We picked Liverpool as champions, Chelsea as challengers and tipped Brentford and Sunderland to go down. Oh dear
What we predicted: Mikel Arteta vowed this would be a “big summer” after finishing as runners-up in the Premier League for a third season in succession and the new sporting director, Andrea Berta, has delivered on a number of signings in his first transfer window. The question now for Arsenal supporters is whether Martín Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres, Cristhian Mosquera and Kepa Arrizabalaga can help them take that elusive final step to becoming champions for the first time since the Invincibles in 2004.
The Texas Rangers will look to rebound following an ugly blowout loss to the Houston Astros in their series opener.
My Astros vs. Rangers predictions expect the home team to turn things around quickly and even things up Tuesday night.
Let's break it all down with my MLB picks for May 26.
Who will win Astros vs Rangers today: Rangers moneyline (-135)
The Houston Astros are riding a four-game winning streak while the Texas Rangers have dropped four in a row. Even so, the underlying data favors the Rangers offense of late.
The Astros own a .290 wOBA, .652 OPS, and 35.1% hard hit rate over their last six games.
Despite getting no-hit Monday, the Rangers have fared better in each category over the same period. They are sporting a .333 wOBA, .757 OPS, and 39.4% hard hit rate.
Jack Leiter has also out-performed Jason Alexander in ERA, FIP, xFIP, and K%, making the Rangers a buy up to -140.
Globe Life Field is very pitcher-friendly, and that’s evident looking at the Rangers’ home numbers. They rank 29th in wOBA vs. righties at home compared to third on the road.
The Rangers are not the kind of team that will blow up a lesser pitcher, which will allow for Jason Alexander to grind out some innings.
Conversely, the Astros are hitting .205 against righties over the past two weeks and now find themselves in a pitcher-friendly park. Leiter’s xERA is a full run lower at home, setting him up for a quality start.
Play the Under to -115.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 18-16, -3.08 units
Over/Under bets: 16-17-1, -3.51 units
Astros vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Astros +110 | Rangers -130
Run line: Astros +1.5 (-175) | Rangers -1.5 (+150)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-110) | Under 8 (-110)
Astros vs Rangers trend
The Rangers have hit the game total Under in 20 of their last 25 home games (+15.7 units, 57% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Rangers.
How to watch Astros vs Rangers and game info
Location
Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
Date
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
First pitch
8:05 p.m. ET
TV
SCHN, RSN
Astros starting pitcher
Jason Alexander (1-0, 7.30 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcher
Jack Leiter (1-4, 4.61 ERA)
Astros vs Rangers latest injuries
Astros vs Rangers weather
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.
Former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco leaves court Monday after his retrial on charges of sexually abusing a minor in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. (Ricardo Hernandez / Associated Press)
Wander Franco is guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in 2023, a judge in the Dominican Republic made clear Monday.
Yet in his next breath, the same judge ruled that the former Tampa Bay Rays star shortstop will not be sentenced to prison because he was a victim of blackmail and extortion by the girl’s mother.
Celebrity justice in the D.R. can be perplexing, and Judge José Antonio Núñez admitted as much. But he also contended that the judicial pardon he granted Franco was the result of “logical and legal reasoning.”
“It seems contradictory to declare criminal responsibility and, at the same time, exempt him from punishment,” Núñez said. “The court has granted Wander Franco a judicial pardon due to the particular circumstances that made him a material victim, but not a legal one.”
The court found that the girl’s mother extorted thousands of dollars from Franco. The woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of commercial sexual exploitation of a minor and money laundering.
The odds are long that Franco will return to Major League Baseball any time soon. The fact that the court found him guilty of repeatedly having sex with a minor puts him squarely in violation of MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.
The league is in the midst of an investigation into Franco’s conduct.
“We respect the legal process and the decision issued by the court,” the Rays said in a statement. “This is a serious matter, and our thoughts remain with those affected by the case.
“The Rays will continue to cooperate fully with Major League Baseball as it completes its review under the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. Out of respect for the legal process and all parties involved, we will have no further comment at this time.”
Franco’s situation serves as a cautionary tale for MLB teams that hand out long-term contracts years before players become free agents. The Rays signed a 20-year-old Franco to an 11-year, $182 million deal in November 2021 after he batted .288 with 30 extra-base hits in 70 games as a rookie.
Franco appeared on his way to stardom during a stellar 2023 season, but according to court filings he carried on a relationship with the 14-year-old victim for several months.
An investigation was launched in August of 2023. Franco was arrested Jan. 1, 2024, after failing to appear before Dominican authorities who sought to interview him.
Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list early in the 2024 season, voiding his contract.
Franco was found guilty in a June 2025 trial. Although prosecutors sought a five-year prison sentence, he was given only a two-year suspended sentence by Justice Jakayra Veras.
“Look at us, Wander,” Veras said in open court. “Do not approach minors for sexual purposes. If you don’t like people very close to your age, you have to wait your time.”
An appeals court in December ordered a new trial, which took place Monday and resulted in his pardon.
“Thank God for everything,” Franco said as he embraced his mother, Nancy Aybar, after Judge Nuñez announced the pardon.
As he departed the courthouse, Franco was asked by a reporter how he felt.
The New York Yankees will look to extend a lengthy streak tonight when they face the Kansas City Royals in the second of a three-game set.
The Bronx Bombers have simply owned the Royals. Yesterday's comeback win gave New York its 12th straight win over Kansas City, and I like them to make it 13 straight tonight in impressive fashion.
Read all about it in my Yankees vs. Royals predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, May 26.
Who will win Yankees vs Royals today: Yankees -1.5 (-120)
As has become the case in Cam Schlittler starts, I’m not overthinking this. The New York Yankeesare my runline play, and I’d take them to -144.
Schlittler owns a 2.60 expected ERA, top 9% of MLB, and he forces hitters into mistakes with a 95th percentile chase rate.
The path against him is discipline plus loud contact, but the Kansas City Royalsdon’t profile that way. They are average in barrel rate at 8.5% and chase rate at 30.2%.
Against a starter with few obvious holes, average is not enough. The Yankees roll.
COVERS INTEL: Cam Schlittler has managed a 1.50 ERA despite having a breaking ball run value in the bottom 32 percentile of the sport which tells you just how impressive the rest of his arsenal has been.
Yankees vs Royals Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)
For the second straight game in this series, I’m nearly identical to the market with a projection of 8.8 runs, but I still lean Over 8.5 and would play it to -122.
Bailey Falter serving as an opener creates a spot where the Yankees can attack early. The only top-10 barrel rate team Falter has faced this season was the Atlanta Braves who hit him hard with two earned runs in three innings.
The Royals’ rested bullpen arms do not scare me either, with hard-hit issues across the group. Yankees do the heavy lifting, Royals find two.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 22-19, +2.56 units
Over/Under bets: 26-15, +13.34 units
Yankees vs Royals odds
Moneyline: New York -210 | Kansas City +170
Run line: New York -1.5 | Kansas City +1.5
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Yankees vs Royals trend
The New York Yankees have covered the Run Line in 28 of their last 50 away games (+10.85 Units / 20% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Royals.
How to watch Yankees vs Royals and game info
Location
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Date
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
YES, Royals.TV
Yankees starting pitcher
Cam Schlittler (6-2, 1.50 ERA)
Royals starting pitcher
Bailey Falter (0-1, 9.82 ERA)
Yankees vs Royals latest injuries
Yankees vs Royals weather
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.
The Milwaukee Brewers have struck gold with Kyle Harrison, and he's in a prime spot against the St. Louis Cardinals tonight.
My Cardinals vs. Brewers predictions expect the southpaw to stifle St. Louis' offense to cover the spread while also hitting the Under with our MLB picks for Tuesday, May 26.
Who will win Cardinals vs Brewers today: Brewers -1.5 (+123)
The Milwaukee Brewers will win this game, but I do not like the moneyline juice at -178 or worse.
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy is playing with fire, and his 2.40 ERA is fool's gold. He boasts an expected ERA of 5.86 (ninth percentile) and relies on opponents hitting the ball directly at the defenders behind him.
So far, that's been successful... but it isn't sustainable. Not when he's getting barreled in the 18th percentile with a 41.1% hard-hit rate (37th percentile). Eventually, that hard contact will translate into some crooked numbers.
What the Brewers lack in power, they make up for with contact and speed.
Even if McGreevy continues to outpitch his peripherals, the St. Louis bullpen owns a 4.41 ERA (22nd in MLB) and a 20.2% strikeout rate (25th). Ideally, this line doesn't go any shorter, but I'd play it to +115.
Cardinals vs Brewers Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (+105)
Harrison was always a pitcher with promise. The lefty raced through the San Francisco Giants system, showed flashes of success after reaching the majors in 2023, but never lived up to his potential. He was one of the key pieces sent to Boston in the Rafael Devers trade, but was unceremoniously dumped to Milwaukee for Caleb Durbin this offseason.
