"Craig is a tremendous coach and an even better person," new GM John Chayka said in a statement. "This decision is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig. We are grateful for his leadership, professionalism and commitment to the Maple Leafs organization and wish Craig and his family nothing but the best moving forward."
This season was always going to be tough because they lost free agent Mitch Marner in a sign and trade. But the Maple Leafs hovered around .500 before getting to eight games over in mid-January.
The Leafs had eight consecutive losses coming out of the Olympic break. After a 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators in which the Leafs were badly outshot on Feb. 28, Berube pointed to his heart and to his head and said of the players, "They've got to bring the heart and the competitiveness that's needed."
Aug 12, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Los Angeles Dodgers hat and glove in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Three one-run losses and a blowout win for the Ontario Tower Buzzers—that’s how the day went in the Dodgers’ minor league system.
Player of the day
While the first-place Drillers might not have gotten the result they wanted in a loss against the Cardinals, it most certainly didn’t come due to a lack of trying from Chris Newell. The right-fielder finished his game with three hits in four at-bats and stole two bases without getting caught once.
While Newell hasn’t had what one may describe as a memorable campaign, the twenty-five-year-old could be heating up with this being his second three-hit performance in as many games.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Despite tossing eight scoreless frames in between the second and ninth innings, the Comets couldn’t produce enough offensively to grab a win on the road. Instead, they lost it 2-1 in walk-off fashion on an RBI single from Sterlin Thompson.
The weird thing is that it wasn’t a particularly dominating day from the Isotopes on the strikeout side, with only five, but they managed to hold off the likes of James Tibbs III and Jack Suwinski hitless.
Double-A Tulsa
Different kind of game, same kind of result. The Comets dropped one 7-6 to the Cardinals as the struggles of Maddux Bruns showed up once again. The once very promising left-hander saw his ERA balloon to 11.68, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) with just as many walks, earning only one out in the process. Interestingly, Bruns didn’t even have the shortest outing of a pitcher involved in this game, as Christian Ruebeck opened the game and didn’t record a single out.
Despite the six runs, it wasn’t necessarily the most productive of days for the Drillers’ offense as a whole. Chris Newell recorded half of the team’s six hits and their only two stolen bases. Five of those runs came in the third inning, later held in check by the Cardinals’ bullpen.
High-A Great Lakes
In the battle of hits over walks, walks won as the Whitecaps beat the Loons 4-3 on a day in which their pitching staff allowed three hits and eight walks, a direct contrast with the Loons’ 10 hits and two free passes. Great Lakes threatened to take the lead late in this one, but they had the wrong part of the order up as Eduardo Guerrero and Samuel Muñoz stranded the tying and the potential go-ahead runs on the basepaths in the eighth inning.
Jacob Frost came into this game with an undefeated 5-0 record,but ended up suffering his first loss of the year, allowing two runs in 3.2 innings, with three walks and four strikeouts. On a positive note, middle infielder Nico Perez hit his sixth home run of the season, finishing the game three for four.
— Great Lakes Loons (@greatlakesloons) May 12, 2026
Single-A Ontario
The day was salvaged by the Tower Buzzers, who crushed the Giants en route to a 9-2 win, despite 13 strikeouts. Emil Morales went two for four to elevate his season batting average to .333, while shortstop Joendry Vargas and first baseman Easton Shelton both left the yard.
— Ontario Tower Buzzers (@towerbuzzers) May 13, 2026
With starter Cam Leiter covering only a pair of scoreless innings, the bulk of the game was left for reliever Mason Estrada, who earned six strikeouts in four innings and set up a calm finish for Jhonny Jímenez.
Transactions
The Ontario Tower Buzzers activated shortstop Kellon Lindsey. Outfielder Alex Thomas was assigned to the ACL Dodgers, who activated second baseman Reyli Mariano.
Tuesday’s scores
Albuquerque 2, Oklahoma City 1
Tulsa 6, Springfield 7
Great Lakes 3, West Michigan 4
Ontario 9, San Jose 2
Wednesday’s schedule
9:00 a.m. PT: Tulsa (Patrick Copen) vs. Springfield
3:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Sterling Patick) vs. West Michigan (Ben Jacobs)
5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Cole Irvin) at Albuquerque (TBD)
6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (Isaac Ayon) vs. Rancho Cucamonga (TBD)
Things are supposed to be easier for the No. 1 seed, right?
The Detroit Pistons have found themselves in two tight series to start the NBA Playoffs. This Eastern Conference semifinal set with the Cleveland Cavaliers is knotted at 2-2 as it swings back to Motown for Game 5 tonight.
Our Cavaliers vs. Pistons props dissect the individual efforts for both teams, giving you my best NBA picks for Wednesday, May 13.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' veteran guard is starting to find his range after a 1-for-11 start to the series from distance. He dialed in for 3 of 7 3-pointers in Game 3 and continued to cook in Monday’s victory.
Two of those triples were on pull-up jumpers with the Detroit Pistons playing passing perimeter defense, and the other three makes were generated in dribble-drive kickouts to Harden’s waiting hands.
All five 3-point makes were graded as “open” to “wide open” with seven of his nine 3PAs coming without a defender within at least four feet. In the first two games in Detroit, Harden just wasn’t getting that same space (or making his shots), going 1-for-7 on those graded attempts.
Projections for Game 5 have Harden’s treys ranging between 2.4 and 3.0, with the majority of models at 2.9 or higher. He’s bagged three or more 3-pointers in six of his 11 playoff games.
Game 5 Prop #2: Tobias Harris Under 18.5 points
-105 at bet365
Pistons veteran forward Tobias Harris has stepped up in the postseason, serving as one of the biggest surprises.
With Jalen Duren struggling, Harris is averaging more than 20 points in the playoffs after putting up just north of 13 per game in the regular season.
That hot streak has boosted his points props from 13.5 O/U to 18.5, with Harris playing Over his scoring total in the first 10 postseason games before coming up short of his inflated total in Game 4.
Harris, who is shooting almost 47% from the field in the tournament, finished 6-for-17 with 16 points on Monday, going Under his closing total of 18.5 points. He played 36 minutes despite suffering a hip injury in the most “old man” way ever: getting crossed up by Mitchell midway through the first quarter.
Regression is ripe for Harris at this point in the postseason, and a lingering hip injury is just the spark to start that slide. His player projections all come in south of his current O/U of 18.5 for Game 5, with a low of 14 points.
Game 5 Prop #3: Jalen Duren – Double-Double
+130 at bet365
Duren stands 6-foot-10 and weighs 250 pounds. That makes his postseason disappearing act all the more puzzling. How could someone so big just… POOF!... into thin air?
Duren, who averaged almost 20 points per game in the regular season, is struggling to score double digits in the tournament. He’s also having a tough time with the Cavaliers’ lengthy frontcourt, drawing more whistles (8) than total rebounds (6) the past two games.
A return to the Motor City sparks the Pistons’ big body, who averaged 20.3 points and 11.4 boards inside Little Caesars Arena this season.
The potential for boards is there for Duren, who’s been in position for 31 rebounding chances the last two contests but has secured only six of those misses. And while he’s not shooting at his normal volume, he is making what he’s taking the past two games: shooting 9 for 16 from the floor.
Duren has stayed Under his scoring prop in all but one of the Pistons’ 11 playoff games and is 2-9 O/U versus his rebounding totals. His player projections are tough to trust at this point, but all forecasts call for 10+ points and 10+ rebounds in Game 5.
