NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2026-06-04 07:32:50
NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2026-06-04 07:32:50
NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2026-06-04 07:32:50
NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2026-06-04 07:32:50
Knicks aren't in position to win Game 1 of NBA Finals without Karl-Anthony Towns
SAN ANTONIO - A few notes after the Knicks’ win over the Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals...
KAT-A-LYST
Victor Wembanyama didn’t leave the court on Wednesday with any overt concerns about himself or his team.
“I'm not worried (in) the slightest,” he said after the Knicks’ come-from-behind win in Game 1.
It almost sounded like Wembanyama was downplaying the impact of the Knicks' defense in Game 1.
Karl-Anthony Towns and New York forced Wembanyama into tough shots all night, as he finished 6-for-21 with six turnovers.
He shot just 2-for-12 when defended by Towns.
But Wembanyama didn’t leave the arena worried about the Spurs’ chances in the series.
“It's almost like I have to play normal, not even good. It's just like doing the right things is enough,” he said. “When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot. This is why I'm not worried. We're going to be so much better. I'm going to be so much better.”
Towns got the better of Wembanyama on both ends of the floor in Game 1.
He had 18 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and one block through three quarters. His play in the third quarter helped New York rebound from a double-digit deficit. Of course, Jalen Brunson took over from there, with 13 points in the final 7:30 of regulation to lift New York to an upset in Game 1.
But the Knicks aren’t in position to win the game without Towns.
“Honestly with KAT, I feel like when he’s locked in he’s not just doing the scoring, doing the assisting but he’s setting the pick (on the pick) and roll and he’s diving hard and then defensively he’s bringing a physical presence,” Miles McBride said after Game 1.
“What he did for us was not just guard him at a high level but he kept him from getting those second chance opportunities which I think is something Wemby does phenomenal. I feel like that’s huge. Taking away a first shot is big but to take away that second one was big for us.”
JALEN DOES IT AGAIN
Brunson was 7-for-22 through the first three quarters of Game 1, but as is usually the case, he was at his best in the fourth.
He scored eight unanswered points midway through the quarter and then hit a three-pointer off of his own tip rebound and a tough jump shot to help put the Spurs away.
He did all of this after leaving the game for a long stretch due to an apparent leg injury.
“He's a gamer, man. In the biggest moments, he shows up, and that's what MVPs are supposed to do,” Mike Brown said. “We put the ball in his hands and said we are going to live and die with him. And he got it done for us, and that's happened time after time after time. He got to his spots and he made plays."
MITCH BACK ON THE FLOOR
Less than 10 days after having surgery to repair a broken fifth metacarpal in his right hand, Mitchell Robinson was on the floor and impacting the game against San Antonio.
He had six rebounds in 13 minutes and helped create quality shots for his teammates simply by being on the floor.
“He was still a vertical threat,” Brown said of Robinson. “If you don't pull in to tag him, it's a dunk, and when he rolls like he rolls and creates that weak side to pull in, our guys have to spray the basketball. So it's one of the two: You throw it up, just kind of what have they do with Wembanyama. You throw it to Wembanyama or you throw it up to Mitch, and if the small pulls in and tags those guys, you've got to find the skip pass. And then defensively, I thought he was pretty good, defensively, as well, trying to rebound, keeping those guys off the glass.”
Robinson didn’t want to discuss what happened to his hand, which was not broken during a game or practice. It was a non-basketball injury.
But Robinson said he was never concerned about possibly missing Game 1.
“I’ve been here for eight years. There was no way I was going to miss this,” he said.
Is Ollie Robinson the chaos English cricket needs in a team stuffed with Nice Young Lads? | Jonathan Liew
With the Test team under pressure and desperately craving engagement, a returning firebrand could salvage the summer
The winged elephant swoops down Deansgate towards the ship canal, its wings glowing neon orange, a feral roar rising and falling unevenly in volume. A black taxi drives the wrong way down a rain-moistened street. A menacing urchin child with a dozen fingers stands in front of a disused steampunk factory, holding an outsized Victoriana bat.
