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Why is it so hard to hit same-handed pitching? Royals players discuss why

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 31: Lane Thomas #15 of the Kansas City Royals singles against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on May 31, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In baseball, there is the game that’s played on the field, and then there are the games within the game. One of those games has to do with handedness. While only about 10% of the general public is left-handed, about 25% of big league innings are tossed by lefties. 

This presents an interesting reality: batters perform better against the opposite-handed pitcher–and vice-versa–the vast majority of the time. When you see a player’s batting or pitching line, then, you can think of it as being split between right- and left-handed opponents. Differences in performance versus same and opposite-handed opponents are so common and often so stark that it really should be at the top of our minds more often than it is.

So what is the reason why this is the case? There are a slew of them. But surely big leaguers would agree why they perform worse against opposite-handed players, right?

“I think it’s mostly angle,” Michael Massey told me about why righties are easier to hit for him.

“I don’t know if I have an explanation,” Lane Thomas replied when asked why he hits lefties better.

“It’s just reps and it’s also kind of mental for me,” Carter Jensen said about doing better against righties.

Hm. Well. Maybe it’s a little more complicated.

Different release points, different angles

The most obvious difference between right-handed pitchers and left-handed pitchers is where the baseball leaves their hand. Since our arms are on the side of the body and human throwing motion is not perfectly overhand, the average release point between different-handed pitchers can be pretty stark. 

Thanks to Statcast, we can see this relatively easily. Pitcher release angles vary widely, but generally speaking there’s about a four-foot distance between the release point of the average right-hander and the average left hander. That’s a pretty big difference.

Isaac Collins is one of the few remaining switch hitters in the league, and he’s the only switch hitter on the active Royals roster. He says the angles of pitches coming to the plate are the primary reason he’s a switch hitter.

“Since I was about 13, 14, I’ve only hit right-handed off lefties and I’ve only hit left-handed off righties,” Collins said. “It’s really just the angle of balls coming in. You see the ball better…It’s just kind of like a visual thing.” 

Do lefties and righties have different arm angles compared to each other? While the sidearming lefty reliever may come to mind, the reality is that fewer left-handers throw at extremely low arm angles than righties. Across both lefties and righties, the median arm angle is 39.1 degrees. But while 45.5% of lefties throw at an arm angle below 39.1 degrees, 51.2% of righties do. 

There is another factor here, Carter Jensen mentioned: release-point distance. The difference is small, but you have a little more time against opposite-handed pitchers. “[With] left on left heaters, you’re going to have less time against the [lefty] than you would have right on left here just because of the angle and the extension,” Jensen said. “[The] left-handed extension from a guy throwing a heater is a lot closer than a right-handed.”

Pitch movement

Arm angles and release points are important, but when you combine angles with pitch movement, you start to get to some interesting combinations. Identifying pitch types can be tricky for even seasoned baseball fans, but one of the key differentiators is horizontal movement. Pitches have either arm-side movement or glove-side movement. These can be called “run” or “cut” or “sweep,” but keeping to arm or glove movement is clean (and it’s what Statcast does). 

While some pitchers throw funky pitches that don’t follow the standard movement, in general you can categorize types of pitches this way:

  • Arm-side break pitches: Four-seam fastball, changeup, sinker, splitter
  • Glove-side break pitches: Curveball, cutter, slider, sweeper

Of course, “arm-side” and “glove-side” mean opposite things to the batter’s perspective depending on which side of the plate you stand. Against same-handed pitchers, arm-side movement breaks towards you and glove-side movement breaks away from you. But against opposite-handed pitchers, arm-side movement breaks away from you and glove-side pitches break towards you. 

Can arm-side pitches like a changeup or sinker move a lot horizontally? Sure. But it’s the glove-side pitch types that are the ones with a lot of horizontal movement. Lane Thomas identified that as the biggest reason why it’s more comfortable to face opposite-handed pitchers. 

“I just think you don’t have anything breaking away from you [against opposite-handed pitchers],” Thomas said. “Everything starts away and it’s coming into you…a lot of the breaking balls just start right at you to be a good pitch to hit.”

And for Michael Massey, the vertical movement is another factor to consider.

“For me, at least lefties that kind of have the ‘X’ game and make it sink and sweep, make it a little bit tougher because they can really stretch the plate,” Massey said. “The lefties that are more foreseeable are where nothing’s coming in, probably a little bit easier of a matchup for a same-side guy, just because you don’t have to worry about anything coming into you.” 

Practice, practice, practice

There are certainly some very real impacts on platoon hitting, but just about the only consistent thing mentioned was the impact of experience on hitting same-handed pitching. The more you do it, the better you get. 

“Part of playing this game right is physical mechanics and the swing and all that stuff, but the other part is your decision making and your decision making is built through the reps,” Massey said. “Every time you see a right-hander that throws from this angle with this type of spin, it goes into your database. And the next time you see that, you’re a little bit more familiar with it. And so I think obviously when you don’t get as many reps at doing something, you just don’t build that database as much and that database isn’t as advanced, which makes it tougher to be able to lay off certain pitches or see certain pitches because your mind hasn’t seen it enough.”

Jensen agreed. “I think I see the ball perfectly fine with both sides,” he said. “I think that against righties it’s just easier because I have so many more reps against righties.”

“I haven’t really gotten as many at-bats off righties,” Thomas said. “So it’s obviously harder to do something I haven’t done consistently. But that just seems to be the trend in the game or splits wouldn’t even be a thing.” 

There’s something to be said here that players shouldn’t be shoved into a platoon-only role too early as pros, because that just reinforces the issues at play with getting enough reps. However, there are only so many plate appearances you can get against left-handed pitching in particular. Left-handers are over-represented in the pitching world, but when only 10% of the population is left-handed, opportunities to face them regularly are inherently limited.

At the end of the day, there are so many factors in play that the mental side of things is nearly as important. “I think it’s just a tricky subject,” Jensen said. “I feel like it’s different for everybody. Or for me, it’s just reps and also kind of mental.”

“I don’t dislike hitting lefties…at the end of the day hitting righty or lefty, if I stick to my plan, I’m in a good spot.”

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Spurs-Knicks Finals ticket prices plummet before Game 3. Get them at a discount

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson drives to the hoop.

The Knicks are back in the New York groove.

Eighteen days after their last game at Madison Square Garden — when they played the Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals on May 21 — Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby return to Manhattan tonight for their first NBA Finals game at MSG this century.

The Knicks are up 2-0 against Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs and ticket prices for Game 3 are through the roof.

However, what you might not have heard is that last-minute prices are dropping.

When our team last reported how much Knicks MSG Finals Game 3 tickets cost on June 5, the cheapest seats available were $8,417 including fees on SeatGeek.

Now, just one long weekend later, prices start at $4,585 including fees at the time of publication.

That’s a whopping $3,832 in savings.

Should you purchase, make sure to use promo code NYPOST10 at checkout to save an additional $10 if you’d like to sweeten the deal just a little more (Editor’s Note: this discount is only valid for users’ first purchase on SeatGeek).

Knicks stars can’t wait to put on a show for their faithful either.

