Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) watches the ball after batting a foul ball against Texas Rangers during the fourth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, May 2, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Two rookies are off to fast starts in the American League with both Munetaka Murakami and Kevin McGonigle making an early splash.
It’s no surprise the duo finds themselves atop FanDuel’s American League Rookie of the Year 2026 market through the first month of the season. Only two of the last 14 American League Rookie of the Year winners were full-time pitchers, giving a sizable recency advantage to rookie hitters in the voting.
Chicago White Sox slugging sensation Munetaka Murakami (+145) is the current favorite for AL Rookie of the Year. Tied for the league lead in home runs (14 in 35 games) with Aaron Judge, Murakami is tied for fifth in baseball in RBI (28) and ninth in OPS (.961).
The Japanese first baseman is off to a highlight-reel start with numerous towering home runs and a star quality the White Sox lacked in recent seasons. Murakami’s only downside is a high strikeout rate with 50 in his first 35 games.
Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (+155) stays in the mix with Murakami after claiming AL Rookie of the Month for March/April. A four-hit performance on Opening Day set the tone for the 21-year-old’s fast start, which included signing an eight-year, $150 million extension just weeks into the start of his Major League career.
McGonigle is 16th in baseball with a .315 batting average to go along with two home runs, 16 RBI and a notable 2.2 WAR. Although Murakami is deservedly grabbing early headlines for his power, McGonigle has been the most polished rookie at the start of the season.
After a rapid decline in odds from the top two contenders, Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (+1000) and Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (+1200) find themselves firmly in the next tier. Both players find themselves in the midst of recent hot streaks.
DeLauter went 8-for-11 during Cleveland’s latest three-game series against the Athletics, giving him a team-leading .304 batting average, 21 RBI and .946 OPS. In the midst of an eight-game hitting streak and 12 straight games on base, DeLauter is recovering nicely from a small slump in mid-April and could be a sleeper candidate with continued production.
Okamoto has six of his nine home runs in the last 15 days, finding his stride by hitting mammoth home runs and climbing Toronto’s batting order. Although behind in offensive numbers compared to his rookie counterparts, Okamoto has the power and defensive acumen to quickly climb the odds if the hot streak sustains.
A stacked incoming draft class could change the trajectories for many desperate NBA franchises.
The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is coming up, with three teams tied for the best odds at landing the No. 1 overall pick. All three are in the Eastern Conference, a conference that could benefit from an injection of young talent.
BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, UNC forward Caleb Wilson, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. are among the top prospects, though the list of possible impact players extends a few more names.
Here’s what to know about the lottery, which should make for an enthralling viewing as the draft board could go in numerous directions:
When is the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery?
The lottery will be held on Sunday, May 10. Coverage will start at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on ABC.
Who will pick first in the 2026 NBA Draft?
The draft lottery odds are sorted with the teams with the worst records leading the way. This year, the three teams tied for the best odds at picking first overall are the Washington Wizards (17-65), Indiana Pacers (19-63) and Brooklyn Nets (20-62).
2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds with ties included
The Wizards, Pacers, Nets, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings have the best odds at picking first, but it doesn’t always work out that way.
While he didn’t get that much coverage in the first round, Montreal Canadiens’ blueliner Lane Hutson was key in the Habs’ win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old blueliner averaged over 27 minutes of ice time over the seven games, picked up six points, two goals and an assist and became the fastest Canadiens defenseman to reach the 10-point mark in the playoffs. He took 14 shots on net and had a 14.3% shooting percentage, and added 13 blocks and six hits.
On Monday, Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin spoke about the Habs’ defenseman in these terms:
It’s awesome to see [what Lane Hutson’s doing]. He can play hockey on both ends. He’s a small guy, but he finds a way to have good numbers. Offensively, he can create from nothing, which is pretty cool to see. I’ve seen lately that he has a good shot, too.
It’s hard to argue with his assessment. Whichever way you look at it, the Canadiens blueline completely changed when Hutson arrived. His speed, mobility, and elusiveness have enabled him to succeed in the NHL despite his small stature. Whether it’s in the regular season or in the playoffs, he plays consistently at the highest level, and he’s always on the opponent’s radar.
