Things have not gone well for the Detroit Tigers in the second half of their current homestand against the Boston Red Sox. On Tuesday night, de facto ace hurler Framber Valdez completely fell apart, coughing up 10 runs in three innings en route to a 10-3 loss.
Now facing a possible sweep at home — something unthinkable coming into the series after dominating at Comerica Park in April — the Motor City Kitties turn to right-hander Jack Flaherty, whose woes have continued into the month of May. He has been limited to no more than 3 2/3 innings in his last three starts and has given up 12 runs (10 earned) in nine innings of work.
That stretch includes Flaherty’s previous start against the Red Sox, in which he threw 3 1/3 frames, allowing two runs — but neither earned — on three hits and six walks while striking out three. And that could easily be considered the best of his recent trio of starts.
Right-hander Sonny Gray will be toeing the rubber for the Red Sox in the midst of a perfectly mediocre campaign. Last time he saw the Tigers is also the last game he appeared in, as he left that Patriots’ Day game in the third inning with right hamstring tightness. After a 15-day injury list stint, he returns to action against the same foe.
Take a look below at how the two starters match up on Wednesday night.
Detroit Tigers (18-19) vs. Boston Red Sox (15-21)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:Over the Monster Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 38: RHP Jack Flaherty (0-2, 5.90 ERA) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (2-1, 4.30 ERA)
Happy Wednesday, everyone. Unless, of course, you’re the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers—who had already lost several pitchers to the IL—are losing their ace, Tarik Skubal, to surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow. It’s creating a lot of questions for how the Tigers will proceed as the AL Central becomes unexpectedly tight, and it also raises questions about how both the trade deadline and free agency are going to work.
We’ve got more on that below, as well as some updates from all over baseball, so let’s just get right into it.
To mark the 125th anniversary of the first-ever Red Sox home game, at Huntington Avenue Grounds in 1901, all living Sox alumni with retired numbers will deliver a ceremonial 1st pitch.
The Yankees mourn the loss of legendary broadcaster John Sterling. Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and loved ones at this time. pic.twitter.com/1rCeRC1D61
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 03: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox at bat against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning at Fenway Park on May 03, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Red Sox have won two-straight games against the Detroit Tigers. They sit at 15-21 and made the Tigers the only sub-.500 team to be leading a division. Brayan Bello pitched well — his first 7.0 inning performance since August 22, 2025 against the Yankees.
Boston recorded 12 hits in the 10-3 drubbing of the Tigers, which is important to note. In 2025 they had double digit hits in 59 games, 36% of the season. This year they’ve done that 12 times in 36 games, 33%. In 2025 they lost 13 games with double-digit hits (22%). This year they’ve lost 3 of 12 (25%). With much of the season still to come, including the warmer/traditionally offense-friendly months, the rates might look even closer. But the Sox have quietly put together something that tracks with a more successful season.
And those games this season they lost?
11 hits they fell 8-6 against the Brewers.
10 hits they fell, famously, 13-6 against the Twins in a Garrett Crochet start.
10 hits they fell 10-3 against the Orioles.
This has been a historically bad start to the season. But they’re just 2.5 games out of the playoffs.
We heard all week that this was a big day for Brayan Bello. And of course it was. But in the leadup to the series the talk was also Skubal and Valdez. No one knows what will happen in free agency, but most likely Tarik Skubal is leaving Detroit after the season. And what did the Tigers do? They signed another ace-type to pair with him. I’m glad the Red Sox went in another direction, but the Tigers wanted to go all-in and prepare for the loss. Boston needed a couple bats. Even Craig Breslow said that last fall. But Willson Contreras and Caleb Durbin were not the shape of offense anyone expected.
That said, once the roster was set they needed to play well. And hit well. On the 26th of March they recorded 12 hits. They wouldn’t get 12 again until April 15th. But in the 18 games since then they’ve done that 4 times, including last night. Ten hits? Home runs? 12 in the first 18 games, 15 in the next 18. Six since the start of May. Although it’s not raw numbers separating their parts of season: it’s streaks. April 4-11: zero home runs. They win 3 of 4. April 20-22: zero home runs and losers of 2 out of 3. Then they would homer in 5 straight and win 3 of the 5.
Losing 2-3 to the Astros last weekend was tough, no doubt about it. But the Red Sox had 27 hits distributed as 10, 8, 9 across the series. They scored 3,3, and 1 runs.
They are starting the finale in Detroit with 24 hits already in the bag. The last time they faced Jack Flaherty he only allowed 3 hits but walked 6. And the Sox would end up with 12 total hits once the bullpen was brought in.
Is this the start of something? They’ve looked somewhat better. Guys have had hitting streaks. There have been back-to-back homers and not simply hits, which was a challenge a few weeks ago. There have been men left on base, which is frustrating, but better than not having runners on base at all.
Is this because of changes in the dugout or simply regression to the mean? We don’t know. But it’s good to see. And if they keep hitting, some of those hits will drive in runners. And runners lead to wins.
Cameron felt the tightness in his back after his outing last Thursday against the A’s, and it continued to feel tight as he threw on the days after that start. By Sunday, the Royals made the decision to go with Kolek for Cameron’s start on Tuesday.
