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Worldwide Sports News

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Yankees news: Ryan Weathers scratched from Thursday start

May 2, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) hands the ball to manager Aaron Boone (17) after being relieved during the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

SNY | Phillip Martinez: Some news broke late last night, with the Yankees scratching Ryan Weathers from this scheduled start this afternoon. Weathers was apparently dealing with a nasty stomach virus. “I pitched, then went home and pretty much threw my guts out for several hours,” the starter said. “I thought I just had food poisoning, but woke up the next day and was running a 102 [degree] temp.”

Aaron Boone said Weathers should be good to be reinserted into the rotation next Monday. Paul Blackburn is slated to get the spot start against the Rangers today.

New York Post | Greg Joyce: Giancarlo Stanton is now eligible to return from the 10-day IL, but it doesn’t seem like the slugger’s return is imminent just yet. “He’s doing OK, and he’s hit some. [It’s lingering] a little bit. It still feels minor, but not ready to push it yet,” said Boone on Tuesday. Stanton’s injury has been described as a low-grade calf strain. It’s the kind of soft-tissue problem that’s become synonymous with Stanton at this point, but it sounds like he shouldn’t be out too much longer.

CBS Sports | Matt Snyder: On the other side of the ledger, we know that Carlos Rodón is nearing his return, and it’s sounding like Sunday’s game against the Brewers will be his season debut. “I think he’s felt ready to go now the last couple of times,” said Boone. “But to get him up over 80 pitches this time out, we wanted to do, and give him a third game. We feel like he’s ready to go.” The Yankees have four starters on the roster at the moment and will need a starter on Sunday, so as long as Rodón’s arm feels good, it seems likely he’ll be the choice.

New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: It’s one thing that the Yankees’ pitching has been league-best all season, and that their offense has been flat-out dominant for the last three weeks as the team ripped off a 15-2 stretch. It’s another thing altogether that they’ve done this without two of their top arms. The Yankees are firing on all cylinders and are about to get reinforcements in the form of Rodón and Gerrit Cole, a scary thought for their competitors. “We can’t wait,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. said after Tuesday night’s win. “Those guys are what makes us who we are, especially when it comes to the playoffs, too. So right now, we’re just hoping they stay healthy and come back as soon as possible.”

MLB.com | Jason Catania: Not only are the Yankees dominating without some of their top pitchers, they’ve also posted elite offensive numbers without much help from a crucial spot: the leadoff spot. Trent Grisham has been their primary leadoff hitter in 2026, and though he’s probably been dealt some bad luck, Grisham’s .148 batting average out of the leadoff slot hasn’t helped put Ben Rice and Aaron Judge in position to do maximum damage. On the whole, Yankee lead off hitters have hit just .160, about 40 points lower than the next worst team. In a way, it’s actually encouraging that the Yankees are scoring heaps of runs even while getting little from their leadoff hitters. How much better could they get if Grisham starts to get some hits to fall?

And one last piece of news: the Yankees optioned Yerry de Los Santos after last night’s game. Tough draw for de Los Santos, who helped give the Yankee bullpen a breather last night, soaking up 3.1 scoreless innings against the Rangers in relief of an ineffective Will Warren. The job of a Scranton Shuttle Rider isn’t an easy one, and we salute those who work it.

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The Cavs have a Dean Wade problem

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 20: Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball up court during the first quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena on April 20, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers have played some of their best and ugliest basketball with Dean Wade on the court in the playoffs.

Offensively, the floor has looked far too cramped, as defenders can cheat away from Wade, making it difficult for Cleveland’s backcourt to find driving lanes. Defensively, Wade has been their best player. He’s made it difficult for Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and now Cade Cunningham to get to their spots on the floor. Limiting their offensive impact and the team’s as a whole.

On one hand, the Cavs can’t live without Wade. On the other hand, they can’t live with him.

Wade is limited offensively. He’s a good rebounder and a serviceable outside shooter, but those are the only skills he brings on that end.

Things can fall apart when the outside shot isn’t falling. Once he loses confidence, he becomes far too hesitant to take threes. This allows his defender to cheat off him entirely, disrupting the spacing on an already cramped court when he’s playing alongside two centers in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. This is one of the factors that has led to the high volume of turnovers we’ve seen.

Below is a good example of that. Tobias Harris — his defender — is standing in the paint, even though Wade is on the wing. This gums up Donovan Mitchell’s driving lane and forces an Evan Mobley three. Shots like that are wins for the defense every day of the week.

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The issue isn’t necessarily that Wade isn’t a capable shooter. He’s a career 36.7% outside shooter, which is good, even if he’s run into a cold spell in the postseason. The problem is the lack of attempts.

Wade is taking just 5.3 shots per playoff game in 25 minutes of play. This translates to a 9.5 usage rate, which is the lowest for anyone in the playoffs at his position. If you aren’t a threat to beat the opponent with any facet of your offensive game, there’s no point in actually covering you.

The lack of shooting was an issue in the first-round series. This caused head coach Kenny Atkinson to start Max Strus — who’s more than willing to take the outside shot — in Wade’s place. This move helped the offense, as the Cavs have scored 6.2 more points per 100 possessions offensively in the playoffs with Strus on the floor. However, it was still a net negative because of the defensive ramifications.

Wade is the only Cavalier who has the size, strength, and speed to hang with premier wings in the league, which is important considering most contenders have elite wings. He does this extraordinarily well, which makes him the perfect player to guard Cunningham with.

