Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams, who has missed the last six Thunder playoff games — including the entire sweep of the Lakers in the second round — says he is healthy and will be back for the Western Conference Finals against San Antonio.
"I haven't had to rush back from my hamstring stuff at all. I'm actually taking extra days now then what was even originally planned because we were up 3-0 [against the Lakers], so there was no point in going into this series and possibly hurting myself before we have to play the Timberwolves or the Spurs. I'm about to go into another series healthy."
Health has been elusive for Williams this season. He missed time at the start of the season recovering from off-season wrist surgery, then suffered a hamstring strain during the season, resulting in him playing in a career-low 33 games. When he did play, he averaged 17.1 points, 5.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds a game, while shooting just 29.9% from 3-point range, all numbers well off his previous, All-NBA season.
Not that the Thunder missed a beat. In the last round against the Lakers, Ajay Mitchell started in his place and averaged 22.5 points and six assists per game, and OKC swept LeBron James and the shorthanded Lakers out of the playoffs.
More than scoring, a return of Williams gives Oklahoma City another high-level defender with good positional size (6'5" as a wing), something needed against the young and athletic Spurs. That said, with the way Mitchell is playing, look for him to get a lot of minutes — Williams isn't returning and playing 40 minutes a night. Still, the Thunder just got deeper and better for the biggest series of the postseason.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 04: Senior Director of Hitting Strategy Edgar Martinez sits with Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at T-Mobile Park on May 04, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mariners players have a plethora of team-issued t-shirt options to choose from. One of the most popular designs comes from the high performance team, featuring a modified Rod of Asclepius on the front, where the wings are swapped for the Mariners trident; on the back, (AVAIL)ABILITY, with “ABILITY” highlighted in white. It’s a play on the old chestnut “the best ability is availability” – a slogan meant to encourage players to center the importance of proper conditioning.
But it’s important that availability never overrule the needs of the body: something Cal Raleigh might have run up against after landing on the IL for the first time in his career.
“To be honest, I wanted to play,” Raleigh said, meeting with the media on Friday. “I wanted to see if I could do it – to what extent it was going to affect me, and I told the trainers, if it ever got to a point where I was hurting the team or I couldn’t go anymore, I’d let them know. And essentially it just got to that point where I didn’t want to hurt the team.”
For those who grumble about players pushing through playing hurt, put oneself in Raleigh’s shoes: he’s an everyday catcher, used to shrugging off daily bumps and bruises that would require a weeklong stay in a Victorian-era convalescent asylum for the rest of us mere mortals. And he’s not just any catcher; he’s the Mariners’ iron man, either leading or being near the top of the leaderboard for innings caught every year of his career. Anyone who has watched any significant amount of Mariners baseball has seen Cal Raleigh get knocked down seven times and stand up eight – often in the same game. Therefore, we can forgive Raleigh, for whom pain hums constantly like an overhead fluorescent light, for thinking he could push past this latest ailment, one in a long string of problems faced, fought with, and conquered.
The question, now, is if Raleigh can forgive himself, or at least find a détente with the nebulous forces of baseball injury luck.
“It’s tough,” he said. “You get frustrated, because you know…it’s nothing really I could have controlled or done better. I prepared the same way, and it just kind of happened on a swing. So it’s out of my control. Something that doesn’t normally happen. So, you know, obviously frustrated. But I’m optimistic that it’s going to get better.”
It’s understandable why this situation is especially frustrating for Raleigh, who works tirelessly to control the controllables – not just for himself, but for his entire pitching staff. His work ethic is legendary: always one of the first players in the building, his daily agenda presidential in density, rarely idly scrolling his phone at his locker, never goofing off in the player lounge. Even a half-decade into his big-league career, Raleigh doesn’t seem to know what to do with himself on an off-day, wandering the clubhouse in squishy foam slides and loose athletic shorts, iced coffee clutched in hand; relaxed, but unable to disconnect entirely. Back at spring training, he left for the WBC like a concerned parent leaving his pitching staff with the babysitter, double-checking everyone knew where the important numbers were, lingering at the door, jokingly demanding to be sent updates from the media on if his pitchers were misbehaving in his absence.
But Raleigh isn’t having to go through this experience – his first time landing on the IL – alone. One of his closest friends on the team, Luke Raley, just went through this same injury last season. Raleigh recounted watching his friend, whose dedication to “availability” rivals his own, struggle to even swing a bat, and has taken the advice from his equally-tough friend to heart.
“It was just so hard on him, mentally,” Raleigh said. “And we knew what kind of teammate he was, so watching him go through that last year was really hard. And we talk a lot, so that’s something – I obviously had to listen to him about it.”
Obliques are notoriously tricky injuries to rehab, in that they won’t present with soreness until the muscle is called upon, often when it’s too late to be mitigated – especially not in baseball, a sport that is all about core rotation. Raley has talked about his own struggles with the uncertainty that comes with this particular injury.
