Sports News – Page 245 – Worldwide Sports News

BOSTON — The Celtics will be at full strength when they face the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night for Game 7. Jayson Tatum, who did not play in the final 15 minutes of Game 6, is not on the injury report.

Tatum exited the game with four minutes left in the third quarter and briefly headed to the locker room with his trainer, Nick Sang. Tatum returned with ice around his left calf, the opposite leg from the one he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in last May. He spent most of the fourth quarter on an exercise bike in the tunnel.

“You guys probably saw when I went to the back, saw me on the bike, my leg just was a little stiff when I came out in the third quarter,” Tatum said. “But just kind of assessing the moment, the game was a little out of reach.”

Tatum said after Game 6 that he expected to play in Game 7.

“I expect to play,” Tatum said. “It was my other leg, not the one I injured last year. I mean, I wasn’t like overly concerned. Shit, I came out at four minutes, like I was supposed to. Just kind of assessed the game — he took the starters out fairly early in the fourth quarter.”

In a conference call with reporters on Friday afternoon, Joe Mazzulla confirmed that Tatum would play.

“He said he’s playing, right?” Mazzulla said. “He’ll play.”

Tatum has averaged 21.8 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across 6 games this season, shooting 41.1% from the field and 32.9% from three.

Celtics-76ers tips off at 7:30pm ET on Saturday night at TD Garden.

May 1, 2026

‘Why’s he’s a legend’: India gun in awe of Aussie star after superb IPL return

An opening partnership of 110 from 57 balls by Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul paved the way for Delhi Capitals to record their highest successful chase in the IPL, beating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets.

May 1, 2026

Coach Standing Between Canadiens & Round Two Is Jack Adams Nominee

The NHL has announced its three finalists for the Jack Adams Trophy as the league's top coach for the 2025-26 season. Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis did not make the cut, but he certainly had a case to.

Interestingly, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper is among the finalists for the Jack Adams.

The Canadiens, of course, are currently up against Cooper's Lightning in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It has been a tight series between the Atlantic Division clubs, but St. Louis's Canadiens currently have a 3-2 lead over the Bolts.

The Canadiens are set to face off against the Lightning in Game 6 on Friday night and will be looking to knock out the Bolts with a victory. It should be another entertaining matchup between the two teams, and it will be interesting to see if the Canadiens can beat Cooper and the Lightning from here.

Yet, when looking at how well the Canadiens played this season, it is a bit surprising to see St. Louis not in the mix for the Jack Adams. The Habs took another notable step in the right direction this campaign, finishing with a 48-24-10 record and 106 points.

May 1, 2026

Sabres' Lindy Ruff Named Finalist For Top NHL Award

Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff has been named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, which is given to the NHL's best head coach.

Seeing Ruff be a finalist for the Jack Adams Award is not surprising in the slightest. Ruff not only helped the Sabres get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2011, but led them to become one of the best teams in the NHL.

The Sabres finished this season at the top of the Atlantic Division standings with a 50-23-9 record and 109 points. This included the Sabres going 36-9-5 in their final 50 games of the regular season.

Given how significantly the Sabres turned around this season, it is fair to argue that Ruff is the most deserving for the Jack Adams this year. However, he will be going up against two head coaches who also had strong years behind the bench in Dan Muse (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay Lightning).

It will now be interesting to see if Ruff ends up winning the Jack Adams from here.

May 1, 2026

Pepiot out for the season

Sep 23, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ryan Pepiot (44) throws to first for an out during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Rays will be without right-handed pitcher Ryan Pepiot for the entire season.

The 28-year old opened the season on the Injured List after dealing with an issue that was later described as ‘right-hip inflammation.’ There was hope that with some rest that the issue would resolve itself. However, during a throwing session at Tropicana Field a few weeks ago, Kevin Cash said that Pepiot had a “bad day.”

Now, the official word is that Pepiot will have to undergo hip surgery in order to resolve the issue and will be out for the remainder of the 2026 season.

Pepiot originally came to the Rays as part of the return for Tyler Glasnow following the 2023 season. Pepiot would joint the Rays rotation for the 2024 campaign and over the past two years, he has proven himself as a dependable starting pitcher. Since joining the Rays, Pepiot has a 3.75 ERA | 4.18 FIP with a 25.4 K% & 8.9 BB% over 297.2 IP.

May 1, 2026

Evgeni Malkin wants to run it back one last time in Pittsburgh. Whether he will is anyone's guess

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins took a significant step forward this season, returning to the playoffs after a three-year absence.

To go deeper than the first round will require another leap. Whether Evgeni Malkin gets a chance to be a part of it is anyone's guess. Malkin's included.

The Russian star, who is set to become a free agent in July, would like to return to the Penguins for a 21st and almost certainly final season. Yet Malkin also understands general manager Kyle Dubas is trying to build a roster that will make Pittsburgh a perennial contender, and having a future Hall of Fame forward who will turn 40 in August might not be part of that plan.

“It’s not easy for Kyle, maybe he wants new blood here,” Malkin said on Friday, less than 48 hours after the Penguins' bounce-back season ended with a Game 6 loss to rival Philadelphia. “I understand business. I understand he wants maybe new team, see new faces here.”

Dubas, who has spent months being polite but noncommittal while discussing Malkin's status, enters the offseason with over $45 million in salary cap space. Whether he wants to spend a portion of it on a three-time Stanley Cup winner who is beloved in Pittsburgh but also missed 20 games this season due to injury is uncertain.

What's not is Malkin's commitment to playing next year, even if it's outside of the only NHL organization he's ever known. Malkin finished with 61 points in 56 games after moving from center to wing. He added a pair of goals against the Flyers in a season he described as “not bad."

“It’s a little bit tough,” he said. “But I feel I can play next year for sure.”

Malkin, captain Sidney Crosby and defenseman Kris Letang just finished up their 20th season together, the longest run by a trio of teammates in major North American professional sports. Letang is under contract for two more seasons, while Crosby is eligible for another contract extension this summer.

Crosby, the only player in NHL history to average a point a game in 21 straight years, made it very clear his preference would be to run it back one last time with his good friend.

“For as long as (Malkin's) played here I think he’s been part of setting the standard,” Crosby said. "And just on top of all the experiences we’ve shared, you build that belief and trust and bond and that’s something you’ve had over the course of time.”

