Playoff Game Preview: Knicks at 76ers, Game 3, May 8, 2026

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks is helped to his feet by Mikal Bridges #25 and Jalen Brunson #11 during the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 06, 2026 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I enter tonight’s game more calm and serene than any other game this postseason. And I don’t particularly think I’m the only Knicks fan who feels that way. For many, the last 36 hours involved being an involuntary passenger on a roller coaster ride of emotions.

After seeing the Knicks win an ugly and gritty Game 2, the win almost felt meaningless due to the large void left by the uncertainty surrounding OG Anunoby’s injury. His suffering a significant injury would be a gutshot to fans, and a death sentence for a Knicks championship run.

Following hours and hours of refreshing social media feeds, trying not to have PTSD from Anunoby’s hamstring injury in 2024, and role-playing as an orthopedic doctor, fans let out a collective sigh of relief when reports started surfacing that Anunoby’s hamstring strain was mild and that he was just day-to-day.

Because fans, for the most part, were expecting the worst, his diagnosis feels like a bullet dodged, making tonight’s game against the 76ers somehow feel less dire. That being said, it’s still a road playoff game against a desperate and hungry rival looking to claw itself back into the series. A loss tonight means a little less room for error moving forward, while also giving Philadelphia a bit more confidence and momentum. Meanwhile, a win tonight would buy them, and more specifically, Anunoby, more time.

While the weight and emotions going into the game may feel different, the significance of the game doesn’t change. Nick Nurse and the 76ers will continue to change some things up. They’ll likely be better prepared to deal with the aggressive trapping of Tyrese Maxey. They’ll also likely double down on pressuring Jalen Brunson now with OG Anunoby out. And as backup point guard Kyle Lowry mentioned, they’ll make sure to pressure Karl-Anthony Towns more on the perimeter.

Unlike the fans, though, the Knicks likely aren’t going into this game as though they have multiple lives. While human nature may take over and give them at least a slight sense of relief, these Knicks have displayed more sense of urgency and focus since their Game 3 loss to the Hawks in the last round. From Brunson, Towns, and Mikal Bridges, who have been playing incredibly well, to bench players Deuce McBride, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, and Jose Alvarado, along with the now probable Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson, this team should come into the game ready to compete.

Whether they win or not is still up in the air, but they have the depth, offensive firepower, and defense to defeat what is still a fatigued and very thin 76ers team.

Prediction

If Joel Embiid is out again tonight, which I suspect will be the case with the Knicks being sans Anunoby, I expect another close back-and-forth affair between these two teams. I do think the 76ers will come up hot, much like they did in Game 1. They’ll be back home, knowing they are a loss away from going down 3-0, and will also know that the Knicks are wounded, missing one of, if not, their best postseason performers.

But this battle-tested Knicks have been like roaches, and I mean that in the most endearing way someone can use that word. Even when they look tired, or out of sorts, or are just not executing well, they have a remarkable tendency to always give themselves a chance. They’ve got the will and the grit that cannot be quantified by counting stats or analytics. And I think that bodes well for them tonight in a game where things may not go their way. But unlike the last time Anunoby missed a postseason game with a hamstring injury, this team also has depth.

McBride, Shamet, Clarkson, Robinson, and even Mo Diawara have all had huge moments for this team this season and have won multiple games. Replacing Anunoby with one player will be impossible. But they might just be able to recreate him in the aggregate (yes, that was a Moneyballreference).

Knicks win: 105–102

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (2-0) vs Philadelphia 76ers (0-2)
Date: Friday, May 8, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Place: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
TV: Prime Video
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

Zegras not forgetting 3.8 percent, says Flyers are ‘still here' despite 3-0 hole

Zegras not forgetting 3.8 percent, says Flyers are ‘still here' despite 3-0 hole originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

VOORHEES, N.J. — Trevor Zegras was asked about the four teams in NHL history that have come back from a 3-0 playoff series deficit.

He wanted to talk about his team, about the comeback the Flyers have made just to be one of the eight teams still remaining in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“I think a big thing for us this year is that 3.8 percent number,” Zegras said Friday. “I bet not a lot of people, maybe not a lot of people in this [media] room, would have pegged us to be in the second round of the NHL playoffs. We have life, we have opportunity. It’s 3-0, but we’re still here, we’re still playing.”

Back on March 18, the Flyers had a 3.8 percent to make the playoffs, according to MoneyPuck.com. They’ve had that number featured on a team shirt for the playoffs. Now they need to really dig into their belief to dig out of a hole. They trail the Hurricanes 3-0 in this best-of-seven second-round matchup.

This young Flyers team will face its first elimination game Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena (6 p.m. ET/TNT).

“We’ve been dead before, we’ve climbed out of it, we’ve played a lot of playoff games the last two, three months,” Rick Tocchet said. “And now it’s a must-win, this is a do-or-die. How do you go into this game making these guys play relaxed, but also play desperate? I don’t like the word desperate that much; I like the word determined. Can we be more determined tomorrow night? Yeah, I think we can.”

In the first round, the Flyers were on the other side of the 3-0 conversation. They ripped off wins in the first three games of their series against the Penguins. They felt the pressure when Pittsburgh won Games 4 and 5.

“We know what it’s like to be up 3-0, that feeling when a team wins one game and then wins another game and kind of how the locker room tightens up,” Zegras said.

The Flyers were able to fend off the Penguins with an eke-it-out, 1-0 overtime win in Game 6. It set up a second-round date with Carolina, the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes are still unbeaten in these playoffs after taking the first three games from the Flyers.

“When you’re up 3-0, you feel like, almost in a sense, the series should be over, you just want it be done,” Zegras said. “I think if we can go out and get one tomorrow, they’ll tighten up a little bit. They’re 7-0, haven’t lost in the postseason yet. … We’ve got to do a job to make it as hard as possible tomorrow.”

A huge key for the Flyers will be giving Frederik Andersen a more arduous outing. The Carolina netminder had to make just 18 saves Thursday night in Game 3 as the Flyers lost, 4-1.

“I think there are things we can do against Andersen,” Tocchet said. “Listen, this guy’s playing great, but I think there’s something we can do tactically. Not his weakness, but one of his things that maybe he’s not as good at, I think we can do better at. We discussed it again today. Can we apply it tomorrow? We’ll see.”

More: Flyers without two key forwards in Game 3 loss

Andersen has held the Flyers to just three goals in the series.

“He’s feeling it, so we’ve got to do something different,” Nick Seeler said. “Change the angle, try to get a few more shots on net. I think we had 19 last game. Obviously put a little bit more pressure on him, getting to the net and having our anchors there. Tomorrow’s huge for us and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

The Flyers will hope it’s not their last challenge.

“We’ve shown a ton of fight all season,” Zegras said. “We’ve got a lot of belief and confidence in the room.”

Guardians Analysis: Franco Aleman Gets the Call

After a long wait, it’s finally time to see Franco Aleman on a mound in Cleveland. The 26 year-old, 6-foot-6 specimen of a reliever finally gets the call.

BBWA writer Francys Romero reports the call has been made on Twitter:

I am not sure who @MayDayTimes is, but they had it first:

The big righty reliever had gone through ups and downs in Columbus, primarily with location, but 2026 has seen him completely dominate Triple-A. So where does Aleman fit? That answer is easy: wherever he’s needed. The Guardians bullpen, outside of Erik Sabrowski and recently Matt Festa and Cade Smith, has been abysmal. Colin Holderman has been better lately but isn’t used in big spots. Peyton Pallette can’t find the zone (16.4% BB%), Connor Brogdon has been rough and is coming off an outing where he gave up back to back home runs to Bobby Witt and Vinnie Pasquantino, and Tim Herrin has a horseshoe you know where as he’s running a -4.1% K-BB% but hasn’t allowed an earned run.

So yes, Aleman can and will slide in wherever he’s needed, the question just becomes can he throw enough strikes? This season says yes, but the lurking struggles of 2025 and beyond still loom. Aleman is throwing in the zone a career high 53.9% of the time, a mark 9% higher than 2024 and 2025 combined in Columbus, but the stuff is better. Aleman is generating better spin on his fastball and slider, his only two offerings thus far, and nobody in Triple-A has been able to hit either of them.

Aleman has a bull whip of a release, making for an incredibly uncomfortable at-bat for right-handed hitters. Aleman torments them and fares far better on a rate basis than he does against lefties. Aleman is able to utilize his fastball to cuff righties so that his slider can dive away from them and induce lots of swing and miss. From TJStats, Aleman is running a sub .200 xwOBA against RHH with a preposterous 42.3% strikeout rate.

You’ll notice the walk rate spike against lefties. Aleman being a two pitch pitcher with one being a slider turns him almost into a one pitch guy which lends to longer at-bats and more walks as the chase doesn’t follow. Definitely something to monitor as he makes the leap.