The good news for Raleigh is that according to Mariners GM Justin Hollander, the scans the team just got back are “similar or slightly improved” from the ones he had done early in May, when Raleigh first felt the discomfort, meaning Raleigh didn’t further injure himself trying to play through the injury. When pressed to put a grade on the strain, Hollander said a one, not even a one-plus.
Raleigh had an anti-inflammatory shot on Friday and will be shut down for the next week, minimum. Once any trace of lingering soreness is gone, the team will re-evaluate, and if all looks good, he’ll be cleared to restart baseball activities, most likely in Arizona. Hollander said that based on the scans, he doesn’t anticipate a lengthy layoff, but emphasized how careful the organization needs to be given the nature of the injury.
“We want to make sure that when he’s next in the game, he’s doing it with full confidence and pain-free. The hesitation that can come with not knowing if it’s going to hurt a little bit when you swing, or when it will hurt, is probably not good for him or for us.”
The Mariners think sending Raleigh to Arizona will be the best for his recovery: he’ll have a full staff of rehab experts to work with, access to equipment and training facilities they don’t have space for in Seattle, and the complex league teams to get competitive at-bats against. He’ll be able to focus solely on his rehab.
But it will also involve Raleigh having to be away from his team and fully disconnect for the first time, in-season, in his career. Unless, of course, he talks the Mariners out of it.
“If that involves Arizona, that involves Arizona,” he said on Friday, apparently having not listened to Hollander’s declaration that he would be headed there. “But if they need me here and they need me to do things off the field, then I will gladly stay and do that as well.”
Of course he’d gladly stay, tear up the list of important numbers and send the babysitters home. But would it be the best thing for him? Maybe not. Even before the injury, Raleigh was off to a tough start to the season, perhaps a knock-on effect from missing regular spring training while at the WBC. Now, he’s been handed an opportunity to take a step away – being strong-armed to do so, in fact. What might the baseball gods be asking Raleigh to learn from that?
“I don’t know,” he said, brow furrowed. “Patience, maybe?”
“Obviously, the last few weeks have not been great, performance-wise, health-wise, so I don’t know. Maybe just take a step back and just take a deep breath, relax a little bit, maybe watch the game from a different point of view and see where I can get better, what I can do better as a player, as a leader, as a teammate. Usually you don’t have that kind of time to reflect during a season, but within this scenario, maybe that’s something that I can do better.”
Cal Raleigh has been given the gift of time to reflect – a gift not asked for, maybe not wanted, but a gift nonetheless. A time to decide what “(avail)ability” might mean for him, going forward.
Feb 17, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ryan River (77) throws during a Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images | Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
Friday in Albuquerque showcased a pair of players who may very well find themselves with the Dodgers within a few weeks.
Player of the day
River Ryan struck out four and allowed only one run on the moon at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, with four strikeouts. It was his first start since April 11, after missing a month in between with a hamstring injury. Ryan only allowed two singles and a walk while throwing 53 pitches during his four frames.
With both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow on the injured list in Los Angeles, Ryan is a potential option for the Dodgers rotation, though perhaps after another start or two at least in Triple-A.
“The most important thing is his progression. If everyone isn’t on board with that and speeding it up, it’s moot, it’s just not going to happen,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters in Anaheim on Friday. “But if the training staff feels that it’s okay and you’re not compromising him and the progression, then it’s a conversation.”
Triple-A Oklahoma City
As usual there was a ton of scoring in a minor league game in New Mexico, but the Comets accounted for nearly all of it in a rout of the Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies).
Four Comets had three hits, including Alex Freeland, who homered and drove in five runs, and Jack Suwinski, who homered, stole a base, and drove in four, plus James Tibbs III, who reached base six times.
Kiké Hernández reached base five times with three hits and two walks, and scored three runs in his sixth rehab game for Oklahoma City. All of them so far have been at third base, including seven innings at the hot corner on Friday. Roberts earlier this week said Hernández will likely also play some second base and outfield during his rehab assignment, which will run through next weekend in Triple-A.
Double-A Tulsa
The Drillers allowed the tying run in the eighth inning, then nobody scored until the Springfield Cardinals won with three runs in the top of the 12th inning.
Josue De Paula and Kendall George both doubled and reached base multiple times. Zyhir Hope singled and stole a base. Catcher Griffin Lockwood-Powell walked three times and doubled in his four plate appearances.
High-A Great Lakes
The Loons put up crooked numbers in three different innings in a rout of the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), with a pair of Eduardos figuring prominently in the win.
Third baseman Eduardo Guerrero had three singles, a walk, and a stolen base, and drove in four runs. Center fielder Eduardo Quintero doubled, singled, walked, stole a base, scored three times and drove in another.
Left-hander Jakob Wright struck out four and allowed one run in five innings for the win for Great Lakes.
Class-A Ontario
Kellon Lindsey hit one of three Tower Buzzers home runs, part of a 6-1 lead through three innings, but the San Jose Giants dominated the rest of the way.