Malkin's future is hardly the only uncertainty the Penguins face. While first-year coach Dan Muse — a finalist for the Jack Adams award as the NHL's Coach of the Year — won raves for his positivity and meticulous preparation, the league's third-highest scoring team also sputtered while falling into a 3-0 hole to the Flyers.

Though Pittsburgh carried play as the series wore on, it was far too late as Philadelphia's younger legs won out in the end, though Crosby doesn't want the bitterness of the way the season ended to blot out all the good things that came along the way.

“A lot of guys had career years, I think that’s a reflection of guys’ individual play but also as a group," he said.

The list of players who enjoyed breakout seasons included forward Anthony Mantha, who poured in a career-best 33 goals, and forward Egor Chinakov, who had 18 goals in 43 games after being acquired from Columbus in December.

Mantha will be a free agent and figures to be in line for a raise over the $2.5 million he made this season. Chinakov is a restricted free agent, and Pittsburgh would likely match any offer the 25-year-old would receive.

Rookie Ben Kindel, all of 18, scored 17 goals and massive 6-foot-7 forward Elmer Soderblom made an impact after arriving from Detroit.

At the NHL level, the goalie situation is unsettled. Stuart Skinner, brought over in a swap with Edmonton in December, will be a free agent and Arturs Silovs — who backstopped both of Pittsburgh's playoff wins and nearly stole Game 6 in Philadelphia — will be a restricted free agent.

The Penguins have 22-year-old Sergei Murashov waiting in the wings and he will almost certainly receive every opportunity to claim the starting job when training camp begins in September.

It will be four long and likely eventful months until Pittsburgh reconvenes. The club showed tangible proof this year that Dubas' painstaking organizational overhaul is starting to pay off.

The gap between the Penguins and the teams that will take the ice when the second round begins next week is smaller than it was a year ago. Yet it still exists.

Malkin would like to be part of the process of narrowing it even further alongside the two men who have become like brothers.

“I hope we play together one more year,” he said. "If not, we have great 20 years together and never forget.”

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

May 1, 2026

Predators Need To Move On From 'Good Ole Days' In General Manager Search | Column

Nostalgia is addictive. It's fun to remember the good times and try to recreate those memories in the present.

However, that's exactly why they are memories.

The Nashville Predators have been clinging to the past for a while, for better and worse. Maintaining the Smashville identity is integral to this organization, but the faces behind that vision need to change.

Bringing back the team's first and most successful head coach, Barry Trotz, to lead the front office as a first-time general manager wasn't an awful decision.

His strength has been in drafting and setting the table for the future. Trotz brought in star players like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Ryan O'Reilly and kept a handful of key players in Nashville, including Luke Evangelista, Juuse Saros and Justus Annunen.

However, the corps could not make a deep playoff run, making the postseason just once in the last three seasons and posting one of the franchise's worst records during the 2024-25 campaign.

Trotz set this team up for success from 1998 to 2014, but could not replicate that magic in a new decade in a new position.

Mar 16, 2009, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz gestures from the bench in the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center. The Predators defeated the Kings 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-Imagn Images

That nostalgic energy played a part in hiring a new head coach back in 2023, when Andrew Brunette, who played for Trotz and the Predators in their inaugural season, was hired as a first-year head coach.

In his third season, while he showed growth, it wasn't enough to get Nashville into the playoffs for a second straight season.

With Trotz stepping away from the GM chair, the Predators have a chance to bring an outsider in, start a new chapter in their history and try something different. This is their opportunity to prove that were a team of today and tomorrow, and no longer yesterday.

It is rumored that the Predators are still leaning toward the past, "leaning toward" ousted New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald, who served as the Predators' first captain for four seasons from 1998 to 2002.

NHL insider David Pagnotta said on the DFO Rundown podcast on April 29 that he believes the Predators are leaning toward going down the Tom Fitzgerald route as their new GM.

David Pagnotta: Re Predators GM search: I think Nashville might be leaning towards the Tom Fitzgerald route - DFO Rundown (4/29)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) April 30, 2026

Pagnotta's observation is just one of many from NHL insiders over the last month that have said Fitzgerald is a leading candidate for the Predators' top front office job.

On Friday, Elliotte Friedman added that the Vancouver Canucks have asked to talk to Fitzgerald, but even he is focused on becoming the Predators' GM.

Fitzgerald has won a Stanley Cup in a front office role with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009 as the team's Director of Player Development, but has had a really lackluster stint when in the GM role.

He was named the New Jersey Devils general manager after Ray Shero was fired in 2020. Fitzgerald served as the team's assistant GM from 2015 to 2020.

In his time as the organization's GM, the Devils qualified for the playoffs just twice in 2023 and 2025, making it beyond the first round just once. Both years, the Devils' season ended at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.

With top talent like Nico Heischer, Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, along with role players filtering in and out, the Devils have failed to put together a successful corps and after posting a 42-37-8 record in the regular season, they are flirting with a full rebuild.

It's a similar situation to the Predators, where a successful corps has been put together, and it's just not clicking.

Unlike the Predators, the Devils have had three head coaches in the last five years and fired their GM after nothing had changed.

Nov 30, 2021; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils executive vice president/general managerTom Fitzgerald, addresses the media about the contract extension of New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) before the start of the game against the San Jose Sharks at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Tom Horak-Imagn Images

Instead of going after experienced candidates with a successful track record and seeking to bring in outside voices, the Nashville Predators are once again opting to hire one of their "buddies."

It's fun to remember what these players and coaches did for your organization back then, but trying to zombify that moment and duplicate its success now isn't going to work.

Take out the fact that he had played for the Predators, and Fitzgerald's candidacy for this committee is not impressive.

This search committee needs to take off its golden-shaded goggles and find a GM who will bring real change and new ideas to this organization.

The Predators need a GM who is established and has a track record of winning, and, in their case, an assistant GM who has a track record of building a championship-contending team.

No more former coaches. No more former players. Hire on the basis of proven success and how they can bring a Stanley Cup to Music City.

May 1, 2026

Two-start pitchers: Tarik Skubal headlines a gaggle of elite options as we steamroll into May

Hello and welcome to the sixth installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.

I will be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.

It feels like we just drafted our teams, yet the weather is warming up around the league and balls are starting to fly out of the ballpark with more regularity as we head into the month of May.