“They’re like, ‘Hey, it’s too early to push it,’” Cameron said. “If it were August or September, I would be very capable of pitching through it. Right now, just trying to be smart and see where we are. It’s feeling a lot better. I’ll be ready whenever.”
Having Kolek ready to come up to the big leagues made pushing Cameron back an easier decision. Kolek has been sidelined since late February with a left oblique strain, but he’s made four rehab starts with Omaha over the past month and posted a 2.76 ERA across 16 1/3 innings with four walks and 14 strikeouts. He’s pitched into the 70-pitch range in his past two starts there, so he’s built up for the Royals.
A pitching performance like the one we saw from Michael Wacha last night was simultaneously incredible and kind of boring. But when I say boring, I mean it in a good way. He just cruised all night long outside of one mistake he made in the second inning. He combined with Matt Strahm and Alex Lange to throw just 95 pitches. Pitch data can be a little wonky so I’m not going to give you any interesting stats because I can’t trust Stathead on this one, but the last time the Royals threw fewer than 100 pitches in a game where they threw all nine innings was August 11, 2016 in a 2-1 win over the White Sox. I believe it’s the 32nd time they’ve thrown nine innings in a game and thrown fewer than 100 pitches.
Many want to be reimbursed and others planned to wait to subscribe next year. “I paid $100 at the beginning of the year,” one fan wrote on X. “What are yall going to do for customers like me? Seems like a bad way to earn customer loyalty.” Another noted the change to the broadcast crew: “These geniuses not only took @RexHudler1 out of the booth, now they’re giving a discount, after we’ve already coughed up $100…. I hate them.” “I’ll take my $50 check whenever you want since I signed up at the beginning of the season. Thanks,” a third wrote. “Address should be on file.”
But seriously, Witt continues to be one of baseball’s must-watch talents. After a slow start (by his standards) to April, he finished the month blazing, going 18-for-54 (.333 batting average) over his final 13 games, with two homers, a triple and six doubles, a .986 OPS.
Even when he wasn’t contributing with his bat over the month’s first 14 games, he was using his legs, going 7-for-8 in stolen base opportunities.
That, plus his standout defense at short, allowed him to finish fifth in fWAR for the month (1.5)
At an MLB-wide level, cleanup hitters are batting .245 with a .750 OPS, producing more home runs than any other spot in the lineup.
Royals pitching, however, has been lights out against that portion of the opponent’s lineup, allowing just a .252 on-base percentage that ranks best in the majors.
Starters Kris Bubic, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha all have a sub-.450 OPS against or better when dealing with the No. 4 hitter.
This is an either/or situation here, not a both. But if San Diego wants to build on its surprisingly strong start to this season, it’s going to need to bolster a rotation that so far has been making it work with guys like Griffin Canning, Walker Buehler and Matt Waldron behind Michael King. Hopefully Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove make it back at some point, but that’s a big if, and either Lugo or Wacha would profile nicely as a back-end innings-eater that will make full use of the pitcher-friendly confines of Petco Park.
An Olathe resident becomes the oldest hiker to reach Mount Everest’s base camp. Congratulations to Dave McClung! Did you recently have a good moment in your life that you are proud of? Let’s celebrate it in the comments.
Today’s song of the day is Nose on the Grindstone by Tyler Childers.
Jonathan Sanchez is mobbed by his teammates after he pitched a no-hitter at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, July 10, 2009. (Photo By Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Good morning, baseball fans!
We are in the middle of a new feature for May that I’m calling the “12 Days of Mays-mas” because I won’t be around for this week, and I want to leave you guys with some fun things to watch while I’m gone.
For the sixth day of Mays-mas, I thought we could take a look at a somewhat forgotten gem from the era. So much so that there isn’t even a full version available on YouTube, unfortunately. But before Matt Cain’s perfect game, before Tim Lincecum’s no-hitters, and before the championships started rolling in, there was a bright spot for Giants fans in the form of Jonathan Sánchez throwing a no-hitter in July of 2009.
I think it often gets overlooked considering what came after it, but it definitely deserves some love for Mays-mas. So here’s a highlight video to celebrate the occasion.
What time do the Giants play today?
The San Francisco Giants wrap up this three-game home series against the San Diego Padres this afternoon at 12:45 p.m. PT.
NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 22: Nico Daws #50 of the New Jersey Devils defends his net during the second period of the game against the Minnesota Wild on October 22, 2025 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Our free agency preview continues this week at All About the Jersey, and after taking a look at some of the bigger-ticket items last week, I thought it would be a good idea this week to dig a little deeper and look at some of the goaltenders who are up for new deals.
At the NHL level, there are no goaltenders up for new deals thanks in large part to one of our former GM’s final parting gifts, an ill-advised and poorly timed contract extension for one Jacob Markstrom. Barring some unforeseen transaction (more on that in a bit), the Devils appear slated to enter next season by running it back with the Markstrom and Jake Allen pairing in net.
The AHL level is a different story though, as the two netminders who primarily saw time with the Comets this past season are due new contracts. Nico Daws and Jakub Malek are both pending RFAs with arbitration rights, and are both likely, at a bare minimum, to be tendered a contract.
Let’s take a look at both goaltenders, see how they’ve performed this past season, and determine whether or not the Devils will indeed bring one or both back.