Lindsey also doubled and scored two runs in his third game back off the injured list. With Emil Morales and Joendry Vargas moving around the left side of the infield this season, the shortstop Lindsey in his first three games for Ontario has played second base.
Chase Harlan reached base four times in the loss with a double, single, and two walks.
Hyun-Seok Jang allowed three runs in five innings with six strikeouts in his start. Through six games and 26 innings for Ontario in his repeat season of Class-A, Jang has 27 strikeouts against nine walks to go with his 3.81 ERA.
Transactions
Triple-A: River Ryan was activated from the injured list. Charlie Barnes was called up to the Dodgers with Blake Snell getting placed on the major league injured list.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Anthony Huezo #47 of the Houston Astros bats during the sixth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous days recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (19-24) lost 4-1 (BOX SCORE)
Pecko got the start and had some struggles in the first inning allowing 3 runs. He ended up allowing those 3 runs over 3.2 innings. The offense got on the board in the 6th inning on a Price solo home run. The pen was solid allowing just one run but the offense was quiet the rest of the way as Sugar Land fell 4-1.
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (16-21) lost 6-5 (BOX SCORE)
Hader got the start in a rehab and tossed a scoreless innings with 2 strikeouts. The Hooks offense got on the board in the third inning on an Encarnacion solo home run. Swanson relieved Hader and went 4 innings allowing 2 runs. The offense picked up another run in the 6th on a wild pitch. The pen struggled a bit allowing 4 runs over the 6th and 7th as the Hooks found themselves down 6-2. They rallied in the 8th scoring 2 runs on a Holy RBI single and Austin RBI double. Holy added an RBI double in the 9th but he was stranded at second base as the Hooks fell 6-5.
Note: Holy is hitting .375 in Double-A this season.
Josh Hader, LHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Nic Swanson, RHP: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Ramsey David, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Alex Santos, RHP: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Jose Guedez, RHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (9-28) won 23-11 (BOX SCORE)
The Asheville offense came to play last night. They jumped out to an early lead scoring 6 runs in the first on a Thomas solo home run, Frey RBI double, a run on an error, Nunez 2 run home run and Powell RBI single. They scored 4 in the 2nd inning on a Walker 3 run double and Powell RBI double. The offense got 7 more runs in the third inning on a Frey RBI double, Call 3 run home run, Walker solo home run and Thomas 2 run single. Smith got the start and pitched well allowing just one unearned run over 6 innings. The offense add more runs in the 5th scoring 3 runs on a Schiavone 2 run single and run on a double play. They added 3 more runs in the 6th on a Walker RBI double, Powell groundout and a run on a wild pitch. The pen struggled a bit but the offense did more than enough damage as Asheville won 23-11.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (16-21) won 9-3 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning scoring 3 runs on a Huezo solo home run and Newman 2 run triple. Weber got the start and went 4 innings allowing 3 runs. The offense got another run in the 4th inning on a Huezo RBI double. In the 6th, Huezo added a 3 run home run to extend the lead. The offense added 2 more runs in the 9th inning on a Cauro RBI single and Ramirez sac fly. Serrano tossed 5 no-hit innings to close it out as the Woodpeckers won 9-3.
If you were concerned either that the Cub offense wouldn’t return to form or about how long it would be before it did, then Friday night was a comforting game. The pitching was a little rough around the edges. Most concerningly, they allowed three homers. But that Cub offense had 14 hits and drew six walks. The Dodgers offense had a pretty good night offensively themselves, but the Cubs output was enough to bounce back into the top on-base percentage position among major league teams.
The fun part is the White Sox slugged three homers (not fun) and managed five total runs. The Cubs four doubles among their 14 hits, but managed 10 runs. Generally the team that slugs better is a good bet to win a game, but that didn’t hold here. The Cubs only slugged .439 while the Sox were at .576. So it wasn’t even a little close. The thing is, that’s a better than average slugging percentage for the Cubs and all the more impressive when you consider that they had 48 plate appearances (though the divisor is at bats and not PA).
All nine Cub starters had hits and four of the 10 players either drew walks or were hit by a pitch. So this was a diverse and balanced offensive output. Six different Cubs scored runs and six drove in a run. Eight of the nine starters and nine players overall had either a run or run batted in. All in all, the Cubs forced Sox pitchers to make 194 pitches. We haven’t talked about that this year, but that’s the kind of thing that could potentially win an additional game later in the series. The White Sox had to use five relievers and Jordan Hicks threw 35 pitches. That could affect his availability later in the series.
It wasn’t particularly easy, but things broke loose quite a bit. Hopefully, this win carries the team through the weekend. The Saturday game was the one that Fangraphs had as the most likely Sox win of the bunch. So nothing totally unexpected in this win. But it was just what the doctor ordered, just the same. This offense tends to either be locked in or out of whack. Maybe this locks them back in. The Sox are going to score some runs with the power they have in their lineup. The general path to victory is going to be scoring a handful (or two) of runs.
Three Positives:
Carson Kelly had three hits, one of them a double, and drove in four runs.
