Aug 4, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Bailey Falter (36) on the mound against the Boston Red Sox in the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
After a blowout on Tuesday, the Royals announced that starting pitcher Bailey Falter has been designated for assignment. Falter gave up seven runs to the Yankees, recording just seven outs. Mason Black was recalled from Triple-A Omaha. Falter appeared in five games this year, giving up 15 runs in 9.2 innings for a 13.97 ERA.
The Royals acquired Falter last summer from the Pirates for first baseman Callan Moss and pitcher Evan Sisk. Falter had been a useful pitcher for Pittsburgh in 2025, with a 3.73 ERA in 22 starts, but a low strikeout rate and a 4.91 FIP suggested perhaps he had been a bit lucky. He gave up 15 runs in 12 innings with the Royals before they shut him down in August with a bicep contusion.
The Royals decided to bring Falter back on a one-year, $3.6 million deal, hoping he could help provide some rotation depth. He gave up five runs in 3.1 innings over his first two starts before the team put him on the Injured List with elbow inflammation. He returned in mid-May, and was used for a spot start last week against Boston as the Royals suffered injuries to their starting rotation. He was called on to start again for the Royals on Tuesday, but immediately ran into trouble, giving up three home runs.
“I’ve been in the bullpen the past few days, been trying to do my bullpen routine,” Falter said. “Trying to stay ready, just in case I do get in the game. And then just another last-minute start. Kind of just throws a whole wrench in the plan.”
Falter ends his Royals career with the third-highest ERA in club history for anyone with at least ten innings. His contract is guaranteed, meaning the Royals are on the hook for the rest of his salary, unless he is claimed off waivers (minus the league minimum if he clears waivers and pitches for another MLB team).
Worst ERA, Royals club history (min. 10 IP) Justin Grimm 13.50 (12.2 IP) Albie Lopez 12.71 (22.2) Bailey Falter 12.46 (21.2) Blaine Boyer 12.05 (21.2) Allen McDill 11.70 (10)
Black was up earlier this year for the Royals and pitched 4.2 shutout innings over four games. The 26-year-old right-hander had a 6.53 ERA in 13 relief outings for Triple-A Omaha with 14 striekouts and 10 walks in 20.2 innings.
PITTSBURGH — Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd is scheduled to make the first of what is expected to be two rehab starts for Triple-A Iowa, the team said.
Boyd has been on the injured list since May 4 with a torn meniscus in his left knee that required surgery. He was injured when he sat down on the floor to play with his children.
Boyd is 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA in five starts this season. He was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in his 12-year career last season.
Boyd threw a 52-pitch simulated game prior to a 12-1 loss the Pirates.
May 22, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chad Patrick (39) and catcher William Contreras (24) celebrate a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
After dropping two of three to the Dodgers, the Brewers enter today’s finale against the Cardinals with a chance to complete a sweep and end their six-game homestand on a high note. Chad Patrick will go for Milwaukee opposite Dustin May.
This is Patrick’s first start since May 4, although it’s probably more of a multiple-inning opener situation than a true start for the right-hander, who hasn’t thrown more than four innings since April. Here’s what Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy said about his role a couple weeks ago:
“We know he’s a multiple-inning guy, but this role that he’s in right now could be used at the front end for four innings, or in the middle of the game for three or four innings, or in that one-inning role,” Murphy said.
Patrick has been excellent since moving to the bullpen, allowing just three total hits over 9 2/3 shutout innings while striking out nine.
Dustin May is the opposite of Patrick in that he’s made it through six innings in six of his last eight appearances. May’s season-long numbers (5.00 ERA, 1.426 WHIP) don’t look great, but that’s largely because he got shelled in his first two outings of the season. Since then, he’s been remarkably consistent, limiting opponents to three runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts.
Christian Yelich is back in the leadoff spot after going 3-for-5 last night. In fact, today’s lineup is… exactly the same as yesterday’s, which is kind of funny for a team that started the season with 47 straight unique lineups. Joey Ortiz and Andrew Vaughn will both come off the bench for the second straight game.
Today’s first pitch is set for 12:40 p.m. As usual, you can catch the game on Brewers.TV, WTMJ 620, and the Brewers Radio Network.
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox placed left-hander Noah Schultz on the 15-day injured list and recalled right-handed prospect David Sandlin from Triple-A Charlotte.
Schultz is dealing with patellar tendinitis in his right knee, something he said before Chicago’s game against Minnesota that has been “nagging” him for about a week.
“It’s just something that you want to catch before it gets worse,” said Schultz, who added that he tried playing through a similar injury last season.
The move to place Sandlin on the IL is retroactive after he allowed six runs and six hits in four innings in an 8-5 loss at San Francisco. Schultz is 2-4 with a 5.82 ERA this season in his first eight major league starts since being promoted on April 14.
Sandlin was 0-0 with a 0.75 ERA while allowing opponents to hit .200 against him in four starts with Charlotte this season.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound righty began the season on the injured list with a right forearm injury and was reinstated after two rehabilitation starts. Rated the No. 18 prospect in the White Sox’s system by MLB.com, Sandlin was acquired from Boston on Feb. 1 in a deal that also sent right-hander Jordan Hicks to Chicago for right-hander Gage Ziehl and a player to be named.
Sandlin was an 11th-round pick by Kansas City in the 2022 amateur draft out of the University of Oklahoma.