Here’s a great example of what Wade brings as an individual defender. Here, he stays with Cunningham through a screen, remains connected on the drive, and uses his active hands to force a turnover.

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You don’t stop a player as skilled as Cunningham with one defender. It takes a team effort, but it’s easier to pull off when you’re strong at the point of attack.

Cleveland made it difficult for Cunningham to catch the ball in Game 1, and once he did, they were funneling him toward the bigs.

Wade executed that game plan well, as seen here. He makes Cunningham work for the ball, momentarily pokes it away, which disrupts the timing enough for Mobley to put a clean contest on the drive.

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Plays like this are why the Cavs are much better defensively with Wade on the floor. However, how much better they are points to a much wider issue.

The Cavs have needed Wade to be on the floor in the postseason to be passable. Through eight games, they’ve registered a dreadful 116.2 defensive rating when he’s on the bench (22nd percentile).

Playing Mobley and Allen together doesn’t help those numbers; it actually makes it worse. The Cavs have a 134.1 defensive rating (0th percentile) when Mobley and Allen are playing without Wade in 84 possessions. There’s no situation you can win when the defense is that bad.

The eye test backs this up. When there isn’t someone who can easily stay in front of their opponent’s best wings, the whole defense can get caught in rotation, leading to far too many openings to attack the basket and hit open threes.

In the end, the Cavs are left at the mercy of whether Wade is hitting or even willing to take his outside shots.

The Cavaliers built the most expensive roster in the league, but have done so while allocating surprisingly little capital on the wing. They’re overly reliant on an imperfect role player who has a somewhat limited offensive skillset. And have even more imperfect options to replace him if he doesn’t have his outside shot going.

This isn’t how it should be.

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Ducks and Golden Knights square off with series tied 1-1

Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division) vs. Anaheim Ducks (43-33-6, in the Pacific Division)

Anaheim, California; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Golden Knights -111, Ducks -108; over/under is 6

NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Series tied 1-1

BOTTOM LINE: The Anaheim Ducks host the Vegas Golden Knights in game three of the second round of the NHL Playoffs with the series tied 1-1. The teams meet Wednesday for the sixth time this season. The Ducks won the previous matchup 3-1.

Anaheim is 43-33-6 overall with a 20-13-1 record against the Pacific Division. The Ducks have gone 43-13-4 in games they score at least three goals.

Vegas is 16-6-6 against the Pacific Division and 39-26-17 overall. The Golden Knights have a 42-6-11 record when scoring at least three goals.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cutter Gauthier has 41 goals and 28 assists for the Ducks. Troy Terry has four goals and six assists over the past 10 games.

Mitchell Marner has 24 goals and 56 assists for the Golden Knights. Jack Eichel has two goals and 14 assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Ducks: 6-4-0, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.3 assists, 3.1 penalties and 6.5 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.

Golden Knights: 7-3-0, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.1 assists, 4.1 penalties and 8.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

INJURIES: Ducks: Radko Gudas: day to day (lower body), Petr Mrazek: out for season (lower-body).

Golden Knights: Jeremy Lauzon: out (undisclosed).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Sabres take 1-0 lead into game 2 against the Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Buffalo Sabres (50-23-9, in the Atlantic Division)

Buffalo, New York; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT

LINE: Sabres -138, Canadiens +116; over/under is 5.5

NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Sabres lead series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Buffalo Sabres host the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a 1-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Wednesday for the sixth time this season. The Sabres won the previous matchup 4-2.

Buffalo is 50-23-9 overall with a 21-7-5 record in Atlantic Division play. The Sabres are seventh in league play serving 9.7 penalty minutes per game.

Montreal is 20-11-3 against the Atlantic Division and 48-24-10 overall. The Canadiens have a 20-8-2 record in games they score one or more power-play goals.

TOP PERFORMERS: Rasmus Dahlin has 19 goals and 55 assists for the Sabres. Alex Tuch has six goals and four assists over the past 10 games.

Cole Caufield has 51 goals and 37 assists for the Canadiens. Nicholas Suzuki has scored three goals and added six assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Sabres: 7-1-2, averaging 3.7 goals, 5.8 assists, 4.6 penalties and 11.1 penalty minutes while giving up 1.8 goals per game.

Canadiens: 5-3-2, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.5 assists, 5.3 penalties and 11.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

INJURIES: Sabres: Noah Ostlund: out (lower body), Jiri Kulich: out for season (ear), Sam Carrick: day to day (arm), Rasmus Dahlin: day to day (undisclosed), Justin Danforth: out for season (kneecap).

Canadiens: Patrik Laine: out (abdomen).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Sabres Turn Power Play Problems Into Canadiens’ Nightmare

The Buffalo Sabres spent weeks dragging around a powerless power play — then turned it into the defining storyline of Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens.

Buffalo’s 4-2 win Wednesday night at KeyBank Center was about control. The Sabres dictated the pace early, forced Montreal into undisciplined mistakes, and punished the Canadiens every time the game tilted toward special teams.

After entering the second round buried under criticism for a power play that had gone ice cold late in the regular season and through much of the first round, Buffalo suddenly looked dangerous again with the extra attacker — and that completely changed the tone of the series opener.

Early Penalties Changed Everything

Montreal never looked fully settled in the opening period, and a large part of that came from the Canadiens repeatedly putting themselves on the wrong side of the whistle. Buffalo attacked with speed off the rush, pressured Montreal’s defense into hurried decisions, and capitalized on loose puck battles that forced the Canadiens into scrambling situations.