As for Dahlin, he’s been a big part of his team’s success as well, putting up four points in six games, taking 21 shots on goal, landing 10 hits and blocking six shots. The 6-foot-3-and-204-pound defenseman is a finalist for the Bill Masterton Trophy this season. He went through plenty of adversity as his fiancée was struck with heart failure last Summer and had to be hospitalized in France, where the couple was on holiday. She stayed in the hospital for months, needed a heart transplant, and it was later revealed that she had lost the couple’s unborn child. She finally joined Dahlin in Buffalo in March, when she was deemed healthy enough to make the trip.
In the regular season, Dahlin had three points in four games against the Canadiens and made the headlines when he expressed his frustration with Habs fans taking over the Sabres’ building, making it feel like they were playing on the road:
I really, really appreciate the fans that came out, but I don’t want to see that many red in the future.
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Buffalo is about six and a half hours away from Montreal by car, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Canadiens fans make the trip, especially since the Sabres captain expressed his frustration earlier this season. However, with the team having been excluded from the playoffs for 14 years, local fans are all in on this postseason, and the building has been one of the loudest in the first round.
NEW YORK - JUNE 24, 2006: Former outfielder Bob Cerv of the New York Yankees is introduced during Old Timers Day ceremonies on June 24, 2006 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. (Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The 1950s were a hugely successful stretch for the Yankees organization. Although the rosters were often headlined by future Hall of Fame members and generational greats, they were rosters full of talented players, a necessity for winning multiple World Series. Among the players with smaller roles was Bob Cerv, who had limited playing time in pinstripes, but would later prove himself as a talented player in his own right.
Although his most significant mark may have been made with other clubs, Cerv was a legitimate big league bat for much of his 12 years in The Show, even if it didn’t always come with New York. Either way, the outfielder filled a role on the successful Yankees teams of the early 1950s, one of the franchise’s most impressive runs of dominance.
Bob Cerv Born: May 5, 1925 (Weston, NE) Died: April 6, 2017 (Blair, NE) Yankees Tenure: 1951-56, 1960, 1961-62
Born in Nebraska in 1925, Robert Henry Cerv played baseball in college as a Cornhusker and fought in World War II, before eventually signing with the Yankees prior to the 1950 season. A year later, at the age of 26, Cerv would make his Major League debut with New York. The big right-hander was called up in August of 1951, kicking off just a cup of coffee with the club. Although this was more in the style of a late-season call-up, the part-time role he had in ‘51 became the norm for Cerv for much of his Yankee career.
After just 12 games and 33 plate appearances in that debut season, Cerv combined for barely over 100 combined plate appearances over the next two seasons with the Yankees. The results were not particularly convincing, but enough to keep him around going into the 1954 season, when he would really begin to prove himself.
That ‘54 campaign kicked off a really good run for Cerv, though it notably took place in a limited role, as he spent much of his time on the field in a part-time capacity and as a pinch-hitter. That being said, for the final three years of his first stretch with New York, Cerv was an All-Star level hitter, who likely would have earned himself a lot more time in the modern game. He had a 121 OPS + in ‘54 across 112 plate appearances, and would only come to improve on that number. In the following season, he posted a terrific .341/.411/.541 slash line and was worth 1.2 bWAR in less than 100 plate appearances. And in 1956, he was just as good, in a then career-high 155 plate appearances. He was also a postseason contributor during that impressive run, which included a home run in their losing 1955 Fall Classic, as well a 1-for-1 line in the victorious ‘56 Series, both against the Dodgers.
Shortly after that World Series win, Cerv’s services were purchased by the Kansas City Athletics. It was clear that the A’s planned on giving Cerv a more substantial shot, and although the experiment was disappointing in 1957, the veteran turned in a massive career-year in the following season. In that 1958 season, Cerv was a star, exploding for 38 home runs, and hitting to the tune of a near-MVP-level 159 OPS+. Reasonably so, he was rewarded with his first and only All-Star selection, and finished fourth in MVP voting that season — not too bad for a former part-timer relegated to pinch-hitting duty.
The powerful outfielder had a couple of good seasons left in him as he entered his mid-30s, including another with KC in ‘59, and a season split between teams in 1960. Despite the post-World Series departure, Cerv’s time in pinstripes was also far from done. In 1960, he was traded back to the Bombers and played 87 solid games with them that season, before being selected by the Angels in the expansion draft that winter.
