FRISCO, TX - MARCH 31: Dylan Dreiling #8 of the Frisco RoughRiders poses for a photo during the Frisco RoughRiders photo day at Riders Field on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Dylan Dreiling, Frisco Roughriders outfielder, has been named the Texas League Player of the Week for the week of May 4 to May 10, it was announced today.
Dreiling, a lefthanded hitter who was taken in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Tennessee, put up a .368/.520/1.000 slash line in 25 plate appearances over five games against the Northwester Arkansas Naturals, with four homers, six walks, and just one strikeout. For the season, he is slashing .300/.398/.511 in 108 plate appearances with 16 walks against 21 strikeouts.
Dreiling spent the 2025 season at high-A Hub City, where he slashed .226/.319/.381, then put up a .271/.364/.438 slash line in the Arizona Fall League. Although he was primarily a left fielder for Tennessee, Dreiling has primarily played center field as a professional.
Dreiling, who turned 23 last month, was the 65th overall pick in the 2024 draft, and the second player selected by the Rangers that year, behind only catcher Malcolm Moore.
Let's open up the mailbag to discuss some of the Mets' top prospects...
If Carson Benge is a good MLB center fielder, does it not make sense to give A.J. Ewing some shortstop reps? Lindor is 32 years old, even if he was healthy, he’d have 2-3 years max left at shortstop anyways. If Benge is above average in center field, it seems wasteful to put him in a corner. -- @will_nba_hater
This is a loaded question with a few factors to consider here. Benge projects as a long-term plus corner outfielder who can play center field, not a true center fielder. In the small sample size in the majors in 2026, Benge is negative-1 outs above average in center field, while being plus-1 in right field and plus-2 in left field.
Ewing has not played one inning of shortstop since he was at Springboro High School in Ohio in 2023. I have not heard from anyone in the organization that getting shortstop reps is on the radar.
On the Lindor front, he is still a very good defensive shortstop. Will the day come that he eventually needs to slide somewhere else? History suggests yes, but that time does not appear to be even close to imminent, and Ewing is getting closer to a major league opportunity. He needs to be mostly preparing at the spot he will be playing when he reaches the big leagues.
The Mets also firmly believe that Ewing has all the tools to be an elite defensive center fielder. There is still some work to do with routes and jumps, and he’s already made strides this year there. That is something they believe will come with reps.
The best defensive setup from a projection standpoint is Ewing in center, Benge in a corner outfield spot and Lindor at shortstop. That could be three plus defensive players, two of whom are at premium positions. That is a good spot to be in.
A few reps at shortstop now for Ewing would likely have little bearing on potentially playing it a few years from now. If he reaches his potential defensively in center field, there won’t be any desire to play him anywhere else.
How soon do you think we could see Ryan Clifford in the majors given some of the recent injuries the team has had, and more power needed in the lineup? -- Reb Deud
The short answer is it is unlikely to be imminent or very soon. But you aren’t here for the short answer.
On the season, Clifford is slashing .252/.327/.473 (.800 OPS) with seven home runs and 21 RBI in 37 games for Triple-A Syracuse.
The pros of Clifford fit exactly what Reb said. The power is real, with his exit velocities (max EV of 113.1 mph), barrel rate (14.3 percent), hard hit rate (57.1 percent) and even pull-side air percentage (17.7 percent) all line up with that of a prototypical left-handed slugger. It is easy to envision a 30-home run type of bat if he can make enough contact.
The question among evaluators is if he will be able to make enough contact to get there. Clifford made some strides in his approach from 2024 to 2025, decreasing his strikeout percentage from 29.6 percent to 25.6 percent. While that is still a little higher than they’d ideally like to see, it was progress, and it is accepted that swing-and-miss will be a part of Clifford’s game.
Through the first month-plus of the 2026 season, Clifford’s strikeout rate has spiked to 36.1 percent. That is accompanied by a whiff percentage of 34.3 percent and, importantly, an in-zone contact rate of just 74.3 percent.
Comparing Triple-A stats to major league stats are apples to oranges given the level of competition, but just to add some context, Clifford’s Triple-A strikeout rate would be the third-worst in the majors and his in-zone-contact rate would be the seventh-worst in the majors.
The Mets are hopeful that things are starting to turn for Clifford as the calendar flips to May. Thus far in nine games this month, he is slashing .333/.389/.606 (.995 OPS) with two home runs, including this 110 mph EV blast on Mother’s Day. His strikeout rate so far this month is 25 percent, which is in line with his number from 2025. Again, progress, but it needs to be displayed over a larger sample size.
The general player development philosophy is to not call up a prospect until there is confidence that they are being put in position to succeed and not be forced back down to Triple-A in a couple of weeks.
However, given the injuries and performance of the big-league offense, there comes a point where something different has to be done, even if it goes against the general organizational philosophy. It is a tough balance between the immediate short-term need and the long-term vision. Is it worth risking stunting a prospect’s growth to try to add a spark to a struggling major league team? I see both sides of that argument.
The Mets currently have the worst record in baseball, and it falls largely on the backs of the offense that is both injured and underperforming. The three most notable injured players (Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr.) don’t have a known return to play timeline.
If Clifford can continue to build off his hot start to the month of May and the Mets season doesn’t start turning for the positive, I can see the conversation heating up as the calendar flips to June.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 09: Logan Stankoven #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with Taylor Hall #71 and Sean Walker #26 after scoring a goal on Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 09, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes are either the best team in hockey, or the biggest frauds in the Stanley Cup Playoffs — it all depends on who you ask. The Canes made history on Saturday night in Philadelphia with their eighth straight playoff win, and their second sweep in a row. It made them the first team in NHL history to sweep their first two series since the 1987 best-of-seven format began, the first team to start 8-0 in the playoffs since 1985, and only the fifth team in NHL history to start the playoffs 8-0.
Yet nobody can settle on whether this team is really a Stanley Cup favorite yet.
A lot of factors go into the acrimony when discussing Carolina. There’s long-standing bitterness over southern hockey being a thing, especially following back-to-back years of the Florida Panthers hoisting the cup. There’s the fact that the team plays hockey in a manner that runs counter to everything we know about success in the modern NHL. Also, there’s simply a reality that the Canes have had a pretty easy path through the postseason thus far, facing two teams that were bad strategic mismatches for them.
What that doesn’t mean, however, is that either the Ottawa Senators or Philadelphia Flyers are “bad teams.” Finishing with 99 and 98 points on the season, respectively, the Sens and Flyers were better than the entire Western Conference Pacific Division, better than the Utah Mammoth who the Golden Knights beat in the first round, and just one win worse than the Bruins, who the Sabres bested in the opening round. Yet, it’s become cool to hate on the Hurricanes’ opponents thus far as a means to discredit Carolina as being a legitimate team — foisting them with criticism no other team in the field is left with.
