SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 24: Jacob Lopez #57 of the Athletics prepares to pitch against the San Diego Padres during the sixth inning at Petco Park on May 24, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This afternoon, the Athletics and New York Yankees will match-up in the rubber-game of their three-game series at West Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park.
In the wake of dropping the series-opener 8-2, the A’s rebounded last night, evening up the series with a 6-4 victory. Home runs from left fielder Tyler Soderstrom, catcher Shea Langeliers and first baseman Nick Kurtz gave the hosts a 6-1 lead. It looked like the A’s would coast to the finish line, but the Yankees rallied for three runs in the ninth as A’s relievers Jack Perkins and Scott Barlow combined to walk five batters. Barlow replaced Perkins with the bases loaded and two outs. He proceeded to walk three straight batters before finally getting the final out. According to Associated Press writer Josh Dubow, Barlow became the first pitcher to get a save after walking three out of four batters faced in an outing.
Seeking the series win, left-hander Jacob Lopez will start for the A’s. The 28-year-old enters his 12th appearance and 10th start of the season with a 4-2 record, a 5.73 ERA, and 35 strikeouts in 48.2 innings pitched. Lopez will pitch from the outset today, a contrast to his last appearance when he followed opener Luis Medina. In that outing, he earned the win after holding the San Diego Padres to one run on six hits over 4 2/3 innings.
Lopez has struggled with his command at times this season, as reflected in his 1.77 WHIP. However, he walked just one batter against San Diego, a positive step that must continue this afternoon, especially after A’s pitchers recorded more walks than strikeouts last night. If Lopez’s command wavers and leads to free passes or mistake pitches that are driven for extra-base hits, the Athletics could find themselves in serious trouble and facing a third consecutive series loss.
Left-handed-hitting outfielders Carlos Cortes and Lawrence Butler replace right-handed hitters Henry Bolte and Colby Thomas in the A’s starting nine. Additionally, backup catcher Jonah Heim will start behind the plate in the series-finale while Langeliers gets the day off.
With Soderstrom showing signs of heating up, the Athletics will need slumping hitters Butler, designated hitter Brent Rooker and second baseman Jeff McNeil to provide more offensive production as the calendar turns to June.
The A’s offense will face Yankees’ right-hander Will Warren, who has emerged as one of New York’s most reliable starters this season. The 26-year-old enters his 12th start with a 6-1 record, a 3.55 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and 65 strikeouts across 58.1 innings. Warren received a no-decision when he faced the A’s at Yankee stadium in April, limiting the team to two runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings. The A’s offense will look to make a bigger impact against the talented right-hander as the team vies for its second straight win.
The Yankees meanwhile have this lineup set for today:
New York’s lineup becomes considerably less imposing after its fearsome foursome. Further down the order, former A’s infielder Max Schuemann gets the start at second base in place of Jazz Chisholm Jr., who made the final out in yesterday’s game.
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 31: Samuel Basallo #29 of the Baltimore Orioles congratulates Colton Cowser #17 after Cowser hit a three-run home run in the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 31, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Colton Cowser spearheaded a dominant Orioles start, and Kyle Bradish shut down the Blue Jays lineup, as the O’s beat the Blue Jays 9-5 to earn a series split.
After using small ball and a patient approach for their dramatic comeback Saturday, the O’s went back to small ball to take an early lead Sunday. In his first AB since his walk-off winner, Pete Alonso kicked off the 2nd with a sharp single up the middle. Samuel Basallo then worked a seven-pitch walk to move Alonso into scoring position for Leody Taveras. The Oriole’s CF laid down a perfect sac bunt right out in between the pitcher and catcher, allowing both Alonso and Basallo to move up. Colton Cowser then got the O’s on the board, hitting a ground ball just slow enough to second to bring home Alonso and give Baltimore a 1-0 lead.
Cowser, Alonso, and Basallo were then at the heart of another rally in the 3rd. Gunnar Henderson set the table with a one-out single up the middle and Adley Rutschman moved him over after a five-pitch walk. Alonso then continued to spray the ball to all fields, flipping a single into right-center to plate Henderson and grow the lead to 2-0. Basallo then continued his incredible hot streak, turning on an 0-2 slider inside and lining it into the right field corner for a double.