Trent Thornton had two key innings, striking out two and facing the minimum of six batters to do it. He quieted the game right when it was important for the Cubs to take control.
Seiya Suzuki had a single and a double, drew a walk. He drove in a run and scored two.
Game 45, May 15: Cubs 10, White Sox 5 (29-16)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Trent Thornton (.281). 2 IP, 6 BF, 2 K
Hero: Carson Kelly (.274). 3-5, 2B, 4 RBI
Sidekick: Matt Shaw (.078). HBP, BB, RBI
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Ryan Rolison (-.243). 0.1 IP, 4 BF, 2 H, BB, ER
Goat: Edward Cabrera (-.105). 4.2 IP, 19 BF, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 ER, 2 K
Kid: Nico Hoerner (-.026). 1-6, R
WPA Play of the Game: With the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning, the score tied, Carson Kelly had an infield single, driving in a run. (.183)
White Sox Play of the Game: In the bottom of the sixth with the Cubs up one, Miguel Vargas led off with a solo homer. (.183)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 44 Winner: Brown 173 of 231 votes
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Michael Busch/Shōta Imanaga +13
Michael Conforto +12
Ian Happ +7.5
Ben Brown +5.5
Caleb Thielbar -6
Phil Maton -7
Matt Shaw -10
Dansby Swanson -11
Seiya Suzuki -17
Current Win Pace: 104.4 wins
Up Next: Game two of the three-game series Saturday night on the South Side. Jameson Taillon (2-2, 3.94, 45.2 IP) gets his ninth start of the year. Last time out, he was pretty good against the Rangers, despite taking the loss. He allowed one run on four hits and two walks in 5.1 innings. He’s been better at home but also better at night, so this is a decent spot for Taillon. The one issue is that his Achilles Heel has been allowing homers. He’s served up 11 of them already in 45.2 IP.
29-year-old Davis Martin (5-1, 1.62, 50 IP) makes his ninth start of the year. He’s been flat out terrific for them. He’s pitched in parts of three previous seasons with a combined career ERA of 3.88 (306 IP). Last time out, he got a no-decision against the Mariners despite allowing only one run over six innings. He struck out nine and walked only two in that one. Martin was a 14th round pick of the White Sox back in 2018 (408th overall). All of his splits are pretty good but at home he has a 1.02 ERA. He doesn’t walk a lot of hitters.
It isn’t hard to see why Fangraphs likes this one for the Sox. Let’s ignore the script and get one anyway.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: Daylen Lile #4 and Nasim Nuñez #26 of the Washington Nationals celebrate after a 3-2 victory against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park on May 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Whenever the Nats have a chance to get to .500, they fall on their face. This is not just a gut feeling, we have the numbers to back this up. The Nats have lost the last 15 times they have had the chance to get to .500. They will have a chance to snap that embarrassing streak this afternoon against the O’s.
The Nats were in a similar spot the other day. They had just won a one run game thanks to a Daylen Lile home run. The boys were riding high, and were one win away from sweeping the Reds and getting to .500. However, they laid an egg in that contest, losing 15-1 in a game where Joey Wiemer had to pitch.
Final: Reds 15, Nats 1. The Nationals have lost 15 consecutive games when having a chance to reach .500. The last time they won: May 14, 2024 (exactly 2 years ago) in the opener of a doubleheader against the White Sox. They then lost the nightcap to fall back under .500.
After a close win in front of an electric Nationals Park crowd, the team is in a familiar spot. They are one win away from that .500 record. Getting that one win has proven to be very elusive for this group. For the fanbase, it is getting frustrating. The difference between being 23-23 and 22-24 is not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. After all, it is a 162 game season.
However, getting to that .500 mark this deep into the season is meaningful for the fans, and it should be for the players as well. Spencer Nusbaum wrote an interesting piece about this the other day. His story had quotes from players and manager Blake Butera.
The Nats have lost 15 games in a row in which they had a chance to get to .500. Does it matter?
That depends on who you ask. More in here, free and unlocked to read:https://t.co/9kCOqkfMu6
There were mixed feelings about the concept. For some players, like Jacob Young, that .500 mark is very meaningful. Young talked about how close they have come to that milestone in the past couple years. However, it has eluded them, and eventually the team has faded down the stretch.
For newer members of the club, they are more committed to staying the course rather than focusing on the record. Blake Butera talked about how he cared more about what their record will be in August and September. He talked about how this team has bigger goals than to be .500 in the middle of May.
However, this team needs to get over the hump at some point. Sure, there are bigger fish to fry down the road, but getting to .500 is an important step in the process. For more process driven folks, it may not mean a ton, but it would mean a lot for this fanbase. Nats fans have not had a ton to cheer about since 2019, and getting to that big milestone would make them happy.
The Nats’ futility when they have a chance to get to .500 has gotten to the point where it is a running joke in the fanbase. People are making memes about it online and clowning the team for this dubious streak. It is just one of many things that has made Nats fans miserable over the past five years.