Well, as has become custom, the Brewers have unlocked the version of Harrison that Giants fans caught glimpses of. Unlike the aforementioned McGreevy, everything looks good under the hood, as well.
Harrison's 1.77 ERA isn't sustainable, but an xERA of 2.96 tells us that he's not suddenly going to transform into a pumpkin. The southpaw is inducing chase and whiff at strong levels, and the Cardinals' offense has been woefully wobbly of late after punching above its weight class to start the season.
Jordan Walker, Ivan Herrera, and Masyn Winn have all handled lefties well this season, but Walker also has a near-30% K-rate against southpaws. Given Harrison's leveling up and the Brewers' solid bullpen behind him, I like the Under to -105.
Jason Wilson's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 1-0, +0.67 units
Over/Under bets: 1-0, +1.05 units
Cardinals vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Cardinals +170 | Brewers -178
Run line: Cardinals +1.5 (-133) | Brewers -1.5 (+127)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-117) | Under 7.5 (+113)
Cardinals vs Brewers trend
The Milwaukee Brewers have covered the run line in 30 of their last 50 games (+14.10 Units / 23% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Brewers.
How to watch Cardinals vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
Cardinals.TV, Brewers.TV
Cardinals starting pitcher
Michael McGreevy (3-3, 2.40 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Kyle Harrison (5-1, 1.77 ERA)
Cardinals vs Brewers latest injuries
Cardinals vs Brewers weather
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.
The Colorado Rockies, ranked fifth in the NL West with a 20-35 record, face the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are first in the NL West with a 34-20 record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored with a -235 moneyline compared to the Colorado Rockies' +190. Starting pitchers are Kyle Freeland for Colorado, with a 7.04 ERA, and Eric Lauer for Los Angeles, with a 6.69 ERA.
How to watch Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The New York Yankees, ranked second in the AL East with a 32-22 record, face the Kansas City Royals, who are fourth in the AL Central with a 22-32 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -200 moneyline compared to the Kansas City Royals' +165. Starting pitchers are Cam Schlittler for the Yankees, with a 1.50 ERA, and Bailey Falter for the Royals, with a 9.82 ERA.
How to Watch New York Yankees vs Kansas City Royals
The Cincinnati Reds, ranked fourth in the NL Central with a 28-25 record, face the New York Mets, who are fifth in the NL East with a 22-32 record. Cincinnati is favored with a -130 moneyline compared to New York's +100. Chase Burns starts for Cincinnati with a 1.83 ERA, while the Mets' starter is TBD.
"The Western Conference Finals are the real NBA Finals."
We all read that or heard it on a podcast just a week ago, before the two conference finals rounds tipped off. Versions of it have popped up again in the past handful of days to push back because exuberant Knicks fans, who are feeling themselves after watching their team destroy Cleveland and everyone else in their path and returning to the NBA Finals for the first time since "Livin' La Vida Loca" was the No. 1 song in the nation.
The argument that the Knicks were a doormat for the West winner is not that the Knicks were a bad team, it's that they were playing in the JV circuit. Meanwhile, the 64-win defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, going up against the 62-win San Antonio Spurs with Victor Wembanyama was the varsity.
That argument would have merit if we were talking about the regular season Knicks, a 53-win team with a +6.5 net rating — a quality team, a contender, but a step below the Spurs and Thunder.
These Knicks are different
These playoff Knicks are different. This team can compete with the best — they have won their 12 games so far by 273 points and lost two games by one point each (on CJ McCollum shots). This is a team that has shown the grit and resilience needed in the postseason. Think about what The Kincks have going for them.
• Jalen Brunson is being Jalen Brunson, an All-NBA player, an elite shot creator and scorer. • Karl-Anthony Towns has thrived as the hub of the offense, but more importantly, even when the Cavaliers did a good job of forcing the Knicks away from that offense, Towns impacted games, hit the boards hard (12 rebounds a game against the Cavaliers) and continued to play the best defense of his career. He's not been a target as he has been in the past and has shown real range on defense. • Mikal Bridges has become the two-way force the Knicks envisioned when they gave up a Brinks Truck full of picks to land him — 18.5 points a game on 54.7% shooting against Cleveland. • OG Anunoby has been a two-way force and shot 36.8% from 3 against Cleveland. • Landry Shamet can't miss off the bench — he hit 11-of-12 3-pointers against the Cavaliers. • Mitchell Robinson has been healthy and a force on the glass and defensively throughout the playoffs. • The Knicks are a legit eight deep in guys Mike Brown can trust in the Finals (sorry Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado, it might be a rough next round for you). • Brown can coach. Casual fans may try to slander him with the "journeyman" tag, but this guy coached the Cavaliers to the Finals (2007), has won rings as an assistant with the Warriors (who was occasionally forced into the big chair because of Steve Kerr's back), and whose best coaching job may have been getting the Kings to the playoffs for the only time in two decades. • The Knicks offense clicked with KAT as a high-post hub, and when the Cavaliers — with two quality big-men defenders — took that away, the Knicks comfortably adjusted to going back to the trusted "have Jalen Brunson hunt weak defenders" offense of years past, and the Cavaliers provided James Harden and other targets.
