19-21 – Rangers love their mothers, beat Cubs 3-0

May 10, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) walks off the mound after collecting his 1,900 career strikeout during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

The Texas Rangers scored three runs while the Chicago Cubs scored zero runs.

We’ve reached peak baseball at The Shed with two teams playing a full nine inning game in which neither team had a hit with RISP.

The good news is it was only a nine inning game without a hit with RISP for either team because the Rangers scored via a ground out and then Josh Jung singled and Evan Carter homered with two outs in the bottom of the eighth for some much-appreciated insurance.

Further good news, the victory was Texas’ second shutout victory in a row against the NL’s top club and it also means the Rangers are now on the other side of the hellish 40-game slate MLB saddled them with to begin the season.

Through a quarter of the 2026 season, the Rangers are 19-21. Is that ideal? No. But all things considered, it’s not the worst result. Now Texas can test itself against some not-league best teams and perhaps they can rise in the otherwise mid-as-all-heck American League.

P.S. Tell your mom you love them.

Player of the Game: Today’s starter Jacob deGrom was deGreat as the superlative veteran produced seven shutout innings allowing just three hits and zero walks to go along with ten strikeouts as he reached the 1,900 K mark for his career.

If you were to draw up an ideal outing, it would look a lot like deGrom’s from today.

Up Next: The Rangers welcome the Diamondbacks to Arlington as RHP Nathan Eovaldi will attempt to reenact Game 5 of the 2023 World Series against RHP Michael Soroka for Arizona.

The first pitch in Monday’s series opener is scheduled for 7:05 pm CDT and you can watch it on the Rangers Sports Network.

Golden Knights captain Mark Stone to miss Game 4 vs Ducks with injury

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone will miss Game 4 of their second-round playoff series against Anaheim on Sunday night with an undisclosed injury.

Coach John Tortorella said veteran Brandon Saad will draw in for Stone, who got hurt in the first period of Game 3 on Friday.

Stone attempted to return to the game, but couldn't do it after apparently injuring some part of his lower body while chasing down a puck in the first period of the Knights' 6-2 victory. Vegas leads the series 2-1.

Stone had picked up a first-period assist on Shea Theodore's opening goal in the rout, giving him three goals and four assists in nine playoff games this season.

The 33-year-old Stone scored 73 points in 60 games for Vegas during the regular season. The two-way forward has been a mainstay for the Golden Knights since late in the 2018-19 season, becoming the first captain in club history before leading Vegas to the 2023 Stanley Cup championship with a hat trick in the clinching victory.

Saad scored nine points in 49 games for Vegas during the regular season. Game 4 will be his first appearance in this postseason, but the well-traveled forward played in eight postseason games for the Golden Knights last spring.

“Playoff hockey is the best time of the year, so I'm excited to get in and help the team win,” Saad told reporters at the pregame skate.

Tortorella chose Saad over Reilly Smith, who played all six games of Vegas' first-round series victory over Utah before being scratched for every game against Anaheim.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

NBA DRAFT LOTTERY INSTANT REACTION MOCK DRAFT

The NBA Draft Lottery is now behind us and while I think I can speak for EVERYONE when I say that I wish it went a little differently, we have to look toward the future. I’ll be linking all of our in-depth draft profiles to each player (we worked really hard on these, after all) so let’s break down who I think each lottery team will select in this year’s NBA Draft now that we know the order.


# 1 – Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa

There’s an argument for a couple of guys to go #1 overall, but what isn’t a debate is which one has the least amount of concerns, and that would be AJ Dybantsa. It would have been really nice for the BYU product to make his way to Utah for the Jazzmen, and it even looked like he was hoping that we’d get the #1 spot, but his fit in Washington would be seamless.

Bilal Coulibaly has not developed offensively during his time in the league, so Dybantsa will take the starting SF spot in DC, and in doing so solidifies their future. Trae Young and Anthony Davis will be fun additions for the upcoming season(s) but once Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr, and Dybantsa are ready to take the leap, we may finally see a Wizards team that wins 50 games for the first time in over 50 years.

#2 – Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson

Just an incredible talent: the most NBA ready scorer in this year’s draft, pro-level offensive skillset, and undeniably a walking bucket. His only concern this entire year was his durability.

He was plagued with muscle cramps for the majority of his time at Kansas, but recently it was reported that the cause of all that cramping was high does of creatine. Better late than never, I say. I have no other choice but to be hopeful that the issue is now behind him, and if it truly is, a backcourt of Keyonte George and Darryn Peterson is enough to make my mouth water.

# 3 – Memphis Grizzlies: Cam Boozer

The Memphis Grizzlies are… struggling as of late. After trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Jazz this year, their role players not developing the way they hoped, and the impending trade of Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies just need a star level talent in the building.

After winning the College Player of the Year with averages of 22/10/4 it would be safe to say that Cam Boozer is one of those star level talents. After watching Nikola Jokic manhandle the league for the last few years it’s hard to imagine a world where Boozer doesn’t succeed. Now I’m not saying that he’ll be a future 3x MVP, but at bare minimum I think Memphis has an All-Star and potential perineal All-NBA level player on their horizon.

#4 – Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson

There are questions about Wilson’s fit in a modern NBA offense, but there’s a reason that he’s drawing Kevin Garnett comparisons. His defensive tenacity is unmatched, he stuffs the stat sheet, and he’s a very underrated playmaker.

Much like Memphis, Chicago is in need of true star power, and while I understand being a little shy to select a player with huge defensive upside but questionable offensive skillset again (*cough* Patrick Williams *cough*), Caleb Wilson is no Patrick Williams. Paring Wilson up with what we’ve seen from Matas Buzelis could be very dangerous in the future, and Chicago should be joyous.

#5 – Los Angeles Clippers: Mikel Brown Jr.

The Clippers seem to be heading towards a Kawhi Leonard divorce this offseason, and while the defensive concerns of the two guards you traded for in Darius Garland and Benedict Mathurin are very visible, it would make sense here to draft a more reliable defender in Mikel Brown Jr.

Is he the next Gary Payton? No. Is he going to be a traffic cone on defense? Also no. He has the ability to fill up the stat sheet, have great shooting splits, and if it goes as well as I want it to for him, he could very well be the “face” of the Clippers franchise for the next decade.