Now there’s a bowler, who’s actually a wicketkeeper, who may actually be Jos Buttler in batting gloves. There are three batters at the crease, one of them in white and the other two in red. Aiden Markram runs up and bowls sideways. There is no ball in his hand. “Red in the dark, blue in the sea,” a haunting voiceover sings. The sun is out. The floodlights are on.
Continue reading...Knicks lead NBA Finals after late run beats Spurs
The New York Knicks overcame a 14-point third-quarter deficit to snatch a 105-95 victory at the San Antonio Spurs in the opening game of the NBA Finals.
Jalen Brunson scored 13 of his 30 points in the final quarter as the Knicks scored 11 points without reply to surge clear in the final two minutes.
With their 12th win in a row, the Knicks matched the second best all-time post-season streak set by the Spurs in 1999.
That was in the Knicks' most recent appearance in the best-of-seven Finals, when the Spurs beat them to the title.
It is the fourth time that the Knicks have gone on to win in the second half having trailed by 10 or more points in these play-offs. They overturned a 22-point deficit in the opener of Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Knicks are bidding to win their first Championship since 1973 and Karl-Anthony Towns said the fans have been inspiring their comebacks.
"It's something that's in the city, you feel that energy in the city," said Towns, who posted 18 points and 12 rebounds.
"The grit, the grind, the hard work you've got to put in to make it in the city.
"I think we reflect our fans and their lifestyles and what it takes to make it in New York City, when we step on that court with the Knicks jersey."
It was a quiet night for Victor Wembanyama. He was the top scorer for the Spurs but only scored six of his 21 shots from the field.
"We've been down in a series before - never in the Finals - but I'm not kicking myself about anything," said Wembenyama.
"I was bad, it's not more complicated than that. I'm not worried in the slightest."
The best-of-seven series continues in San Antonio on Friday before the teams head to Madison Square Garden for Game three on Monday.
Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson battles through injury to make mark off bench in Game 1
For Mitchell Robinson, playing in the NBA Finals was never in doubt.
“I’ve been here for eight years,” he told reporters postgame. “There was no way I was going to miss this.”
The longest-tenured Knick did find himself listed as questionable, though, after having to undergo surgery to repair a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right hand last week.
Robinson was expected to be able to get back out there with the team, and he ended up officially being cleared by the training staff after going through pregame warmups.
It still hasn’t been revealed exactly how the injury occurred, but it proved to be no hinderance as he made his presence felt in the Knicks’ Game 1 victory.
Robinson was able to chip in 13 strong minutes off the bench for Mike Brown.
His lone basket came midway through the second quarter, when he threw down a slam to complete an alley-oop feed from Jalen Brunson,helping New York chip away at a Spurs advantage.
The big man missed the free-throw trying to cap off the three-point play.
Robinson also missed his only other field goal attempt on the night, but was still able to make his mark elsewhere, finishing third on the team with six rebounds (five defensive, one offensive).
He also held up well in a defensive matchup with Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama, including a couple of possessions while the game was tight in the fourth quarter.
Overall, it was the type of effort Brown and the Knicks were hoping for.
“He was still a vertical threat,” the head coach said. “And I thought he was good defensively, as well.”
Even if he isn’t at full strength, the seven-footer could be huge for New York as they look to slow down Wembanyama as this series progresses.
D-Backs 0, Dodgers 7: Beat down in Downtown
At the beginning of this series, Mark Grace remarked that the Diamondbacks needed to take advantage of the starting pitching matchups in the first two games because – on paper at least – they favored the D-Backs. The first game featured a resurgent Eduardo Rodriguez against youngster Emmet Sheehan while the second one pitted the reinvented Michael Soroka against journeyman Eric Lauer. Grace’s recommendation was certainly heeded in the first game when Rodriguez went six innings and allowed just one run, but Soroka wasn’t quite able to take the baton the next night even if he ended stronger than he started. Frustratingly, the script flipped on starting pitching beginning with Shohei Ohtani and his otherworldly 0.82 ERA going tonight while Justin Wrobleski and his excellent 2.87 ERA will round out the series. As expected, the D-Backs ran headlong into the buzzsaw that Ohtani has been on the bump this season while Zac Gallen labored through just five innings and gave up five runs. There were essentially no highlights for the D-Backs tonight, just lowlights. Seriously, if you’re a Diamondbacks’ fan, go read a book or talk to a friend instead.
