Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn gets the start today against the Phillies | Scott Marshall-Imagn Images
The Athletics will finish off the three game series with the Philadelphia Phillies this afternoon before continuing this road trip in Baltimore. The A’s squandered a (lower case) quality start by Jeffrey Springs yesterday to add to a 1-4 last five games at home and on the road.
But they hope to turn that around when J.T. Ginn gets the start for the A’s today. Ginn is 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA over five starts and eight overall appearances in 2026. He’ll go up against 23-year-old righty Andrew Painter for Philadelphia. He is 1-3 on the season with a 5.28 ERA over twenty-nine innings. He will face this lineup for Mark Kotsay’s A’s:
Historically, it makes sense given this tournament has had significant growth since the first edition of eight teams in 1939. In fact, the 42 years without a major shift was the longest it had gone without expanding.
Why so long? That’s because it finally found the perfect balance. Now, the NCAA is trying to ruin its most sacred postseason, dismantling all the work necessary to make March the spectacle it is.
The organization will tell you it’s expanding the field because it was necessary, giving one-fifth of its 361 teams a shot at the exclusive spot. More teams means better matchups, so more drama and opportunities for madness. The NCAA also won’t mind the extra money that comes with it.
However, do those teams that are just missing out really deserve a shot? Because it has shown none of it looks pretty.
It has everything to do with who is getting these extra spots. You know who this expansion is really for, and if you need a hint: it’s not those small schools.
The NCAA tried to say since the first four out started in 2011, 42% of teams to just miss the cut came from non-power conferences. With that logic, more of the mid-majors will get in, right?
No way. The smaller conferences have dwindled recently. Of the 24 teams to miss out since 2021, just seven were mid-majors. That’s just 29%. Plus with the new seeding, automatic qualifiers all get bumped a seed down. So a No. 13 seed in the field of 68 can end up a No. 14 in the field of 76.
That’s why those at the mid-major level are skeptical they will see any benefits of this.
“I think the intention of expansion is only to get more power conference teams in the tournament, and that's frustrating. Every year, there's a couple of teams in that mid-major group that I think would add a lot to the tournament that get excluded,” UC Irvine coach Russell Turner told USA TODAY Sports in July. “You could be optimistic, but knowing how the tournament bids are being chosen with the formulas that they're using, I don't think that optimism is well placed.”
More and more, the selection committee has pushed away mid-majors in favor of power teams, and it’s an ugly way to go about it. Just look at who barely missed out on the field in 2026.
Congratulations, 18-14 Indiana and 17-16 Auburn get a shot to play for a title. Quality wins or not, they have zero business being in the bracket compared to teams that did more in their respective conferences.
With the way the tournament is trending, the regular season loses even more of its luster, and puts a bigger spotlight on the bigger conference teams that should be behind the curtain.
Now, those fringe contenders are going to do everything to schedule easier buy games to make the lipstick look a little bit better on the pig, leaving those quality mid-majors scrambling for opponents like Miami (Ohio).
When the race to the tournament really begins in February, we’re going to be discussing teams hovering around .500 because they are getting punched around in the Big Ten or SEC, but that one or two Quad 1 wins suddenly makes them a contender. Rather than make it an exciting sprint to the end, we’ll be spending time focusing on teams you want to shield your eyes from. It’s getting close to the “SEC-Big Ten-Big 12-ACC-Big East” invitational status.
It’s unfortunate, because the build up to Selection Sunday is part of the magic. You want to see quality teams fighting to get in, not a mid-off between squads fighting one of the worst fights you’ll ever watch.
The NCAA wants to get more people inside the door. The problem is the teams being let through are ones that shouldn’t even be knocking in the first place, and those that should get in aren’t even getting the invite. Let in a 26-6 Belmont team that won the Missouri Valley regular-season title over middling Indiana who’s limping on the porch because of program recognition.
Thankfully, this isn’t the complete end of the tournament. Teams like 2024 Indiana State and 24-win Boise State in 2025 that barely missed out then will get a shot in the future, and that’s what most teams are asking for. If there is a better focus on getting the right teams – not brands – then expansion wins.
The days leading up to Selection Sunday will be ugly, but this doesn’t wreck the tournament completely. The first round and everything after stays intact, meaning the first round madness is still going to happen. For as much has been changed, the best part is untouched. It will just be an unfortunate start before the greatest show in basketball can officially begin.
The NCAA hasn’t killed the NCAA Tournament, but it’s getting better at ruining it.
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild (4-4) was back on the ice for a practice at home. The Wild will square off for Game 3 against Colorado Avalanche (6-0) in round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday.
It will be the first home game of the series. The Wild are behind 2-0 and will look to show up in a must-win game. They are 1-8 when down 2-0 in a series.
The only win?
2014 against the Avalanche.
But this Avalanche team is different. The same can be said about the Wild, though. Nathan MacKinnon was just a rookie back in 2014. Now he is a superstar. Jared Spurgeon was 24 that season. Now he is 36 and is the team captain.
Not to mention other star players like Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy for Minnesota and Martin Necas and Cale Makar for Colorado.
The thing that is interesting about this go around and in this series in general, is how the Avalanche are beating the Wild at their own game.