#6 – Brooklyn Nets: Darius Acuff

The Brooklyn Nets have some sins to atone for after drafting 5 decent to unplayable Rookies last year. Being in a bigger market means that you have to and get a superstar, and Darius Acuff could certainly be that.

He has his problems, sure. He’s not an All-World defender, but he’s undeniably one of the best offensive engines that the college game has seen from a guard in quite some time. Statistically Acuff had the greatest season that any Coach Calipari guard has ever had, and I don’t think I have to tell you how insane that is. In my opinion they should draft the obvious offensive superstar, and figure out the rest later.

#7 – Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings

The Kings have been stuck in basketball purgatory for a while now, and I think it’s time that they just start fresh. Get rid of EVERYONE and draft a high upside guy like Flemings.

I’ve written about my concerns with him and his consistency, but he certainly knows how to put the ball in the hoop. On top of that he’s a very good playmaker and rebounds well for his position. It may be a few years before they could compete given the history of this franchise, but I could see a world where a Flemings led Kings team is back in the playoffs just as long as they’re able to surround him with the right tools.

#8 – Atlanta Hawks: Brayden Burries

The further down we go on this list the less upside there is for players, and that’s why teams that are getting ready to take a leap need to draft talent that will help you win immediately. Enter: Brayden Burries.

He isn’t a superhuman athlete or a top 3 playmaker in the draft, but he is a reliable option at the SG position AND knows how to play a role. Adding someone like him to the Jalen Johnson Hawks could be really interesting in the near future.

#9 – Dallas Mavericks: Keaton Wagler

After winning the Rookie of the Year, the Dallas Mavericks are looking to add more talent to Cooper Flag and Wagler could help in many departments.

He’s got great size, he does a little bit of everything, he’s efficient, and he can play either guard position. In the immediate he would be a great aid to a healthy Kyrie Irving in the Mavericks’ backcourt, and in the future he could be a great facilitator next to Cooper Flagg.

#10 – Milwaukee Bucks: Hannes Steinbach

Hannes has shot up a lot of people’s draft boards as of late and for very good reason. He’s an elite rebounder, he’s got great shooting splits, and he’s a very solid defender despite his lack of vertical athleticism.

He’s certainly not going to be mistaken for fellow German Dirk Nowitzki anytime soon offensively, but he has shown flashes of offensive ability and his shooting mechanics are very solid. He would be a fantastic piece to add to this young core, and if Giannis stays, he would be a great sidekick in the frontcourt.

#11 – Golden State Warriors: Labaron Philon Jr.

A Steph Curry-less future is approaching in Golden State so now it’s time to consider a replacement. Steph Curry would still run the show for a few years, but after that? Labaron Philon could be a guy in The Bay.

He was great during his second season at Alabama averaging 22 points and 5 assists a night. He was hyper efficient as well with 50/39/79 shooting splits. His defensive effort/ability and his frame are cause for concern but can we think of any other team/front office that’s been able to overcome a short/defensive liability point guard before??? Oh, that’s right.

#12 – Oklahoma City Thunder: Yaxel Lendeborg

Yaxel has slipped in many mock drafts for one simple reason: his age. He was part of the Cade Cunningham high school draft class and while Cade was in MVP considerations this year and is leading his team (potentially) to the NBA Finals, Lendeborg is just now becoming a professional.

The ONE team that age couldn’t possibly matter to is the Oklahoma City Thunder. They will always need players that are ready to contribute right away, and Lendeborg can certainly do that. Yaxel does a little bit of everything on the floor and if there’s one thing that OKC loves, it’s a do it all forward.

#13 – Miami Heat: Cameron Carr

There have been rumors that the Heat will be moving on from Tyler Herro this offseason in favor of “Big Game Hunting”, so they could very easily replace that archetype with Cameron Carr.

He averaged nearly 19 points per game on very solid shooting splits. He isn’t a great defender, but he does rebound well for his position. I believe that the Heat like what Herro has to offer their team in terms of style, but if they wanted to keep a similar scheme while getting cheaper in the process, I think that Carr could be a great selection.

#14 – Charlotte Hornets: Nate Ament

Ament arguably had the longest fall from grace in this draft process, but his upside is still as present as ever. He had an up-and-down season at Tennessee but a 6’10” forward who can do what he can is hard to pass on.

The Charlotte Hornets already have a lot of talent so it isn’t super important that he hit on this pick here, and Ament is one of those players that you almost have to take a chance on.


With the NBA Draft Lottery coming to a close that just means we’re one step closer to the NBA season returning, and I couldn’t be more pumped. Who do you think the Jazz will draft? What are you expecting from the other teams? Sound off in the comments!

Be kind. Tell somebody you love them.

Twins 5, Guardians 4: World’s worst bullpen wins bullpen game

May 10, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Kendry Rojas (60) throws a pitch during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images | David Dermer-Imagn Images

Before any game action today, a quick shoutout to all the Moms out there this 2026 Mother’s Day! I just returned from a trip with my mom to see the Twins in Washington, D.C.! I calculated that she has now seen 10 baseball stadiums (one I’ll never get to—Metropolitan Stadium). It probably helps to have a baseball die-hard son (haha). I pity the fool who doesn’t think of their mother today…

Baseball-wise, the Minnesota Twins—for the second consecutive Lord’s Day—threw their rag-tag bullpen assemblage out to the mound from “Play Ball!” and somehow again came away with a victory.

The Twins struck first in the top of the third inning when a Kody Clemens double was pushed to third base by a Brooks Lee single—and then Kody scampered home on a Guardians SP Gavin Williams heave to the backstop.

The lead didn’t last long—a Jose Ramirez (who else) single scored Brayan Rocchio in B3—but MN second-man-out-of-the-pen Kendry Rojas induced an Angel Martinez fly out to the warning track with the bases loaded. Phew!

In T4, a Ryan Jeffers double and an Austin Martin single seemed to be cooking up more runs—until a Luke Keaschall GIDP doused the fire.

Fortunately, T5 brought more action—and actual scoreboard movement! Clemens again started the rally with a 2B, then scored this time on a Lee 1B. Royce Lewis then chipped in a 2B of his own to score Lee. After two outs, it looked as if the inning might fizzle with nothing further—until Josh Bell cracked a 1B plating Lewis and Martin thought “hey, that was fun—let me try it!”. 5-1 Twins!