“We got to be desperate for these fans,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after practice Sunday, according to The Post. “Fans have earned the right and deserve the right to see Finals basketball be played here at Madison Square Garden. For this to be the first game in a long time that they have seen Finals basketball, it’s up to us to bring it, give ’em something to cheer for, give ’em something to get loud for and also give ’em something to believe in.”

More Coverage on the Knicks during the 2026 NBA Finals

If you’re on the fence, now is the time to act especially since the lowest price on seats for Game 4 on Wednesday is $9,280 including fees.

Prepare for roadblocks tonight as well with President Trump planning to attend.

“NYPD and Secret Service officials outlined planned closures ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden Monday as President Trump is expected to attend the Knicks’ matchup with the San Antonio Spurs,” The Post reported.

For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden below.

What do tickets cost for Knicks NBA Finals games at MSG?

A complete calendar, including all announced Knicks NBA Finals home game dates and the best prices on tickets are listed here:

New York Knicks NBA Finals home game datesTicket prices
start at		Ticket prices
started at on 6/5
Game 3
Monday, June 8		$4,585(including fees)$8,417
(including fees)
Game 4
Wednesday, June 10		$9,280(including fees)$8,079
(including fees)
Game 6
Tuesday, June 16
(if necessary)		$11,510(including fees)$8,190
(including fees)

What do tickets cost for Spurs NBA Finals games in San Antonio?

All Spurs playoff home game dates at the Frost Bank Center and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.

San Antonio Spurs home game datesTicket prices
start at
Game 5
Saturday, June 13
7:30 p.m.
(if necessary)		$1,761(including fees)
Game 7
Friday, June 197:30 p.m.
(if necessary)		$4,634(including fees)

What are the Knicks Finals home game giveaways at MSG?

New York Post social media guru Olivia Silio let us know that there are likely some additional perks to attending Finals games at MSG.

“The first home game of the series, you’ll go home with a souvenir t-shirt, commemorating the game,” she said, based on her experience attending the Eastern Conference Finals.

“Other games have ‘Always Knicks’ towels for fans to keep as well as interactive arena bracelets, used for light shows and hyping up the crowd. Another bonus is you may see your favorite actor, singer or athlete, rooting alongside you.”

How can I watch the Knicks and Spurs in the NBA Finals on TV?

Fans hoping to catch Mike Brown’s ballers on the tube can watch all NBA Finals games on ABC and ESPN.

Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.

If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.

What are the planned closures for Game 3 of the NBA Finals?

The Post reported this is what you need to know:

  • Vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be prevented from entering from West 30th Street to West 35th Street between 6th Avenue and Eighth Avenue starting at 4 p.m., the NYPD said.
  • The only people allowed inside that perimeter will be fans with tickets, commuters going to Penn Station and those who are working inside that part of Midtown Manhattan.
  • Fans won’t be allowed to bring backpacks, bags, purses or other containers inside the venue and are strongly advised to show up at least two hours before tip-off. There will be no storage area for spectators who bring a bag, officials warned.
  • “All attendees will pass through TSA-style magnetometer screening before entering the arena,” said Matt McCool, who is the Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service’s New York field office.

Huge concerts at MSG in 2026

Not sure what to do once the final buzzer sounds on the 2025-26 NBA season?

MSG has you covered.

The legendary venue has booked a number of exciting acts to entertain audiences all summer long.

Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live.

• Bon Jovi (July 7-9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26)

• Earth, Wind, and Fire with Lionel Richie (July 11)

• Phish (July 22, 24, 25, 27, 29)

• RUSH (July 28, 30, Aug. 1, 3)

• J. Cole (Aug. 2, 4)

Want to see who else is Big Apple-bound? Check out this list of all the upcoming events at Madison Square Garden to find the show for you.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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Fred Andersen or Brandon Bussi: Who Should Start Game 4?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 06: Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Three of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 06, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The primary discussion around the hockey water cooler today is, who should start in net for the Carolina Hurricanes in game four of the Stanley Cup Final.

After allowing four goals on 16 shots, (and two more that were not counted), in the first two periods of game 3, Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour did something extremely rare for him. He pulled his starting goaltender.

After the game, he was quick not to place any blame on his goaltender.

“There was no reason to leave Freddie in there the way that game was going… (Bussi) gave us a chance. (The overtime winner) is a tough break. I hate it for him, because he was playing great.”

It seemed like more of a mercy change, rather than a change to relieve a tired Frederik Andersen. And let’s be frank, Andersen did look tired, to the eye test anyway if not strictly by the poor stats. (.750 save percentage for the game).

Andersen has a SV% of .815 in this series.

Bussi came in and did not allow anything until the goofy game-winner in the second OT. He allowed one goal on 19 shots.

In the first two series of the playoffs, Andersen was outstanding and was rated the best goalie in the playoffs.

He also played very well in the Montreal series, though not as sparkling as in the first two.

But now in the Stanley Cup Final, he seems slower than in the previous series.

During the past three regular seasons, Brind’Amour has rotated his goalies, seemingly with the idea to keep them fresh. Especially Andersen, who has a history of wearing down if over-played.

Then when the playoffs start, Brind’Amour throws out that strategy and plays Andersen exclusively. While the goalie has played well, after the first two rounds his performance drops below what it was during the earlier playoff series.

Brind’Amour has done the same thing this postseason, even though Brandon Bussi carried the load during most of the regular season. Bussi posted a 31-6-2 record with a GAA of 2.47 and SV% .895.

In contrast, Andersen was 16-14-5 with a GAA of 3.05 and SV% of .874.

To be fair, Andersen was the better goalie down the stretch although he was played more often than Bussi. After the Olympic break, where Bussi saw no action, they gave Andersen more starts even though he played during the Olympics.

The coaching staff had made their minds up at this time who the Carolina goalie would be during the playoffs. Up until now it has looked like a good decision, but does Andersen have anything left in the tank?

If you were the head coach, who would you go with?

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Fantasy baseball streaming starting pitchers: Dustin May surging, Jack Perkins in the rotation

Welcome to your fantasy baseball starting pitcher happy place. This is a new column for me this year that will combine a few things I've done in the past. In this article, every Monday, you'll not only get a list of my favorite streaming starting pitchers for the whole week, but underneath that, you'll get a breakdown of a few pitchers who are making interesting changes to their pitch mix. Today I covered Dustin May, Roki Sasaki, Jack Perkins, and Shane Drohan.

It's a little bit of rankings and a little bit of analysis, and hopefully a lot of help for your teams.

As far as which pitchers on this list you'll want to stream, your decisions will change based on your league type and settings. Since I'm listing starters for all week, I'm not going to be able to give a detailed analysis for each one; I'll highlight the matchup and some quick thoughts. As is usual with my articles, a streaming starter pitcher is rostered in less than 40% of Yahoo formats, so just keep that in mind as we’re going through because I won't be mentioning pitchers who are rostered in more leagues than that, and I also won't be mentioning pitchers who I would not start in any format.

Check out this week’s MLB Power Rankings!

