KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 18: Sonny Gray #54 of the Boston Red Sox walks in from the bullpen before an MLB game between the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals on May 18, 2026 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ten games under .500 just has a different feel to it, huh? Life doesn’t seem too bad at six or seven games under; it’s not hard to imagine a team ripping of seven wins out of eight and getting right back into it in those scenarios.
But ten? Ten is rough. You fall ten games under in May and you’re in serious risk of becoming one of baseball’s irrelevant teams. And while the Sox have been bad in my lifetime, they’ve never really been irrelevant.
Sonny Gray takes the hill today to get the team back to nine under. That’s not much of a goal, but it’s something.
As the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs collide in what feels like an inevitable Game 7 tonight, it’s hard to overstate the burden on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shoulders.
The two-time MVP has had a subdued series by his high standards, dealing with a gauntlet of physical Spurs defenders, but his playmaking will be key here as the Thunder try to punch their ticket to the Finals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander best bet: Over 7.5 assists (-130 at bet365)
One of the lasting memories of this heavyweight series will be Shai Gilgeous-Alexander navigating a sea of San Antonio Spurs jerseys for every glimpse of the rim.
With injuries to Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder desperately short of ball-handling, San Antonio has been able to sell out to force the ball out of his hands – and that makes the SGA assists tally one of the more attractive props on the board.
He’s dished 9+ dimes in all three home games in these Conference Finals, with OKC role players coming through more reliably at Paycom Center, and I expect a steady diet of Gilgeous-Alexander drives to set up 3-point looks tonight, with the potential to bet this up to 8.5 if plus odds are available.
The Spurs have consistently had a second defender lurking at the nail in those instances, but SGA has shown again in these playoffs that he trusts his teammates to knock down shots.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander same-game parlay (+480)
Ferocious perimeter defense, backed by Victor Wembanyama in the paint, has been a great formula for the Spurs, nudging Gilgeous-Alexander off his favorite spots. Even if SGA decides to call his own number more often here, I’m comfortable fading his points prop in Game 7.
After all, he’s only gone past this O/U number in one of the six contests so far in this series, and he needed 17 free throws to get there.
A hero ball effort just doesn’t feel sustainable against this San Antonio defense. Instead, the Thunder need a more balanced effort, with Gilgeous-Alexander picking his spots and putting his supporting cast in positions to make plays.
OKC would surely like to limit the wear and tear on SGA from a rebounding perspective, but this battle is for all the marbles. Shai averaged 4.3 RPG during the regular season, and his work on the boards will be especially critical when the Thunder go to lineups with just one of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein on the court.
Spurs vs Thunder SGP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 7.5 assists
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 30.5 points
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 3.5 rebounds
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SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 23: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs is greeted by Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors at the end of the game at Frost Bank Center on November 23, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is only one team in the last eight years that has won a road Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals.
They wore blue and gold and they walked into a building where the reigning MVP was waiting with a full home crowd and nothing left to lose, and they beat him anyway. Along the way, Houston missed 27 consecutive three-pointers, which remains one of the more traumatic public events in modern Texas history. The Warriors had already decided internally what the outcome was going to be, and they spent 48 minutes informing Houston of that decision.
Tonight the San Antonio Spurs get their chance to do the same thing. To do it, they’ll have to walk into Oklahoma City and beat the back-to-back MVP in his own building. If they accomplish that, they’ll become the first team since that Warriors dynasty to win a road Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals.The last team that did it had Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.The Spurs have something the basketball world is still struggling to properly classify.
Brian Windhorst says Wemby vs. OKC reminds him of LeBron vs. the Spurs in the 2007 Finals:
“This is reminiscent to me of LeBron James in 2007 going up against the Spurs. The Spurs beating him and Tim Duncan saying, ‘This league is going to be yours someday.’ But happily taking… pic.twitter.com/TX1w7S1n3w
— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) May 30, 2026
I can’t wait to watch Game 7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs tonight on NBC. This game is must see TV!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 30, 2026
Most rebuilding timelines do not accidentally produce a seven-foot-five basketball cryptid in the process.
Most young teams arrive by knocking politely. Wembanyama appears to have brought a battering ram and a complete indifference to anyone’s timeline for his arrival. He is 22 years old playing in his first Western Conference Finals, and he has spent this series behaving as though none of those facts are particularly relevant to what he is about to do to you.