NEW YORK — Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene took another step in his rehab from elbow surgery when he threw 15 to 20 pitches during a side session at the club’s spring training facility in Arizona.
Greene, who was the Reds’ Opening Day starter in 2023 and 2025, had bone chips removed on March 11. Cincinnati expected him to be sidelined 14 to 16 weeks.
“It’s really kind of cool to see him throw a side,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “He’s got some work to do.”
Francona said Greene and left-handed pitcher Brandon Williamson, who is on the 60-day injured list due to shoulder fatigue, will join the Reds for their six-game homestand before returning to Arizona to continue their rehab.
Right-handed starter Rhett Lowder, who hasn’t pitched since May 7 due to pain in his shoulder, threw long toss and is scheduled to throw to hitters.
Closer Emilio Pagán (strained left hamstring) and catcher Jose Trevino (left hamstring injury) are scheduled to get imaging. The imaging will provide the Reds an idea of how far along Pagán is in his recovery from the injury he suffered while pitching May 5. Francona said the testing for Trevino, who has been sidelined since May 17, will indicate how much activity he can handle.
“He’s kind of chomping at the bit to run,” Francona said.
We've got another beautiful slate filled with plenty of great matchups for us to sink our teeth into with our MLB player props.
This afternoon, I will be diving into a few total bases props, while also sprinkling on home runs from guys like Aaron Judge, Brandon Lowe, and Julio Rodriguez.
Let's dig in with my full MLB picks for Wednesday, May 27.
Through 80 elite ratings, his trends have been outstanding:
1+ hit: 80%
2+ bases: 47.5%
Home run: 28.75%
Lowe has also surpassed 2+ bases in seven of his last elite ratings.
Tonight, he draws Chicago Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon, who brings poorly rated matchup numbers in ISO and strikeout percentage to the table. All season long, the veteran starter has allowed left-handed hitters to elevate the baseball, owning just a 25.6% ground ball rate, and over his last 60 left-handed hitters faced, that number still sits at just 28.6%.
Not to mention, those lefties are making 47.6% hard contact with a 19.1% barrel rate, while Taillon owns a 4.05 HR/9 during that span.
With Lowe seeing the ball extremely well lately, sporting a .310 ISO and 18.1% barrel rate, getting this prop near plus money is mouthwatering.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee, SportsNet Pittsburgh
Julio Rodriguez Over 1.5 total bases (-114)
It may have been two years since the last time I placed a wager on Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez, but today is a new day, and he finds himself in an all-time spot this evening against Athletics southpaw Jeffrey Springs.
The young star has been destroying lefties this season. Over his last 30 plate appearances against them, Rodriguez sports a .893 SLG, 1.326 OPS, and .560 wOBA, while making 54.5% hard contact with an 18.2% barrel rate.
On the other side, Springs has been getting torched by right-handed bats, carrying a 6.19 xERA and 4.98 xFIP over his last 60 batters faced, while allowing just a 32.6% ground ball rate and 2.92 HR/9. During that span, right-handed hitters own a .379 xBA, .692 xSLG, and .396 xwOBA against him.
Rodriguez also owns near 90% arsenal coverage against all of Springs’ offerings, so from top to bottom, this is a great spot for the young fella to have success at the dish.
I always mention that I am not a fan of paying juice for most props if I don't have to, but I think this spot is well worth it. At -114, this is a solid price for the matchup.
Time: 3:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Mariners.TV, NBC Sports California
Aaron Judge Over 1.5 total bases (-112)
Well, you can call me a liar, because I am piling on props that require laying some juice.
However, when it comes to New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge, this is the norm. The reigning AL MVP enters with the third-highest matchup rating on the day over on Batters-Box. When elite, Judge holds some of the most appealing and trustworthy trends in baseball, especially because of the sample sizes.
In 160 elite ratings away from home, Judge records:
1+ hit: 71.88%
2+ hits: 33.31%
2+ total bases: 49.38%
Home run: 30%
He has also surpassed 2+ bases in six of his last 10 elite ratings on the road.
This evening, he draws Kansas City Royals left-hander Noah Cameron, who brings poorly rated matchup numbers in strikeout percentage and ISO. Early this season, the southpaw has struggled against right-handed hitters, allowing 45.9% hard contact with a 10.1% barrel rate, while opposing hitters are elevating the baseball 67.9% of the time.
Despite the sluggish start against left-handed pitching this season, Judge is still making 57.6% hard contact with a 21.2% barrel rate against southpaws. This matchup is simply too juicy to pass up.
Be sure to sprinkle his home run prop as well for a little added fun.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Royals.TV
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 160-282-26, +1.8 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Logan Henderson has been placed on the injured list with a lower back strain.
The Brewers announced they were putting Henderson on the 15-day injured list, though the move is retroactive. The Brewers recalled pitcher Coleman Crow from Triple-A Nashville to fill Henderson’s spot on the roster.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy said he did not expect Henderson’s stint to be longer than the 15 days.
“I don’t think so. Hopefully not,” Murphy said before a 6-0 win against St. Louis. “It warranted enough that it hasn’t calmed down. They don’t think from the MRI it was bulging or anything like that, so they’re confident they can get it put down, get it to calm down.”
Henderson pitched five shutout innings in a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, but said after the game that the right-hander’s back had been bothering him.