Duren recorded the fifth-most double-double efforts in the regular season, and the “Yes” option in this market is now paying out at plus-money, something you’d rarely see with his props. Asking for 10 and 10 seems realistic, even with his current struggles.
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The Giants beat the Dodgers on Tuesday, 6-2, and the series is 2-0 in favor of the San Francisco. The Giants are now 4-1 against the Dodgers this season.
Shohei Ohtani will take the mound for Los Angeles. The Dodgers are 2-4 in his six starts this season, but he's allowed two or fewer earned runs in all six. Ohtani hit a two-hit game in yesterday's loss, including a home run, which may have snapped his hitting slump. This is only the second multi-hit game of the 10 games.
The Giants are 4-4 in Robbie Ray's eight starts this season and allowed two or fewer earned runs in six of those. San Francisco is 4-1 over the last five games and won three consecutive games. The current three-game winning streak ties a season-high for San Francisco as they've outscored their opponents, 22-11 in that span.
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 Giants at Dodgers
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 10:10 PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Giants at the Dodgers
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-246), San Francisco Giants (+199)
Spread: Giants +1.5 (-105), Dodgers -1.5 (-115)
Total: 7.5
Probable starting pitchers for Giants at Dodgers
Wednesday's pitching matchup (May 13): Shoehi Ohtani vs. Robbie Ray
The Giants’ Luis Arraez is hitting .303 with 47 hits and 58 total bases over 155 at-bats
The Giants’ Willy Adames is hitting .222 with 37 hits and 51 strikeouts over 167 at-bats
The Dodgers’ Andy Pages is hitting .318 with 49 hits and 84 total bases over 154 at-bats
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is hitting .240 with 36 hits and 44 strikeouts over 146 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 Giants at Dodgers
The Giants are 19-23 ATS this season
The Dodgers are 19-23 ATS this season
The Giants are 21-18-3 to the Under this season
The Dodgers are 23-19 to the Under this season
The Giants are 6-3 ATS as a road underdog this season and 5-3-1 to the Under
The Dodgers are 6-15 ATS as a home favorite this season and 11-10 to the Under
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 Dodgers and the Giants
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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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 Wednesday's game between the Dodgers and the Giants.
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 9.0
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TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 12: Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates an RBI sacrifice fly against the Toronto Blue Jays during the tenth inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on May 12, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees broke their losing streak on Tuesday, besting Baltimore 6-2 thanks to a five-run third inning. Trent Grisham punctuated the rally with a three-run blast off of Trevor Rogers, who has looked nowhere close to the dominant form he displayed for the O’s in 2025. The rest of the league was back in action after most were traveling on Monday, so we’ve got a full slate of games to cover today.
Tampa Bay Rays (28-13) 7, Toronto Blue Jays (18-24) 6 (10 innings)
For a while, this looked like a one-sided affair. The Rays built up a 5-0 lead midway through the seventh inning thanks to a flurry of hits early, a wild pitch with a runner on third in the sixth, and a solo shot from Ryan Vilade in the seventh. Shane McClanahan was keeping Toronto under wraps on the other side, allowing just a single hit through five innings of work before Casey Legumina came in and got around a leadoff hit in the sixth. Legumina stayed in for the bottom of the seventh, however, and the game flipped on its head in a hurry.
Ernie Clement got aboard on a single, but it came between a flyout and strikeout to put Toronto an out away from wasting one of the few chances they’d gotten to this point. Instead, they rattled off a double, walk, single, and another double to plate four runs, and then a fielding error allowed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to reach and the tying run to cross the plate.
With nothing going in the eighth or ninth, the Rays entered extra innings and promptly retook the lead thanks to a Taylor Walls single. After a walk and wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position, Jonathan Aranda lifted a sacrifice fly to give them a huge insurance run. The Jays managed to score their ghost runner on a sac fly in the bottom of the 10th, but could manage only a walk against Garrett Cleavinger as he secured the save.
Other Games
Philadelphia Phillies (20-22) 2, Boston Red Sox (17-24) 1: The first two innings brought all of the offense Philly would need, as Kyle Schwarber hit a solo shot in the first and Bryson Stott crushed an RBI ground-rule double in the second. Boston struggled to find an answer against Zack Wheeler, getting shutout until the seventh inning when a trio of singles brought home one run. With runners still on the corners Wheeler shut the door, getting Marcelo Mayer to ground out. The Sox then threatened against Jhoan Duran in the ninth, getting two aboard with one out, but Duran recovered by striking out Ceddanne Rafaela and getting Mayer to ground it to second.
Cleveland Guardians (23-21) 3, Los Angeles Angels (16-27) 2: The Angels managed to double the Guardians’ hits, but Cleveland made the most of their opportunities: Angel Martínez hit a solo shot in the third inning, Patrick Bailey drove in a run in the fifth on a grounder, and Brayan Rocchio lifted a sacrifice fly in the seventh. The Angels cut into the lead with a sac fly and solo shot of their own in the sixth and eighth innings respectively, but they went down in order in the ninth.
New York Mets (16-25) 10, Detroit Tigers (19-23) 2: The Tigers briefly held a 2-0 lead in this game, getting a Dillon Dingler solo shot and a sac fly in the second inning. That was short-lived, as the Mets put up runs in every inning except the first and fifth as they scored 10 unanswered to pull off a blowout win.
Seattle Mariners (21-22) 10, Houston Astros (16-27) 2: The Mariners’ quest to pull back to .500 is nearly complete after they got a huge win on Tuesday. Cal Raleigh broke out of his extended slump with a 2-for-4 night, scoring three runs, and Randy Arozarena and Dominic Canzone both launched homers to lead the way for the offense. Bryan Woo tossed six innings of two-run ball for Seattle, striking out nine while allowing four hits and a pair of walks.
Texas Rangers (20-22) 7, Arizona Diamondbacks (20-21) 4: Joc Pederson got the Rangers off to a strong start, leading off with a homer, and the hits kept coming from there. Texas added one in the second and third, and blew the game open with a four-run fifth jumpstarted by a Brandon Nimmo triple. Arizona didn’t go down quietly, rallying for three runs in the ninth inning with three-straight walks to start the inning, but they couldn’t get runs across without using up outs in the process.
The Cleveland Cavaliers tied up the season series with a 112-103 Game 4 win at home. The series turns back to Detroit for Game 5 and a chance for either team to set themselves up for a closeout Game 6.
Cleveland has gone 6-0 at home in the playoffs, but 0-5 on the road. The Cavaliers have lost by double digits in three out of five road games and averaged 100.2 points per game on 42.2% from the field and 28.6% from three. Luckily, Donovan Mitchell has found his footing with 35 and 43 points in the last two games on 26-of-50 shooting from the field (52%) and 20-of-23 from the free throw line (86.9%).
Detroit is 5-1 at home in the playoffs and won by double digits in four out of six games. The Pistons are shooting 38.2% from three at home in the playoffs and average 108.2 points per game. Cade Cunningham averages a team-high 23.5 points per game in the series, but Caris LeVert led the Pistons in scoring with 24 points in Game 4.
Let’s 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.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Cavaliers vs. Pistons
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Site: Little Caesars Arena
City: Detroit, MI
Network/Streaming: ESPN
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA 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!
Game Odds: Cavaliers vs. Pistons
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Detroit Pistons (-175), Cleveland Cavaliers (+145)
Spread: Pistons -4.5
Total: 212.5 points
This game opened Pistons -3.5 with the Total set at 211.5.
