Still, the spector of Valdez melting down can only make fans fear further foolishness in a high pressure spot later in the season or in the postseason.
Framber Valdez came to Detroit talking about wanting to learn from Tarik Skubal and Chris Fetter, and take the next step in his career toward becoming a Cy Young caliber pitcher in his own right. He has the talent to be that good, but the key to becoming a truly elite pitcher lies between his ears. Dusty Baker and Joe Espada managed to get really good seasons out of him. AJ Hinch is now challenged to do the same, and get through to Valdez that nothing about the way he responded on Tuesday night is good for himself, or more importantly good for the Tigers.
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has been ruled out for Game 2 against the New York Knicks due to multiple injuries to his hip and ankle.
ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Embiid was "unable to participate in the team's shootaround this morning." That lack of availability prompted the Sixers to remove Embiid from Game 2, Wednesday, May 6.
Embiid was unable to participate in the team’s shootaround this morning after experiencing increased soreness in both his ankle and hip, sources said. He had been receiving around-the-clock treatment in efforts to play. https://t.co/IUY2HK77KE
Joel Embiid garnered a net rating of 5.6 during the 2025-26 season, making him a very high-end talent. However, with his mobility issues, Embiid could be considered a liability right now and perhaps his absence will be beneficial in the short term.
Without Embiid on the floor, the Sixers still managed a postive, albeit low 0.2 net rating on the season, making them a slightly above average team without Embiid on the floor. That likely will not be enough to handle the New York Knicks though, who are already a game up in the series.
Prior to Embiid's injury news, the 76ers already had the lowest odds of winning the NBA title, per BetMGM. Now, with Embiid considered day-to-day and the Sixers facing a potential 2-0 series deficit, their odds have decreased even further to +8000.
Those odds rank last of all remaining teams and twice as much as the sixth and seventh-ranked teams — the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers (+4000).
Contrary to what you might think, the absence of Philly's former MVP might not be as beneficial as you might expect for the Knicks. In Game 1, Embiid put up a miserable performance. He shot just 3-of-11 from the floor and only gathered 14 points in the loss.
But it wasn't just on the offensive end where Embiid struggled. The Knicks had an obvious gameplan on Monday, which included targeting Embiid's lack of mobility.
Embiid struggled to guard anyone on the perimeter, and struggled to get around pick-and-rolls, making it very easy for New York to get the matchups they wanted. Karl-Anthony Towns shot 4-of-5 when guarded by Embiid, while Brunson went 3-of-4 in the same situation.
Without Embiid in the mix, Philadelphia will now employ a mix of Adem Bona and Andre Drummond, each of whom bring different skills, but solid defense, which could help stifle New York's offense. Although neither Bona nor Drummond is at Embiid's level offensively, the improved defense should be more than enough to give Philadelphia a better chance at evening this series.
Official starting lineups have yet to be revealed. However, the 76ers will likely start either Andre Drummond or Adem Bona in Embiid's stead. Perhaps the team would be wise to choose Bona.
Alongside Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Paul George, with Drummond, the team was -1.0 points per 100 possessions. With Bona instead of Drummond, the team was +12.1.
Philadelphia had 454 non Joel Embiid possessions this postseason per Cleaning the Glass.
Prior to the Embiid news, the Knicks were just 7.5-point favorites, per BetMGM. Already, the Knicks have jumped to 10.5-point favorites in wake of Embiid's absence.
Was Joel Embiid expected to play vs Knicks?
Embiid was initially listed as probable for Wednesday night's contest. ESPN also reports that Embiid had been receiving "around-the-clock treatment" in an effort to get him ready for the game.
Despite the treatment, Embiid experienced increased soreness in his hip and ankle, making him unable to work with his team Wednesday morning, and prompting the 76ers to take extra precaution with their superstar.
Joel Embiid injuries in NBA playoffs
Embiid missed the first three games of the 76ers' first-round series against the Boston Celtics due to an appendectomy. Boston led the series 2-1 before Embiid was able to take the court.