Starting Pitcher Streamers of the Week

Monday

Some Hesitation

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Mason Englert1%vs BOS15s and deeper
Jeffrey Springs24%vs MIL15s and deeper

There are not a lot of games on Monday, and a few of them feature aces, so this is a brutal day for streaming. Mason Englert has been stretched out by the Rays and is operating as a bulk reliever. That makes him a bit intriguing against a mediocre Boston offense.

Tuesday

Strong Preference

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Troy Melton26%vs MIN12s and deeper
Dustin May26%at NYM12s and deeper

Fairly Confident

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Stephen Kolek19%vs TEX12s and deeper
J.T. Ginn41%vs MIL12s and deeper
Walbert Urena28%vs HOU12s and deeper
Grant Holmes29%at CWS15s and deeper

Some Hesitation

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Kai-Wei Teng16%at LAA15s and deeper
Andrew Alvarez1%at SF15s and deeper
Lucas Giolito7%vs CIN15s and deeper

Dustin May has made some changes to his pitch mix, which I wrote about below. I'm also a fan of what Troy Melton is doing in Detroit, even if the strikeouts haven't been there. J.T.Ginn and Walbert Urena are cruising of late, so you're going to pitch them, but Urena gets a tougher matchup here against Houston, and Ginn is pitching in Sacramento, which always makes me nervous. We also get Andrew Alvarez against the Giants, who are maybe the worst offense in baseball; that could work in deeper formats.

Wednesday

Strong Preference

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Christian Scott25%vs STLAll league types
Peter Lambert22%at LAA12s and deeper

Fairly Confident

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Seth Lugo39%vs TEX12s and deeper
Jake Bennett5%vs TB15s and deeper
Andre Pallante9%at NYM15s and deeper

Some Hesitation

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Brandon Young9%vs SEA15s and deeper
Zebby Matthews27%at DET15s and deeper
Jack Perkins4%vs MIL15s and deeper

Christian Scott probably needs to be rostered in more formats and gets a decent matchup here against a feisty Cardinals offense, but one I think he can handle. The same goes for Peter Lambert against an Angels offense without Jorge Soler. Jake Bennett is back up with the Red Sox and firmly on the streaming radar, but this one makes me nervous. Seth Lugo is in a decent spot against the Rangers, but they just got back Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford, so I might rather use Andre Pallante against a mediocre Mets offense.

Thursday

Fairly Confident

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Keider Montero11%vs MIN15s and deeper
Kumar Rocker10%at KC15s and deeper
Hunter Dobbins1%at NYM15s and deeper

Some Hesitation

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Martin Perez21%at CWS15s and deeper

Another pretty bad day for streaming. The Cardinals are apparently going to put Hunter Dobbins back in the rotation, which we like because he could honestly be their best starter.

Friday

Fairly Confident

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Tatsuya Imai41%at KC12s and deeper
Jack Leiter40%at BOS12s and deeper
Zack Littell18%vs SEA15s and deeper

Some Hesitation

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Connor Prielipp10%vs STL15s and deeper
Sean Manaea14%vs ATL15s and deeper

Another day with no matchups I truly love. Tatsuya Imai has been better lately, but he's still really just throwing two pitches, which makes me nervous. Zack Littell has been on a hot streak, but the talent is pretty average, so this feels like a ticking time bomb. I like Sean Manaea in a bulk relief role, but I hate this matchup, and Connor Prielipp needs to find something other than his really good slider if he wants to be a consistent MLB starter.

Saturday

Strong Preference

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Griffin Jax30%at LAA12s and deeper

Fairly Confident

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Noah Cameron41%vs HOU12s and deeper
Gage Jump25%vs COL12s and deeper
Randy Vasquez42%at BAL15s and deeper
Trevor McDonald13%vs CHC15s and deeper

Some Hesitation

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Jameson Taillon19%at SF15s and deeper
Joey Cantillo30%vs DET15s and deeper
Mike Burrows15%at KC15s and deeper
Braxton Garrett1%at PIT15s and deeper
Rhett Lowder8%vs ARI15s and deeper
Shane Drohan15%vs PHI15s and deeper
Matthew Liberatore14%at MIN15s and deeper

People gave up on Griffin Jax a bit too soon. I think this is a profile that can work as a starter. It's a good matchup this week as well. Noah Cameron has also found his command of late and is on a hot stretch, while Gage Jump had two solid starts on the road this week. I hate that he pitches in Sacramento, but I think I have to go for it with week against the Rockies. Shane Drohan, who I covered below, intrigues me, but I don't like this start.

Sunday

Strong Preference

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Stephen Kolek19%vs HOU12s and deeper

Fairly Confident

PitcherRoster%OpponentLeague Type
Grant Holmes29%at NYM15s and deeper
Michael McGreevy39%at MIN15s and deeper
Mason Englert1%at LAA15s and deeper

Stephen Kolek is currently on the family medical emergency list, but he will be back for this start. He's been pitching well of late, and so we'll just hope he can keep it going.

Starting Pitcher Pitch Mix Changes

Dustin May - Cardinals (Cutter Usage)

A pitch mix change has unlocked a solid run of production for Dustin May. In his first three starts of the year, May threw almost 31% four-seam fastballs and just 11% cutters. He had a few terrible outings in that stretch and wasn’t missing bats at all with a 17% strikeout rate and 7.4% swinging strike rate to go along with a 9.45 ERA. Then, he made a shift. Over his next nine starts, he reduced his fastball usage to 24% and upped his cutter usage to 26%. Since then, May has a 3.38 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 23% strikeout rate, and nearly 11% swinging strike rate, so why is this working?

For starters, May's cutter gives up far less hard contact. On the season, he has a 27% Ideal Contact Rate (ICR) and 3.8% barrel rate allowed compared to a 41.3% ICR and 6.8% barrel rate on the four-seamer. Because of May's lower arm slot, his four-seamer also has below-average vertical movement and a lot more horizontal movement than normal. That is a problem for lefties because the four-seamer will tail out over the plate a bit more, kind of like a sinker. As a result, lefties hit May's four-seamer harder and swing and miss less often. The cutter has been a pitch that he's able to use 67% of the time early in counts to lefties and get ahead, which then sets up his sweeper, which actually has a 32% PutAway Rate to lefties this year (that measures how often a two-strike pitch results in a strikeout)

May has also used the cutter more against righties. In this nine-start stretch, he's throwing the cutter 31% to lefties and 16.6% to righties, using it early in the count 76% of the time for righties. Despite it being an early-count pitch for righties, it actually has a 24% swinging strike rate over these last nine starts, likely because May is so sinker-four-seamer focused to righties that when he throws a cutter that's four mph slower than his fastballs and with a different movement profile, hitters are lost. The addition of the cutter has also led to less hard contact on his four-seamer against righties and more swing and miss on the four-seamer since he's locating it up in the zone 66% of the time. This may just be a hot stretch for May, but it's founded in some pitch mix changes, so it's something we can start to get behind.