Aleman is not a sure thing nor a savior for the bullpen, but he is a massive step in the right direction. Cleveland shopped in the bargain bin all offseason and are feeling some regrets of their cheapness. Aleman will hopefully be the first of a few arms on the way to Cleveland to aid the back end in their quest to stay Division Champs.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Bryce Eldridge returns, Robby Snelling and Ryan Waldschmidt debut

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, our weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire guide. We'll be doing things a little differently this season, with Eric Samulski publishing the initial waiver-wire article on Friday afternoon. Then James Schiano updates it every Sunday to make sure you get the most up-to-date information.

The premise of the article is pretty straightforward. We'll give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When we list a player, we'll list the category where we think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. We hope it helps you determine if the player fits what your team needs. Not every "trending" player will be a good addition for your specific roster.

To qualify for this list, a player needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. We understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and we can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places, and that can hopefully satisfy readers who play in all league types.

⚾️ Baseball is back on NBC: 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.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

Casey Schmitt - 1B/2B/3B, SF (42% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, HOT STREAK)

Two weeks ago, we had Schmitt on here with the headline "hot streak coming." Since then, Schmitt has hit .318 with four home runs, seven runs scored, and 10 RBI in 13 games. No, he's not going to keep up that pace for the entire season, but he's 27 years old and has shown some intriguing skills in a part-time role before. This year, he's improved his barrel rate to 16.7% and his hard-hit rate to 46.7% by looking to pull and lift the ball more often and being a bit more selective. His zone contact rate is up to 91%, and his swinging strike rate is under 10%. Kudos to you if you were able to scoop him before the hot stretch.

Brooks Lee - 2B/3B/SS, MIN (38% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Few hitters are hotter than Brooks Lee, who is actually a top 40 player in Yahoo formats over the last two weeks because he's hitting .326 with two home runs, eight runs scored, 11 RBI, and two steals. He has just a 5% barrel rate and 33% hard-hit rate, so he's likely overperforming from a power standpoint right now, but he makes a lot of contact, doesn't take a lot of called strikes, and squares the ball up regularly. That should lead to a good batting average, but he also only had three steals all of last season, so it's hard to know exactly how much he's going to run this year. Another multi-position option for deeper formats is Ezequiel Duran- 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF, TEX (12% rostered), who has hit his way into a (pretty much) every-day role in Texas. Over the last two weeks, he's hitting .345 with one home run, one steal, five RBI, and six runs scored. This is more about playing the hot streak here, but if you need a multi-position guy to fill in gaps in your roster in a deeper format, he'll do the trick.

Adolis Garcia - OF, PHI (34% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, POWER UPSIDE)

We created this narrative that Garcia was washed back when he was dealing with knee injuries in Texas, so perhaps we're not noticing what he's doing this season. His hard-hit rate is up to 53%, and he's posting a career-high average exit velocity. He's squaring the ball up more than he ever has and seems to be focused on peppering line drives and not just trying to lift the ball. His swinging strike rate is the lowest it's ever been, and he's chasing less than he has since 2020. Oh, and his zone contact rate and contact rate are the highest they've ever been. He may not be a 30-home-run bat anymore, but he could easily hit .245-.255 with 25 home runs this season, hitting in the middle of an offense that's beginning to heat up. That deserves more love.

Bryson Stott - 2B/SS, PHI (34% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, BATTED BALL QUALITY)

Earlier this season, Stott was really struggling, but Eric had him in a do-not-drop article and said, Stott "still has a 95% zone contact rate, a 6.6% SwSt%, and the quality of contact he is making has been good. His hard-hit rate is 50%, which is up 20.5% from last year, the 4th-biggest improvement of any hitter in baseball. His average exit velocity is up two mph, his bat speed is up one mph, and he is pulling the ball 12% more. His attack direction, which measures the horizontal angle of the bat’s sweet spot at the point of contact, has gone from two degrees towards the opposite field to four degrees to the pull side, which is tied for the 4th-biggest change in baseball. So what we’re getting is a player who is making elite levels of contact, hitting the ball harder than ever, and making a conscious change to pull the ball more. He’s also a player who has stolen at least 24 bases in three straight seasons. All of that should entice us." While the batting average hasn't improved yet, Stott has three home runs and eight RBI in his last seven games, so the quality of contact is starting to lead to impactful hits as the weather is warming up. Ryan McMahon - 3B, NYY (2% rostered) was also in that same article, and he's hit .311 with two home runs and eight RBI over his last 13 games. Perhaps that can continue if you need corner infield help.

Samuel Basallo - C, BAL (32% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, POWER UPSIDE)

Basallo probably deserves a look in more one-catcher formats. Yes, he's going to sit against left-handed pitchers, but most catchers are sitting out two or more games a week. Basallo has a 10.5% barrel rate, a nearly 50% hard-hit rate, and has started to heat up a bit at the plate, hitting .293 over the last 20 games with four home runs and 13 RBI. Over the last 30 days, he's the 11th-ranked catcher on FanGraph's Player Rater and likely needs to be rostered in all 12-team formats.

Spencer Jones - OF, NYY (30% rostered)

(PROSPECT CALL-UP, POWER UPSIDE)

The Yankees called up Spencer Jones on Friday with Jasson Dominguez on the injured list. Understandably, there is a lot of hype around a hitter who's 6'6" and has light tower power. Jones has a .258/.366/.592 slash line with 11 homers, 41 RBI, and seven stolen bases in Triple-A. However, he also has an astonishingly low 59% contact rate overall, with a 32 percent strikeout rate. It’s incredibly difficult to be a starter at the MLB level if you make that little contact. He may get off to a hot start and smash a few home runs early on, and we understand adding him if you're in an OPS format or are desperate for power, but we would be really careful spending big FAAB dollars on a hitter with this profile. Plus, Giancarlo Stanton (calf) is not expected to be sidelined too much longer and would most likely take Jones’ spot on the roster.

Sunday update: Jones has four strikeouts and one walk through six plate appearances entering play on Sunday. He is going to stress the limits of the three-true-outcome approach.

Cole Young - 2B, SEA (23% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, POTENTIAL BREAKOUT)

As we said last week, second base is a trainwreck, so why are so few people rostering Young? He’s hitting .276 on the season with a .342 on-base percentage, three home runs, two steals, 20 runs scored, and 20 RBI. He’s doing a little bit of everything and was a guy Eric highlighted this offseason in his second-year hitters article. In fact, over the last two weeks, he's the 8th-ranked second baseman on the FanGraph's Player Rater.

Carlos Cortes - OF, ATH (21% rostered)

(GREAT SCHEDULE, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Over the last 30 days, Cortes is the 27th-ranked outfielder in the FanGraph's Player Rater. He's hitting .365 with four home runs, 10 runs scored, and 12 RBI over that span. His swing is compact and helps him generate more power than his below-average bat speed would suggest. His elite power metrics right now are likely to trend down, but elite bat-to-ball skills and great swing decisions give him a better floor than most would assume. Even with Brent Rooker’s return to the Athletics’ lineup, Cortes is still starting in the corner outfield and hitting near the middle of their order against right-handed pitching. Even when Denzel Clarke (foot) eventually returns, it's going to be hard to take Cortes' bat out of the lineup.

Spencer Steer - 1B/OF, CIN (16% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, PAST SUCCESS)

We’ve seen Steer be a useful fantasy contributor before, and we like having any member of the Reds lineup who is getting regular playing time. Over his last 30 days, Steer is a top 40 outfielder on FanGraph's Player Rater. Over that stretch, he is hitting .291 with five home runs, 11 runs scored, and nine RBI. We called this out last week, but the Reds' inability to get anybody on base is leading to a pretty depressed RBI total, given the amount of home runs Steer is hitting. We would bet on that changing.

Nasim Nuñez- 2B/SS, WAS (12% rostered)

(BATTING AVERAGE SURGE, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE

The batting average is bad for Nuñez, but he has been collecting more hits lately. Over his last 15 games, he's hitting .262/.360/.310 with nine RBI and six steals. He also has a 9/7 K/B ratio over that span. He doesn't hit the ball hard, so there will be no power, and he relies a lot on placement and speed to collect hits, but if he's going to make this kind of contact and run a 50% groundball rate and 21% line drive rate, he's going to have a passable batting average and then try to steal bases whenever he's on. Brayan Rocchio - 2B/SS, CLE (12% rostered) also has four steals over that same 15-game stretch with a .273/.322/.309 slash line, so he's giving you a little bit of what Nuñez is with a higher batting average floor and less stolen base upside.

Carson Benge - OF, NYM (12% rostered)

(PROSPECT PEDIGREE, HOT STREAK)

Sometimes prospects just need a little bit of time to figure things out. Carson Benge got off to a slow start to his MLB career, but over his last 15 games, he's hitting .302/.348/.512 with two home runs, nine runs scored, seven RBI, and one steal. He also has an 8/3 K/BB ratio over that span and a 51.4% hard-hit rate, so we like that he's not striking out much and is making firm contact. He's not going to hit for big-time power, but he already has six steals this season, so if the batting average can continue to be solid, Benge is going to help a lot of fantasy managers. Another option would be Zack Gelof - 2B/OF, ATH (1% rostered), who has hit .269/.309/.519 in 21 games since being called up, with three home runs and two steals. We may remember the version of Gelof that went 14/14 with a .267 average in 69 games in his rookie season in 2023, but that version is still likely fictitious. However, Gelof has made some changes to his contact profile that should prevent him from being as bad as he was the last two seasons. His swing rate and chase rate are both down this season, but he's swinging far more often in the heart of the zone. Also, despite chasing LESS outside of the zone, his contact on pitches outside of the zone is up 36%, which should be a good indication that when he is offering, it's on pitches he knows he can foul off or put in play. It's just a 21-game sample size, so who knows if this will continue, but it might be worth a gamble given his power and speed and the fact that second base is a black hole in fantasy right now.