Embiid's return sparked a 3-1 series comeback for Philadelphia, the 14th such comeback in NBA history. The former MVP averaged 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists over the final four games of the series.
It is currently unclear when Embiid will be able to return in this series against the Knicks.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 04: Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on May 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been four weeks since the Dodgers won a road series, and they’ll need a win on getaway day Wednesday in Houston to snap that skid.
Joel Embiid has not played in six straight games since December of 2023. That streak is not getting equaled in these playoffs.
The Philadelphia 76ers have ruled Embiid out for Game 2 of their playoff series against the Knicks due to a right ankle sprain and hip soreness, the team announced after shootaround on Wednesday. Embiid has been receiving treatment for his soreness but could not participate in the team's shootaround, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
Philadelphia trails New York 1-0 in their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup. Philadelphia needs a bounce-back game. The 76ers were coming off an intense Game 7 against Boston 48 hours before, and they looked tired and flat in that opening game, while Jalen Brunson and the Knicks have found their groove and are playing their best basketball of the playoffs.
Philadelphia did win Game 2 on the road against Boston in that first-round series after dropping Game 1, behind a 59-point showing by the backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
"The one thing about me is I've dealt with a lot of stuff over my career. I don't complain. I just want to give as much as I can every single time I step on the floor. I know a lot of people might have takes that I might be lazy or whatever, but every single time I'm on the floor, I want to play as hard as possible...
"I just want to play basketball, whether (or not) I'm in good shape physically, mentally or whatever. I just want to enjoy these moments being part of a basketball team that's trying to accomplish something, and that's to win every single game."
With Embiid out, 76ers coach Nick Nurse will lean heavily on Andre Drummond and Adem Bona.
Lakers star Luka Doncic takes a shot during a timeout from play in the second half of Game 1 on Tuesday in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Phillips / Associated Press)
With the Lakers down 1-0 in the Western Conference semifinals, Luka Doncic has not yet ramped up to on-court contact drills while recovering from an injured left hamstring that had an initial eight-week timeline for his return.
Doncic, speaking to reporters for the first time since he hobbled off the court at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center on April 2, said Wednesday he has improved enough to begin running but he has not progressed to on-court contact drills. After suffering a left hamstring injury earlier this season, Doncic said the latest Grade 2 strain to the same area is unlike any he’s experienced because of its severity.
But it has not stopped him from trying to come back as soon as possible.
“I'm just doing everything I can,” Doncic said. “Every day I'm doing stuff I'm supposed to do. Obviously recovery, now I'm working … just going day by day, and I feel better every day.”
Soon after his injury, Doncic went to Spain and received platelet-rich plasma injections with hopes of helping his recovery. He stayed for roughly two weeks because he needed to wait four days between each injection. He received four in total.
Without their leading scorer, the Lakers fought through a six-game, first-round series against the Houston Rockets, playing four of those games without Austin Reaves, who was also injured in the same game as Doncic. The fourth-seeded Lakers lost 108-90 to the defending champion Thunder in Game 1 of the conference semifinals on Tuesday.
Doncic had dutifully cheered from the bench during the playoff games, offering as much advice to his teammates as he can.
“It's very frustrating,” Doncic said of the injury. “I don't think people understand how frustrating it is. All I want to do is play basketball, especially at this time. It's the best time to play basketball. It's very frustrating seeing what my team is doing, I'm very proud of them. It's been very tough just to see and watch them play.”
Doncic’s injury came at “the worst moment,” he said. The Lakers were coming off a magical March during which they went 15-2 and announced themselves as a potential championship contender with a healthy Doncic, Reaves and LeBron James together. Doncic was chosen Western Conference player of the month after he joined Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to score 600 points during March.
After Doncic and Reaves were injured, the Lakers shifted their focus to extending their season long enough for the leading scorers to return. It worked for Reaves, who made a miraculous comeback from a Grade 2 left oblique muscle strain one day shy of four weeks. But the Lakers aren’t putting pressure on Doncic to come back as quickly.
“It’s very simple,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said of getting Doncic back and protecting him from further injury. “It’s ‘when he’s ready to play, he should play.’ That comes with the athlete having confidence. It’s no different from Austin.”