The vibes for the night started off poorly with Ketel Marte being scratched from the lineup late with “full body fatigue” that was later clarified to be more focused on his hamstring as Torey Lovullo explained that he would prefer to give him a day off today than push him through the pain. They did not improve through the night. After a scoreless first, Mookie Betts leadoff the second inning by reaching on a slightly off-target throw from Geraldo Perdomo that was immediately cashed in on a mammoth home run from Kyle Tucker off a flat Gallen fastball that sat middle-middle. The third also started with a pair of leadoff base runners with a walk to Ohtani, a double from Andy Pages, and a two-run single from Freddie Freeman. Max Muncy would add another run on a single that somehow eluded Gallen and Perdomo to reach the outfield and allow Freeman to motor around for a fifth LA run. Brandon Pfaadt came into the game in relief and failed to provide much confidence in his role moving forward. After collecting a couple quick outs, he loaded the bases on a Muncy double, a Will Smith walk, and an Alex Call hit by pitch that was again quickly cashed in by an Alex Freeland single up the middle that once again eluded the infield defenders.
Meanwhile, the Ohtani show was in full effect tonight. He extended his no-hit streak another 3.2 IP until Gabriel Moreno broke up his no-hitter with a two-out double in the fourth – one of just two hits and three baserunners the Japanese ace allowed over six innings of work. The D-Backs would muster just two more baserunners for the remainder of the game with a two-out walk to Jose Fernandez and a fielding error on a ball Moreno put into play on the left side of the infield. They did little to generate any baserunners and continued to struggle to find any kind of offensive rhythm after their latest sweep of the Giants. The team is now just 1-5 since leaving San Francisco and looking for answers on both sides of the ball. Thankfully, regardless of how ugly a loss might be, they count the same as a a big blowout. Hopefully the boys are able to shower and relax before going for a series split tomorrow.
Knicks take 1-0 lead into game 2 against the Spurs
New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference)
San Antonio; Friday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Spurs -5.5; over/under is 214.5
NBA FINALS: Knicks lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks visit the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 105-95 on Thursday, led by 30 points from Jalen Brunson. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 26.
The Spurs have gone 32-8 at home. San Antonio is second in the Western Conference scoring 119.8 points while shooting 48.3% from the field.
The Knicks are 23-19 on the road. New York has a 23-23 record against teams over .500.
The Spurs' 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.3 fewer made shots on average than the 13.9 per game the Knicks allow. The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field, 2.7% higher than the 45.1% the Spurs' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Wembanyama is scoring 25.0 points per game with 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Spurs. Stephon Castle is averaging 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 51.2% over the last 10 games.
Brunson is averaging 26 points and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. Mikal Bridges is averaging 17.7 points, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 6-4, averaging 114.9 points, 49.2 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 8.0 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.4 points per game.
Knicks: 10-0, averaging 121.7 points, 45.1 rebounds, 28.2 assists, 9.7 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 52.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.0 points.
INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).
Knicks: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Legend of Jalen Brunson grows as he takes over in fourth, lifts Knicks to first Finals win in 27 years
SAN ANTONIO — This is how legends are made.
In the first quarter, Jalen Brunson pulled himself out of the game and limped back to the locker room. Spurs wing Harrison Barnes fell into his knee after a collision with Landry Shamet, and while Brunson tried to stay in the game, he was clearly dealing with something. New York was down 10 when he hobbled off the court and it felt like things could go sideways for New York.
Instead, Game 1 of the NBA Finals will be remembered as the game where the legend of Jalen Brunson grew to almost mythical status.
"He's a gamer, man," Knicks coach Mike Brown said. "In the biggest moments, he shows up, and that's what MVPs are supposed to do. We put the ball in his hands and said we are going to live and die with him. And he got it done for us, and that's happened time after time after time."
Brunson returned to the court in the second quarter — and stayed in the game after Luke Kornet stepped on his ankle — then took over with 13 points in the fourth quarter, including some epic plays.