The big blow came from Cowser, who has turned into the Orioles’ most clutch hitter over the last eight days. With two outs and runners on second and third, the Oriole RF got a 1-1 sinker over the middle of the plate and blasted the ball into the center field bleachers. It was the third multi-run homer for Cowser in the last nine games, after his two walkoff homers earlier against Detroit and Tampa Bay.
After ending the 3rd inning rally with a long ball, Cowser began another rally in the 6th. The Milkman started the inning with a four-pitch walk. Blaze Alexander then picked up his first hit of the afternoon, singling on a line drive to center. Jackson Holliday then walked to load the bases, before Taylor Ward grounded into a fielder’s choice at second, driving home Cowser for a 7-0 lead.
Henderson then picked up his first RBI of the day, doubling to center on a first-pitch slider to bring home Alexander and grow the lead to 8-0. With Ward on third, Rutschman delivered the final run of the inning, launching a 2-2 fastball into deep center for a sac fly to make it 9-0.
The run support was more than enough for starter Kyle Bradish, who once again looked dominant in shutting down the Blue Jays lineup. Nathan Lukes led off the bottom of the 1st with a single to left, but that was one of only four hits Bradish would allow in seven innings Sunday. He’d strand Lukes by getting Vladimir Guerror Jr. to pop, getting Daulton Varsho to fly out on a lazy ball hit to left and punching out Kazuma Okamoto on a sharp slider.
Jesús Sánchez would record the Jays’ second hit off Bradish with a one-out single in the 2nd. That runner was immediately erased when Charles McAdoo bounced an up-and-in sinker to Jackson Holliday at second for a 4-6-3 double play.
The double play ball would start a stretch that saw Bradish set down five straight Blue Jays hitters, a streak that only came to an end on an Okamoto walk in the 4th. However, nothing came of that baserunner, as Bradish got Ernie Clement to fly out on a 0-1 curveball to end the inning. Bradish would repeat the feat in the 5th, walking Andrés Giménez with two outs before stranding him by getting Brandon Valenzuela to fly out.
Bradish would set down the Jays in order in the 6th, ending the inning on 72 pitches. With the score at 9-0, Craig Albernaz decided to send his starter out for another inning, which is when Toronto would finally blemish Bradish’s record. Clement started the rally with a one-out single before moving to second on Yohendrick Piñango single. McAdoo would then send a potential double-play ball to short, and while the O’s got the first out at second, Holliday’s throw sailed over Alonso and allowed Clement to score.
Bradish would limit any further damage, striking out Valenzuela to end the frame and finish his afternoon. His final line closed at 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB and 4 K. It was only his second start this season where he completed seven innings, and his fourth straight start allowing two or fewer earned runs.
Tyler Wells would take over in the 8th inning and make the game feel closer than it really was. Lukes led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a two-out walk by Okamoto. Wells then left a fastball up to Clement, who slashed a double to left to score Lukes and cut the Baltimore lead to 9-2. The righty’s cutter then caught too much of the plate against Piñango, who blasted a three-run homer onto the flag court to cut the O’s lead in half.
Rico Garcia then took over in the 9th and shut down the top of the Jays’ order to seal the win. Valenzuela started the inning with a one-pitch groundout to first. He then got Lukes to pop out to third on two pitches before getting Vladdy to pop out to Alonso to end it. The six-pitch shutdown inning was Garcia’s 21st appearance this season without allowing a hit and 15th without allowing a base runner.
The win moves the Orioles to 28-32, a game back of Toronto for the final Wild Card spot in the American League. The O’s continue their stretch against AL East opponents Tuesday when they travel to Boston to face the Red Sox.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 31: Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds hits a single in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park on May 31, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Elly De La Cruz was having a stellar Sunday in the series finale against the Atlanta Braves in the series finale in Great American Ball Park, opening the day with a single, walk, stolen base, and a pair of runs scored. Things sure seemed like they were about to get even better when he led off the Bottom of the 5th with what looked like a stand-up double to the wall in right-center off Atlanta starter Spencer Strider.
Problem is, Elly never made it past 1B.
As the Cincinnati Reds star went to round 1B and head to 2B, he clearly pulled up lame – seemingly favoring his right leg as he limped back to the bag. Trainers were immediately summoned, and Elly exited the game in short order.
Uh-Oh… Elly De La Cruz is coming out of the game after pulling up just before he hit the bag at first on that hit. pic.twitter.com/hpjLSyl8Bz
It’s a brutal blow to this lineup even if he’s going to miss just a few days. If it’s longer than that – god forbid – the Reds are going to find themselves without one of the most dynamic players in the sport today.