Jack Perkins - Athletics (Slider Usage, Move to Rotation)

It seems that the Athletics are moving Jack Perkins back to the rotation. The 26-year-old was a starting pitching prospect for his entire minor league career with the Athletics, but he was moved to the bullpen last season to facilitate his promotion to the big leagues, and he looked good in that role, pitching to a 2.75 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. This season, he seemed like a good bet to take over the Athletics' closer role and recorded three saves before the wheels fell off. On Friday, he made his first traditional start of the season, allowing five runs on five hits in four innings against the Astros.

As a starter, Perkins threw 34.7% fastballs, which was down about 6% from his usage as a reliever, just because he needs to mix in more pitches. He maintained a 28% sweeper usage, which was around what he was doing as a reliever, and upped his cutter usage a bit, to nearly 11%. However, the big story is that Perkins busted out a harder, gyro slider for the first time this season and threw that nearly 15% of the time. His sweeper is 86 mph with 13.4 inches of horizontal movement and just 0.2 inches of drop. It has missed bats to both righties and lefties this season. It has actually given up less hard contact to lefties, so this appears to be a platoon-neutral pitch, considering he uses it 40% of the time in two-strike counts regardless of hitter handedness. The slider that he showed on Friday was 89.3 mph with about four inches of horizontal movement and just one inch of break. He didn't throw a single one in two-strike counts and used it more as an early strike pitch, even though it's still more of a whiff pitch than a called strike pitch.

That gyro slider appears to be a middle ground pitch between the sweeper and a cutter that's 92.5 mph with no horizontal movement and 6.1 inches of rise. On the season, Perkins has commanded that cutter well with a 56% zone rate and 74% strike rate, but he doesn't use it that often. If he's going to handle starting lineups that have plenty of left-handed hitters, I think the cutter and gyro slider pairing is going to be crucial for him. The cutter finds the zone often, and the gyro slider can miss bats. He can then also mix in his four-seam fastball, which is not a great pitch for lefties because he has lots of horizontal break and below-average rise. I see how this CAN work, but it hasn't yet, so we should just watch another start or two before we get ready to add Perkins.

Roki Sasaki - Dodgers (Fastball Shape, Slider Usage)

I've been hard on Roki Sasaki as a starter this year, and a big reason was that his best pitch was a splitter, which relied on him to get ahead with his four-seam fastball, yet his four-seam fastball didn't miss bats and got hit hard. A shallow arsenal with a bad fastball is not a recipe for success. Yet, something interesting is happening over the last four starts.

At the beginning of the season, Sasaki's four-seamer was 97 mph with 15.4 inches of vertical movement. He threw it up in the zone 42% of the time, and it posted just a 7.2% swinging strike rate with a 63% strike rate, 84.5 contact rate, and 47.5% ideal contact rate allowed. Over his last four starts, Sasaki's four-seamer has been 97.6 mph with 17.1 inches of vertical movement. He has responses to the increase in vertical movement by throwing it up in the zone 52% of the time (and 57% in his last three starts). That has led to a 14% swinging strike rate, 77% strike rate, 76% contact rate, and 33% ideal contact rate allowed.

Does Roki Sasaki have a good fastball now? I'm not sure if it's just due to a location change or he has really added vertical movement to his four-seamer, but that's a huge change. He's not only able to get ahead with his four-seamer, but he can actually get swinging strikes on it now, which sets up his splitter. What's more, Sasaki has started to locate his slider better lately as well. In those last three starts, he has a nearly 61% strike rate on it and a 21% swinging strike rate, thanks to better command down in the strike zone. He has responded by using it 26% of the time over the last three starts and 33% of the time to righties. Yes, he may still be just a three-pitch pitcher, but all three of these pitches appear to be working now, and we love to see that.

Shane Drohan - Brewers (Sinker, Slider, and Cutter Usage, Move to the Rotation)

The only way the Red Sox trade with the Brewers this offseason that featured Kyle Harrison and Caleb Durbin could get worse is if Shane Drohan also emerged as a weapon for the Brewers. So far, he certainly has, pitching to a 3.11 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 24% strikeout rate in 37.2 innings. That success caused the Brewers to shift Drohan from his multi-inning relief role and move him into the rotation over the last two starts. Now, in 10.1 innings as a "starter," he has allowed five runs on nine hits, but I think there is plenty of upside in this role, if the Brewers keep him there.

As a starter, we've seen a minor change in Drohan's pitch mix. In his first 11 games, he led with his four-seamer 26.2 of the time, but also used his cutter 20%, his sinker 19%, and his slider 17%, among other pitches. In his last two starts, he's kept the four-seam usage pretty consistent, but decreased his cutter usage to 3% while increasing his sinker to 31% sinker and his slider to 25%.

While the initial inclination is to believe this has to do with batter handedness, on the season, he uses his cutter 16.3% to righties and 14.4% to lefties, so it wouldn't seem to make sense that he would just scrap it because he was facing more righties in a start. His slider was also a pitch he used almost exclusively to lefties early on, but he has thrown it to righties 15.6% and 19.4% of the time in his last two starts. He has saved it primarily for two-strike counts, using it there over 60% of the time on the season and recently, but the slider hasn't really performed as a two-strike pitch to righties, with just a 14.3% PutAway Rate.

Drohan's curve and four-seamer have been better as two-strike pitches against righties this season, which connects to the other changes. Drohan has upped his curveball usage to righties about 4% in his last two starts, mixing it in early in counts but also throwing it nearly 29% of the time in two-strike counts. He has a 57% strike rate and three strikeouts on it, so it's been a solid complementary pitch. However, the four-seamer has an outrageous 36.8% swinging strike rate and 47.4% CSW in the last two starts. Yes, he faced the Rockies (in Coors, though) and the Giants, so we're taking this with a grain of salt, but Drohan has thrown 35% sinkers to right-handers over those starts, up from 22% on the season. He keeps the sinker away to righties and is now throwing his four-seamer outside 37% of the time to righties and elevating it 84% (up from 66% on the year). By using sinkers early in the count to righties more often, he establishes a fastball movement pattern and location (middle-away) and then elevates the four-seamer over the top of that to get plenty of swings and misses. It's a bit of a dangerous approach because his sinker doesn't miss bats to righties and has given up a fair amount of hits, so I'd like to see him turn back to the cutter a bit, but if he doesn't feel comfortable elevating the four-seamer inside to righties, then the cutter and four-seamer pairing won't work as well.

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Flyers' First-Line Center Search Takes Multiple Hits

It is no secret that the Philadelphia Flyers should be looking to find a legitimate first-line center this off-season. It is their biggest need as they look to take another step forward next season.

Unfortunately for the Flyers, they have received bad news on two of the NHL's top trade candidate centers. 

Dylan Larkin and Robert Thomas were both viewed as prime potential targets for the Flyers. However, based on recent reports, the likelihood of the Flyers landing either one of them is very low. 

The Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James revealed Larkin's trade list, and the Flyers were not among the teams on it. Instead, Larkin's wanted destinations are the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Minnesota Wild. With Larkin having a full no-trade clause, he has complete say over where he will be moved. 

As for Thomas, Andy Strickland recently revealed that the Blues are unlikely to trade Thomas this off-season, and he is expected to be on their roster at training camp. 