It’s absolutely fair to say that both Ottawa and Philadelphia were thrown into a mismatch blender. Both teams thrived during the regular season when playing on clean ice, with open passing lanes and room to set up plays. This is what the Hurricanes excel at stopping, running brutal forechecks with gutsy defensive rotations that flip the formation to send defensemen up ice to hassle opposing defenseman on the puck, allowing the forwards to stay home.
One of the hallmarks of Carolina hockey is to forget the model of play that wins in the NHL, and instead change the game into Hurricanes hockey. They thrive in limiting the effectiveness of star players, making the game be about depth rather than top-line strength, then take over when their third and fourth lines are stronger than their opponents. There’s no coincidence that hockey fans were wondering why Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle disappeared in the Sens series, or why Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny couldn’t make inroads in round two. This was the Canes’ doing, and it worked.
“Their D… they have the best sticks I’ve ever seen. It was crazy. Some of the plays you’d just be like ‘I can get this through,’ like Slav [Jaccob Slavin] has probably the best stick in the league. I had two Grade-A’s [scoring chances] and they hit his stick and up in the netting. I was like ‘how on earth is that not in the back of the net?’”
The length of the Carolina blueliners is causing massive problems for any team trying to play pretty, puck rotation hockey. Throughout the Flyers series we saw the Philly attack get decimated due to deflections from Slavin, K’Andre Miller, and Alexander Nikishin — with their pairings in Jalen Chatfield, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Sean Walker serving more as the more traditional net battlers. This layered defense has been impenetrable in the playoffs and has been offset with the Canes showing more fight and edge that they have previously.
So why is there so much doubt that this can carry over to the cup? There are three fair statements to make:
The Hurricanes haven’t faced an elite, 90+ point player yet in the playoffs
They’ve been so good defensively that it seems impossible to keep it up
Carolina’s best players really haven’t turned up yet
Forgive the pun, but you can see the storm brewing for Carolina that this incredible run could go south quickly (another pun, sorry). Getting the better of Stützle or Konecny is one thing, but when that caliber of player changes to Nathan McKinnon, Martin Nečas, Nick Suzuki, or Kirill Kaprizov — can this same approach still work? Is there a break point to this defensive dominance where Carolina can be overwhelmed by star players, and if that happens can the Canes recover?
That is the real worry right now, and it’s fair to question what is happening with the Carolina top line. The heroes of the playoffs thus far for the Canes has been the Hall/Stankoven/Blake line two, which has been phenomenal — but there has been pronounced quietness from Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and Seth Jarvis on the top line, outside of a few glimmers of magic. We know that historically the NHL playoffs have been won through star power, even by teams like the Panthers who were bruising, but still leaned on Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand to drag them through.
If the Canes can’t get that top-line performance firing then there’s a chance they can’t assert their will on the game, which has a domino effect on the rest of the lines, thereby putting more pressure on the defense to bail the team out.
The biggest questions about the Hurricanes won’t get answered for some time, with Saturday being the earliest their next series can begin. Whether the Sabres or Canadiens come out of the Atlantic, either team will be the best opposition Carolina has faced, with more star power and deeper lines. If the Canes are able to keep up this dominance in the Eastern Conference Finals then we can really talk about their chances to beat the Avs or Wild in the West.
So are the Canes really cup favorites or pretenders? They’re both, and neither, and bizarrely somewhere in the middle. Carolina is a unique Rod Brind’Amour team that approaches hockey in a way no one else does, which means we can’t use the typical yardsticks to measure their potential. It’s all a big guessing game, but that’s what make these playoffs so much fun.
Luka Doncic isn’t coming to the Los Angeles Lakers’ rescue. And at this rate, the Purple and Gold would need a lot more than their superstar to counter the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Oklahoma City can sweep Los Angeles in Game 4 of this Western Conference semifinal tonight, laying double-digits in La-La Land tonight.
Our Thunder vs. Lakers props dig into this do-or-die game (at least for L.A.), breaking down my best NBA picks and prop predictions for May 11.
Best Thunder vs Lakers props for Game 4
Player
Pick
Luke Kennard
Over 1.5 threes
-125
Isaiah Hartenstein
Over 8.5 points
-105
Lu Dort
Over 1.5 threes
-130
Game 4 Prop #1: Luke Kennard Over 1.5 threes
-125 at bet365
Luke Kennard was one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ few highlights in Game 3. The reserve guard was much more aggressive offensively, jacking up 10 shots and finishing with 18 points in the loss. Twelve of those tallies came from beyond the 3-point arc.
Kennard finished 4-for-6 from distance on Saturday. He’d been MIA since Austin Reaves returned to the L.A. rotation but was big to open the playoffs.
He started Round 1 making 8 of 11 triples in the first two games then cooled for a 3-for-10 slump from outside before going 2-for-3 from 3-point land in Game 3. In Game 4, the Lakers scaled back a struggling Marcus Smart and Kennard’s usage jumped to 14.5%.
The way I see it, Los Angeles needs Kennard to take and make shots from outside — either in a competitive game or a blowout, that could see the bench get extra run. Game 4 projections agree, with Kennard pegged for two triples with a positive game script for this prop.
Game 4 Prop #2: Isaiah Hartenstein Over 8.5 points
The Thunder’s twin 7-footers really stress the Lakers’ size restrictions. Center Isaiah Hartenstein is having an excellent series beating up on Los Angeles around the rim.
Hartenstein is getting his share of looks, especially with L.A. selling out to stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That past two games, he’s a collective 11-for-13 from the floor for totals of 10 and 12 points with his usage almost doubling to 13.2% from 7.3% in Game 1.
His 31 minutes in Game 3 tied his season high in floor time and his seven shots matched his postseason pinnacle. His scoring prop for tonight remains modest, however, at 8.5 O/U.
Game 4 projections are very bullish on the Oklahoma City’s big man, with most north of 9.5 points and a ceiling of 11.0 from Hartenstein.
Game 4 Prop #3: Lu Dort Over 1.5 threes
-130 at bet365
Thunder small forward Lu Dort logged only 20 minutes in Game 3 due to foul trouble yet made both of his looks from long range.
Dort attempted 11 total triples in the two games prior, making just three of those 3-pointers. He has, however, connected for two more treys in five of OKC’s first seven playoff games and is shooting 37% from deep in the postseason.