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: Cavaliers vs. Pistons
Cleveland Cavaliers
PG James Harden
SG Donovan Mitchell
SF Dean Wade
PF Evan Mobley
C Jarrett Allen
Detroit Pistons
PG Cade Cunningham
SG Duncan Robinson (questionable)
SF Ausar Thompson
PF Tobias Harris
C Jalen Duren
Injury Report: Pistons vs. Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
None
Detroit Pistons
Kevin Huerter (hip) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 5. Huerter missed Game 4.
Duncan Robinson (back) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 5. Robinson scored 4 points in Game 4.
Important stats, trends and insights: Pistons vs. Magic
Detroit is 49-44 ATS
Detroit is 49-43-1 to the Under
Detroit is 25-21 ATS as the home team and 21-20 ATS as a home favorite
Detroit is 25-21 to the Under at home
Detroit is 22-19 to the Under as a home favorite
Cleveland is an NBA-worst 38-55 ATS
Cleveland is 47-46 to the Over
Cleveland is 25-21 to the Over on the road
Cleveland is 9-6 to the Under as a road underdog
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 Wednesday’s Cavaliers and Pistons’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons -4.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 212.5
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
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The Washington Wizards officially are on the clock. In a loaded class that can be full of future stars, the Wizards will get to choose first with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
For the Kings and Warriors, the ping pong balls didn’t bring the same kind of luck.
The Kings entered the draft lottery with the No. 5 pick and dropped to No. 7. To make matters worse, the Jazz, whom the Kings were tied with and lost a coin toss to at the end of the season, jumped to No. 2. The Warriors stood pat, starting at No. 11 and leaving the lottery with the same pick.
Can the Kings find a franchise savior? Will the Warriors add a player who can help Steph Curry enough as a rookie? Dalton Johnson and Tristi Rodriguez try their hand at all 30 first-round picks in our mock draft 1.0.
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU
Adding Dybantsa to a possible team of Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George and Will Riley would have the Wizards finally finding some magic in D.C. Dybantsa has the makings of a franchise star, and the Wizards have the young players to build something special. –Dalton Johnson
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
While Utahns certainly would have welcomed AJ Dybansta back home to begin his pro career after finishing high school there and then competing at BYU, they’ll be fully content with Darryn Peterson’s services. That Peterson-Keyonte George backcourt duo is going to be a nightmare for opponents. – Tristi Rodriguez
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cam Boozer, PF, Duke
Boozer’s dad works in the Jazz’s front office and played four seasons for the Bulls. Naturally, his son slots right between both teams as the safest pick in the draft. –DJ
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, PF/C, North Carolina
The Bulls’ surprising 6-1 start to the 2025-26 NBA season (their best since 1996-97) gave Chicago fans something to be excited about, but that didn’t last long. Caleb Wilson’s infectious smile alone will bring a joy back to the Windy City, but his passionate play will give the fanbase something to look forward to for more than just two weeks. – TR
5. Los Angeles Clippers (via IND): Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
The Clippers traded 7-foot center Ivica Zubac and wound up with the No. 5 pick in a season where they also acquired All-Star point guard Darius Garland. Wagler’s length at 6-foot-6 and ability to score on and off the ball make him a good fit in the backcourt next to Garland. –DJ
6. Brooklyn Nets: Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas
After falling in the draft lottery once again, the Nets will have to make the best of their situation – whatever that means for a cursed franchise. Not cursed, however, are players under the John Calipari coaching tree entering the NBA (Devin Booker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyrese Maxey, etc.). Maybe a good omen for Brooklyn? Hey, we said maybe. – TR
I mean … it’s written in the name, right? The last time the Kings had a true natural two-way star guard was … Doug Christie in the early 2000s. Now 20-something years later, Christie’s defensive-minded approach hasn’t changed as coach of the Kings. Kingston Flemings is a Doug Christie guy on paper.
While defense is Fleming’s strength, his explosiveness with the rock in his hand can be useful for Sacramento, a team in need of a starting point guard since shipping De’Aaron Fox to NBA playoff paradise alongside Spurs star Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio
Flemings averaged 5.2 assists and 1.8 turnovers in 37 games with Houston. He also averaged 1.5 steals per game, but his defensive style shows more when watching his film versus looking at a stat sheet. His active hands and ball pressure create havoc for opponents.
The 19-year-old shot an efficient 47.6 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from 3-point range while averaging 16.1 points as Houston’s primary option. – TR
8. Atlanta Hawks (via NO): Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville
Atlanta’s first-round playoff exit exposed some of its weaknesses. The Hawks need another consistent shot creator to pair with CJ McCollum, and Mikel Brown Jr. – whether with his shooting from 30 feet away or his explosive dunks – might be the answer. – TR
9. Dallas Mavericks: Brayden Burries, G, Arizona
Burries is a combo guard who can slide in as an early contributor and grow alongside the Mavs’ Cooper Flagg-led future as someone who does a bit of everything. As a freshman, Burries led Arizona in total 3-pointers (70) and steals (59). –DJ
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
The Bucks are in a bad place. Giannis Antetokounmpo wants out and they know it, so they might as well take the massive upside swing on Ament. –DJ
11. Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
Though the Warriors didn’t rise in the draft lottery after a season in which tanking wasn’t their problem, they’re still sitting pretty at No. 11. General manager Mike Dunleavy has never drafted higher than 19, and this is the move that will kick off such an important offseason. Taking Lendeborg is the safe pick. But that doesn’t mean upside is out the window.
Lendeborg is 23 years old and will be 24 before playing in an NBA game. So what? As a shooter, Lendeborg has improved from 3-point range every season. He went from shooting 35.7 percent from three on 1.9 attempts per game his final year at UAB to taking 4.5 threes per game at 37.2-percent clip.