The Sabres quickly made those mistakes costly.

Josh Doan opened the scoring early in the first period, giving Buffalo immediate momentum before the Canadiens had a chance to establish any structure. From there, the game began tilting heavily toward special teams. Ryan McLeod doubled Buffalo’s lead on the power play midway through the opening frame, finishing off a sequence that showcased far better puck retrievals and cleaner movement than the Sabres had shown at any point late in the Boston series.

Instead of overhandling pucks along the perimeter or settling for one-and-done possessions, Buffalo attacked decisively. The Sabres won loose pucks, created second opportunities, and finally looked confident operating with space.

As Josh Doan put it afterward, “it was hit-or-miss throughout the end of year,” but Buffalo emphasized recovering pucks and avoiding “one-and-dones” on the power play — something the Sabres executed far better Wednesday night.

Montreal briefly grabbed life when Nick Suzuki scored on the power play late in the first period, but even that moment failed to slow Buffalo’s push.

Buffalo’s Depth Took Over

One of the biggest differences Wednesday night was how effectively Buffalo rolled through its lineup. While Montreal spent much of the night trying to recover from early penalties and chase momentum, the Sabres continued finding production from secondary pieces.

Jordan Greenway restored Buffalo’s two-goal cushion early in the second period after capitalizing on defensive confusion around the net, and Bowen Byram later added another power-play goal that effectively reestablished control after Montreal had started finding some offensive rhythm.

Buffalo’s stars did not dominate the scoresheet, but the Sabres hardly needed them to. Their depth forwards consistently won battles below the goal line, pressured Montreal’s breakout, and forced the Canadiens into uncomfortable defensive-zone shifts that drained energy from their top players.

Doan and Zach Benson were especially effective driving play in the middle six, and Buffalo’s third line repeatedly tilted the ice whenever it jumped over the boards.

That depth also helped neutralize Montreal’s top unit at even strength. Outside of isolated pushes, the Canadiens struggled to generate sustained offensive-zone pressure five-on-five, and many of their best opportunities came only after Buffalo turnovers rather than controlled offensive execution.

Lindy Ruff pointed to that balance after the game, noting that Buffalo has consistently relied on “another line” stepping up when the team’s top players are contained.

Special Teams Finally Looked Dangerous Again

For Buffalo, the biggest development may have simply been psychological.

The Sabres entered the night carrying the weight of a brutal stretch on the power play. They closed the regular season without a power-play goal over their final weeks and then managed just one goal with the man advantage in their entire first-round series against Boston. Every failed opportunity had started creating more hesitation.

Wednesday looked completely different.

The puck movement was quicker. Entries were cleaner. Players attacked downhill instead of waiting for perfect looks to develop. Most importantly, Buffalo finally looked aggressive retrieving pucks after missed shots or blocked attempts — an area that had completely disappeared during their slump.

The Canadiens’ lack of discipline only amplified that issue. Montreal repeatedly lost positioning in transition and forced itself into reactive penalties trying to recover defensively. Against a power play desperate for confidence, that became a dangerous formula.

Ruff acknowledged afterward that Buffalo “took advantage of some good breaks” while also making “a couple of good plays” on the power play.

Buffalo also continued receiving elite goaltending from Alex Lyon, who once again stabilized the game whenever Montreal threatened to push momentum the other direction. Since replacing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen during the Boston series, Lyon has given the Sabres a calming presence in net and allowed them to play aggressively in front of him.

Kirby Dach’s second-period goal briefly tightened the scoreline, but Buffalo closed the game down effectively in the third period, limiting Montreal’s clean looks and avoiding the kind of defensive breakdowns that fueled chaos earlier in the playoffs.

Now the pressure shifts squarely onto the Canadiens entering Game 2.

Montreal showed flashes offensively, particularly from Suzuki’s line, but the Canadiens spent too much of the night chasing the game after self-inflicted mistakes. Against a Buffalo team that suddenly looks confident again on special teams, that is not a sustainable formula for winning this series.

Martin St. Louis still believed there were positives for Montreal despite the loss, saying afterward he liked that the Canadiens’ top players “got more touches and space,” but he also admitted Montreal has to be better in 50-50 puck battles and managing the puck in the offensive zone.

Game 2 takes place on Friday. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. local time from KeyBank Center.

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Bryce Miller solid in likely final rehab start

After missing all of spring training with an oblique injury, Bryce Miller’s month of rehab likely wrapped up tonight in Everett. So far, Miller has made four starts on his rehab assignment:

  • 4/18 (AAA): 1.2 innings, 10 batters faced, three runs on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts; 33 pitches (21 strikes)
  • 4/24 (A+): 3 innings, 11 batters faced, no runs on a hit with a walk and six strikeouts; 47 pitches (35 strikes)
  • 4/30: (AAA): 4 innings, 15 batters faced, no runs on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts, 53 pitches (36 strikes)
  • 5/6 (A+): 5 innings, 19 batters faced, no runs on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts, 61 pitches (38 strikes)

Miller was maybe too efficient tonight against eager High-A hitters excited to swing against the big-leaguer, keeping him from increasing his pitch count significantly—he had to finish out his outing in the AquaSox bullpen to get in his required pitches—but all the indicators were there: he held his fastball velocity well, still hitting 96-98 into the later innings of his outing, and mixed in all his secondaries. Postgame, Miller joked about how quickly he got through his five innings in typical Bryce-style:

If you’re a little concerned about the walks on Miller’s ledger, that’s fair, but also, Miller was adamant about wanting to work in all of his pitches during his rehab starts, so take the walks with a grain of salt. The one thing to maybe be aware of is how often his fastball seemed to exhibit extreme downward movement to land for balls, which is something that felt like a consistent issue during his rehab assignments. But the bigger benchmarks were working at a consistent fastball velocity, throwing all his pitches and throwing strikes or near-strikes, and getting through his projected innings, and Miller hit all those targets with flying colors.