He returned to the club once again via trade in 1961 for 51 solid games with the Yankees, and would spend the beginning of the ‘62 season with the club as well. By this point, Cerv was entering his late-30s, and was once again largely occupying a part-time role. He wrapped up his big league career in 1962, with his final time coming with Houston in the middle of that season.
After a dozen seasons, Bob Cerv’s big-league career was over, and though his role was limited for much of it, he was able to briefly reach significant heights. Born on this day 101 years ago, he lived in his native Nebraska into his 90s, before passing in 2017. Like many players featured in this series, today marks a good opportunity to look back on an interesting and at times very good career in Yankees history — and one that got to be celebrated at several futures Old-Timers’ Days. Happy birthday, Bob.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
The Texas Rangers, ranked third in the AL West with a 16-18 record, face the New York Yankees, who are first in the AL East with a 24-11 record. Starting pitchers are Jacob deGrom for Texas, with a 2.01 ERA, and Elmer Rodríguez for New York, with a 4.50 ERA.
The Minnesota Wild face the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of their second-round NHL playoff series. The Avalanche won a wild 9-6 game in the series opener on Sunday. Fourteen different players scored the 15 total goals in the game. Colorado had four goals in the final period to win.
How to watch Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 2: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2, 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After a pair of frustrating first round exits in recent years, the Lakers exorcised some demons in a cathartic win over the Rockets.
Awaiting them now, though, is the best team in the NBA in the Thunder. To say the Lakers had limited success against OKC in the regular season would be an understatement.
In the two meetings in Oklahoma, LA trailed by 30 before halftime. The only close game between the two sides was when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the likely back-to-back MVP, was out. Even if the Lakers were without Luka Dončić in that contest — a situation they’ll be in for at least the start of this series — it’s going to take a dramatic improvement from the purple and gold to make this a competitive series.
Predictably, when I fielded questions for the mailbag, all of them were about this upcoming series, ranging from how the Lakers close the gap and what the rotations are going to look like.
So, let’s dive in.
Walter Burns
What needs to improve more compared to the regular season blowouts against OKC: the defense or the offense?
Definitely the offense. The biggest takeaway from those two games in Oklahoma City was how much the Lakers’ offense was out of whack.
The Thunder feast off turnovers. At their worst, LA is prone to bad turnovers. We saw it often in the last series against the Rockets. If they commit those unforced errors against the Thunder, it’s curtains.
In multiple games, Houston used those turnovers to get back into the game, particularly in Games 1 and 2. Oklahoma City will use those turnovers to blow the game open.
Concerningly, Austin struggled mightily in those games, turning the ball over. He’s going to have to handle the ball a lot in this series. It’s going to be a huge ask considering it’s only going to be his third game back, but if the Lakers want to have any chance, they’re going to have to replicate their performance in Game 6 against Houston by being smart and taking care of the ball.
Because if you toss a lazy pass into the post, the Thunder are sprinting the other way for a huge dunk.
Walter Burns
Against the Thunders athletic bodies, should Jarred Vanderbilt get an increased role? I’m guessing Adou — what a dunk in game 6 — is not ready yet (and perhaps never will)?
I actually wonder how much Vando will play in this series. The Thunder do have athletic wings, but the issues, as always, are going to come on the other end. If the Lakers are going to have a center on the floor that isn’t a floor-spacer, then Vando is forced into one of the corners.
Oklahoma City is one of the best help defenses in the league. Adding a player on that end they don’t have to worry about only strengthens their defense.
It will allow them to either hide one of their centers in Isaiah Hartenstein or Chet Holmgren on Vando or it will allow them to have a player like Alex Caruso or Cason Wallace play free safety and ball hawk.
The old adage goes trust eight, play nine. I think the Lakers’ eight are going to be the starters — Austin, Marcus Smart, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton — along with Jaxson Hayes, Jake LaRavia and Luke Kennard. Vando is the ninth guy that’s going to have to earn some trust.