It is a hard thing to do, but the Avalanche have completely bought into the style and have now taken the Wild's game and shoved it against them.
The Wild used to have the mantra of grit first. The physicality to wear teams down with hits and grind down defensemen. They did it against the Dallas Stars in round one this year, but haven't gotten to that in round two.
Every coach in the league has been saying it for the last couple of years. Things like the Wild are hard to play against. Minnesota is a big and hard team. Or, as head coach Jared Bednar said, “they’re a big and physical team.”
So what happened to that?
"I mean, that was part of the game plan," Marcus Foligno said after round one. "Get to their defensemen and especially, star players like Miro Heiskanen, and just make it really tough on them. Obviously, no one likes to go skating backwards for it. Those guys are very offensive. And you know, the more you can play in their end, or take some energy out on them from the defensive side of the pocket, it limits their chances of what they can do offensively. So that was good. I mean, I think our heads were right as well."
There is no doubt that Dallas is a different team from the Avalanche. Just look at the defense corps.
Heiskanen is an offensive guy and is just a notch under Makar in terms of offense. The only thing, Heiskanen played through a torn oblique muscle in the playoffs.
Makar at 100% is much more dynamic than Heiskanen at 70% or whatever he thought he was. Devon Toews of the Avalanche and Esa Lindell of the Stars are similar in terms of defensive play and the ability to break the puck out.
Thomas Harley and Nils Lundqvist are no slouches either, but here is where it gets different. Tyler Myers is 6-foot-8 and Lian Bichsel is 6-foot-7. Bichsel also suffered a strained shoulder in round one.
The two can clear the puck and defend, but they aren't as quick-moving as the Avs' defenders.
Guys like 5-foot-9 Nick Blankenburg and 5-foot-10 Sam Malinski are much more elusive than the towering Myers and Bichsel pair the Wild went up against in round one.
The point is, the Wild are having a harder time chipping the puck in and grinding down the defense corps of the Avalanche like they did to the Stars. This has allowed the Avalanche to play quickly and move the puck to their game-breaking players like MacKinnon, Necas, Brock Nelson, and others.
“Colorado plays different. Dallas was bigger. These guys move really well back there," Michael McCarron said. "When you chip the puck in, they keep the puck moving really well, and they move with the puck as well. So they’re hard to touch. We’re gonna have to find our way to stop these, slow these D down more. But imposing our will, I thought five-on-five, we did really well.”
In round one, the Wild finished second in the NHL in hits with 219 for a hits/60 minutes of 31.92. Through two games of round two, the Wild have 55 hits for a hits/60 minutes of 27.50.
The Avalanche had 109 hits in round one against the Los Angeles Kings for a hits/60 minutes of 26.40. Through two games of round two, the Avs have 54 hits for a hits/60 minutes of 27.00. They went from last in the NHL to eighth in the NHL in that category.
After the second period of Game 2, ESPN Analyst and Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier talked about how the Wild just haven't been able to get to their game.
Their game is what was alluded to above in the story. Wearing down the opposition, forcing them to make mistakes, capitalizing on the mistakes, and beating them 5-on-5.
Colorado is outscoring Minnesota 9-7 at 5-on-5 after the Wild allowed just four 5-on-5 goals to the Stars in six games of round one.
They were able to break down the Stars by physical play and it took a toll on them as the series went on. This led to less offense from Dallas.
Colorado is the best team in the league and is the best team when it comes to off the rush as well. The Wild held the Stars in check off the rush, but have not done the same to the Avalanche.
"Exactly. You want to play with the puck. I think the biggest thing is to not get beaten back by the dman," Nico Sturm said on how important physical play will be to stop the Avalanche off the rush. "Sometimes, that's the thing with physicality. You can also overdo it, and then you kind of get yourself out of position because you want to finish a hit, and it ends up, you know, you take yourself kind of out of place. So, you've got to tread the line. You want to be physical, but you don't want to run around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off, right? So it's, it's always a fine line to tread."
Unfortunately, the Wild have done neither. Two different goalies in two games, and Minnesota has allowed 14 goals.
Back to Messier's point, the Wild have not been able to get to their game. They aren't able to hit the oposition like they did against Dallas because the makeup of the Avalanche is different and they are able to move past those plays.
Minnesota has shown that it can't adjust. At least through two games.
Along with the Wild's awful penalty kill, to be blunt, Minnesota doesn't want to take a penalty because being shorthanded is almost always a goal. Exactly was Messier's point.
Even against the Avalanche, who went 1-for-11 in round one on the power play and are now 3-for-7 in two games against the Wild.
They went from 9.1% on the power play to 42.9%. That is what the Wild's PK can do.
Minnesota allowed ten power-play goals to the Stars in round one in 25 times shorthanded for a 60% PK. They are at 57.1% right now.
It is the same story year after year for Minnesota. A PK that lets them down in the playoffs. Since 2022, the Wild's PK sits at 65%, which ranks 27th out of 28 teams.
The power play?
4-for-30. 13.3%. This postseason.
But if the first two games were an indication for what is to come, the Wild are in for one. The Avalanche stars want it more. They are willing to do what it takes to win games.
MacKinnon leads the NHL in points for round two with six. He is also doing everything it takes in this series to try to advance.