One of my larger themes in that aforementioned article is that while Daws has potential, I didn’t think it was apparent that the Devils trusted him at the NHL level to the point where they were going to continue to go “big game hunting” and “fix their goaltending” with a more proven option. Shortly after writing that, the Devils indeed made their big acquisition in net when they traded a 1st round pick and Kevin Bahl to the Calgary Flames for the aforementioned Markstrom. Markstrom and Allen have primarily been the NHL tandem for the last two seasons. This has left Daws as the “break glass in case of emergency” organizational third goaltender, a role that he has performed well in in limited action.
With only seven starts (and nine appearances) total at the NHL level the past two seasons, Daws hasn’t played much for the Devils. But when he has played, he has generally looked good. He has a .925 save percentage over those nine games and has saved 5.3 goals above expected. Again, its a very small sample size, but even if he regresses off of that over a larger body of work, Daws certainly looks like a guy who could put up the “average goaltending” that is often wished for around these parts when someone writes the “what if the Devils just had average goaltending” article when the season goes awry.
Daws, who will already be entering his age 26 season, has plenty of experience at the AHL level. His save percentages of .890, .893, and .892 over the last three seasons at Utica don’t exactly jump off the page as someone who has mastered the AHL level, although a lot of that can likely be attributed to Utica mostly being a bad team for much of him time there. Still, with over 150 AHL games (including postseason), I don’t think he has much of anything left to prove at the AHL level. He has plenty of experience. He’s as NHL-ready as he’s ever going to be. The question is whether or not the Devils determine if he is good enough to hold down a role as part of an NHL tandem for a full season, or if he’ll always be a ‘tweener’ AAAA-type who might be too good for the minor leagues but not good enough for the major leagues.
Tom Fitzgerald seemingly decided at some point over the last few years that the answer to that question is no, he’s not good enough. Markstrom and Allen are blocking him at the NHL level, Fitzgerald extended both of them, and this presumably leaves no room for Daws to break through.
But with that said, Tom Fitzgerald has been wrong before. Tom Fitzgerald never actually did fix the goaltending for the Devils despite his efforts to do so. Tom Fitzgerald is no longer the Devils general manager in large part because he failed to fix the goaltending (as well as other reasons). And with a new GM in Sunny Mehta comes, potentially, a fresh start.
I don’t know how Sunny Mehta will view the goaltending situation that he is inheriting, and he certainly didn’t tip his hand in regards to how he feels about any of the players when he met with the media a few weeks ago. Mehta didn’t draft Daws, nor did he trade for and sign Markstrom or Allen, so he has no preconceived notions or attachments to anyone on the Devils organizational depth chart in net.
What we do know, and what we’ve talked about in the past, is that the Devils salary cap situation is tight. If one is looking at areas where the Devils could stand to shave a few dollars off of payroll, it might be the $6M AAV goaltender who was dreadful last season that the previous regime committed to.
But is there a universe where Mehta looks at the Devils internal options and simply declares that Daws should be playing at the NHL level? Or at the very least, the Devils shouldn’t be willing to toss away Daws for nothing, whether that’s allowing him to sign overseas this summer or losing him on waivers? With two goaltenders in their mid 30s, maybe it makes sense for the Devils to be the rare NHL team that carries three goaltenders. Maybe having a younger goaltender dressing as the backup and giving the other, older goaltender a true day off on game days would make it more likely that Sheldon Keefe or whoever the coach is develops a quick hook if the starter “simply doesn’t have it” on any given night. It would require some forward, outside the box thinking, but if anyone seems capable of that, wouldn’t it be Sunny Mehta?
The Devils, as an organization, seem to be in a holding pattern while they’re waiting for Mikhail Yegorov to maybe someday be “the guy” in net. That’s fine, but Yegorov will not be an option for the Devils on Opening Night five months from now. They have to find a viable option in net in the meantime. They have to find the best options to win games here and now.
The Devils made their bed with the Markstrom situation, and if they want out of it now before the contract even starts, its complicated as to how they could feasibly make that happen. It’s a mess that Mehta is inheriting. That said, would it be all that surprising if Mehta wanted to move on from a statistically bottom-five, aging goaltender that he didn’t sign in the first place. As annoying and painful as it would be to take on that dead cap charge for a contract that hasn’t even begun yet, it might be what’s best for the Devils in the short-term and long-term.
AFP Analytics is projecting a 1-year, $892,500 contract for Daws, which is a slight raise from his previous AAV of $812,500. If he’s back with the Devils, I could see him agreeing to something close to that. Of course, I say ‘if’ because Daws might be ultimately fed up with his professional career stalling in North America. He might be fed up with Markstrom and Allen blocking him and the Devils not trading him somewhere where he could potentially make the NHL roster. And perhaps when Mehta does his evaluations, he comes to the conclusion that he likes Markstrom more than Daws for whatever reason. Maybe Mehta accepts that he can’t really do anything in net for the time being.
I say all that to say it wouldn’t be surprising to me if Daws said “thanks, but no thanks” when the Devils likely qualify him and he signs somewhere in Europe.
With the management change in New Jersey though, perhaps this is exactly the clean slate that Daws needs to finally carve out an NHL role with the Devils.
Jakub Malek
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been five years since Jakub Malek was drafted on a Zoom call at the NHL Network studios in Secaucus, but that is indeed the case.