As for the Adou point, he’s still pretty far away. I know he’s a fun intriguing prospect and I’m very excited to see him in Summer League, but it seems unlikely he’s going to see the court. If things are really going haywire with Vando and the Lakers really need a body out there, maybe. But in that case, I still think they’d turn to even Bronny James before Adou.
scooter
During March there was a clear pecking order on offense: Luka as ball dominant PG; AR as off-guard who would relieve LD of ball burden at times; LBJ as 3rd option, cutting to the basket etc.
Now, for this series, assuming AR’s good health, does he take LD’s role as primary initiator, or will it be like the start of the season with the lead guys alternating?
I think Austin is going to be the lead ballhandler, but I also think LeBron is going to do a lot of playmaking this round, too.
While the Thunder have a bunch of athletic wings, they don’t have many players built to slow down LeBron. The Lakers have unlocked some things with him in the post and I think they can find ways to exploit that against a smaller OKC team.
Austin also isn’t going to have the legs to be as on-ball as he was earlier in the year. Not with so little time back and heading into a playoff series that’s going to be physically demanding.
It’s going to have to be a different dynamic than it was in March, certainly. No one is going to be as ball-dominant as Luka was, but it won’t be quite as egalitarian as it was early in the Rockets series either. Expect a lot lower usage for Marcus and Luke.
What I loved about Vogel was his willingness to go to the bench for matchups in the playoffs and start guys because it was the best basketball move. Ty Lue is where he is today because when his number was called to stop Iverson, he was ready. I don’t get that vibe from JJ but hope that I am wrong. Trying the same things we did during the regular season would real bad. We have to show them new looks and a lot of them. All that said, Smart and Ayton playing out of their minds would also solve a lot of our problems.
One of my favorite traits about the bubble Lakers was their adaptability. Whatever a series called for, they had the solution. It just required them to drop Game 1 to figure things out. But by Game 2, the staff and players knew what needed to be done.
Being concerned about Redick’s adaptability is fair. It’s going to hang over him for a while after playing five players in a second half of a playoff game.
But I think the Rockets series showed that he can adapt. Take Game 6, for example. The Lakers went from doubling Alperen Şengün to playing single coverage against him. It was a bold call and required big performances from Ayton and Hayes. But it was the right call as it stalled out the Rockets’ offense.
JJ is still a second-year coach. In the 2019-20 season, Vogel was in his ninth year as a head coach after eight years as an assistant. That’s a library of knowledge he had that Redick didn’t.
In my book, Redick wiped away a fair amount of concerns about his playoff performance with that Rockets series, where he coached laps around Ime Udoka, even if that’s not hard to do.
fluminense
How much money do you think that Bill Simmons, John Hollinger and others lost after betting that the Lakers would lose in the first round and the Celtics would advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs?
DENVER, CO - MAY 3: Jonah Heim #20 of the Atlanta Braves throws to first for an out in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 3, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Catcher Jonah Heim, who signed with the Atlanta Braves this offseason after being non-tendered by the Texas Rangers, was traded to the Athletics yesterday for cash considerations.
Heim went to camp with the Braves on a minor league deal, but with veteran Sean Murphy starting the year on the injured list, Heim was on the Opening Day roster for Atlanta as the backup to Drake Baldwin. Murphy was activated yesterday, so Heim was designated for assignment, and then promptly traded to the A’s.
Both Heim and Murphy, incidentally, originally debuted with Oakland. Murphy was a third round pick of the A’s and spent four seasons in the majors with them before being traded to the Braves in a weird three team deal that saw the A’s get an underwhelming package of five players highlighted by Esteury Ruiz. The Milwaukee Brewers, the third team in the deal, got catcher William Contreras from Atlanta.
Heim, meanwhile, was originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2013, was traded to the Rays at the 2016 trade deadline, and then was sent to Oakland as the player to be named later in the Joey Wendle trade. Heim then was traded to Texas in February, 2021, as part of the Khris Davis/Elvis Andrus trade.
Heim is slashing .231/.311/.410 in 45 plate appearances so far this season, and is taking the active roster spot of Shea Langeliers, who has been placed on paternity leave. 35 year old veteran Austin Wynns has been backing up Langeliers this season, but has a 244 OPS in 39 plate appearances, and so Heim may ultimately end up replacing Wynns as the primary backup catcher.
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Nineteen years.