In Game 6, facing elimination on the road, he posted 28 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals, becoming the first player in Spurs franchise history to record 25-plus points, 10-plus rebounds, 2-plus steals, and 2-plus blocks in an elimination game. That is a young player informing the moment that he will be running things from here.
The formula in this series has been consistent enough to build a thesis around: when Wembanyama has outscored SGA, the Spurs have won. When he hasn’t, they’ve lost. Tonight is where the pattern either holds or breaks, and it is happening in the loudest building Wembanyama has played in all postseason.
The Warriors in 2018 had four All-Stars, two championships, and the institutional confidence of a team that had been to this exact place so many times that the road felt like a commute. They knew exactly what they were capable of because they had already done it repeatedly. The Spurs don’t have all that veteran savvy. The head coach has never coached a team before this season. The oldest player getting key minutes turns 34 today.
NBA players are 7-0 when playing in a game 7 on their birthday
Wembanyama is 22. Stephon Castle is 21. Dylan Harper is 20. None of them have accumulated enough NBA scar tissue to understand how scared a team on the road in a Game 7 is supposed to be. That is not a disadvantage. That is what it looks like when a group of players has not yet been taught the limits of what they are allowed to accomplish.
The Warriors knew they could win that Game 7 in Houston because they had won in harder situations before. The Spurs do not know they shouldn’t win this Game 7 in Oklahoma City because nobody has shown them evidence that they can’t. Through six games of this series, every time someone handed them a reason to doubt themselves, they handed it back.
That is a specific and particular kind of dangerous that does not show up in any efficiency metric ever calculated. The Warriors showed what it looks like when a team walks into a hostile Game 7 and leaves with the conference. The Spurs have one game to show they learned something from watching. That should concern Oklahoma City.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 13: Mitch Keller #23 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning during the game against the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park on May 13, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pitching Matchup: Bailey Ober (6-2, 3.92 ERA) vs. Mitch Keller (5-2, 3.64 ERA)
The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home today against the Minnesota Twins looking to grab a win.
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May 29, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Nick Loftin (12) attempts to tag out Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) during the fifth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 29: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres runs the bases after hitting a two run home run during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (32-24) at Washington Nationals (29-29), May 30, 2026, 1:05 p.m. PST
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The Buffalo Sabres have to consider themselves extremely fortunate that a great deal of NHL clubs still are hesitant to select undersized players, in spite of their speed and skill set. Such was the case at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville, where Connor Bedard went first overall to the Chicago Blackhawks. Anaheim selected Leo Carlsson second overall, Columbus chose Adam Fantilli with the third pick, and San Jose snagged Will Smith to complete the center quartet, but that left eight picks before the Sabres selection came up.
While three seasons is not enough to determine whether the eight youngsters selected next are busts or not, there is little doubt that the Sabres are more than happy that winger Zach Benson slipped out of the top 10 and to their pick at 13th overall. It was a complete shock that the diminutive winger made the NHL right out of junior, never went back to the WHL or played a game in the American Hockey League, and after three seasons, the only two players who have played more NHL games has been Bedard and Fantilli.
Here is a quick update of some of the other players selected by the Sabres in 2023:
Anton Wahlberg – C – 39th overall
The 20-year-old came to North America to play with Rochester at the end of the 2024 season and played in the Calder Cup playoff games vs. Syracuse. The 6’4”, 205 lb. forward finished his first full season with the Amerks with 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 63 games, but struggled in the playoffs after recovering from illness, going pointless in six games. This season, Wahlberg’s point total was up slightly (38 points in 68 games), but his goal total declined to nine. With the potential loss of veteran forwards Alex Tuch and Beck Malenstyn in free agency, it is possible that the big forward will see some NHL opportunity this season.
Alex Tuch and his contract situation with the Sabres
Maxim Strbak – D – 45th overall
The big right-handed defenseman played for Slovakia in four World Juniors, and signed with the Sabres after his junior year at Michigan State, where the 21-year-old scored 18 points (3 goal, 15 assists) in 37 games. Strbak played two games for the Amerks at the end of the season, and is expected to be a full-time blueliner next season under Michael Leone in Rochester.
Gavin McCarthy – D – 86th overall
A Western New York native who played three seasons for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, McCarthy played two years for Muskegon before heading to Boston University. The 6’2”, 188 lb. blueliner went to the Frozen Four in his freshman year and as a sophomore, had 16 points (3 goals, 13 assists) in 39 games for the Terriers. This season, after posting a career-high 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists) in 36 games, the right-handed blueliner signed his ELC with the Sabres and played five games with Rochester.