The versatile forward measured in a tad under 6-foot-9 barefoot at the combine and is a strong 241 pounds with a wingspan over 7-foot-3. If the Warriors keep their pick, they need a rookie that will be part of the rotation. Lendeborg is the first answer. –DJ
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Aday Mara, C, Michigan
OKC’s cap crunch might lead to some tough decisions around Isaiah Hartenstein, meaning they could be on the hunt for a new big. Aday Mara could soak up some of those frontcourt minutes alongside Chet Holmgren. — TR
13. Miami Heat: Labaron Philon Jr., G, Alabama
The Heat will take the best player available and be happy Philon is there. Philon made the leap as a sophomore and averaged 22.0 points and 5.0 assists per game on 50.1-percent shooting with a 39.9 3-point percentage. –DJ
14. Charlotte Hornets: Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan
The Hornets need to strengthen their frontcourt depth with a floor-spacing big, and they can find that in the versatile and physical Morez Johnson Jr. — TR
15. Chicago Bulls (via POR): Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor
This could be the prospect rising up draft boards after measuring in at 6-foot-4.5 barefoot at the combine with a wingspan just under 7-foot-1. Carr was a scoring machine as a junior at Baylor, averaging 18.9 points per game on 49.4/37.4/80.1 shooting splits. –DJ
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX): Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston
As Memphis focuses on frontcourt athleticism and versatility, Chris Cenac Jr. is a player who can make an impact on both ends of the floor. — TR
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI): Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers
The rich get richer. Lopez has been a pro since he was 14 years old and has an NBA body at 19 with the traits to form a role as a rookie as his shot continues to develop. –DJ
18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL): Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky
As the NBA constantly evolves, one thing that won’t ever go out of style is rim protection and high-level shot blocking. That’s what Jayden Quintance brings with his active and disruptive defense. — TR
19. Toronto Raptors: Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara
Graves started just four games as a redshirt freshman at Santa Clara. He’s also seen as an analytics darling, shooting 41.3 percent from three at 6-foot-9 while also averaging 1.9 steals per game. –DJ
20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Hannes Steinbach, PF/C, Washington
An interior menace (as if the Spurs don’t already have one standing 7-feet-4), Hannes Steinbach averaged a nation-leading 11.8 rebounds per game at Washington. — TR
21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN): Meleek Thomas, SG, Arkansas
The new-age Grit and Grind Pistons need shooting and more scoring. Thomas checks both boxes after averaging 15.6 points per game and shooting 41.6 percent beyond the arc in the same freshman backcourt as Acuff. –DJ
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU): Dailyn Swain, SG/SF, Texas
Ironically enough, one of Dailyn Swain’s NBA comps is Kelly Oubre Jr. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound athletic forward/wing will offer frontcourt support to complement Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. — TR
23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE): Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford
The Hawks would be adding two of the most interesting guards in the whole draft. Okorie came out of nowhere to average 23.2 points per game as a freshman with the opposing team’s scouting report having all eyes on him. –DJ
24. New York Knicks: Koa Peat, PF/SF, Arizona
Mike Brown appreciates more than anybody a well-rounded player who’s capable of doing a little bit of everything on the floor. Koa Peat is that guy. — TR
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
With Luka Doncic leading the Lakers, they need more talent at center. In comes Veesaar, who averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and shot 42.7 percent from three as a 7-foot senior. –DJ
26. Denver Nuggets: Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
With a need for increased offensive firepower and facilitation when Jamal Murray sits, Bennett Stirtz is an option as a high-IQ playmaker and shooter for Denver. — TR
27. Boston Celtics: Amari Allen, Wing, Alabama
Josh Hart averaged 16.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in four games against the Celtics this season, plus went 11 of 23 on 3-pointers. Here’s how they can find their version of Hart. –DJ
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET): Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
Despite drafting Rob Dillingham in 2025, the Wolves could use Christian Anderson to ease the creative burden on Anthony Edwards. — TR
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SA) – Isaiah Evans, Wing, Duke
It’s a wing league, and Evans has all the looks of a trusted shooter on the wing who averaged 15.0 points per game as a sophomore and shot 38 percent in his two years at Duke. Evans can get forgotten because of Boozer, but he was a big reason why Duke had the kind of success it did last season. –DJ
Tarris Reed Jr. turned heads during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game, recording four double-doubles during March Madness. — TR
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 15: President of basketball operations Daryl Morey participates in a press conference before a game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals at the Wells Fargo Center on December 15, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Daryl Morey was hired by the Sixers as president of basketball operations immediately following the NBA bubble in 2020, Philadelphia fans rejoiced. It felt like a savior was joining the front office to right the ship and deliver the championship Morey’s former colleague Sam Hinkie longed for when facilitating The Process.
Morey was handed a starting five of Ben Simmons, Josh Richardson, Tobias Harris, Al Horford and Joel Embiid, a group designed to compete in the early 2000s, not the three-point and space-heavy offense the league was trending towards at the turn of the decade.
Fast forward to 2026, Embiid and Morey were the only two remaining from that original group, and the Sixers have still not made it out of the second round of the playoffs.
And now, Morey is gone. The team announced on Tuesday they’ve parted ways with the long-time executive after six seasons.
Unfortunately, the Sixers find themselves in a dire cap situation that leaves very few doors open in terms of drastically changing the roster for next season — in large part thanks to Morey and ownership.
But first, the things that Morey could not control that led us here:
Embiid’s health was perhaps the biggest factor into yet another unsuccessful season in 2025-26. The center missed 44 games during the regular season and three games in the playoffs. Even with the unlucky nature of the injuries, having your highest-earning player’s status be so unpredictable on a game-to-game basis makes the job for any executive more difficult.
Paul George was suspended 25 games during the middle of the season for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. Yes, the rest might have led him to perform at a high level during the playoffs. But who knows how helpful George would have been during those games to earn a higher seed in the East, perhaps avoid the Play-In and tougher side of the bracket altogether? The Sixers went 13-12 in the games he missed, where four losses were within a 15-point margin.
Tyrese Maxey injured his right pinky finger on March 7 against the Hawks late in the game after a collision with Adem Bona. He missed 10 games and the Sixers went 6-4 without him thanks to a relatively light schedule during that stretch. Although he put on strong performances after returning, it appeared to bother him and affect his shot selection in round two against the New York Knicks.
With regards to these uncontrollable factors, almost every other failure from the Sixers season can be attributed to Morey’s actions — or inactions — when constructing the roster.
It was hard to ignore the team’s most glaring issue this playoff run — depth. Between both the Celtics and Knicks series, the Sixers’ bench got outscored 394-224. No one on the bench scored more than eight points in any game against New York, as Nick Nurse heavily relied on his starters.
The issue for Morey is when you canvass the league and spot a full playoff-caliber bench unit of former Sixers that he let go for one reason or another, and think what a series of miscalculations and misevaluations he made.
Julian Champagnie was on a two-way deal with the Sixers in 2022-23, spent most of the season with the Delaware Blue Coats and averaged 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.5 threes, 1.9 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.6 steals in 18 appearances. He also showed in two games for the Sixers, not making a shot on two attempts. He was waived on Feb. 14, 2023.
Although the numbers don’t necessarily pop, it’s the motive behind his release which draws ire with the front office’s decision-making.
It would have taken some optimistic projecting from Morey to foresee just how valuable Champagnie is to the Spurs’ current day team, but no GM in the league would have given Mac McClung (a 6-foot-2 guard who can’t shoot) a higher chance to stick in the NBA over Champagnie (a 6-foot-7 wing who can rebound and had shooting potential). McClung won the Slam Dunk contest in a Sixers jersey that season, but has played in 15 NBA games in the years since. Champagnie started 68 games for a 62-win team in 2025-26.
Champagnie was signed by the Spurs on a two-way contract just two days after he was waived by the Sixers. In this year’s playoffs, he has been one of the best shooters in the league and has been the second-leading rebounder on the team behind Victor Wembanyama, naturally.
JULIAN CHAMPAGNIE 4 STRAIGHT THREES IN THE 3RD — 🔥🔥
Isaiah Joe was drafted in the second round by the Sixers in 2020, Morey’s first draft in Philadelphia. He signed a three-year deal and was instantly one of the best shooters on the roster. He played 41 games his rookie season, shooting 36% from three. His second year, he played 55 games and shot 33% from three, but saw only 11 minutes per game under Doc Rivers.
Morey chose to cut Joe before the 2023-24 season for roster flexibility amidst a crowded depth chart, and likely as a way to get under the luxury tax. Tyrese Maxey, De’Anthony Melton and Danuel House Jr. were the guards rostered at the time. Morey spent three second-round picks to acquire Buddy Hield at the trade deadline that season, a player with a very similar skillset to Joe. Hield had mixed results as a Sixer, to say the least.
Joe got picked up by the Oklahoma City Thunder and immediately saw a jump in playing time and his shooting splits from deep. Joe has always been undersized, but he flashed potential and always gave effort defensively. Playing in a system like the Thunder’s has allowed him to blossom into a lethal bench weapon that we are seeing in this year’s playoffs.