Jalen Brunson clutch with under a minute left
— ESPN (@espn) June 4, 2026
The Knicks take Game 1 in San Antonio! pic.twitter.com/QFQVbFnZ83
"With the ball in his hands, I'm never surprised," Karl-Anthony Towns said of Brunson. "I tell you, that last shot, I think it was a shoot floater, that was nasty. I ain't going to lie. "
"I think it starts with my confidence. It comes with my work ethic," Brunson said of his career of making clutch plays. "I think most importantly, knowing we're on the road, and knowing my teammates have my back, I think that's the biggest thing in an environment like this. The trust they have in me and the trust I have in them, it's got us to this point."
They put their trust in the right place.
Team win for New York
Those teammates gave Brunson plenty of help.
That started with Karl-Anthony Towns — his play in the first three quarters kept this game close for the Knicks. He finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, but that doesn't tell the real story — he stood toe-to-toe with Wemby and held his own on both ends of the court.
In more than eight minutes of game time with KAT as the primary defender, Wembanyama shot 2-of-10 from the floor (based on NBA tracking stats). Towns also went at Wembanyama on the offensive end.
"I try to be aggressive in playmaking," Towns said, as he again served as a hub of the Knicks' offense for much of the night. "Early in the game, you never know what the defense is going to give you. You don't know what is going to unfold but I just wanted to be aggressive, especially early in the game, Game 1 in the NBA Finals, and trying to bring that energy for our team."
Then there was OG Anunoby, who has a championship ring from his time with the Raptors and showed that experience with 12 points in the fourth quarter, including a clutch 3-pointer over Wembanyama.
JB AND OG COMBINE FOR 25 OF NEW YORK'S 29 IN THE 4TH
— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2026
Brunson: 13 PTS
Anunoby: 12 PTS
The Knicks take a 1-0 lead in the NBA Finals! pic.twitter.com/OIIb74bKfk
It was a night when the healthy number of Knicks fans in the building grew louder and louder late, as New York went on an 11-0 run to close out the game — this Knicks team is their team. The Knicks players feed off that, especially in their comebacks. The Knicks came back from 22 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and they came from 14 down in the third quarter against the 62-win Spurs.
"It's something in the city. You feel that energy in the city, the grit, the grind, the hard work you've got to put in to make it in the city," Towns said of where the team's comeback energy comes from. "I think we reflect all our fans and lifestyles and what it takes to make it in New York City when we step on the court with a Knicks jersey."
Those fans will be back in Game 2, and the Spurs are going to have to find a way not just to grab the lead but also hold on to it, something no team has done for a dozen games.
Bottom line: San Antonio has to find a way to keep the legend of Jalen Brunson from growing any larger.
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs discuss Jalen Brunson's takeover in Game 1: 'He's an elite player'
Game 1 between the Knicks and Spurs lived up to its billing with starts Jalen Brunson and Victor Wembanyama giving their respective teams late leads in the fourth quarter.
But it was Brunson's heroics and clutch play that allowed New York to come away with the first win of the 2026 NBA Finals.
Brunson scored a game-high 30 points on 12 of 31 shooting with three rebounds and two assists, but his performance in the fourth quarter will go down in Knicks history. The Knicks captain scored 13 points on 5 of 9 shooting, leading New York's 11-0 run to end the game.
While the Knicks fans in attendance in San Antonio and those watching at home were in awe, the Spurs were not surprised by Brunson's efforts.
"He’s a tremendous player that’s skilled, picks his spots, knows his angles. Shoots contested shots without being sped up," Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said of Brunson after the game. "He’s a phenomenal player and we just have to keep making him work.
"He had a phenomenal game. He got going and got a few in a row, but 30 points on 31 shots, is something you probably want to keep making him work for those points. Probably some of the other stuff that we can control, instead of him making or missing shots."
Wembanyama, the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, was asked how the team can defend Brunson better moving forward. The Spurs big man didn't have an answer, but knew they have time to come up with a gameplan.
“He’s an elite player and we don’t have many more chances," Wembanyama said. "It’s a first-to-four series. So we’re going to have time to work on it.”
A common talking point before the NBA Finals started was whether the Spurs would be fatigued after a grueling seven-game series with the Thunder. On the opposite end, the Knicks, after sweeping the Cavaliers in the ECF, were off for more than a week.