With Los Angeles throwing the kitchen sink at SGA and Oklahoma City owning the inside, Dort is getting clean looks the perimeter versus the Lakers.
All 13 of his 3-point attempts are graded as “open” or “wide open,” with no defender within at least four feet — including 10 3PAs with no Lakers within six feet of Dort.
Dort, who strangely shoots significantly better beyond the arc on the road (39.4% vs. 30.8% at home), is projected for two makes from distance in Game 4 with models either leaning toward the Over or calling for 2+ triples.
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It appears that Daniel and Henrik Sedin are set to receive promotions within the Vancouver Canucks front office. During an appearance on The Fan Hockey Show, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Hall of Famers will most likely be given bigger roles in the organization moving forward. The Sedins are currently part of the Player Development team, and are often at practice in either Abbotsford or Vancouver.
"It looks like the Sedins, I said this morning on the Pod that they've been asked, said Friedman. "It looks like that is going to happen. That they're going to take a bigger role. I can't say 100% certainty yet, but after we reported this morning, it sounds like they are preparing for that. I don't know how it is all going to work but I think what we are all trying to figure out here, who is going to be the head of the hockey operations. I think we are getting close to deciding. It looks like it is going to be either (Ryan) Johnson or (Evan) Gold. Also, will there be any other changes to their front office? I think we are going to get some clarity this week.
Friedman's report has been echoed by multiple insiders, including Irfaan Gaffar, who wrote on social media, "Elliotte is right. Daniel and Henrik Sedin were offered larger front office roles with the Vancouver Canucks and accepted over the weekend. The structure of what they are trying to do is starting to take shape."
Daniel and Henrik have been with the Canucks in an off-ice capacity since 2021. As mentioned, they often split their time between attending practices and games at both the AHL and NHL levels. Vancouver's front office will look very different in 2026-27, as Jim Rutherford has already announced his plans to shift to an advisory role after the 2026 NHL Draft.
Jun 20, 2018; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin are pictured with the King Clancy award during the 2018 NHL Awards at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
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JUPITER, FL - MARCH 19: Yeremy Cabrera #23 of the Washington Nationals bats during the game between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Jared Blais/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This was a long time coming, but the Nationals finally promoted outfielder Yeremy Cabrera to High-A after a red hot start to the season. The outfielder was repeating Low-A to start the season, and it was clear pretty early on that he was too good for the level. Cabrera posted a crazy 1.114 OPS in 30 games this season.
The Nationals are promoting outfielder Yeremy Cabrera to High-A Wilmington, per a source.
The 20-year-old was acquired in the MacKenzie Gore deal and had a staggering slash line in Single-A Fredericksburg. pic.twitter.com/00v1GqjvAV
Cabrera was seen by most to be the fifth piece in the MacKenzie Gore trade. He was a glove first outfielder with intriguing offensive traits. However, he has had a power explosion to start the season. After hitting 8 homers in 102 games last year, Cabrera has 7 in just 30 this season. Cabrera pummeled Low-A pitching, and got a much deserved promotion.
Now that he is in Wilmington, the real test begins for Cabrera. The thing I will be watching is his strikeout rate. He has some swing and miss in his game, even this season. Cabrera struck out nearly 25% of the time this season, but I think part of that was due to selling out for power. Last season, he only struck out 19% of the time.
Trading off some contact for impact is something that has worked for Cabrera to start the season. However, now that he is facing better pitching, Cabrera will need to keep that strikeout rate under control. Wilmington can be a tough place to hit, but guys like Devin Fitz-Gerald, Ronny Cruz and Ethan Petry are showing it is not impossible.
Yeremy Cabrera has been one of the best power/speed guys in all of minor league baseball this year. There are just over 30 players with at least 15 steals in the minors, and few of them have the type of pop that Cabrera does. When he really gets a hold of one, his swing looks a little bit like Juan Soto’s.
Yeremy Cabrera is slashing .307/.441/.634 with a 178 wRC+ and 16 SB to open the season.
Of the 32 players who have stolen 15+ bags in the minors, his 1.075 OPS is the 2nd-highest mark. His 7th HR of the season was a no-doubt left on left tank. pic.twitter.com/s3ESeMF8X9
— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) May 8, 2026
Obviously Cabrera is not Juan Soto. When Soto was at Cabrera’s age, he was winning World Series. I am excited to see how Cabrera fares in Wilmington. If he picks up where he left off with the Fred Nats, his prospect status could really take off. Cabrera has the speed and the glove, now he needs to show his bat is for real at a level that is more appropriate.
The Nats will actually have an interesting decision when it comes to Cabrera this offseason. Despite only being 20, Cabrera will be Rule 5 eligible this offseason. Cabrera was only signed for $10,000 dollars, so he moved slowly through the DSL and Rookie Ball. Now, he is a real prospect and it could create a dilemma for the Nats.
Cabrera is still pretty far from the big leagues, so he would be kind of like a wasted 40 man roster spot. However, it would be a big risk to not add him. Teams would love to pick up a talented player like Cabrera for free. I am not sure if they would be able to roster a guy that young and that raw for an entire season though.
If Cabrera stumbles a bit in High-A, it would probably be safe not to protect him. However, if he keeps hitting and is knocking on the door of Double-A, the Nats might have to protect him. This dilemma adds another layer of intrigue for Cabrera.
All of this context, as well as the fact Cabrera was dominating made it odd that he was not promoted. Now that promotion has finally happened. If Cabrera keeps hitting, he could start moving quite quickly. His secondary tools give him a high floor and his power potential gives him a high ceiling.
I mean the Nats HAVE to promote Yeremy Cabrera on the off day tomorrow right? They are just wasting this kids time keeping him in Low-A pic.twitter.com/xOjBJZLQLf
Cabrera got the promotion today, but he is not the only guy who the Nats should consider moving up. There have been a ton of prospects who are hitting the crap out of the ball right now. This gives Paul Toboni a fun problem. He has to decide which guys to promote and which to let marinate a little longer.
There was a post the other day which had promotion candidates at every level. Cabrera was their pick for Low-A, but the other three on the list are also deserving of promotions as well. Ethan Petry, Seaver King and Yohandy Morales have all been dominating at their respective levels.
I think Petry and King are pretty obvious promotion candidates. Petry is a polished SEC bat who is dominating in High-A with a .905 OPS. Given the level of competition he faced in college and his production in the minors, it feels like Petry is prepared for Double-A. This move would also open up more playing time for Cabrera, as Petry has been playing mostly in the outfield this season.
Seaver King has been one of the biggest stories on the farm right now. The former 10th overall pick had a brutal first season as a pro. However, he has bounced back in a huge way. King has a .987 OPS in 29 games this year at Harrisburg.