The Reds later confirmed it was a hamstring issue that sent Elly to the shelf.
#Reds SS Elly De La Cruz left today's game with right hamstring tightness.
Matt McLain, who’s been benched often over the last few weeks as he struggles mightily offensively, was brought in off the bench to take over post-injury, but it’s hard not to wonder if Edwin Arroyo – who has been lighting up AAA all year and jumped right back up Top 50 prospect lists all over the place – might be where the Reds turn if Elly indeed is going to miss any real time.
May 13, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter (24) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images | Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
The Phillies will wrap up their western road trip with a Sunday afternoon game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After falling on Friday night, the Phillies took the second game of the series thanks to Edmundo Sosa’s home run.
Andrew Painter gets the start for the Phillies. The rookie righthander has pitched better of late and this will be his first time facing the defending champs.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jesus Sanchez had to leave Sunday's game against the Baltimore Orioles after getting hit by a baseball thrown from the stands in the middle of the sixth inning.
Sanchez originally stayed in the game for two batters in the bottom of the inning before he was replaced by Yohendrick Piñango.
"Jesús Sánchez was removed from today’s game with a right wrist contusion," The Blue Jays said in a statement. "He underwent precautionary X-rays that were negative for a fracture."
According to Baltimore Sun beat writer Jacob Calvin Meyer, a young fan apparently thought Sanchez was waving his glove like he wanted to play catch − as players occasionally do with fans between innings. However, Meyer reports the kid threw the ball late, after Sanchez had turned his back.
Sánchez left game after this fan interaction, ball appears to hit him in arm/wrist.
The Edmonton Oilers’ coaching search is heating up, and with the Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl window a major factor in who is ultimately hired, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
After parting ways with Kris Knoblauch following another early playoff exit and an interview request that blew up in their face, Edmonton is aggressively pursuing a proven, battle-tested bench boss who can finally push this star-studded roster over the top.
Bruce Cassidy is the known frontrunner, but new names like Jared Bednar have suddenly surged into the conversation, while veterans such as Peter Laviolette, Craig Berube, and Patrick Roy might all be receiving serious consideration. The Oilers are expected to ramp up their efforts in the coming weeks, hoping to land a respected coach who can command attention and install structure while extracting maximum performance from a talented but underachieving group.
Let's take a look at the list of names being linked to the Oilers' search.
1. Bruce Cassidy (Clear Frontrunner)
By now, everyone knows that Bruce Cassidy is on Edmonton's radar. Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon confirmed it and said the Oilers leaked the denial of the request to speak to their former coach. Cassidy has also confirmed it, saying people have now heard that two teams requested access to him.
The Oilers have aggressively pursued him, and many insiders view him as the top choice due to his pedigree as a coach, the fact that he's won a Stanley Cup, and the fact that he takes a no-nonsense approach.
Pros: While his style has a shelf life, he gets the most out of high-skill rosters, and he's a proven winner. Vegas obviously still thinks he's a top coach because they're willing to pay him millions not to join a division rival. Cassidy would bring immediate credibility.
Cons: Vegas is still blocking permission, and it's possible the Oilers are never granted an interview this summer. If that's the case, they'll have no choice but to move on if they're not prepared to hire an interim coach until Cassidy's contract expires. They likely aren't prepared to do that, given how critical every year is in their current window.
Bednar's name exploded into the conversation after Colorado’s disappointing playoff exit. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Oilers (along with Toronto and LA) are “very curious” about his situation. As a Saskatchewan native, the Alberta connection adds appeal.
If the Avalanche move on from Bednar, many will see it as an overreaction. He remains one of the NHL's best coaches and he'll be out of work only as long as he wants to be.
Pros: Stanley Cup winner (2022 with Avs); excellent at developing young talent while also managing elite stars. He can manage a fast, modern system that would fit McDavid/Draisaitl perfectly. He's well respected, and the Oilers' stars wouldn't question his style and instruction.
Cons: He's not been fired. Even if he is, Bednar is still under contract in Colorado for one more year and they would have to grant permission to speak with other teams. His availability is all speculative.
3. Peter Laviolette
According to Jason Gregor of Sports 1440, the Oilers have already reached out to Laviolette (or intend to). He’s a veteran coach available after sitting out 2025-26 season and known for quick turnarounds with star-heavy teams.
Of the big names in coaching, he's on the Plan A list, or at worst, he's a solid Plan B.