The fourth quarter saw the Spurs turn the ball over five times -- the Knicks had zero turnovers in the final frame -- and Wembanyama, in particular, looked winded at points, but San Antonio downplayed that narrative. Instead, they pointed to their own execution.
"I don't think it was fatigue. I'm sure guys got tired at times," Johnson said. "I don't think anyone's performance was based on fatigue, I think we just need to be sharper and execute better. And continue to work the game and not fight it at times and play the right way."
"I feel both teams were fatigued, really," Dylan Harper said. "I just feel like they executed better."
Wembanyama scored a team-high 26 points -- 11 coming in the fourth -- and Harper had 16 off the bench, but it wasn't enough to stop the Knicks and Brunson from stealing home court advantage on Wednesday night.
But this youthful Spurs team is gaining experience by the day, and they are confident they can bounce back in Game 2.
“We’re confident but also have a chip on our shoulder from this game we just lost," Harper said. "You never want to lose and going into this next game, we’re going to be even more hungrier and keep on proving.”
“We’ve been down in a series before," Wembanyama said. "I’m not kicking myself about anything, really. I’m not worried in the slightest.”
Game 2 takes place Friday night.
Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Jhoan Duran enjoying best season yet, Trevor Megill trending up in Milwaukee
In this week's Closer Report, Jhoan Duran continues to dominate as he's on track for his best season yet. No one has been better at run prevention than Louis Varland. And Trevor Megill appears to be back in the driver's seat for saves in Milwaukee. All that and more as we cover the last week in saves around baseball.
⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
Check out this week’s Stolen Base Report!
2026 Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings
▶ Tier 1
Mason Miller - San Diego Padres
Cade Smith - Cleveland Guardians
Jhoan Duran - Philadelphia Phillies
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Raisel Iglesias- Atlanta Braves
Miller worked around two walks, striking out two batters while converting a four-out save against the Nationals on Friday. After giving up his only two runs of the season on April 27, he's back on a ten-game scoreless streak. His 22.5% swinging-strike rate leads the majors, well above the next best at 19.8% by Andrés Muñoz.
Smith made two appearances this week. He struck out the side against the Red Sox on Friday, then gave up one run before holding on for his 21st save against the Yankees on Wednesday. The 27-year-old right-hander holds a 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts over 28 2/3 innings.
Duran locked down three saves with perfect outings against the Dodgers and Padres. He struck out the side against the Padres on Tuesday, then struck out two more on Wednesday for his 14th save. His current 42% strikeout rate is by far a career high, topping his 33.5% in his 2022 rookie year.
Chapman didn't see any save chances this week, but made one scoreless appearance against the Guardians on Sunday, striking out two. The 38-year-old left-hander had gone ten days without pitching, with his last save coming on May 20. He owns a 0.48 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings.
Iglesias converted two saves this week, tossing scoreless innings against the Blue Jays and Reds. His only two runs of the season have come in one outing, giving him a 0.96 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings while converting 11 saves.
▶ Tier 2
Bryan Baker - Tampa Bay Rays
Louis Varland - Toronto Blue Jays
Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
Gregory Soto - Pittsburgh Pirates
Paul Sewald - Arizona Diamondbacks
Two more saves for Baker this week, giving him 16 on the season with a 2.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts over 25 1/3 innings. There's been no doubt for a while that Baker has earned the trust to operate as the full-time closer in Tampa Bay. It's still just surprising that we have a Rays reliever well inside the top ten.
In Toronto, Varland recorded his eighth save of the season, recording four outs against the Orioles on Thursday. He then pitched the eighth against the heart of the order on Saturday before Jeff Hoffman surrendered five runs to blow the lead in the ninth. That further cements Varland as the reliever to roster on the Blue Jays. The 28-year-old right-hander has the lowest ERA among closers at 0.29 with a 1.03 WHIP and 42 strikeouts over 31 innings.
Muñoz surrendered a run to blow a save chance against the Diamondbacks on Friday, his fourth blown save of the season. He then pitched a scoreless inning in a non-save situation against the Mets on Monday. The 27-year-old right-hander remains at nine saves with a 4.76 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings. At some point, we hope the results will start to fall in line with the underlying indicators. Still, Muñoz just hasn't been able to string together enough scoreless outings, making it harder to justify a top spot in the closer rankings.