It is worth noting that King left the game on Friday and did not play the next two games. Hopefully that injury is not too serious, and he can start playing again soon. Assuming the injury is not serious, he is an easy promotion candidate. Triple-A Rochester has mostly been playing Trey Lipscomb at shortstop lately, so there is an easy path to playing time here. King also looks ready for the level.
I am really enjoying the fact that the Nats have so many players who deserve a promotion right now. That has not been the case in previous years. This just speaks to the improved depth across the organization. There are also lesser known guys like Jack Moroknek and TJ White who have also made strong pushes to be promoted.
While Yeremy Cabrera was the guy who got moved up the ladder today, he is just one of many players on the farm performing. There are so many exciting players in this system that is just suddenly bursting with talent. I cannot remember a time when the Nats farm system was this fun.
It's been over three months since Barry Trotz announced his intent to retire, with Trotz staying on as the Nashville Predators general manager until a replacement is found.
In that time, rumors have been swirling about multiple names, with it seemingly coming down to three candidates: Tom Fitzgerald, Brett Peterson and Bill Scott, with Fitzgerald leading the way.
Fitzgerald is the New Jersey Devils' recently ousted general manager. Peterson is Florida's assistant general manager, and Scott is Edmonton's assistant general manager.
While those three names have come to light in the last few weeks, there's been no movement or signaling from the Predators front office that they are ready to make a hire.
Since Trotz announced his retirement, New Jersey and Toronto have both fired and hired general managers in less time.
Fitzgerald was fired on April 7 and the Devils hired Sunny Mehta nine days later. The Maple Leafs fired Brad Treliving on March 30 and hired John Chayka on May 3, a little over a month after the search began.
So what is causing this selection committee to take so long?
Candidate Is Still In Playoffs
May 9, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) celebrates a goal with teammates against the Philadelphia Flyers in game four of the second round of the 2026 Stanely Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
While the three leading candidates we've heard of are no longer in the playoffs or did not qualify, a candidate the Predators could be eyeing may still be in the postseason.
Hurricanes assistant general manager Darren Yorke is a name that's popped up a few times that the Predators may be considering. He's served in that role for six years and has been the Chicago Wolves general manger for two seasons.
Nashville reportedly did an in-person visit with Yorke in early April, so there's interest. However, the Hurricanes show no sign of slowing down as they are 8-0 In the playoffs, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
If the Predators are waiting for Carolina's season to end before hiring Yorke, they could be waiting as late as June 21, the final possible day of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Anaheim Ducks assistant general manager Martin Madden was reportedly interviewed by the Canucks. Buffalo Sabres assistant general manager Marc Bergevin was an early name mentioned for the Nashville job and is expected to be considered for a handful of other teams.
Both Anaheim and Buffalo are still alive in the playoffs, adding on that not just Nashville, but other teams could be waiting before announcing a hire.
Predators Sticking To "Draft Day" Deadline
In February, Predators owner Bill Haslam said the team had a deadline of Draft Day in June but wasn't fully set on it, implying they could announce then.
Nashville could be sticking to that timeline a little bit closer than expected. Possibly wanting the new general manager until a replacement is found. to focus specifically on the draft and have their first action be selecting the 10th overall pick.
Trotz is still executing general manager duties following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, signing KHL free agent Vitali Pinchuk to a 1-year, $1.025 million contract at the end of April.
Nashville also has four players and two prospects playing in the IIHF World Championship, not that it requires any general manager involvement, but it may be something that Trotz wants to oversee before stepping away.
The deadline will allow the Predators to bring in a new general manager for the draft in one swoop, but the question is how prepared this general manager will be until a replacement is found. will be for a draft with little time to prepare.
Waiting On Canucks
Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Fin the mascot and the Vancouver Canucks celebrate their victory against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
A new conversation is revolving around the Vancouver Canucks general manager search, which is still ongoing.
Patrik Allvin was fired on April 17 and is one of the more appealing jobs in the NHL, given the larger Canadian market. The Predators had requested to speak with Vancouver's assistant general manager, Ryan Johnson, but didn't get the opportunity.
It's rumored that if the Canucks pass on promoting Johnson, the Predators may try to swoop in and hire him instead.
According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast on May 8, Boston Bruins assistant general manager Evan Gold is a leading candidate and, if hired, would pass over Johnson, who is a very similar candidate but already in the organization.
Johnson has been with the Canucks since 2013, joining as a development coach. He was promoted to the Canucks' AHL affiliate general manager until a replacement is found. In 2017 and became Vancouver's assistant general manager in 2024.
He has a successful track record in the AHL, winning the Calder Cup last season with the Abbotsford Canucks.
This could be a red herring, but Predators fans should keep an eye on whatever happens in Vancouver, as it could signal some movement of things to happen in Nashville.
There Is Disagreement On A Hire
This is unlikely, but still a possibility that a new general manager will be appointed until a replacement is found. The front office wouldn't disclose this if it were true.
From the outside, the rumors that Fitzgerald is a leading candidate sparked a lot of displeasure among fans.
With him having been recently fired, struggling to prove himself during his tenure as general manager until a replacement is found. , and having a connection to the Predators, fans did not take it well.
It's possible that the committee has no collective agreement on whether to hire Fitzgerald or another candidate. Trotz said in his final press conference as general manager until a replacement is found. that he believes he never made a wrong decision, as it was well-thought-out among those in the front office.
That same mentality could be carried into this situation. Nick Saban also brings a different perspective to the table that many NHL teams do not have, one focused on leadership and success.
His addition to the conversation could make these talks a little longer, with a new take and a look toward who Nashville is interviewing.
The committee will likely need to wholeheartedly agree on a candidate before making an offer, but it's not too far-fetched to say that disagreement over a hire could be why this general manager is not until a replacement is found. The search has been so elongated.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 16: Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians takes a photograph of Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians, Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox, and Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during All-Star Workout Day at Nationals Park Monday, July 16, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Man, do the Guardians need to figure things out with the Angels coming to town.
The Angels are 16-25, 16th in MLB with a 99 wRC+, 28th in baserunning runs above average at -2.6, 27th in defense at -14.7, 17th in starting pitcher ERA at 4.05 (3.88 FIP), and 28th in bullpen ERA at 5.38 (4.98 FIP).
The Guardians are 21-21, 19th in MLB with a 96 wRC+, 16th in baserunning runs above average at 0.1, 16th in defense at -6.4, eighth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.91 (4.15 FIP), and 16th in bullpen ERA at 3.98 (3.98 FIP).