Malek, the Devils 4th round pick in 2021, is well traveled. He played for VHK Vsetin of the Czechia2 league in 2021-22 and three seasons with Ilves of Liiga. The Devils actually signed him to his ELC on May 28th, 2024, but they wound up loaning Malek to Ilves for that aforementioned third season.
This past season was his first professional season in North America, and while he did get into a couple of games with the Adirondack Thunder, he primarily split the net with Daws at Utica. Malek posted an .895 save percentage over his 31 appearances.
Malek has yet to make his NHL debut, but there’s little reason for the Devils to do anything to move on from him at this point. They still have three more years of organizational control before he’s eligible for UFA (versus two for Daws), and unlike Daws, Malek is still exempt from waivers. Malek should be one half of the Utica goaltending tandem for the upcoming season, and time will tell whether or not he develops into anything more than that.
AFP Analytics doesn’t even have a projection for Malek, but I could see him signing something similar to the two-year deal that Daws just completed. Two years, under $900k, and the second year is one-way where Malek is making the same amount of money regardless where he plays. Granted, Daws had nearly 50 games of NHL experience when he signed his deal versus zero for Malek, so maybe that’s wishful thinking on Malek’s part, but the larger point is that a Malek contract isn’t going to break the bank and the Devils will need someone to play the games at the AHL level.
Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt in my mind that the Devils extend a contract offer to both Daws and Malek. They’re both established AHL goaltenders, at a bare minimum, and there’s little reason for the Devils to go out and pursue a Louie Domingue-type to serve as the organizational third goaltender unless one or both goaltenders decides to return to Europe. I suppose an argument could be crafted that that makes sense for Daws if he doesn’t see a path forward in his NHL career. I don’t think that really makes sense for Malek.
The only real question when it comes to whether or not the Devils should bring back Nico Daws and Jakub Malek is more of a big picture question on how do the Devils envision their goaltending the next few years. It’s not a question of “should they bring them back” because the answer to that question is yes. But we don’t know how Mehta will view things when it comes to the organizational depth chart.
I do think its worth mentioning that throughout Mehta’s time as an AGM in Florida, the Panthers consistently took a goaltender late in the draft. Devon Levi was a 7th round pick in 2020 who was ultimately flipped to Buffalo in the deal that saw Florida get Sam Reinhart. Kirill Gerasimyuk played in the VHL and MHL for years before coming to North America to play in the AHL. Tyler Muszelik played four years in college before signing an ATO with the Charlotte Checkers. The Panthers have since drafted Olog Glifford, Denis Gabdrakhmanov, and Yegor Midlak in the latter rounds the last three seasons.
I say all that to say if that philosophy sounds familiar, its not much different that the Devils approach to trying to find goaltenders by drafting one just about every season, something they’ve done since Ray Shero was the GM. It’s one of those things that could be something, or it could be nothing, but I don’t anticipate the Devils deviating from that approach. The main difference would be Mehta signing off on whoever the Devils are indeed picking going forward.
Even with all of that said though, the Devils still need guys who are capable at the NHL level of stepping in and playing at a moment’s notice. So while Daws and Malek might not necessarily be Mehta’s “guys”, there is reason to keep them around for the time being.
The Vegas Golden Knights take a 1-0 series lead into Game 2 against the Anaheim Ducks tonight, with puck drop scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena.
My Ducks vs. Golden Knights props are targeting Jackson LaCombe to stay hot, while Mitch Marner and John Carlson will also make offensive noise.
Jackson LaCombe continues to lead the Anaheim Ducks in these playoffs. He notched his team-best 10th point in Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights, and all but one have been assists. He set up the Ducks’ lone goal in Game 1, and LaCombe has cashed the Over in helpers in six of his last seven appearances.
The 25-year-old is playing huge minutes right now, averaging at least 27 per game across the last three contests. His TOI in the series opener was 28:07.
LaCombe plays on the top line with two of Anaheim’s best scorers in Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry, and is also a key driving force on PP1.
Game 2 Prop #2: Mitch Marner Over 0.5 assists
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Mitch Marner has been a stud in the playoffs for Vegas, grabbing nine points, which includes six assists. The 28-year-old has hit the Over in helpers in four consecutive outings, and he’s notched an assist in all but one postseason game so far.
Marner finished with two points in the series opener, and he also had 32 helpers in 41 home games during the regular season. The veteran has also fired 10 pucks on net across the last two contests. The chances are there.
Game 2 Prop #3: John Carlson Over 0.5 assists
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LaCombe isn’t the only Ducks defenseman setting up goals.
Trade-deadline acquisition John Carlson had 46 helpers this season, and 10 in just 16 games after arriving in Anaheim. He’s also been productive in the playoffs, tallying six helpers so far.
Carlson has hit the Over in two straight, and he’s notched five assists over his last five. Many of his helpers this season came on the road as well, compiling 29 in only 35 games. He’s rolling, and Carlson is one of the main playmakers on this second line.
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Injured Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts to a play during Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal series in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. (Kyle Phillips / Associated Press)
The answer to the Lakers’ slumping offense sat hunched in a chair in the corner of the visitors' locker room at Paycom Center. Luka Doncic, dressed in a black T-shirt and pants, scrolled on his phone, cornered off by a wall of reporters who all faced LeBron James looking for reasons behind a postseason dry spell.