Doncic is five weeks into what doctors predicted was an eight-week timeline. Frustrated with missing the most important part of the season, Doncic is also mindful of being cautious about his future.
“It's a tough one for me because I came back from injuries before too soon, and it wasn't the best result,” said Doncic, who fought through a calf injury last season that lasted for months and predicated his shocking trade to the Lakers. “But like I say, this is the first time I have [this] hamstring injury.
"It's not the same like other injuries. You have to be very careful, and I'm doing everything to come back. All the recovery, the chamber, cold tub, everything I can to come back, but it's obviously very different than other injuries I had.”
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 4: Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves plays defense during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A day after the Minnesota Timberwolves upset the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of their second-round matchup, I got a follow-up text from JR Wilco at Pounding the Rock — our Spurs sister site — asking if I wanted to have another one of these conversations about what we’re seeing within our own teams and ask about the opposition.
It’s always fun to have some extra insight on what’s going on from the perspective of other beats, and Sun Tzu said “know thy enemy,” so here we are, knowing our enemy.
J.R. Wilco
What a game! Of course, I would have preferred a different outcome, but this is what Spurs fans have been missing for the last 9 years: a high level of competition, important games, high stakes, pressure, and … relevancy.
Here’s what we know about this series after Game 1. It’ll be a shame if this doesn’t go the distance. That might sound weird, so I’ll clarify. As a Spurs fan, of course, I want it to end in five games with San Antonio completing the Gentleman’s Sweep and running the table – no matter how unrealistic that is. But as a basketball fan, I’d love nothing better than to sink my teeth into 336 minutes of these two teams trading haymakers.
I mean, come on now, Monday night’s first three plays were all blocks by tall French dudes! The game was tighter than the lid on a 10-year-old jar of grandma’s strawberry preserves. Neither team ever got a double-digit lead? Every time I thought the Spurs were going to get some breathing room, someone in a white jersey did something laughably athletic and timely to end San Antonio’s run.
Example #1: The Spurs like to end quarters on at least a mini-run by setting up a two-for-one, such that they take a shot, giving the other team the ball with about 30-ish seconds left on the clock. Well, Minnesota not only knows this, but they’re also aware that Fox is often the player taking the last shot, and even as he works around the Champagnie screen and gets free for a paint jumper that’s so in his sweet spot it’s in danger of giving him diabetes, Hyland leaves Julian, blocks Fox from behind, and Randle gets a dunk at the buzzer. Example #2: End of the 2nd quarter, Conley and Clark mess up Vassell and Fox’s pick and roll, and even though De’Aaron ends up getting into the lane with just Randle in front of him, he’s not fully in control and loses the ball.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – MAY 4: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In neither quarter of the first half were the Spurs able to even get a shot off in their final possession. And people were criticizing Mitch Johnson for not calling a timeout at the end of the 4th. But I think it would have been foolish to allow the Minny defense to get set when they’ve already shown the ability to blow up your usual end-of-quarter offense during the flow of the game. Anyway, that’s the kind of defense that needs to be put under a microscope to understand it so that it can be better attacked, and that’s precisely what I believe San Antonio’s coaching staff is doing right now.
Which brings me to Finch and Co’s job prepping their team, and the expectation of the next game. With the Wolves getting to the Western Conference Finals two years in a row, you’ve been through long postseason runs. What kinds of adjustments are you used to seeing? What do you expect them to do next, and how much fun are you having?
Thilo
That was certainly something. While you guys may have missed that, I don’t think Wolves fans will ever get used to it. I mean, we used to have to sell first-round picks for cash considerations so we could fire our coach! We’re that team!! And we just upset a two-seed that was only +400 or so to sweep us!
There’s always that element of surprise with these Wolves. I try to be realistic, only to have them blow those expectations out of the water, only to let me down the second I start believing. This happened during Game 7 against the Nuggets in 2023-24 and during Game 4 of the Suns series in 2024-25. I can’t wait for it to happen again now that I believe.