Over the past couple of years, we have seen flashes of this peak version of the Knicks, but they could never sustain it. That’s changed — they have won 11 straight games, and there is confidence around this team, a swagger we see from champions. Playing like this on both ends, they can hang with anyone. Now the Knicks get a week to rest and recover before the NBA Finals start June 3, while the two teams in the West continue to beat each other up.
These New York Knicks absolutely can win the franchise's first NBA championship since 1973.
Facing the West will be very different
Enjoy this moment, Knicks fans, but also know the cakewalk sweeps are over — whichever team comes out of the West is light years ahead of any team New York saw in the East (with a nod to Joe Lacob for the light years reference).
The Knicks are not going to be the favorites in the Finals, nor should they be — they are going to have to prove they did not just beat the JV teams.
There is no James Harden or Donovan Mitchell to isolate and hunt on the Spurs or Thunder. Both West teams have the size and physicality to make life difficult for Towns as the hub of the offense in the high post. Both West teams have elite rim protectors. Both West teams have elite guards who can target Brunson and force him to defend. The dramatic advantage the Knicks had on the wings against the Cavaliers will not be there against the Spurs or Thunder. No team in the East has a shot creator on the level of SGA right now, and no other team in the universe has a Victor Wembanyama. Both West teams have more versatile rosters than anything the Knicks have seen.
Most importantly, the Knicks have not had to play at near the level of intensity or physicality that we have seen in the West Finals. It's going to be a shock to the system going against that level for the first few minutes — driving lanes aren't there, and passing lanes close up fast. The Knicks can reach that level the way they are playing. Bridges and Anunoby can match up with any of the wings in the West. The Knicks starters are finally clicking (after a couple of years of waiting), and the bench of Robinson, Shamet and Miles McBride gives them the depth that can hang with those West squads. When the Knicks beat the Spurs in the NBA Cup Finals, one thing was critical — New York cleaned up on the offensive glass. Mitchell Robinson was at the heart of that, and he is going to have to have a monster series against either West team.
It's a tall order for the Knicks — but these Knicks are capable of reaching those heights. John Hollinger of The Athletic compared them to another champion that meshed at the right time — the 2011 Dallas Mavericks, led by Dirk Nowitzki — and that feels apt.
The real NBA Finals are still ahead of us and the Knicks are relaxing at home, waiting for them to start. When it does, these Knicks are capable of winning it all.
After an uncustomary loss, BetMGM’s anonymous ladder bettor scored more than $300,000 in profit as the New York Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals.
The bettor, who had won roughly $1.6 million since the start of the NBA playoffs, won $500,000 worth of tickets on Monday night.
Key Takeaways
The bettor won nearly $1.2 million from the Eastern Conference Finals alone.
BetMGM’s anonymous user suffered a rare loss on Sunday when the Spurs beat the Thunder.
The Thunder are still favored to win the NBA Finals.
The bettor – whose identity still hasn’t been revealed – has frequently wagered six figures on laddered spread lines throughout the NBA postseason. The bettor bought back in ahead of the Knicks’ Game 4 showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday, backing New York on lines ranging from +3.5 to the original line of -2.5.
It ended up being one of the user’s most sweat-free days in recent months, as the Knicks crushed the Cavaliers by 37 points to send them packing. The bettor ended up profiting $305,533, with the largest individual win being $75,000 from a $150,000 wager on the Knicks at +3.5 (-200).
A bettor at @BetMGM wagered $500,000 on @nyknicks to cover in Game 4
$150,000 on Knicks +3.5 (-200) ✅ $75,000 on Knicks +3.5 (-185) ✅ $75,000 on Knicks +2.5 (-175) ✅ $50,000 on Knicks +2.5 (-160) ✅ $35,000 on Knicks +1.5 (-145) ✅ $35,000 on Knicks +1.5 (-150) ✅ $20,000 on…
Monday’s matchup was not competitive at any point. The Knicks raced out to a 12-point lead after the first quarter and were ahead 68-49 by halftime before eventually winning 130-93. They did all of that without having a single player reach 20 points.