The Angels have a bad record and look, on paper, like a pretty bad team. Let’s see if the Guardians can take advantage of that… this time, unlike with the Twins.
Matchups: Game One, Monday, 6:10PM: Opener of Brent Suter, LHP 4.05 ERA (4.23 FIP) followed by Alek Manoah, RHP (has thrown 1 inning so far this year) vs. Joey Cantillo, LHP 3.43 ERA (4.41 FIP). Game Two, Tuesday, 6:10PM: Walbert Urena, RHP 3.22 ERA (3.88 FIP) vs. Slade Cecconi, RHP 6.15 ERA (5.53 FIP). Game Three, Wednesday, 1:10PM: Reid Detmers, LHP 4.33 ERA (3.09 FIP) vs. Parker Messick, LHP 2.30 ERA (2.82 FIP).
The Angels’ starters Urena and Detemers are actually solid starters. The Guardians need to try to get them out of the game as soon as possible and capitalize on a weak Angels’ pen. It would really help if they can get Manoah out of the game in 2-3 innings tonight and try to tire out the Angels’ relievers for the remainder of the series.
The Angels are led on offense by Mike Trout 158 wRC+, Oswald Peraza 127 wRC+, Vaughn Grissom 119 wRC+, Jorge Soler 115 wRC+, Adam Frazier 105 wRC+ and Zach Neto 104 wRC+. STEPHEN VOGT – DON’T LET MIKE TROUT BE THE ONE WHO BEATS YOU IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. GO AFTER EVERY OTHER HITTER IN THIS LINEUP BUT TROUT.
The Guardians are led by Chase DeLauter 152 wRC+, David Fry 133 wRC+, Daniel Schneemann 132 wRC+, Austin Hedges 120 wRC+, Brayan Rocchio 115 wRC+, Jose Ramirez 110 wRC+, Travis Bazzana 106 wRC+ and Rhys Hoskins 101 wRC+. Let’s see if we can get Kyle Manzardo to crack 75 wRC+ by the end of this series, huh?
The NBA has completed a review of Victor Wembanyama's flagrant 2 penalty for an elbow to the neck of Naz Reid and subsequent ejection, and has decided not to proceed with further discipline — no suspension or fine is coming, something first reported by Shams Charania at ESPN and confirmed by NBC Sports.
Wembanyama was ejected in the second quarter of Game 2 after he battled with Reid for a rebound and, after securing the ball, threw an elbow that hit Reid in the neck. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson stuck up for his star after the game, including saying of a suspension, "There was zero intent … I think it would be ridiculous." He then went on to say that teams are intentionally very physical with Wembanyama to throw him off his game, and that the Frenchman is allowed to defend himself.
"At some point, he's going to have to protect himself. We've been asking (the officials) to do that now for a while... the lack of protection is really disappointing. At some level, it's starting to get actually disgusting."
Despite the feelings in Minnesota, a suspension was never likely — postseason suspensions are based on a points system counting flagrant fouls, and Wemby isn't close to that mark. This Flagrant 2 gives Wemby two points, but it takes four (another Flagrant 2 or two Fragrant 1 fouls) for him to get there. This is similar to why Nikola Jokic did not come close to a suspension after an altercation and ejection in the first round. (For clarification, flagrant foul points and technical foul points are counted separately, but both can lead to a suspension.) Also, Wembanyama does not have the lengthy history of incidents like this compared to someone such as Draymond Green (despite what Green thinks).
However, no fine for Wembanyama was more of a surprise to many around the league, but was there a reasonable fine the league could have levied that would have been a deterrent in the future? The prospect of a possible future suspension is the real deterrent.
Behind a strong finish from Anthony Edwards and some key late plays from Ayo Dosunmu, the Timberwolves came back on the Spurs to win Game 4, 114-109, to even the series 2-2. Game 5 is Tuesday night in San Antonio at 8 ET, you can watch it on NBC or stream it on Peacock.
The Yankees (26-15) and the Orioles (18-23) open a three-game series at Camden Yards beginning tonight.
New York enters after being swept by the Brewers in Milwaukee over the weekend. Despite the three straight losses and falling a game behind Tampa in the AL East, the Yankees remain the team to beat in the American League. Powered by Aaron Judge (MLB-best 16 HRs) and Cody Bellinger (.444 average in May), New York carries an AL-best run differential of +73 into the game tonight.
The Orioles, meanwhile, have the worst run differential in the American League (-41). They have lost three of their last four. They sit nine games behind Tampa in the AL East. Gunnar Henderson is hitting .211 and Pete Alonso just .214. Those numbers are at the foundation of their issues.
On the mound, the Yankees hand the ball tonight to Ryan Weathers, a left-hander who has quietly become a reliable rotation piece for New York. He brings a 3.03 ERA and strong strikeout numbers (45 in 38.2 innings) into the matchup. The southpaw has already handled Baltimore earlier this month in the Bronx. The Orioles counter with Brandon Young (3-1, 4.35 ERA), a right-hander who has shown flashes of potential, but who has been consistently inconsistent through four starts on the season.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Orioles
Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
Time: 6:35PM EST
Site: Camden Yards
City: Baltimore, MD
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, YES, MASN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Orioles
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-156), Baltimore Orioles (+129)
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+104), Orioles +1.5 (-126)
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Yankees vs. Orioles
Pitching matchup for May 11:
Yankees: Ryan Weathers Season Totals: 38.2 IP, 2-2, 3.03 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 45K, 10 BB
Orioles: Brandon Young Season Totals: 20.2 IP, 3-1, 4.35 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 14K, 8 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. Orioles
Pete Alonso was 1-12 (1 HR) against the A’s this past weekend
Leody Tavares is 6-27 (.222) in May
Cody Bellinger has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games (18-44)
Ben Rice is hitless in his last 13 ABs
Jose Caballero was 3-9 over the weekend against the Brewers
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Orioles
The Yankees are 12-9 on the road this season
The O’s are 10-11 at home this season
The Yankees are 23-18 on the Run Line this season
The Orioles are 18-23 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 26 times in Orioles’ games this season (26-15)
The OVER has cashed 18 times for the Yankees this season (18-21-2)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Orioles
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Yankees and the Orioles:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Run Line
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It’s May, and the Boston Red Sox have a Trevor Story problem. Sound familiar?
Story’s early-season struggles were a hot topic last year, when he hit just .138 (20-for-145) with 49 strikeouts over a 38-game span from April 22 to June 6. The brutal slump sparked debate over whether Boston should designate Story for assignment despite owing him more than $50 million.
But the Red Sox stayed patient with the veteran, and he rewarded them by becoming one of the league’s most productive shortstops from June 7 onward. Story posted an .827 OPS over the final four months of the season and finished with a team-high 25 homers and 96 RBI.