Pros: Stanley Cup experience; aggressive, offensive-minded style that suits Edmonton’s roster. He's unafraid of big personalities and the pressure of coaching in Edmonton won't bother him.
Cons: He hasn’t coached recently, and for as much success as he's had (took the Rangers to Round 3 in 2023-24), he's also coached teams that didn't perform well. With the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, and Nashville Predators, his teams either didn't make the playoffs or were eliminated quickly.
4. Craig Berube
The Oilers have interviewed the recently fired Toronto coach. That took place almost immediately after the Bruce Cassidy drama became public. Berube is said to be extremely interested in the job, but it's unclear if the Oilers see him as one of their top candidates.
Pros: Berube is a tough, gritty personality who has won before. He led the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup and he likes his team to play a physical game with a focus on two-way hockey.
Cons: His underlying numbers in Toronto were abysmal and his style reportedly clashed with the pure skill players on the Maple Leafs. That might be a problem in Edmonton is personalities clash.
5. Patrick Roy
This one feels more like a long shot, but local media have floated Roy as a high-upside “shake-up” candidate. He proved he can win and he's got a reptuation as a players coach.
Pros: Roy is a Hall of Famer with an intense, competitive personality. He's the polar opposite of what Knoblauch brought to the Oilers. He brings energy and passion, which might be what this Oilers team needs.
Cons: Fire is good, but too much is problematic. His polarizing personality and shorter NHL coaching track record make him somewhat of a risk behind the bench.
The Vegas coach is leading his team into the Stanley Cup Final, but he doesn't have a contract for next season. The fact Vegas is playing as well as they are, Tortorella has shown he's still got gas left in the tank as an NHL head coach. Elliotte Friedman noted that if Vegas doesn't re-sign him, someone will scoop him up.
Pros: In a short run, Tortorella may be able to get more out of the Oilers than any other coach. His modus operandi is to win immediately, even if he's not a great fit in most places long term.
Cons: Tortorella is not everyone's cup of tea. He's combative with media and he's unafraid to call out his players and ruin his relationships with them.
Bonus Mentions Getting Traction
Jay Woodcroft — Familiar internal option (former Oilers coach), low-risk comfort pick. His name has popped up of late, but it's unclear how seriously he's being considered by other teams. He's currently an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks.
Gerard Gallant / Dean Evason — Veteran “tough love” alternatives if the big names fall through.
Bruce Cassidy remains the dream hire if Vegas softens their stance and Jared Bednar has suddenly become a very realistic Plan B (or even A) depending on how quickly Colorado moves.
The Oilers want a proven Cup winner with playoff experience to maximize the McDavid/Draisaitl window.
In the Ottawa Senators' lucrative Erik Karlsson trade from 2018, Rudolfs Balcers is one of the names from that deal that's often overlooked. Balcers played parts of two seasons in Ottawa, playing in a total of 51 games, and putting up 17 points (six goals, 11 assists).
But in January of 2021, when the Sens tried to send him to Belleville, he was claimed off waivers by the Sharks. He knew the way to San Jose, the team that drafted him, but by that point, with Tim Stutzle and Josh Norris playing so well in Ottawa, it was already clear the Sharks had lost the Karlsson trade quite badly.
It was almost as if Sharks GM Doug Wilson was vainly trying to mitigate the damage.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss whether free agent Viktor Arvidsson would be good free agent target for the Senators.
Balcers' NHL days are now behind him. For the past three years, he's played for Zurich SC in Switzerland, but at the well-scouted 2026 World Hockey Championships, which wrap up on Sunday, it's possible the 29-year-old may find himself back on NHL radars.
Balcers finished the tournament with a Latvian record 7 goals in the tournament, and heading into the gold medal game, no one in the tournament had more. He's tied with Noah Steen, who was Norway's overtime hero in the bronze medal game against Canada.
Balcers was named captain of Latvia for the first time, replacing Kaspars Daugavins, another former Senator who held that role for a long time, including the 2026 Olympics in Milan.
OKLAHOMA CITY — With the financial hammer of the NBA's tax aprons swinging their direction, the Thunder have some hard decisions to make this summer.
Whatever moves Oklahoma City's front office makes, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does not plan on consulting with them.
"I will give zero input," Gilgeous-Alexander said after a crushing Game 7 loss. "I will let Sam Presti, the greatest GM ever, do his job."