“I would say in the third inning, or going back out for the fourth, I just tweaked something,” Henderson said. “I was fighting through it the rest of the game. I was trying to leave it all out on the field there. After the game, I didn’t feel my best and I just haven’t recovered the way I want to.”
Henderson is 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA in five starts. He has struck out 30 and walked six over 23 innings.
Henderson said he had not played catch in a couple of days, but did not have a timeline for a return to throwing.
“Hopefully soon,” he said. “I think we’re making a little bit of progress on it. We don’t want to make it turn into something longer than it needs to be, but at the same time being cautious and try to come back being 100% myself.”
Crow is 0-0 with a 2.61 ERA in two starts with Milwaukee. He is 4-1 with a 4.89 ERA in seven appearances with Nashville.
Travis Kelce attends Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland on May 23. (Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)
Travis Kelce has become the latest athlete to buy into a professional sports team, purchasing a minority stake in the Cleveland Guardians, the MLB franchise he rooted for growing up in Cleveland Heights, a vibrant suburb 15 minutes from downtown.
Ballplayers buying into professional sports franchises has become almost routine. And why not? They are wealthy, love sports and often want an ownership stake of a team in a city full of fans who love them back.
Kelce is the latest to do so. The only question is, what took him so long?
“I have so much love for this city,” Kelce told ESPN. “I say it all the time: I’m just a kid from the Heights living the dream. I credit every good thing in my life to Cleveland and being raised here with the values and the people and the work ethic.
“Cleveland Heights is such a diverse and dynamic place. Every friend, neighbor, teacher and teammate — they all made me the man I am today.”
And that man is very wealthy. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end and burgeoning business titan has earned $111 million playing in the NFL. He and his brother Jason have a $100-million deal with Amazon Wondery for their popular New Heights podcast.
Kelce, 36, also makes an estimated $35 million a year from endorsement deals with Nike, Pfizer, State Farm and other major brands.
Oh, and let’s not forget that his fiancee, Taylor Swift, is the wealthiest female musician in the world with an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion.
Although Swift has never publicly mentioned owning a sports franchise, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did comment on the possibility at a Super Bowl news conference two years ago.
Tom Brady had been approved as part owner of the Raiders, boosting season-ticket sales, leading to this question posed to Goodell.
Goodell grinned and replied, “I really don’t know the answer to that one. If she’s interested, she has the ability to do it, let’s put it that way.”
The list of athletes who own a piece of sports franchises is long. Begin with Magic Johnson and Billie Jean King, part of the group that owns the Dodgers and Sparks. Kelce’s Chiefs passing partner Patrick Mahomes has been a minority owner of the Kansas City Royals since 2020.
Tennis superstar sisters Venus and Serena Williams became the first black women to hold a stake in an NFL team when they became minority owners of the Miami Dolphins in 2009.
Giannis Antetokounmpo expressed his love for Milwaukee by purchasing a stake in the Brewers baseball team. The Lakers are rumored to possibly trade for the Milwaukee Bucks superstar this offseason. Would that make Antetokounmpo a candidate to take the Angels off the hands of Arte Moreno, who at games has been blistered by a large group of shirtless fans chanting “sell the team?”
Because he is an investor in the Fenway Sports Group, Lakers star LeBron James owns a piece of the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC, the Pittsburgh Penguins and RFK Racing. The 41-year-old veteran of 23 NBA seasons makes no secret that he someday wants to own an NBA team.
“I got so much to give to the game. I know what it takes to win at this level. I know talent,” James said in 2021. “I also know how to run a business as well. And so, that is my goal. My goal is to own an NBA franchise.”
James is the first active NBA player to achieve billionaire status, and his estimated net worth of $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion puts him in Swift territory. He might not need to preface his ownership stake with the word minority.
Kelce, meanwhile, is happy for now to own just a piece of the Guardians, whose value has risen from $1 billion four years ago to $1.7 billion today. “I’ve been lucky enough to have a front-row seat to good ownership in my career, and I know the best teams prioritize culture,” Kelce said. “Everyone is there to play their role, and right now, I’m here to observe and learn and really to support the team and the city when and where I can.”
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Phillies -1.5
Price: 45¢ (+122) at Polymarket
If I'm laying a run line, I want it with the road team... and one of the hottest pitchers in baseball, in Cristopher Sánchez. The left-hander hasn’t allowed a run in an absurd 37+ innings, and the Philadelphia Phillies have outscored opponents 21-2 over that stretch while going 3-1 ATS.
Another strong angle fading the Padres today, outside of facing Walker Buehler, is the schedule: The Friars are the only team making a cross-country trip for their next series, heading from San Diego to Washington to open a Friday set.
That 2,300-mile flight is one of the longest travel spots on the MLB board. It’s a strong getaway angle while also backing arguably the most in-form pitcher in baseball right now.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: SDPA, NBCSP
Jon Metler's expert pick: Rays moneyline
Price: 52¢ (-108) at Polymarket
There haven’t been many bad spots to back the Tampa Bay Rays this season, but Wednesday sets up especially well. I price the Rays closer to 59-cent (-144) favorites against the Orioles.