Paul Reed (aka Bball Paul) was drafted by Morey late in the second of the 2020 draft. Thanks to Rivers, we did not see many minutes of Reed until the end of the 2022-23 regular season and playoffs, where we saw real flashes of his extreme athleticism. Eventually, he morphed into a reliable backup big man for Embiid the following season, playing all 82 games in 2023-24 and having a strong playoff run as Embiid recovered from a sprained LCL.
By no means was Reed a perfect player as he was susceptible to some questionable decision making, but his physical presence on the glass and in the paint could not be denied and he flashed plenty of skill.
The Sixers waived him in the summer of 2024 for … cap flexibility. The $7.7 million Reed was slated to earn that year from the Sixers was non-guaranteed, so the Sixers used part of that money to help them sign Caleb Martin. The following trade deadline, Morey traded Martin to the Dallas Mavericks for Quentin Grimes.
Reed is now a valuable member of the Detroit Pistons, who earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference this season. Despite spot minutes in the playoffs, the Pistons have outscored their opponents by 11 when he is on the court.
Jared McCain, the 16th overall selection in the 2024 draft, was traded to the Thunder before the deadline for the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 draft and three second-rounders. As a rookie in 2024-25, McCain exploded in the regular season for 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game on 38% shooting from deep before tearing his meniscus in December.
As he recovered, fans were enticed by the idea of seeing McCain with a healthy and regrouped roster after the doldrums of the 2024-25 season in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, McCain tore the UCL in his right thumb during training camp, leading to minimal playing time and trust amongst the coaching staff once he recovered and required time to shake off the rust.
McCain is now thriving with the Thunder, creating runs on his own with a scorching microwave scoring ability in the playoffs. He is leading the NBA in playoff three-point percentage amongst remaining teams at 54.2%. Hindsight is obviously 20/20, but McCain’s performance is making Morey’s decision look worse:
“I’m quite confident we were selling high,” Morey said. “Obviously, time will tell. We weren’t looking to sell. I’ll be frank. Teams came to us with aggressive offers for him. You could say, ‘Yeah, that’s because he’s a good player.’ I agree with that. We thought this return was above, for the future value of our franchise, what we could get. The only higher point would’ve been during his run last season. Otherwise, we feel like we did time this well.” (click here for more)
Whether you agree with each decision given the context is one thing, but to ignore the idea that if even two of these four playoff-level role players were still on the Sixers, there’s a chance this year’s playoff run — and future outlook of the team — looks much better from a depth perspective.
Instead, Morey has shackled the Sixers from a cap standpoint, signing George to a max contract through the 2027-28 season, then extending Embiid on a max deal with a player option for 2028-29. This means the Sixers now have almost 90% of their cap space tied to three players; the aforementioned two and Maxey.
They are $14 million under the luxury tax, meaning they will likely be able to only re-sign one of their three outgoing unrestricted free agents — Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr. or Andre Drummond. Outside of that, the team will have to work around the margins with the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (if they still below the tax), worth $15 million, and minimum contracts. That does not sound like a path towards bringing in a playoff-caliber bench unit, at least not through free agency.
The new executive in charge should not trade Embiid, as doing so could include attaching draft assets, which could randomly end up in the top five given the new draft lottery odds. Barring an obscene act of desperation, this seems unlikely according to many reports.
Brian Windhorst on Joel Embiid questioning his future in Philly:
“He has 3 years $192M left on his contract which will begin next season. I can promise him he will definitely be back. He is not going anywhere” pic.twitter.com/wMyV23PtiZ
Trading George might not be an awful idea, as long as it does not jeopardize the team-building capabilities down the line, especially for when Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are both in their primes concurrently. Finding a trade partner with a salary close to George’s might be worth another post in its entirety.
The new front office should have its sights on the draft, where Morey had a strong history running the war room for the Sixers. Click here to see some prospects Harrison Grimm has circled for the Sixers at pick 22.
For the mess Morey seemingly saved the Sixers from in 2020, he has thrown them right back in it for the 2026 offseason. Even with Morey gone, it’s worth noting the issues in front of the Sixers will be there no matter the man or woman tasked in captaining the ship. The question becomes which direction Josh Harris wants to go?
There could be a repeated run-it-back strategy with two of the riskiest players in the NBA from a health standpoint for as long as their talent sustains. With Harris deciding to start fresh, it could suggest a shift to the younger portion of the roster, building around Maxey and Edgecombe, without pressure to contend. Or maybe the dual timeline continues … for now.
Daryl Morey didn’t turn out to be the savior who got the Sixers back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2001.
PITTSBURGH, PA - July 1998: MANDATORY CREDIT Bill Tompkins/Getty Images Paula Cole performing during the LILITH Music festival July 1998 in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Bill Tompkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hickory starter Moises Morales allowed three runs in six innings, striking out six and walking one.
Hector Osorio was 2 for 4 with a walk. Yolfran Castillo was 2 for 4 with a walk. Marcos Torres doubled. Daniel Flames had a hit. Josh Springer had a hit.
Hub City starter Aidan Curry allowed four runs in four innings, including a home run, while striking out seven and walking two.
Maxton Martin was 3 for 6 with a double. Malcolm Moore was 2 for 5 with a double and a homer. Rafe Perich homered and walked twice. Paxton Kling doubled. Gleider Figuereo had a homer and a walk. Yeison Morrobel had a pair of hits and a walk.
For Frisco, starter Josh Trentadue went 1.2 innings, allowing a grand slam, walking one and striking out one. Ryan Lobus struck out one in an inning of work.
Round Rock starter Austin Gomber walked four and struck out three in 5.1 IP, allowing four runs. Alexis Diaz retired the two batters he faced. Chris Martin, starting a rehab assignment, faced six batters, retired two of them, and gave up four runs on four hits, including two homers. Marc Church walked one and allowed a run in 1.1 IP.
ARLINGTON, TX - MAY 12: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers celebrates his home run with Brandon Nimmo #24 of the Texas Rangers during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kelcee Skoug/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Rangers 7, D-Backs 4
And back in the win column are our Texas Rangers.
With a bunch of runs scored, which is nice.
On the heels of a bullpen game, the Rangers…I hesitate to say “needed” length from MacKenzie Gore in his start, given that there were probably only two relievers who were unavailable. But they definitely wanted to get a lot of innings out of Gore, to avoid further taxing the bullpen.
One December, when my daughter, Rowan, was in kindergarten, I asked my wife what she wanted for Christmas.
She said, “For Christmas, I want Rowan to pick up her room, because it makes me sad and mad that her room is always so messy.”
Rowan piped up and said, “You can’t get that for Christmas, mommy, because that’s a service, not a good, and Santa brings goods for Christmas, not services. Also, its a want, not a need, because you want me to pick up my room, but I don’t need to do it.”
Whether it twas a want or a need, Gore came through for the Rangers in spades, logging eight innings, allowing just one run, giving up three hits and one walk, striking out five.
Gore’s inconsistency when it comes to throwing strikes has been something we’ve talked about a fair amount, but that was not an issue on Tuesday. Of Gore’s 95 pitches, 63 were for strikes.
Gore wasn’t missing bats, either. He had just 8 swings and misses, total.
Ironically, given that the broadcast was discussing his D-Back counterpart Zac “Ten” Gallen’s ridiculously low whiff rate on the fastball this season, Gore got zero whiffs on the 26 fastballs he threw.
Whether this was a deliberate strategy Gore was utilizing, throwing more strikes in order to try to be as efficient as possible in order to work deeper into the game, or just serendipity, it worked. The D-Backs did have some hard hit balls off of him — most notably Ildemaro Vargas’s second inning home run — but Arizona balls in play tended to find gloves.