We now have actual actionable data that we can use to make decisions on these pitchers, as most of them have taken the mound five or six times already. A pitcher can get lucky and post quality results despite poor underlying numbers through a couple of starts, but it’s much more difficult to sustain that over a longer stretch of time.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

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Someone could wind up making two starts for the Astros next week (vs. Dodgers, at Reds), but we have no idea who that will be yet. The Astros’ rotation has been ravaged by injuries this season and now a doubleheader on Thursday has forced the issue even more. TastuyaImai is working his way back and should be ready soon, but it’s not expected to be on Monday. Whoever does make that start, the matchups are brutal – having to battle the Dodgers at home and then travel to the bandbox that is the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. This looks like a situation to avoid. We’ll update here as we get more information.

As is the case most weeks, the Dodgers will not have any pitcher make two starts as they continue to roll with a full six-man rotation. Once again, Yoshinobu Yamamoto will pitch on Monday and would be the one to start twice (at Astros, vs. Braves) should they decide to skip anyone or adjust their rotation. He’s a lock for fantasy lineups every week anyways though, so there’s no actionable item to take away there.

It’s possible that Elmer Rodriguez could also make two starts for the Yankees this week (vs. Orioles, at Brewers), though that has yet to be confirmed. Carlos Rodon is progressing in his rehab and there’s a chance that he could be cleared to return by next weekend. It’s also possible that the Yankees could go with a bullpen game or try out another spot starter instead of Rodriguez in that spot. We’ll update here if we receive any more clarity through the weekend.

Someone will step into the Reds’ rotation on Monday in place of the injured Brandon Williamson and will make two starts this week (at Cubs, vs. Astros), but as of Friday afternoon we’re still not sure who that will be. We’ll update here and give a recommendation on whether or not we would be streaming that arm once we know who it is.

Logan Webb had been lined up for two starts this week (vs. Padres, vs. Pirates), but after a rain delay and a doubleheader changed their plans, it looks like the Giants will now roll with a bullpen day or a spot starter on Monday, meaning no one will get the honor of taking the mound twice. We’ll once again update here if anything changes.

The expectation is that Eric Lauer will pitch on Monday for the Blue Jays and be lined up for two starts next week (at Rays, vs. Angels). That could depend on when and where Jose Berrios slots back into the mix though as he makes his triumphant return from the injured list. It’s possible Lauer goes on Monday and then Berrios moves in somewhere, making it so no Blue Jays’ hurlers toe the slab twice.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of May 1 and are subject to change.

American League

▶ Strong Plays

Tarik Skubal, Tigers, LHP (vs. Red Sox, at Royals)

Through his first seven starts on the season, the two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner has been as good as expected – posting a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and a 45/6 K/BB ratio across 43 1/3 innings. He’s obviously locked into fantasy lineups every week regardless of matchup, but he gets a nice draw this week as both the Royals and Red Sox check in around the middle of the pack in terms of OPS against southpaws. He also gets to make both starts in pitcher’s parks. It’s easy to see why he’s the top overall play on the board this week.

Cam Schlittler, Yankees, RHP (vs. Orioles, at Brewers)

Cam Schlittler has been perhaps the best starting pitcher in all of baseball through his first seven starts. He sits at 4-1 on the year with a minuscule 1.51 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and a 49/6 K/BB ratio over his first 41 2/3 innings. While some regression to the mean should be expected, his xERA (2.40) and xFIP (2.40) show that this strong start has been built on solid underlying skills. He’s an automatic start in all leagues as long as he’s taking the mound. Enjoy the added volume from the extra start this week.

Drew Rasmussen, Rays, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, at Red Sox)

Since becoming a full-time starting pitcher when he joined the Rays midway through the 2021 season, Rasmussen has always been an elite option for fantasy purposes when he has been healthy enough to take the mound. That hasn’t changed at all this year, as he has put together a terrific 2.64 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and a 32/5 K/BB ratio over 30 2/3 innings while winning two of his first six starts. There’s no reason that he should be anywhere near fantasy benches as long as he’s taking the ball. Make sure he’s active for a pair of strong matchups this week.

Jose Soriano, Angels, RHP (vs. White Sox, at Blue Jays)

Soriano has been an absolute revelation through his first seven starts, registering an incredible 0.84 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and a 49/16 K/BB ratio over 42 2/3 frames. It appears as though new Angels’ pitching coach Mike Maddux has finally unlocked what was once dormant there. The matchups play in his favor as well this week, as the White Sox and Blue Jays both rank in the bottom third of the league in OPS against right-handed pitching. I’m not sure that he can keep this up and function as an ace for fantasy purposes for the duration of the season, but fantasy managers should absolutely keep him in lineups until he shows any signs of slowing down.

Gavin Williams, Guardians, RHP (at Royals, vs. Twins)

Gavin Williams has been a beast for fantasy purposes in the early part of the 2026 season, starting 5-1 with a stellar 2.70 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and a 53/19 K/BB ratio over 43 1/3 innings. He’s still walking more hitters than we’d like to see, but he doesn’t give up many hits and he’s racking up strikeouts at a very high rate. He should be an automatic start every week right now regardless of who he’s facing. This week he draws two very strong matchups, making him one of the top overall plays on the board. Start with full confidence in all formats.

Logan Gilbert, Mariners, RHP (vs. Braves, at White Sox)

Gilbert hasn’t quite pitched like the ace that fantasy managers were hoping for through his first seven starts, sitting at 1-3 with a 4.03 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 39/8 K/BB ratio across 38 innings. He appears to be rounding into form somewhat though, allowing two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. The results haven’t been bad overall and fantasy managers need to keep staying the course, starting Gilbert every week and by season’s end his overall line should look close to what you were expecting when you called his name on draft day.

Nick Martinez, Rays, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, at Red Sox)

Nick Martinez has quietly been one of the top free agent signings in all of baseball so far this season, producing a microscopic 1.70 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 24/9 K/BB ratio over 37 innings in his first six starts for the Rays. Traditionally scary matchups, the Red Sox and Blue Jays have both struggled against right-handed pitching this season, so I don’t see any reason at all to avoid Martinez with his extra volume this week. It just means that he could actually be an asset in strikeouts instead of just ratios this week. He should be started in all leagues.

Jacob deGrom, Rangers, RHP (at Yankees, vs. Cubs)

The 37-year-old right-hander has been outstanding through his first six starts on the year, compiling a 2.01 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and a 40/7 K/BB ratio over 31 1/3 innings. The matchups for the upcoming week are difficult, as both the Yankees and Cubs rank in the top seven in baseball in terms of OPS against opposing right-handers. The only thing that has ever been able to derail deGrom though has been health, so as long as he’s standing upright and taking the mound for the Rangers, he should be in all fantasy lineups.