The Knicks must hold a soft spot in the BetMGM bettor’s heart after they secured close to $1.2 million in wins during the conference finals. That included a leading mark of $466,718 from $775,000 in wagers that were obtained after the Knicks became the second team in NBA playoff history to recover from a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit.
NEW YORK WENT ON A 44-11 RUN TO COMPLETE A 22-POINT COMEBACK WIN IN GAME 1 💨
DOWN 22 WITH UNDER 8 TO PLAY IN Q4. 30-8 RUN TO FORCE OT. WON BY 11.
The BetMGM customer’s wins by game were as follows.
Game 1: $466,718 from $775,000
Game 2: $176,883 from $300,000
Game 3: $217,172 from $350,000
Game 4: $305,533 from $500,000
Rare losses and NBA Finals odds
The ladder bettor has been nearly flawless throughout the playoffs. Though, a rare loss occurred on Sunday when the user lost $350,000 backing the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs tied the series at 2-2 after securing a 103-82 victory.
BetMGM reported that the user went 0-for-6 on bets that night, including a $150,000 loss on Thunder +6.5.
The Spurs were favored on their home court when they broke the bettor’s hot streak in their most dominant victory of the series. They find themselves back on the road for Game 5 as a 4.5-point underdog with +150 moneyline odds on Tuesday.
Although the Thunder are still the team in power, their odds are sliding. Ajay Mitchell was already ruled out of tonight’s action, and Jalen Williams is questionable with a hamstring strain. The 4.5-point line is the shortest of the series among games played at OKC, and the Thunder have slipped from being odds-on favorites to +105 in NBA Finals odds.
The Knicks are second in odds to win the Finals at +220, while the Spurs are third at +270.
Spurs vs. Thunder betting trends
There are very few trends to judge by entering Game 5. Both the Thunder and Spurs are 1-1 as favorites, underdogs, at home, and on the road in this series.
The Game 5 winner of an NBA playoff series that is tied 2-2 wins the series more than 82% of the time. The outcome of tonight’s matchup will put one team on the doorstep of competing for a league championship and the other on their last leg.
After splitting the first two games of the Eastern Conference Final on the road, the Montreal Canadiens were hoping to get back to their winning ways at the Bell Centre, but the Carolina Hurricanes had other plans. For a second game in a row, the Canes dominated the game from start to finish, and while the Canadiens did push the game to overtime, it felt like Montreal was only delaying the inevitable.
Throughout the game, the Sainte-Flanelle committed 21 turnovers, including one in overtime through Lane Hutson. The sophomore defenseman didn’t shy away at the end of the game and took the blame for the loss when he was asked about Jakub Dobes’ performance:
Yeah, I mean, he was great all playoffs, so I’m not surprised. He battled so hard. It sucks that I just blew it for him, but it is what it is. […] It would be nice to be up 2-11, but we’re not, and it's because of me. It’s frustrating, but we just have to battle to the end.
While there’s no denying that Hutson did make the final turnover, the goal didn’t come straight after; the Canadiens had time to reset and defend as the Hurricanes set up the game-winning play. Hutson has always been his own harshest critic, and that’s not about to change.
If Svech, Lane Hutson would get a secondary assist as it was Hutson- Svech - Jarvis - Svech.
However, his game cannot be summed up by the one single mistake; if the Habs didn’t have Hutson last night, they likely wouldn’t even have made it to overtime. Not just because he scored the game-tying goal and drew the penalty that allowed him to do so, but also because he blocked five shots and was once again all over the ice, skating for almost 29 minutes.
Just like on Saturday night, though, it was obvious that the Hurricanes planned on making Hutson’s night difficult with their relentless forecheck. On top of having to absorb the hits, the Illinois native had very little time to make plays in his own zone while bracing for impact. This is part of the reason why the Canadiens struggled even to exit their own zone at times, and when they did, they couldn’t get past the red line before losing the puck again.
Hutson has not been hit that often since he started his pro career. The 22-year-old is a smooth skater, and often, he manages to evade hits, but not in this series. At one stage, he was even hit by two Hurricanes at once.
If the Canadiens are to extend this series past the five-game mark, they will need to find an answer to the Canes’ suffocating brand of hockey. If they fail to do so, the Habs' great run could soon be over.