After Rojas departed mid-B5 after some really solid (if wild) work, RP Travis Adams’ two-out BB came back to haunt on a Daniel Schneeman RBI single. Once again, however, a Twins reliever wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the damage to a minimum. 5-2 Twins.

A Chase DeLauter 1B pulled CLE to within two runs, but Anthony Banda put down further rebellion. 5-3 Twins.

As they are wont to do, Cleveland continued chipping away—this time a DeLauter RBI ground-out in B8. Yet again, this time it was Luis Garcia dousing a RISP threat. 5-4 Twins.

That is where the score would stay, with Yoendrys Gomez (who I’m sure you’ll remember on the ‘26 Sporcle roster quiz) recording the save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Your Final: Minnesota Twins 5, Cleveland Guardians 4

For the first time since September of 2023, the Twins have won a series at Progressive Field. The combination of Morris, Rojas, Adams, Banda, Garcia, & Gomez held Cleveland to 4 runs. While perhaps unremarkable by other clubs’ standards, after a week of MN bullpen blow-ups it was truly a remarkable thing to behold.

Go call your Mom and tell her the Twins won!

Zach’s Zealot
  • Clemens: 3-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 1 SB (3B), generally just the offensive instigator all afternoon!
Zach’s Zombie
  • Keaschall: 0-4, 1 K, GIDP, .612 OPS on the season
Egg-cellent Elocution
Who’s Got Next
  • Off Monday; returning home to host the Miami Marlins (Tues. night, Wed. night, Thurs. afternoon).

Guardians Drop the Series Against the Twins

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 10: Brayan Rocchio #4 of the Cleveland Guardians doubles on a sharp fly ball to center field in the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field on May 10, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Russell Lee Verlinger/Cleveland Guardians/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today’s Mother’s Day matinee gave us fans the first look at the newest Cleveland Guardian, Patrick Bailey and Tony Arnerich as a manager. Bailey got his first start as catcher for the club, hitting 8th and catching for Gavin Williams. Stephen Vogt was unable to manage today’s game due to illness, prompting Arnerich to step in. Gavin came into today’s game 5-2. Williams had a textbook start to the game, only allowing one run through the fourth inning. On a day where José is DH-ing, it is always nice when the defense still backs up the pitcher. In the top of the fourth, the Guards turned an impressive double play to retire the side.

The fifth inning saw a mini implosion from Gavin. In the top of the fifth, Gavin gave up 6 hits, allowing the Minnesota Twins to score 4 runs. He went 1-2-3 in the sixth inning, finishing his day 6.0IP/10H/5R/1BB/6K on 101 pitches.

Cleveland offense peppered in some runs, once again struggling to capitalize with runners in scoring position. Going into the bottom of the seventh, the team was 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded a base runner in every inning except the first.

The Guardians’ first run came in the bottom of the third on three single. Brayan Rocchio hit a lead off single to right. Chase DeLauter reached on a single and was follow up by José Ramírez hitting a RBI single.

In the bottom of the fifth, with two outs, the offense pieced together another run. Kyle Manzardo drew a walk and scored on back-to-back singles from Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martínez. Travis Bazzana drew a walk, loading them up for nothing to happen. Patrick Bailey struck out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, yet another patch work run crossed the plate. Much like the third inning, Brayan Rocchio and Chase DeLauter manufactured a run on back-to-back singles.

Patrick Bailey did get to flash his highly touted defense in the top of the seventh. Trevor Larnach was caught stealing 2nd base with a throw from Bailey to Rocchio.

Franco Aleman made his major league debut only a few days after his call up and proved to be everything he was expected to be. Aleman pitched two innings of much needed scoreless baseball. Aleman allowed two hits and struck out a batter.

The Guardians continued their piecemeal scoring attempt in the bottom of the eighth. Arnerich made the call to pinch hit David Fry for Patrick Bailey as the Twins turn to RHP Luis García. It was the right choice as David Fry hit a lead off single. Brayan Rocchio continued his hot hitting day, slapping another single of his own. Rocchio went 4-for-4 on the day with 3 singles and a double. A still struggling Steven Kwan laid down a perfect sac bunt to move both runners to scoring position. CDL hit into a ground out to first, but it allowed Fry to score, bringing the Guards within one run.

Tim Herrin was tasked with closing the game. The lefty got himself in a bit of a high leverage situation, but shut it down and maintained his 0.00 ERA. A single, sac bunt, and stolen base had the runner on third with two outs and Byron Buxton up to bat. Arenrich learned from last night’s Buxton beat down and wisely intentionally walked the Twin. The final out, Victor Caratini, flied out to Chase DeLauter who caught the ball on the warning track.

Schneemann, Angel, and Bazz went 1-2-3 to end the game, adding another loss to the Guardians’ record against one of the worst bullpens in the American League. The Guardians scored 4 runs on 11 hits and 6 walks.

Ranking the top 25 prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft: Who's No. 1?

The Washington Wizards officially won the 2026 NBA draft lottery with the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls picking right after that.

USA TODAY's instant reaction mock draft showed projections for where each player is predicted to land during the first round at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on June 23. But outside of the biggest names like AJ Dybantsa as well as Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson, who are the other most important prospects to know?

These rankings generally reflect how front offices may view these players, though the order is likely to change after the 2026 NBA Combine concludes in Chicago. After these events, scouts will have a better idea of athleticism and true measurements from each prospect while also watching key performances in five-on-five scrimmages.

Unlike a mock draft, these rankings also do not reflect team fit or need but rather just a general range for each player.

2026 NBA Draft Big Board

The following rankings are based on a blend of consensus projections from trusted evaluators as well as impact metrics such as box plus-minus and publicly available analytic models.