These are certainly tough updates for the Flyers, as Thomas and Larkin were both prime potential options for their first-line center spot. Yet, the Flyers will now need to explore their options elsewhere. Unfortunately, this year's free agent market is not going to provide them with that, as the best pending UFA centers are Boone Jenner, Scott Laughton, Erik Haula, and Jack Roslovic. 

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Atlanta Hawks agree to multi-year extension with coach Quin Snyder

As Atlanta is pivoting from the Trae Young era to a new iteration with Jalen Johnson as part of its core, it is locking up its brain trust. First was working out a long-term deal with the head of basketball operations, Onsi Saleh.

Now the Hawks have locked up head coach Quin Snyder with a multi-year extension, the team announced.

"Quin has been a phenomenal leader for our team, and extending his contract reflects our commitment to stability and sustained growth as we build toward high-level success," Saleh said in a statement. "Over the past three seasons and amid an evolving roster, we've seen clear, measurable progress, which is a testament to the culture he's established and the leadership he brings every day. He has created an environment where our players are challenged, supported, and empowered to grow, and that focus on player development has elevated our entire program."

This was expected. Atlanta ownership has been understandably happy with how the team has been built and coached, how it has pivoted out of the Trae Young era without going into a total rebuild. With that, it has rewarded and locked down the guys in charge.

Snyder joined the Hawks during the 2022-23 season and, this past season, helped the Hawks pivot away from the Trae Young era — he was traded to Washington at the deadline — toward a more balanced offense led by Jalen Johnson. The Hawks were 20-6 after the All-Star break without Young, finished sixth in the East and (as of today) were the last team to take a game from the New York Knicks in the playoffs.

"I am grateful to the Ressler family and humbled to continue leading this team. I love this group of players, love coaching this team and am fortunate to have a tremendous coaching staff. Atlanta has truly been home for my family, and I am excited to continue this journey," Snyder said in a statement. "Tony, Jami and the entire Ressler family are deeply committed to providing us every resource we need for success and the partnership Onsi and I have developed is strong, with the shared focus of bringing Hawks fans the success they deserve."

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Are The Marlies Staff, Players Destined For Maple Leafs And NHL Roles?: Comparing This Year's Marlies To The 2018 Calder Cup Champions

The Toronto Marlies have booked their ticket to the AHL's Calder Cup final after defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2-1 in overtime on Sunday night, ending the Eastern Conference final series in six games.

The Marlies now await the winner between the Colorado Eagles and Chicago Wolves to kick off their first Calder Cup final appearance since 2018.

Plenty has changed since the Marlies won their first Calder Cup in 2018. Several members of the team's staff earned NHL roles, either with the Toronto Maple Leafs or elsewhere, and the same can be said for a handful of the players.

In 2018, Kyle Dubas was the GM of the Marlies, and Sheldon Keefe was the head coach of the team. The very next season after winning the Calder Cup, Dubas became GM of the Maple Leafs, and Keefe was promoted to coach them in 2019-20.

While they haven't won any Stanley Cups since or any notable playoff runs, they've led the Maple Leafs to some excellent regular seasons. In fact, the Dubas and Keefe Leafs are responsible for three of Toronto's six best NHL seasons in franchise history. That includes the top two, with a 115-point campaign in 2021-22 and a 111-point season in 2022-23.

GM Ryan Hardy runs this year's Marlies team, and John Gruden is the head coach. Hardy has been the GM of the Marlies since 2021-22, while this is Gruden's third year as the bench boss.

After the Maple Leafs fired Brad Treliving, Hardy, alongside Brandon Pridham, was co-GM of the NHL team to finish out the year. Before that, Hardy had been an assistant GM for four seasons.

As for Gruden, with the head coaching vacancy with the Maple Leafs, he could very well be a candidate to lead the NHL team from behind the bench next season. For the most part, coaches who win the Calder Cup get an opportunity in the NHL. 

Examples of that would be Jon Cooper, Jared Bednar, Jeff Blashill, Ryan Warsofsky and now Manny Malhotra. Even further down the line in history, Todd McLellan, John Tortorella, Peter Laviolette, Barry Trotz, and others have won the Calder Cup and had notable careers behind an NHL bench. 

So, for the Marlies' Gruden, a promotion could be in the fold in the near future.

'I've Gotten A Bit Stronger': Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Feels Marlies Playoff Run Helped Him Grow'I've Gotten A Bit Stronger': Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan Feels Marlies Playoff Run Helped Him GrowWith big moments in the Calder Cup playoffs with the Toronto Marlies, Toronto Maple Leafs youngster Easton Cowan believes that his game has been growing on the ice.

In terms of the Marlies roster that won the 2018 Calder Cup, there are several familiar names that went on to become NHL regulars not long after.

Many players on that team have played over 300 NHL games, including the likes of Trevor Moore, Justin Holl, Mason Marchment, Kasperi Kapanen, Travis Dermott, Timothy Liljegren, Pierre Engvall and Carl Grundstrom. 

This year's team has more veterans on the roster compared to the 2018 winning team. However, there are still some youngsters who could make an impression in the NHL one day.

Players such as Easton Cowan and Jacob Quillan have already stuck their foot in the door with the Maple Leafs and will likely get plenty more opportunities next year.

In addition, Luke Haymes, Ryan Tverberg, Noah Chadwick, and, of course, the strong goaltending tandem of Artur Akhtyamov and Dennis Hildeby could be destined for the NHL in the coming years.

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MLB Home Run Predictions Today: Best HR Prop Bets, Picks, Parlay & Odds for Monday, June 8

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With Josh off, I'm pinch-hitting with a trio of MLB home run predictions on Monday, June 8.

It's a lighter slate, with only eight games on the schedule, but sometimes it's better not to have an overabundance of options for our MLB player props.

My MLB home run predictions wrap things up by adding William Contreras to sluggers Adley Rutschman and Rafael Devers, as the Brewers touch down in Sin City for a duel with the A's.

  • UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.

Best MLB home run props today

Player to hit a HROdds
Orioles Adley Rutschman+598
Giants Rafael Devers+416
Brewers William Contreras+396
💲Today's HR parlay+17404

Home run pick: Adley Rutschman (+598)

I like fading Seattle Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock today and in perpetuity with my MLB picks. The hurler has seemingly made strides, but his increased strikeout rate and suppressed ERA are teetering on the edge of collapse. 

His 4.17 expected ERA gives us the first sign of trouble. Meanwhile, contact metrics all favor his opponents, as his chase, barrel, and hard-hit rates all rank in the 20th percentile or worse. He lives in the zone and has gotten by with his mediocre stuff getting hit right at defenders and a 25.8% strikeout rate that defies his actual swing-and-miss numbers.

The question becomes which Baltimore Orioles bat to target. Pete Alonso is the most logical, but he also has the shortest number. BallparkPal has winds blowing to left field, so his +391 price tag may well be worth it anyway. Instead, I'll grab resurgent catcher Adley Rutschman as he continues to prove that he's more than Matt Wieters 2.0.