Miller didn’t face much adversity from the low minors hitters of the Diamondbacks system, but he did have to work around some traffic in the first after giving up a BABIP double and then walking the next hitter he saw on four pitches. He got out of the jam when the next hitter went after the first pitch he saw for a GIDP. Miller continued on like that, playing with his food a bit; he walked a hitter with two outs in the second, trying to get the feel for his splitter, only to come back for an easy 4-3 groundout. In the third, he issued a walk with two outs (boo! hiss!) but got his first strikeout of the day on the very next batter:

Miller’s second strikeout of the day, against Brady Counsell (yes son of Craig) to close up a very quick nine-pitch one-two-three third, was on a fastball that popped up on the gun at Funko Field at 98 mph.

Miller got through one more clean inning, thanks partially to a great sliding catch by Mariners prospect Jonny Farmelo, who continued to show he can hold down center field after the ACL tear that cost him significant time last season:

It was a big night for Farmelo and the AquaSox offense, who showed out in support of their big-league rehabber. That fifth inning almost-hit for Miller, saved by Farmelo, came after a long layoff where the AquaSox were busy scoring five runs, in addition to the three they’d already scored in the third, and the two in the first. Ten runs after four innings, cue the Mariners rotation/“I used to pray for times like this” meme.

The 2-3-4 trio of Jonny Farmelo – Felnin Celesten – Luke Stevenson ganged up for seven combined hits, six RBI, two doubles, a triple, and a homer, and since it’s hard to see any of the three of them spending much more time in Everett – Farmelo’s been there a while, Celesten has been on a heater lately, and Stevenson looks too advanced for the level – if you’re local, get up and see them while you can.

The Mariners have yet to announce if Miller will make another start or rejoin the club on this road trip, and have definitely not said what their plans are going forward, especially with Emerson Hancock, Miller’s de facto replacement, pitching as one of the top pitchers in Seattle’s rotation. But what seems clear from tonight’s outing is Miller has completed his rehab assignment, insofar as the assignment was “have a spring training”; he’s made five total starts now, including the one he did this spring before landing on the injured list, and he’s hit his pitch count benchmarks every time. Whatever the decision is, it’s coming soon.

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Michael Carrick has the light touch Manchester United need for next chapter | Jonathan Liew

Something of an obsessive with tidiness, the interim coach has beaten all the club’s closest rivals in his short time in charge

We’ll get on to the more pressing business of whether Michael Carrick deserves the full-time Manchester United job in a moment. There’s plenty to discuss: tactics and philosophy, character and comportment, the squad he inherited from Ruben Amorim and how United might strengthen it in the summer window. But first: I want you to imagine eating an entire dover sole with the bones left in, while under the gaze of the former England international Trevor Francis.

You’re in a fancy restaurant in Birmingham. You’re 18 years old, and have ordered the fish with potatoes on the assumption that it will essentially be a posh chippy supper. The sole arrives, the waiter asks whether you want it filleted, and because you don’t know what that means, you say no. Immediately you feel the painful prickles on your tongue, the unsatisfying gnash of skeletal marine matter between your teeth. Naturally, you don’t want to look rude or foolish in front of your new manager. So you put on a brave face, and keep chewing. Meanwhile, Trevor Francis keeps watching.

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‘The three of us are the next’: Fabio Wardley on Dubois, Itauma and boxing’s heavyweight future

Briton, who defends his WBO title against Daniel Dubois, talks Fury-Joshua, doping and his punditry sideline

“The only expectation I have is that it will end in a knockout,” Fabio Wardley says cheerfully as he looks ahead to his dangerous first defence of the WBO world heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois in Manchester on Saturday night. “Don’t Blink” is the promotional tagline for a battle between two powerful yet vulnerable heavyweights and, for once, this is less boxing bluster than reasonable advice for anyone watching a fight which could be the most dramatic heavyweight contest this year.

Wardley and Dubois are devastating punchers who also often look at risk of losing. Dubois has been beaten three times in 25 fights while dispatching his other opponents with brutal efficiency. Two years ago, the unbeaten Wardley came close to defeat against Frazer Clarke in their first fight, which ended up being a draw after a damaging bloodbath for both men. He knocked out Clarke after two savage minutes in the rematch but then lost every round against Justis Huni before producing a chilling late stoppage of the skilful Australian last June.

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Knicks-76ers Notes: OG Anunoby's status in question; Mikal Bridges has 'great game' on both ends

How do you replace 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game in the middle of a playoff series?

The Knicks may need to find an answer to that question.

Late in their Game 2 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, OG Anunoby suffered a leg injury. He left the court with 2:31 to play and the Knicks up by six.

He did not return. That fact alone tells you that Anunoby was in discomfort. The Knicks would obviously want Anunoby on the floor late in a close game -- even if he was limited by injury.