On the point of adjustments, I will give myself a quick pat on the back for calling that Fox would be the target, the supposed weakest link, named by the coaching staff. That has always been the first change Chris Finch and the rest of the bench have made in the playoffs.
Finch understands, as most coaches do, that while regular-season games are about how much you can keep your formula intact, the playoffs are all about how well and how quickly you can change while preventing the opposing team from getting what they’re most comfortable doing.
From the outside looking in, the Spurs seem like they want Fox, Harper, and Castle to get to the paint alongside Wembanyama to absolutely bully opposing teams inside the arc offensively while funneling everyone inside towards Wemby defensively.
Well, they certainly did the latter half. The only issue? The Minnesota Timberwolves are a team of psychopaths.
Wemby blocked everything, and it didn’t matter. Minnesota still got 50+ shots in the paint. That’s the funny realization that Finch came to. Blocks don’t always end possessions, and Wemby can only do so much.
The issue with the Wolves is that they seem to flame out as that third series approaches. Every team gets the crap kicked out of them, only for Minnesota to burn itself out. It’s why I still struggle to fully believe. As far as what to expect, I assume that nothing will change as far as paint volume goes. The biggest change will be who is taking those shots. Ayo Dosumnu will be coming back and did the same to the Nuggets. I think the biggest difference will come with how Rudy Gobert is deployed. Maybe he isn’t a head-to-head matchup with Wemby (Randle did a better job, truth be told), and is instead used to overwhelm the Wemby-less minutes.
UPDATED Minnesota @Timberwolves Status Report in advance of tonight’s Game 2 at San Antonio Spurs:
That’s where my first question comes in. Wembanyama was not the biggest letdown of the two main stars, but he is far more crucial than Fox. How do you think the approach changes, or do you think it’s just a question of hitting shots instead of missing them? Additionally, do Wemby’s gaudy blocked shot numbers actually hide the fact that his rebounding/defensive play finishing left a lot to be desired? How do you deal with that?
J.R.
First, when you’re talking about comparing one game to the next, it’s never just about one factor, even if it’s hitting shots. Let’s say that you look at the average score of a player and figure that he can be depended on to deliver that. Well, over a season he can, but in a single game, there are too many variables. It’s easy to say, “We’ll be fine on Wednesday because those outside shots will drop,” but maybe Minnesota gets to the line more and hits all of their free throws. Or San Antonio doubles their average turnovers and starts hemorrhaging transition points. There are just far too many factors involved in every game to imagine a single category improving and then expect everything else to stay the same.
As for Wemby’s play, it’s wild to think that in a game when he tallied a dozen blocks and 15 boards, his defense and rebounding could have been better, but there it is. Wemby still leaves his feet for fakes when he’s around the basket, and I don’t think anything besides time and seasoning will cure it. I don’t know whether this is conventional basketball wisdom, but it’s my firm belief that jumping to challenge midrange or perimeter shots is fundamentally sound. But when it comes to big men around the basket, they should raise their arms to challenge but keep their feet to be available for the rebound. This goes doubly for Wemby because he’s so tall that he affects shots sometimes, even when he doesn’t make a move to block. Bottom line, the idea of defense is to get a stop, not to get blocks. I like it when he denies a guy, but I like ending an offensive possession even more.
The Wolves decided that they’d just keep attacking regardless of how many blocks he got, and you can’t argue with the results. As to how you deal with that, I’m not sure, but it’s got to be a team thing. Funneling drivers to Wemby definitely works when Gobert is on the court, begging to be ignored, but when Minnesota goes small, you’ve got to find someone better than Shannon for Vic to guard. He’s so fast that the instant Victor gets hung on a screen, it’s over.
But all is not lost. I don’t expect Fox to have two stinkers in a row, and some regression to the team’s mean for threes can be expected unless the Timberwolves have some magic potion that makes the team they’re playing forget how to shoot open looks from deep. That would sound laughable, but it seemed to happen to Denver, and we know what happened in Game 1.
How about your take on Game 2: do you think it’ll be as close as Monday, and do you see the Spurs solving some part of what Finch has planned?