Rutschman has made incredible gains under the hoodyear over year, ranking among the elite in many Statcast metrics. And while he'll step in as a lefty against Hancock, the wind to left field doesn't scare me, as he's sprayed his power over the field. 

The 28-year-old also ranks second on the O's in BlastContact% at 17.7% (min. 200 PAs), trailing only — you guessed it — Alonso.

    • Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
    • Where to watch: Mariners.TV, MASN

Home run pick: Rafael Devers (+416)

Oracle Park is not the most homer-happy ballpark, but Washington Nationals starter Miles Mikolas has allowed 14 long balls in 56 1/3 innings, and the bullpen boasts the fifth-worst HR/9 among all MLB relief units.

For as good as the offense has been, the pitching staff has been equally terrible.

Rafael Devers paces the San Francisco Giants in BlastContact% (17.4%), and ranks in the 88th percentile in both average exit velocity and hard-hit rate.

His fly ball metrics are generally in line with his career numbers, if not a touch better than his time in Boston. At +416, he's worth a sprinkle in a super favorable matchup, and I'd play it down to +375.

    • Time: 9:45 p.m. ET
    • Where to watch: Nationals.TV, NBC Sports Bay Area

Home run pick: William Contreras (+396)

The A's are moving to Las Vegas! Temporarily!

Tonight marks the A's first of six straight home games at Las Vegas Ballpark, with the Milwaukee Brewers coming to town. It's projected to feature the friendliest hitter environment on the schedule by a country mile, per BallparkPal.

While I'm tempted to target home-team sluggers like Shea Langeliers and Brent Rooker, their price tags have them below +300 to go deep, and Brewers left-hander Kyle Harrison has generally done a fantastic job at limiting the long ball. It doesn't mean he can't be gotten to, but I'd rather get a longer number if I'm going to fade him.

Instead, Jeffrey Springs is the lefty hurler to target. He has surrendered 14 home runs in 70  innings and boasts the 12th-highest fly-ball rate in MLB and the eighth-worst HR/FB rate among qualified starters.

William Contreras hasn't exhibited the best power of his career this season. Still, he is one of the hardest hitters in baseball to strike out (91st percentile K%) and is squaring the ball up well, but it just hasn't resulted in over-the-fence production. Yet.

Given the nature of Las Vegas Ballpark, which projects to be a hitter's haven not unlike Sacramento's Sutter Health Park, I like Contreras at a better value than teammate Jackson Chourio (+278).

    • Time: 10:05 p.m. ET
    • Where to watch: Brewers.TV, NBC Sports California

See our full Brewers vs. A's predictions for today.

Today’s HR parlay

Orioles Adley RutschmanBet Now
+17404
Giants Rafael Devers
Brewers William Contreras

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Canadiens Should Target Vegas Defenseman

The Montreal Canadiens’ blueline isn’t exactly the most physical in the league, and Martin St-Louis doesn’t have a lot of trust in Arber Xhekaj, whether he wants to admit it or not. The gritty blueliner even played just 1:52 in his last game in the playoffs, and it looks like he could be moved this summer, even if he is an RFA.

If that’s the case, Kent Hughes should take a long, hard look at Jeremy Lauzon. The Vegas Golden Knights blueliner won’t fill the net; he’s a stay-at-home blueliner, but he’s one that definitely has his coach’s trust, and he’s a Quebecer.

Today In Canadiens History: A Legendary Coaching Career Started
Canadiens Report Card Bottom Six Edition
Canadiens Report Card Defensemen Edition

If Vegas doesn’t sign him to a contract extension, Hughes should pounce. The 29-year-old might be a left-shot defender, but he would steady the Habs’ third pairing. He’s 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, and over his 384 career games in the NHL, he has averaged 17:34 of ice time.

In Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final, which went to double overtime, he spent 25:08 on the ice, blocked six shots and landed four hits. He’s also used on the Knights' second penalty killing unit, which would lighten the load on Lane Hutson. While the sophomore defenseman has shown that he can play on the PK, it would be ideal if St-Louis didn’t have to use him when Montreal is down a man; he could rest him and get more offensive minutes out of him.

Lauzon is coming off a four-year contract with a $2 million cap hit. Granted, he’ll be after a raise, but he might still not be all that expensive and with the cap going up again this upcoming season, the Canadiens could afford to make the move. The one red flag may be his injury history, but it would be worth digging into it to establish if he’s injury prone, or just unlucky.

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Yankees Birthday of the Day: Tacks Neuer

Collage (created for Lajoie's Official Base Ball Guide) features players from the New York Highlanders baseball team, 1907. (Photo by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Like many people born in the 1870s, there are not a lot of records of John “Tacks” Neuer. However, due to a successful but incredibly brief run in the nation’s national pastime, Neuer finds himself remembered some 149 years after he was welcomed into this world.

Before getting into his life and brief career, the Tacks nickname deserves to be addressed. Neuer was also called “Bugs” by his teammates. Both nicknames stemmed from Neuer’s behavior both on and off the field. With all due respect, the best I could gather is that Neuer was something of an early baseball version of Wild Thing Rick Vaughn. Both in terms of being a unique character and one who lacked control of the baseball when hurling it off the mound.

John Stein Neuer
Born: Born: June 8, 1877 (Fremont, Ohio)

Died: January 14, 1966 (Northumberland, Pennsylvania)

Yankees (Highlanders) Tenure: 1907

Neuer was the first born of a large family. When he was young the family relocated to central Pennsylvania. It was in the heart of Appalachia’s Pennsylvania coal country that Neuer grew up and spent most of his life.

Lucky enough to avoid World War I, Neuer still saw service in the US Military. That service came in the Spanish-American War. For those less historically inclined, and apologies to those who are more knowledgeable, the war between the Spanish Empire and the United States lasted about two months in 1898. Neuer enlisted and served as a private in the military for the year.

Upon being discharged from the military, Neuer returned home and began working for the railroad. While working on the railroad Neuer played baseball in his free time and grew into a local legend due to his lefty presence on the mound and impressive talent both hitting and on the basepaths. Neuer was a talented pitcher but often found his control would simply disappear.

After bouncing around playing where he could Neuer found himself almost 30-years-old and as far from the big leagues as ever. However, fate had other plans as Neuer found his way to Savannah Georgia in 1907. In Savannah, not for the Bananas, Neuer put together one of the best runs of his career and it just happened at the right time.

On August 23, 1907, the New York Highlanders purchased Neuer. The Highlanders had struggled to that point in the year and needed some pitching to make it through the season, and were hopeful of finding a few diamonds in the rough for the next season. Neuer and his impressive three-month stretch fit the bill.

A few days after joining the club, Neuer made his debut against the Boston Americans in the second game of a doubleheader. Neuer earned the win throwing a complete game shutout holding the Americans to only three hits and striking out six. Over the course of six more starts Neuer threw two more shutouts including a two hitter against the Washington Senators and a three hitter against the Chicago White Sox. Neuer’s final line for the season was a 4-2 record with a 2.17 ERA across 54.0 innings.