They closed the game without Anunoby, beating the Sixers to take a 2-0 lead. But after the game, Anunoby was not available to reporters. Knicks head coach Mike Brown had no update when he spoke to reporters after the game. There is no point in speculating about Anunoby’s injury.

But if he is indeed sidelined for Game 3 and beyond, Miles McBride is comfortable taking on a larger role.

“Extremely comfortable. I feel like the coaching staff trusts me, I know my teammates trust me and I trust myself overall. So if that happens, I know I’ll be ready,” McBride said after Game 2.

McBride was on the floor to close the game. If Anunoby has to miss time, it’s fair to assume McBride’s minutes/responsibilities would increase. Maybe Brown inserts Landry Shamet into the rotation?

No matter who takes his place, the Knicks will certainly miss Anunoby (if he has to miss time).

Anunoby wasn’t just putting up great numbers in the playoffs (as referenced above), he was doing so efficiently. He made 60 of his 97 field goal attempts in the playoffs (61.2 percent), including 52.8 percent of his threes (39 attempts).

The Knicks were outscoring opponents by an average of 14.75 points per game with Anunoby on the floor.  

“He’s one of the best two-way players in the league so it’s tough to replace that but you don’t replace him with one guy,” McBride said. “Everyone is going to have to step up.”

BUILDING MORE BRIDGES

Make that three in a row for Mikal Bridges. For the third straight game, Bridges had his fingerprints all over a Knicks win.

In Game 2, he had 18 points, five rebounds and two assists. He hit a step-back jumper from 20 feet to give the Knicks a six-point lead with three minutes to play.

Bridges also helped limit Tyrese Maxey to seven points on nine shots and three turnovers in the second half. Maxey went off in the first half with 19 points and four assists. He said after the game that he suffered a finger injury in the second quarter.

Even if that impacted him in the second half, Bridges and the rest of the Knicks deserve credit for their defense in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia shot 4-for-19 in the final period; Maxey and Paul George combined to shoot 2-for-12 in the fourth.

“You’re not stopping Tyrese Maxey. Tyrese, he had a great game. He had 26 points. But Mikal tried to make him work, especially in the second half, for every point he got,” Brown said after the game. “… You’re gonna have to keep working and give multiple efforts and the team defense behind him is gonna have to be great in order to even think you’re gonna slow him down, because he’s a great player.

“But Mikal did what he could, as well as everybody else behind him. And then on top of that, Mikal hit some big shots for us down the stretch, especially when we looked a little discombobulated offensively. He got to his spot and knocked down some big shots. So great game on both ends of the floor for Mikal.”

Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 90 points in Game 2. Towns (20 points, 10 rebounds) had his 13th playoff game of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. That ranks fourth in Knicks franchise history. Towns also had seven assists. He continues to be a hub for the Knicks on the perimeter.

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Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Emilio Pagán facing lengthy absence, Braves get Raisel Iglesias back

In this week's Closer Report, Raisel Iglesias returned and got to work right away with game action in his first day back. Devin Williams seems to be turning things around. And Rico Garcia is stepping in for the injured Ryan Helsley in Baltimore. All that and more as we break down the last week in saves around baseball.

⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

MLB: New York Yankees at San Francisco Giants
Fantasy Baseball Steals Report: Yankees stick with José Caballero, Marlins replace Agustín Ramírez
Who is stealing bases, who isn’t, why, and how.

2026 Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

▶ Tier 1

Mason Miller - San Diego Padres
Cade Smith - Cleveland Guardians
Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Jhoan Duran - Philadelphia Phillies
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox

Miller struck out the side against the White Sox on Sunday for his 11th save of the season, then collected two more strikeouts in a non-save situation against the Giants on Wednesday. He sports a 1.04 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, and an incredible 34/3 K/BB ratio across 17 1/3 innings.

Smith worked a clean four-out save against the Athletics on Friday, then struck out the side for his ninth save on Wednesday against the Royals. He's allowed one run over his last ten appearances. He holds a 3.31 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts across 16 1/3 innings.

After Muñoz put together a couple of clean outings, he blew a save against the Royals on Saturday. He recovered with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts on Monday for a save, then took the loss on Tuesday after giving up a solo homer in a tie game. The 27-year-old right-hander continues to collect strikeouts in bunches. And his underlying numbers suggest he's still one of the top closers to roster over the rest of the season.

Duran was activated from the injured list on Tuesday and made an appearance against the Athletics with a nine-run lead to shake off some rust. He allowed one run on three walks and a hit while striking out two. The extended outing made him unavailable for the save chance on Wednesday against the A's, with Brad Keller picking up his third save. But expect Keller to take a back seat for regular closing duties now that Duran is back.

Chapman continues to do his thing. He locked down a pair of saves this week against the Astros and Tigers. The 38-year-old left-hander is up to seven saves with a 0.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts across 11 2/3 innings.

▶ Tier 2

Raisel Iglesias- Atlanta Braves
Riley O'Brien - St. Louis Cardinals
Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
David Bednar - New York Yankees
Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Bryan Baker - Tampa Bay Rays
Paul Sewald - Arizona Diamondbacks

The Braves put Iglesias right back on the mound for a save situation on Tuesday after coming off the injured list. He struck out two in a scoreless frame to convert his sixth save and has yet to allow an earned run over 9 2/3 innings. His return shifts Robert Suarez back into a setup role. Suarez picked up a win with a scoreless eighth inning on Tuesday.