1. AJ Dybantsa

  • TEAM: BYU
  • POSITION: Wing
  • BORN: Massachusetts
  • HEIGHT: 6-9
  • DRAFT AGE: 19

2. Cameron Boozer

  • TEAM: Duke
  • POSITION: Forward
  • BORN: Florida
  • HEIGHT: 6-9
  • DRAFT AGE: 18

3. Darryn Peterson

  • TEAM: Kansas
  • POSITION: Guard
  • BORN: Ohio
  • HEIGHT: 6-5
  • DRAFT AGE: 19

4. Caleb Wilson

  • TEAM: North Carolina
  • POSITION: Big
  • BORN: Georgia
  • HEIGHT: 6-10
  • DRAFT AGE: 19

5. Keaton Wagler

  • TEAM: Illinois
  • POSITION: Wing
  • BORN: Kansas
  • HEIGHT: 6-6
  • DRAFT AGE: 19

6. Kingston Flemings

  • TEAM: Houston
  • POSITION: Guard
  • BORN: Texas
  • HEIGHT: 6-4
  • DRAFT AGE: 19

7. Darius Acuff Jr.

  • TEAM: Arkansas
  • POSITION: Guard
  • BORN: Michigan
  • HEIGHT: 6-3
  • DRAFT AGE: 19

8. Brayden Burries

  • TEAM: Arizona
  • POSITION: Guard
  • BORN: California
  • HEIGHT: 6-4
  • DRAFT AGE: 20

9. Yaxel Lendeborg

  • TEAM: Michigan
  • POSITION: Forward
  • BORN: New Jersey
  • HEIGHT: 6-9
  • DRAFT AGE: 23

10. Mikel Brown Jr.

  • TEAM: Louisville
  • POSITION: Guard
  • BORN: Florida
  • HEIGHT: 6-5
  • DRAFT AGE: 20

11. Aday Mara

  • TEAM: Michigan
  • POSITION: Big
  • BORN: Spain
  • HEIGHT: 7-3
  • DRAFT AGE: 21

12. Labaron Philon

  • TEAM: Alabama
  • POSITION: Guard
  • BORN: Alabama
  • HEIGHT: 6-4
  • DRAFT AGE: 20

13. Nate Ament

  • TEAM: Tennessee
  • POSITION: Wing
  • BORN: Virginia
  • HEIGHT: 6-10
  • DRAFT AGE: 19

14. Hannes Steinbach

  • TEAM: Washington
  • POSITION: Big
  • BORN: Germany
  • HEIGHT: 6-11
  • DRAFT AGE: 20

15. Morez Johnson Jr.

  • TEAM: Michigan
  • POSITION: Big
  • BORN: Illinois
  • HEIGHT: 6-9
  • DRAFT AGE: 20

16. Bennett Stirtz

  • TEAM: Iowa
  • POSITION: Guard
  • BORN: Missouri
  • HEIGHT: 6-4
  • DRAFT AGE: 22

17. Karim Lopez

  • TEAM: International (Australia)
  • POSITION: Forward
  • BORN: Mexico
  • HEIGHT: 6-8
  • DRAFT AGE: 19

18. Cameron Carr

  • TEAM: Baylor
  • POSITION: Wing
  • BORN: Minnesota
  • HEIGHT: 6-5
  • DRAFT AGE: 21

19. Dailyn Swain

  • TEAM: Texas
  • POSITION: Wing
  • BORN: Ohio
  • HEIGHT: 6-8
  • DRAFT AGE: 20

20. Allen Graves

  • TEAM: Santa Clara
  • POSITION: Forward
  • BORN: Louisiana
  • HEIGHT: 6-9
  • DRAFT AGE: 20

21. Christian Anderson

  • TEAM: Texas Tech
  • POSITION: Guard
  • BORN: Georgia
  • HEIGHT: 6-3
  • DRAFT AGE: 20

22. Koa Peat

  • TEAM: Arizona
  • POSITION: Forward
  • BORN: Arizona
  • HEIGHT: 6-8
  • DRAFT AGE: 19

23. Ebuka Okorie

  • TEAM: Stanford
  • POSITION: Guard
  • BORN: New Hampshire
  • HEIGHT: 6-2
  • DRAFT AGE: 19

24. Chris Cenac Jr.

  • TEAM: Houston
  • POSITION: Big
  • BORN: Louisiana
  • HEIGHT: 6-11
  • DRAFT AGE: 19

25. Jayden Quaintance

  • TEAM: Kentucky
  • POSITION: Big
  • BORN: Ohio
  • HEIGHT: 6-9
  • DRAFT AGE: 18

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Draft 2026 ranking of top players, prospects. Who's No. 1?

Christopher Morel’s go-ahead single lifts Marlins past Nationals 5-2

MLB: MAY 10 Nationals at Marlins

MIAMI, FL - MAY 10: Miami Marlins center fielder Esteury Ruiz (3) slides to home base to score a run during a game between the Miami Marlins and the Washington Nationals on May 10, 2026 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.(Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Christopher Morel hit a go-ahead single in the eighth to lift the Miami Marlins past the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Sunday.

Morel’s one-out hit to center against Gus Varland (0-1) put the Marlins up by one run in the eighth. Following Miami’s second double steal of the inning, Heriberto Hernández hit a two-run single that scored Morel and Jakob Marsee, who was part of both double steals to give him 12 stolen bases on the season, tied for fifth in the major leagues.

Miami leads with 48 stolen bases.

Andrew Nardi got the first two outs of the ninth before rookie Josh Ekness got the final out for his first big league save. Miami won its second straight game after losing five of its previous six.

Calvin Faucher (4-2) walked one and didn’t surrender a hit in two scoreless innings of relief.

Liam Hicks put the Marlins on the board with a run-scoring single in the third. Xavier Edwards then scored on a fielding error by shortstop Nasim Nuñez on Otto Lopez’s fielder’s choice.

Sandy Alcantara allowed two runs and five hits in six innings. Brady House hit a run-scoring groundout in the fourth and Luis García Jr. had an RBI double in the fifth.

Cade Cavalli allowed two runs and four hits with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. He hit three batters, including two straight in the sixth.

Bucks receive no. 10 overall pick in 2026 NBA Draft

May 10, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery at Navy Pier. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images

The drama of the NBA Draft Lottery came and went Sunday afternoon, and the most likely landing spot for the Bucks is what they get: they will select 10th in next month’s NBA Draft. As I’ve written about extensively, including this morning, the first-round pick swap they traded to New Orleans—which became property of Atlanta last year—will not happen, as they received the eighth pick. Atlanta receives the most favorable of New Orleans’ and Milwaukee’s picks, which ended up being the former’s at eight. The disaster scenario where the Bucks leaped into the top four but had to swap back thankfully did not occur.