MacKinnon, who has won the MVP, led the NHL in goals and points, is a five-time All-Star and is coming off a Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy season, has blasted both Boldy and Quinn Hughes this series.
The Avalanche just seem to want it more and are willing to do whatever it takes to shut down the Wild's stars. Boldy has zero goals and just four shots in the first two games.
It is easy to say, but if the Wild were at their game, this would be a series they could win and would be the first time since 2003, and the second time in franchise history, they would be in the conference final.
If the Wild can't get back to their game, this won't be a long series. If they can't adjust, this won't be a fun extended series with multiple superstars going at it.
Minnesota has talked all season about identity. About being hard to play against. About winning the hard areas of the ice and wearing teams down over a seven-game series. Against Dallas, that identity showed up. Against Colorado, it seems to have disappeared.
Now, down 2-0 with the series shifting back to St. Paul, the Wild are out of time to search for it. Because if they can’t find a way to slow down the Avalanche and get back to the style that made them successful in round one, this series won’t turn into the heavyweight battle many expected.
It will turn into another short playoff exit for a team still searching for answers this time of year.
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Yankees center fielder Spencer Jones #78, hitting a solo homer during spring training.
Spencer Jones is finally getting his chance.
The Yankees’ No. 6 prospect on MLB Pipeline, who has collected 11 homers and a Triple-A leading 41 RBIs to start the season, has been called up after Jasson Domínguez was injured during Thursday’s game, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman.
It’s unclear how the Yankees will immediately plan to utilize Jones, who has been in the mix to finally break through and crack the MLB roster for years because of his power, but has struggled with strikeouts — and had another 46 through his first 33 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2026.
Yankees center fielder Spencer Jones hitting a solo homer during spring training. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The potential has always been evident for Jones, though, with his towering 6-foot-7 frame and crushing home runs defining cameos at spring training.
“That’s a large man that hits the ball very far,” Cody Bellinger said after the Yankees’ 9-2 win over the Rangers on Thursday, before the decision involving Jones had been revealed. “But no, honestly, freak athlete, too. I didn’t know like the speed. Very athletic, moves well. So yeah, just a good baseball player.”
Spencer Jones of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, during a game against the Worcester Red Sox. Arthur Mansavage for NY Post
A complicated path to the majors received an opportunity Thursday after the Yankees needed to replace Domínguez— who crashed into the outfield wall while making a catch during the first inning of their latest victory — on the 26-man roster, with Domínguezalready filling in for an injured Giancarlo Stanton.
When asked about Jones after Thursday’s game, manager Aaron Boone cited the better at-bats since an early funk at Triple-A.
He referenced the 41 RBIs and how that led all players at that level.
“Feel like the last three, four weeks, been having a lot of consistent at-bats,” Boone said. “The power’s been there. Less swing and miss. … The signs have been encouraging.”
And hours later, the Yankees opted to give Jones his first window to stick in the majors, his first chance to test if all that power — and all that potential — can translate to the ultimate level after years of waiting, hype and, most of all, uncertainty.
NEW YORK — New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Domínguez sprained his left shoulder while crashing into the wall as he caught Brandon Nimmo’s drive leading off the first inning of Thursday’s game against Texas.
After the Yankees’ 9-2 win over the Rangers, the team said Domínguez has a low grade AC sprain of his left shoulder, and will be put on the injured list. Concussion tests thus far were negative.
Domínguez, playing outfield for the Yankees for the second time this season, ran 81 feet to catch Nimmo’s 101 mph shot. He gloved the ball 375 feet from the plate as his shoulder hit hard against the video advertising board.
Domínguez’s sunglasses flew off as he fell to the warning track chest first, prompting center fielder Trent Grisham to come over as manager Aaron Boone jogged out to check on Domínguez along with head athletic trainer Tim Lentych, assistant athletic trainer Jimmy Downam and director of sports medicine and rehabilitation Michael Schuk.
Domínguez cupped his head in his glove and sat up after about a minute. He pointed to his shoulder and craned his neck as he was being examined, then walked to a cart under his own power and was seated as the cart drove away.
Cody Bellinger moved from right to left, Amed Rosario switched from third base to right and Ryan McMahon entered the game at third.
The Yankees are calling up one of their top offensive prospects, Spencer Jones.
According to multiple reports, the Yankees will replace Jasson Dominguez, who will be placed on the IL after crashing into the left field wall during Thursday's game, with Jones.
Jones has 11 home runs with 41 RBI and seven stolen bases while batting .258 across 33 Triple-A games.
Following Thursday's 9-2 win over the Rangers, manager Aaron Boone was asked about potential Dominguez replacements, and when it came to Jones, specifically, the Yankees skipper spoke about the young slugger's improvements as the year has progressed.
"Got off to an ok start and then hit a snag," Boone said. "The last three, four weeks have been having a lot of consistent at-bats. The power’s been there, less swing and miss. Those are some of the things we were seeing in spring training.
"Second week of Triple-A, where he struggled a bit with the swing-and-miss. He’s cleaned that up. I think I saw he leads all of minor leagues in RBI. He’s put himself in the mix. That doesn’t mean that’s the way we go, we have to talk about it, but the signs have been encouraging."