BOSTON - APRIL 18: Travis Lee #38 of the New York Yankees at bat during the game against the Boston Red Sox on April 18, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The Yankees won 7-3. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the cruelest stories sports has to offer is that of the player who seemed to have all the tools, seemed to be destined for superstardom—but their body or mind simply wouldn’t allow them. Ill-timed injuries and troubles with mental health have swallowed up the career of many a superstar over the years, and Travis Lee is a prime example. A former second-overall draft pick, Lee was a can’t-miss prospect who never rose to the superstar heights expected out of a player taken at that draft position. Injuries also overshadowed his tenure with the Yankees, which lasted just seven games at the outset of 2004.
Lee was not a bust—far from it. While he missed a lot of time throughout his career, that career still lasted over 1,000 games and nearly ten seasons between Arizona, Philadelphia, New York, and Tampa Bay. But, as he later disclosed in a 2020 interview, the battle to stay physically healthy was waged in tandem with a career-long battle with anxiety.
Travis Reynolds Lee Born: May 26, 1975 (San Diego, CA) Yankees Tenure: 2004
Travis Lee was a college superstar. At San Diego State in the mid-1990s, Lee was a two-time All-American who won the Golden Spikes Award with the Aztecs before winning an Olympic gold medal with Team USA: a 1996 season straight out of a movie. That incredible year continued when the Minnesota Twins made Lee their first-round draftee, selecting him second overall. But then, along came a plot twist.
The Olympics came at an awkward time for Lee and the Twins. They wanted to negotiate the terms of his contract, but also did not want to make the negotiations a distraction for Lee as he competed in Atlanta. While the Olympics were happening, the Twins neglected to extend a formal contract offer to Lee within 15 days of selecting him, which would make him a free agent per the collective bargaining agreement. Normally, this is the sort of rule that isn’t always followed and is almost never enforced. But when ascendant super-agent Scott Boras made Lee and his agent Jeff Moorad aware of this, the Twins had no choice but to admit they had messed up, and surrender the draft pick.
By the letter of the law, Lee was a free agent. In another bizarre twist to this saga, he would ultimately be signed by a team that didn’t even fully exist yet: the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks. They signed him to a four-year deal which would kick off when the D-backs finally had a full team to field in 1998. (This whole ordeal kicked off some heated debates about the draft’s place in baseball’s labor ecosystem, which are fascinating to revisit now.)
The Diamondbacks only had A-ball teams in 1997, so once Lee quickly surpassed the High-A level, he was loaned to the Brewers, who played him at their Triple-A team in Tucson. The next year, he made his long-awaited MLB debut, and collected the first hit—and later, the first home run—in the hist]ory of the franchise.
Lee finished third place in NL Rookie of the Year voting, behind two greats in Cubs phenom Kerry Wood and future Rockies Hall of Famer Todd Helton. Lee hit 22 home runs and finished with a .775 OPS (103 OPS+) while also proving to be an excellent defensive first baseman.
The following offseason, the Diamondbacks established themselves as a contender by signing Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez, and Steve Finley. They won 100 games in 1999, but Lee did not take the big step forward that the rest of the team did. He managed just a 77 OPS+ before a lingering ankle injury sidelined him for their NLDS loss to the Mets. (Lee never did play in the postseason.)
Lee spent the first half of the following season shuttling between Triple-A and the majors, but his days in the desert were numbered. The Diamondbacks were thirsty to make another big move, and were eyeing Phillies star pitcher Curt Schilling. In late July, they pulled the trigger, acquiring Schilling for a package of Lee and pitchers Vicente Padilla, Omar Daal, and Nelson Figueroa.
In Philadelphia, Lee’s role stabilized, and he appeared in over 150 games in both of his full seasons there (2001 and 2002). He was a roughly average hitter in that span, hitting 20 homers in 2001. After finishing out his time in the City of Brotherly Love, Lee signed a one-year deal with the other 1998 expansion franchise, the Rays.
Lee’s 2003 campaign was the best of his MLB career. The lefty cut back on his strikeouts, worked more walks, and boosted his slugging percentage by over 50 points, finishing with an .807 OPS (116 OPS+), earning him a raise with a contender: the New York Yankees.
As we mentioned at the top, Lee would only wind up playing seven games with the Bombers because of a shoulder injury that required surgery. It was a shame, since the Yanks got subpar production out of first basemen that season, with Jason Giambi off his game and also missing a bunch of time due to benign tumor in his pituitary gland. Replacement/future MLBPA leader Tony Clark was fine, but ran hot and cold, all but necessitating an August trade for veteran John Olerud.
Lee’s career only lasted a few more seasons. He returned to Tampa Bay in 2005 and pieced together another decent season as a strong-side platoon bat, catching fire in the second half, before taking a step back in ‘06. The following season, he retired after a brief spring training stint with the Nationals.