That’s how long it’s been since the Buffalo Sabres won a playoff round. As fans may recall, their last win was way back in 2007 when they took down the Islanders and Rangers only to come up short against the Senators in the Conference Finals.
Now, nearly two decades later, Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson, Alex Lyon, Peyton Krebs and Bowen Byram gritted out a six-game Quarterfinal Round victory over the pesky Boston Bruins to advance to the Semifinals against Juraj Slafkovský’s Montreal Canadiens.
If you’d like to cheer on the Swords at the arena formerly known as “the Morgue,” you can snag tickets for all four hypothetical Eastern Conference Semifinal home games at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center on these dates:
Based on our findings, last-minute tickets for games in Buffalo start at $312 including fees on SeatGeek at the time of publication.
Seats start at $440 including fees for Canadiens fans hoping to catch the series at their home Bell Centre in Montreal.
Prior to this series, the two clubs met four times over the 2025-26 season and each won two games apiece.
However, Buffalo and Montreal’s history (and rivalry) stretches back much further than this season. The once-dominant franchises crossed paths in the playoffs seven times from 1972-1998.
“Canadiens fans will be looking to get revenge for the last postseason meeting between these two clubs,” Sabre Noise wrote. “But history doesn’t quite seem on the Canadiens’ side this time…Buffalo is just too good and too inspired to let the Habs walk over them.”
This should be one for the ages- don’t miss this series live.
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens 2026 NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals round below.
Buffalo Sabres playoff home game tickets
A complete calendar including all announced Sabres Eastern Conference home game dates and the best prices on tickets can be found here:
Buffalo Sabres home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 1 Wednesday, May 6
$312(including fees)
Game 2 Friday, May 8
$437(including fees)
Game 5 Thursday, May 14
$470(including fees)
Game 7 Monday, May 18
$560(including fees)
Montreal Canadiens playoff home game tickets
All Canadiens playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.
Montreal Canadiens home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game 3 Sunday, May 10
$468(including fees)
Game 4 Tuesday, May 12
$440(including fees)
Game 6 Saturday, May 16
$582(including fees)
How to watch the Sabres and Canadiens on TV
Fans hoping to catch Ruf’s rowdy roster on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on ABC, ESPN and TNT.
Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.
If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.
2026 NHL playoff schedule
Want to keep tabs on how the postseason is shaking out?
Not sure what to do once the final buzzer sounds on the 2025-26 NHL season?
The KeyBank Center has you covered.
The vintage and unhinged arena has booked a number of exciting acts to entertain audiences all summer (and fall) long.
Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live.
• Journey (June 10)
• Bryan Adams (Aug. 14)
• Zac Brown Band (Nov. 5)
• Sombr (Nov. 14)
• Andrea Bocelli (Dec. 11)
Want to see who else is Buffalo-bound? Check out this list of all the upcoming events at the KeyBank Center (which includes the NHL Draft) to find the show for you.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
LeBron James and the Lakers begin Round 2 of their quest for an NBA Title tonight but standing in their way are the defending champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Minus Luka Dončić, LeBron and co. are heavy underdogs. OKC dominated the league and their treatment of the Lakers was no exception. The Thunder went 4-0 this season against Los Angeles winning by a whopping 29.3 points per game.
As if they needed more momentum and confidence, the Thunder probably got some of both in Round 1, sweeping the Suns in convincing fashion. Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander averaged 33.8 points and 8.0 assists in the four-game sweep, but their elite defense that was their calling card during the regular season, was the underlying storyline in Round 1. With home‑court advantage and a week of rest, the Thunder enter this game fully prepared and firmly in control of the narrative.
Los Angeles arrives in Oklahoma City after grinding through a six‑game series against Houston, capped by a 98–78 win in Game 6. LeBron James continues to carry the Lakers, scoring 28 points in the closeout game, but as alluded to earlier, the team remains severely shorthanded. Luka Dončić is still out with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and has not progressed to full‑contact work, leaving the Lakers without their leading scorer and playmaker. The Lakers withstood a Rockets’ team in the Opening Round, but they will need to defend in this series if they even hope to contend and take even a couple games.