At first glance, Baltimore’s lineup appears to have a platoon edge against left-hander Steven Matz, with right-handed power bats like Taylor Ward, Pete Alonso, and Tyler O'Neill near the top of the order. But Matz’s profile is built to counter that type of lineup; his sinking fastball and changeup work at the bottom of the zone, taking away the pull-side power those hitters rely on.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay can stack seven left-handed bats against right-hander Trey Gibson, and those hitters benefit from the more favorable dimensions at Oriole Park at Camden Yards following the left-field wall changes.
Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
How to watch: FS1
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Rockies/Dodgers Under 8.5
Price: 55¢ (-122) at Polymarket
Shohei Ohtani has been nearly untouchable at Dodger Stadium, allowing one earned run or fewer in all 11 of his regular-season home starts since joining the team.
Overall, he owns a ridiculous 0.73 ERA across his eight starts this season, with seven of those games staying Under the total. He's also backed by a Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen carrying a 1.29 ERA over the last two weeks, while the Colorado Rockies rank dead last in wRC+ during that stretch.
Tomoyuki Sugano may look like an amateur compared to Ohtani, but his numbers are far more respectable away from Coors Field, and eight of his 10 starts have gone Under.
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: SNLA, COLR
Neil Parker's expert pick: White Sox moneyline
Price: 51¢ (-104) at Polymarket
The Chicago White Sox rank fifth in wOBA against left-handed starters this season and second in overall xwOBA while averaging 4.9 runs per game in May. Chicago righty Davis Martin is also dealing and sports an elite 2.04 ERA and 1.02 WHIP backed by a high-end 2.85 xFIP and 22.4 K-BB%.
As a result, I give the edge to the White Sox on the mound and at the dish. The Minnesota Twins are countering with lefty Connor Prielipp, and in addition to him coming off his worst start of the season, the rookie’s 4.03 ERA and 4.34 xFIP are run-of-the-mill marks.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 26: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Sydney Schneider/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It seems like a long time ago now, but the Royals were in the playoffs as recently as 2024. They vanquished the Baltimore Orioles, setting up a matchup against the Yankees in the ALDS.
The series was quickly developing a villain for Royals fans – Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. He had a cocky attitude and was unafraid to speak his mind. He had a controversial “safe call” in Game 1 when replays showed he might have been out, drawing the ire of Royals fans. Following a Game 2 win for Kansas City, Chisholm fanned those flames by calling the Royals “lucky.”
“It still feels the same, that we’re going to win it. I don’t feel like anybody feels any different. We’re going to go out there and do our thing still, we still don’t feel like any team is better than us. We had a lot of missed opportunities tonight, so they just got lucky.”
Still, the Royals were heading back to Kansas City with a chance to take the series at home and shut Chisholm up for good. Instead, the Yankees took the next two games to advance to the ALCS. A tough series, but the Royals looked like they were the young guns on the rise.
The Royals traveled back to New York the next April and were promptly swept. When the Yankees came to town that June, and Chisholm was still beefing with Royals infielder Maikel Garcia, who had drawn ire from the Yankees in the 2024 ALDS for an aggressive slide. It didn’t matter. The Royals still lost. Again and again. In six games against the Yankees in 2025, the Royals lost all six, scoring a total of 11 runs.
In 2026, there has not even been an illusion that the Royals are on the same level as the Yankees. Kansas City has stumbled out of the gate, including a three-game sweep in the Bronx where the Yankees outscored them 24-6. The beatings continued this week in Kansas City with a devastating ninth inning loss on Monday, and a shellacking on Tuesday that was effectively decided just as fans were getting comfortable in their seats.
So if you’re counting at home, the Royals have lost 13 games in a row to the New York Yankees. That is the worst stretch by any Royals team against their pinstriped enemies – the previous record was a 12-game losing streak by the 1997-98 Royals.
That’s right, no other Royals team has been as thoroughly dominated by the Yankees as this team.
Not the expansion franchise when it was first getting started with a collection of castoffs from around the league.
Not the up-and-coming Royals when they took on George Steinbrenner’s high-priced collection of free agents like Reggie Jackson.
Not the late-90s Royals, adrift without an owner, facing one of the greatest Yankees dynasties ever assembled.
Not even the slap-hitting clubs under Trey Hillman with Kyle Davies on the mound did this.
This team.
They’ve lost close games and blowouts. They’ve lost with Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Cole Ragans, and Kris Bubic on the mound. They’ve certainly lost with Bailey Falter on the mound (dear lord what were they thinking putting him out there?)
Worst ERA, Royals club history (min. 10 IP) Justin Grimm 13.50 (12.2 IP) Albie Lopez 12.71 (22.2) Bailey Falter 12.46 (21.2) Blaine Boyer 12.05 (21.2) Allen McDill 11.70 (10)
Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Ben Rice have each hit four home runs during this streak – Chisholm has hit two. The Royals are hitting .177 as a team over those 13 games. Maikel Garcia is hitting .106. Kyle Isbel is hitting .083. Isaac Collins has yet to get a hit in 13 tries.
The 2024 Royals did not feel like a fluke at the time. Even in defeat, the Royals looked like they belonged on that field. They had a superstar MVP candidate, a great pitching staff, some rising stars, and seemed like a team that would pay their dues that year, but use it to fuel them for deeper runs in subsequent years.
Now, less than two years later, the gap feels wider instead of narrower.
Sure, the Yankees have gotten better. They’ve spent more. But the Royals were supposed to have gotten better too. They’re spending a near-club record $140 million on payroll this year.