May 29, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) celebrates his solo home run wearing a welders hood in the dugout against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
First Pitch: 3:10 pm CDT
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy
YARR, and, genuinely, YAARGH and AARGH.
Pirate-themed sounds or reactions to 2026 Twins fandom? You decide. It’s not my call. The real truth of it is, it’s never been my call. Most of this is up to interpretation by you, the loyal reader. I actually have no true influence over what you do while OR after you ingest this article, and only limited influence over what you do before.
The Twins are squaring up with the Buccos again as their underwhelming final week of May continues. The suddenly-dependable-again Bailey Ober, now three starts removed from his home shutout of the Miami Marlins, has faced the Pittsburgh Pirates just once, in an 10th-inning victory in June of 2024. He’ll get the ball this afternoon, as the Twins try to wipe the slate after a crushing walk-off loss on Friday’s iPhone Channel opener.
Mitch Keller gets the ball for the Bucs, rocking his best ERA+ since his single All-Star campaign in eight seasons. That all changes today, of course, when he becomes the first pitcher in major-league history charged with 20 runs without recording an out. You won’t wanna miss this!
May 29, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers will try to extend their best stretch of the season on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium.
They’ve won 13 of their last 15 games, including each of their last six for their longest winning streak of the season. That followed a stretch of nine losses in 14 games.
“It just feels like we’re showing up and playing baseball. That’s how it felt when we were playing bad, and that’s how it feels when we’re playing good,” said third baseman Max Muncy after Friday’s win. “That’s the way you want it to be. You want to go out there and do your work every single day.”
Muncy homered in the series opener, one of four Dodgers home runs in the win. After hitting just 11 home runs in their previous 14 games at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers have exploded for 13 home runs in the last three games. When the Dodgers hit at least three home runs, which they’ve done in each of the last three games, they are 11-0. When they hit at least two home runs, they are 19-1. MLB teams this season have a .706 win percentage when homering multiple times.
Couple that power and offense with a stingy pitching staff, that’s the recipe for 13 wins in 15 games. Dodgers pitchers — actual pitchers, not counting the Miguel Rojas ninth inning on Tuesday — have allowed only 26 runs in those 15 games.
The Dodgers are 10-2 when facing an opposing left-handed starting pitcher, the best such record in baseball this season. They have a tough task in Jesús Luzardo of the Phillies, who was a handful during last year’s National League Division Series. Luzardo struck out eight and walked only one in his 7 2/3 innings during the series, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits. He pitched seven scoreless innings against the Dodgers last season in Philadelphia in April, then went seven innings again in a loss at Dodger Stadium, allowing four runs, including two home runs in September.
With Luzardo starting, expect Miguel Rojas to start at second base and the now-returned Santiago Espinal at third base. The Dodgers are being cautious with Muncy, who was hit by a pitch on his right wrist on May 22 in Milwaukee. Muncy missed three full games, played defense in the ninth inning but did not hit on Tuesday. He played Wednesday and Friday, with Thursday’s scheduled off day in between.
“It still hurts a little bit right now, but we’ll play through it. The barrel is dropping a bit right now, but that’s to be expected,” Muncy said Friday. “I’m trying to make some of those adjustments, and getting that kind of result tonight feels great.”
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 26: Amed Rosario #14 of the New York Yankees hits a two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on May 26, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you asked me what the highlight of Tuesday’s 15-1 drubbing of the Royals was, I’d pick Cam Schlittler’s casual six-inning, one-run start. But a close second would be Amed Rosario’s four-hit, two-homer performance. Ok, it’s important to note that his second homer came against a position player on the mound, poor old Tyler Tolbert. However, there was nothing flukey about the rest of his performance; he was scalding balls all day, with all of his hits having exit velocities exceeding 100 mph. Seriously, just look at all this hard contact:
At first, I thought this was just another entry in the annals of “random backup infielder has great game offensively”. (You will always hold a place in my heart, Jayson Nix on April 7, 2013 against Justin Verlander.) But then I looked at Rosario’s FanGraphs page and did a double take – the man’s running a 130 wRC+!
Granted, it’s only been 31 games and 97 plate appearances, which is far from a representative sample size. Rosario has had 31-game stretches where he was even hotter in the past. If I had to choose between “Amed Rosario is a middle-of-the-order bat now” and “this is just a hot streak”, I’m choosing the latter every time.