It’s been déjà vu through Story’s first 38 games of 2026. The 33-year-old is hitting .200 (31-for-155) with 55 strikeouts and a .520 OPS. He can’t hang his hat on his defense either, as he has the third-most errors among MLB shortstops (five) with -1 Outs Above Average.
Again, the Red Sox face a difficult decision about Story’s future with the club, but he believes he can turn it around as he did in 2025.
“I mean, I think if you know exactly what it was, you could kind of fix it right away,” Story said of his struggles, per The Boston Globe. “But that’s not baseball. And there’s a lot that goes into it, physically, mentally, and effort-wise. I know that was a big one for me last year, and I think it’s just a matter of time before I get it right.”
“It’s tough to go through in the moment, but I have confidence that I can do it because I’ve done it before,” he added. “Takes one game, takes one pitch. And I’m always optimistic about it. I’m not gonna sit here and pout about it. I’m not gonna sit here and feel sorry for myself.”
So, should Boston stay the course and bet on another Story bounce-back, or is it time to make a major move? Below, we’ll weigh all the options with Story and share our take on how the Red Sox should proceed:
Option 1: Designate for assignment
Just like last year, many have grown impatient with Story and are clamoring for him to be DFA’d. While it might seem like the easiest solution, it’s hard to imagine the organization eating the $50 million remaining on his contract, especially given how he snapped out of his 2025 funk.
If Story is DFA’d, and he goes on to post an .800-plus OPS the rest of the season with another club, it will give fans yet another reason to lambast the Red Sox front office. He may give Craig Breslow & Co. no choice if this slump extends well into the summer, but now is too soon to pull the trigger. Story has earned additional time to figure it out.
Option 2: Trade in a salary dump
With a hefty contract and poor early-season numbers, Story’s trade value is at its absolute lowest. If the Red Sox look to trade him, it would likely be in an attempt to dump a good chunk of the $50M remaining on his deal, meaning they won’t get much of anything in return.
Perhaps there’s a club desperate for infield help that’s willing to take a chance on a struggling, high-upside veteran. Still, Story’s price tag makes such a move unlikely.
Option 3: Bench
Benching Story would be understandable, as he’s been a liability at the plate and hasn’t provided much value defensively. Perhaps that’s the kind of reset he needs, and he could look to regain form while Andruw Monasterio takes over as the starting shortstop.
That said, it seems doubtful that the club will sit its veteran leader, especially since he’s far from the only Sox player with awful offensive numbers.
Option 4: Move to second base and/or drop in the lineup
Story’s status as a veteran leader on an expensive contract is the only reason he remains a middle-of-the-lineup, everyday shortstop. Ex-Red Sox manager Alex Cora moved him down in the order earlier in the season, but Chad Tracy has put him in the fourth or fifth spot since taking over as interim skipper.
While the offense as a whole has been a massive disappointment, continuing to plug Story into the middle of the lineup is not a winning strategy. Moving him back down in the order while potentially switching him to second base, where there would be less pressure on him defensively, could help him get back on track.
Option 5: Stand pat and hope for the best
Story and the Red Sox seem convinced that another bounce-back is right around the corner. We wouldn’t be surprised if Option 5 is the organization’s pick, but if so, they’re playing with fire.
As of Monday, Boston owns the third-worst record in the American League at 17-23. The good news? The club is remarkably only 2.0 games back of a Wild Card spot, but it has to start stringing some wins together to stay in the mix. Sticking with this version of Story without making adjustments only hurts the Red Sox’ chances of doing just that.
Our pick: Option 4
DFA’ing Story would be a drastic move at this stage, though it’s fair to revisit the conversation if his struggles extend into mid-summer.
Heading into the upcoming series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Red Sox should move Story down in the lineup and consider a position switch. The latter seems less likely, as the organization has shied away from playing Marcelo Mayer at shortstop, but it has to be considered. If Mayer isn’t moved to short, Monasterio could take that spot while Story and Mayer platoon at second.
If those adjustments still don’t solve the issue, Option 3 comes into play. Options 1 and 2 will be on the table if Story can’t turn things around in June.
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 04: Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) gets high fives from teammates after scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning during the MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros on May 4, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Mariners took another two steps backwards over the weekend after such a promising start to their week last week. The 12-run outburst on Friday was very good to see but to follow that up by scoring two runs total over the final two games in Chicago was a huge let down. It feels like I write this same bit every week, but the uninspired play across the entire American League means Seattle isn’t really in too much trouble despite its struggles. The M’s are still the favorite to win the division and currently have the third highest playoff odds in the AL. The last time the Mariners faced the Astros, the vibes were in the toilet following a three-game sweep at the hands of the Rangers. Seattle responded by sweeping Houston in four games. The team is in need of some of that schadenfreude this week.
Nothing has gone right for the Astros this year. They’ve been decimated by injuries and have limped along at the bottom of the AL West standings for nearly the entire season. Carlos Correa was the latest star to succumb to a significant injury; he injured his ankle last week and will be out for the season. He joins 14 other players on the IL, the most of any team in the majors. While the lineup hasn’t really been affected by all these absences yet, the pitching staff has been one of the worst in baseball. Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Josh Hader are all working through significant injuries and six other pitchers have been sidelined with minor maladies.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
Jose Altuve
2B
R
163
19.0%
10.4%
0.132
99
Yordan Alvarez
DH
L
180
14.4%
13.3%
0.325
188
Isaac Paredes
3B
R
148
16.2%
9.5%
0.124
111
Christian Walker
1B
R
167
18.0%
9.0%
0.242
143
Cam Smith
RF
R
158
27.8%
10.1%
0.131
83
Zach Cole (MiLB)
LF
L
37
27.0%
18.9%
0.310
138
Brice Matthews
CF
R
95
33.7%
8.4%
0.212
93
Braden Shewmake
SS
L
21
14.3%
0.0%
0.450
218
Christian Vázquez
C
R
74
18.9%
8.1%
0.194
130
The lone bright spot for the Astros has been their offense. They’ve scored the second most runs in the AL and it doesn’t seem like a fluke. Yordan Alvarez has been one of the best hitters in baseball so far, running a career-high 188 wRC+. Christian Walker has also bounced back after a rough first season in Houston last year; he’s blasted nine home runs this year and is sporting a 143 wRC+. Even though the injury bug has hit the lineup hard, Houston has found enough depth to cover for its absences. Isaac Paredes has looked solid covering third base while Correa was covering shortstop for the injured Jeremy Peña and Brice Matthews and Zach Cole have been solid in the outfield while Jake Meyers and Joey Loperfido have been sidelined.