Getting to .500, especially against a rival like the O’s would be a big deal. It may not matter that much to Paul Toboni and Blake Butera, but it would mean a lot to the fans. Eventually they will break this streak, and this will be a .500 team. I trust the process and believe this team is heading in the right direction.
However, they need to get over that .500 hump at some point. Hopefully that happens sooner rather than later. In an ideal world, it would happen today. The Nats have Cade Cavalli on the mound against Chris Bassitt, who has struggled this year. On paper, the opportunity is there for the Nats.
Fans are not going to believe until they see it get done. In the grand scheme of things, getting to .500 on May 16th does not matter that much. However, for this fanbase that has seen so much losing in recent years, it would be fun to feel like winners again, even if it is for a brief and fleeting moment.
The best way to score runs in bulk is with the longball but hitting homers will be a difficult challenge for both teams in this matchup.
Elder has done a fantastic job of suppressing power, allowing 0.49 homers per nine innings while posting a remarkably strong 3.5% barrel rate. That puts him in the 90th percentile league-wide.
It's difficult to square up either of these arms, and stringing together hit after hit is also a tall order given Elder and Tolle both rank 83rd percentile or higher in xBA.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 17-10, +3.48 units
Over/Under bets: 11-15-1, -6.41 units
Red Sox vs Braves odds
Moneyline: Red Sox +120 | Braves -140
Run line: Red Sox +1.5 (-170) | Braves -1.5 (+145)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)
Red Sox vs Braves trend
The Braves have hit the Under in 23 of their last 35 home games (+12.2 units, 32% ROI) Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Braves.
How to watch Red Sox vs Braves and game info
Location
Truist Park, Cumberland, GA
Date
Saturday, May 16, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
NESN, BravesVision
Red Sox starting pitcher
Payton Tolle (1-2, 2.78 ERA)
Braves starting pitcher
Bryce Elder (4-1, 1.81 ERA)
Red Sox vs Braves latest injuries
Red Sox vs Braves weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
May 15, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers second baseman Justin Foscue (14) reacts after being picked off during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Good morning, LSB.
The Rangers lost another frustrating one last night, falling 2-0 to the Astros.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MAY 15: Yandy Díaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Tropicana Field on May 15, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After dropping five of six, the Yankees got back on track yesterday with a strong showing against the Mets at Citi Field. Cam Schlittler outdueled Clay Holmes, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Spencer Jones had timely hits, and Ben Rice’s solo shot off Craig Kimbrel was the icing on the cake in a 5-2 win. It did stink to hear in the postgame that Jones fractured Holmes’ fibula on a line drive though. Holmes is a great dude who has defied the odds by turning back into a good starter. Call this one of the morse somber citations of “That’s baseball, Suzyn.”
Here’s what else was going on around the American League’s best on Friday night.
Tampa Bay Rays (29-14) 7, Miami Marlins (20-25) 2
The Rays are on some kind of heater right now. On the morning of April 22nd, they were 12-11 after clinching a series loss to the Reds. Since then, they’ve now won 17 of their last 20, zooming to the front of the American League in a season when they weren’t really expected to compete. The bottom still might fall out to some degree, but these wins are banked and they keep on coming.
Remember when Janson Junk inexplicably shut out the Dodgers in a six-inning effort in LA a few weeks ago? That was fun. Anyway, the long-ago Yankees prospect got smoked by the Rays last night, with a Yandy Díaz two-run shot in the first setting the tone. They plated two more in the second and then another pair in the fourth on Taylor Walls’ double.
Southpaw Ian Seymour was the opener for Tampa Bay and was fine through two with a Connor Norby solo shot the lone real blemish on his line. Jesse Scholtens took over after that, and the righty evidently decided that this was a good strategy for him as well. During his five innings of work, he allowed a few hits but likewise held them to a Jakob Marsee homer with no one on base.
The Rays quickly atoned for that anyway, as the struggling Cedric Mullins muscled up a long ball to mark their seventh run against Junk. Casey Legumina finished off the Fish with two perfect frames. Tampa Bay has won 11 in a row at Tropicana Field.
Toronto Blue Jays (19-25) 2, Detroit Tigers (20-25) 3
You know, this once could’ve been a Trey Yesavage vs. Tarik Skubal matchup had the Tigers’ ace not gone down with an injury earlier in the month. Instead, the Tigers had an opener with Ty Madden expected to cover the bulk of the action in Skubal’s place. But not even Skubal’s effective replacement was safe — Madden left the ballgame after recording only one out in the third, as he got drilled by a comebacker from Yohendrick Piñango.
That scare aside, Detroit’s Johnny Wholestaff strategy worked out, exactly matching Yesavage’s effort of six innings with four hits and two runs allowed. Although Toronto’s tallies came on a two-run double by Andrés Giménez in the second, the Tigers’ bullpen kept them at bay from there. That gave their offense some leeway to eventually knot it up at 2-2 off Yesavage thanks to bases-loaded wild pitch to score Kevin McGonigle and then an RBI double from Riley Greene down the right-field line during Yesavage’s final frame.