However, there’s one crucial detail that gives me pause; the shape of his production is totally new. Rosario’s .261 ISO this year represents not only a career high for him, it’s the highest mark he’s run over any 31-game stretch in his career, ever. That seems to me like it’s a sign that something has changed with him.
There’s also the matter of his platoon splits. Rosario owns a career 121 wRC+ against southpaws and a 84 wRC+ against righties. So, surely his hot hitting so far this year is because he’s being shielded against same-handed pitching, right?
Not really, as it turns out. Of Rosario’s 97 plate appearances this year, 52 have come against lefties and 45 against righties – basically an even split. Of course, since lefties only make up less than a third of MLB pitching, having only 50% of your plate appearances come against righties means that you’re being platooned. However, the fact remains that about half of Rosario’s PAs have come against righties this year. His wRC+ against them? It’s the exact same as his line against left-handers – 130. Uh, I thought he was supposed to be a platoon bat?
This level of performance against righties is unprecedented for Rosario. Unfortunately, FanGraphs’ Player Graphs function doesn’t support L/R splits for wRC+, but for our purposes wOBA works just fine. See if you can spot the year that is unlike all the others in this graph:
So, Rosario is hitting for more power than ever, and he’s hitting righties better than ever. How is he doing it?
The first question is easier to answer: Rosario is swinging the bat harder than ever. That seems to have something to do with his power surge, doesn’t it? Case in point: StatCast’s bat tracking metrics go back to 2023. That year, Rosario’s fast swing rate – defined as the percentage of swings at 75 mph or faster – was 15.2%. In 2024, it was 16.7%. In 2025, it was 29.9%, which was already a pretty big increase.
This year, it’s 44.0%.
Over the course of four seasons, Rosario’s gone from swinging hard about as often as Luis Rengifo to Bryce Harper. I guess that’ll help you hit the ball harder. But what about his disappeared platoon splits? Does swinging faster more often automatically make you a more well-rounded batter? I, uh, have some doubts about that.
Ultimately, I can’t point to a clear-cut reason as to why Rosario is suddenly hitting righties as well as he hits lefties this year. I do, however, have a theory. After many hours of grueling research (read: I floated this topic on the PSA slack and Peter gave me this link), I happened upon this tweet from Driveline Baseball:
Don’t be fooled by the formatting of the twee. The most revealing video, at least in my mind, isn’t the big one on the left but the bottom right one, showing Rosario’s 2025 (blue) and 2026 (red) swing trajectories from various angles. In particular, pay close attention to the bird’s-eye view graphic. Notice how Rosario’s 2026 bat path starts off at a markedly lesser angle than its 2025 counterpart, and remains close to parallel to the front of home plate throughout its voyage through the strike zone? My theory is that this revamped bat path has allowed Rosario to perform well against pitches from right-handers which break away from him, alleviating his platoon splits.
It has been found by past baseball research that pitches that break away from same-handed hitters result in the largest platoon splits. It seems that righty pitchers have taken this to heart when facing Rosario; they’ve fed him more and more breaking balls in recent years, with more gloveside horizontal movement.
How do you combat this? Well, one way, it seems to me, might be to “flatten” your bat path as Rosario is doing in 2026 – trying to keep the barrel of the bat as parallel to the front of home plate as long as possible. This would increase your chances of making better contact with, say, sliders spinning away from you, especially if you’re able to catch them out in front of the plate. Lo and behold: it’s still an extremely small sample size, but Rosario’s xwOBACON against breaking pitches from right-handers is by far the highest of his career.
Can Rosario sustain this level of performance going forward? I can’t say for certain. But it’s at least very encouraging that there seems to be real, tangible changes in his approach that are fueling his early-season performance. Keep an eye out for Amed Rosario – he might be playing a bigger role in this Yankees lineup in the coming weeks.
The 2026 Stanley Cup Final has yet to even begin, but sportsbooks are offering 2026-27 Stanley Cup odds already!
The Carolina Hurricanes, favored to win it all this year, are at the top of the betting board for the 2027 title as well. Close behind are the Colorado Avalanche, whom many thought were the best in the West this year, only to be upset by the Vegas Golden Knights, who are sixth-choice here.
If you're looking to make some early NHL picks for next season, here's our look at the latest Stanley Cup odds for the 2026-27 season.