▶ Decent Plays

Tanner Bibee, Guardians, RHP (at Royals, vs. Twins)

You may not realize it because Bibee is 0-4 on the season, but he hasn’t pitched that poorly. He has been a victim of poor run support and sports a respectable 4.08 ERA along with a troublesome 1.44 WHIP and 32 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings. Bibee should be set up to land that first victory this week, taking on a pair of familiar divisional foes. He may not be an every-week start in all formats right now, but he should be in all lineups across the board for this two-step.

Payton Tolle, Red Sox, RHP (at Tigers, vs. Rays)

It’s tough to know what to make of Tolle through his first two starts with the Red Sox. He dominated the Yankees with 11 strikeouts over six innings of one-run baseball in his debut, then saw a major drop in velocity while giving up three runs and walking four while failing to make it out of the fifth inning against the Blue Jays. If the velocity rebounds, you like his chances of success in this upcoming two-start week, but there’s at least more risk here than you’d think at first glance. It’d still be using him in all 15-team formats, but I’d think twice about it in 12’s if I had other viable alternatives.

Davis Martin, White Sox, RHP (at Angels, vs. Mariners)

One of the biggest surprises of the 2026 season so far, Davis Martin has been functioning as an ace for the White Sox through his first six starts – going 4-1 with a 1.95 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 33/8 K/BB ratio over his first 37 innings. The underlying numbers aren’t quite as rosy, with a 4.52 xERA and 3.54 xFIP which aren’t buying into his unsustainable strand rate of 86.7%. That being said, the Angels and Mariners aren’t overly intimidating against right-handed pitching so using him for this upcoming two-start week still seems viable. Just don’t be surprised when the numbers aren’t quite as elite as they have been so far.

Luis Severino, Athletics, RHP (at Phillies, at Orioles)

Despite his poor overall numbers, Severino was a terrific streaming option during the 2025 season when he was pitching away from Sutter Health Park. That hasn’t quite carried over to 2026 just yet, but is probably due to the limited sample that we have had so far. The Phillies and Orioles aren’t overly imposing matchups for opposing right-handers, so I would feel comfortable streaming Severino in all league sizes this week.

Michael Wacha, Royals, RHP (vs. Guardians, vs. Tigers)

If you just glanced at Wacha’s overall line, you would think that he has been great through his first six starts, posting a 3.13 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 37 1/3 innings. He allowed just three runs combined through his first four starts though and then got rocked for 10 runs over 10 1/3 innings his last two times out against the Orioles and Athletics. His matchups are a mixed bag, while the Guardians have really struggled against right-handed pitching but the Tigers rank in the top-five in baseball against them. You probably can’t get away from it in 15-teamers, but I’d be leery of the potential ratio damage that Wacha could provide in 12-team formats.

Taj Bradley, Twins, RHP (at Nationals, at Guardians)

We have seen the best version of Taj Bradley through his first seven starts for the Twins this season, compiling an elite 2.85 ERA and 1.22 WHIP while striking out 44 batters in 41 innings and securing three victories. His xERA (4.03) and xFIP (4.08) hint that he may be benefitting from some good fortune, as that 86.7% strand rate isn’t sustainable, but Bradley has always had the talent to succeed at the big league level. The matchups fall in his favor as well this week, making him a solid option in all league sizes.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Noah Cameron, Royals, LHP (vs. Guardians, vs. Tigers)

Has Noah Cameron been good through his first six starts on the season? He has not, with an unsightly 5.40 ERA and 1.61 WHIP across 31 2/3 innings. Is there reason to expect he’ll be better going forward though? It doesn’t look like it. His 6.32 xERA and 4.35 xFIP don’t look encouraging and Cameron’s 7.7% walk rate is the same that we saw from him in 2025. Factor in that both the Guardians and Tigers are in the upper half of the league against southpaws this season, and this looks like a recipe for disaster. He may garner starts in some fantasy leagues just due to name recognition, but I would be avoiding him in all formats if possible.

Brayan Bello, Red Sox, RHP (at Tigers, vs. Rays)

While he has mixed in flashes of dominance throughout his young career, Bello has been far too consistent overall to trust for fantasy purposes. He holds a cringe-inducing 9.12 ERA and 2.26 WHIP through his first 25 2/3 innings on the season while pacing the American League in earned runs and hits allowed. He’s one bad start away from losing his spot in the Red Sox’ rotation once Sonny Gray is ready to return. Even if you need to stream volume to keep pace in wins and strikeouts, there are much better and safer alternatives than Bello.

Chris Bassitt, Orioles, RHP (at Yankees, vs. Athletics)

It has been a very rough go for Bassitt through his first six starts with the Orioles, posting a horrifying 5.46 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and a 17/14 K/BB ratio across 28 innings. That’s definitely not what we’re looking for. Now he has to take on two of the better offenses in the league at Yankee Stadium and Sutter Health Park. In no universe should this Bassitt double be started in any formats. He should be avoided in all leagues without question.

National League

▶ Strong Plays

Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies, LHP (vs. Athletics, vs. Rockies)

Aside from getting torched in one outing against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Sanchez has performed about as expected this season with a 2.90 ERA and a 50/13 K/BB ratio over his first 40 1/3 innings. What fantasy managers weren’t anticipating is a sky high 1.51 WHIP. He’s too good and he has too good of an arsenal for that to continue. This looks like a terrific week for him to bring that back in line while piling up strikeouts and perhaps picking up a victory or two to go with it. He should be started in all leagues without question.

Sandy Alcantara, Marlins, RHP (vs. Phillies, vs. Nationals)

Aside from one disastrous outing against the Tigers, Alcantara has looked like an ace for the Marlins this season. Even with that terrible outing, he still holds a strong 3.04 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 31/15 K/BB ratio across a league-leading 47 1/3 innings through his first seven starts. The Phillies rank in the middle of the pack against opposing right-handers this season while the Nationals are near the bottom. He’s probably locked into fantasy lineups weekly regardless of matchups, so there’s no actionable item to take away here. Expect him to continue to provide quality ratios while surpassing double-digit strikeouts this week.

Edward Cabrera, Cubs, RHP (vs. Reds, at Rangers)

So far, so good for Cabrera through his first six starts with the Cubs. The 28-year-old hurler has gone 3-0 with a 3.06 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 29/12 K/BB ratio across 35 1/3 innings. That’ll play. The Rangers rank in the middle of the pack against right-handed pitching this season while the Reds rank in the bottom third of the league and he gets the added benefit of facing them at home instead of their hitter-friendly home ballpark. Cabrera looks like an easy start in all league sizes this week.