Sam Antonacci - 2B/3B/OF, CWS (12% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, SPEED UPSIDE - MAYBE)

After a slow start, Antonnaci is hitting .311/.407/.511 in his last 15 games with one home run, eight RBI, and eight runs scored. He doesn't have much power and has just a 37% hard-hit rate over that span, but he's trying to lift the ball and drive it into the gaps, which we like. He has also started to play against lefties, which the White Sox weren't letting him do early on. I'm not sure why he has just one steal despite stealing almost 50 bases last season, but you'd have to think that the speed will also come and be paired with an elite contact profile. Another speed option would be Caleb Durbin - 2B/3B, BOS (11% rostered). The Red Sox have been running a little more since they fired Alex Cora. In 12 games since then, Caleb Durbin is hitting .250/.302/.375 with one home run, six runs scored, seven RBI, and four steals. That's not exceptional, but Durbin should still steal 20 bases this season and hit .250-.270, so that has some value in deeper formats.

Bryce Eldridge - 1B, SFG (12% rostered)

(PROSPECT PEDIGREE, HUGE POWER UPSIDE)

One of the most fascinating top prospects in baseball, Eldridge is getting his second shot in the show after an uninspiring cup of coffee last September. Yet, he got the call last season at just 20 years old after being speed-ran through the minor leagues, only being drafted in 2023 as a two-way player out of high school. He's a 6'7" behemoth with obscene raw power evidenced by multiple batted balls hit harder than 110 mph in his time at Triple-A and this 470 foot home run last season.

He also hit his first career major league home run on Saturday night on a pitch that had absolutely no business winding up in the bay.

The profile is far from perfect with what's likely to be rampant swing-and-miss, but it's not a bad idea to bet on players with traits like this and hoping to catch lightening in a bottle. Just note, he's only drawn a start in four of six games since being called up. All have come at DH and against right-handed pitchers.

JJ Bleday - OF, CIN (12% rostered)

(APPROACH CHANGE, PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY)

Bleday has come back from the minors on a mission, hitting .303/.410/.727 with four home runs, six runs scored, seven RBI, and a 7/6 K/BB ratio in 10 games. It's a small sample, but his bat speed is up from 71.7 mph to 75 mph, and his hard-hit rate is surging to 61.5%. That has helped his average exit velocity go from an 88.4 mph career rate to 94.5 mph. He's also running just a 19% groundball rate, so much of what he's hitting is on a line or in the air. He's also being far more aggressive in the "shadow" area of the strike zone, which is the fringes of the zone, swinging 11% more often there than he has in his career. That aggression has caused his contact rate to drop a bit, but if it allows him to hit for more power, then we're all for it.

Ryan Waldschmidt - OF, ARI (10% rostered)

(PROSPECT PEDIGREE, REGULAR PLAYING TIME)

The Diamondbacks promoted their top prospect Waldschmidt midday Friday and DFA'd Alek Thomas in the corresponding move. That should give Waldschmidt plenty of runway as a starter for them moving forward. While he didn't start on Friday night, he came in late as a pinch-hitter and immediately stroked his first career hit. Then, he drew the start Saturday in center field and is in left on Sunday. He has enough raw power to flirt with a 25 homer pace from this point on and the speed to steal a handful of bases as well. One odd note about his profile, he had one of the lowest swing rates in all of Triple-A before being called up. Pay attention to whether or not he brings that extreme passivity to the majors.

Nathaniel Lowe - 1B, CIN (8% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, HOT STREAK)

Another Cincinnati player, which is weird for a team that isn't hitting well. Lowe has started pretty much every game for the Reds since Eugenio Suarez went on the IL, and is hitting .270 with six home runs and 16 RBI in 27 games. He’s pulling the ball more than he ever has and hitting with a higher launch angle than he ever has, while also hitting in a hitter-friendly environment. Oh, and his bat speed is up 1.5 mph from last year. I don't know if this will last, but I'll roster him while I wait to find out.

Isaac Collins - OF, KC (3% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, MODEST SPEED UPSIDE)

Over his last 50 plate appearances, Collins has seen the biggest increase in xwOBA (Expected Weighted On-Base Average) in baseball. If you even go back to his last 75 plate appearances, Collins is hitting .286/.387/.429 with two home runs, nine runs scored, nine RBI, and two steals. He has a 19/10 K/BB ratio over that span, while also posting a nearly 45% hard-hit rate (the league average is 39.7%). On the season, Collins now has a 7.9% barrel rate, which is up from his 5.4% career mark. That could be the result of a massive increase in fly ball rate from 34.3% last year to 49.2% this year. He has just a 9.1% HR/Fly ball rate, which is below league average, so it’s unclear if elevating the ball that much will really pay off for him in the long run, but the approach change appears to be working for now.

Jesús Rodríguez - C, SFG (3% rostered)

(TWO-CATCHER TARGET)

Tired of their offensive woes, the Giants first promoted Rodríguez earlier this week to take some starting reps from the incumbent Patrick Bailey. Then, they shipped Bailey to Cleveland on Friday, which opens the door for Rodríguez to be something close to their full-time catcher. Known more for his bat, the 24-year-old Rodríguez was acquired from the Yankees in the Camilo Doval trade last deadline and should put up a high contact rate without much thump. It's also worth noting that he played a bit of corner outfield in the minors and has already drawn one start in right field. That extra playing time could make him an intriguing option in two-catch formats.

Vaughn Grissom - 2B, LAA (1% rostered)

(PLATOON ADVANTAGED WEEK)

Deep league note, the Angels have three lefties on their schedule this week and Grissom has started against every lefty they've faced over the last month. Plus, a smattering of righties. He doesn't offer much power or speed, but puts his bat on the ball and has a chance for a few multi-hit games this week.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Gregory Soto - RP PIT (37% rostered)

Heading into Friday, Soto is coming off back-to-back save opportunities and conversions. He's thrown 6 1/3 scoreless with six strikeouts, two saves, and two wins in recent weeks, which has provided tons of fantasy value for your teams. However, we have seen this happen before. He got his first save on April third, and then didn't record another one until this week. It's hard to see him being "the closer" on the Pirates, but he's certainly in the mix, and his ratios are good enough to provide value even if the saves don't come.

Sunday update: the Pirates didn't have a save opportunity on either Friday or Saturday, so forge ahead into the unknown.

Logan Henderson - SP, MIL (35% rostered)

Henderson was promoted to start for the Brewers last Sunday in the wake of Brandon Woodruff’s concerning drop in velocity and ensuing trip to the injured list. Henderson had a great season debut Sunday against the Nationals despite squandering a one-run lead in the fifth inning. Nevertheless, his trusted changeup was sharp, and his cutter was intriguing when he was able to bury it in on the hands of left-handed hitters. He also showed off a new sweeper that would be a crucial pitch for him against right-handed hitters. Woodruff got fluid drained from his shoulder this week, so we're still not convinced he's going to be healthy in a couple of weeks, which means we're comfortably adding Henderson in most places.

Jacob Latz - SP/RP, TEX (31% rostered)

Since April 14th, Latz has recorded the only saves for Texas, and Jakob Junis has the only other save opportunity, which is just one opportunity that he blew. Lats has also only pitched once since May 1st, and it was in a non-save situation, so this remains a bit of a fluid bullpen. We assume that Latz is the closer, but there haven't been many save chances of late, and he's still a left-handed former starter who throws 94 mph. That's not really the profile of a lockdown closer. We're hapy to add him but not assuming this is a rest of season type of thing.

Rico Garcia - RP, BAL (30% rostered)

Last week, Ryan Helsley became yet another closer who is on the IL, as the Orioles' closer hit the injured list with elbow inflammation. Since then, the Orioles have had one genuine save chance, which went to Garcia, and he converted. Andrew Kittredge was also charged with a blown save, but he did not enter in the 9th with a lead. Garcia has also been far better than Kittredge this season, so he's the player we're looking to add, but we also just saw all of Jhoan Duran, Daniel Palencia, and Raisel Iglesias get hurt and return in like three weeks, so we can't just assume Garcia is going to have this role for a month-plus.

Robbie Snelling - SP, MIA (28% rostered)

Snelling got the call and will start on Friday, so by the time James updates this on Sunday, he's going to have way more information on what Snelling could do at the MLB level. For now, we acknowledge that he's a top pitching prospect in baseball, who was crushing Triple-A and is worth an add in most formats. Also, James recorded a video on him this week, so check that out for more details.