What was a blowout turned into, well, not a blowout in the ninth.
Gavin Collyer was summoned to pitch the ninth on what was Collyer’s 25th birthday, and it was not a birthday he will want to remember.
Collyer walked Corbin Carroll on five pitches, walked someone named Tim Tawa on four pitches, then walked Nolan Arenado on five pitches, with a wild pitch mixed into the Arenado plate appearance. With the bases loaded, Vargas singled to make it a 7-2 game, at that was the end of Collyer’s outing. Jacob Latz replaced Collyer and retired all three batters he faced, though a run scored on the first out, a fielder’s choice, and the second out, a sac fly, giving us the ultimate 7-4 result.
Gavin Collyer has, prior to 2026, had a walk problem. Doing a better job of throwing strikes is what had him in the mix in spring training, and is what earned him a callup when the Rangers needed a bullpen arm. He has now hit or walked 10 of the 42 batters he has faced in the majors.
The three runs he got dinged for are the first runs he’s allowed in his major league career. That said, Collyer is going to have to tighten things up. Walking three straight batters in the ninth inning with a big lead is going to kick you out of a manager’s tree of trust faster than just about anything.
Collyer has pitched in 12 major league games. He has walked the first batter he faced in three of those 12 games, and hit the first batter he faced twice. That’s also not something that is going to make a manager real comfortable.
Offensively, the Rangers rebounded well after being shut out on Monday. Skip Schumaker shook things up, putting Joc Pederson in the leadoff spot, and Pederson responded with a homer on the second pitch Gallen threw.
With Pederson, Brandon Nimmo and Corey Seager in the top three spots, the Rangers had three lefties in a row, but that alignment does work better, I think, than having Pederson and Evan Carter back-to-back, as Schumaker had been doing. A lefty brought into the game, particularly in the middle innings, to face Pederson and Carter either results in two guys who can’t hit lefties facing a lefty, or else Schumaker pinch hitting for one or both of them, which weakens the lineup overall, particularly if/when those spots come back around later in the game against a righthanded reliever. If lefty is brought in to face Pederson, Nimmo and Seager, though, Pederson likely gets pinch hit for, Nimmo has minimal platoon splits, and Corey Seager is Corey Seager. It doesn’t mean that the opponent won’t go with a lefty in that situation, but the impact is lessened.
Jake Burger, mired in a bad slump, had three singles and a walk, and while none of the singles were exactly stung, he made contact and got on base, and I’ll take that.
Ezequiel Duran had one of the most fortunate home runs you’ll see, going the opposite way with a pop fly that was just 92.4 mph off the bat, and that barely made it over the wall down the line in right field. Per Statcast, the xBA on that ball was .060.
But we’ll take it.
The Rangers chased Gallen in the fifth. A Nimmo one out triple was followed by a slow Seager roller, with the D-Backs unsuccessfully trying to get Nimmo at the plate. A Josh Jung single, an Evan Carter 4-3, and an Ezequiel Duran infield single (that I think probably should have been an E6) made it 5-1 and had Torey Lovullo go to the pen. Alejandro Osuna and Jake Burger singles made it 7-1, and the rout was on, at least until the ninth.
Osuna ended up stealing third that inning on a delayed steal, where the third baseman was far enough off the bag that he was able to get his secondary lead and then, after the pitch was thrown, just keep going to third. It didn’t end up mattering, as Kyle Higashioka struck out for the final out, but it was the kind of heads-up play that makes you appreciate what Osuna brings.
The dark cloud to the offensive outburst is that Brandon Nimmo, who had three hits, turned his ankle on an infield single in the sixth. He initially stayed in the game but was ultimately pulled for pinch runner Sam Haggerty. The Rangers say he is day-to-day, though I’m guessing he sits in the series finale on Wednesday, giving him, with Thursday’s off day, two days to rest the ankle.
MacKenzie Gore topped out at 96.7 mph with his fastball, averaging 94.8 mph. Gavin Collyer’s fastball touched 98.0 mph. Jacob Latz hit 95.7 mph with his fastball.
Joc Pederson’s leadoff homer was 109.1 mph off the bat. Brandon Nimmo had a 108.3 mph triple and a 107.1 mph single.
Now let’s win the rubber game, in what will be my first game at the Shed in 2026.
Colin Rea and Grant Holmes matched zeroes through two innings, and the Cubs failed to score in the top of the third. The Braves got on the board in the bottom of that inning on a single by Dominic Smith (who you might remember from a brief appearance as a Cub in Spring Training 2024), a ground out advancing him and an RBI single by Mike Yastrzemski.
The Cubs took the lead in the top of the fourth. With one out, Alex Bregman challenged a pitch and was incorrect. That was the Cubs’ second wrong challenge of the game, and I’ll get to the other one later.
So that was good. It broke a 23-inning scoreless streak for the Cubs and was Bregman’s first home run since April 24, a span of 62 plate appearances. As it would turn out, that was the Cubs’ only hit.
Perhaps that homer rattled Holmes, as he walked the next three hitters, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch. So the Cubs had the bases loaded with one out. This is exactly where a team has to go for it, this is an excellent scoring opportunity, especially for a team that’s had trouble scoring recently.
So the Cubs had a 2-1 lead going to the bottom of the fourth, and Rea had been dealing, but that ended in the Atlanta half of the inning, which included home runs by two players (Austin Riley and Yastrzemski) who both came into the game with BA’s below .213. For Yastrzemski, it was his first home run of the season in more than 125 plate appearances.
With the score 4-2 due to the homers, Ryan Rolison relieved Rea with two runners on and one out and allowed an RBI single to Matt Olson, making it 5-2.
And that, basically, was that. Cubs relievers (Rolison, Jacob Webb and Trent Thornton) threw 3.2 shutout innings with four strikeouts. Braves relievers threw five no-hit innings and allowed one further baserunner after the fourth (a one-out walk by Nico Hoerner in the fifth).
The Cubs did flash some glove in this game or the score might have been worse.
Now I’d like to talk a bit about the Cubs’ first ABS challenge of the game, made by Ballesteros in the first inning. Here’s the situation and pitch [VIDEO].
That’s the ninth pitch of the game. There’s nobody on base, the game is scoreless and there’s one out. As Jim Deshaies said after Ballesteros was wrong on that one, if you’re going to challenge in that situation, you have to be really, really sure that you’re right. The pitch was close but it wasn’t that close. Now, the lack of challenges didn’t really have any impact on the result of this game, but this should be a learning experience for the young catcher. Ballesteros had twogood challenge games in Spring Training, but… this is a different story.
More on the Cubs getting just one hit, from BCB’s JohnW53:
The Cubs had been held to one hit in 68 previously games since 1901, most recently Sept 18 of last year, in a 1-0 loss at Cincinnati.
They had scored two runs in five of the 68, winning the first three, vs. the Dodgers at home in 1902 (2-0), at St. Louis in 1908 (2-0) and at home vs. the Reds in 1937 (2-1). They also beat the Dodgers at home, 3-2, in 1914.
The two losses with two runs were by 8-2 at Cincinnati in 1971 and by 4-2 at home vs. the Royals on Aug. 21, 2021.
They now have been one-hit five times since then and did not score in any of the games.
They did not score in 55 of the 69 games. They scored once in eight games – and won one of them, in Game 1 of a Fourth of July doubleheader at Pittsburgh in 1906. The hit, by Jimmy Slagle, came in the ninth inning and he scored the run.