“We have a guy that averages 37 [points] a game [out],” James said. “Thirty-three-and-a-half. … There’s the issue right there.”
Since Doncic suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in this arena on April 2, the Lakers used heroic performances from James, suddenly hot shooting and stout defense to paper over the absence of their leading scorer. But Tuesday's 108-90 Game 1 loss against the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder showed just how much the Lakers miss Doncic.
On a night they limited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a season-low 18 points and a season-high seven turnovers, the Lakers still never got closer than 11 points in the fourth quarter. The reigning most valuable player scored fewer than 20 points in a game for the first time since May 24, 2025.
The Lakers slugged their way through a defensive battle against the Houston Rockets in the first round, but their offense started lagging midway through the series. They’ve scored fewer than 100 points in four consecutive games, three of them losses. The team that shot a league-leading 50.2% during the regular season has dipped to 46.5%. Their 99.6 points per game in the playoffs is the lowest for any team still playing in the conference semifinals.
“When you play against great defense, you have to have guys that can attract multiple defenders on the floor at all times,” said James, who led the Lakers with 27 points on 12-for-17 shooting. “I feel like we had great shots. We got some great shots tonight, we missed them.”
The Lakers shot 10 for 30 from three-point range. In the first round, the Lakers shot better than 40% from three in all four of their wins compared to no better than 25.9% in their two losses.
The Thunder allowed the seventh-most three-pointers per game during the regular season. Hoping to exploit the weakness, the Lakers got up 30 three-pointers, a relative improvement from their first-round series average of 25.5 per game.
But forward Rui Hachimura, who shot three for six from three, said the team can afford to shoot even more.
Luke Kennard, who burst into the postseason with 50 combined points in Games 1 and 2 against the Houston Rockets, shot only one for three from three. Lakers coach JJ Redick lamented that the NBA’s best three-point shooter passed up some good shots.
The Lakers struggled to generate three-pointers in the aftermath of injuries to Doncic and Austin Reaves. Reaves’ return hasn’t fully jump-started the offense as the guard regains his rhythm after a left oblique strain that sidelined him for four weeks.
Reaves was 0 for five from three in his third game back. He is two-for-17 shooting from distance in the playoffs and had just eight points on three-for-16 shooting Tuesday.
Injured Lakers star Luka Doncic greets teammate Dalton Knecht during the second half of Game 1 on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City. (Kyle Phillips / Associated Press)
“I got to get my spots multiple times and just missed a couple of easy shots,” Reaves said. “But for the most part, you got to limit the turnovers. They pressure the ball really well, just got to give us an opportunity to get a shot on goal every possession.”
The Lakers committed 18 turnovers that led to 20 Oklahoma City points, including 15 in the second half. Redick identified turnovers as the Lakers’ top priority against the most disruptive defense in the league, especially after the Lakers averaged 17.7 turnovers per game during the first round of the playoffs.
The Lakers miss Doncic’s 33.5 points a game, but against such an aggressive defense, they also ache for his ball handling that could ease the pressure on Reaves (four turnovers), Smart (two) and James (two).
“We decided we’re just going to be enough with what we have,” Hachimura said. “But I think those kinds of stuff [Doncic does] — the playmaking, especially against a team like these guys, they pressure the ball — Luka, with his size and his ball handling, everything, he could have been a good playmaker for sure.”
Doncic has increased some of his on-court work recently by incorporating movement into his shooting, but had not progressed to live contact by the time the series began. He posted a photo of himself lifting weights on his Instagram story on Monday, but Redick didn’t give any updates on the star guard’s status.
In the locker room after Tuesday’s game, teammates sat with their feet submerged in buckets of ice and ice packs wrapped around their joints. In his corner between the lockers for James and Reaves, Doncic turned to the side as reporters passed by.
There’s something organic about the way it all happened. A 60-year-old Buffalo man drove around 90 minutes to just outside of Rochester to buy a Body Opponent Bag — now called “Bob the dummy” — on Facebook Marketplace two days before the city’s first playoff game in 15 years. A group of younger Sabres fans known as the Blade Gang veered around KeyBank Center before that same April afternoon.
And when Nick Mastrocovo moved his dummy — donning a Bruins jersey for the Sabres’ first-round opponent — closer to the Blade Gang during the pregame festivities April 19, one member landed a punch. Everyone erupted. Another member tackled the dummy from behind. A viral moment was born. Mastrocovo and his cousin returned for Game 2 in referee jerseys, just in case something got out of control after the added attention. The Blade Gang traveled to Boston for road games. Playoff hockey in Buffalo suddenly had more than a pulse.
It rapidly became the epicenter of the tournament.
Sabres fans partake in pre-game antics involving a dummy dressed in a Bruins jersey before Game 5 of their first-round matchup, won by Buffalo in six games. AP
“I don’t think that they go viral without the dummy … and I don’t think the dummy gets as much love without them,” Mastrocovo told The Post.
For more than a decade, the intersection of Washington and Perry was dormant this time of year. Seasons unofficially ended in December. Aprils were about coaching changes. The Sabres were the punch line on national television. In December, when Buffalo sat in last place in the Eastern Conference, that became the case again, but a historical turnaround that led to the Atlantic Division title has now reached the second round of the postseason for the first time in 18 years — with Game 1 of the second-round series against the Canadiens set for Wednesday in Buffalo.