Sunday update: Snelling struggled in his debut, walking four batters and allowing three runs against the Nationals over five innings. All three of those runs came in the first inning, with the big blow being a two-run home run from Jacob Young (somehow). Then, it felt like Snelling was trying to be a bit too fine so as to not let up much more damage, hence the walks. His fastball held true around 95 mph for most of his start, but tailed off once he got around 70 pitches. He also struggled to put hitters away, as his command was spotty in general. It was good to see him tough out a passable start, it was just very lackluster from a fantasy perspective. Keep an eye on his next start, which is scheduled to come Thursday against the Twins.

Janson Junk - SP, MIA (28% rostered)

Junk just continues to produce with a 2.82 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across seven starts. Of course, that comes with a 17% strikeout rate and 10.1% swinging strike rate, so this is not a slam-dunk add. We have seen him get better recently, using his fastball up in the zone more often and then keeping the changeups, sweepers, and sliders low in the zone. We still consider him a streamer, but he's one of the better ones for now.

Griffin Jax - SP/RP, TB (24% rostered)

The Rays are stretching Jax out as a starter, and with Steven Matz on the IL with elbow inflammation, there is a rotation spot for Jax to take. On Thursday, Jax pitched four innings, struck out three and walked one while throwing 59 pitches in this one. The former reliever showed off a six-pitch mix in this one, using five pitches at least 14 percent of the time. He threw plenty of strikes with his sinker and four-seamer and was able to use his changeup for whiffs against both righties and lefties. However, no other pitches really missed many bats, and he had just a 10 percent swinging strike rate. We’ll need to see a little more strikeout upside from Jax if he’s going to be relied on in fantasy leagues, but he could be worth a speculative add in deeper formats.

Jack Perkins - RP/SP, ATH (22% rostered)

If somebody gave up on Perkins because he had a rough outing on Wednesday, we would scoop him up. The reliever has a 3.68 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 19/4 K/BB ratio in 14.2 innings. That also comes with three saves. He's simply the best reliever in the Athletics' bullpen, and it's hard to see them moving away from him in the late innings.

Sunday update: Perkins ran into more trouble Friday night and was pulled after letting a run home in the ninth inning for Hogan Harris (4% rostered), who secured the save. After walking the lead-off man, Perkins struck out the next two before allowing a run-scoring single to cut the Athletics' lead in half. On came the left-handed Harris to face two right-handed batters and close this one out, after allowing a walk of his own. Perkins likely still gets the next save chance, but his hold on the role could be slipping some.

Tony Santillan - RP, CIN (22% rostered)

It was Graham Ashcraft - RP, CIN (14% rostered), who got the first save opportunity with Emilio Pagan on the injured list. He did blow the save, but somebody from this Reds bullpen is going to emerge as the closer for the three months that Pagan is going to be sidelined. Terry Francona likes to use one guy in the back-end of the bullpen, so it might be worth trying to figure out who it is. Eric recorded a video going into detail on that this week.

Sunday update: Santillan had an absymal outing on Friday, allowing four hits, four runs, and two home runs against the Astros without recording an out. Possibly more telling, he entered this game in the ninth inning, but with the Reds down 5-0. Pierce Johnson (2%) came in for the save on Saturday and pitched a clean ninth inning. Perhaps he's the preferred ninth inning option in Cincinnati after Ashcraft and Santillan's respective missteps.

Peter Lambert - SP, HOU (14% rostered)

We recommended Lambert after his first two starts, so we're going to keep him on here now, especially after a solid outing against the Dodgers. He's probably just a streamer or a deeper league add, but he has shown a 95 mph four-seam fastball with good vertical movement that he keeps up in the zone. He has also shown the ability to keep the changeup low/away from lefties, while the cutter looks like a decent pitch. It's unclear if this production will stick, but we like the four-seam, cutter, change combination, and the breaking balls are just fines, so we're going to keep rolling him out there.

Griffin Canning - SP, SD (12% rostered)

Canning was pretty good in his debut with the Padres, allowing one run on three hits in five innings while striking out seven. The velocity is up on his four-seam fastball, and he actually went to his changeup way more than we're used to seeing, but it got plenty of whiffs. His command was a bit all over the place, but it was his first start off the IL so he deserves some grace. We still consider him more of a deep league add.

Sunday update: Canning's changeup-first arsenal got torched by the Cardinals on Friday night to the tune of six runs in a catastrophic fifth inning. Yet, most of the damage came via a misplay by Fernando Tatis Jr. in right field that allowed JJ Wetherholt to hit a little league grand slam.

Still, that changeup allowed plenty of hard-hit balls and this start was a good reminder than Canning is prone to blowups without tons of upside.

Connor Prielipp - SP, MIN (11% rostered)

Meanwhile, Prielipp should be rostered in far more places. No, he hasn't gone deeper than five innings in any of his starts, which is an issue, but the Twins are pushing him past 90 pitches, so it's going to happen. Mick Abel is also dealing with continued soreness in his arm and needed a cortisone injection, so Prielipp's spot in the rotation seems secure. He has a solid enough fastnall and a wicked slider. I also think his changeup will continue to improve versus righties because it has the makings of a good pitch.

Sunday update: Prielipp had another strong start on Friday, striking out six and allowing just earned one run over five innings. Yet, a critical error by second baseman Luke Keaschall opened the floodgates in the second inning and caused a two-run home run by Travis Bazzana to register as unearned runs. Nevertheless, Prielipp is a highly functional mixed-league pitcher at this point and needs to be on more rosters.

Christian Scott - SP, NYM (10% rostered)

Scott was electric in his second start of the season last week, striking out eight Angels in five innings of work. He was not as good in Coors this week, but that start was actually encouraging for us because he looked fine in a bad environment. His fastball has tremendous life and is electric working up in the zone. His sweeper moves like a frisbee and his cutter has nice bite. It's unclear how good he will be against lefties, so his next start against Detroit is a bit unnerving, but he has plenty of upside and a good schedule coming up, so we love him as an add.

Ryan Zeferjahn - RP, LAA (1% rostered)

Did you know Zeferjahn has increased his fastball velocity more than any other pitcher in baseball? There are some command issues here, but he has good Stuff+ numbers, is being used in high-leverage spots, and can miss bats. Somebody needs to close for the Angels.

Best NRFI Bets Today: No Run First Inning Predictions for MLB [Friday, May 8]

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Let’s welcome the weekend in with a trio of NRFI/YRFI bets to cover you throughout the 15-game slate of baseball on Friday, May 8.

My top MLB picks begin with an NL East clash between the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins before wrapping up with another National League showdown between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres in the late window.

Best NRFI/YRFI bets today

PickOdds
Twins/Guardians - NRFI/YRFI-135
Nationals/Marlins - NRFI/YRFI-115
Cardinals/Padres - NRFI/YRFI-115

Twins at Guardians: NRFI (-135)

Minnesota Twins left-hander Connor Prielipp has limited opposing batters to a .455 OPS while allowing just a pair of hits and a single run across seven opening innings.

Additionally, the Cleveland Guardians have overachieved at the dish of late, sporting a .336 wOBA (.310 xwOBA) across the past seven games.

I’m also expecting the Twins to struggle against emerging Cleveland star Parker Messick. He’s spun a tidy 2.40 ERA and 2.86 xERA while also pitching seven consecutive scoreless opening innings and allowing just two hits and a minuscule .247 OPS.

  • Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Apple TV

Nationals at Marlins: NRFI (-115)

Miami Marlins lefty Robby Snelling is set to make his MLB debut after posting a 1.86 ERA, 2.64 xFIP, and 40.0 K% across six Triple-A starts.

I’m fully anticipating Snelling to keep the Washington Nationals off balance in their first look at him, and the Nats also have the fifth-highest strikeout percentage against southpaws. 

Meanwhile, the Marlins are in tough against Washington LHP Foster Griffin. He’s held opposing hitters to a .442 OPS without allowing a single earned run through seven opening innings, and I also value him keeping batters to a 36.0% hard-hit rate. 

  • Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Nationals.TV, Marlins.TV

Cardinals at Padres: NRFI (-115)

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Michael McGreevy has pitched a scoreless first frame in six of seven starts and boasts a positive pitch value on each of his three most frequent offerings. This spells trouble for a San Diego Padres offense that has failed to score a run in the first inning in 83.8% of their games.

Similarly, the Cards rank middle of the pack in games without a first-inning run (70.3%) and now face Friars righty Griffin Canning following a solid season debut.

Canning scattered six baserunners across five innings while allowing just one run and striking out seven in his last outing, which also included a scoreless opening frame.

  • Time: 9:45 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Apple TV
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
  • NRFI/YRFI picks: 6-7, -1.37 units

What is a NRFI bet?

NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.

A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.

NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Hart Trophy finalists announced: Favorites and snubs for NHL MVP 2026

The finalists for the Hart Trophy are out, and the three NHL players could add another MVP award to their trophy case.

Previous winners (listed alphabetically) Nikita Kucherov (Tanpa Bay LIghtning), Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) and Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) were announced as this year's finalists. McDavid is a three-time winner and Kucherov and MacKinnon won once previously.