Those signs were encouraging enough for the call to be made, but the swing-and-miss has been the knock on Jones for years.
He's struck out 46 times already this season after striking out 179 in 116 games a year ago, and 200 times in 122 Double-A games in 2024.
But Jones also brings an athleticism that rivals Aaron Judge. He stole 29 bases a season ago and plays outfield very well.
"That’s a large man that hits the ball very far," Cody Bellinger said of Jones after Thursday's win. "Freak athlete, too. I didn’t know the speed. Very athletic, moves very well, yeah, just a good baseball player."
The Yankees begin a three-game series in Milwaukee starting Friday. Brewers young flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski will take the mound in the series opener.
The Minnesota Timberwolves did not respond well to a San Antonio Spurs’ adjustment in Game 2. This Spurs vs. Timberwolves same-game parlay focuses on Minnesota’s likely adjustment in Game 3 on Friday, May 8.
SGP leg #1: Anthony Edwards Over 4.5 assists (+115)
The San Antonio Spurs sent a second defender at Anthony Edwards as often as possible in Game 2. Whenever the Minnesota Timberwolves’ superstar crossed halfcourt, a second defender charged at him in an effort to get the ball out of Edwards’s hands as quickly as possible.
Minnesota did not handle that well, in part because its best response is currently in a walking boot on a scooter after tearing his Achilles in Game 4 against the Nuggets. Without Donte DiVincenzo hoisting 29-foot 3-pointers, it was more difficult to break the Spurs’ traps.
But the Timberwolves will need to adjust. The defensive focus is on Edwards. He needs to move the ball to open teammates.
SGP leg #2: Naz Reid Over 1.5 threes (-120)
The best remaining Minnesota shooter, Edwards aside, is Naz Reid. For much of March and even the first round against the Nuggets, Reid’s shoulder bothered him too much to properly stress a defense.
But he has now gone 5-of-7 from beyond the arc in this series. He can hit those 30-footers that will best open up the court for Edwards.
Reid has hit multiple 3-pointers in four games against San Antonio this season.
SGP leg #3: Rudy Gobert Under 11.5 rebounds (-120)
More Reid may mean less Rudy Gobert. This whole series should mean less Rudy Gobert.
Victor Wembanyama is such a defensive force; the Timberwolves need five scorers on the court as often as possible, and Gobert simply is not that.
Minnesota’s problem in Game 2 was not its defense, though that was not necessarily spectacular. It was the offense.
Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Spurs vs Timberwolves predictions for Game 3.
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Starts like these are going to happen to a rookie.
Think back to Cole Hamels 20 seasons ago, in his rookie 2006 campaign. He allowed seven runs in two starts that season. In 2015, during Aaron Nola’s rookie campaign, he made two starts where he allowed six earned runs.
On Thursday night, Phillies rookie right-hander Andrew Painter had his own version, allowing seven runs over three and two-thirds innings. The Phils had few answers offensively, and the night felt over before it ever really began.
Through seven outings, the Florida native has posted a 6.61 ERA. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but those were few and far between in Philadelphia’s 12-1 loss to the Athletics in the series finale.
ROCKY START
They say leadoff walks always come back to bite. It kept biting Painter.
Painter walked Athletics leadoff hitter Nick Kurtz on five pitches. His command was scattered from the start, and he struggled to reel it back in against Shea Langeliers.
Painter opened the at-bat with a sweeper almost a foot off the plate, which the Athletics’ backstop swung at for strike one. Painter followed with another sweeper up and in.
On 0-2, Painter threw a heater to essentially the same spot. Langeliers, who had been on paternity leave over the last few games and did not arrive in Philadelphia until 8:30 a.m. Thursday, jumped on it and sent it deep into the left-field seats. It left the bat at 108.4 mph.
In a blink, it was 2-0 Athletics.
RINSE AND REPEAT
It did not end there.
Painter walked Tyler Soderstrom. Then he started Brent Rooker 0-2, but the Athletics’ DH worked the count full and was ready for virtually the same fastball Langeliers got. Rooker pulled his hands in and drove it out of the yard.
4-0 Athletics. In the first.
The walks continued to bite Painter. He started the third inning with another walk to Soderstrom. Rooker then drove a ball to the fence, but Justin Crawford made a nice grab, moving Soderstrom to second. Carlos Cortes knocked him in on another fastball to make it 5-0.
Then Painter started Jacob Wilson 1-2, went to a middle-in sinking heater and the Athletics’ shortstop left the yard, too.
7-0 Athletics. Basically an insurmountable lead.
FASTBALL ISSUES RETURNED
Painter’s struggles with his heater go back to his last start in Miami, when he allowed three earned runs over five innings and did not accumulate a single swing-and-miss on the pitch.
0-for-19.
He allowed four hard-hit balls on the 12 fastballs put in play.
A similar issue surfaced Thursday. Painter generated just three swings-and-misses on 15 swings against the fastball. The Athletics put eight of them in play, five were hard-hit and they averaged 99 mph in exit velocity.
Painter’s fastball averaged 96.2 mph entering the start, ranking in the top 25 percent of heaters in baseball by velocity. But velocity alone has not been enough to get it by hitters lately.