Scott tossed a clean ninth inning with one strikeout on Friday for a save against the Phillies, then was hit for three runs in the eighth to blow a lead on Saturday. The three runs matched the number of runs he had allowed all season. Scott then bounced back with a scoreless ninth inning against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday for his sixth save. Edwin Díaz has started a throwing progression, but is still expected to be sidelined until after the All-Star break as he recovers from surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow.
It's been a frustrating season for fantasy managers rostering Palencia. He made three scoreless appearances this week, but is still searching for his first save since May 14. He's converted just three this season despite an excellent 1.98 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings.
Soto picked up a win and two saves. The Pirates had entered the ninth inning with a six-run lead on Tuesday, and Dennis Santana was out to finish the game. Santana surrendered two runs and brought the tying run on deck before Santana stepped in and struck out the final two batters for his eighth save. Soto couldn't quite get it done on Wednesday. He was summoned with two outs and two runners on to protect a three-run lead and gave up three hits and a walk, bringing five runs in without recording an out. Still, there's no doubt about who's taking the ninth inning in Pittsburgh. Soto has enjoyed a resurgent season, posting a 2.86 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 34 strikeouts over 28 1/3 innings.
Sewald made one appearance this week, tossing a clean inning against the Dodgers on Monday for his 15th save of the season. The 36-year-old right-hander has been effective for the Diamondbacks, with a 3.63 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts over 22 1/3 innings. Sewald has been a bit lucky, with a .122 BABIP and 61.4% strand rate. While those numbers aren't likely to hold up, we'll take the saves production for now.
▶ Tier 3
Josh Hader - Houston Astros
Riley O'Brien - St. Louis Cardinals
David Bednar - New York Yankees
Devin Williams - New York Mets
Jacob Latz - Texas Rangers
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Pete Fairbanks - Miami Marlins
Seranthony Domínguez - Chicago White Sox
In Houston, the Astros get their closer back, activating Hader from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. He got his first save opportunity on Wednesday and converted, working around one walk while striking out one batter in a scoreless inning against the Pirates. The 32-year-old left-hander was sidelined with a biceps issue all season. He hadn't pitched for the team since August 8 of last year after a shoulder injury ended his 2025 campaign early. Hader steps back in as the primary closer, but will continue to carry an elevated injury risk.
O'Brien has made 27 appearances so far this season. He didn't allow a run across his first 13 outings. Over the last 14, he's given up 12 runs. He recovered with a scoreless outing on Wednesday against the Rangers to convert his 15th save to go with a 3.95 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts over 27 1/3 innings.
Bednar worked around two baserunners in his only outing against the Athletics on Sunday. He continues to work through a high volume of traffic on the bases, but I wouldn't expect his .368 BABIP to last all season.
Williams had a much better week despite not seeing any save chances, tossing two clean frames against the Marlins and Mariners. He had a solid stretch through May until giving up four runs on May 24. Inconsistencies have led to a 5.40 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts over 20 innings.
The Rangers have consistently gone to Latz for most of the team's save situations since late April. He picked up two more saves this week on back-to-back days, giving him eight with a 2.00 ERA, 0.59 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts over 27 innings.
Megill has been pitching well over the last couple of weeks, with seven straight scoreless outings. He's appeared to take back the role of primary closer in Milwaukee, picking up two saves this week. Megill has converted the last three saves for the team and is up to eight on the season. Meanwhile, Abner Uribe recorded his last save on May 19. During Megill's seven-game scoreless streak, he's struck out nine batters to zero walks while allowing just two hits.
Fairbanks gave up two runs in the tenth inning to take the loss against the Mets on Friday, then tossed a scoreless inning on Monday before locking down his seventh save on Wednesday against the Nationals. The 32-year-old right-hander is a possible trade candidate at the deadline should the Marlins slide out of contention over the next two months.
Domínguez didn't see a save chance this week, but did make back-to-back scoreless outings with a pair of clean innings. He was unavailable on Sunday, as Tyler Davis stepped in for the final two outs to record the save against the Tigers. Domíguez has converted 11 saves with a 3.97 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings.