With or without SGA's counsel, Presti has some tough calls to make. The Thunder need to get better — because the young Spurs are only going to get better — yet the Thunder's payroll is about to skyrocket as the max extensions for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams kick in. It's a fine line to walk.
Go after Antetokounmpo? Mobley?
That need to get better has led to speculation that the Thunder might look at a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. While there's a lot of random speculation online, even the well-connected and respected Sam Amick at The Athletic floated it as something for the Thunder to consider. The idea is that OKC needs someone to match up better with Victor Wembanyama, and the Thunder do have good young players and a stockpile of picks, including two in this year's first round (Nos. 12 and 17), which is what Milwaukee wants in an offer. Amick also noted league sources told him the Thunder aren't interested.
Don't expect this — it's completely out of character for OKC and a questionable (at best) basketball fit.
Bringing in Antetokounmpo means "let's take the ball out of the two-time MVP's hands" and bring in a guy famous for not working well off the ball, considerably older than the core (31) coming off an injury-riddled season and wanting a max extension, who also would dramatically alter one of the best locker room chemistries in the league. Does that seem wise?
What everyone seems to be missing: The Thunder are not way behind the Spurs. Game 7 did feel like a passing of the torch, but this was a tight series, and if the Thunder had one (or both) of Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell healthy, or they got the win in Game 1, this article might be about what the Spurs need to do in the offseason. Also, Isaiah Hartenstein did a good job on Wembanyama this series and it's not like Antetokounmpo or anyone else would have done dramatically better.
Amick at The Athletic also mentions that the Thunder front office has long liked the Cavaliers Evan Mobley, but at his end-of-season press conference, Cleveland president Koby Altman made it clear his team had no intention of trading the former Defensive Player of the Year.
Decisions Thunder face
With the Holmgren and Williams rookie extensions starting, plus Gilgeous-Alexander already making $40.8 million (and his supermax extension kicks in for the 2027-28 season), Oklahoma City is about to jump up to being the most expensive team in the NBA — a team $28.6 million into the second apron next season as currently constructed (based on Spotac).
They also have three players on team options where they could save money.
• Isaiah Hartenstein, a $28.5 million team option. With how valuable he proved in the playoffs and going up against Wembanyama, Oklahoma City will want to keep him around. The smart move may be to negotiate with him, not pick up the option but then sign him to an extension for less per year but more total money (three years, $70-$75 million?).
• Lu Dort, $17.7 million team option. This will sting for Thunder fans, but is it time to move on? Not just because he struggled against the Spurs, but also because with Alex Caruso already locked up on an extension, with Williams healthy next season and Cason Wallace returning, there wouldn't be much pain in trading him. Or, just let him walk.
• Kenrich Williams, $7.1 million team option. Another case where if the Thunder decide they want to bring him back is the move to waive him and negotiate a contract for closer to the minimum?
Those are rather straightforward, but Presti is incredibly creative — just ask Gilgeous-Alexander. Which means he will think of something, but the tax aprons are coming for the Thunder the next few years, and it's going to be difficult to keep this team together as is.
The New York Knicks are back in the NBA Finals, for the first time since 1999. It's a reminder that the Jets haven't played in the Super Bowl since 1999.
Jets receiver Garrett Wilson is nevertheless happy for the Knicks and the New York fans. And the situation makes him even more determined to deliver a similar experience for Jets fans.
"The city deserves it, right?" Wilson told reporters recently. "And then when you see the way they receive it, it's just like, 'Oh, yeah, I mean, we wish it could happen every year, man.' Seeing the people, the way they get behind their team.
"I know Jet fans are, you know, like frothing at the mouth to cheer like that, and we want to give it to them. I personally want to give it to them, you know, the most. . . . Yeah, man, it's cool to see, and I'm glad I'm up here for it. I'm rooting the Knicks on like hell. And yeah, man, you know, that gives us a taste of what it might look like when we figure this thing out, which, you know, we're excited for the opportunity."
So will Wilson be going to one of the games? He laughed before saying, "Them jawn's expensive. So, not yet. I'm gonna be watching."
For Game 3 on Monday, June 8, against the Spurs, the cheapest ticket to Madison Square Garden on a popular reselling site that we won't mention (because they don't pay us to do that) is $4,486. Which Garrett could easily afford, given his average salary of $32.5 million.
The best seats for Game 3 are currently more than $28,000 each. Which he could still easily afford.