This performance dazzled and had many fans dreaming about what Neuer could be next year in a full season. Once again, fate had other plans. Neuer lost control of the baseball and tried to start throwing the junk pitches of the day like knuckleballs and the likes. This caused Neuer’s star to burn out as quickly as it streaked through the 1907 season and ended his major league career after only a few months.

The ending coming so quickly allows for some unique history. Neuer is still one of only a few pitchers in major league history to throw a complete game shutout in their first and final major league starts. Additionally, Neuer still owns the highest percentage of shutouts per start, excluding players who only made one start. In a way, Neuer almost feels like an early version of a Yankees cult hero, Aaron Small.

Neuer bounced around playing for several different minor league teams for several years, not officially retiring from playing until the 1913 season. After retiring, Neuer continued to be a part of the game. Neuer crossed over to the dark side and became an umpire. In this second cameo, Neuer made a name for himself as one of the original character umpires, known for a loud and one-of-a-kind strike call, laying the foundation for the likes of Ron Luciano, Dutch Rennert, and Tom Hallion amongst over umpires who have went untraditional in their approaches.

While his playing career at the highest level proved brief, Neuer remained connected to baseball for decades and left behind one of the most interesting statistical resumes in the sport’s history. A player, umpire, and Yankee.

Happy birthday Tacks!

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Hannes Steinbach is a polished offensive big that should be a lottery pick

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 11: Hannes Steinbach #6 of the Washington Huskies shoots against the USC Trojans in the first half during the second round of the 2026 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 11, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Are you interested in a big man that plays a lot of minutes on a lot of nights and eats rebounds for breakfast, lunch and dinner? If so, and most Sixers fans should be, then Hannes Steinbach is your guy. The 20-year-old German had a very strong freshman campaign statistically at the University of Washington and looks ready for the NBA. But will the Sixers be able to maneuver their way up in this month’s first round to land the Husky?

Profile

2025-26 Stats: 30 games, 34.6 minutes, 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.2 blocks, 57.7% FG, 34% 3P, 75.9% FT

Team: Washington Huskies

Year: Freshman

Position: PF/C

Height & Weight: 6’11” | 248 lbs

Born: May 1, 2006 (20 years old)

Hometown: Wurzburg, Germany

Strengths

Measuring at just under seven feet tall and 250 pounds, Steinbach will enter the NBA with a frame that should allow him to play a lot of minutes as a rookie. After all, he just finished a college season in which he was playing roughly 35 out of the 40 regulation minutes and did so in the Big 10. He’s not going to get pushed around in the paint like some bigs who come out of college with a lot of athletic traits but haven’t filled out physically.

Fundamentally, Steinbach is rock solid. His footwork enables him to find lots of ways to finish inside, something he does rather smooth and effortlessly around the rim. These sound fundamentals extend beyond interior scoring as Steinbach can be used effectively on the perimeter in pick-and-rolls and is comfortable passing out of said pick-and-rolls.

Both offensively and defensively he’s an aggressive rebounder and seems to always be in the right positions to possess the basketball. College stats can sometimes be misleading, but at the same time when you’re averaging almost 12 rebounds per game in your age 19 season as Steinbach did last year, you’re doing something right, wherever you’re playing.

Weaknesses

The majority of Steinbach’s concerns at the next level can be traced back to his lack of athleticism. While he has the smarts to be a good pick-and-roll player on the perimeter offensively, he is certainly not laterally quick enough to defend big men who are more capable of stretching the floor. The absence of elite athletic traits in Steinbach’s game also raises question about how good of a rebounder he will be in the NBA. Is he going to be able to average double-digit rebounds just on good positioning and instincts? There are some NBA bigs who might not be as fundamentally sound as Steinbach is but more than make up for that with their athletic ability.

Additionally, in his lone year of college basketball, Steinbach was not much of an outside shooter. His 34% from the three-point line might not look bad, but it came on less than two attempts per game and he didn’t have much of a midrange game either. Can he score 10-15 points per game as a rookie in the NBA solely on good fundamentals? Either way, if he’s going to be a regular starter, there needs to be some perimeter development as a scorer.

Positional Fit

With his current skillset, Steinbach is a traditional NBA center. If his jump shot develops well, he could be used as a bigger power forward that would develop into more of a three-level scorer. Having said that, you wouldn’t want Steinbach too far away from the basket on either end of the floor due to how well he rebounds. But his rebounding would make him a great fit with the Sixers, who finished second-to-last in postseason rebounding in 2026 and were only middle-of-the-pack in regular season rebounding. Steinbach would immediately be the second-most skilled offensive big on Philadelphia’s roster behind Joel Embiid and would play a lot of minutes with the Sixers as a rookie given Embiid’s constant lack of availability.

Draft Projection

SB Nation Mock Draft: In the most recent SB Nation mock, Steinbach goes at the tail end of the lottery to Golden State. The fit seems to track well given the Warriors might be looking for one last kick at the can with Steve Kerr on the sidelines and Steph Curry in the backcourt. An NBA-ready big to come into their lineup and rebound instantly would make sense. The problem for Philly is that Golden State has the 11th overall pick, well ahead of the Sixers at 22. Perhaps this is where a Paul George trade could make sense for the Sixers and maybe Golden State is a partner that makes sense. If new President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey covets Steinbach, a team that’s ahead of the Sixers that would be looking to contend next season and would value George’s veteran presence and postseason production might be a logical trade partner. Either way, it seems unlikely that Steinbach is available for Philadelphia if the team stays put at 22.

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KAT or Brunson? NBA Finals MVP is a toss-up with some intriguing long-shot candidates

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 25: Jalen Brunson #11 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during Round 1 Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

If the NBA’s Western Conference represented a different class of competition than the East, nobody told the New York Knicks. Mike Brown’s team extended their playoff win streak to 13 games after stealing two tight games in San Antonio, and are now playing their first NBA Finals games in Madison Square Garden in 27 years with a 2-0 series advantage. The Spurs have looked more terrestrial than their reputation, but they’ve held leads late in both games, and perhaps the real difference between conferences is showing up in the fatigue factor in the final minutes.

The market for NBA Finals MVP on FanDuel is a valuable measure of the impact that each player has had on the series so far. It’s also a look beyond the box score to consider the narratives that are likely to close out the season.

Jalen Brunson (+115)

Brunson shook off a slow start to game 1 (including multiple injury scares) to take over in the fourth quarter and nailed tough looks down the stretch. Conventional wisdom and historical precedent have suggested that a team can’t win a championship if their best player is short. But this is nothing new to Jalen Brunson, who’s carried his teams to titles at every level of his career. 

He hasn’t been an efficient shooter to start the series (33.9% FG), but he’s found ways to force his impact; scoring 30 points in the opener and grabbing five steals to go with his 20 points and six assists in game two. The Knicks’ offense evolved when Towns became more of a facilitator, but Brunson’s penetration and pull-ups are still the team’s primary options in crunch time.

Karl-Anthony Towns (+165)

Maybe the best argument in Becky Hammon’s favor is that the Knicks are on the precipice of a championship because of the play of their big man, Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s challenged conventional wisdom about his own play during this win streak, using his size to play physical defense and wear on Wemby, while grabbing 12.5 tough rebounds.