The most concerning part isn’t that the Royals keep losing to the Yankees. The Yankees are one of the best teams in baseball. Plenty of clubs lose to them.
It’s that the matchup has become so predictable.
The Yankees patiently wait for a hittable pitch. The Royals do not.
The Yankees hit mistakes over the wall. The Royals do not.
The Yankees turn a baserunner into a crooked number. The Royals turn baserunners into stranded runners.
The Yankees punish thin margins. The Royals have to play perfectly just to stay close.
In October 2024, the Royals looked like a young club knocking on the door. In May 2026, they look like a joke. They will have to spend the rest of this season proving the 2024 season wasn’t just dumb luck.
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 12: Didier Fuentes #72 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the fifth inning during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park on May 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Normally this is a series that we update after the draft, and then again upon the end of the season. Well, you have to stay hip to the trends and with several outlets already updating their top 30 lists after a full month of the season, we wanted to make sure we provided you with the same kind of content here. So without further ado, here’s a look at the Braves new look top 30.
Rank
Player
Change
1
Didier Fuentes
+2
2
Cam Caminiti
-1
3
JR Ritchie
-1
4
Eric Hartman
+20
5
John Gil
+4
6
Tate Southiesene
0
7
Diego Tornes
-2
8
Owen Murphy
-4
9
Briggs McKenzie
-2
10
Luke Sinnard
-2
11
Luis Guanipa
+2
12
Connor Essenburg
+2
13
Isaiah Drake
+3
14
Alex Lodise
-4
15
Herick Hernandez
+5
16
Garrett Baumann
-4
17
Dixon Williams
+9
18
Ethan Bagwell
+7
19
Jhancarlos Lara
-9
20
Rayven Antonio
+1
21
Owen Carey
-4
22
Michael Martinez
NR
23
Cade Kuehler
+3
24
Raudy Reyes
+4
25
Juan Mateo
NR
26
Cody Miller
-10
27
Jose Perdomo
-6
28
Jose Manon
NR
29
Edelson Cabral
NR
30
Carter Holton
-1
1. Didier Fuentes – RHP
2026 Stats: 3-0, 2.75 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 24 K, 7 BB in 19.2 IP (Atlanta), 1-1, 2.16 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 20 K, 6 BB in 16.2 IP (Triple-A)
Reasoning: Fuentes ceiling, combined with the fact that he has been having success in the big leagues already gave him a strong case for taking the top spot in the system.
2. Cam Caminiti – LHP
2026 Stats: 1-2, 5.19 ERA, 1.38 ERA, 43 K, 18 BB in 43.1 IP
Reasoning: Cam stays near the top with his now six pitch mix (four-seam, two-seam, cutter, sweeper, splitter, changeup), but falls to 2 only because of the continued improved command by Didier Fuentes.
3. JR Ritchie – RHP
2026 Stats: 1-1, 4.56 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 21 K, 16 BB in 25.2 IP (Atlanta), 3-1, 1.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 31 K, 16 BB in 33 IP (Triple-A)
Reasoning: Ritchie drops a spot mostly because of the emergence of Fuentes on the big league level, rather than anything Ritchie has done wrong. He should still at least be a competent #4 starter.
Reasoning: Eric surges 20 spots because of his continued production with his hit tool, continued patience at the plate, and BOOMING power. Not only is the production at the plate impressive, the process behind the production is strong as well.
Reasoning: Gil’s rise is because he has shown the power spike we saw at the end of 2025 has successfully carried into this season. It’s now easier to see him becoming an impactful big leaguer as opposed to the guy who hit just six homers from 2023 through July 2025.
Reasoning: Tate stays at six after a very impressive start to his season. Tate has shown a very strong hit tool to go with a great approach at the plate which has resulted in a very strong .426 OBP. He’s also shown lots of success on the field, and on the base pads.
Reasoning: The reason Tornes dropped two spots is more about the emergence of Hartman, Gil, and Southisene than anything he has done. His stats in his first eight games aren’t great, but we continue to hear and see good things about him and his underlying metrics.
8. Owen Murphy – RHP
2026 Stats: 2-4, 5.75 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 45 K, 29 BB in 40.2 IP (AA + AAA)
Reasoning: Owen has struggled out the gate with the command of his fastball which has led to some early season struggles. That said, his fall is mainly due to the rise of the players above him. His potential remains unchanged, with serious upside as a #3 with the improved velocity on his four-seam.
9. Briggs McKenzie – LHP
2026 Stats: 0-0, 1.42 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 5 K, 2 BB in 6.1 IP (FCL)
Reasoning: McKenzie’s two spot drop is also because others have emerged. He’s only made two FCL starts after a slight delay to his year, but he has looked pretty much as expected so far.
10. Luke Sinnard – RHP
2026 Stats: 0-2, 3.00 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 14 K, 1 BB in 12.0 IP (FCL + High-A)
Reasoning: The delayed start of the season for Luke combined with the hot starts of the positional players above him, is the reason why Luke has fallen to 10 overall. He still remains an intriguing, high-upside starting pitcher.
11. Luis Guanipa – OF
2026 Stats: .308/.351/.527, 7 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 29 RBI, 21-24 SB, 10 BB, 21 K in 188 PA (Low-A)
Reasoning: After two lost years due to injury, Guanipa is finally healthy and producing in 2026. The power that we last saw in 2023 has returned as well.