And at the center of it has been the Sabres fans who “are just nuts,” Mastrocovo said.
“You’d always go out in these stores in Buffalo and you see people wearing [Alex] Ovechkin shirts or [Sidney] Crosby shirts,” Mastrocovo told The Post. “Someone wore something Sabres, the joke was, ‘Oh did you lose a bet?’ And now, you see these kids wearing Sabre jerseys.”
So for the first time since the 2006-07 season, there’s a reason for fans to descend on downtown Buffalo, weaving through the highways and streets where — with a good gust of wind — you can smell the Cheerios from the General Mills factory.
The Sabres are one of 10 NHL teams who haven’t won a Stanley Cup, though they came close in 1999, and for as much as Josh Allen and Bills Mafia and folding-table shenanigans have shaped Buffalo’s sports reputation in recent years, it has always been a hockey city, too.
Sabres fans get pumped up before Game 1 of their first-round series against the Bruins, which they went on to win in six games. NHLI via Getty Images
Mastrocovo’s mom helped clean the visiting locker room at the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, he said. His two hamsters growing up were named Rick and Martin — after one of the members of the Sabres’ French Connection line. Those were links to the initial days, when they made the Stanley Cup Final in just their fifth season, and the Sabres have been a part of his entire life. They advanced to the Eastern Conference finals in 2006 and ’07, but fell short again.
Some of those runs were expected. This one, though, wasn’t.
Alex Tuch, who collected 33 goals during the regular season and another four during their first-round series, hinted at what would happen with fans in the playoffs. “I hope they have a lot of police officers and firemen on duty,” he said on TNT after the Sabres officially clinched a spot in the tournament, “because I feel like the whole city’s gonna burn down. It’s gonna be awesome.”
A Sabres fan skates outside the arena before their Game 5 matchup against the Bruins. Getty Images
Ticket prices have skyrocketed. Local stores started prioritizing Sabres merch again. Watch parties at Canalside, the downtown waterfront, made cameos on broadcasts, capturing the pent-up energy. When singer Cami Clune’s microphone stopped working during the Canadian national anthem in Game 5, fans inside KeyBank Center picked up with the words and created a crescendo that spread across social media.
When the Sabres returned home from Boston after clinching the first-round series in Game 6, fans gathered at the airport to greet the team. The dummy, still in a Cam Neely No. 8 jersey, was there, too. Players recorded the scene as they drove by. And for around 30 minutes each pregame, Mastrocovo’s dummy entered the spotlight. Fans wanted pictures as it rolled up the street.
It took a beating, he joked. He messaged the woman he bought it from again and said, “Hey, I’m not sure if you caught anything online, but I just want you to know what happened to your dummy.”
Sabres fans get pumped up before Game 1 of their series against the Bruin in which they won in six games. NHLI via Getty Images
“This is the best marketplace sale I’ve ever had,” he recalled her replying.
The question becomes how long this will all last. Behind forward Tage Thompson (40 regular-season goals) and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (74 points) and a goaltender in Alex Lyon who became the starter in the middle of the Bruins series, their season could last until June.
Mastrocovo thinks it’s all sustainable for future seasons, too. For now, they’re guaranteed four more games against the Canadiens. For two of those, Mastrocovo’s dummy will have a plain, red Montreal jersey on — he has a Guy Lafleur one but wanted to be respectful.
The fans, and the spectacle that the dummy and the Blade Gang and the watch party creates, will be at the center of everything.
“It’s just balls to the wall, 100 percent, let’s go,” Mastrocovo said.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 5: Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In Tuesday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Detroit beat Cleveland, 111-101, while Oklahoma City knocked off Los Angeles, 108-90.
Tyrese Proctor got another DNP, but it’s the playoffs, and he’s a rookie, so no big surprise.
In the nightcap, Luke Kennard finished with 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist.
For his part, Jared McCain finished with 12 points, including 4-5 on his three-point attempts. He also had 2 rebounds and 2 assists.
On Wednesday, Mason Plumlee and the San Antonio Spurs take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2. The teams played on Monday, but Plumlee didn’t get any time, so we didn’t think it justified a full post.
1961: Adrian Smith #10 of the Cincinnati Royals poses during a mock action portrait session in 1961. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1961 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The University of Kentucky is mourning the loss of a true legend. Adrian ‘Odie’ Smith, a cornerstone of Kentucky’s storied history and a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, passed away on April 28. He was 89 years old. The university released a statement Monday announcing the passing.
Smith leaves behind a legacy that stretches from the bluegrass of Lexington to the Olympic podium in Rome, and all the way to the NBA record books. So, if it’s a name you are unfamiliar with, here is everything you need to know.
A champion in Lexington
Smith transferred to Kentucky from Northeast Mississippi Junior College and made a huge impact. Playing under Adolph Rupp during the 1957-58 season, Smith was a beloved member of the iconic ‘Fiddlin’ Five’ that captured the 1958 NCAA National Championship.
He was a steady presence, averaging 10.2 points across 51 total games. When the lights were brightest, Smith delivered, elevating his game to average nearly 14 points per contest during UK’s four-game run to the national title.