The consistent baserunners to begin innings and the traffic that followed made it harder for Painter to dig into his repertoire. His pitch mix is what can make him a strong big-league pitcher, but until he controls innings better, he will continue to pitch from uncomfortable spots.
BATS SILENCED
The entirety of the Phillies’ offense Thursday came from Kyle Schwarber, who had two hits, including a solo roundtripper.
It is not as if they never hit the ball hard.
The Phillies put 14 balls in play against Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn and averaged 93 mph in exit velocity. They just had little luck. But Ginn’s final line does not lie.
He delivered a 96-pitch, eight-inning outing, allowing one run, walking one and striking out eight. He was not overpowering, but he kept Philadelphia’s bats off balance.
He also continues to carry one of the most intriguing home-road splits in baseball. In five road outings, Ginn has a 1.50 ERA. Across four outings at home, that ERA is 7.62.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Brock Nelson #11 congratulates Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche after his goal. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It has been a big week for the Colorado Avalanche during their three-day break before continuing their second round playoff series against Minnesota on Saturday. Accolades have been rolling in as the NHL continue their announcements of the three finalists for their voted awards.
First, a bit of a surprise as Brock Nelson was nominated for the Frank J. Selke Trophy. The 33 goals and 65 points he amassed on the league leading Avalanche squad certainly helped raise his profile this season.
Presenting the finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy! 🏆 #NHLAwards
The trophy is presented annually to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. pic.twitter.com/5pftUkfZLL
Then, the nominees for the James Norris Memorial Trophy were announced and mainstay Cale Makar was among the finalists. It was a bit of a down year by Makar’s standards as the power play woes hurt his point totals, particularly in the goals department with 20 to go along with 79 points. Still, Makar keeps his nomination streak alive at six consecutive years in his seven-year NHL career.
Presenting the finalists for the James Norris Memorial Trophy! 👏 #NHLAwards
The trophy is awarded to the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.
Despite the honors, neither Avalanche player is expected to take home the hardware as Nick Suzuki is the favorite for the Selke and Zach Werenski for the Norris. That’s ok, the Avalanche have their sights set on a larger trophy.
The Los Angeles Lakers' depth was already tenuous heading into the playoffs. It's even more so now ahead of Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Thursday night.
Jarred Vanderbilt went down with a gruesome hand injury when his fingers hit the backboard while trying to contest an alley-oop towards the end of the first half in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, resulting in a full dislocation of his right pinky that also broke skin. But there's optimism that the Lakers' fan favorite avoided the worst-case scenario.
During the off day on Wednesday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters that "they were able to put his finger back together," with stitches and put the finger in a splint.
Jarred Vanderbilt injury update: Status ahead of Game 2
Vanderbilt is considered day-to-day and is officially listed as doubtful for Game 2, according to the latest NBA injury report.
"He's obviously a tough-minded player and person," Redick told reporters. "... Certainly the pain is involved (in a return), from my understanding. Basically, making sure that the tissue is healed enough to protect his skin barrier and the bone."
#Lakers head coach JJ Redick and teammate Jaxon Hayes discuss Jarred Vanderbilt’s open dislocation of his right pinky finger and how he’s now “day to day” after doctor’s had to put it back together and sew it up with stitches last night during Game 1 against #OKC. #Thunder… pic.twitter.com/9zic7yLW9w
Vanderbilt was screaming and doubled over in pain as he walked off the court towards the locker room at the 5:51-mark of the second quarter. Athletic trainers placed a towel over his hand to conceal the graphic injury, but some camera angles did show a bone in his pinky sticking out through the side of his skin.
The Thunder bench reacted and moved out of the way when they got a glimpse of it.
While Vanderbilt is unlikely to play on Thursday, it seems like he avoided the worst possibility of a fracture. The only other Lakers listed on the injury report were Luka Doncic (out with a grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Luke Kennard, who is questionable with neck soreness.
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 02: Dejounte Murray #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on April 02, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the days roll on, the discussion on who Phoenix should trade for continues to rise at a rapid rate. With most fans wanting to see some change to this team, something will have to give. Even if Mat Ishbia preached keeping most of this team, there will be some turnover within the roster. Just how big will that be?
That is the real question no one has the answer to. As fans mull over who the team should pursue, they really do not know what kind of upgrade they are looking for. Is it a big splash or on the margins? Only time will tell what Brian Gregory and Mat Ishbia decide to do, but in the meantime, let’s discuss the possibilities they can make this offseason.
The latest article in this series looks at a different position than the previous one, even though the team has an abundance of guards; a shakeup could be necessary for the team’s best direction.
I haven’t seen his name come up at all, but I really think Dejounte Murray would be a great fit next to Book.
Now, there has been no linkage to Dejounte Murray wanting out, or even to the Pelicans wanting to move off him, but the writing is basically on the wall. With the Pelicans looking to develop their young players, there’s really no spot for Murray. If Jeremiah Fears is their future, they need to invest in him, not Murray. He is also out of the timeline the Pelicans want to be in. He is older, and even if their front office THINKS they can compete, it is clear they are further behind than they evaluated them to be in the Wild Wild West.
Hence, even if he is not “available” at this second, I do think he will be off this Pelicans team, as he will want to be on a team that is competing. Does this make sense for the Suns to pursue? If so, how could they get it done?