Janson Junk, Marlins, RHP (vs. Phillies, vs. Nationals)

Junk has been terrific through his first six turns in the Marlins’ rotation, registering a 3.00 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a 21/8 K/BB ratio over his first 33 innings. He has been especially good as of late, with 11 shutout innings over his last two starts – during impressive victories against the Cardinals and Dodgers. The competition gets a bit easier this week and he gets the privilege of making both starts in the pitcher-friendly confines in Miami. Everything points to Junk being an easy start in all leagues this week. Start him with full confidence where you have him and stream him in shallower formats if he’s available.

Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks, LHP (vs. Pirates, vs. Mets)

Rodriguez followed up a strong performance in the World Baseball Classic with three brilliant starts for the Diamondbacks to open the 2026 regular season, leading some to believe that he could return to mixed league relevancy for fantasy purposes. He hasn’t been quite as good over his last three starts, but he still sports a solid 3.05 ERA over his first 32 2/3 innings on the season. His WHIP (1.40) is always going to be an issue due to his elevated walk rate and he only has 22 strikeouts on the season, but that’s neutralized this week with the added volume of having two starts. On paper, matchups against the Pirates and Mets look very strong, with the opposing pitchers being Bubba Chandler and David Peterson. Admittedly, it doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence and there is WHIP risk involved here, but I’d be comfortable streaming Rodriguez in both 12 and 15-team formats for this strong two-start week.

▶ Decent Plays

JR Ritchie, Braves, RHP (at Mariners, at Dodgers)

This is a tough one for me to place this week. Ritchie has been great through his first two starts with the Braves, posting a 2.92 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and an 11/6 K/BB ratio across 12 1/3 innings of work. He also gets a solid draw to start the week, opening with the Mariners on the road in Seattle. That matchup against the Dodgers in Los Angeles to finish the week though is about as scary as it gets. If you have Ritchie rostered, you’re going to want to use him while he’s in the Braves’ rotation and especially when he’s lined up to pitch twice. That’s understandable. Just know going in that he could potentially get blown up by the Dodgers over the weekend. I’d probably still roll him out there in 12-teamers, though I wouldn’t feel great about it.

Jesus Luzardo, Phillies, LHP (at Marlins, vs. Rockies)

After struggling through most of his five starts of the season, something may have clicked as Luzardo delivered a masterful performance his last time out with seven shutout innings and an 8/0 K/BB ratio against the Giants. He now draws a pair of premium matchups, getting to battle the Marlins in Miami and the Rockies at home, setting him up well to earn a victory while piling up strikeouts and working to correct his inflated ratios. Fantasy managers drafted him to be an ace or an SP2 and the best course is to continue trusting him each and every week and stay hopeful that his line at the end of the season resembles what you were expecting when calling his name on draft day.

Jameson Taillon, Cubs, RHP (vs. Reds, at Rangers)

After getting walloped to open the 2026 campaign, Taillon has shown signs of turning it around with two very strong outings in his last three starts, with the lone exception coming in a brutal matchup against the Dodgers. The Reds and Rangers aren’t overly intimidating as opposing matchups, though his chances of earning a victory are muted a bit as he’ll be opposite Andrew Abbott and Jacob deGrom. With the chances of a blowup in either of these starts relatively low, and the added volume that comes with the two-start week, I’d be comfortable streaming Taillon in both 12 and 15-team leagues. Anything more shallow than that, I’d pass.

Walker Buehler, Padres, RHP (at Giants, vs. Cardinals)

Buehler has performed about as expected through his first six starts, striking out a batter per inning while producing troubling ratios while eating innings for the Padres. That has way more value in real life than it does for fantasy managers. However, in specific weeks where the matchups fall in his favor, it’s possible that he could squeeze out some viability in deeper mixed leagues. This could be one of those weeks. The Cardinals rank in the middle of the pack against right-handed pitching and aren’t very intimidating while the Giants are one of the worst offenses in all of baseball. He also gets to make both starts in extreme pitcher’s parks. This is a gamble that I’d love to take as a streaming option for the upcoming week.

Cade Cavalli, Nationals, RHP (vs. Twins, at Marlins)

Despite the fact that he took the ball on Opening Day for the Nationals, doesn’t make Cavalli an ace, especially for fantasy purposes. His 3.82 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings actually look decent enough on the surface until you glance at his ugly 1.66 WHIP. If you’re a believer in trends, he comes after striking out 10 batters and allowing only two runs in each of his last two outings. He now gets to go up against a pair of middling offenses against right-handed pitching where he should be able to have some level of success. At worst, the strikeouts should be there. As long as you understand the WHIP risk that you’re taking on, I’d be fine streaming him in deeper leagues.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Brandon Sproat, Brewers, RHP (at Cardinals, vs. Yankees)

While he has shown glimpses that he can be an upper-echelon starting pitcher in the big leagues, Sproat has really struggled to get consistent outs through his first six appearances (four starts) with the Brewers. He holds a 6.75 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and a 25/15 K/BB ratio over his first 26 2/3 innings. Unless he can find a way to cut back on the walks, he’s going to be a major risk in WHIP whenever he takes the mound. If the matchups were better, his strikeout upside is high enough that I would consider throwing caution to the wind and running him out there. I just have a hard time justifying that against the Yankees.

Andre Pallante, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Brewers, at Padres)

Pallante has actually taken a surprising step forward through his first six starts on the 2026 season, posting a respectable 3.73 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 26/14 K/BB ratio across 31 1/3 innings. If you take out one disastrous outing against the Red Sox, and his overall line looks downright good. The Padres and Brewers are solid offenses that can beat any average pitcher on any day, but they’re not teams that you avoid streaming pitchers against. He’s not the worst option if looking to add volume in deeper leagues.

Kyle Leahy, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Brewers, at Padres)

While most pitchers making the transition from the bullpen to the rotation have found high levels of success over the past few seasons, Leahy has yet to follow suit. He boasts a troublesome 5.52 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and a 22/11 K/BB ratio across his first 29 1/3 innings and now has Hunter Dobbins knocking on the door to displace him from the rotation if his struggles continue. The matchups are neutral at best, so his limited strikeout upside probably doesn’t make up for the ratio risk that you would be taking him by streaming him for two starts. Maybe if you’re desperate in 15-teamers, otherwise stay away.