12. Conor Essenburg – OF
2026 Stats: .196/.362/.326, 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 1-2 SB, 12 BB, 24 K in 58 PA (FCL + Low-A)
Reasoning: Conor has shown an approach well beyond his age as he’s put up quality at-bat after quality at-bat to start his career. That approach, along with his impressive EV numbers make him a very intriguing corner outfield prospect for the Braves.
13. Isaiah Drake – OF
2026 Stats: .280/.360/.451, 9 2B, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 14-19 SB, 20 BB, 49 K in 197 PA (High-A)
Reasoning: The progress with the hit tool continues, as all three numbers in his slash line are on pace to be new career highs for a full season.
14. Alex Lodise – SS
2026 Stats: .250/.332/.413, 4 2B, 3B, 8 HR, 25 RBI, 9-9 SB, 19 BB, 58 K in 208 PA (Low-A)
Reasoning: It’s been a bit of an up and down start for Alex who has flashed impressive power, tied first for home runs on the team, and impressive exit velocities, but has struggled to have consistent quality at bats. The defense has been as advertised.
15. Herick Hernandez – LHP
2026 Stats: 0-1, 1.83 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 29 K, 12 BB in 19.2 IP (Double-A)
Reasoning: Currently out on the IL, Hernandez has shown that he can keep missing bats in his first taste of the upper minors. Command is still his biggest question mark going forward.
16. Garrett Baumann – RHP
2026 Stats: 3-3, 5.86 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 46 K, 23 BB in 43.0 IP (Double-A)
Reasoning: Garrett has struggled just a bit with his command which has seen his walk rate more than double, and his home run rate nearly double. He’s also the victim of some bad luck as his BABIP is a robust .390.
17. Dixon Williams – INF/OF
2026 Stats: .257/.374/.465, 6 2B, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 9-13 SB, 18 BB, 27 K in 101 PA (High-A)
Reasoning: All Williams has done this year is produce when he’s been on the field, despite splitting his time between first (8 games), second (7), third (2), center (6), and DH (5).
18. Ethan Bagwell – RHP
2026 Stats: 2-0, 2.20 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 42 K, 12 BB in 41.0 IP (Low-A)
Reasoning: Ethan climbs after showing a continued ability to land his fastball in the upper third to go along with a sweeper that he’s been able to locate on both sides of the plate to lefties and righties.
19. Jhancarlos Lara – RHP
2026 Stats: 1-0, 7.43 ERA, 2.55 WHIP, 18 K, 24 BB in 13.1 IP (Double-A)
Reasoning: One of the biggest drops in the system, Lara started the year out at a level lower than he finished last season and has struggled more than ever before with his command. On a positive note, he has looked much better in May than April – though he still has a 2.10 WHIP and 8 walks in 6.2 innings this month.
20. Rayven Antonio – RHP
2026 Stats: IL – Full Season
Reasoning: After a promising 2025, Rayven will miss the entire season.
21. Owen Carey – OF
2026 Stats: .267/.340/.444, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1-1 SB, 4 BB, 7 K in 50 PA (High-A)
Reasoning: The main reason for Carey’s four spot drop is that he simply hasn’t been able to play. He’s been out with injury since April 19th.
22. Michael Martinez – OF
2026 Stats: .352/.456/.722, 2 2B, 6 HR, 3-5 SB, 10 BB, 12 K in 68 PA (FCL + Low-A)
Reasoning: After tearing apart the FCL, Michal earned a promotion to Low-A Augusta where he’s put on an impressive power display.
23. Cade Kuehler – RHP
2026 Stats: 4-1, 4.31 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 34 K, 13 BB in 39.2 IP (High-A)
Reasoning: Kuehler really struggled through April, but has since been dominant. Over his last three starts he has pitched 17.1 scoreless innings with 16 strikeouts. Considering he missed 2025 with injury, he may have just been shaking off the rust early in this season.
24. Raudy Reyes – RHP
2026 Stats: IL – Full Season
Reasoning: Raudy will miss the season due to Tommy John surgery.
25. Juan Mateo – INF
2026 Stats: .314/.368/.390, 4 2B, 2 3B, 8-11 SB, 9 BB, 26 K in 114 PA (Low-A)
Reasoning: Mateo, who just turned 19 within the last week, has been showing off his advanced feel for hitting against older pitching. He doesn’t walk much, and there isn’t a lot of power yet – but you can’t argue with his feel for hitting, especially when there is still plenty of time to grow into more power.
26. Cody Miller – INF
2026 Stats: .200/.292/.327, 9 2B, 4 HR, 15-18 SB, 16 BB, 60 K in 193 PA (High-A)
Reasoning: Cody is one of the biggest fallers as he’s struggled to produce at the plate with rising strikeout rates and decreased contact rates. The pressing at the plate has led him to increase his chasing, leading to a sub .300 OBP.
27. Jose Perdomo – SS
2026 Stats: 0-6 in 2 games (Low-A)
Reasoning: After two injury plagued seasons, Perdomo came into camp in the best shape the Braves have seen him since signing. Unfortunately he was injured in the second game of the season, and it is expected to cost him a lengthy stay on the IL.
28. Jose Mañon – SS
2026 Stats: N/A (DSL)
Reasoning: The biggest signing of this last signing period, Jose has yet to start his season but has been talked about quite positively by coaches.