How could it get done?
Looking at Murray’s contract, there are multiple ways the Suns could look to acquire the point guard, though I think there are two realistic options. For starters, he is owed $63.5 million over the next two seasons, with a near-$31 million player option next season. That means it would either require Jalen Green’s $36 million deal or a combination of Grayson Allen’s and Royce O’Neale’s contracts to reach right under $30 million.
Which would make the most sense?
I can see both of them getting the job done, but one is better than the other. With the Green contract, you fully swap a guard for a guard, messing with the continuity a bit but getting a better fit around Devin Booker, your star player. Not only that, but it then leaves you the remaining assets in Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen to either keep or to get the size you need in the front court to compete against their Western Conference opponents.
If you trade Allen and O’Neale for Murray, you do find a guard replacement for Green, but then have to sell on him. With the league then knowing the Suns need to move off Green, the low-ball offers will come streaming in. For a guy already on a 72M contract that most front offices are scared to look at, it will not help the Suns get a beneficial return.
Therefore, I think the first option is the best for all parties involved: a Green for Murray swap.
Why does it get done?
Suns
This is a significant change from the previous renditions in this series. As noted in those three, I said there should not be a deal. Here I stand on my ten toes and state that the Suns should pursue this one, and I believe the Pelicans would be interested as well.
For starters, let’s evaluate this from a Suns perspective, as I truly do think that adding Murray would be a positive for this team. Even if Murray has been injured recently, like the previous names discussed, this one is a bit different.
He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the 2024-2025 season, which kept him sidelined for most of the year as he only suited up in 31 games. He then recovered for most of this season, allowing him to return healthy for 14 games. With the Pelcians having no sense of direction, either, this was a good thing for the betterment of his career. Besides these two seasons, though, the guard has played fewer than 65 games only twice: once in his rookie year and in 2018-2019, when he tore his ACL in the preseason.
These serious injuries could be scary, especially since one happened recently, but in his short time back with the Pelicans, Murray seemed to have it still. Even with a small sample size of 14 games, he averaged 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.6 steals on 48/31/87 shooting splits. The guard would also help the Suns and fit their style.
Similar to Jrue Holiday, who was written about earlier this week, Murray would complement Devin Booker in many ways. This would allow Booker to return to his true position as a shooting guard and give him help with playmaking and ball-handling duties. He is also a solid defender and has a 6’ 10” wingspan, allowing him to use his length to create some big turnovers for the Phoenix defense.
For someone who started his career with the San Antonio Spurs, who believed in a defensive identity and culture, this would easily translate for Murray in a scheme with Jordan Ott at the helm. Murray would bring fear to opponents on the offensive end, alleviating pressure on Booker to hunt his own shots. Murry would also be a solid ball handler and playmaker who could help initiate the offense with Booker on the court, but with either Collin Gillespie or Jordan Goodwin alongside him, too.
The age may be a factor for some of these other players I said no to trading for, but with Murray, it’s not as glaring an issue. Yes, he will be turning 30 and getting older, but he is not at the age of Jrue Holiday or Anthony Davis. Nor is he said to be looking for a max contract like one of those guys is.
One of the best parts as well is that the Suns save money in this deal, a little under 4M that could be used to help bring back Gillespie and Goodwin while arguably finding a better fit for the roster and direction.
In review, he is everything the Suns could look to add in a point guard that will not disrupt the ability of Devin Booker to get touches still or attack the shots he wants. Murray, with a solid defensive frame, fits the identity the franchise wants to pursue on defense while not being a long-term detriment, given his age and salary.
Pelicans
Now, here comes the difficult part: convincing the Pelicans to do this deal… Ha, you thought I was being serious? The Pelicans’ front office is widely regarded as one of the most dysfunctional in this association. After their trade for Derik Queen at the draft, giving up their unprotected first-round pick for this season, they thought they were going to compete in the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, they did not even make the Play-In, so they had to hand over a lottery pick to the Atlanta Hawks.
This shows me that Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver, the two in charge over there, have no idea what is going on, and it was clearly evident this season. They still believe they can build around Zion Williamson and continue to make those comments even after this year. Both Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones, arguably their two most valuable players, remained on the roster when teams were willing to trade for them. The Pelicans are trying to find their path, but keep struggling to get there or even establish a true star for their squad. Since Zion has been injured, they haven’t been able to jump-start the rebuild, and the process has been ongoing.
That is why I believe the front office will take this deal. They would see Jalen Green as adding a former number two pick, who has the potential to be a guy for them, pairing him with Zion and their lot of players to try and push for a deep playoff run. Green helped get Phoenix there this year and showed up in the playoffs. That’s a strong buying point for Dumars and co to decide to want this deal.
Not to mention that Green would be a better fit next to Fears, allowing the young guard to get the keys to himself as PG instead of competing with Murray. The Pelcians also get younger, taking on the 24-year-old who still has the potential to change his narrative in this league. Green could bring some much-needed rim pressure and work well paired with offensive hub Derik Queen.
Ultimately, I can see the Pelicans taking on Allen and O’Neale as well, thinking those role players would get them to make the play-in, but that is something I see Phoenix declining, rather than going with a 1-for-1 swap.