But here's the reality. If they lose, he'll wish he hadn't spent the money. And, if they win, that $28,000 will be gone forever. Even at $32.5 million per year, it's smart to not spend foolishly.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 18: Starting pitcher Robbie Ray #38 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 18, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants are playing awful baseball, and have lost six straight. Now they’ll try to salvage a win against the Colorado Rockies in their series finale, before mercifully leaving the mountains … and taking on better teams. What could possibly go wrong?
Veteran left-hander Robbie Ray takes the mound for the Giants, with hopes of reversing his recent struggles. In 11 starts this year, the two-time All-Star is 3-6 with a 4.60 ERA, a 5.62 FIP, and 53 strikeouts to 29 walks in 58.2 innings. He’s been roughed up in his last three starts, including in his last outing, when he walked seven batters while allowing four runs in as many innings against the Chicago White Sox.
For the Rockies, it’s 28-year old right-hander Tanner Gordon, who makes his ninth appearance of the year. Gordon has mostly been used out of the bullpen for bulk innings, as this is just his second start. He’s 0-0 with a 5.85 ERA, a 4.08 FIP, and 33 strikeouts to seven walks in 32.1 innings. He got the start in his last game, and held the Los Angeles Dodgers to one run over five innings.
When Rangers defenseman Adam Fox's 99-year-old grandfather visited The Maven last Tuesday in Israel with other family members, Mel Fox said something meaningful that I had forgotten to mention in previous stories.
Naturally, our conversation had drifted to the subject of his grandson Adam, the Norris Trophy-winning Blueshirt blueliner.
Adam learned his hockey on Long Island rinks and has had a meaningful influence on young kids who want to play an "Adam Fox Kind Of Hockey."
With that in mind, Grandpa Fox offered this thought: "Adam should be a role model for Jewish kids playing hockey."
In fact there were two previous Jewish defensemen who manned the New York blue line and were, in fact, role models but of a different kind and distant era.
The first was Alex "Kingfish" Levinsky, who Rangers boss Lester Patrick obtained from Toronto in 1934. Levinsky played only one season for the Blueshirts and then was traded to Chicago where Kingfish completed a successful ten-year NHL career.
The genuine Jewish role model for a defenseman was Hy Buller. Born in Montreal but raised in Saskatoon, Buller was discovered by a Ranger scout in 1950 as a raw teenager.
By the fall of 1952 the Rangers figured that their Eastern Amateur Hockey League farm team, the New York Rovers, could use Hy as well as his two Saskatoon teammates, Vic Lynn and Dave Livingstone.
Playing for the Rovers at the old Madison Square Garden on Eighth Avenue between West 49th and West 50th Streets, Buller, Lynn and Livingstone excelled.
As a regular at Rover games, I watched the three Saskatoon prospects develop into solid pros. Lynn wound up skating for three Toronto Maple Leaf Cup-winners while Buller was signed by the Detroit Red Wings but failed in the Motor City.
Hy had two cups of coffee with the Wings in 1943-44 and 1944-45 before his demotion to the Hershey (AHL) Bears.
"The NHL was a six-team league at the time," said Rangers press agent Herb Goren. "And Buller wasn't considered quite good enough at the time. He eventually wound up with the
AHL Cleveland Barons where he was considered the best defenseman not in the NHL."
The Rangers signed Buller in 1951 and he became an instant hit. A huge BULLER banner -- adorned with the Jewish Star of David was hung over the end balcony.
"In no time at all," added Goren. "He became one of the best offensive defensemen in the league; but he also was good in his own end of the rink."
Buller played three seasons with the Blueshirts, through the 1953-54 season before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens. But Hy nixed the deal and retired from hockey then and there. Stricken with cancer, Buller died in 1968.
Not until the arrival of Adam Fox had the Rangers carried another Jewish defenseman. His grand-day remembers when Adam and Boston Bruins ace blueliner Charlie McAvoy teamed up on young Long Island teams.
"Adam and Charlie were inseparable," said Grandpa Mel. "I was hoping that they both would wind up on the Rangers, but it didn't work out."
Mel Fox, all 99 years of him, will celebrate his 100th birthday in August. Date, time and place are still undecided but it would be neat if Adam and Charlie McAvoy showed up. Grandpa Mel would love that – two excellent role models if ever there was a pair.