They were the three top scorers in the league in 2025-26 and MacKinnon also led the league in goals. The winner will be announced later.

Here's what to know about the Hart Trophy (voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association), including projected winner and who was snubbed:

Hart Trophy finalists

  • Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning: Kucherov finished second in the NHL with 130 points in 76 games – 42 points more than his closest teammate as the Lightning clinched their ninth conseucite playoff berth. Kucherov’s 42-point edge was the second-largest gap between a team’s top two scorers in 2025-26. He previously won the Hart in 2019.
  • Nathan MacKinnon:, Colorado Avalanche: MacKinnon led the NHL with 53 goals in 80 games to win his first career Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. He led the Avalanche (55‑16‑11) to a franchise-record 121-point season. He previously won the award in 2024.
  • Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oiers: He led the NHL with 138 points in 82 games to earn his sixth career Art Ross Trophy, tied for the second-most in league history, and guided the Oilers to their seventh consecutive playoff appearance. McDavid previously won the award in 2017, 2021 and 2023.

Who win the Hart Trophy?

Hard to say. All are worthy candidates. MacKinnon could have the edge because of the goal title and Avalanche having the league's best record.

Hart Trophy snub

San Jose's Macklin Celebrini set a team scoring record, finished fourth in points and had the Sharks in the playoff hunt after last-place finishes the previous two seasons. He was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player) as voted on by fellow players. But falling short of the playoffs probably cost him votes.

NHL awards finalists announcement schedule

  • Tuesday, April 28: Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player): Macklin Celebrini, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid.
  • Wednesday, April 29: Vezina Trophy (goaltender): Ilya Sorokin, Jeremy Swayman, Andrei Vasilevskiy
  • Thursday, April 30: Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship): Cole Caufield, Anze Kopitar, Jake Sanderson
  • Friday, May 1: Jack Adams Award (coach): Jon Cooper, Dan Muse, Lindy Ruff
  • Monday, May 4: Masterton Trophy (perseverance): Rasmus Dahlin, Gabriel Landeskog, Jonathan Toews
  • Tuesday, May 5: Calder Trophy (rookie): Ivan Demidov, Matthew Schaefer, Beckett Sennecke
  • Wednesday, May 6: Selke Trophy (defensive forward): Anthony Cirelli, Brock Nelson, Nick Suzuki
  • Thursday, May 7: Norris Trophy (defenseman): Rasmus Dahlin, Cale Makar, Zach Werenski
  • Friday, May 8: Hart Trophy (MVP): Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid.
  • Monday, May 11: Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award (impact on community, culture or society)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hart Trophy finalists announced. Who will be NHL MVP for 2026?

Buffalo Sabres – Montreal Canadiens Game 2 Preview: Lineups, Stats, How To Watch

5/8/26 - 7:00 pm at KeyBank Center, in Buffalo, NY

TV - US - TNT and HBOMax, Canada - CBC Hockey Night In Canada

Buffalo – 50-23-9 | - 109  points – 1st place in the Atlantic Division

Montreal  – 48-24-10 | - 106 points – 3rd place in the Atlantic Division

 

Special Teams

Buffalo

Power Play(Reg) – 19.5% (21st)

Power Play(Playoffs) - 3 for 27 - 11.1% (13th) 

Penalty Kill(Reg) – 81.9% (4th)

Penalty Kill(Playoffs) - 15 for 18 - 83.3% (10th) 

Montreal

Power Play(Reg) – 23.1% (10th)

Power Play(Playoffs) - 6 for 28 - 21.4% (5th)

Penalty Kill(Reg) - 78.2% (18th)

Penalty Kill(Playoffs) - 78.1% - 25 for 32 (13th)

Top Scorers

Buffalo

Alex Tuch: 7 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 PTS

Tage Thompson: 7 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 PTS

Bowen Byram: 7 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 6 PTS

 

Montreal

Nick Suzuki: 8 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 PTS

Lane Hutson: 8 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 PTS

Zach Bolduc: 8 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 PTS

 

Starting Goalies

Buffalo – Alex Lyon (4-1, 1.30 GAA, .950 Sv %)

Montreal  – Jakub Dobes (4-4, 2.28 GAA, .910 Sv %)  

Other Sabres Stories

Canadiens Sluggish In Game 1 Loss 

Is Alex Lyon a good enough starter to get the Sabres to the Cup Final?

Sabres Line Combinations and Pairings (projected)

Forwards

Peyton Krebs   - Tage Thompson - Alex Tuch

Zach Benson - Josh Norris - Josh Doan 

Jason Zucker - Ryan McLeod - Jack Quinn  

Jordan Greenway - Tyson Kozak - Beck Malenstyn

Ex., Tanner Pearson,, Josh Dunne, Sam Carrick

Defense

Mattias Samuelsson - Rasmus Dahlin

Owen Power - Bowen Byram 

Logan Stanley - Conor Timmins 

Ex. Luke Schenn, Michael Kesselring, Zach Metsa

Goaltenders

Alex Lyon

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Colten Ellis

Injuries

Justin Danforth (lower body, Oct. 18; injured reserve)

Jiri Kulich (blood clot, Nov. 4; injured reserve - out for the season) 

Noah Ostlund (lower body, Apr 28; week-to-week)

 

Other Stats Leaders 

Shots: Thompson (26), Dahlin (25), Tuch (21) Hits: Malenstyn (27), Samuelsson/Tuch (21), Greenway (20) 

Blocked Shots: Timmins (15), Dahlin/Tuch (9), Samuelsson/Stanley (8)

 

Notes

This season marks the first time the Sabres have advanced past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since they advanced to the 2007 Eastern Conference Final. The Sabres have earned three playoff series victories over the Canadiens in franchise history. Buffalo last faced Montreal in the playoffs in the 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals, a series in which the Sabres won four games to none. The Sabres also defeated the Canadiens three games to none in the 1983 Adams Division Semifinals and four games to two in the 1975 Semifinals. 

Entering this series, Buffalo’s most recent playoff victory over Montreal was on May 14, 1998 (3-1). Donald Audette, Matthew Barnaby and Miroslav Satan each scored and Dominik Hasek stopped 37 of 38 Canadiens shots in the series-clinching game. Buffalo has allowed two or fewer goals in five consecutive games (seven goals against), tied for the longest such streak by the Sabres in the playoffs all-time. The Sabres last did so from April 25 to May 4, 2007 (nine goals against). Buffalo’s seven goals allowed in this five-game span are tied for the fewest by the Sabres in any five-game playoff span all-time (April 8 to 16, 1980). A win tonight would give Buffalo six consecutive playoff wins over Montreal, tied for the longest playoff winning streak by the Sabres against the Canadiens all-time (May 6, 1975 to April 5, 1990). 

The Sabres are the only team in NHL history to record multiple playoff winning streaks of five or more games against the Canadiens. Boston (April 29, 1991 to April 16, 1994; six games), NY Rangers (April 21, 1996 to May 19, 2014; six games) and Philadelphia (April 26, 2008 to May 18, 2010; six games) are the only other NHL teams to defeat Montreal in six straight playoff meetings. 

In his last four games, Zach Benson has posted five points (2+3), including two points in back-to-back contests. Benson (0+2 in Game 1) became the first NHL skater age 20 or younger to record multiple points in consecutive playoff games since Bowen Byram from May 23 to 25, 2022 with Colorado (two games; 0+4). He was the first NHL forward to accomplish that feat since Mitch Marner from April 14 to 16, 2018 (two games; 1+3). A multi-point performance tonight would make Benson the first NHL skater age 20 or younger to record multiple points in three or more consecutive playoff games since Patrick Kane from April 27 to May 2, 2009 (three games; 4+2). He would join Sidney Crosby, Wayne Gretzky (twice), Kane and Don Maloney as the only NHL skaters age 20 or younger to do so at least once. An assist tonight would make Benson the first Sabres skater age 20 or younger to record a three-game assist streak in the playoffs since Kevin Haller from April 7 to 11, 1991 (0+4). 

Alex Lyon has allowed seven total goals in six appearances in the playoffs, the fewest goals allowed in any six-game span in the playoffs by a Sabres goaltender all-time. It is the first time a goaltender has allowed seven or fewer goals in their first six playoff games with a team since Carter Hart from August 2 to 18, 2020 with Philadelphia (7). Lyon has posted a .950 save percentage in his first six appearances in the playoffs, trailing only Dominik Hasek (April 22 to May 8, 1998, .951; April 21 to May 9, 1999, .953) for the best mark by a Sabres goaltender in any six-game span in the playoffs. It is the best save percentage by a Sabres goaltender in their first six playoff appearances with Buffalo alltime. 

Bowen Byram has recorded six points (4+2) in seven playoff games thus far. • His four goals are the most by a Sabres defenseman in any seven-game span in the playoffs since Mike Ramsey from April 9 to 22, 1983 (four goals). Byram is one goal away from recording the most goals by a Sabres defenseman in a single playoff year all-time.  