Matchup‑wise, the Thunder present problems at every level. Gilgeous‑Alexander is widely viewed as simply the toughest defensive assignment in the league, and OKC’s depth—featuring Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Ajay Mitchell—allows them to sustain pressure for 48 minutes. The Lakers, meanwhile, must rely heavily on LeBron and hope for strong contributions from the supporting cast including Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. OKC has religiously collapsed around Lebron to force others to beat them…and they have failed to do so.
Ultimately, the Lakers face an uphill battle. They are on short rest, missing a superstar, and entering an arena where OKC went 34–7 this season. The Thunder, meanwhile, are healthy enough, rested, and playing with the confidence of defending champions. For Los Angeles to keep this competitive, they’ll need a vintage LeBron performance, disciplined defense, and unexpected scoring from their supporting cast. Otherwise, Oklahoma City’s pace, depth, and two‑way dominance could make this another lopsided chapter in a matchup that has been one‑sided all year.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Thunder vs. Lakers
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Time: 8:30PM EST
Site: Paycom Center
City: Oklahoma City, OK
Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock
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Game Odds: Thunder vs. Lakers
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder (-1100), Los Angeles Lakers (+700)
Spread: Thunder -15.5
Total: 213.5 points
This game opened Thunder -15.5 with the Game Total set at 214.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Thunder vs. Lakers
Oklahoma City Thunder
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG Luguentz Dort
C Isaiah Hartenstein
SF Jalen Williams
PF Chet Holmgren
Los Angeles Lakers
PG Marcus Smart
SG Austin Reaves
C Deandre Ayton
PF Rui Hachimura
SF LeBron James
Injury Report: Thunder vs. Lakers
Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalen Williams (hamstring) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Thomas Sorber (knee) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Doncic (hamstring) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Thunder vs. Lakers
The Lakers are 27-17 on the road this season
The Thunder are 36-7 at home this season
The Lakers are 49-38-1 ATS this season
OKC is 41-44-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 47 of the Thunder’s 86 games this season (47-39)
The OVER has cashed in 44 of the Lakers’ 88 games this season (44-44)
Chet Holmgren grabbed 12 rebounds in Game 4 against the Suns and averaged 8.5 rebounds per game in the series
Lu Dort scored in single digits in each game in Round 1 “highlighted” by his 1 point in Game 4
Rui Hachimura was 17-29 from beyond the arc in the First Round including 5-7 in the closeout game
Austin Reaves had 4 blocks in his 2 games in the First Round against the Suns
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s Thunder and Lakers’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Thunder -15.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 214.5
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The Pittsburgh Pirates (19-16) and Arizona Diamondbacks (16-17) meet for a three-game series at Chase Field. These two teams are headed in different directions lately. The Pirates have won the last three games, while the Diamondbacks have dropped the previous four.
Arizona is back at home after six straight road games. Arizona is on a four-game losing streak and has been outscored 29-10 in that stretch. The Diamondbacks are 1-5 in the last six games and hitting .227 in that span (25th) with 39 hits (24th).
Pittsburgh is coming off a three-game sweep over Cincinnati. The Pirates outscored the Reds, 27-8 in those three games. Pittsburgh is 5-5 in the last 10 games and 7-4 in the last 11 road games.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Pirates at Diamondbacks
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Time: 9:40 PM EST
Site: Chase Field
City: Phoenix, AZ
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
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The Pirates’ Nick Gonzales is hitting .328 with 38 hits and 43 total bases over 116 at-bats
The Pirates’ Marcell Ozuna is hitting .189 with 21 hits and 32 strikeouts over 111 at-bats
The Diamondbacks’ Ildemaro Vargas is hitting .382 with 39 hits and 67 total bases over 102 at-bats
The Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte is hitting .214 with 27 hits and 28 strikeouts over 126 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Giants
The Pirates are 20-15 ATS this season
The Diamondbacks are 21-12 ATS this season, ranking second-best
The Diamondbacks are 20-12-1 to the Over this season, ranking fifth-best
The Pirates are 20-15 to the Over this season
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Pirates and the Diamondbacks
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday's game two between the Pirates and the Diamondbacks:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Pirates on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pirates at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 9.0
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Feb 27, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drive past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson (20) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
The rivalry between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers stretches back so far that you have to conjure up names like Žydrūnas Ilgauskas, Darko Miličić, and LeBron James (remember that old timer?). It was the Detroit Pistons that delayed James’ ascension to title winner, which compelled his migration to South Beach, it was James who single-handedly killed the Going to Work Pistons with 25 consecutive points in 2007.