▶ Tier 4
Rico Garcia - Baltimore Orioles
Kirby Yates - Los Angeles Angels
Kaleb Killian/Keaton Winn - San Francisco Giants
Clayton Beeter - Washington Nationals
Kyle Finnegan/Will Vest - Detroit Tigers
Lucas Erceg - Kansas City Royals
Garcia made three scoreless appearances, including a clean frame with two strikeouts against the Red Sox on Tuesday for his fourth save. Garcia had been splitting save chances with Anthony Nunez, but Nunez has given up eight runs over his last six outings. Garcia is filling in for Ryan Helsley, who is progressing through his recovery from right elbow inflammation. Helsley is in the live bullpen session stage of his rehab, but will likely still need at least a couple more weeks before he's ready to return.
Yates gave up one run and took a loss against the Rockies on Monday, then tossed a scoreless ninth inning in a blowout win on Wednesday. The 39-year-old right-hander has given up four runs with a 12/4 K/BB ratio across 9 1/3 innings while converting one save.
Kilian blew the save and took the loss on Friday, giving up five runs against the Rockies in Colorado. He bounced back with a scoreless inning on Sunday, falling in line for a win. With Kilian coming off three appearances in five days, Winn handled the final five outs against the Brewers on Wednesday for his first save. Winn has been the most effective reliever in the Giants' bullpen, but it remains a situation that is unlikely to produce many saves from any one player, given the team's lack of success and Tony Vitello's matchup play in the late innings.
Beeter seemed to step back into the closer role, converting back-to-back saves against the Padres over the weekend. He then entered with two outs in the seventh on Wednesday against the Marlins. Beeter returned for the eighth and gave up two runs. He's probably the likeliest to get the most save chances in Washington, but inconsistency and some matchup-based usage make him incredibly volatile.
The Tigers lost closer Kenley Jansen to the 15-day injured list with pelvic inflammation. Finnegan figured to get the first chance to fill in for the ninth-inning role, but blew a save chance on Friday against the White Sox. Vest recorded the final five outs, giving up one run before holding on for his first save. Vest is probably the reliever to take the chance on, displaying the better underlying skills. Finnegan's -2.6% K-BB rate is nowhere near closer material. That K-BB ratio ranks last among qualified relievers.
The wheels have fallen off for Erceg as he blew two more saves this week. He's now blown a save in four of his last six outings, including three straight. If speculating for saves here, Alex Lange stepped in for the save chance on Wednesday, with Erceg likely unavailable. He struck out two, working around two baserunners to convert the save against the Reds.
▶ Tier 5
Antonio Senzatela - Colorado Rockies
Tony Santillan/Sam Moll - Cincinnati Reds
Yoendrys Gómez/Eric Orze - Minnesota Twins
Mark Leiter Jr./Joel Kuhnel/Hogan Harris - Athletics
Lorenzen’s struggles continue as Rockies drop series finale to Angels 11-4
After a pair of wild games that went in their favor, the Colorado Rockies aimed to secure a series sweep against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday evening. Unfortunately, another lackluster outing from their starting pitcher and an offense that struggled to get going left them trailing early and failing to catch up as they lost 11-4.
Another Rough Outing for Michael Lorenzen
All hopes for a bounce-back performance for Michael Lorenzen in his hometown venue were quickly dashed as the right-hander struggled once again.
Things started ominously as Lorenzen walked Jorge Soler to start the bottom of the first inning. It was apparent from the get-go that he didn’t quite have command of his pitches and struggled to find the zone. After allowing a one-out single to Wade Meckler, Lorenzen escaped the first inning unscathed to strand the two runners on base.
Then the second inning happened.
As Lorenzen continued to search for comfort, moving around the rubber and lengthening his extension, the Angels kicked things off with back-to-back singles from Donovan Walton and Nick Madrigal before Jose Siri laced an RBI double to left field. A wild pitch then allowed Madrigal to score, followed by an RBI single from Logan O’Hoppe to give the Angels a 3-0 lead.
Lorenzen finally got the first out of the inning thanks to an ABS challenge from Hunter Goodman that secured a strikeout of Soler.