Peyton Krebs has registered six points (2+4) in seven playoff games thus far and his plus-7 rating through the team’s first seven playoff games is tied with Byram and Alex Tuch for the team lead. Krebs and Tuch are the first Sabres forwards since Chris Drury (plus-8) and Derek Roy (plus-9) to record a plus/minus of plus-7 or better in any seven-game playoff span. It is the best plus/minus by a Sabres forward in their first seven playoff games of a season since Miroslav Satan from April 21 to June 8, 1999 (plus-7). 

Alex Tuch has posted seven points (4+3) in the playoffs. He leads all Sabres skaters in goals and is tied with Tage Thompson for the team lead in points. With a point tonight, Tuch and/or Thompson would become the first Sabres skater(s) to register eight or more points in their first eight playoff games with Buffalo since Daniel Briere (3+8), Tim Connolly (5+6), Chris Drury (4+6), Mike Grier (3+5) and Derek Roy (3+5) all did so from April 22 to May 8, 2006. 

Tage Thompson has registered four assists in his last four games.  An assist in tonight’s game would make Thompson the first Sabres forward to record five or more assists in any five-game span in the playoffs since Dainius Zubrus from April 12 to 20, 2007 (5). 

In his last four games, Josh Doan has registered five points (2+3), including at least one point in each of his last two contests. Doan would join Thompson (three games; April 26 to May 1; 0+4) and Owen Power (four games; April 19 to 26; 0+4) as the only Sabres skaters with assist streaks of three or more games in the playoffs with an assist tonight. 

Rasmus Dahlin has tallied three points (1+2) in his last three games. Entering play on Thursday and among all NHL defensemen with at least 50 minutes of time on ice at 5-on-5 in the playoffs, Dahlin ranks first in expected goals for percentage (69.22). Among those defensemen, Dahlin ranked second in scoring chances for percentage (68.18) and high-danger chances for percentage (65.91).

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

THN.com/Free 
THN.com/Free 

Thunder vs Lakers Prediction, Picks & Odds for NBA Playoffs Game 3

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

  • UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.

Veteran point guard Marcus Smart served as a finger in the dam for the Los Angeles Lakers when Austin Reaves was out of the lineup. 

Now that Reaves is back and rolling, Smart should be taking a step back in terms of his shooting activity. That hasn’t been the case.

Our Thunder vs. Lakers predictions believe that if L.A. is going to climb out of a 0-2 hole versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, it needs less shooting and more playmaking from Smart.

My NBA picks like Smart to top his assist prop in Game 3 on Saturday, May 9.

Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with the game airing on ABC. 

Thunder vs Lakers Game 3 prediction

Who will win Thunder vs Lakers Game 3?

Thunder: At this point, it looks like L.A. is running out of options. Los Angeles has done a great job limiting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but the Thunder are extremely deep and getting great production from the other starters, along with the bench.

When everything is added up over 48 minutes, the Lakers come up short. Oklahoma City has taken L.A.’s best shots and still managed to cover those massive spreads. They’ll stiffen up on defense with the series hitting the road, especially after giving up 52 points in the paint in Game 2.

The Thunder will take a commanding 3-0 series lead tonight. 

Thunder vs Lakers best bet: Marcus Smart Over 3.5 assists (-115)

When Austin Reaves was out, Marcus Smart filled that scoring role. And when Reaves returned at the end of Round 1, naturally, Smart’s shots slimmed. 

Through two games with the Oklahoma City Thunder, however, Smart is a collective 8-for-28 from the field. He’s not who the Los Angeles Lakers need shooting the ball. 

Rather, the Lakers need Smart to set up Reaves, LeBron James, and Rui Hachimura.

Smart has dished out five and seven assists so far and has recorded four or more dimes in six of eight playoff outings. Yet, his assist total for Game 3 sits at 3.5 O/U.

Saturday's projections lean toward four assists from Smart.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Marcus Smart is actually second on the team in touches in Round 2, ahead of LeBron James. He’s generated 12 dimes from 16 potential assists vs. OKC and is averaging 5.6 assists on 9.8 potential assists per game for the playoffs.

Thunder vs Lakers Game 3 same-game parlay

Game 3 will be just the second time the Thunder have been single-digit favorites in the postseason. Despite covering big piles of chalk at home, OKC didn’t look dominant in those wins. Instead, Oklahoma City slowly drifted away from the Lakers.

Los Angeles’ frustrations are starting to boil over, and we’ve seen OKC crush a much stronger version of this L.A. team at times in the regular season. I like them to cover the modest -8.5 in La-La Land on Saturday.

Chet Holmgren is the MVP for this series. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander commanding extra attention from Los Angeles’ defense, Holmgren has stepped up with efforts of 22 and 24 points in the opening two games.

The Lakers don’t have the size or versatility to counter the 7-footer, especially when he steps out and knocks down perimeter shots. Chet is projected for 17+ points in Game 3.

Thunder vs Lakers SGP

  • Thunder -8.5
  • Marcus Smart Over 3.5 assists
  • Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Holmgren, Again and Again

I bet this same SGP in Game 2, and the Thunder’s 7-footer came up a winner, scoring 22 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and blocking two shots in OKC’s one-sided win.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Holmgren is a huge problem for this L.A. interior and is projected for 17+ points, 9.5 rebounds, and two swats in Game 3. Let’s run it back, big fella.

Thunder vs Lakers SGP

  • Thunder -8.5
  • Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points
  • Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds
  • Chet Holmgren Over 1.5 blocks

Thunder vs Lakers odds for Game 3

  • Spread: Thunder -8.5 (-110) | Lakers +8.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Thunder -390 | Lakers +380
  • Over/Under: Over 212 (-110) | Under 212 (-110)

Thunder vs Lakers betting trend to know

The Thunder are a perfect 6-0 SU and ATS versus the Lakers this season, including an 8-1 SU/ATS record against L.A. over the past two years. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Lakers.

How to watch Thunder vs Lakers Game 3

LocationCrypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
DateSaturday, May 9, 2026
Tip-off8:30 p.m. ET
TVABC

Thunder vs Lakers latest injuries

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

P.J. Tucker officially retires from NBA after 14 seasons, won title with 2021 Milwaukee Bucks

There was a period in the late 2010s through the early 2020s when the front offices of every contender were asking, "Can we get P.J. Tucker?" He brought grit and toughness, at 6'5" he could defend bigger forwards (and even some centers) in the post, and on corner 3s he was automatic. There was a reason the Milwaukee Bucks traded for him in the middle of the 2020-21 season, the year they won a title.

Tucker officially announced his retirement after a 14-year NBA career in an Instagram post.

"20 years being my job but 40 plus years of not being able to fathom doing anything other than it. So here's to retiring from the NBA… because I will NEVER stop ballin."

Tucker's is a story of perseverance. He was drafted in the second round in 2006 by Toronto, out of Texas, and spent most of his rookie season with the Raptors, but they waived him in March and he couldn't catch on with another NBA team. He played in the G League before taking his game overseas, playing in Israel, Ukraine, Greece, Italy and Germany. However, he kept steadily improving, finding his game and his role, and in 2012, the Phoenix Suns brought him back to the NBA, where he stuck. In his 14 NBA seasons Tucker played for Toronto, Phoenix, Houston, Milwaukee, Miami, Philadelphia, LA Clippers and New York. He went on to play 866 NBA games.

His impact on the court far exceeded his career counting stats of 6.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Brandon Lowe has been most impactful acquisition of Pirates offseason

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 07: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with teammates in the dugout after a solo home against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the firest inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on May 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Pirates have had a handful of big name free agent signings in the offseason. The Bucs signed players like Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’hearn, Marcell Ozuna and Gregory Soto to name a few. Who has been the most impactful free agent signing so far for the Bucs ? 

To me, the obvious pick for most impactful free agent has been Brandon Lowe. Lowe was not a free agent signing, as he was a part of a three-team trade, but was still a move made in the offseason so we are counting it here. Lowe was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays, and he leads the team in home runs with 10 and is third on the team in RBIs with 23. Oneil Cruz is first on the team with 28 RBIs, while Ryan O’hearn is second with 25. 

It has been a long time since Pittsburgh has had a second baseman who can hit for serious power, and Lowe is doing just that.

The veteran second basemen went on an absolute tear in their last series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lowe had five hits in two games played in Arizona. He also hit two home runs in the series, with both of them coming in the first inning. Those home runs were a huge reason why the Pirates won two out of three against Arizona, securing a 1-0 and 4-2 wins.

Pittsburgh is now 21-17 on the season, and that early success is because of the Pittsburgh offense. The Pirates had one of the worst offenses last year, but the addition of Lowe specifically has turned them into more of a power team this year.

That is surprising too, because everyone thought that O’hearn and Ozuna would be the additions that would bring the power, but really it has been the opposite. Lowe’s power has been so nice, especially in the top of that lineup. Having Lowe bat second in the lineup behind Cruz and in front of Bryan Reynolds is the best lineup decision in my opinion.

We have talked a lot about his offense, but his defense has been really solid too so far. His veteran presence has also been important especially with Pittsburgh still having a younger lineup and team. The Pirates will need Brandon Lowe to continue to play well if Pittsburgh wants to contend in what is the most competitive decision in baseball.  