Thilo
I actually texted a boss at another gig (who among us does not have too many jobs?) about this today and said: “I’m expecting a 20-point win for San Antonio because anything else would set off alarm bells.”
So let’s just say, I think San Antonio will solve something; I just wonder what that will be.
It’s hard to win a game on the road, especially with how intense the Frost Bank Center looked to be during stretches of that fourth quarter. It’s even harder to win two games on the road. It’s impossibly hard to win the first two games in a series on the road in the second round against a higher-seeded team.
The last time I can remember away teams taking 2-0 leads regularly was during the bubble, and this is so vastly different.
I will say, though, I harped on about playoff experience during the first episode (?) of this series, and that is something that I think will continue to be relevant. Mitch Johnson is not Gregg Popovich. He has not been here. He likely wouldn’t be here if Pop had the health to stick around.
Yeah, it is hard to win on the road, but it’s probably easier to imagine winning on the road when you have a track record (which the Wolves now shockingly do) than when your rotation has 90% of its career playoff minutes coming from old man Harrison Barnes.
Maybe that’s too short or dismissive of an answer, but I truly think it comes down to that. Experience matters, and the Spurs – the dynastic, ever-relevant Spurs – lack that right now.
To that point, it’s kind of hard to see who will lead the team in this series. It feels a little premature for Wemby to take that over alongside all his on-court roles, and Fox surely needs to play better for that to happen. Castle and Harper are not good enough to outdo their age in that regard, too.
People will laugh at this comparison, but the Pistons have Tobias Harris. The Wolves have Mike Conley. The Thunder needed Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. Vets are important, and the Spurs don’t have a ton of them to unite behind.
Every team needs that. Every single championship team stresses the importance of those guys. Who will be that underappreciated, often unutilized guy to step up? It remains to be seen how the game will turn out, but that’s what I’ll be watching for.
Apr 26, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jesse Scholtens (65) throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the seventh inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Rays claimed Jesse Scholtens in August 2025 after he was designated for assignment by the White Sox. Despite a fairly significant overhaul of the roster this offseason, Scholtens was able to hang on to a coveted 40-man roster spot, and has performed well in his limited time with the major league club — maintaining a 3.77 ERA / 3.59 FIP in 31 IP since 2025.
With injuries impacting the pitching staff, Scholtens may now be leaned on this summer in a starting role, where he has the tools to be a solid backend rotation option.
Control and Command
All Scholtens has done with the Rays is throw strikes. His 65.4 strike rate since 2025 ranks in the 78th percentile in the majors (min 500 pitches thrown). He strikes all five pitches in his arsenal at least 50% of the time, and even gets a pair of his secondaries above 60% in his cut-slider and offspeed pitch. The data here suggests above-average control.
Scholtens isn’t just a thrower; he does a good job of commanding his pitches too. He pitches in the zone without catching the heart of the plate better than 73% of major leaguers since 2025. His location consistency data and heatmaps further support his above-average command.
Scholtens has a solid three-pitch mix that allows him to adequately vary his sequencing to each side of the plate:
Four-seam, cut-slider, offspeed for lefties
Two-seam, cut-slider, breaking ball for righties
His four-seamer is a fairly standard cut-ride shape with low 90s velocity. His cut-slider sits in the upper 80s and he has plus feel for throwing it to both righties and lefties – it also gets more break than others thrown with similar velocity and vertical movement. Scholtens also throws a two-seam fastball in the low 90s with a bit more ride than expected from his slot. His low 80s breaking ball gives him a third velocity band but doesn’t have any outlier movement. On pure shape, most of his pitches grade out as average or below, with the cut-slider standing out as his most reliable offering. His above-average extension and slightly lower release height help everything play up a tick.
The separator in Scholtens’s profile is an outlier offspeed pitch that flashes plus. It gets optimal VAA separation from his four-seamer thanks to his above average command of both pitches. VAA separation correlates strongly with chase, while velocity separation tends to drive in-zone whiff. The Rays helped him shave some vertical movement off his offspeed pitch this winter and the velocity separation is already better than average, so the performance of the pitch will be something to monitor in a larger sample.