Final Thoughts
That said, I am not shipping Green for anyone. There are very few guards I’d consider it for, and Murray happens to be one of the only ones that are going to be “available” to do so.
So what would you guys do if you were the Suns? Would you consider a deal for Dejounte Murray if he wanted out, and do you think that either of these deals could get done? Your thoughts are more than appreciated, and I hope you have enjoyed the new series on Bright Side so far!
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 06: Don Mattingly, interim manager for the Philadelphia Phillies, stands on the mound with J.T. Realmuto #10, Alec Bohm #28, Bryce Harper #3 and Edmundo Sosa #33 during a pitching change in the seventh inning against the Athletics at Citizens Bank Park on May 06, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are the lineups for the series finale against the Athletics. Let’s discuss!
BRONX, NY - APRIL 20: New York Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling stands on the field during his retirement ceremony prior to a regular season game between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees on April 20, 2024 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s still hard to believe that John Sterling is no longer with us. The longtime voice of the Yankees who died at age 87 this past Monday was, in my book, among the greatest broadcasters of all time. He brought unforgettable moments to life with his signature theatrical flair, delighting and entertaining generations of Yankees fans, all while never taking himself or his job too seriously.
Sterling was an institution, having called 5,651 total games for the Yankees, the vast majority consecutively. He was always there; as indelibly stitched into the Yankee tapestry as the walls of the Stadium itself. He may be gone, but he’ll never fully go away.
I’m a broadcaster too; albeit a far less prolific one. As of today, I have served as a play-by-play commentator for 109 games—so I’ve still some way to go before I reach 5,651. But over that comparatively short amount of time, I’ve learned a lot from Sterling about broadcasting; not just as a profession, but as an art.
Like any profession or art, you learn by copying. I can probably name a hundred or more commentators I’ve listened to and made a mental note of something they did that I wanted to borrow for myself. Quite frankly though, I don’t think John Sterling is on that list. That’s because when it came down to it, his style was inimitable.
Sterling defied comparison, particularly with his contemporaries. There’s a reason John Sterling vs. Vin Scully always felt like apples and oranges. Both were, above all, storytellers, and great ones at that. But while Scully was baseball’s poet laureate, trusted to call the World Series for the whole nation, Sterling’s appeal was more personal. Scully personified the Dodgers, but transcended them too. Sterling was somewhat more akin to a local talk show host; fitting given that was how he started in the radio business. He just happened to also call the World Series eight times.
Of course, Sterling had his detractors, largely because his magic didn’t carry outside of Yankee fandom. Fans of rival teams couldn’t get into his schtick the way we could. I used to defend his honor against them, thinking it was such a shame they couldn’t understand his oeuvre, but ultimately it was only fitting. Sterling wasn’t hoping to appeal to fans of the Red Sox, or Royals, or Rockies. He was there for us, and it didn’t particularly matter what the rest of baseball felt about it. When Sterling screwed up by prematurely revving up his signature home run call for a warning-track flyout, fans of other teams had a field day with the soundbite; but we’d just shrug our shoulders and say, “That’s baseball, Suzyn.”
I’m far from the first person to notice this contrast, but it remains striking that such a whimsical guy (a most happy fella, if you will) who was often seen as a caricature wound up being the enduring voice of the Yankees—a team so exceedingly bought into its own hype as to exhaust everyone around them. Just as “it is high, it is far, it is caught” became a meme to denigrate Sterling’s occasional buffoonery, the “27 rings guy” became a meme to mock the median Yankee fans’ sense of unearned superiority, relentlessly encouraged by the franchise’s own rhetoric about itself. All this, of course, as they have failed to back up the talk with championships in recent seasons.
It’s hard to see the Yankees as exceptional these days. Sure, they still haven’t had a losing season since the early 1990s, but that was never the rubric for success their fans use. Predicating your mythology on winning championships is only so effective when the championships have dried up. By the Yankees’ own logic, the two-time defending champion Dodgers have usurped them as the Evil Empire, signing most of the league’s most coveted free agents and winning those trophies—including one against the Yankees, which felt then and continues to feel now like a coronation for Los Angeles as the new kings of baseball.
Now, let me clear. I don’t actually care about that. I like the Yankees, and I like that they win a lot, but I don’t care if they’re exceptional or not. I want them to win the World Series, but I don’t generally expect them to. And given how much harder winning a title is in the 2020s, I don’t necessarily think the Aaron Judge Era will be ‘wasted’ if he never wins one here. The Yankees were never guaranteed to be the greatest forever. And I’m cool with that. But their postseason defeats become all the more enervating when the team relentlessly postures about being first among equals.
And it makes it all the more miraculous that a man like Sterling was tapped to be their voice. Sterling was in the broadcaster’s chair for every last game throughout one of the Yankees’ greatest dynastic periods; and as a lifelong fan has an intimate connection with many more. But that decorated history—and his intimate connection to it—never negatively colored his work. He didn’t buy into his own hype, at least not fully. (The home run calls definitely got long in the tooth after a while, but it was still always interesting to see what he would come up with for a new face in the Bronx, since your first guess was usually wrong.)
Ultimately, the contrast was this: the Yankees saw their games as conquest—Sterling saw them as theatre. I prefer Sterling’s perspective.