Comment below who you think has been the most impactful acquisition from the offseason so far for the Pirates.  

Flyers' Power Play Philosophy Needs to Change

The Philadelphia Flyers have had the worst power play in the NHL for three of the last four seasons, and now it has single-handedly cost them a crucial playoff game at home. Things can't continue this way.

In 2023-24, the Flyers had the 32nd-ranked power play. Then Matvei Michkov came over and led the team, tied with Travis Konecny in both categories, in power play goals and assists. They still finished 2024-25 with the 30th-ranked power play.

After that disappointment, Flyers general manager Danny Briere went out and added the uber-talented Trevor Zegras via trade, and he racked up 23 power play points with Konecny and Michkov chipping in 14 and 12, respectively.

Michkov, despite remaining similarly productive in drastically reduced ice time, has been separated from Konecny on Zegras for much of the season.

Together, that trio has played just 55:15 together on the power play this season, while Zegras and Konecny without Michkov have played 113:97, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Now, while the numbers do not indicate that they generate more chances as a trio (relatively the same, but with more chances against), it does tell us that head coach Rick Tocchet and the coaching staff saw something they didn't like and completely abandoned it.

Flyers Playoff Run On Deathbed, Hurricanes Win 'Penalty Fest' Game 3Flyers Playoff Run On Deathbed, Hurricanes Win 'Penalty Fest' Game 3The Philadelphia Flyers were doomed by their atrocious power play in a deflating 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3.

The same was true when Michkov started the season on a line with Sean Couturier and Konecny, which lasted a total of 60 minutes, and when Couturier was a top-six center only to be reduced to a fourth-line center.

The Flyers are predisposed to outright turning their backs on things that aren't working, rather than fixing them.

They changed coaching staffs and they added players, and yet the result remains the same year after year. How can this be?

It's worth noting, too, that the power play quarterback has been a constant revolving door.

There has been little to no continuity with Jamie Drysdale, Cam York, Rasmus Ristolainen, Travis Sanheim, Emil Andrae, and even Egor Zamula getting opportunities at various points in time over the last few seasons.

It's the only position the Flyers have not addressed on the power play, and it's a position all the best teams in the NHL have elite options for.

Tocchet admitted Thursday night after Game 3 that the Flyers are using players on the power play that would not ordinarily be playing power play minutes.

Michkov, sitting on the two-defenseman second unit, took a back seat to Tyson Foerster, who has no points in nine playoff games, Christian Dvorak, and Denver Barkey.

3 Flyers Who Have Most to Prove vs. Hurricanes in Crunch Time3 Flyers Who Have Most to Prove vs. Hurricanes in Crunch TimeMatvei Michkov and his fellow Philadelphia Flyers forwards need to play to their talent levels in order to keep the Carolina Hurricanes at bay.

Nine players saw more power play ice time than the former No. 7 overall pick.

Waiting in the wings is defenseman David Jiricek, who was acquired for Bobby Brink at the NHL trade deadline.

Jiricek, 22, is a former top draft pick himself with a booming shot and strong passing chops.

But, does he have to earn his power play time with good defending, something that's completely unrelated? Would it be unfair to the Flyers players who have been with the team all year and got them to this point? Can they trust him to not turn the puck over, even though the idea is to let your talent go out there and score?

To successfully answer these questions, the Flyers must change their philosophies behind the power play, whether it's wingers playing their weak sides instead of strong sides, their personnel (Michkov), or risk assessment.

Scared money doesn't make money in today's NHL.

The Brians | A strange coincidence in St. Louis Cardinal history

Baseball is full of statistical oddities, but the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008 and 2009 had one of the strangest name coincidences in franchise history. Enter Brian Barden and Brian Barton.

Both were born in California. Both were born in April. Both were trying to find their footing in the big leagues at the exact same time—often on the same roster.

In this week’s episode of Random Cardinal of the Week, Jim Plaza dives into the overlapping careers of these two players who flashed brilliance before fading into baseball trivia.

In this episode, we discuss:

The 2008 Rule 5 Draft pick that cost the Cardinals a fan favorite (So Taguchi).

Brian Barden’s blistering April 2009 that saw him named NL Rookie of the Month.

The “switch” that happened between the two Brians during Spring Training.

The surprising link between Brian Barden and World Series hero David Freese.

Whether you remember them as the future of the Cardinals’ infield or just as a confusing duo in the box score, we’re breaking down the full “Two Brians” saga. Unfortunately, the quick stay in the majors made it more difficult to find relevant pictures and highlights, so the YouTube video is a little bare on the visual this week. Either way, we hope you have been enjoying this weekly segment and are always welcome to feedback!

Drop your favorite Brian memories below!

Momentum: Mariners at White Sox Series Preview

SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 01: Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates in the dugout during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Friday, May 1, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Emma Steinberg/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Mariners finally showed some life against a really tough opponent, handing the Braves their first series loss of the season earlier this week. All three games were incredibly close affairs as you would expect in a series between two playoff contenders. Seattle now embarks on a seven-game road trip and the beginning of a stretch of 13 straight games without an off day. Despite possessing a record two games below .500, the M’s are still in fine position in the standings because it seems like no other team in the American League actually wants to win — there are just four teams with winning records currently and the Mariners are in possession of a Wild Card berth with their 18-20 record.

GameTimeMariners StarterWhite Sox StarterMariners Win%White Sox Win%
Game 1Friday, May 8 | 4:40 pmRHP Emerson HancockRHP Sean Burke52.8%47.2%
Game 2Saturday, May 9 | 4:10 pmRHP Luis CastilloLHP Anthony Kay55.7%44.3%
Game 3Sunday, May 10 | 11:10 amRHP Logan GilbertRHP Davis Martin55.2%44.8%
*Game odds courtesy of FanGraphs
OverviewWhite SoxMarinersEdge
Batting (wRC+)96 (11th in AL)103 (3rd in AL)Mariners
Fielding (FRV)1 (6th)-12 (15th)White Sox
Starting Pitching (FIP-)99 (10th)96 (5th)Mariners
Bullpen (FIP-)103 (9th)82 (2nd)Mariners

The White Sox have made some quick progress in their rebuild after losing more than 100 games in three straight seasons. It’s easy to improve after losing a record 121 games like they did in 2024, but the forward progress this year has been shocking. The team was the surprising landing spot for Munetaka Murakami this offseason and their crop of young prospects have already started to make big impacts in the majors. After a bit of a slow start to the season, Chicago is 11-7 over its last 18 games. Even though they’re in a pretty favorable spot in the standings — third in the AL Central and just half a game out of a Wild Card spot — I don’t think this team is suddenly a contender this year, but they’re definitely a lot closer to breaking out of their rebuilding cycle than expected.

PlayerPositionBatsPAK%BB%ISOwRC+
Sam AntonacciLFL749.5%8.1%0.148126
Munetaka Murakami1BL16034.4%17.5%0.328153
Miguel Vargas3BR15917.0%16.4%0.208119
Colson MontgomerySSL15428.6%9.7%0.258127
Chase Meidroth2BR15324.2%10.5%0.098108
Andrew BenintendiDHL12133.1%5.8%0.13574
Jarred Kelenic (MiLB)RFL10428.8%18.3%0.26298
Tristan PetersCFL8924.7%6.7%0.03878
Drew Romo (MiLB)CS6826.5%10.3%0.263137

I think there are a bunch of teams who really regret missing out on Murakami this offseason now that they’ve seen what he can do against MLB pitching. Yes, the contact issues are still present — he’s running 34.4% strikeout rate and a 58.9% contact rate — but his walk rate has been surprisingly robust and the power is obviously big enough to play. He’s currently second in the majors with 14 home runs. He’s not the only power hitter in the middle of this lineup either. Colson Montgomery made a splash last summer, blasting 21 home runs in just 71 games after being called up in July. He’s hit another nine to start this year and is playing solid defense at shortstop to boot. Miguel Vargas is the other youngster showing some real progress this season. Pushed off the fringe of the Dodgers roster a few years ago, he’s been able to establish himself with regular playing time in Chicago. He’s got an excellent approach at the plate and hits the ball hard enough to run an above average batting line at third base.

Jarred Kelenic deserves a mention as well. He was recalled from Triple-A last week after Everson Pereira was sidelined with an injury. Kelenic couldn’t establish himself in the two years he spent in Atlanta and signed a minor league deal with the White Sox this offseason. Still just 26 years old, his issues are still the same as ever: trouble making consistent contact.