Mel's birthday wishes: 1. Another Blueshirt Stanley Cup in his lifetime and 2. Another Jewish Ranger like grandson Adam.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 25: Tanner Gordon #29 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 25, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
For the first time in over a month we can say this: the Colorado Rockies have not only won a series against an opponent and are now aiming for the sweep.
The Rockies started the series with a much-needed walk-off win thanks to a late-game rally and an Ezequiel Tovar home run. Then last night they continued to step on the gas by scoring eight runs before the Giants tallied their first. Now it’s time to see if they can finish the job.
The Rockies hope to bust out the brooms against the San Francisco Giants in their final series in May. That way they can leave a difficult month behind them and start June on a high note with some momentum.
On the mound for the Rockies is Tanner Gordon, who has officially been moved to full starting duty thanks to a litany of injuries to the pitching staff. The righty has been mostly used in bullpen or bulk relief duty this season, but is now coming off a strong outing in what was his first true start of the season. In five innings against the dreaded Los Angeles Dodgers, Gordon gave up just one earned run on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
On the bump for Los Gigantes is a familiar foe in veteran lefty Robbie Ray, who enters today’s contest with a 4.60 ERA and 53 strikeouts over his first 11 starts and 58.2 innings. He has struggled with his command this season, issuing 29 walks with a 4.4 BB/9 so far.
The former Cy Young winner and two-time All-Star has plenty of experience against the Rockies. However, the results are mixed. In 22 career starts against the Rockies, Ray holds a 5.24 ERA and has given up 19 home runs. He has strong strikeout numbers against Colorado with 142 punch-outs over 111.2 innings of work.
This season Ray has mostly four pitches, consisting of his primary four-seam fastball that averages 93.2 MPH, a slider, a changeup, and a knuckle curveball. The changeup has been his primary put-away pitch, but he has solid whiff induction in all three of his main breaking offerings. Ray also throws a very rare sinker. He’s used the pitch just 12 times this season, and for good reason. Opposing batters are both hitting and slugging .400 against it.
May 29, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Matt Vierling (8) celebrates with third baseman Kevin McGonigle (7) after scoring against the Chicago White Soxduring the tenth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (22-37) vs. Chicago White Sox (31-27)
Time/Place: 2:10 p.m., Rate Field SB Nation Site: South Side Sox Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (2-3, 4.09 ERA) vs. RHP Sean Burke (2-3, 3.90 ERA)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 27: Willy Adames #2 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after being tagged out by Aramis Garcia #35 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the eighth inning at Oracle Park on May 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Should the San Francisco Giants initiate a formal, but modest rebuild with just a year and a half left on Buster Posey’s deal? On Wednesday, the San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami made the case that they should, based solely on the results of April and May. Around here, I’ve seen people comment about how “this just isn’t the Giants’ year” and that it’s a simple case of cataclysmic bad luck, the flip side of the unrepeatable fluke of 2021 and, therefore, a rebuild isn’t warranted. Which idea makes the most sense?
Rebuild!
The Giants might be able to get some pretty good players in return for their players having, hopefully, just some down years. On the other hand, Kawakami’s argument is less than inspiring: because they got a bunch of average-at-best players at last year’s deadline for a pair of relievers, that means they could get better prospects for better players. Are they going to get players who are meaningfully better than the ones they got at last year’s deadline for 2-3 months of Robbie Ray and Luiz Arraez? It’s iffy. Robbie Ray has been replacement level at best this season and not many contenders need a second baseman.
He also admits that Chapman, Adames, and Devers would be tough to move this season, calling Chapman a “sunk cost.” I’m not convinced of that, which means trading Chapman might be a bit of a buy low but not one that would just be to get his contract off the books, which itself might be reason enough for teams to stay away, even if they think he’ll return to form once he gets away from San Francisco. But there’s also a chance that Chapman bounces back in a Giants uniform.
The other argument Kawakami makes is that there might be a lockout for 2027 and so the Giants might just need to reload for 2028. I’d argue that would be part of the calculation for teams acquiring Giants. Robbie Ray and Luis Arraez don’t have contracts beyond this year and so they have the most value (well, besides Casey Schmitt), but Chapman, Adames, and Devers getting a chunk of next year off just makes them that much older and past their primes come 2028. Why would anyone trade for that?
On the other hand, there’s Logan Webb, whose contract would end after 2028. If teams really do start figuring there won’t be much of a 2027, then the Giants would need to consider trading Webb *this* season to maximize a return. A season and a half of Webb would net more than just 1 season.