Two teams just a few spots ahead of the Bucks with the sixth- and ninth-best odds got all the lottery luck: the Grizzlies at third and the Bulls at fourth. They each rose into the top four, hitting on 37.2% and 20.2% chances of jumping up, respectively. Those two go right after the two big winners: first overall goes to Washington, who finished with the league’s worst record, and hit on the 14% chance of grabbing no. 1. Next up will be Utah, who was tied with Sacramento for fourth-worst, had an 11.4% chance of receiving no. 2. Right now, FanDuel has BYU’s AJ Dybantsa as the favorite to be taken by the Wizards at -550, followed by Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, and Duke’s Cameron Boozer. Those three, plus UNC’s Caleb Wilson, have long been the consensus top four in this class.

With those two teams rising into the top four, that meant teams with worse records fell out. This will be music to Bucks fans’ ears: the biggest loser is definitely the Pacers, who finished with the league’s second-worst record and second-best lottery odds but fell to fifth, which was their most likely outcome (27.8%). Recall that at the deadline, they traded two first-round picks (plus a second, Bennedict Mathurin, and Isaiah Jackson) to the Clippers for Ivica Zubac. Those two firsts were their 2026 pick, top-four protected, and their 2029 pick, unprotected. If Indiana had stayed in the top four (52.1% chance), they’d have kept this year’s first and instead sent LA their 2031 first unprotected. But in the 47.8% of outcomes where they fell to fifth or sixth, they’d send this year’s first to the Clippers, and that’s exactly what happened.

Here is the full lottery order:

  1. Washington Wizards
  2. Utah Jazz
  3. Memphis Grizzlies
  4. Chicago Bulls
  5. Los Angeles Clippers (via Pacers)
  6. Brooklyn Nets
  7. Sacramento Kings
  8. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)
  9. Dallas Mavericks
  10. Milwaukee Bucks
  11. Golden State Warriors
  12. Oklahoma City Thunder
  13. Miami Heat
  14. Charlotte Hornets

Brooklyn had the third-best odds and fell to sixth (their most likely spot at 26%). That might seem like a big blow, but the Nets have had eyes for Giannis for a long time, and if the Bucks decide to listen to offers on their star, the Nets have the best draft asset to dangle. The other loser is Sacramento, who had the same record as Utah but lost the tiebreaker coin flip to determine who received the fourth-best odds, slipped to seventh (also their most likely spot at 25.5%) despite having the fifth-best odds.

Other teams long rumored to be interested in Giannis didn’t see their slim hopes of moving up, thus having a primo lottery pick to offer Milwaukee, come to pass: Golden State got 11th, and Miami got 13th. I have a hard time thinking that their packages, headlined by 2026 picks that are worse than the Bucks’, would be the winners in a potential sweepstakes, especially over Brooklyn. Atlanta also might be interested and can offer eight, but again, Brooklyn would outbid them. I don’t think anyone else in the top 10 would either want Giannis or be willing to give up their pick for him, especially anyone in the top four, which is seen as so loaded.

Back to the pick itself, though. Milwaukee can draft someone there or trade it after the draft concludes, to comply with the Stepien rule. If they stick with 10, my hope is that one of the four guards who many mock drafters have going between five and nine is still available: Arkansas’ Darius Acuff, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, Houston’s Kingston Flemings, or Arizona’s Braden Burries. It’s very likely all will be off the board by the time the Bucks select, though.

Assuming those guys are gone, Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. would also be a good get—he was in many top 10s before a late-season back injury. Then there are two guys from Michigan: center Aday Mara and forward Yaxel Lendeborg. Mara is a big riser thanks to the Wolverines’ national title run, and even if the 7’3” Spanyard doesn’t develop an outside shot, his ceiling is high enough that he could force the Bucks to trade Myles Turner towards the end of his contract, which runs through 2029 (Turner can opt out in 2028, though).

Lendeborg is on the old side for a draft prospect at 23, but the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year was a two-way monster whose development across six years of amateur play (three in junior college) impressed me. His ceiling probably isn’t an All-Star, but of the names I’ve mentioned, he might be the most NBA-ready. At 6’9” and 240 pounds, his frame and skillset suggest he could become a productive role player pretty quickly, perhaps even as a rookie.

I’ll let our draftnik writers delve more deeply into prospects over the next six weeks. Lastly, let’s touch on trading the pick. They could offer it post-draft to another team, either as part of a package for someone already in the NBA, or for additional firsts. Maybe Joe Dumars wants to get the Pelicans back into the draft, and would take no. 10 and Kyle Kuzma for Trey Murphy. The Bucks could also trade down and get a future first for their troubles. For example, maybe the Thunder want to move up from 12. They could trade that selection, plus one of their many other firsts, to Milwaukee for the chance to pick at 10. OKC also owns Philly’s pick this year, which was already slotted in at no. 17. Or they could send any of the five firsts they’ve received from other teams (Nuggets, Clippers, Spurs, Mavs) in 2027–29.

We’ll have a lot of draft coverage in the weeks ahead, including the return of our community draft board. Until then, what should the Bucks do with this pick: keep it or move it? If you want them to keep it, who do you think they should take at 10? Who would you pick between Brown, Mara, and Lendeborg? If you want them to move it, what do you want in return?

Phillies 6, Rockies 0: Schwarber and Sánchez proved to be too much

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 10: Cristopher Sánchez #61 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch in the first inning during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park on May 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It was a Mother’s Day to forget in Philadelphia, as the Colorado Rockies were blanked by the Phillies 6-0. They managed six hits, but they also struck out 10 times and did not walk once.

Sugano struggled early, but settled in later

Tomoyuki Sugano 菅野 智之 struggled out of the gate, striking out Trea Turner but then giving up back-to-back homers in the first to Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper to give the Phillies an early 2-0 lead.

He got Adolis García to line out to center but then Brandon Marsh singled before J.T. Realmuto flied out to end the inning.

In the second, things didn’t get much better.

Bryson Stott doubled to lead off the inning and then Alec Bohm walked. Stott then stole third and scored on a throwing error by Goodman, which also allowed Bohm to reach second. Justin Crawford then grounded out to first, but Turner hit a sac fly to score Bohm and put the Phillies up 4-0. Schwarber then homered again — marking his 38th-career multi-homer game — to tack on another run, but Harper grounded out to first to end the inning.