2026-27 Stanley Cup odds
Team
Carolina Hurricanes
+650
Colorado Avalanche
+700
Tampa Bay Lightning
+1000
Edmonton Oilers
+1100
Minnesota Wild
+1200
Vegas Golden Knights
+1300
Florida Panthers
+1500
Ottawa Senators
+1500
Dallas Stars
+1700
New Jersey Devils
+2200
Odds as of 5-30.
2026-27 Stanley Cup favorites
Carolina Hurricanes (+650)
The Carolina Hurricanes finally got over their Conference Final curse, making it to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final after faltering in the penultimate round of the playoffs in three of the last four seasons.
The Hurricanes don't play a "fun" brand of hockey, but players who buy into Rod Brind'Amour's system have found success by the dozen. Just look at K'Andre Miller, who went from a New York Rangers afterthought to an elite blueliner in the span of a year.
Brind'Amour likely bought himself at least one more season behind the bench after making it to the Cup Final at long last. As long as the Canes' system stays intact, they'll always be a threat. And if they win it all in 2026, this +650 price will likely vanish.
Colorado Avalanche (+700)
The Colorado Avalanche looked like a bulldozer heading into the Western Conference Finals, but injuries built up and the Vegas Golden Knights simply overwhelmed them in a series sweep.
The Avs were the darlings of the analytical community this year, at least out West, leading in xGoals% at 5-on-5 and ranking only behind the Hurricanes in Corsi%.
But you don't need to be an egghead to appreciate Nathan MacKinnon, who won the "Rocket" Richard Trophy this year and is coming back for more in 2026-27.
Tampa Bay Lightning (+1000)
The Tampa Bay Lightning feel like a modern-day hockey version of Gregg Popovich's San Antonio Spurs. No matter how old their stars get, they just seem to re-tool and find ways to be a perennial contender.
The Lightning ranked third in Corsi in 2025-26, and fifth in expected goals. Nikita Kucherov (130 points) was his usual brilliant self, while Darren Raddysh was a revelation on defense.
The Avalanche were the victims of some bad injury timing, and a Golden Knights team that got hot at the right time. John Tortorella will likely be back behind the bench for Vegas next year, but how soon will his act wear thin with his players?
I also don't trust the Edmonton Oilers to get back on their feet after a listless end to their 2025-26 campaign.
The Avalanche have the easier road back to the Final compared to the Hurricanes, so they're the (very, very early) selection.
Pick: Avalanche to win 2026-27 Stanley Cup (+700 at FanDuel)
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Mar 11, 2023; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Hayden Juenger (76) throws a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles in the fifth inning during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
This is the stuff that other teams do that I make fun of, but the Jays, after deciding that Austin Voth was the guy that could be the bulk guy yesterday, and when he has a bad game, he gets DFAed. If you believed in him, you wouldn’t let one game change your mind.
Hayden Juenger has been added to the roster.
Juenger has a 3.15 ERA in 17 games, 20 innings, 22 hits, 8 walks and 23 strikeouts. Hayden was on our ‘Just Missed Out’ list on the Prospects list this year. Tom wrote:
Hayden Juenger was a sixth round pick back in ‘21. He popped onto lists by jumping all the way to AAA in his first full pro season, working as a multi-inning reliever. Things have stalled there, though. He gets some strikeouts, but walks too many and generally hasn’t found the consistency he needs to join the major league staff. He deserves a nod here because, with a nice rising fastball that sits 94, a promising cutter and a good change-up he has the repertoire to work as an MLB long reliever. So far this season he’s shelved his slider and emphasized the cutter, which has helped him avoid walks so far.
Mar 16, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) dribbles as Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard (3) defends during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images
The dream scenario for the Washington Wizards isn’t simply landing AJ Dybantsa, assuming he is the No 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The dream scenario is landing Dybantsa while already having established stars around him. If the Wizards enter the 2026-27 season with Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and Dybantsa, they would have one of the more fascinating roster constructions in the NBA.
The fit is not perfect. No roster is. But there are compelling reasons why Dybantsa could thrive alongside both veterans.
How Dybantsa Fits With Trae Young
The biggest advantage Trae Young provides is that he immediately removes pressure from AJ Dybantsa as a primary scoring option.
Most No. 1 picks enter the league expected to become the primary offensive creator on Day One. Look at John Wall back in 2010-11. Wall delivered, sure. But it took several seasons before the Wizards returned to the playoffs.
That often leads to inefficient basketball, forced shots, and growing pains. Dybantsa would not face those challenges to the same degree.