Andrew Abbott, Reds, LHP (at Cubs, vs. Astros)

After an absolutely abysmal start to the season, Abbott picked up his first victory of the year last week in a matchup at home against the lowly Rockies. I’m not ready to turn the page and say that he’s fixed just yet. He sports a troublesome 5.97 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over his first 34 2/3 innings of work and has only recorded 24 strikeouts thus far. The Astros and Cubs both absolutely mash against left-handed pitching, bringing in even more ratio risk to an already dire situation. Fantasy managers who benched him this past week and watched him beat the Rockies may be tempted to get him back into lineups for his two-start week. Resist that urge, it’s not worth the risk.

Bubba Chandler, Pirates, RHP (at Diamondbacks, at Giants)

Chandler has been a major disappointment for fantasy purposes so far this season, posting an underwhelming 4.97 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 27/20 K/BB ratio through his first 29 innings. His 20 free passes lead the National League. It’s hard to produce strong ratios when you can’t throw strikes consistently. A pair of road starts, including a tough matchup against the Diamondbacks in Arizona, don’t bode well for a rebound this week. He’s not working deep enough into games to be a major force in strikeouts or to accrue victories. Love the talent, but I’d be leaving him on the sidelines if I had viable alternatives this week, especially in 12-teamers.

Matt Waldron, Padres, RHP (at Giants, vs. Cardinals)

Matt Waldron hasn’t had much fun through his first three starts with the Padres, registering a ghastly 9.88 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and an 8/5 K/BB ratio over 13 2/3 innings. The matchups look great on paper though, and if I had any level of confidence that he would actually stick around to make two starts, I may think about streaming him in 15-team formats. With reinforcements (Griffin Canning maybe?) nearing a return though, his grasp on a rotation spot seems tenuous at best.

Tomoyuki Sugano, Rockies, RHP (vs. Mets, at Phillies)

Never Rockies. No reason to do it, especially on a split week. I understand that Sugano has produced quality results through his first six starts, but there’s a correction coming. We saw him do the same thing to open the 2025 campaign before getting knocked around the park for the rest of the summer. He also doesn’t provide much in terms of strikeouts and he’s going to be an underdog to earn a victory in each of those starts. If you’re going to gamble, there are better places to do so this week.

David Peterson, Mets, LHP (at Rockies, at Diamondbacks)

Peterson returned to the Mets’ rotation to replace the injured Kodai Senga and proceeded to seven runs on five hits in just 3 2/3 innings of work against the Nationals. He’s now lined up for two brutal starts next week, having to battle the Rockies at Coors Field and the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Even if the Mets were scoring runs and he had a shot at a victory, I’d be steering clear here. There’s also no guarantee that he even gets the ball on Monday given how bad he was hit last time out. Let him be someone else’s problem.

May 1, 2026

Texas Rangers lineup for May 1, 2026

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 23: Alejandro Osuna #19 of the Texas Rangers tries to make a catch on a ball that was hit by Nick Gonzales of the Pittsburgh Pirates for a single in the fourth inning at Globe Life Field on April 23, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Texas Rangers lineup for May 1, 2026 against the Detroit Tigers: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Jack Flaherty for the Tigers.

Plays the first of three in Detroit. Josh Smith is sitting again, Ezequiel Duran is starting again.

The lineup:

Nimmo — RF

Carter — CF

Seager — SS

Jung — 3B

Pederson — DH

Burger — 1B

Osuna — LF

Duran — 2B

Jansen — C

5:40 p.m. Central start time. The game is a pick ‘em.

May 1, 2026

Today in White Sox History: May 1

BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 22: Ivan Calderon #22 of the Chicago White Sox takes a swing during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on July 22, 1990 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) — On this day 39 years ago, Iván Calderón was in the middle of a three-homer attack in the sixth inning at Baltimore. | Getty Images

1901
In the dead ball era, homers were sparse. In fact, the White Sox went their first four official American League games without one. But on this day, the offense exploded by banging out 16 hits to bury Detroit, 19-9. The onslaught marked the first time in the AL that the White Sox hit two home runs in one game. Both Billy Hoy and Herm McFarland hit their first round-trippers of the season; Hoy’s was a three-run shot and McFarland’s in the second inning a grand slam — the first in White Sox and American League history.

On the Tigers side, things were ugly. Detroit made 10 errors in the game; starting pitcher Joe Yeager allowed 12 runs, but just five were earned over his three innings.

1924
In a game at Cleveland, White Sox outfielder Bill Barrett banged out four hits and stole home twice in a 13-7 win. Barrett went 4-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs for the afternoon. His steals of home came in the first and ninth innings.

1936
The White Sox claimed Dixie Walker off waivers from the Yankees. Alas, this was a big one who eventually got away, as the Sox traded Walker to the Tigers after only one season. In 1937 with the Sox, Walker drove in 95 runs while hitting .302. Walker later achieved stardom in Brooklyn, winning a batting title and playing in four All-Star games.

1951
Minnie Miñoso (acquired on April 30) made his White Sox debut. The Cuban Comet became the first Black player in team history. In his first at-bat, he hit a home run off of Vic Raschi into the center field bullpen at Comiskey Park. The drive went an estimated 425 feet and drove in a pair of runs. Later in the same game, won by the Yankees, 8-3, Mickey Mantle hit the first of his 536 career home runs.

1954
White Sox pitcher Virgil Trucks tossed a one-hitter in beating the Red Sox, 3-0. The only hit he allowed came in the sixth inning, a single by future White Sox player Billy Goodman. Trucks struck out eight Boston batters in the game.

This was the first of his pair of one-hitters in 1954; he’d end the year at 19-12 with a 2.79 ERA, having made the All-Star team and saving the win for the American League.

1959
Early Wynn had one of the greatest days ever by a pitcher, when he did it all in a 1-0 White Sox win over Boston. Wynn tossed a one-hit complete game, striking out 14. In addition, he slammed a home run in the last of the eighth inning to account for the game’s only run. Wynn’s drive bounced off the glove of Boston’s Bill Renna into the first row of seats at Comiskey Park.

The only hit Wynn allowed came to Pete Runnels in the first inning, a single to center field at Comiskey Park. Ironically, seconds before the hit Wynn moved Luis Aparicio over a few steps to his right, and he wasn’t able to reach Runnels’ grounder.Wynn’s control wasn’t the best, as he walked seven batters, but he was always able to get out of trouble.