29. Edelson Cabral – OF
2026 Stats: N/A (DSL)
Reasoning: Cabral was one of the top international signings in this year’s class for the Braves, though like Manon he hasn’t played any games yet as the DSL season hasn’t begun. Still we continue to hear very positive signs about the young outfielder.
30. Carter Holton – LHP
2026 Stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 2 BB, 6 K in 4.2 IP (FCL)
Reasoning: Carter has made a pair of rehab assignment for the FCL Braves as he returns from Tommy John surgery.
Now that the Knicks have swept the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals and won 11 straight playoff games, they must wait for a winner to be crowned in the West.
In the WCF, the Thunder lead San Antonio Spurs 3-2. In a seesaw series, Oklahoma City struck back last night, when their frontcourt (including the well-compensated OAKAAKUYOAK Isaiah Hartenstein) bottled up a visibly tiring Victor Wembanyama to secure a 127-114 win. A possible close-out game will be played on May 28 in San Antonio. Game Seven will occur on Saturday in Oklahoma, if necessary.
Covering his bases, coach Mike Brown is combing through tape on both teams as he prepares New York for the big dance. With the 2026 NBA Finals set to begin next Wednesday (ABC, tip-off at 8:30 p.m. ET), the question is: which is the more favorable matchup for our heroes?
The Case for Wanting the Spurs
Don’t believe the record books: the Knicks own the season series with the Spurs. On December 16, 2025, in Las Vegas, New York beat San Antonio 124-113 to win the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks to their first NBA Cup title and earned tournament MVP honors—the first of his two MVP trophies this season, alongside the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. Because NBA Cup games don’t count toward the regular-season series (email your complaints to Adam Silver), the official tally is split: the Spurs won the rematch on December 31 (134-132), and the Knicks rolled them at MSG on March 1 (114-89).
Everything starts with Wemby. The 22-year-old Defensive Player of the Year combines elite rim protection, perimeter shot creation, and an absurd eight-foot wingspan into the league’s most impressive two-way force.
Stephon Castle made a massive leap in his sophomore year, averaging 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 7.4 assists while earning All-NBA votes. Devin Vassell remains a valuable floor spacer and secondary creator despite a slight offensive dip this season. Keldon Johnson thrived as a high-energy sixth man, earning Sixth Man of the Year honors. Rookie Dylan Harper has averaged 11.8 points and 3.9 assists, made All-Rookie First Team, and delivered a standout 24-point, 11-rebound, seven-steal performance in the Western Conference Finals. Veteran De’Aaron Fox added 18.6 points and 6.2 assists in his first full season in Texas, although a lingering ankle injury has diminished his explosiveness in the playoffs.
Why would the Knicks prefer the Spurs over the Thunder? First, they’ve already beaten San Antonio twice, record books be damned. More importantly, the Spurs are starting to look tuckered out. This is the longest run of games (83+ regular season plus deep postseason) in their young core’s careers, and the mileage is taking its toll. Wembanyama has carried a massive load, Fox is physically compromised, and fatigue tends to erode discipline. The Knicks, by contrast, have stayed fresh and healthy, thanks to making short work of the Eastern Conference, and they’re well-positioned to capitalize on the mistakes of a tired, young squad.
The Case for Wanting the Thunder
Sure, yeah, the Knicks lost both regular-season meetings with the Thunder in 2025-26. On March 4 at Madison Square Garden, New York pushed OKC to the wire before falling 103-100, with Chet Holmgren dropping 28 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander adding 26 despite Karl-Anthony Towns’ 17-17 double-double. In the rematch on March 29 in Oklahoma City, the Thunder pulled away for a 111-100 win behind SGA’s 30 points, outdueling Brunson’s 32.
That was then, this is now.
In the postseason, New York blossomed into a fast-paced, quick-pass team that ran circles around the Sixers and Cavs. More than that, they’re shooting the lights out, with Landry Shamet and Mikal Bridges seemingly incapable of missing.
Meanwhile, the Thunder are getting beaten up in a demanding WCF against the Spurs. Their accumulated fatigue from a more competitive playoff path would benefit the Knicks in the Finals. The biggest concern is Jalen Williams, who left Game Two of the WCF between the first and second quarters after playing just seven minutes. Now he’s dealing with his fourth hamstring issue, and this latest one is a reaggravation to his left hammy. Then there’s Ajay Mitchell, who bowed out of the Thunder’s Game Three win over San Antonio and is listed as out with a right soleus strain.
Oklahoma City’s frequent use of smaller, switch-heavy lineups creates exploitable opportunities for Towns. When the Thunder downsize for speed and perimeter versatility, they can become vulnerable on the glass and in the interior, allowing Towns to punish mismatches, dominate offensive rebounding, and generate second-chance points. While Hartenstein and Holmgren are excellent defenders, the Bolts lack a singular rim-protecting force on the level of that French delight. Wemby’s elite shot-blocking fundamentally warp offenses by erasing shots at the rim and forcing teams to shoot from farther away. OKC’s defense might be elite, but it lacks that same suffocating interior deterrent.
Conclusion: Bring on the Spurs
The Knicks should root for San Antonio to eliminate Oklahoma City.