Drew Anderson did yeoman’s work for Detroit with Madden unable to eat innings. So instead Anderson went four scoreless, limiting Toronto to a Brandon Valenzuela single that was quickly erased on a double-play ball from George Springer. Veteran Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth, giving his team an opportunity to walk it off.
The Tigers did just that. With the beleaguered Jeff Hoffman on for the Jays, Matt Vierling hit a one-out single and stole second, setting the stage for Spencer Torkelson. Toronto challenged the erstwhile No. 1 overall pick by intentionally walking Zach McKinstry to face him, so Tork thanked them by lining a walk-off single to right-center.
Boston Red Sox (18-26) 2, Atlanta Braves (31-14) 3: The Red Sox overcame homers against Connelly Early by Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris II to tie it up at Truist Park against a fading Spencer Strider and reliever Tyler Kinley. It was a Marcelo Mayer solo shot that knotted it up at 2-2 in the seventh. The bullpens battled from there, with prominent arms like Aroldis Chapman, Robert Suarez, and Raisel Iglesias keeping their opponents off the board. Tasked with stranding Boston’s zombie runner in the 10th, 20-year-old Didier Fuentes was up to the task, striking out Carlos Narváez and getting outs from Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Mickey Gasper. Mike Yastrzemski rewarded the rookie in Atlanta’s first at-bat of the 10th, doubling in Ha-Seong Kim to walk it off.
Seattle Mariners (22-24) 0, San Diego Padres (25-19) 2: Are the Mariners and Rangers really going to force us to cover the A’s, who still sit in first despite barely sitting over .500? We are getting closer by the day, even in mid-May. Former Yankee Randy Vásquez continued his surpisingly superb first month and a half, lowering his ERA to 2.68 with six scoreless frames, and fellow old friend Miguel Andujar got San Diego on the board with an RBI knock off Emerson Hancock. Andujar was involved in the second run as well, as his seventh-inning single was followed by a Ramón Laureano hit, and Andujar then scored on an out. Later, Mason Miller escaped a mostly-inherited jam by striking out Connor Joe with the bases loaded in the eighth. Then he got out of his own mess by striking out Mitch Garver and Brendan Donovan to end the game.
Texas Rangers (21-23) 0, Houston Astros (18-28) 2: I’ve made no secret of how much I long to exclude the Rangers from the Rivalry Roundup. Maybe almost getting no-hit by Spencer Arrighetti will be what send them on the role to “uncovered whatever.” Texas was held hitless until Justin Foscue broke up the gem with one out in the eighth. The Astros were backed up an Isaac Paredes blast against Jack Leiter, and Arrighetti made it hold up.
Cleveland Guardians (24-22) 6, Cincinnati Reds (24-21) 7: The Ohio Cup turned into a minor slugfest on Friday night, but not until the later innings. Entering the eighth, it was a 3-1 Reds lead, with a Rhys Hoskins dinger representing the sum of Cleveland’s offense. But in the Cincy half of the eighth, they scored three, two of them on a blast by Matt McLain. Atrocious relief by Graham Ashcraft and Brock Burke allowed the Guardians to get back into it on the strength of five (!) walks, a single, and a sacrifice fly. Now in a 6-5 ballgame, the Reds got insurance with productive outs following a Dane Myers double, and that came in clutch when Kyle Manzardo tripled in the ninth for Cleveland. Facing Angel Martínez and then rookie Travis Bazzana as the potential tying runs at the plate, Tejay Antone got two groundouts to end it (with a nice play by McLain for the end). To quote Marty Brennaman, this one belonged to the Reds, but boy was it an adventure to get there!
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 22: Matt Brash #47 of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the Athletics at T-Mobile Park on April 22, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning everyone and happy Saturday!
The Mariners opened up the weekend with a sleepy 2-0 loss to the Padres last night, though it was great to see Emerson Hancock continue his strong start to the season.
Speaking of, we finally got a resolution to the six-man rotation situation yesterday:
Do you endorse this decision by the club? What would you have done?
In Mariners news…
Kate provided a flurry of updates on currently-injured Mariners. Make sure to follow Lookout Landing on BlueSky to get these alerts in real-time!
In the latest episode of the Meet at the Mitt podcast, the squad worked through the M’s options for navigating Cal’s injury (Spotify link; Apple link)
After a slow start to the season, Rainiers outfielder Brennen Davis is heating up. Ryan Divish at The Seattle Times has the latest on the post-hype breakout candidate.
The Mason Peters experience continues to roll in Single-A. It shouldn’t be long before he’s making starts in Everett.
Mason Peters is good. Final line: 4IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 4K, 12 whiffs, 6 groundouts, 61-37. Lowers ERA at 1.93. pic.twitter.com/l6pHQj4cjk
In Kansas City, Hawaiian Bros agreed to a promotion with the Royals in which they’d give a free lunch to every fan each time the club scored six or more runs during a home game. Well, the Royals did just that eight times in their first 17 home games, so the company had to adjust the promotion to prevent going out of business.