Lee has enjoyed a quiet life away from baseball in the intervening years. In 2020, The Athletic’s Zach Buchanan reached out to Lee to ask him about his life since the end of his career. That was when Lee revealed to Buchanan that he had struggled his entire career with anxiety. That anxiety largely revolved around his supposed inability to play catch with teammates, a rather minor issue—but to hear him tell it, this fear of having the yips consumed a lot of his mental energy. It was also difficult to convince others that he was struggling since he remained a pristine defensive infielder.
Had Lee played in the current era of professional sports, an era in which athletes’ mental health is taken as seriously as their physical health, he may have had a longer and better career. But Lee isn’t interested in dwelling on the past. He’s enjoying his retirement as a stay-at-home dad and coach to his kids.
The more I looked into the story of Travis Lee, the more engrossed I became. His career began with an incredible draft gaffe, and an unprecedented signing with a team that didn’t even fully exist. He then pieced together a solid Major League career despite dealing with all kinds of physical and mental adversity. It’s easy to play the what-if game with a guy who may have been talented enough to become a perennial All-Star, but future perennial All-Stars become average nine-year big-leaguers all the time. And ultimately, he picked the right time to call it quits and move on. Make no mistake: this is a story of success.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers guard Chris Manon (30) is helped up by teammates Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9), Los Angeles Lakers forward Adou Thiero (1) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Drew Timme (17) in the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena on February 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we begin with a look at the team’s two-way players, Drew Timme and Chris Mañon.
Last year, the Lakers relied heavily on their two-way signings, namely their bigs Trey Jemison and Christian Koloko, a byproduct of the team shipping out a center from an already shallow front court for a ballhandler midway through the season.
This season, a more balanced roster meant the Lakers need not rely on their two-way players in the same way. While Nick Smith Jr. stepped up in a couple of games — more coming on him this week — their other two signings, Drew Timme and Chris Mañon were able to develop behind the scenes in the G League.
Let’s take a look at their two seasons and whether they can parlay that into success with the parent Lakers.
How did they play?
The pair had strong enough seasons with South Bay to earn awards with Timme earning G League Second Team honors and Mañon being named to the G League All-Defensive First Team.
Timme averaged 23.7 points per game on 56.3% shooting. By the end of the season, he had worked his way into spot minutes in the rotation with the parent Lakers. It went well enough that there were some calls for him to get the team’s final roster spot heading into the playoffs.
For Mañon, his moment never came with the parent Lakers, largely due to his offensive limitations. He wreaked havoc defensively, averaging 2.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. However, he shot just 31.5% from the 3-point line and averaged 2.5 assists per game as a point guard.
There is still hope that he can develop enough of an offensive game to get on the court. But there certainly weren’t many signs this season of that being close to reality.
What are their contract situations moving forward?
Both players signed one-year two-way deals, so both are set for restricted free agency this season. Each can still sign a two-way deal as they have fewer than four years of NBA experience.
It would be a surprise if either got an actual NBA contract. It wouldn’t be a surprise if either got an opportunity elsewhere. The situation would play the biggest role.
Should they be back?
Neither player showed enough to be considered irreplaceable. While Timme showed some impressive moments during the regular season, it wasn’t anything that couldn’t be found elsewhere in the league. And his play didn’t really warrant a standard contract.
It’ll come down to whether the Lakers’ revamped and bolstered front office finds someone in the draft or floating around the league worth the gamble over them. But it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if either, both, or neither were back next season.
The Minnesota Twins have caught fire of late, winning six of their past eight games.
With Joe Ryan set to take the mound, my Twins vs. White Sox predictions expect the road team to pick up an important divisional win.
Let's break it all down with my MLB picks for Tuesday, May 26.
Who will win Twins vs White Sox today: Twins moneyline (-115)
Sean Burke allowed 12 earned runs over his last three starts and posted a 5.40 xFIP during that stretch.
It'll be difficult for him to get on track tonight. He's pitched much worse at home, posting a 4.15 FIP in Chicago compared to a 2.85 on the road.
He'll be tasked with slowing down a Minnesota Twins lineup that sits fifth in ISO and sixth in wOBA against right-handed pitching away from Target Field.
The Twins should do damage at the plate, and ace Joe Ryan doesn't need much run support. Back the Twins to -130.
Twins vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-115)
Isolating home games against Top-20 teams in OBP, Burke owns a 6.22 ERA, 6.41 xERA, and conceded multiple runs in four of five starts. Minnesota ranks ninth in OBP, so they fit the profile.