In the third, he allowed just one hit to the second batter — Marsh — and then sent down five straight before giving up another single to Schwarber in the fifth. Luckily, Harper grounded into a double play and then García struck out to end Sugano’s night.

“After [the first two innings] I thought he executed better,” manager Warren Schaeffer said after the game. “In the first two innings, I don’t think he was putting the ball where he wanted to put it and a good team like that with those left-handed hitters are going to make you pay. But after that he gave us three zeroes and protected the ‘pen and then did his job.”

In total, Sugano pitched five innings. and allowed five runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts. All five runs came on three homers.

Rockies offense kept stranding batters

The Rockies offense once again struggled against the Phillies pitching, especially Cristopher Sánchez. Sánchez threw seven shutout innings, allowing six hits and seven strikeouts. The combo of Jonathan Bowlan and Jhoan Duran racked up three more strikeouts in the final two innings without allowing a hit.

Hunter Goodman singled in the first, but then Willi Castro popped out to short to end the inning. Brenton Doyle, Mickey Moniak and Kyle Karros went down in order in the second, but then Ezequiel Tovar and Jake McCarthy led off the third with back-to-back singles.

However, Jordan Beck lined out and Tyler Freeman and Goodman both struck out swinging to end the threat. The Rockies then went down in order in the fourth and fifth before managing another single by Beck to lead off the sixth.

They batted around in the seventh a little bit with singles again by Moniak and Tovar (who had two hits on the night), but unfortunately Jake McCarthy flew out after nearly homering to end the inning.

In total, the Rockies only had multiple men on in the third and seventh, but weren’t able to capitalize either time. Tovar was the only hitter with multiple hits, as he went 2-for-3. He was also one of three starters to not strike out once (also Beck and Doyle).

“Sánchez’s changeup is deadly,” Schaeffer said. “We didn’t have an answer for it today. I thought [Tovar] swung the bat well today, got the ball up, but in general (with) Sánchez, we didn’t have an answer for that changeup. (He’s got) a good fastball, too. He’s a good pitcher for a reason.”

Up Next

The Rockies have an off day tomorrow before heading to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Michael Lorenzen will face off against Paul Skenes. First pitch is at 4:40pm MT. See you then!


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No Hitting and a Lauer Blow Up, Jays Lose To Angels

May 10, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider checks in with center fielder Daulton Varsho (5) after a potential injury against the Los Angeles Angels in the eigth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images | David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Angels 6 Blue Jays 1

Well that was awful.

The Jays got a run in the first and then didn’t get another base runner until the eighth. They did load the bases in the eighth, but Vlad ground out softly to third to end the chance

We had five hits on the day. Daulton Varsho had two (just barely beating out an infield single for the second one). Ernie Clement, Kazuma Okamoto and Myles Straw had one each.

Vlad is looking lost at the plate. The sooner he figures it out the better. Jesus Sanchez struck out three times. Lenyn Sosa twice.

Pitching?

Spencer Miles was terrific, throwing three innings, giving up two hits, getting two strikeouts without allowing a run. Tommy Nance had a quick fourth.

And then Eric Lauer came in. It was not good. Walk, homer, ground out, strike out, double, walk, double. Four runs in the inning. And that was pretty much the game.

He did end up throwing five innings, but allowed five hits, six earned, three homers, two walks and four strikeouts. As good as he was last year, he’s been awful this year. His velocity is down, but I don’t know if that’s enough to explain how bad he’s been. He’s got a 6.69 ERA now and there is no reason to expect it to get better.

I really have no idea what they are going to do. There isn’t anyone who’s ready to be slotted into the spot. Shane Bieber won’t be read for a month. Jose Berries is, well I don’t know, but there is inflammation and he’s not likely to be activated soon. Max Scherzer is finding that it takes longer to heal when you are the wrong side of 40.

And on top of all that:

Jay of the Day: Miles (0.16 WPA)

Other Award: Lauer (-0.49) and Vlad (-0.09).

Tomorrow the Rays come to town (and it is much better to see them in Toronto than at Tropicana). Drew Rasmussen (2-1, 2.95) vs. Kevin Gausman (2-1, 3.09).

Thunder vs Lakers Same-Game Parlay for Today's NBA Playoffs Game 4

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With the Oklahoma City Thunder in cruise control against the Los Angeles Lakers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesn't need to force the issue tonight.

This Thunder vs. Lakers same-game parlay doesn't expect a dud from the OKC star, but an efficient, low-exposure game that doesn't require his full effort to get the sweep.

It's all part of our full Thunder vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks for this Western Conference contest on Monday, May 11.

Our best Thunder vs Lakers SGP for today's Game 4

SGP leg #1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 28.5 points (-115)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does not need to score in bunches. One of the NBA’s most clutch players — and that is putting it lightly so as to avoid debate from any De’Aaron Fox or Anthony Edwards fans — Gilgeous-Alexander is more likely not to play in the fourth quarter than he is to find himself in a clutch moment.

The presumptive MVP has averaged just 21 points per game in this series because he does not need to average more. The Oklahoma City Thunder are blowing out the Los Angeles Lakers so handily that Gilgeous-Alexander can coast in this series.

SGP leg #2: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 3.5 rebounds (+120)

Gilgeous-Alexander grabbed only two rebounds in each of Games 1 and 2. Then he exploded in Game 3 with … four rebounds.

Again, SGA does not need to do more. Rebounding is an effort-forward task, and Gilgeous-Alexander does not need to put in the effort in this series.

That comes in the next round, no matter the opponent. Oklahoma City is simply being prudent by letting its star coast this week.

SGP leg #3: Thunder moneyline (-525)

The Thunder know better than most how vital some rest can be this time of year. They should put this series to bed as quickly as possible so as to add a few days of quiet before the Western Conference Finals.

With any luck, the Timberwolves and Spurs will stretch to seven games, giving Oklahoma City that much more of an advantage.


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Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Thunder vs Lakers predictions for Game 4.

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Reds shrug off last week’s troubles, down Astros to win series

May 10, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott (41) throws against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Let’s just go ahead and forget almost everything that happened during the first week of the month of May, shall we?