O'Brien surrendered two runs but held on to convert a save against the Dodgers on Saturday. He then needed just three pitches to record the final two outs on Monday against the Brewers for his tenth save to go with a 2.12 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and a 19/1 K/BB ratio across 17 innings.

Palencia made his return from the injured list this week. He made his first appearance back on Tuesday in the ninth inning of a tie game against the Reds, holding them scoreless before the game went to extras. Meanwhile, Bednar pitched a scoreless inning against the Orioles on Sunday, then converted a five-out save against the Rangers on Tuesday while giving up one run. He's not walking batters or giving up home runs. It's a .383 BABIP that's the culprit of any troubles for Bednar.

Scott struck out two in a clean inning against the Cardinals on Sunday for his second save, then worked a perfect frame against the Astros in a non-save situation on Wednesday. He should continue to see most save situations for an extended time with Edwin Díaz out for a few months. Alex Vesia has also been incredibly effective, but also throws from the left side.

Baker has turned into one of the better closers so far this season. He locked down two more saves for the Rays this week, giving him nine with a 2.45 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts across 14 2/3 innings. The Rays will still play the matchup game when it suits them best, such as Wednesday, with Baker pitching the eighth and the left-handed Ian Seymour getting the ninth for the save. But Baker has solidified himself as the go-to option to close out games.

Sewald made one appearance in a non-save situation this week, striking out the only two batters he faced. The 35-year-old right-hander remains at seven saves with a 3.86 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts across 11 2/3 innings.

▶ Tier 3

Devin Williams - New York Mets
Louis Varland - Toronto Blue Jays
Kenley Jansen - Detroit Tigers
Seranthony Domínguez - Chicago White Sox
Abner Uribe - Milwaukee Brewers
Lucas Erceg - Kansas City Royals
Rico Garcia - Baltimore Orioles

It's a better stretch for Williams now as he's put together a couple of good weeks on the mound. He made four scoreless appearances, including three clean saves. He's now up to five with a 6.17 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts across 11 2/3 innings.

Varland made three appearances in non-save situations as the Blue Jays saw no save chances. He remains in line for saves ahead of Jeff Hoffman, who continues to work primarily in the seventh inning. Varland has posted a 0.48 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts across 18 2/3 innings.

Jansen was held out for a few games as he was dealing with some groin soreness. He returned on Monday with a scoreless inning against the Red Sox. Kyle Finnegan had converted his first save in place of Jansen. Meanwhile, Will Vest landed on the 15-day injured list with right forearm inflammation.

Domínguez made one appearance this week, stepping in for the final two outs against the Padres on Saturday for his eighth save. In Milwaukee, Uribe worked a scoreless inning against the Nationals on Saturday for his third save. He then gave up one run in a non-save situation against the Cardinals on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Trevor Megill continues to work in a setup role. He pitched a clean inning behind Uribe on Saturday, then gave up a run on Wednesday.

Erceg had a big week on the mound, collecting three saves for the Royals to give him ten on the season. He's made seven straight scoreless outings, striking out nine in that span. Erceg's role got a bit more secure on Wednesday as Carlos Estévez departed his rehab outing with shoulder discomfort.

Garcia is having an incredible season so far. The one hit he's allowed also represents the only earned run he's given up, a solo homer on April 21. He'll be filling in as closer in Ryan Helsley's absence. Helsley landed on the 15-day injured list last week with right elbow inflammation. He could begin a throwing program later this week, but there's no clear timetable for a return. Garcia should be added across all leagues for those looking for saves. Andrew Kittredge has struggled over his last couple of outings, likely taking him out of the running for saves.

▶ Tier 4

Jacob Latz - Texas Rangers
Gregory Soto/Dennis Santana - Pittsburgh Pirates
Gus Varland - Washington Nationals
Jack Perkins - Athletics
Tyler Phillips - Miami Marlins
Tony Santillan/Graham Ashcraft - Cincinnati Reds
Bryan King - Houston Astros

Latz has settled in as the Rangers' closer. He picked up his third save with a clean inning against the Tigers on Friday, then pitched the ninth with a five-run lead on Wednesday against the Yankees. The 30-year-old left-hander now has a 0.96 ERA, 0.48 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts across 18 2/3 innings.

Soto recorded four clean outs with two strikeouts on Sunday against the Reds to fall in line for a win, then closed out Wednesday's game with a one-run lead against the Diamondbacks for his second save of the season. This came one day after Santana surrendered two runs to Arizona. Soto has been the better of the two, posting a 1.50 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts over 18 innings.

Varland picked up a save against the Mets last Thursday, then gave up a run on Sunday before Richard Lovelady stepped in for the final two outs against the Brewers. Varland remains the only reliever worth rostering if chasing saves on the Nationals. He holds a 3.38 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts over 13 1/3 innings.

Perkins has been the best reliever in the Athletics' bullpen and seemed to be settling in as the team's closer until pitching the seventh and giving up four runs, two earned, to get charged with a blown save on Wednesday. He had converted his third save against the Royals last Thursday. Still, he's probably the reliever to roster in Sacramento. Perkins owns a 3.68 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts across 14 2/3 innings.

No save chances for the Marlins this week, but Phillips was used for three scoreless innings against the Phillies on Sunday. There's still no timetable for a return for Pete Fairbanks.