Both franchises experienced some low lows (Detroit’s much more extended), and both are among the top of the East thanks to some smart roster building and a pivotal player from the 2021 NBA Draft — Cade Cunningham for the Pistons and Evan Mobley for the Cavs.
Cleveland won 64 games last year, got bounced in the second round, and made a win-now trade for James Harden at the trade deadline. Detroit won 60 games this year and is looking at toppling the Cavs as the next step in its title-contending narrative.
The Cavs, though, don’t seem to think much of the Pistons.
In reviewing the four-game season series, it was hard to glean much from either side thanks to injuries. Each side won two, and every win has an asterisk because of key pieces missing from the starting lineup. The most recent was a 122-119 overtime win for Detroit when the Cavs were missing five rotation players, including its backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Harden.
The Cavs lost, but they had plenty to say after the game … anonymously, of course.
“They aren’t in our class,” said one anonymous player to Cleveland.com after the game.
Chris Fedor, the beat writer for the Cavs for many years, follows that up with, “Another player said he didn’t believe Detroit would even be Cleveland’s toughest matchup in the playoffs.”
I’d call it unshakeable confidence if only the players were brave enough to put a name to their words.
For better and for worse, the Pistons don’t do anything anonymously. They say it with their chest, and they aren’t afraid to get physical.
The key to this series is bringing that physicality without pushing it too far. Harden can get you in foul trouble, Ausar Thompson. Donovan Mitchell can make you regret gambling for that steal, Javonte Green. Sam Merrill will make you regret over-helping, Cade Cunningham. Isaiah Stewart can get you ejected, Isaiah Stewart.
The Pistons have a decided size advantage on the wings, and the double-big matchup between Jalen Duren and Jarrett Allen, and Isaiah Stewart (and Tobias Harris) against Evan Mobley will be the key to the series.
Detroit needs to take care of the ball, Cunningham chief among them, and they need to find a way to impose their will in a way they couldn’t manage to against the Orlando Magic until the final six quarters of the series. The Pistons need to keep building up its postseason narrative while ensuring they make the Cavs play down to theirs.
Mitchell, Harden, Mobley, and the Cavaliers are incredibly talented. But they are the ones who haven’t been able to deliver when it matters. Mitchell averages 27.8 points in the playoffs but has never escaped the conference semifinals. Harden has never missed the postseason but has only made the conference finals twice since leaving Oklahoma City in 2012. Its been four early playoff exits for the Cavs the past four seasons.
The series is there for the taking. The Pistons just need to deliver on the floor and not focus on soundbites.
The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first game of their Western Conference semifinal series. The Lakers beat the Rockets 4-2 in the first round while the Thunder swept the Phoenix Suns. The Thunder are favored with a spread of -15.5 and an over/under of 213.5.
How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder -1111 (88.0%) / Los Angeles Lakers +700 (12.0%)
Over/Under: 213.5
Series schedule
Game 1: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Tuesday May 5, 8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 2: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Thursday May 7, 9:30 ET, Prime Video) Game 3: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 9, 8:30 ET, ABC) Game 4: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Monday May 11, 10:30 ET, Prime Video) Game 5: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Wednesday May 13)* Game 6: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 16)* Game 7: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Monday May 18)*
Our MLB best bets for May 5 start with another fade of a struggling squad, as well as banking on runs in the Bronx, despite Jacob deGrom taking the mound.
See why our expert MLB picks love the value of these two plays at Polymarket — plus the Tigers, who are also undervalued as well.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Rangers/Yankees Over 8.5
Price: 50¢ (+100) at Polymarket
The hitting conditions at Yankee Stadium are prime for runs, with 17 mph winds blowing out to left field and THE BAT projecting over 10 runs in this matchup. The fair price on Over 8.5 sits around -130. Jacob deGrom is always a concern, but he’s still working on a ~90-pitch leash, and the New York Yankees just saw him on April 28. On the other side, Elmer Rodriguez had an inefficient outing vs. the Texas Rangers last week — and could be in trouble again, especially with a familiarity edge for hitters on both sides.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: White Sox moneyline
Price: 49¢ (+104) at Polymarket
I don't think the Los Angeles Angels should be favored over anyone right now. After a promising start to the season, they've lost 13 of their last 15 games! Over the last two weeks, LA ranks 25th in OPS and 27th in bullpen ERA, while the Chicago White Sox sit in the top eight in both categories and have the edge on the mound tonight. Erick Fedde has been solid with a 3.24 ERA, while the Angels turn to youngster Sam Aldegheri, who's been rocked for a 7.77 ERA in AAA this season — and a 6.35 ERA in limited MLB action across the last three years.