After struggling to make much of an impact with the Rockies to start his career, Peter Lambert signed a one-year deal with the Yakult Swallows of NPB last year. He didn’t exactly excel, but he showed enough promise outside the oppressive environment in Colorado to earn a minor league deal with the Astros this offseason. He’s been pressed into service thanks to all the injuries Houston has dealt with and he’s looked pretty solid across four starts this year. He developed a straight cutter in Japan and that pitch has been a solid addition to his repertoire. He’s also got an excellent changeup to round out his deep arsenal.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Tatsuya Imai (2025-NPB)
163.2
27.8%
7.0%
4.6%
48.3%
1.92
2.01
Bryan Woo
47
20.3%
4.3%
8.2%
30.9%
4.02
3.81
From a previous series preview:
The Astros emerged as the surprising suitors for Tatsuya Imai this offseason, signing him to a three-year deal well below what many were expecting. Perhaps his contract fell short because it’s really hard to figure out his arsenal. There were plenty of questions about how his fastball would play against MLB batters and pitch models had a terrible time trying to figure out his slider. That breaking ball is unique to say the least. The pitch has the least amount of horizontal movement of any slider thrown in the majors, and depending on how he locates it, it can look like a screwball at times. The heater has looked really good too, benefitting from a low arm slot and a lot of cutting action. Imai will also pepper in a splitter, changeup, and curveball to round out his pitch mix, but the fastball and slider are the two primary weapons.
Imai couldn’t work out of the first inning in his last start against the Mariners, walking four and allowing a single hit in just 0.1 innings of work. He was placed on the IL with general fatigue after that start in Seattle and will be activated from that list to make a start on Tuesday.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Lance McCullers Jr.
34
25.0%
13.5%
16.1%
42.7%
7.41
4.81
Bryce Miller (2025)
90.1
18.9%
8.7%
15.5%
37.9%
5.68
5.17
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
3.3%
6.5%
91.9
Sinker
57.1%
13.5%
91.4
91
100
177
0.349
Cutter
13.7%
40.6%
89.1
94
87
106
0.368
Changeup
16.5%
14.5%
85.5
83
Curveball
9.3%
24.9%
81.6
106
151
66
0.323
Sweeper
35.7%
10.5%
82.3
117
92
76
0.310
From a previous series preview:
Lance McCullers Jr. finally got back on the big league mound last season after missing more than two years following elbow surgery back in 2023. It wasn’t an easy return to his previous form. He struggled with his command throughout the season and his velocity was down two ticks across the board from where he was sitting way back in ‘22. His pitch mix looked a lot different too, with his sweeper taking the place of his trademark curveball as his preferred breaking ball. Command is usually the last skill to return after major elbow surgery and he’s now three years removed from that procedure. I’m not sure we’ll ever see peak McCullers again, but he’s got the deep repertoire and experience to be a solid starter as long as his health holds up.
The Mariners scored six runs off McCullers in that series in Seattle; he pitched 4.1 innings allowing five hits and two walks.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Mike Burrows
44.2
21.6%
7.2%
14.3%
37.8%
5.04
4.65
Luis Castillo
38.1
20.8%
7.3%
12.0%
34.1%
6.57
4.56
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
21.6%
33.9%
95.0
100
51
88
0.403
Sinker
24.3%
5.4%
94.6
97
78
94
0.380
Changeup
16.4%
34.2%
87.1
86
118
140
0.250
Curveball
16.4%
14.0%
79.7
97
119
66
0.271
Slider
21.3%
12.5%
89.8
95
88
80
0.250
From a previous series preview:
The Astros acquired Mike Burrows in a three-team trade involving the Rays and Pirates this offseason. He was surprisingly solid for Pittsburgh in his first full season in the big leagues, even as he was overshadowed by some of the bigger name pitching prospects that were coming up through their system. Those same prospects gave the Pirates a surplus to deal from and Burrows ended up in Houston. He throws relatively hard and has a plus changeup to keep batters from sitting on his heater. That offspeed pitch is his go-to swing and miss pitch too, though he has a pair of above average breaking balls as well. Because the Pirates treat their pitching prospects so carefully, most of Burrows’s work came in four- or five-inning stints. He’ll need to prove he can work through an opposing lineup a third time to really take a step forward in his development.
Burrows is coming off his best start of the season, a scoreless seven-inning gem against the Reds. In his previous start against the Mariners, he allowed six runs on 11 hits and a walk in six innings of work.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Athletics
21-19
0.525
-6
L-W-W-W-L
Rangers
19-21
0.475
2.0
-3
W-L-L-W-W
Mariners
19-22
0.463
2.5
+2
L-W-W-L-L
Angels
16-25
0.390
5.5
-24
W-W-L-L-W
Astros
16-25
0.390
5.5
-34
W-L-W-L-L
The Athletics maintained their grip on the top of the AL West standings, winning their weekend series against the Orioles. They return home this week to take on the Cardinals. The Rangers managed to quiet the red hot Cubs over the weekend, holding them scoreless across both games on Saturday and Sunday. Texas hosts the Diamondbacks to start this week.
The San Jose Sharks need to sign prospect Carson Wetsch to an entry-level contract this month, or the 20-year-old winger will be eligible to re-enter the NHL Draft in June.
The Sharks drafted Wetsch, who was then playing for the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League, in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft. In his draft year, he scored 25 goals and 50 points in 67 games for the Hitmen. The following season, his goal-scoring ability took a step forward, as he scored 33 goals, but his overall point total barely rose, as he finished the 2024-25 season with 53 points.
In May of 2025, Wetsch was dealt to the Kelowna Rockets and was named their captain for the 2025-26 season. Overall, his offensive production hit new heights in Kelowna, but his goal scoring took a hit. He finished the season with 72 points in 65 games, but only scored 22 goals, the lowest total since he was drafted by the Sharks.
As a 2024 draftee who is still playing in Major Junior, Wetsch meets the criteria to re-enter the draft this summer unless he either signs an entry-level contract with the Sharks, or commits to an NCAA team.
"He’s a high-motor, high-effort, connective, physical player," Elite Prospects scout Daniel Gee wrote in February. "A lot of Wetsch’s best work comes below the goal line, chopping, crashing, and jousting for inside positions for second-chance offence."
"More forecheck and inside-driven than most WHL forwards, he plays a smart, low-risk game that doesn’t always generate highlight-reel moments but tends to produce results," Dobber Prospects' Ryan Downey added. "The 75 penalty minutes add some banger value on top of the offensive production."