Probable Pitchers 

Updated Stuff+ Explainer 

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Sean Burke39.220.5%5.1%6.8%42.5%2.723.19
Emerson Hancock41.228.9%3.8%17.5%46.7%2.593.69
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam28.8%42.9%94.0112971080.289
Sinker24.2%9.1%94.291551960.292
Cutter2.7%6.9%89.986
Changeup0.4%6.9%85.8
Curveball16.7%28.8%79.387581120.306
Slider27.3%5.3%86.585

Sean Burke showed some flashes of promise in his first full season in the big leagues last year. His 4.22 ERA was perfectly acceptable for a rebuilding Chicago club, though his 4.92 FIP wasn’t nearly as encouraging. Still, there was a stretch in May and June where he ran a 3.33 ERA and a 4.06 FIP across nine starts. Things are looking up for Burke this year. He’s dramatically improved his command and cut his walk rate by more than half, down to 5.1%. He doesn’t strike out that many guys, but simply reducing the amount of traffic on the bases has helped him dramatically improve his topline results.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Anthony Kay3014.0%10.5%15.4%39.2%5.706.41
Luis Castillo34.119.4%8.1%8.7%33.0%6.294.25
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam38.2%35.2%95.89157720.491
Sinker13.4%44.0%95.1114
Cutter24.1%18.7%90.999911580.421
Changeup22.3%0.0%85.7109
Slider2.0%2.2%84.6109
Sweeper20.3%45.1%82.810978970.323

After a few years of riding the Triple-A shuttle for the Blue Jays, Anthony Kay signed a two-year deal with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of NBP. He excelled in Japan and returned to the US this offseason, signing a two-year deal with Chicago. He developed a sinker and a sweeper overseas, giving him a much deeper repertoire to keep batters off balance. Unfortunately, that revamped arsenal hasn’t helped him find much success against batters this year. The stuff models really like his sinker and a few of his secondary pitches, but he’s throwing a thoroughly mediocre four-seam fastball 30% of the time right now. That pitch is getting absolutely crushed. He simply isn’t working deep enough into counts to properly utilize his secondary pitches, his strike out rate has cratered to just 14.0%, and his ERA and FIP are both approaching six.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Davis Martin4425.4%4.7%4.9%38.6%1.642.46
Logan Gilbert4423.2%5.4%15.4%36.7%4.304.43
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam21.8%28.9%94.0961111020.356
Sinker20.2%11.5%92.886
Cutter10.3%19.5%89.689105820.468
Changeup10.7%21.4%90.18645850.356
Curveball5.8%14.3%82.191
Slider31.3%4.4%87.195

Davis Martin has quietly led the White Sox rotation with a 1.64 ERA and 2.46 FIP in seven starts this year. He’s improved his strikeout-to-walk ratio from 2.17 to 5.38 this year, adding more than eight points to his strikeout rate while simultaneously cutting his walk rate to 4.7%. He’s added a cutter to his pitch mix this year, giving him six weapons to use against opposing batters. None of them stand out individually in the stuff models, but his slider looks like one of the nastiest pitches in baseball right now. The whiff rate on that breaking ball is 59.6%, the second highest whiff rate on a slider in baseball. Opposing batters are running a sub-.200 wOBA against his three secondary pitches, and a plus-.300 wOBA against his three fastball variations. The problem is that batters have been struggling to identify his pitches — his called strike rate is up 3.5 points this year — so even if they’re making good contact against his fastballs, they’re just as likely to whiff or mishit one of his secondary offerings.


The Big Picture:

TeamW-LW%Games BehindRun DiffRecent Form
Athletics19-180.514-10L-W-L-L-W
Mariners18-200.4741.5+4L-L-W-L-W
Rangers17-200.4592.0-6L-L-L-W-L
Astros15-230.3954.5-37W-W-L-W-L
Angels15-230.3954.5-14W-L-L-W-W

The Athletics managed to avoid a sweep in Philadelphia with a 12-1 blowout win yesterday. They head to Baltimore this weekend looking to maintain their grip on the AL West lead. The Rangers lost their series in New York against the Yankees and will return home to face the red-hot Cubs this weekend. The blows just keep coming for the Astros: Carlos Correa has been sidelined for the season with an ankle injury suffered on Tuesday. Houston wound up losing its series against the Dodgers and will head to Cincinnati this weekend.

Nats Look To Stay Hot On The Road Against The Marlins

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 07: Keibert Ruiz #20 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins during the seventh inning at Nationals Park on May 7, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Thanks to an offensive outburst by Keibert Ruiz, which included 2 doubles and a solo shot, the Nationals beat the Twins 7-5 to secure the series win and an even 3-3 homestand. The win brought their record on the year to 18-20, good for sole possession of second place in the NL East and 2 wins shy of the .500 mark. They’ll have an opportunity to climb over the .500 mark with a three-game set in Miami against the Marlins, who are in the midst of a 4 game losing streak.

The Marlins have been led offensively by a pair of middle infielders in Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards in 2026, who have a 143 and 145 wRC+, respectively. Like the Nats, the Marlins lineup is extremely young, with none of their usual starting 9 hitters being over the age of 28. On the pitching side, they are led by a mix of former top prospects, journeymen, and a former Cy Young winner, and the result has been a respectable 4.09 ERA on the year as a club.

Friday – 7:10 PM EST

WSH: LHP Foster Griffin (3-1, 2.27 ERA)

MIA: LHP Robby Snelling (Major League Debut)

Despite throwing 6 innings and allowing 0 earned runs last time out, Griffin earned the loss due to some unearned runs in the first inning and the Nats’ offense failing to get going. He’s been a monster for the Nats every 5 days, and will look to keep it going against a young Marlins lineup.

Robby Snelling, one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in baseball, will make his major league debut tonight against the Nats, a left-handed heavy lineup. Acquired from the Padres for reliever Tanner Scott in 2024, Snelling had a 1.86 ERA in Triple-A this season and will now get his first crack at the big leagues.

Saturday – 4:10 PM EST

WSH: Zack Littell (1-4, 7.24 ERA)

MIA: RHP Janson Junk (2-3, 2.82 ERA)

Littell was effective in his last outing after PJ Poulin opened the game, throwing 3 2/3 innings of 1-run ball. The best the Nats can hope for out of Littell is to get through the order twice unscathed, before handing it off to Mitchell Parker to pitch the bulk of the innings.

A 22nd-rounder in 2017 by the Yankees, Junk has turned himself into an effective starter in Miami, with a 4.17 ERA in 21 outings in 2025 and a 2.82 ERA in 7 starts in 2026. He’s allowed just 1 run in his last 3 starts, so the Nats are catching him in the middle of a hot stretch.

Sunday – 12:15 PM EST

WSH: RHP Cade Cavalli (1-2, 4.15 ERA)

MIA: RHP Sandy Alcantara (3-2, 4.01 ERA)

After back-to-back 10-strikeout starts against the Braves and Mets, Cavalli took a step back in his outing against the Twins, allowing 3 runs over 4 innings and walking more batters than he struck out. When Cavalli has his command, he’s a tough guy to get runs off, so hopefully he has a feel for his stuff on Sunday in Miami.

Alcantara’s season has been a mixed bag so far, as he’s been brilliant in 6 of his 8 starts, going deep in the outings and limiting damage, but in 2 of them, he has allowed 7 runs, including last time out against the Orioles. Hopefully, the Nats get the bad version of Alcantara on Sunday and can drop a 7-spot of their own.

Could the Cubs bolster the rotation by trading for Freddy Peralta?

The Cubs’ starting rotation has actually done pretty well in 2026, considering they lost Cade Horton for the season after two starts, and now are missing Matthew Boyd with an injury for the second time this year (and Boyd has a 6.00 ERA in five starts in 2026).

The team’s 3.77 starting pitcher ERA ranks seventh among all teams, which is really pretty good considering the injuries. Colin Rea and Javier Assad have done a good job as fill-ins, and Ben Brown will get a chance at a start tonight.

Clearly, Jed Hoyer will be looking for starting pitching help going forward, particularly as we approach the trade deadline. But that’s two months away and most teams aren’t going to trade a quality starter in early May.

One starter who might become available somewhat soon is Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta.

The Mets are off to a terrible start, currently tied with the Giants for MLB’s worst record at 14-23. They’ve had injury issues and some of the changes they made in the offseason simply haven’t worked. They stand 11.5 games behind the first-place Braves just 37 games into the season.

Would the Mets trade Peralta now? Possibly not; there have been teams that started this poorly who have made the postseason, though it seems unlikely. The Mets lost 12 in a row last month, including being swept by the Cubs, and no team that has had that long a losing streak has ever made the postseason. So maybe they’d be open to a trade now, instead of waiting until the deadline.

Peralta is a pending free agent who turns 30 next month. He’s been consistently good throughout his career and has been so this year as well, entering Friday’s action with a 3.12 ERA and 1.200 WHIP, with just four home runs allowed in 43.1 innings. He’s made at least 30 starts each of the last three years and seems durable. And, Cubs manager Craig Counsell managed Peralta for six years in Milwaukee, so he’s quite familiar with the right-hander.

Also, Peralta is making $8 million this year, so he could likely easily fit into Hoyer’s budget.

Now, what would the Cubs have to give the Mets to get Peralta?

This article suggests sending Kevin Alcántara and Jefferson Rojas to New York in exchange for the veteran right-hander. Those two currently rank third and fourth in MLB Pipeline’s ranking of Cubs prospects. This past offseason, Josh ranked them fifth and third.

So that’s a fairly high price for a rental pitcher, though it’s not impossible that the Cubs could keep Peralta past this year.

Would you make that trade?