Fresh off a streak-busting victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday spearheaded by Chase Burns, it was once again a Cincinnati Reds starter that fueled a win on Sunday. This time, it was 2025 All Star Andrew Abbott, who fired 6.0 IP of efficient (85 pitches), scoreless ball in his best outing since Opening Day. The bullpen backed up Abbott, who’ll take hom today’s Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game honors, and that was more than enough for a Reds offense that poured out 5 runs on Astros pitching on the day.

Spencer Steer homered from the #2 spot in the order, doing so after manager Terry Francona moved him up along with Will Benson (who was on-base twice out of the leadoff spot). Elly De La Cruz chipped in with a trio of hits and a steal, JJ Bleday continued his white-hot start in a Reds uniform by tripling in a pair of runs (along with a pair of walks, a steal, and a run scored) and Blake Dunn doubled and walked in a rare start against a RHP.

All told, the Reds pounded out 9 hits, walked five times, and Benson’s HBP added on to a pretty excellent offensive showing when the club really, truly needed it.

Other Notes

  • Abbott’s full line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, BB, 5 K on 85 pitches. He lowered his season ERA down to 4.47 and looked much, much more like his typical self.
  • The bullpen allowed nary a hit nor walk while fanning 5 across 3.0 IP. Hat tip to Tejay Antone, Sam Moll, and Graham Ashcraft on a great day of work.
  • Matt McLain, who was once again batting 8th, walked twice (one of which drove in a run). The walks are great from him, obviously, but man it would be wonderful to see him hit a ball hard again.
  • For the third time already this season, the Reds will have a day-off after having played a game in Cincinnati in which their next game is also at home. So, they get a nice little break without having to travel through it. Nex tup will be the Washington Nationals in town on Tuesday, and Brady Singer will get the start in that one. It remains to be seen how the Reds will line up their rotation after that as Rhett Lowder is heading to the IL for some rest.

Thunder vs Lakers Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight's NBA Playoffs Game 4

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Los Angeles Lakers are running out of answers against the powerhouse Oklahoma City Thunder, and even another vintage performance from LeBron James may not be enough to keep their season alive tonight at Crypto.com Arena.

My Thunder vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks expect Oklahoma City to stay firmly in control — to the point where OKC’s biggest star may not need to carry a massive offensive load.

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

Thunder vs Lakers Game 4 prediction tonight

Who will win Thunder vs Lakers Game 4?

Thunder: There has been nothing “gentlemanly” about how thoroughly Oklahoma City has dominated this series. It should not become a gentleman’s sweep. Put the Lakers out of their misery.

Thunder vs Lakers best bet: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 28.5 points (-115)

This is not doubt in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

This is doubt in the Los Angeles Lakers. The Oklahoma City Thunder are so dominant in this series that the MVP does not need to pour in points.Gilgeous-Alexander does not need to throw himself to the floor to draw foul calls.

SGA has scored just 18, 22, and 23 points in the three games of this series, yet OKC has covered the spread in each game. Winning Games 1 and 2 by 18 points apiece did not stress the Thunder.

Gilgeous-Alexander should stay in cruise control for now. The stress will come in the next round.

Covers COVERS INTEL:SGA has attempted just 16 shots per game in this series, as well as only 6.3 free throws per game. He averaged 19.4 shots and 9.0 free throws per game in the regular season.

Thunder vs Lakers Game 4 same-game parlay

Maybe this can be construed as doubt in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Then again, much like throwing yourself to the hardwood to draw foul calls, finding rebounds takes effort. And neither SGA nor OKC needs to expend much effort to beat the Lakers.

Gilgeous-Alexander has cleared this modest rebounding prop just once in this series, grabbing all of four rebounds in Game 3. He is not living at the rim; his defensive assignments cannot get into the paint, and the Thunder might sit SGA for the entire fourth quarter, given how lopsided this game should be.

Thunder vs Lakers SGP

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 28.5 points
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 3.5 rebounds
  • Thunder moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Later, LeBron

Even LeBron James cannot win this series on his own. But he can go down swinging.

James cleared this modest points prop in the first two games of this series. Given the obvious stakes of, ya know, elimination, expect James to get to the rim until the score is too lopsided to dream about.

Given Oklahoma City turned an 11-point lead into a 23-point win in the fourth quarter of Game 3, covering the spread is always possible for the Thunder in this series.

Thunder vs Lakers SGP

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 28.5 points
  • LeBron James Over 22.5 points
  • Thunder -10.5

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Thunder vs Lakers odds for today's Game 4

  • Spread: Thunder -10.5 | Lakers +10.5
  • Moneyline: Thunder -525 | Lakers +390
  • Over/Under: Over 214.5 | Under 214.5

Thunder vs Lakers betting trend to know

Oklahoma City has not merely covered the spread in this series. The Thunder have now covered the spread in all seven meetings with the Lakers this regular season and postseason. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Lakers.

How to watch Thunder vs Lakers Game 4

LocationCrypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
DateMonday, May 11, 2026
Tip-off10:30 p.m. ET
TVPrime Video

Thunder vs Lakers latest injuries

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Win one for Mom: Rays 4, Red Sox 1

May 10, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson (14) is greeted in the dugout after scoring a run during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in DRBland. The Rays were in Boston, where everyone was wearing a touch of pink to wrap up the weekend series. The Rays were first in the AL East by a wee little percentage point and hoping to push ahead and claim it properly this week. To deal with Boston, the Rays were relying on Nick Martinez on the mound, while the Red Sox had Payton Tolle up.

The Rays wasted little time getting on the board, as Junior Caminero hit a one-out home run in the top of the first inning. Two outs followed, but the Rays had the initial lead.

In the home half of the inning, with one out, Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch to get a free bag. Two outs followed, though, keeping the Red Sox scoreless. Contreras was apparently not feeling great after being hit by that pitch, though, and he left the game between inning, being replaced by Andruw Monasterio.

Ryan Vilade singled to start the second, but he tried to leg it out into a double and was snagged at second base. Two outs followed, ending the inning in short order. In the home half, Mickey Gaspar and his incredible mustache got a one-out double, but the Red Sox ended up leaving him stranded.