Also on this day, the White Sox traded for Cincinnati Reds outfielder Del Ennis. Ennis, a three-time All-Star, was simply horrible for the White Sox, compiling -0.8 WAR over 26 games and getting released on June 20. At 34, his major league career was over.

1960
Al Smith connected on a Jim Bunning pitch and set off owner Bill Veeck’s new exploding scoreboard for the first time. The blast came in the third inning, with Jim Landis on base. The White Sox would win the game, 6-3, and then sweep the Tigers by taking the nightcap, 5-2.

The scoreboard was 130 feet wide and cost $300,000. There was a firing platform in back that went into action when a White Sox player hit a home run. There were noises of varying tones and intensities, including the sounds of horses running, thunder and the collision of locomotives. The eight small ladders atop the scoreboard flashed into electrical patterns. Strobe lights were atop the two highest ladders. Bombs and fireworks also were exploded from the firing platform.

1973
Dick Allen hit a lot of tape-measure home runs in his time with the White Sox, but this may have been his longest.

On a cool, damp night at Comiskey Park, Allen deposited a pitch from Baltimore’s Mike Cuellar onto the roof in left-center field. The pitch was unusual as it approached home plate, and many speculated that what Allen hit was a “Cuban Forkball” (i.e. spitball) that failed to break downwards. Allenhit one more home run on the night, in a 6-5 win.

For many years afterwards the Sox hung a sign on the roof in left center field indicating where his ball passed over.

1979
Calling her the “most outstanding performer to play for the White Sox” in 1978, owner Bill Veeck declared it Nancy Faust Day. Faust was to be given “lots of presents” in an effort also to commemorate her 10th year with the White Sox. True to Veeck, however, fans would receive a direct benefit from the Night, as anyone bringing in a musical instrument (“even a comb with tissue in it”) would get half-off of their game ticket price.

As for the game, a chilly, 42° night drove down the size of the orchestra, as just 16,470 showed up for a lackluster, 5-2 loss to Detroit.

1987
Leading 1-0 in the sixth inning at Memorial Stadium, the White Sox blew the game open with three homers against the Orioles: Greg Walker went out deep to center to start the barrage, as Iván Calderón followed suit after a Carlton Fisk walk, and Tim Hulett finished off the scoring with a solo shot to left field. The White Sox would win the game, 5-1, with nine hits — eight coming from the trio of Walker, Calderón and Hulett.

1991
The White Sox lost what remains the eighth-longest game in their history, 10-9, to the Brewers in Milwaukee. The Sox blew leads of 5-0 and 9-6 in this one. The game went 18 2⁄3 innings and ran 6:05.

The game went so long that WGN-TV sports director Dan Roan, who was covering the game, had to do his evening sportscast from a parking lot at a bar just inside the state line on Route 41. He couldn’t get back to the studio in northern Chicago in time!

2006
In a wild, 8-6 win at Cleveland, Scott Podsednik again stole four bases in a game, tying a team record. However, in doing so for the third time in his White Sox career, Podsednik established himself as the only player to steal four bases in a game more than one time (Scotty Pods did so in three games, 30% of the 10 times it’s been achieved in franchise annals). Podsednik was on base five times (four singles, one walk) in six trips to the plate and scored three runs.

Podsenik stole third base as the lead runner on a double-steal with Tadahito Iguchi in the first inning and came home on Paul Konerko’s three-run blast; he was caught stealing in the second inning but made it to third base on an error at first base; in the sixth he stole second base, was picked off but a throwing error by pitcher Brian Slocum sent him instead to third; and stole second and third base in the ninth.

The win improved the first-place White Sox to 18-7 on the season.

May 1, 2026

Cam York threw his stick in the stands after scoring an OT winner, but the Flyers star got it back

VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) — Cam York threw his stick into the stands after he scored a playoff winner for the Flyers and, almost like a boomerang, it came back to him at practice.

York's overtime goal beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 1-0 in Game 6 of their first-round series and helped the Flyers advance in the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

York was caught up in the moment — “definitely don’t want a lawsuit,” he cracked after the long toss — and hoped the Flyers fan who retrieved the valuable piece of equipment would return the souvenir.

“I figured even if it did hit him, that he was going to still enjoy the moment and be happy,” York said Friday.

Longtime Flyers fan Jack Brod, who grabbed the stick around Section 113 in the lower level, had planned to gift the stick to a family friend. Once he learned that York wanted the stick back, Brod graciously returned it. Wearing the same Flyers sweatshirt he did in Game 6, Brod was a guest Friday at Flyers practice and got to meet York.

York said right after the game he thought, “why did I do that?”

“When my career is done and over with, I want to have some things to look back on, remember and cherish,” York said on Friday. “This was obviously a special moment for me. Super nice guy. Just met him. For me to just give it back for kind of nothing, I really appreciate that. That's one of the best things about Philly fans is, they love their players and they want their players to perform at the highest level they can.”

Brod didn't go home empty-handed. He received a new stick and a signed York No. 8 jersey. York hoped to frame the stick.

The Flyers open their second-round series Saturday at Carolina.

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

May 1, 2026

Done in by deficient defense, the Edmonton Oilers were ousted early from NHL playoffs

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers, exiting the playoffs early this season after two marathon runs to the Stanley Cup Final, were a dented and depleted team.

The 5-2 loss to Anahiem in Thursday’s Game 6 ended Edmonton’s season in the first round. The Oilers were outclassed and outworked by a Ducks team that won its first playoff series since 2017 with a roster that included a dozen players under the age of 25 and 14 who were making their NHL playoff debuts.

The Oilers lost to Florida in each of the last two Cup finals in series that lasted seven and six games, respectively. Some Oilers hinted at the beginning of this year’s playoffs that the regular season felt like a chore at times, and that they were relieved to start the postseason again with a shot at finishing the job and hoisting the Cup.

They didn’t get close.

“We’ve been searching for consistency all year and we didn’t find it here in the playoffs,” said captain Connor McDavid, who signed a short-term contract extension before the season. “It’s tough. We were an average team all year. An average team with high expectations, you’re going to be disappointed.”

McDavid’s ankle, Leon Draisaitl’s knee, Jason Dickinson’s lower-body injury and penalty-kill specialist Adam Henrique’s undisclosed series-ending injury in Game 1 weakened Edmonton up the middle. Draisaitl missed the last 14 games of the regular season.