The offense has been moribund for three games now, with a total of two runs and eight hits. This is too good of an offense to do that for very long, and eventually they will come out of it.
And… yeah, gotta say this: The Cubs had a 10-game winning streak, lost three in a row, then won 10 straight again. Now they’ve lost three in a row again. You don’t suppose…
Well, of course it’s very unlikely. But that’s why they play the games.
The Cubs will look to snap that three-game streak Wednesday evening in Atlanta. Shōta Imanaga will start for the Cubs and rookie JR Ritchie goes for the Braves. Game time Wednesday is again 6:15 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: Reese McGuire #30 of the Chicago White Sox hits an rbi single scoring Everson Pereira #28 against the Athletics in the top of the second inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the offseason, the Braves knew that there’d be some issues with Sean Murphy’s availability. They signed Jonah Heim on February 10. That move turned into 45 PAs for Heim, where he ended up barely above replacement thanks to A) one big game at Coors Field in his final outing with the team and B) outhitting his .278 xwOBA over those 45 PAs. Then, Heim was DFAed and traded to the Athletics when Murphy was activated from the Injured List.
Heim was signed when the Braves knew Murphy would be out for about a month of regular season action. Now, Murphy is going to be out about twice as long. The Braves did re-sign Sandy Leon, but that’s likely a stopgap: they didn’t go to Leon as the backup earlier, so it’d be strange to think that they now plan to rely on Leon for an even longer period. Chadwick Tromp is once again in the organization, but the Braves neither relied on him in April, nor opted to select his contract instead of re-signing Leon, so I’m not sure if he’s the team’s preference to hang out on the roster and catch games against southpaws and such up until the All-Star Break or whatever.
Who does that leave, though? It’d be funny if the Braves simply re-acquired Heim, especially since he’s not really playing for his new team (he’s made one start in ten days, along with a couple of pinch-hit appearances). On top of that, Heim didn’t really show anything on either side of the ball to make him an exciting (re-)acquisition; other than familiarity, his career looks to be continuing in its 2024-2025 sub-replacement vein, rather than a return to form. But, it’s not clear what options the Braves have overall that aren’t Leon or Tromp.
Austin Wynns was an Athletics roster casualty after being supplanted by Heim. The problem with Wynns is that the 35-year-old journeyman backup catcher isn’t actually good at anything, clocking in as a typical backup catcher bat without any notable framing skills. After that, I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking the question. Other guys that are floating around include Austin Barnes and Reese McGuire; I couldn’t find other MLB veterans that re-entered the waiver wire this year. Barnes is 36 and may still be an okay framer, but his overall defensive profile has taken a tumble in his mid-30s; he was released by the Mets in Spring Training. McGuire actually got into a few games for the White Sox this year, and his framing is non-horrible, but no team has shown any interest in him since he was cut a few weeks ago.
HARRISBURG, PA - JUNE 03: Aidan Miller #10 of the Reading Fightin Phils stands on third base during the game between the Reading Fightin Phils and the Harrisburg Senators at FNB Field on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kyle Mace/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Imagine being told in the offseason that Alec Bohm would be hitting .180 with a .527 OPS through the Phillies first 41 games. One of your first thoughts after a slew of expletives would probably have been “well at least that’s giving Aidan Miller a golden opportunity”, and you wouldn’t have been wrong!
But that would have been before knowing about Aidan Miller’s back injury. The mysterious ailment, which the Phillies have declined to go into detail about, has prevented Miller from appearing in any games since the end of spring training. In fact, he has not even swung a bat yet and has not advanced to baseball activities as was reported on May 6th by TGP contributor Jeff Kerr.
Update on Aidan Miller
He's still not swinging a bat yet.
Per Don Mattingly, Miller is not at baseball activity yet. #Phillies
Two days later, MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki mentioned on The Phillies Show podcast that Miller had suffered what Zolecki calls a “setback” after starting to field ground balls and ramp up baseball activities.
The shroud of mystery over the injury adds to the worry, but as Zolecki mentions in the video clip, this perhaps could be the Phillies exercising extreme caution with a top prospect. They obviously showed their willingness to do so with how they handled Andrew Painter’s elbow injury in 2023. Of course, these are two different injuries to two different players as elucidated by Phillies prospect expert Matt Winkelman.
Nevertheless, Miller’s lack of progress is concerning, especially at a time in which he very well may have been on the doorstep of his MLB debut. Now his debut could be delayed until much later in the season than originally expected or into 2027. It’s an uncomfortable situation to be in considering many had pegged Miller as the Phillies likely 2027 starting third baseman with Bohm’s impending free agency following the 2026 season. So, what is your concern level with Aidan Miller?
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 26: Jackson Holliday #7 of the Baltimore Orioles warms up prior to the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, September 26, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Coby Mayo delivered the biggest hit of his young career on Monday with two on and the Orioles trailing by two. Mayo launched a go-ahead three-run home run in a game that he likely never would have played in if Samuel Basallo felt well enough to go. The Orioles scratched Basallo after the catcher reported some knee soreness, and Craig Albernaz penciled Mayo into the designated hitter slot.
It’s likely not a coincidence that Mayo came up with the big knock in a game where he had little time to think. The 24-year-old told the MASN broadcast booth that he only found out he was starting about an hour before the first pitch. Mayo admitted that he had not gone through his usual routine, and he pointed to a recent Trea Turner quote about experiencing success after not taking his pregame swings.
Mayo also had the luxury of not pretending to be a third baseman. That may sound a little harsh, but it’s no secret that Mayo remains a work in progress at the hot corner. I haven’t met anyone that thinks learning a defensive position on the fly has helped Mayo at the dish. There’s a considerable probability that the defensive anxiety has contributed to his .165/.230/.311 slash line.
The Orioles have to be aware of this. However, they also know that Mayo has a bat worth saving and that Pete Alonso is under contract for the next five years. Jordan Westburg could very well be lost for the season, and Basallo has already begun to demand at bats when he’s not behind the dish. The only place for Mayo is at third. For better or worse, if he wants at bats, a majority have to come from third base.
I get this. You probably do too. It’s unfortunate for Mayo, but that’s the reality for a former fourth-round pick trying to make it in the majors.
I don’t get how the Orioles could look at the negative impact that Coby Mayo has felt and still feel comfortable asking Jackson Holliday to play third base during his latest rehab assignment. That’s former first-overall pick Jackson Holliday. A 22-year-old that fast tracked his way to the majors before struggling in his first taste of big league action. That’s the guy recovering from a broken hamate bone that has required multiple rehab attempts. That’s the one with all the potential in the world but only a .229/.300/.360 slash line over 209 games.
The Orioles have always valued defensive versatility under Mike Elias. Craig Albernaz reaffirmed this sentiment a few days ago when asked about Holliday getting reps at third. “If you look at our roster, the versatility is something that we need,” Albernaz said. “He has the ability to play second, short and third, so we’ll see what it looks like when it gets on there.” Baltimore has historically moved prospects all over the diamond. Westburg, Gunnar Henderson and Joey Ortiz used to rotate infield positions like a merry-go-round, but the same cannot be said for Holliday. Baltimore Sun reporter Jacob Calvin Meyer tweeted out last week that Holliday had only logged 18 innings in his pro career at third base.
Holliday went 0-for-4 while playing third base at Norfolk last night. He’s 0-for-10 through his first four games of this rehab stint.