A tired, occasionally undersized Thunder team would give Towns and Mitchell Robinson clearer opportunities to dominate the glass and punish mismatches inside. While San Antonio presents a tougher stylistic challenge (Wemby’s defensive gravity, their impressive young talent), Oklahoma City remains the more dangerous opponent overall. Egregious flopper or not, SGA is the MVP, after all, and his team iss the defending champion.
The betting odds agree. FanDuel currently has the Thunder as heavy favorites to win the title at -155, with the Knicks sitting at +230 and the Spurs longshots at +550. Vegas clearly believes New York has a better chance against San Antonio. Who would you rather they face in the Finals? State your case in the comments below.
May 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) dunks in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers during game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
An Indiana Hoosier will be competing on the grandest stage in men’s professional basketball for the second consecutive year.
OG Anunoby has returned to the NBA Finals for the first time since winning his first championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, this time with the New York Knicks. He follows Thomas Bryant, who joined the Indiana Pacers during the 2024-25 regular season before their run through the playoffs.
Anunoby, recognized as one of the top defensive players in the NBA, currently averages 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 38.6% from 3-point range, starting in all 67 of his appearances.
Anunoby joined Indiana as a member of the high school recruiting class of 2015 under head coach Tom Crean, taking a leap as a sophomore in Crean’s final season prior to a season-ending injury in January. With Crean’s dismissal, Anunoby declared for the 2017 NBA Draft where he was selected by the Raptors with the 23rd overall pick.
(If you wanna be funny you could count Dante Exum on the 2023-24 Dallas Mavericks and say it’s three years, really.)
Vivek Ramaswamy posted a courtside picture with his wife from Monday’s Cavaliers vs. Knicks Game 4 at Rocket Arena, captioning the post, “Date night in Cleveland. Let’s go Cavs…all the way back!”
The Knicks swept the Cavaliers in dominant fashion. NBAE via Getty Images
Meanwhile, Ramaswamy snagged a courtside seat that perhaps cost five figures, although it is unclear if he actually bought his seat or it was a comp from the team as he runs for governor of the state.
The Knicks swept Cleveland in four games to clinch their NBA Finals berth, where they await the winner of Spurs-Thunder in the Western Conference finals.
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani posts from the nosebleeds at Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. X, @NYCMayor
“I prayed for it, I hoped for it but I didn’t want to jinx it. It is incredible,” Mamdani said. “You know, 1999 is the last time the Knicks were in the Finals. Ricky Martin’s ‘Livin’ la Vida Loca’ was at the top of the charts.
“We are incredibly excited to play this song in New York City again today because we’re hopeful. We’re excited, it’s truly an incredible time to be a New Yorker.”
The Knicks will meet one of the Western Conference powers as massive underdogs on June 3 for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, regardless of who they play.
Don't look now, but John Tortorella is becoming a legitimate option for the Edmonton Oilers as the team's next head coach in 2026-27.
Hired with just eight games remaining on the Golden Knights' regular season schedule, Tortorella has come into Vegas and done nothing short of hitting a home run with a team that was already headed to the playoffs, but wasn't really seen as a legitimate Cup contender. That "non-contender" just swept the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in four games to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.
What's so interesting about that? Well, Torts doesn't have a job commitment for next season and his contract expires on June 30th. Even more fascinating is that the Golden Knights, despite their succes with Tortorella behind the bench, might go a different route next season.
Elliotte Friedman noted on the latest 32 Thoughts podcast that he’s still of the belief that Vegas had no intentions of keeping Tortorella beyond this playoff run. Ryan Craig, who is the head coach for the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League, was pegged as the favorite to take over behind the bench.
Perhaps this run will change the way Vegas sees things playing out, but if they choose not to pivot their thinking and Tortorella is a one-and-done, expect the Edmonton Oilers to seek a chance to talk to Torts about the coaching position.
Could John Tortorella become available at the end of the season?
Just a few weeks ago, most would have called any theory linking Tortorella to the Edmonton unlikely. Since then, Bruce Cassidy has been unavailable for an interview and he may not ever be given permission. Torts has strung together and impressive run with Vegas, making sure everyone is reminded that he's got the magic touch, as polarizing as he can be.
Friedman said, “What do you do here? Tortorella’s contract is up on June 30th. If Vegas isn’t extending him, we know Edmonton is waiting.” He added, “Maybe it’s not the Oilers, but somebody’s going to be looking at this and saying ‘Hey, if Vegas doesn’t want him, we’ll gladly take him.”
The NHL insider has a point. Torts is not everyone's cup of tea, but you can't deny his effectiveness in short bursts. For Edmonton, that's what this team needs. It's not about the long game for the Oilers. They want to win and they need to do it now. Their window is closing and the person they hire to coach a team that has elite stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl -- but also a group that doesn't have the greatest depth -- must find another gear. Tortorella can potentially get that out of this group.
And, Vegas, unless they re-sign him, can't do anything to stop it after June 30th.
Kyle Bukauskas added, “I wonder if it’s more so teams in a similar situation to Vegas and definitely in win now mode as opposed to one that’s in a different stage of their cycle because it’s pretty clear right now at this stage of Tortorella’s career, coaching teams in that mode seems to line up with his style and philosophies.”
If Tortorella isn't offered the keys to the car in Vegas after this run, you can bet a team will jump on the chance to hire him while he's hot. Why not Edmonton?
Brandon Lowe
Julio Rodriguez
Aaron Judge