The Chicago White Sox don't have as strong of a matchup against Ryan, but they should still chip in their share of runs.
Ryan's indicators (FIP, xFIP, barrel rate, etc.) are worse on the road than at the pitcher-friendly Target Field, and the White Sox have scored 3+ runs against eight of the last 11 right-handed starters.
Play the Over to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 18-16, -3.08
Over/Under bets: 16-17-1, -3.51 units
Twins vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Twins -115 | White Sox -105
Run line: Twins -1.5 (+150) | White Sox +1.5 (-175)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-115) | Under 7.5 (-105)
Twins vs White Sox trend
Minnesota has hit the game total Over in 24 of the last 40 games (+9.55 units, 22% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs. White Sox.
How to watch Twins vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
Twins.TV, CHSN
Twins starting pitcher
Joe Ryan (3-3, 3.02 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Sean Burke (2-3, 4.08 ERA)
Twins vs White Sox latest injuries
Twins vs White Sox weather
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.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 25: Jacob Young #30 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There have been a lot of fun player development wins this season for the Nats. From Curtis Mead, to Keibert Ruiz and even stars like James Wood and CJ Abrams, plenty of Nats hitters are getting better. However, the most surprising development in my opinion is that Jacob Young has turned into a power hitter.
Over the first few seasons of Jacob Young’s career, fans thought they had a good idea of who he was. Young was a speedy center fielder, who plays amazing defense, but was not a good offensive player. While Young always had solid bat to ball skills and a decent approach, it was not enough to make up for his lack of power. He hit the ball on the ground a ton, and did not hit it very hard.
In his first three seasons, Young hit only 5 homers in over 1,000 at bats. Every home run from the center fielder felt like a shock. This season, Young already has 7 home runs, which is obviously a career high. That shock factor after Jacob Young’s homers is slowly going away. He has shown that he is more than capable of going deep.
Jacob Young had 5 HRs in 1000+ plate appearances over the last 3 years. He’s got 7 through 184 PAs this season.
His launch angle sweet spot has gone from the 3rd percentile last year to the 81st percentile this year.
With Young’s power surge, he is turning into an excellent player who can be more than just a 4th outfielder. His season OPS of .683 is far from elite, but it is good enough with his defense. It felt like Young started the season somewhat slowly defensively, but lately he has been making a ton of great plays, and making them look easy. Young has 8 outs above average this season, which is in the 99th percentile.
We know about JY’s defense though. Today, I want to talk about some of the changes he has made to improve his offense. The biggest one has been getting the ball off the ground. You cannot hit homers when you put the ball on the ground, and Young was doing that a lot last season. His ground ball rate in 2024 and 2025 was 56.5%, which is extremely high. This year, that number is down nearly 20 percent, to 38.8%.
Last night, Dan Kolko implied in passing that the old regime wanted Young to hit the ball on the ground to maximize his speed. As a right handed batter in the big leagues though, you are not going to get a ton of infield hits. When looking at his swing, you can see that he is hunting ground balls. Young was almost swinging directly down on the baseball last year. This season, that swing is much more level.
Who knew you could hit for more power when you aren’t swinging directly down on the baseball pic.twitter.com/YH3RoXzaCd
That plays out in the launch angle numbers as well. Young’s average launch angle has gone from 3.8 degrees to 11.1 degrees. That is a huge transformation to make in one offseason. The Nats center fielder is also swinging harder and hitting the ball harder. While some of the credit goes to the Nats new staff, Jacob Young began this process in the offseason.
He went to Driveline to try and fix his offensive game. It feels like Young has wanted to add more power for a while. Before the 2025 season, he added a bunch of muscle, but it turned out that was not the issue. His problem was his mechanics, and with the help of Driveline and the Nats hitting coaches, he has improved his mechanics a lot.
Check out Jacob Young putting in work at Driveline:
Ironically, the coach he worked with this offseason was Travis Fitta, who is now a hitting coach in the Nats organization. Fitta is the assistant hitting coach in AAA Rochester, where players like Yohandy Morales are thriving. Driveline is known more for their pitching development, but it seems like they are changing the game on the hitting side now too. Andrew Aydt, the Nats assistant hitting coach is also a Driveline product.
If these guys can turn Jacob Young into a 20 home run bat, I do not know what they can’t do. Young seemed destined to be a light hitting 4th outfielder, but the added pop has changed his outlook. It is crazy to see how much this new staff has been able to unlock in players. From Young and Curtis Mead in the majors to Seaver King and Yohandy Morales in the minors, the Nats hitting development is on point.
COVERS INTEL: In this game, 