The Los Angeles Dodgers aim to stay hot as they visit the reeling Los Angeles Angels for the second game of the Freeway Series on Saturday night.
The odds are giving the Angels a fair chance with ace Jose Soriano on the mound, but my Dodgers vs. Angels predictions and MLB picks for Saturday, May 16, think the adjustment is too much.
Who will win Dodgers vs Angels today: Dodgers (-136)
Anytime I can get short odds like this for the best roster in the MLB to defeat a squad that has lost 19 of its last 24 games, I’m buying.
The odds are such due to a perceived starting pitching advantage for the Los Angeles Angels, but Jose Soriano’s.248 BABIP and 94% left-on-base percentage both indicate his 1.66 ERA is at least part smoke and mirrors.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have won five of Justin Wrobleski’s seven starts, and he sets up favorably against an Angels lineup with a lowly 70 wRC+ in May.
COVERS INTEL:Much of Jose Soriano’s success comes from his 28.4% K rate and 91st percentile whiff rate. The Dodgers are a tough matchup in that department, striking out only 20.8% of the time against RHP.
Dodgers vs Angels Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-105)
It might seem odd that I’m targeting the Over in a game where both starting pitchers have such stellar ERAs, but I’m betting on variance.
Soriano has been tremendous, but his 3.75 xERA is more indicative of future performance than his 1.66 ERA.
Wrobleski’s 2.42 ERA is undercut by his 4.08 xERA, 4.84 xFIP, and 92 Stuff+. He doesn’t make batters miss (second-percentile whiff rate), and the Angels are more respectable against southpaws (104 wRC+).
The Dodgers are in a bind after Blake Snell was scratched yesterday, forcing Dave Roberts to use eight bullpen arms.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 13-13 -3.84 units
Over/Under bets: 19-8 +10.64 units
Dodgers vs Angels odds
Moneyline: Dodgers -129 | Angels +117
Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (+124) | Angels +1.5 (-144)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-120)
Dodgers vs Angels trend
The Angels have lost 19 of their last 24 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Angels. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Angels.
How to watch Dodgers vs Angels and game info
Location
Angels Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Date
Saturday, May 16, 2026
First pitch
9:38 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet LA, FDSN West
Dodgers starting pitcher
Justin Wrobleski (5-1, 2.42 ERA)
Angels starting pitcher
Jose Soriano (6-2, 1.66 ERA)
Dodgers vs Angels latest injuries
Dodgers vs Angels weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
After a shootout victory on Friday, the Philadelphia Phillies can wrap up a sixth straight series win when they play the second of their three-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
My Phillies vs. Pirates predictions and free MLB picks believe Philly has a distinct starting pitching advantage, which will prove the deciding factor on Saturday, May 16.
Who will win Phillies vs Pirates today: Phillies -1.5 (+100)
Sanchez hasn’t allowed an earned run across 15 innings in wins over the Rockies and Athletics, surrendering only nine hits while striking out 17 against just one walk.
Philly has been hot in the last week, ranking fourth in runs and seventh in OPS. That, with Sanchez dealing, is a winning combo.
COVERS INTEL:Chandler will face MLB home run leader Kyle Schwarber for the first time in his career. Schwarber is mashing right-handed pitching at home this year, hitting .358 with a 1.094 SLG and a 1.563 OPS.
Phillies vs Pirates Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-125)
Philadelphia’s 11-9 slugfest win in the opener is more the outlier than the norm. The Phillies had gone Under the total in four straight before cashing the Over last night.
The Under is also a noticeable trend in the head-to-head matchup between these teams, going 6-3-0 in the last nine matchups.
The Pirates have just had trouble putting up runs lately against the Phils, scoring two runs or fewer in four of the last six. With Sanchez dealing, there’s a good chance it'll be five of seven, keeping that total low.
Eric Rosales' 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 4-10, -2.28 units
Over/Under bets: 7-9, +4.76 units
Phillies vs Pirates odds
Moneyline: Phillies -156 | Pirates +150
Run line: Phillies -1.5 | Pirates +1.5
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Phillies vs Pirates trend
Philadelphia has just four losses in its last 16 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Pirates.
How to watch Phillies vs Pirates and game info
Location
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Saturday, May 16, 2026
First pitch
4:05 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Philadelphia, Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Phillies starting pitcher
Cristopher Sanchez (4-2, 2.11 ERA)
Pirates starting pitcher
Bubba Chandler (1-4, 4.62 ERA)
Phillies vs Pirates latest injuries
Phillies vs Pirates weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
DINANT, BELGIUM - JULY 03: A view of the Meuse River, which passes through France, Belgium and the Netherlands, divides the Dinant city in two, where Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, was born in Dinant, Belgium on July 03, 2023. Dinant is one of Belgium's most popular tourism centers with its giant saxophones adorning the city and its natural and historical beauties. (Photo by Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) | Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Hickory starter Kamdyn Perry allowed a run in 4.2 IP, striking out six and walking one.