McDavid and Draisaitl spent the last two games of the series as linemates instead of centring separate lines. They battled, but weren’t able to will their team into a higher gear.

“Too hurt too soon,” McDavid told The Canadian Press. “The first round is always tough. It’s always chaotic. It’s tough to play through things so early on, as many guys did in here. Credit to our staff for making guys available and making sure they were as comfortable as possible. That being said, it’s not an excuse either. We expected to have a longer run than we did.”

Draisaitl had three goals and seven assists in six games. McDavid, who was held off the scoresheet with the first two games of the series, finished with a goal and five assists.

Defense was Edmonton’s downfall, allowing 26 goals in six games. The penalty kill gave up eight goals on Anaheim’s 15 chances. Edmonton’s power play started 0-for-6 in the first two games before finishing 4-for-14.

“We struggled on the PK all year too. We’ve been searching for consistency there,” McDavid said. “The power-play could have been better to start the series.”

Edmonton’s offense compensated for a bottom-tier ranking in the NHL in goals-against in the regular season. A leaky defense was magnified in the playoffs. Edmonton scored the first goal in the first five games, yet won just two of them.

“Pretty much the story for most of the year. We just didn’t defend well enough,” coach Kris Knoblauch said. “You usually win or lose on your defensive play. It wasn’t good enough.”

Down 3-1 after the first period in Game 6, the Oilers had time but the Ducks turned a neutral-zone turnover by Evan Bouchard into an odd-man rush and a 4-1 lead before the end of the second period.

“As much as it hurts, I think they’re just a better team,” Draisaitl said.

Did the wear and tear of two long seasons factor into Edmonton’s earliest playoff exit in five years? Players weren't interested in discussing it.

“It’s not an excuse,” said forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “We just didn’t get the job done.”

May 1, 2026

Yankees Mailbag: Gil’s future and other roster moves

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 12: Luis Gil of the New York Yankees looks on in a game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 12, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

qmerkel asks: What do you think the Yankees will do with Luis Gil? Keep trying to develop him as a starter, move him to the bullpen, or trade him?

For now they’ll likely keep Gil stretched out as a starter down in Triple-A, since he’s the primary depth for the rotation should an injury occur to any of the current guys. Once Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are back and fully built up to their regular workload, then perhaps the organization could consider utilizing Gil as a reliever, but with his current velocity issues that might not be a feasible transition to make. The only thing I’d rule out in the immediate is a trade, as the team would be selling on Gil for pennies on the dollar — perhaps he can rebound and remain useful to the team, or at the very least find enough of his old form to be of value in a trade, but at the moment it doesn’t seem worth it to give up on him for the equivalent of a lottery ticket or two.

Jmack175 asks:Still early to think about the deadline, but outside of 3B/SS, the most obvious upgrades are in the bullpen — if we stay atop the East, do you think Cash will go all in and get some lock down late inning guys, and if so, who might be realistic?

I think the answer to the bullpen is two-fold: Cashman will inevitably perform some remodeling and grab a handful of relievers to shake things up, but he also won’t go for the flashiest, high-priced closers. David Bednar was a solid grab last year, but the Yankees managed to nab him at an affordable price that set him well apart from the other closers that changed teams over the deadline. Now that his performance has waned (or more accurately, just become too stressful to trust on a day-to-day basis), they may look for another closer to pass the baton to, but an easier get would be a suitable set-up level reliever that could be trusted to get elevated into the closer’s role if need be. Then the rest of the work can focus on retooling the bottom of the ‘pen, finding better answers than Camilo Doval or Jake Bird to bring in for the middle of games that can still swing in their favor. Admittedly, this area is the one they could most likely support from within the organization with their extended rotation depth, but the Yankees are always hunting for the next hidden gem of an arm and I’d be shocked if they didn’t try to pluck one out from under another team again this year.

SHSBN26 asks:With Stanton making his usual return to the IL, why does the Martian (and more perplexing Schuemann) get the call before Spencer Jones?

Max Schuemann is more or less just a stand-in while they wait for Anthony Volpe’s rehab to conclude, as they don’t want to call up a reliever just to send them back down and potentially need them back on the roster a couple of days later only to be blocked by the minimum amount of days they’d need to stay in the minors before their next call up. I’d be shocked if he’s around for much longer, and that shock would have more to do with whatever they’d decide to do with Volpe rather than reinsert him to the 26-man roster.

Jasson Domínguez, on the other hand, got the promotion ahead of Spencer Jones for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, he has already been a major leaguer, giving him familiarity with the team that would help in filling a short-term need while not having to worry about a rookie being unprepared for the biggest stage. On top of that, Domínguez has looked much more competent against lefties than he did last season which bodes well should he be filling in Stanton’s spot at DH. Domínguez’s defense may still be suspect, but if they don’t need to play him in the field then his bat can be a boon for this lineup. His recent hit-by-pitch throws this all into a bit of doubt, as Domínguez himself may need to follow Stanton onto the IL if it’s serious, but a fluke injury is no cause for concern regarding whether he should’ve been the one taking the at-bat in the first place.

May 1, 2026

Karlsson Skates With Golden Knights Ahead of Pivotal Game 6, Possibly Nearing Return

William Karlsson, who hasn’t seen game action in nearly seven months, skated with the Vegas Golden Knights ahead of a potentially series-clinching Game 6. He took the ice for morning skate and participated in 2-on-1 drills, but did not take part in line rushes or slot in on either special teams unit.

“He’s just with the team,” said Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella on Friday. “He’s been skating, and we want him around the team… He’s one of the boys, right? He’s been here a while, he’s won, and it’s good for him, too, to be around the guys.”

Karlsson played just 14 games during the regular season. He sustained a lower-body injury against the Anaheim Ducks on November 8th and was placed on Injured Reserve just a few days later. He participated in a practice with the team in December, but was subsequently placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve shortly thereafter.

Since then, updates have been few and far between. When general manager Kelly McCrimmon spoke to the media on March 30th following the coaching change, he shared that Karlsson would only be available to return this season if the Golden Knights made a deep postseason run.

“If we have a certain level of success in the playoffs, he’ll be able to play,” McCrimmon said when asked about Karlsson’s status.

Tortorella did not provide an updated timeline for Karlsson’s return, instead highlighting the morale boost that the Original Misfit’s presence provides to the Golden Knights and to Karlsson himself.

“This has nothing to do with Bill being close,” Tortorella said. “He’s gone through his progression, he’s been working out. We just wanted him to travel.”