The Rays got riled up in the third. Nick Fortes got a leadoff single, then advanced to second on a sac bunt by Taylor Walls. Chandler Simpson singled to score Fortest, with some thanks to an ugly Trevor Story deflection, that let the ball dribble out into left. Jarren Duran threw home for some weird reason instead of to second, and Simpson was able to safely wind up at second after all was said and done. Story was charged with an error. With two outs, Ben Williamson singled, bringing Simpson home. Yandy Diaz then singled as well, putting runners at the corners, but no additional runs scored.

Caleb Durbin started the home half by getting hit by a pitch, the second of the game for Martinez. They might want to be careful of that, things got zesty in a Red Sox game last week when they thought those HBPs were intentional. Durbin then attempted to steal second and was caught. With two outs, Monasterio doubled, but the Sox left him stranded.

In the fourth, Cedric Mullins got a leadoff single, then tried to steal second and got caught in a very lengthy rundown. Two outs followed. Masataka Yoshida singled to start the bottom of the fourth. The Rays got three outs in a row to follow that, though.

The Rays went 1-2-3 for the first time this game in the fifth. With two outs in the home half, Duran singled. Monasterio singled right behind him, putting two men on, a pop-out ended the threat and the inning.

Tolle’s day was done after five, and he was replaced by Zack Kelly. Kelly gave up a leadoff walk to Williamson. Then, with one out, a pinch-hitting Jonathan Aranda singled. That was it for Kelly, who was then replaced by Tyler Samaniego. Cedric Mullins put down a sacrifice bunt, scoring Williamson and extending the Rays’ lead. A lineout ended the inning, but we love to see insurance runs.

In the bottom of the inning, Trevor Story got a one-out double. Gasper then singled, bringing Story home and making the team extra-grateful for that bonus run. Martinez got the second out of the inning and then Kevin Cash headed out to make the switch. Martinez’s final line for the game was 5.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K on 80 pitches. A solid outing for him, with some command issues, but otherwise really good results. Kevin Kelly replaced Martinez and collected the final out of the inning.

Justin Slaten was the new Red Sox pitcher for the seventh and he got the Rays out in order. The Rays returned the favor by getting the Red Sox out 1-2-3 in the home half.

Greg Weissert came out of the pen for the Sox in the eighth and faced only the minimum three batters. Ben Williamson got a one-out walk, his second of the game, and then advanced to second on a Yandy Diaz groundout. That was it for Weissert. Jovani Morán came in to replace him and got the final out of the inning. The Rays also dipped into their bullpen in the eighth, bringing out Garrett Cleavinger and after a pretty long inning, he did manage to get the Sox out in order.

In the ninth, Jonny DeLuca got a one-out walk. Nick Fortes then hit into a double play to end the inning, and with that, the Rays would have to hope their three-run lead was enough to hang on for the win. Bryan Baker came in and gave up a leadoff double to Gasper. Marcelo Mayer then walked. Baker was clearly having some issues with command, and it couldn’t happen at a worse time. Caminero made an incredible toss over to first for the second out of the inning but it was within millimeters, so Boston challenged, which was reasonable, but the call was upheld and the game was down to the final out. That last out came on a flyout from Duran to end the game and the Rays came away as both game and series winners.

Final: Rays 4, Red Sox 1

NAUSEATING: Brooklyn Nets fall to #6 in NBA Draft Lottery

Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images

The Brooklyn Nets will be picking sixth in the 2026 NBA Draft, following the results of the NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday afternoon. Mr. Whammy’s valiant efforts to butter up Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum before the drawing were not fruitful…

After posting the NBA’s third-worst record this season, this was a poor outcome for Brooklyn. (I opted for “nauseating” above.) Technically, this was a bottom-third outcome for the Nets, who had a 7% chance of falling to #7 and a 26% chance of falling to #6.

The Nets also have two second-round picks this season, which they posted on social media just after the results…

Nearly two years ago on June 24, 2024, Sean Marks made a pair of franchise-altering trades to kick off the summer. Brooklyn shipped Mikal Bridges across the East River for a whopping five first-round picks (and a swap!), then announced almost simultaneously that they had traded four Phoenix Suns picks and swaps to Houston, in exchange for their own ‘25 and ‘26 first-rounders.

One day later, the Houston Rockets selected Reed Sheppard at No. 3 overall. They still owned the 2024 Nets pick, after all, which had spiked in the lottery after Brooklyn had a good ‘ol fashioned miserable season, no tanking involved. It was time for GM Sean Marks to get in on that sort of luck, setting the team up to tank hard over the next two seasons. The move was lauded; the following spring, Marks was voted the 8th-best executive in the NBA by his peers.

Now, the Nets’ two year tank is over. In 2025, after starting the season 9-10, they received the #8 pick, just two spots ahead of the Suns pick they traded away. This June, they’ll be picking at #6, missing out on a consensus top-four of AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson, while the New York Knicks could be coming off an NBA Finals trip.

The Houston Rockets own Brooklyn’s 2027 first-round pick, in the form of a swap. Hence this two-year window. With the NBA Draft Lottery set to undergo drastic reform next season, you could argue the Nets did not tank hard enough; the league-worst Washington Wizards won the #1 overall pick. The Indiana Pacers had the second-worst record and fell, but only to #5 (thus relinquishing their pick to the Los Angeles Clippers).

But the Chicago Bulls and their ninth-worst record shot up to four. The Memphis Grizzlies traded places with the Nets, jumping from #6 to #3….

As we reported earlier, one NBA insider told NetsDaily that they believe Brooklyn could trade up now that disaster has struck. I personally don’t see it — everybody loves the top four prospects — but you never know.

“The only reason you bank firsts like that is to be able to strike opportunistically,” he said. “Now, [moving up] in this draft, they will have to find a dance partner. But say they land in the dreaded fifth spot. They have enough draft capital to get them to the third.”

Was this outcome inevitable? No. All the Nets needed was a bit of good fortune to swing their way, and they didn’t get it. Okay, maybe it was inevitable.

Update: Sean Marks speaks

Erik Slater of Locked on Nets and ClutchPoints was in Chicago for this latest misfortune, and spoke to Sean Marks after the drawing. Here was Marks’ immediate reaction to landing the sixth pick…

Slater then asked if this outcome would lead to more aggression in the trade market…

Where do we go from here? Standby for the analysis.