Emilio Pagán was carted off with a severe hamstring injury on Tuesday against the Cubs. He suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that is going to sideline him anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Ashcraft got the first save chance in his absence on Wednesday and blew a two-run lead to Chicago. Santillan was unavailable after pitching in two of the last three days. Santillan hasn't been quite as effective as he's been over the last couple of years, displaying diminished velocity and a higher walk rate. Expect him and Ashcraft to be in the mix for save chances.

▶ Tier 5

Kaleb Killian/Ryan Walker/Keaton Winn - San Francisco Giants
Victor Vodnik - Colorado Rockies
Eric Orze/Justin Topa - Minnesota Twins
Sam Bachman/Ryan Zeferjahn - Los Angeles Angels

The Giants' situation is nearing untouchable territory. Walker was charged with two blown saves this week, then gave up two more runs on Wednesday against the Padres. It was Kilian who converted the team's only save this week and probably the only reliever worth speculating on in San Francisco. And in Anaheim, the Angels activated Kirby Yates on Monday, but held him out of Tuesday's game with a one-run lead and Wednesday's game with a six-run lead. It seems they are waiting to give him some lower-leverage work before giving him a chance to work into save situations.

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The Kids Are Alright: Young Ducks Shine in Golden Knights 3-1 Loss

This year, the Vegas Golden Knights earned the reputation as the best third-period team in the league— a silver lining in an otherwise disappointing season. Of course, this was in part due to their slow starts, but during the regular season, the end often justifies the means. After two poor showings against the Anaheim Ducks, this can no longer be the case; the Golden Knights are extremely fortunate to escape with a series split.

In Game One, Carter Hart kept Vegas in the game until their stars arrived. Hart tried to do the same in Game 2; however, despite a 25-save performance, the scoring never came, and the Golden Knights lost 3-1.

“I think we’re always concerned, no matter what,” said head coach John Tortorella following the game. “Win or lose, coaches are always looking to pronounce the good things and work on the bad things. Yeah, we still have some things to work on.”

The first period was barely played at 5-on-5; both teams combined for over eight minutes of power play time. The Ducks possessed the lion’s share of that power play time, and finished the period with a commanding 13-4 edge in shots. However, despite being thoroughly outshot and generating just four scoring chances against Anaheim’s 12, the Golden Knights escaped the first period and entered intermission tied at zero. 

In the second period, the Golden Knights finally strung together some decent shifts and outshot the Ducks 11-7. However, the Ducks were again the better offensive team, generating 20 scoring chances against the Golden Knights’ five.

The Ducks finally broke the ice at 11:23 in the second. Jeffrey Viel redirected Jackson LaCombe’s stretch pass into the zone, pressured Kaedan Korczak into a turnover, and got to Ryan Poehling’s dump-in. Viel found Beckett Sennecke all alone atop the blue paint, and the Calder finalist snapped a shot past Hart’s outstretched glove.

The Ducks doubled their lead at 6:36 in the third period. Leo Carlsson sprung Chris Kreider on a partial breakaway, but Noah Hanifin pushed Kreider to the outside. Kreider curled up and left the puck for Troy Terry, who danced around Rasmus Andersson and found Carlsson back-door.

The Golden Knights finally found their footing and outshot the Ducks 10-8 in the third. They generated 14 scoring chances against Anaheim’s three and controlled 59.48% of the expected goal share.

However, despite the offensive surge, the Golden Knights couldn’t solve Lukáš Dostál. They pulled Carter Hart for the extra attacker with just under four minutes remaining in regulation, but didn’t manage a single shot on goal. Following a Ducks clear, they turned the puck over at center ice, and Jansen Harkins hit the empty net.

The Golden Knights snapped Lukáš Dostál’s shutout bid on a late power play opportunity with just six seconds remaining in regulation. Jack Eichel got a shot off, and Mark Stone redirected it home for his third goal of the postseason.

“We’re going to find our way and try to play our best game. That certainly hasn’t happened in this series. We’ll find our way and get there,” said Tortorella following the 3-1 loss. “They split here; we’ve got to go in and try to get a game out of there. We’re going to keep our composure and get about our business.”

Three Takeaways of the Knight

1. John Tortorella shook up his top-nine in the third period. He moved Mark Stone back up with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev, and put William Karlsson with Brett Howden and Mitch Marner. Pavel Dorofeyev slid down to the third line with Tomáš Hertl and Keegan Kolesar.

2. The penalty kill was, once again, a difference-maker for the Golden Knights. In the first period, the Ducks were on the power play for 6:19 consecutively, including an extended 5-on-3. The Golden Knights only allowed two shot attempts during the 1:38 5-on-3.

“Outstanding,” Tortorella said of his penalty kill postgame. “It kind of screws us up— we want to try to get a good start, and we’re sitting in the box. I think that affects things as you’re trying to get through that first period. But the penalty kill has been fantastic, and that was a key part of the game. We just couldn’t make it stand.”

3. The Golden Knights won’t win this series unless they can figure out how to generate sustained offensive zone pressure. They squeaked out a controversial win last game, but they can’t plan on that happening again. For two periods tonight, they looked like they were hanging on for dear life; they would finally clear the puck, and Anaheim would reset by the time the Golden Knights swapped their tired players for fresh ones.

“We need to have the puck more in their end,” said Tortorella. “A lot of times, we’re one and done. We need to create more pressure there, and I think that will hurt their attack.”