If he reaches his potential, Wetsch projects as a bottom-six forward in the NHL, but it will likely take some time for him to get there. He'd be a beneficial addition to the San Jose Barracuda in the near future, at the very least.
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - MARCH 18: Caden Bodine (18) of the Tampa Bay Rays runs after a hit during a minor league spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles on March 18, 2026 at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This was the 5th week of full minor league play (stats are entering play on Monday, May 11th).
According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), 19-year old Caden Bodine has regained his spot as the top hitter spot in the Rays system. The backstop is proving to be too advanced for Single-A as he was hitting .411 entering play on Sunday. After a zero hit performance though, he has dropped to .397/.442/.629 with 4 HR, registering a 184 wRC+ over 131 plate appearances..
Meanwhile, Aidan Cremarosa is still the team’s top minor league pitcher and among the top performers in all of minor league baseball. The 22-year old was taken by the Rays in the 8th round of the 2025 draft out of Fresno State. Thus far over six starts in Single-A, Cremarosa has a 2.38 ERA | 2.01 FIP with a 38.3 K% & 3.9 BB% over 34 IP. Most recently, Cremarosa completed a complete game no-hitter, a rarity in Rays organizational history.
RUMBLINGS
RHP TJ Nichols began a rehab assignment with the FCL Rays
INF Andreimi Antunez, a 2024 international signing, had quite the day on Friday. He was 4-6 on the day and homered twice in the first inning, including a grand slam. Overall he had the 2 homeruns, 2 doubles, and 10 RBI.
Baseball America has also updated their top 100 prospect rankings, the Rays have players make the cut (this is a huge shake up, so I will not be updating the top 10 prospects futher below until Baseball America fully updates their rankings).
36. Theo Gillen
55. Brody Hopkins
91. Nathan Flewelling
95. Caden Bodine
97. Cooper Flemming
TEAM LEADERS
Must currently be assigned to that team
Baseball America’s top ten prospects are featured below each team they’re currently assigned to.
(minimum of 60 TBF & PA)
Tampa Bay Rays
Top 10 Prospects
None currently on active roster
Durham Bulls
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .323, Victor Mesa Jr (hasn’t played since 4/15) OBP: .417, Victor Mesa Jr (hasn’t played since 4/15) SLG: .565, Victor Mesa Jr (hasn’t played since 4/15) HR: 5,Blake Sabol & Dom Keegan wRC+: 153, Victor Mesa Jr (hasn’t played since 4/15) SB: 17, Jacob Melton (Placed on the IL on 4/23)
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.62, Kodi Whitley FIP: 3.01, Kodi Whitley & Trevor Martin K%: 40.0%, Joe Rock BB%: 6.3%, Kodi Whitley WHIP: 0.90, Kodi Whitley AVG: .135, Evan Reifert WHIFF%: 15.9%, Joe Rock
4/23: Suffered sprained ankle. Expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
Montgomery Biscuits
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .341, Cooper Kinney (promoted to AAA on 5/5) OBP: .440, Xavier Isaac SLG: .605, Xavier Isaac HR: 8, Xavier Isaac wRC+: 170, Xavier Isaac SB: 21, Austin Overn
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.71, Michael Forret FIP: 2.60, Alexander Alberto K%: 33.3%, Alexander Alberto BB%: 4.4%, Hayden Snelsire WHIP 0.76, Hayden Snelsire AVG: .157, Michael Forret WHIFF%: 16.1%, Hayden Snelsire
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .309, Nathan Flewelling OBP: .471, Tony Santa Maria SLG: .610, Theo Gillen HR: 8, Connor Hujsak wRC+: 156, Theo Gillen SB: 15, Tony Santa Maria
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.72, Jacob Kmatz FIP: 1.87, Jacob Kmatz K%: 41.0%, Jacob Kmatz BB%: 4.9%, Jacob Kmatz WHIP: 0.83, Jacob Kmatz AVG: .172, Jacob Kmatz WHIFF%: 17.7%, Jacob Kmatz
Justin Foscue (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Are these two teams evenly matched?
Historically, yes. When these two teams met in the regular season, the Rangers won 32 games and the Diamondbacks won 31 games. Against all teams, they were nearly equal in runs scored per game (4.5 vs 4.6) and runs allowed per game (4.7 vs 4.6).
Last Season, perhaps not. When these teams met in the regular season, the Diamondbacks won more games (4 vs 2). Against all teams, the Diamondbacks had more runs scored per game (4.9 vs 4.2), while allowing more runs allowed (4.8 vs 3.7).
This Season, probably not. As of 7 May, four websites projected more wins for the Rangers. The Ranger projections range between 81.0 and 86.4 wins. The Diamondbacks projections are tightly bunched (79.4 to 80.3 wins).
In May, both teams are on a cold streak. In May, in games through 8 May, the Rangers lost 5 games out of 7, while the Diamondbacks lost 6 games out of 7. Whichever team loses the three game series may need their players to do a mental reset.
Which Ranger player will be at second base?
Each player is barely 27 years old, although this season is Duran’s fifth in the Majors. Ezequiel Duran has recently been on a hot streak (OPS of .976 in the 14 days through 6 May). However, on 7 May, the recently called up Justin Foscue played second base and Duran played left field.
Pitching Matchups.
Monday, 5:05 PM MST.
Michael Soroka. In his latest start, pitching against the Pirates, with some help by excellent Diamondbacks defenders he allowed only 1 earned run in 6.1 innings pitched. The only Diamondbacks starter with a better ERA is Eduardo Rodriguez.
Nathan Eovaldi. In his latest start, pitching against the Yankees, he allowed only 1 earned run in 8 innings pitched. Of the five Rangers starters, only Jacob deGrom has a better ERA.
This matchup of starting pitchers is even.
Tuesday, 5:05 PM MST.
Zac Gallen.On 25 April, a comeback hit his shoulder. Before that incident, this season he started 6 games with an ERA of 3.14. After that day, he started two games. He allowed a total of 10 earned runs in 9.2 innings pitched. How long until he returns to his earlier pitching prowess?
MacKenzie Gore. In his latest start, pitching against the Yankees, he allowed 5 earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched.
This matchup of starting pitchers is even, but with some unpredictability.
Wednesday, 5:05 PM MST.
Ryne Nelson. He has pitched well this season except for 2 games in April. In May, he allowed 2 earned runs in 12.1 innings pitched.
Kumar Rocker. Although he pitched well in April, in May he allowed 8 earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched.
This matchup of starting pitchers is advantage Diamondbacks.
Luke Kennard
Isaiah Hartenstein