UK Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart released a statement honoring Smith’s profound impact on the university:
“Odie holds a special place in the history, and the treasured heritage, of Kentucky Basketball. His accomplishments on the court – the NCAA championship at UK, two gold medals representing the United States in international competition, and his 11-year pro career – speak for themselves. What I remember most about Odie is that he had such a positive presence. He was a bright light wherever he went, always smiling, always cheerful, and most of all, so incredibly proud that he had played for the Wildcats.”
Military service and Olympic gold
Smith’s path to professional stardom was anything but conventional. After a brief, unsuccessful stint with the Cincinnati Royals, who drafted him in the 15th round, Smith joined the US Army.
While serving his country, he was selected to represent the United States at the Pan American Games in Chicago, winning a gold medal. That earned him a spot on the legendary 1960 U.S. Olympic Team. Playing alongside future icons like Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Jerry Lucas, Smith helped secure a gold medal in Rome.
Following the gold medal game, Smith climbed onto the shoulders of teammate Darrall Imhoff to cut down the net. It is a keepsake that the University said he kept his entire life.
A unique piece of NBA History
Smith eventually found his footing in the NBA, rejoining the Cincinnati Royals in 1961 to form a dynamic backcourt duo with Oscar Robertson, dubbed the “Big O” and the “Little O.”
During the 1965-66 season, Smith averaged a career-high 18.4 points per game, earning him his first and only selection to the NBA All-Star Game. Playing in front of his hometown Cincinnati crowd, Smith stole the show. He scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds, outshining 16 future Hall of Famers to win the All-Star Game MVP award.
To this day, Smith remains the only player in NBA history to win All-Star MVP honors in his lone appearance in the game. He received a Ford Galaxie 500 convertible for the achievement, a car he proudly owned for the remainder of his life.
The only other Kentucky player to win the NBA All-Star MVP is Anthony Davis.
A life well lived
Smith wrapped up his 11-year professional career on the West Coast with the San Francisco Warriors and spent his final season in the ABA with the Virginia Squires, sharing the court with a rookie named Julius Erving. He finished with 8,750 career points.
Following his playing days, Smith transitioned into a highly successful banking career in Cincinnati. His home state of Kentucky never forgot his contributions; he was an inaugural member of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006, and his hometown dedicated the Adrian ‘Odie’ Smith Highway in his honor in 2015.
He is survived by his son, Tyler, and his brother, Kenny.
Big Blue Nation has lost a champion, a patriot, and a pioneer of the game. Rest in peace, Odie.
Ødegaard takes ‘massive confidence’ from semi-final
Arsenal will travel to Budapest for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich with no trace of an inferiority complex, according to Leandro Trossard, who knows that anything is possible in a one-off game.
The Arsenal winger and his teammates drank in the euphoria after Tuesday night’s 1-0 home win over Atlético Madrid in the semi-final second-leg for a 2-1 aggregate triumph, savouring the achievement and the sense of history. Arsenal have only contested one previous final in the competition, losing to Barcelona in 2006.
Who will win Dodgers vs Astros today: Astros moneyline (+180)
Lance McCullers Jr. is trending up at exactly the right time, generating 13 swings and misses across six innings against Baltimore last week.
The Houston Astros have also been the hotter offense over the last seven days, posting a 107 wRC+ while theLos Angeles Dodgers rank 14th with just two home runs and a .085 ISO.
Nearly 2/1 underdogs with an offense this dangerous is too much to pass up.
COVERS INTEL:Alvarez ranks in the 89th percentile, with a 51.3% hard-hit rate across 117 batted-ball events.
Dodgers vs Astros Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-112)
Glasnow is excellent but has surrendered four home runs this season, and the wind blowing out at Daikin Park on a hot, humid afternoon turns warning-track shots into runs.
The Astros bullpen ranks among the worst in baseball over the last seven days, posting a 5.88 ERA with a 15% home run rate.
Alvarez is a genuine threat to go deep against anyone, and once both starters exit, neither pen inspires confidence.
The Over is 6-4 in their previous 10 meetings, and this total is begging to be cleared.
Phil Naessens' 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 5-9, -3.05 units
Over/Under bets: 5-7, -3.16 units
Dodgers vs Astros odds
Moneyline: Dodgers -194 | Astros +186
Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (-117) | Astros +1.5 (+113)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-117) | Under 8.5 (+108)
Dodgers vs Astros trend
The Astros are 7-3 in their previous 10 games with the Dodgers. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Astros.
How to watch Dodgers vs Astros and game info
Location
Daikin Park, Houston, TX
Date
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
First pitch
2:10 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet LA, SCHN
Dodgers starting pitcher
Tyler Glasnow (3-0, 2.56 ERA)
Astros starting pitcher
Lance McCullers Jr. (2-2, 6.32 ERA)
Dodgers vs Astros latest injuries
Dodgers vs Astros weather
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This was just as well in the wake of manager Gabe Alvarez’s sudden firing on Tuesday. The team could probably use the time to absorb the news, as whatever his violation, Alvarez has had a reputation as a pretty popular and well-liked manager. With Mike Hessman now the interim skipper, the Hens will play two at Fifth Third Park on Wednesday, with Game 1 set for an 11:05 a.m. ET start time. With the team gutted by the Tigers needs and a setback for starter Sawyer Gipson-Long, the Tigers have moved reliever Eric Silva and lefty starter Carlos Peña up to the Triple-A level to help out.