Despite strong VAA and velocity separation, most models likely grade the pitch poorly due to its unconventional movement profile. Below is a graph of how his offspeed shape compares to others in a similar arm-angle bucket (from 30 to 45 degrees, Scholtens sits at roughly 38 degrees when throwing his offspeed pitch):
We can see that Scholtens gets below-average vertical and horizontal movement compared to offspeed pitches from a similar arm angle. In particular, his horizontal break sits roughly two standard deviations below average – making it a true outlier. Combine this with the VAA and velocity separation he gets on the pitch compared to his fastball, and he’s got a unique offspeed pitch.
His grip resembles a split-finger with a spiked middle finger – closer to a kick-change variation:
While we can’t publicly observe seam orientation (evident in the grainy images of his grips shared above), the shift in spin direction from more backspin in 2025 to more sidespin in 2026 suggests he’s altered the seam orientation of the pitch to shift it toward more horizontal break and less vertical movement.
Horizontal separation matters less for whiff and chase than vertical and velocity separation, so trading some of it off for better VAA and velocity difference is a logical adjustment.
Scholtens is still developing his feel for this relatively new offspeed shape, and that may be the reason behind its limited usage so far. However, there’s a case for increasing its usage to roughly 25–30% against lefties as he gets more comfortable with the pitch given the VAA and velocity separation mentioned earlier. The outlier shape also suggests it could be an effective taste-breaker against righties occasionally.
The arsenal is fairly average overall, but his strike-throwing ability and uniquely effective offspeed pitch give Scholtens a clear path to outperform that profile.
Conclusion
Although Scholtens doesn’t overwhelm hitters with raw stuff, he succeeds through control and command, sequencing, and a subtle pitch design advantage that helps his outlier offering play up. That’s a valuable profile to have on the 40-man — especially for a team that’s navigating multiple injuries to the starting rotation — and with Matz sidelined at least two starts, he should get a significant opportunity in the month of May to show if he can hold his own.
After he was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett Wednesday morning, Jim Jarvis will immediately be making his major league debut for the Braves in Wednesday’s series finale in Seattle.
Jarvis, acquired from the Detroit Tigers just before last year’s trade deadline, will hit ninth and play shortstop.
He’s gotten off to a hot start in Gwinnett this season, slashing .305/.418/.445 with four homers, six doubles and 20 RBIs in 33 games. Now he gets an opportunity with the big league squad to carve out a role in the infield, which will be revamped in the coming weeks with the addition of Ha-Seong Kim.
Michael Harris II is back in left field for the series finale — a promising sign for the health of his quad — and hitting cleanup. Mauricio Dubon is in center once again and hitting fifth while Mike Yastrzemski is back in the seven hole and handling right field.
It’ll also be another Sean Murphy day behind the plate. He’s hitting eighth, letting Drake Baldwin DH in the leadoff spot.
This will be Mariners starter Bryan Woo’s first time facing the Braves. As such, the only five players with previous at-bats against him are players who were added to the Braves’ roster this offseason. Dubon, a previous division rival of Woo’s from his time in Houston, has 11 of the roster’s 25 at-bats against the righty. He’s 4-for-11 (.364) with a double against Woo. Yastrzemski is 2-for-8 with the only homer and only three RBIs.
Overall, the Braves’ hitter are 7-for-25 (.280) against Woo with eight strikeouts and one walk.
For the Mariners, Cal Raleigh is back in the lineup as designated hitter for the second straight day, hitting second. They made a few other lineup changes, putting in Connor Joe in right field and Jhonny Pereda behind the plate against a left-handed starting pitcher.
Four Mariners have 10-plus at-bats against Braves starting pitcher Martin Perez. None of them are hitting better than .235 against him, with both Randy Arozarena and J.P. Crawford (who has homered in each of the first two games of the series) 4-for-17. Arozarena has the current team’s only homer off Perez while Crawford has a pair of doubles.
As a team, Seattle’s roster is a combined 17-for-75 (.227) against Perez with seven RBIs, 18 strikeouts and eight walks.