Hector Osorio homered and drew a pair of walks. Dewar Tovar was 2 for 5 with a homer. Yolfran Castillo had a hit and a stolen base. Paulino Satana had a pair of hits. Marcos Torres was 2 for 5 with a double.
Hub City was down 17-1 after three innings and 23-1 after six innings before ultimately losing 23-11.
We will skip pitchers.
Malcolm Moore was 2 for 4 with a homer and a pair of walks. Paxton Kling was 2 for 5 with a double, a homer and a walk. Gleider Figuereo doubled. Rafe Perich doubled. Chandler Pollard had a pair of hits.
Winston Santos started for Frisco, striking out six and walking four in four innings, allowing three runs.
Dylan Dreiling was 2 for 4 with a pair of walks and a stolen base. Ian Moller had a pair of doubles and a walk. Keith Jones II was 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base.
David Davalillo made his AAA debut for Round Rock and had a rough go of it. In 4.1 IP, Davalillo walked five batters, hit four batters, threw a wild pitch, and allowed six runs. Robbie Ahlstrom allowed a run in 1.2 IP, walking one. Chris Martin, continuing his rehab assignment, faced six batters and allowed hits to four of them, though he gave up just one run. Luis Curvelo, beginning his rehab assignment, faced four batters and walked two of them. Alexis Diaz walked a batter and struck out a batter in 1.1 shutout innings.
Caden Scarborough, who has been on the injured list, made his 2026 debut for the ACL Rangers, allowing two runs in 1.2 IP, striking out two and walking one.
It's another jam-packed slate across the show today, and I've found solid value in my MLB player props. I'll highlight Jacob deGrom, Bobby Witt Jr., and Randy Arozarena.
Jacob deGrom has been absolutely dominant this season for the Texas Rangers, posting a 2.62 ERA while striking out 57 hitters in 44.2 innings of work.
The right-hander has cashed the Over in Ks in two of his last four starts, hitting double digits in both. He also sat down seven via the strikeout in one of his other outings, just a tad below tonight's total.
deGrom will face the Houston Astros here, and he's had tons of success against them. Across 59 at-bats, he'd held the Astros to a .153 average while striking out 23 hitters. That includes 4 Ks against Jose Altuve and nine against Christian Walker, two of their top hitters.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SCHN, CW33
Bobby Witt Jr. Over 1.5 hits (+170)
Bobby Witt Jr. is one of the best players in the sport, and he's definitely proving that right now. The shortstop is batting over .360 over the last week, with six RBI and plenty of hits.
He's also cashed the Over in three of his last five, and Witt Jr. finished with a pair of hits in Friday's loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Two of his last three multi-hit games over these last seven days have been on the road as the Kansas City Royals visit the Cardinals again today.
Witt Jr. is hitting .305 on the road, and he's also batting .328 in day games. While he's 0-for-2 lifetime against Kyle Leahy, it's an incredibly small sample size, and Witt Jr is seeing the ball very well lately. He'll be a key factor in the Royals' offense again.
Time: 2:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Royals.TV, Cardinals.TV
Randy Arozarena Over 1.5 total bases (+140 at DraftKings)
Randy Arozarena is tearing the cover off the baseball in May, hitting .327 and .301 overall. The Seattle Mariners outfielder has four multi-hit games in his last five appearances, and although the M's didn't score a single run on Friday, he still went 2-for-4 with a pair of base knocks.
Arozarena was even 4-for-4 earlier this week, and he's hitting .311 against right-handers. The San Diego Padres send Walker Buehler to the mound tonight.
Arozarena is 0-for-8 lifetime against him, but he's hitting pretty much everything right now, and Buehler has an alarming 10.13 ERA on the road, giving up 18 hits in 10.2 frames.
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FOX
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 30-53, +4.90 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Kyle Schwarber smacked his MLB-leading 19th and 20th home runs in Friday's victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates as he continues to stay hot.
The slugger has now gone deep in seven of his last eight games, and three times across his previous two contests.
The veteran is tearing the cover off the baseball, and no matter who is facing him, he's doing damage. Pirates SP Bubba Chandler has served up six homers across his last six starts.
Schwarber has also smacked his last four bombs on the road, and the Philadelphia Phillies visit the Bucs again here.
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSP, SportsNet Pittsburgh
Home run pick: Matt McLain (+750)
Perhaps Matt McLain isn't the most household name in the big leagues, but he's on a tear lately.
The Cincinnati Reds second baseman has cracked home runs in back-to-back games, finishing 2-for-3 on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians with a bomb.
McLain will face Gavin Williams here, who has allowed eight home runs in just nine starts this season.
McLain has never faced Williams, but he's coming in hot, and Williams has allowed 10 earned runs across his previous two outings, including a pair of long balls.
Time: 6:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Reds.TV, Guardians TV
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 6-33, -2.08 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
COVERS INTEL: The Braves lead the league with 
Jacob deGrom
Bobby Witt Jr. 
Randy Arozarena
Kyle Schwarber
Matt McLain