Teams that choose to rebuild usually do so when they’re out of talent at the major league level and need to rebuild their farm system. Once again, the Giants find themselves in the middle, having some major league talent and some minor league talent that’s up and coming. The minor league talent the team has is still 2-3 years away from making major league debuts, and if there’s a lockout that could be extended like what happened with the COVID season. And, because other teams might be factoring in a lockout, too, it might be more difficult to move high priced veterans than one would imagine. Still, moving the players on expiring deals and maybe Logan Webb would bring in a lot of talent. Those acquisitions, plus the talent rising through the system, plus the players added in this year’s draft might be enough to make this a brief rebuild window.
Don’t rebuild!
Since the 2026 Giants aren’t so different from the Giants of last year, and Buster Posey has spent the past two seasons putting together a WIN NOW team, I think the McCovey Chronicles community has it right that the Giants have the team that they want, they just don’t have the results they expected.
Now, I could argue that the Giants have never had the team that they thought they did. I’ll argue that because if you look at their record following their 19-12 start last season, they’re 84-105. They’re a bad team that has been a bad team, but they’ve been led by someone who practices the power of positive thinking, I guess.
Since this season is a dud that will guarantee the franchise goes five years without a winning season for the first time in its history, there really isn’t much upside to a teardown. That just prolongs the pain. Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, and Willy Adames all being bad at the same time is bad luck but also not an indication that all three are cooked for the rest of their contracts. Next year (or 2028) is probably a better time to reassess, and with a salary cap likely in place soon, it makes sense to just let some things play out.
Giving a lot of playing time to “the kids” makes some sense, and we’re already seeing Bryce Eldridge play a bit more. Jonah Cox has been called up. Trevor McDonald pushed Tyler Mahle to the phantom IL. I’d like to see more experimentation on the pitching side as the lineup guys are still a few years away, but the point is that getting a new manager familiar with the league is probably done better with a roster that’s not a smoking crater. The Giants have only played like a smoking crater, well below the projections.
But here’s the reason that I am personally opposed to a rebuild: I don’t trust this front office group to pull it off. I think their draft & development strategy is working, but when it comes to the major league roster, there’s a stench of ignorance and desperation blanketing the whole thing. The notion that they could trade away talent to get talent that helps the roster in a big way sooner rather than later doesn’t make much sense to me. Sure, a pitching prospect and a draft pick for Patrick Bailey sounds great, but Patrick Bailey is also a known commodity while two non-major leaguers aren’t. Drew Gilbert and Jesus Rodriguez are big question marks. I get the calculation of taking some risks to increase the upside, but I’m not impressed by the risk hit rate during Buster Posey’s tenure, which is literally, what, signing Luis Arraez to play second base? The principles that led them to their current situation won’t change.
The current front office really thought they just had to do a few things differently to open up a window of contention for the organization. That hasn’t been the case. The Giants don’t really do rebuilds, except for those times when they have (2005-2008, 2019 & 2020), but this group wasn’t tasked with doing that. Posey is probably going to remake parts of the major league roster on the fly, sure, and count on Randy Winn and the farm system to give the major league roster some impact players in the next 2-3 years, but to call it a rebuild or even consider it one just doesn’t seem like a solid path. Plus, I don’t think the Giants can get much in return for their highest paid players — if anything at all — in which case, what’s the point?
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 30: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals reacts after striking out against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning at Globe Life Field on May 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals are in complete disarray. They have lost 15 of their last 18 games and are trying to avoid being swept for the third time in the last four series.
I don’t really have many positive things to say, Michael Wacha starts today, he’s been one of the few bright spots this season. With Maikel Garcia leaving the game yesterday with a pulled hamstring, it’s a different starting lineup for the Royals today.
The Rangers aren’t much better than the Royals and their three best hitters are injured right now, but they are still looking to sweep the Royals. They lost 3 of 4 at home to a bad Astros team before the Royals came to town.
Right hander Jack Leiter starts for them today. He made two starts against the Royals last season.
Here are the starters for the Rangers behind Leiter.
Rangers 5/31
J. Pederson DH J. Jung 3B B. Nimmo RF J. Burger 1B E. Duran SS A. Osuna LF K. Higashioka C N. Lopez 2B M. Helman CF
After this game concludes, the Royals are off to Cincinnati to play the Reds three times. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m. CT, the game can be watched on Royals.TV