This isn’t the Orioles calling up Manny Machado to play third base in a pennant race. On one hand, Holliday has yet to display anything close to the defensive instincts that Machado possessed as a prospect. I’m not suggesting that Holliday shares Mayo’s defensive shortcomings, but he’s displayed some early limitations at second base and short. Additionally, the O’s appear to be more than one hole away from competing for a playoff spot.
The team could definitely use a permanent solution at third. Blaze Alexander probably does not have the bat to be playing every day. And while Mayo provided a boost on Monday, there’s a costly throwing error for every go-ahead blast. Jeremiah Jackson made 13 appearances at third base last season, but the Orioles clearly do not trust him at third this season.
Holliday still needs to learn how to hit with one less bone in his hand. The hamate bone surgery often robs players of their power for an extended period of time. Holliday, once fully healthy, will still need to adjust to MLB pitching with slightly less pop in the first half.
The Orioles need a solution at third base, and Mayo has yet to seize the opportunity. That being said, he’s not the only option. Henderson has the ability to play third base, and he should be willing to slide over from time to time if it’s what’s best for the team. Holliday could eventually log some time at shortstop (a position he knows) with Henderson manning the hot corner.
Is there a chance that Holliday excels at third? Definitely. Is there a chance that he returns to second next week and this is never discussed again? Absolutely. Is there a chance that this adventure at third has a negative impact on his performance at the plate? Yes. And that’s an outcome that the Orioles cannot afford to see. Baltimore’s defense has been bad, but the offense has been an even bigger disappointment. The Orioles need the best version of Holliday in their lineup as soon as possible.
We’ll never know how Mayo would have developed if the Orioles immediately put him at first base and kept him there. The same can be said for Ryan Mountle. Holliday has already made his way to the big leagues, but he has yet to master major league pitching. He doesn’t need another hurdle in his path.
There’s no reason to throw in the towel, but this team needs more than decent defense at third base to climb back above .500. The Orioles should resist the temptation to tinker with a rehabbing Holliday if it could lead to long-term issues for the former top pick.
Apr 3, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) looks on during a practice session ahead of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images | Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
The NBA has reached the point where having ball handling and secondary creation is necessary throughout your five-man lineups. In watching the Dallas Mavericks at any point throughout the season, it was abundantly clear that they lacked that. This June, the Mavericks will start rectifying that with the NBA Draft. While a combo guard with playmaking upside isn’t the first thing you’d think the Mavs should draft, the choice of Brayden Burries might make itself.
The basics
Brayden Burries (born September 18, 2005) was born and raised in San Bernardino, California. Burries was born into a family of athletes, as his father, Bobby, played basketball at Cal State San Bernardino and is a member of the school’s hall of fame. Not to be out done, his mother Hannah played college softball at the University of Tennessee before playing basketball at CSSB as a grad transfer.
Brayden was a consensus five-star guard coming out of Eleanor Roosevelt High in Eastvale, California (just southeast Los Angeles and north of San Diego). After a standout junior year, Burries was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game. Following his senior year, Burries committed to Tommy Lloyd and the Arizona Wildcats. That turned out to be an excellent decision for Burries, who put together an elite campaign.
In just under 30 minutes per game, Burries averaged 16.1 points per game, which was complimented by five rebounds and two-and-a-half assists per contest. Burries had several fantastic performances away from McKale Center. He scored 28, including 20 in the second half, in a road win at Alabama in December. In January, Burries had 29 in a road win at AJ Dybantsa and BYU. Burries finished as an honorable mention All-American (USBWA and Associated Press), first team All-Big 12 team member and one of five finalists for the Jerry West Award, which is given to the best shooting guard in the country.
The good
Burries was an efficiency God throughout the season. Arizona played a system which discouraged three-point shots, as they were bottom five in the country in terms of three-point rate. Even still, Burries was able to get up three pointers on nearly 42% of his shots, making over 39% of them. In the NCAA Tournament, Burries shot 52% from deep while increasing his three-point attempt rate from 42% to 54%. Burries has a good stroke, meaning there should be some scalability here. At just over four attempts per game in college, Burries could reasonably be expected to nearly double his attempts from three in the NBA.
Brayden Burries was impressive in Arizona's Sweet 16 win over Arkansas.
As far as guards go, there are few that clear the glass better than Burries. On the season, Burries hauled in 5.9 defensive rebounds per 40 minutes. In the NCAA Tournament, that number ballooned to 7.3 defensive rebounds per 40 minutes. The former was in the 94th percentile of guards last year, while the latter was in the 97th percentile, per CBB Analytics. Burries is not the tallest, but he uses his body well and has a knack for the ball to help finish possessions on the glass.
On the year, Burries has a 62.3% true shooting percentage, which was 94th percentile among guards. In the NCAA Tournament, Burries had a TS% of 66.5%, which is truly outrageous. There is no area on the floor where Burries was inefficient. Per CBB Analytics data, Burries shot over 56% from two-point range, including over 65% at the rim, 39% from deep and 80% at the foul line. Those are all green light indicators.
Per CBB Analytics
Burries has shown flashes on the defensive end that make me believe he’ll be a strong defender in the NBA. When Arizona faced Arkansas in the Sweet Sixteen, Burries drew the primary defensive assignment on Darius Acuff. In that game, Acuff scored 28, but was just eight of nineteen from the floor, including a paltry one-for-five from three-point range. Burries has a good frame, plays physically and has the basketball smarts to beat his man to the spot. Is it likely that he’ll be a “defensive stopper” in the NBA? Maybe not. But there’s a level to Burries where he is an excellent point of attack defender on many of the league’s best guards.
The areas of concern
Because Burries shared the floor with Jaden Bradley for most of his minutes, there were not a ton of chances for him to showcase his playmaking chops. He was solid in the secondary creation role, but in the limited time when Burries was on the floor without Bradley, it looked a bit rough. In the Big 12 this year, only Burries, Honor Huff and Donovan Atwell played more than 1,150 minutes and had fewer than 100 total assists. I think there’s more to unlock here, especially on an NBA spaced floor. Think of VJ Edgecombe, who struggled with a compressed floor at Baylor. There’s some of that here, too.
Per CBB Analytics
With Burries standing at just 6’4”, there are legitimate concerns about small off-guard’s that don’t have play-initiation pop. It’s not an architype that you would necessarily like to draft in the top ten, but those guys can be very productive NBA players. Derrick White and Quentin Grimes are guys like Burries. Those aren’t generational stars, but to varying levels they are both great in a role.
Burries is an older freshman, as he is nearly 21 years old already. Teams will ding him on this, because of course they will, but that’s not a real issue. it’s not like he’s 25 years old.
Fit with the Mavericks
Burries would be a seamless fit for the Mavericks in both the near and the long term. In the near term, Burries slots in nicely at the two, next to a healthy Kyrie Irving in the back court and as a nice compliment to Cooper Flagg. In the long term, Burries is never a guy you’ll have to worry about fit with. He’s never going to be a guy who needs plays run for him, but he will be one of the biggest connecting tissues on your team. While he won’t fill the point guard role for the Mavericks, it’s safe to assume you can plug him into your rotation for the next ten years.
NBA comparison
Two guys who are pretty good comps are those that I mentioned earlier, Derrick White and Quentin Grimes. If you’d like a more aggressive comp, perhaps Bradley Beal could be out there if he does get a bump from his shot diet. All three of those guys are going to be scoring guards with a sprinkle of secondary creation, something I think is well within Burries’ reach.
James Harden
Tobias Harris