Read More: Golden Knights Drop Fourth Straight Game 2 Since Last Season, Head To Anaheim Tied 1-1

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Wembanyama shines as Spurs and Knicks win in play-offs

Victor Wembanyama celebrates on the sideline as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in game two of their NBA play-off series in May 2026
Victor Wembanyama recently became the NBA's first unanimous winner of the defensive player of the year award [Getty Images]

Victor Wembanyama shone as the San Antonio Spurs drew level in the NBA's Conference semi-finals while the New York Knicks edged into a 2-0 lead.

The Spurs are seeded second in the Western Conference and bounced back from a home loss in game one to thump the Minnesota Timberwolves 133-95 on Wednesday and level the best-of-seven series.

"I'm expecting this kind of response from myself, from my team-mates, so I'm not surprised by any means," said Wembanyama.

The France international added: "There is some ego. They assaulted us in game one, we wanted to assault [them] in game two."

This season's defensive player of the year claimed 19 points and 15 rebounds as the Spurs romped into a 59-35 lead by half-time - Minnesota's lowest-scoring half all season.

It was San Antonio's highest NBA play-off score since 1983 and they have not lost back-to-back games since 11 and 13 January, a stretch of 49 games.

Jalen Brunson led a late charge as the Knicks, third seed in the Eastern Conference, clinched a 108-102 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Philadelphia's Joel Embiid was ruled out hours before tip-off because of right hip soreness and a right ankle sprain.

The game featured 25 lead changes - the most for a play-off game in 11 years.

Brunson scored eight of his 26 points in the fourth quarter as the Knicks pulled clear while Karl-Anthony Towns added 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Tyrese Maxey scored a team-high 26 points for the 76ers, who hope Embiid can recover in time for game three in Philadelphia on Friday.

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Marcus Semien spearheads Mets' offensive onslaught: 'That's a really good sign'

Juan Soto may have gotten the Mets on the board first with his leadoff home run to start the game against the Colorado Rockies, but it was Marcus Semien who had the best night offensively for New York.

Finishing 4-for-5, including a double and home run of his own (just his second of the season), Semien’s most productive game at the plate this season helped the Mets beat the Rockies, 10-5, and give them their third win in a row.

Semien’s big night came after he began the road trip 2-for-15 and in the middle of a rough start to his first season in New York after getting traded from the Texas Rangers during the offseason. 

So, not only was his performance important for the Mets, it served as a reminder of what kind of player Semien can be when he’s at his best.

“Just trying to stay locked in. Keep it simple, really,” Semien said. “If they throw the ball down the middle, keep it simple and just keep working on what I’m working on in the cage to get my swing going.”

Up until this point, Semien’s swing hadn’t been doing much for New York. In fact, he entered Wednesday’s game with a paltry .208/.259/.272 slash line and was constantly hitting the ball on the ground. So seeing the 14-year veteran get balls in the air again and swing the bat with authority is certainly a sight for sore eyes.

Manager Carlos Mendoza has seen Semien play for a long time and knows when he’s hitting the ball like he did on Wednesday, he’s locking in.

“He was aggressive early in the zone,” Mendoza said. “He was short to the ball, he was able to use the whole field, he drove the ball, especially that homer to the pull side the last at-bat. That’s a really good sign. 

“I’ve seen this guy play for a long time and when he’s going well he’s doing that. He’s an aggressive hitter, he’s going to attack pitches and like I said it was just good to see him have results.”

The four-hit night raised Semien’s batting average more than 20 points, from .208 to .231. His OPS also took a big jump, going from .531 to .602. 

There’s still a lot of work to be done to restore Semien’s first season in Queens and get him back to his career OPS of .753, but what better place to get it going than Coors Field where the Mets play one more game before leaving town.

“You want to have good games in this ballpark,” Semien said. “It’s a good place to hit, it’s a big outfield and the ball carries.”

Sure, it might be harder than ever for Semien to recapture his former glory days after two full seasons with an OPS below .700 with the Rangers, but hard work doesn’t scare Semien.

“It’s been a tough stretch for him but the guy is as consistent as anyone in there,” Mendoza said. “He works extremely hard and I’m glad that he finally got a really good game for us.”

"Great player, great hitter," Soto said about Semien. "I feel like he’s getting his rhythm back so I can’t wait to keep seeing him doing that."

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Knicks take 2-0 lead into game 3 against the 76ers

New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference)

Philadelphia; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT

LINE: Knicks -1.5; over/under is 213.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Knicks lead series 2-0

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks visit the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference second round with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 108-102 on Wednesday, led by 26 points from Jalen Brunson. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 26.

The 76ers are 27-25 against Eastern Conference opponents. Philadelphia ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference with 11.8 offensive rebounds per game led by Andre Drummond averaging 3.2.

The Knicks are 14-3 against the rest of their division. New York is seventh in the NBA with 45.6 rebounds per game. Karl-Anthony Towns leads the Knicks with 11.9.

The 76ers are shooting 46.2% from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points higher than the 46.0% the Knicks allow to opponents. The Knicks average 116.5 points per game, 0.4 more than the 116.1 the 76ers give up to opponents.

TOP PERFORMERS: Maxey is averaging 28.3 points, 6.6 assists and 1.9 steals for the 76ers. Paul George is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Brunson is averaging 26 points and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 17.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 5-5, averaging 105.2 points, 40.0 rebounds, 21.5 assists, 6.0 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.7 points per game.

Knicks: 7-3, averaging 116.0 points, 42.7 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.7 points.

INJURIES: 76ers: Joel Embiid: out (ankle).

Knicks: Mitchell Robinson: out (illness).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.