Circling back to my perspective as a broadcaster, I mentioned that while I don’t attempt to directly emulate Sterling with my calls or my methodology—as a child of the internet, I could never manage his entirely analog style of prep—I certainly believe him to be a great example for the rest of us. John Sterling never pretended to be anyone other than himself. He was genuinely, authentically, himself. And since he embraced that so fully, I could never get too upset when he made a gaffe on the air.
Upon reflecting on my short time broadcasting in the wake of Sterling’s death, I recognized that originality to be his greatest quality, and one I should embrace in my own work. I shouldn’t get too caught up in the details and grade myself so harshly, as I’m wont to do. The most important question is: first and foremost, did I call this game the way I like to call games? Did I narrate with enthusiasm, passion, and a good sense of humor? Do I think my audience enjoyed themselves listening to me? If yes—and the answer is usually yes—then I succeeded.
John Sterling always passed that test. He was an inspiration to every aspiring broadcaster seeking to find their voice, and while I’ll miss him, I’ll always be thankful for his example. Rest easy, John.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 01: Starting pitcher Jake Bennett #64 of the Boston Red Sox throws against the Houston Astros during his MLB debut in the first inning at Fenway Park on May 01, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jake Bennett knows that he’s probably going back to Worcester in the very near future. Sonny Gray is back. Garrett Crochet will likely be back soon. Ranger Suarez probably won’t even go on the IL. Payton Tolle doesn’t want to relinquish his rotation spot, nor does Brayan Bello, who hopefully has turned a Nick Pivetta-esque corner after shining in a bulk role against the Tigers. Unfortunately, there’s just not that much room for Bennett, a guy who is young, and unrefined, and easy to send west on the pike. And he’s probably ok with that; he knows he’ll have plenty of chances.
But I also have no doubt that, buried somewhere in the back of Bennett’s brain is another idea, one he’s probably been thinking about for the last five days: he knows that there’s a chance — a small chance but a real one nonetheless — that he could pitch well enough tonight to stay up. It would take a lot for him to dislodge one of the names ahead of him, even the struggling Brayan Bell0. He’ll need to show more than promise, he’ll need to show dominance. Double-digit strikeouts, flirtation with a no-hitter, something like that. It will have to be something big. It’s not very likely, but he knows it’s possible.
Jake Bennett pitched the biggest game of his life when he made his MLB debut against the Astros last week. Six days later, he’s pitching the biggest game of his life again.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 6: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Two on May 6, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After two contests in New York, one that was over by the third quarter and one that came down to the final minutes, the Philadelphia 76ers trail the Knicks in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series, 2-0. Joel Embiid missed Game 2 with hip and ankle injuries and his status remains up in the air moving forward. Tyrese Maxey committed six turnovers in the latest loss and later connected the dots that he had jammed his injured pinky finger during the game, causing him additional discomfort. They say a series doesn’t start until the road team wins, but the Sixers are certainly testing that sentiment with the overall feeling about how things are going at the moment.
Aside from the fact that Philadelphia looked to figure some things out in the close Game 2 defeat, the biggest cause for optimism going forward is injury luck swinging back slightly in the other direction. Knicks wing OG Anunoby left Game 2 late with what we later found out is a hamstring injury.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby has been diagnosed with right hamstring strain and will be day to day, sources tell ESPN. Anunoby is the Knicks second-leading scorer this postseason at 21.4 points per game. He is listed questionable for Game 3 on Friday against Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/q1zLXpbRkr
It does appear that Anunoby avoided a serious strain and various reports have mentioned him as day-to-day to perhaps out up to a week. He has a history of hamstring injuries, most recently missing three weeks earlier this season with one. The Knicks faced a similar situation two years ago in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Indiana; OG’s hamstring injury then was a turning point in the Pacers coming back from a 2-0 deficit to win that series. Could history repeat itself here?
While next man up mentality always applies, and the Knicks certainly have better roster depth than the Sixers, there’s no denying what a huge loss Anunoby would be for New York if he misses any time. He’s unquestionably their top two-way player and someone that has earned the “16-game player” designation with how his numbers regularly improve in a postseason environment. In this current postseason, OG is averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.9 steals, 1.1 blocks and 0.5 turnovers.
He, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart taking on the difficult defensive assignments and generally covering a ton of ground allow the Knicks to get away with two negative defenders in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Anunoby’s versatility and ability to credibly guard four positions allows head coach Mike Brown a ton of lineup malleability. I mentioned the Knicks have solid depth, but they don’t really have any similar big wings coming off the bench. They either get much smaller with more guard types receiving playing time like Deuce McBride, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson. Or New York could try additional minutes with the two bigs beside each other, assuming Mitchell Robinson is back from his illness-related Game 2 absence. Either way, there’s something for the Sixers to exploit that simply isn’t there with a perfect jack-of-all-trades guy on the floor in Anunoby.
Even if it comes out that Anunoby is officially missing one or two games, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that changes everything from the Sixers’ perspective. They still have their own gigantic healthy mystery box to unravel in the form of Joel Embiid, after all. But if you’re looking for avenues Philadelphia could walk down to get back into this series, the Knicks missing the guy most critical to making everything else work would be a good place to start.