The SeaWolves’ bullpen managed to lock down the late innings as the lineup roared to life in the seventh and eighth innings to come back and bury the Senators on Tuesday.
The SeaWolves had an early lead in this one, but couldn’t keep it. John Peck continued to swing the hot bat, leading off the top of the second with a double. Justice Bigbie was hit by a pitch, and after a pair of strikeouts, Andrew Jenkins reached on a throwing error from the Senators’ shortstop, Seaver King. That loaded the bases, and an infield hit from E.J. Exposito made it a 1-0 game. Brett Callahan pulled a grounder through the right side to score Bigbie, but unfortunately a rocket off the bat of Peyton Graham was hauled in by the center fielder, holding the SeaWolves to two runs.
A Graham throwing error allowed the leadoff man to reach in the bottom half, and Luke Taggart allowed two runs. Thayron Liranzo doubled to start the third inning, and a pair of deep fly balls brought him around to make it 3-2 SeaWolves. Unfortunately, Johan Simon and Duque Hebbert combined to give up two runs in the fourth.
So it was a 4-3 Senators lead, and that didn’t change until Callahan led off the seventh with a game tying solo blast. That was the outfielder’s fifth on the year already. Meanwhile, Hebbert settled things down through the middle innings, giving way to Tyler Owens, who threw a clean bottom of the seventh.
A six-run rally followed from the SeaWolves in the top of the eighth. Bigbie doubled and Chris Meyers was hit by a pitch. Izaac Pacheco smoked a single into center field to load the bases, and Jenkins was walked to force in the go-ahead run. 5-4 SeaWolves. The next two hitters struck out, but a catchers interference call with Graham batting forced in a second run, and then Liranzo drew a walk as well. That brought Peck to the dish with the bases still juiced, and the hot hitting shortstop delivered, dumping a two-run single into right field. Peck then stole second, drawing a throw that went wild, and Liranzo scored from third. When the smoke cleared, it was 10-4, and Trevin Michael would keep it that way over the final two frames in relief.
Peck: 2-5, R, 2 RBI, 2B, SB
Callahan: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR, BB, K
Liranzo: 1-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, BB, K
Pacheco: 2-4, R, BB, K, SB
Hebbert: 2.2 IP, ER, H, K
Coming Up Next: It’s an 11:00 a.m. ET first pitch on Wednesday in Harrisburg as well.
The Whitecaps losing streak reached a shocking nine in a row as they again dropped a close game on Tuesday. In the past week and a half they’ve been walked off twice, and despite putting up solid run totals, just havent’ been able to get their pitching staff going.
Right-hander Hayden Minton got the start in this one, and true to form for much of the rotation recently, he wasn’t terrible but still leaked three runs in 3.2 innings of work. Inohan Paniagua took over to finish the fourth inning, but then he allowed a run on two hits in the fifth.
So it was a 4-0 lead for the Dragons when a leadoff single from Jackson Strong, followed by singles from Juan Hernandez and Andrew Sojka produced the ‘Caps first run. That was all they’d get but in the bottom of the fifth. Seth Chavez allowed a leadoff triple in the top of the sixth, but second baseman Samuel Gil got a ground ball and cut the runner down at the plate and Chavez escaped unscathed.
In the bottom of the sixth, Garrett Pennington singled and rode home on a two-run shot from Clayton Campbell that made it a 4-3 Dayton lead. Unfortunately, Luke Stofel allowed a run in the top of the ninth for some Dragons’ insurance.
Strong led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and eventually scored on a Cristian Santana sacrifice fly, but that was as close as they’d get.
Campbell: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR, 2 K
Strong: 2-3, 2 R, BB, K
Rainer: 0-4, 3 K
Minton (L, 0-2): 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: There is hope for the Whitecaps pitching staff now that Ben Jacobs has moved up from Lakeland. His first start in the Midwest League was impressive. Kelvis Salcedo and lefty Grayson Grinsell probably aren’t too many weeks from joining him there. The Whitecaps will look to end their skid at 6:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Grayson Grinsell had a tough day on the mound, and the Flying Tigers’ offense didn’t do a whole lot at the plate in this first of six at home.
Beau Brieske made his first rehab appearance the spring. The Tigers could really use him back about now, so it was a positive sign seeing him toss a perfect first inning with a pair of strikeouts. He was 95-96 mph with the fastball, so a move to Toledo to complete his rehab work won’t be long. With any luck, he could rejoin the Tigers by sometime next week.
Grinsell took over in the second and had his first rough pro outing after looking great in April. He allowed a triple that turned into a run before tossing a clean third inning. However, in the fourth everything went sideways. A single and then a homer allowed with one out started things off poorly. Then a double and a Jordan Yost error on what would have been the second out set the table for a three-run shot that made it a 6-0 game.
The offense was missing in action until the seventh when Jesus Pinto led off with a double. Jude Warwick doubled Pinto home with two outs, and then scored on a Sergio Tapia single. Max Anderson went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in his rehab assignment.
May 5, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61) throws a pitch against the Athletics during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Death, taxes, Cristopher Sanchez pitching well at Citizens Bank Park. Makes you wonder if the mound there is perhaps different than the mounds across the game. There was always the allegations that the mound at Dodger Stadium was taller than anywhere else, so maybe there is something different.
Jackson LaCombe
Mitch Marner
COVERS INTEL: 