Mike Trout then drew a walk, but Lorenzen got a strikeout out of Meckler for the second out of the inning. However, Vaughn Grissom placed a ground ball into left field for a hit that resulted in a run when a throw from Sterlin Thompson wasn’t handled by Goodman, giving the Angels a 4-0 lead, and allowing both trail runners to move up to scoring position.
Another wild pitch scored the Angels’ fifth run, followed by an Oswald Peraza single to make it 6-0. The inning finally ended on a flyout to center field from Walton.
Lorezen tossed 61 pitches through the first two innings, the highest number in his career, but manager Warren Schaeffer stuck with him in the hopes he could just eat some innings. Lorenzen tried to oblige with a quick third, but his night came to an early end when Grissom hit a two-run homer in the fourth to make it an 8-1 game.
“He was obviously behind in counts, left some balls up, and didn’t put the ball where he wanted to.” Schaeffer said after the game. “His command was shaky.”
Lorenzen ended up going just 3.1 innings, allowing eight runs on 10 hits while issuing just two walks and striking out five. He threw 85 pitches, 52 of which were strikes.
“He’s in a period of searching right now,” said Schaeffer. “I have extreme confidence in him that he’s going to come out of it. He’s done it before.”
Offense musters a couple of two-out knocks
It’s been a common theme for the Rockies’ offense to start slow this season, and tonight was another instance of that stereotype.
Facing rookie right-hander Walbert Ureña, the Rockies had a tough task getting things rolling. Through the first 4.2 innings, Colorado had no hits and just one baserunner. Finally, Goodman secured the first hit with a double to center field on a chest-high sinker. Troy Johnston then followed up with an RBI double of his own to get the Rockies on the board, trailing 6-1 at the time.
The Rockies continued trying to make the game interesting in the next inning. Edouard Julien drew a one-out walk, one of three that Ureña allowed. After Jake McCarthy struck out, Tyler Freeman delivered another clutch hit with two outs, tucking a two-run home run beyond the left field wall to make it 8-3. For Freeman, it was his third home run of the season.
That was all the Rockies could muster against Ureña, however, as he ended up allowing just three runs on three hits while striking out seven batters. The Rockies made him work, throwing 99 pitches, but they weren’t able to capitalize and do more damage against him.
After a scoreless seventh inning against former Rockie Drew Pomeranz, reigning NL Rookie of the Month TJ Rumfield got something started for the Rockies with a one-out double in the eighth inning. After Goodman moved him over to third on a groundout, Johnston delivered another two-out hit to drive in Rumfield to make it 11-4.
Aside from a two-out double by Julien, the Rockies went quietly in the ninth to end the game.
The Rockies managed seven hits, including four extra-base hits, but also went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They also struck out nine times and drew three walks.
Bullpen and defense clocks in
Keegan Thompson ended up replacing Lorenzen in that fourth inning as the bullpen clocked in to eat a bulk of innings.
He ended up working 2.2 innings, allowing five runs on three hits with three strikeouts, throwing 30-of-45 pitches for strikes. He left the game with the Rockeis trailing 11-3, but things could have looked much more dire had it not been for a couple of stellar defensive plays in the outfield.
The first batter he faced in the fourth inning lofted a ball deep to center field that would have been a triple at least if it had hit off the wall, but the speedy McCarthy tracked it down with a leaping grab.
The following inning, Trout sent a ball to left field that looked just high enough for a two-run home run, but Sterlin Thompson made a leaping grab to rob the hit and end the inning.
Seth Halvorsen fired a scoreless seventh inning, allowing one hit and recording a strikeout. He then gave way to rookie TJ Shook, who threw just five pitches for a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
In total, the Rockies’ pitching staff gave up 16 hits and had eight strikeouts against three walks. The bullpen alone allowed just three runs on six hits over 4.2 innings with three strikeouts and a walk.
Up Next
The Rockies head back home, where they will enjoy the day off on Thursday.
The Milwaukee Brewers come to town for a weekend series starting Friday with Ryan Feltner (2-1, 4.85 ERA) making his second start since returning from the injured list. Brandon Sproat (1-4, 6.24 ERA) takes the hill for the Brew Crew.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 pm MDT. See you then!
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