Young remains one of the NBA’s elite playmakers. His ability to run pick-and-roll, collapse defenses, and create open shots would give Dybantsa easier scoring opportunities than most rookie wings receive.
How Dybantsa Fits With Anthony Davis
If Young helps Dybantsa offensively, Anthony Davis helps him defensively.
One of the biggest challenges for young players is learning NBA defensive rotations and responsibilities. Even highly regarded prospects make mistakes. Rotations are missed. Assignments are blown. Screens are miscommunicated.
Davis has spent his entire career covering those mistakes. Even in his 30s, Davis remains one of basketball’s premier defensive anchors when healthy. His rim protection allows perimeter defenders to play more aggressively, knowing they have elite help behind them. At least when he’s healthy.
That is particularly important for Dybantsa. Rather than immediately defending forwards who would regularly be stronger than him, Dybantsa could focus on guarding wings and developing his individual defense immediately while building his physical strenth. Davis would handle much of the heavy lifting inside.
Offensively, Davis also complements Dybantsa’s skill set. Davis does much of his damage near the basket, while Dybantsa projects as a versatile wing capable of scoring from multiple levels. Their offensive games naturally occupy different areas of the floor, reducing overlap.
And again, is Dybantsa likely the No. 1 pick?
Well duh. At -390 per FanDuel, he’s the runaway choice. Even Dybantsa himself says that he has no intent of dropping down. So whether the Wizards, Jazz, or some other team has that pick, Dybantsa wants to be No. 1.
The Biggest Questions: Timing — and will Davis be a Wizard this fall?
Dybantsa’s fit itself is not the primary concern. The timeline is. Young and Davis are at the latter stages of their primes. Dybantsa hasn’t played in an NBA game yet. The Wizards have to determine whether they can compete for championships in the next several years before Davis, in particular, begins to decline significantly, when healthy.
That creates some urgency. The front office would need to build a capable supporting cast quickly while Dybantsa develops into a star.
Finally, we have to consider whether Davis will even be a Wizard past this June or even Young for that matter. Getting the No. 1 pick helps. Getting past the “deconstruction” stage helps. But again, Davis and Young aren’t getting younger and the Wizards need to make a significant move up the standings to keep their veterans content, if not happy.
From a pure basketball perspective, the fit works. Young would make Dybantsa’s offensive development easier as a point guard while Davis would provide defensive stability from the post and veteran leadership. Dybantsa would fill in as the rookie small forward who can play either forward spot or swing to guard in a larger lineup.
The Wizards’ challenge would be to maximize a possible championship window that may last only a few seasons, as Dybantsa begins ascending toward his prime while Young and Davis are at the end of theirs.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 29: Nicky Lopez #33 of the Texas Rangers bats against the Kansas City Royals at Globe Life Field on May 29, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for May 30, 2026 against the Kansas City Royals: starting pitchers are Kumar Rocker for the Rangers and Seth Lugo for the Royals.
Texas scored a lot of runs yesterday and won a game. They will try to do that again today.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Jung — 3B
Nimmo — RF
Burger — 1B
Duran — SS
Osuna — LF
Jansen — C
Lopez — 2B
Helman — CF
3:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -119 favorites.
Looking to bring in a fresh bullpen arm prior to Saturday afternoon's game against the Marlins, the Mets decided to option right-hander Tobias Myers down to the minors.
The decision was a tough one with Myers being such a valuable piece for this pitching staff, but having an option remaining made him the odd man out this time around.
“Not an easy decision given how important he’s been,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Opener, multi-inning guy, high-leverage, can get the last three outs -- it’s just the situation we were in pitching-wise heading into today’s game.
“He’s one of the guys with an option, the other two are available today -- we told him you’re going to be back here soon and he understood, obviously not happy about it, but it’s the situation we’re in and he’ll be back here.”
The versatile reliever has hit a bit of a rough patch on the mound of late as well, giving up runs in five of his last seven appearances to bring his ERA to 4.05 for the season.
Myers will look to turn things around in Triple-A, though, on more of a regulated program.
“It’s just going to be more scripted,” Mendoza said. “Where if you’re going to go and throw 35-45 pitches, then he’s able to get the three or four days after that, something that at this level with the competition you aren’t able to do.
“Then once his 15 days are up and we have to make that decision, he can either go and continue to get stretched out or go back into the role we’ve been using him in -- he’s very versatile and an important player for our team.”
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