Neil Parker's expert pick: White Sox/Angels NRFI
Price: 51¢ (-102) at Polymarket
White Sox starter Erick Fedde has held opposing hitters to a minuscule .385 OPS in the opening frame and pitched a scoreless first in three of his four starts, including last time out against these Angels. Los Angeles counters with lefty Sam Aldegheri, and he’ll have the benefit of the Chicago lineup seeing him for the first time. So, while Aldegheri’s MLB and Triple A numbers are nothing to write home about, the Pale Hose sport a .231 batting average in the first frame and score in the first inning at a league-average 28.57% rate.
Jon Metler's expert pick: Tigers moneyline
Price: 60¢ (-150) at Polymarket
Losing Tarik Skubal for months was a tough blow for the Detroit Tigers, but this is exactly why they brought in Framber Valdez — to stabilize the rotation — and his opportunity to step in as the ace begins tonight against the Boston Red Sox. The Tigers are trading at 60 cents, while I make them closer to 64 cents, leaving a clear edge. Brayan Bello will do the bulk of the pitching for Boston, and he’s struggled badly against left-handed hitters this season, allowing a .414 average and a 1.313 OPS. That’s a major concern against a Tigers lineup loaded with left-handed bats like Kevin McGonigle, Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, and Colt Keith. Boston will try to offset that with left-hander Jovani Moran as an opener, but that wrinkle is already baked into the projection.
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.
The AL Cy Young award betting market was reshaped once again by Monday’s news of Detroit Tigers ace pitcher Tarik Skubal needing elbow surgery.
Key Takeaways
Skubal was a +250 favorite last week and is now off the board.
There is no timetable yet for his return from elbow surgery.
Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler is now the market’s favorite at +200.
Not only are all three 2025 top vote getters (Skubal, Garrett Crochet, and Hunter Brown) currently on the injured list, but Skubal and Crochet were co-favorites at +350 to win the award when BetMGM opened its market earlier this year.
The Tigers today placed LHP Tarik Skubal on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 1) with loose bodies in his left elbow. RHP Ty Madden (#36) has been recalled from Triple-A Toledo.
Skubal, who won the award last year, got as short as +175 after the first week of the regular season and was the +250 favorite heading into this week in the Cy Young odds.
By Monday afternoon, Skubal was off the board at BetMGM. There is no timetable yet for the return of the fiery left-hander, who is having loose bodies removed from his elbow.
New favorite
New York Yankees hurler Cam Schlittler was installed as the new AL Cy Young award favorite on Monday afternoon and was as low as +200 on Tuesday morning. Teammate Max Fried was listed second with odds of +350, Toronto’s Dylan Cease was placed fourth at +500, while Los Angeles Angels ace Jose Soriano was fifth at +550.
Odds spiked to +1,200 on Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom.
Crochet had fallen to over +6,000 before he was sidelined with shoulder inflammation, and he is not currently listed on BetMGM’s board. The Red Sox expect Crochet back this month.
Brown, who could return to the Astros in June, has massive odds of +20,000 to win the Cy Young.
Moving on up
The week before Skubal went on the IL, he led BetMGM’s AL Cy Young award market with 9.8% of the tickets. Skubal was second in handle (11.8%) behind Soriano’s 14.5% of the money.
Schlittler has seen his odds shorten quickly over the last few weeks. He opened at +10,000 and was down to +3,000 when the season began. A hot start got Schlittler down to +450 last week, tying him for second on the odds list with Soriano.
Schlittler has a 5-1 record and leads the AL with a 1.52 ERA. He’s tied for third in the AL in strikeouts (53) and has allowed just one home run over eight starts.