Towns has unlocked the Knicks’ offense by serving more as an offensive hub and highlighting his passing, but he’s still the best shooting big man of all time. He sank 3 three-pointers while shooting an efficient 66.7% from the floor in game two, and could easily catch fire and come out of his matchup with Wemby as the most impactful big man in a short series.

Victor Wembanyama (+380)

Even with his team down two games, Wemby has looked like the best player on the floor for significant stretches. He shot over 50% from the field for 29 points in game two while logging nine rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. Those are star numbers, but the Spurs will need him to resemble something more superhuman if they’re to overcome their size and youth disadvantages and climb back from down 0-2.

Nobody has won the Finals MVP in a losing effort since Jerry West in 1969, and it would take an effort at least as impressive as West’s 40-point triple-double in game seven to repeat the honor. If anyone in the league could pull off those kinds of numbers though, it’s Victor Wembanyama.

Longshots

There’s still plenty of basketball left, and a handful of players have made steady impacts that could explode with the right combination of adjustments and luck. 

Mikal Bridges (+17500) has regained his form as a dynamic two-way threat. He scored 20 points in game two, and has been a connective tissue and clutch shooter throughout the Knicks’ win streak.

OG Anunoby (+17500) has shown no fear, nailing jumpers and dunking on Wemby for 17 points in each contest. He’s also been an imposing force on defense, totaling six blocks and assists through two games.

Stephon Castle (+25000) has played beyond his years, cutting down his turnovers while scoring in double digits and holding up well on defense.

Dylan Harper (+25000) didn’t even make a postseason tournament with Rutgers last year, but he’s looked more than comfortable on the game’s biggest stage. The rookie has only shot 1-7 from deep in the first two games, but he’ll keep seeing more minutes.

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Donald Trump, James Dolan relationship: Knicks owner is major donor

United States President Donald Trump isn't expected to show up uninvited to Game 3 of the NBA Finals. He'll be inside Madison Square Garden as the guest of New York Knicks owner James Dolan, and Trump made clear the two go way back.

"Well, I’ve been a Knick fan for a long time, and I’m also a Jim Dolan fan," Trump told reporters last week when asked about his plans to be in attendance when the Knicks host their first NBA Finals game since 1999 on Monday, June 8. "He’s a nice guy, OK? He spent a long time wanting to win, and he’s a competitive guy. He’s got a team that’s amazing.

"They're really great, a great team. I'm happy for Jim (Dolan) because Jim has really been fighting hard to produce such a team," Trump added.

So Trump will now become the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game, with extra security precautions that will affect some fans. He also raised the possibility of attending Game 4 as well thanks to his relationship with Dolan, who took over day-to-day operations of the team in 1999, two years after his father, former Cablevision founder Charles Dolan, bought it.

Here's more on the friendship between Dolan and Trump ahead of Trump's expected appearance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs:

TRUMP AT NBA FINALS: He trashes the NBA, so why attend Knicks-Spurs finals game?

James Dolan is a major Donald Trump donor

Dolan gave $125,000 to Trump's re-election campaign efforts, according to multiple reports, five days after his public spat with the then-NBA champion Golden State Warriors about whether Stephen Curry had declined an invite to the White House or Trump rescinded the invitation. He previously donated $300,000 to his 2016 election campaign, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

"Mr. Dolan is a long-time friend and supporter of President Trump," a Knicks spokesperson said at the time. "His contribution is a matter of public record, and was made by Mr. Dolan as a private citizen."

Dolan was also criticized in October 2024 when Trump held a rally at Madison Square Garden. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe controversially called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage" when he spoke before Trump. Arena reps noted that former President Joe Biden had previously held an event at Radio City Music Hall, which is also owned by Dolan.

“As a business we are neutral in political matters," a Madison Square Garden official said in a statement. "We rent to either side. We don’t censor artists, performers or speakers."

James Dolan is a Mar-A-Lago member

In addition to Trump's numerous public proclamations regarding his friendship with Dolan, the Knicks owner said previously he's a member at Trump's Mar-A-Lago club. Dolan held his wedding at there in 2002 and his son, Charles, did the same in 2017.

"I've known him for a long time. I got married at Mar-a-Lago. I'm a member of Mar-a-Lago, and I support him as a friend," Dolan told ESPN in 2018. "And you don't have to agree with everything that he's doing in order to support him. And he's, by the way, our president, and I don't understand people who wish our president to do badly. Why would you wish your president to do badly? It's like wishing that your milkman will bring you sour milk."

Trump is a longtime Knicks fan

NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed Trump's bonafides as a Knicks fan last week when asked about the President's potential attendance at Madison Square Garden.

"Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan," Silver said. "I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days. He attended many of our drafts when they used to take place at Madison Square Garden."

Donald Trump attends the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and Indiana Pacers at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.

Silver noted he hopes Trump's appearance will "emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart. We’re seeing that in New York and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I’m thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team."

Dolan, Trump involved in Penn Station project

The Trump administration is reportedly involved in plans that, if approved, would lead to a massive renovation of Penn Station and moving Madison Square Garden from its current spot on top of the midtown Manhattan train station. The plan needs Dolan's approval and he initially declined interest in moving the arena.

The New York Post reported that Dolan and Trump had a meeting in April to discuss the Penn Station plans and the prospect of renaming Penn Station after Trump.

James Dolan, Rockettes controversy at Trump inauguration

Dolan, as Madison Square Garden executive chairman, also runs the Rockettes Christmas show out of Radio City Music Hall in New York. For Trump's first inauguration, Dolan agreed to have the Rockettes perform and the dancers endured social media backlash. They were not ultimately forced to perform.

"This is a great national event," Dolan said to the dancers, according to a recording leaked to Marie Claire magazine. "Every four years we put in a new president. It's a huge moment in the country's history. It usually signifies a whole change in how the government is going to run. The fact that we get to participate in it … we are an American brand, and I think it's very appropriate that the Rockettes dance in the inaugural and 4th of July and our country's great historical moments.

"A good portion of people voted for this person" Dolan added. "Hopefully they will like our brand. If 1% of 1% of them come to our show, we're going to do great."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump at NBA Finals: Knicks owner James Dolan is major donor

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How LeBron James’ contract options could impact the Lakers’ free-agency plans

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers calls for a foul against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We recently went over all of LeBron James’ contract options in free agency and how that would impact which teams he’d be able to sign with.

But what if he wants to stay with the Lakers?

The franchise will have full Bird rights on LeBron, so they can sign him to anything up to a max contract. However, he might not have long to make his decision. He’ll have a $57.75 million cap hold on the Lakers’ books until they either re-sign him, sign-and-trade him elsewhere or renounce their free-agent rights on him entirely.

In other words: The Lakers’ offseason starts with reaching a decision on LeBron either way. They will not have a single dollar of cap space until they do that.

So, let’s explore what all of his different contract options would mean for the Lakers’ free-agency outlook.

Max contract

If LeBron wants a max deal, the Lakers can give him one, even though that would take them back over the cap. That’s the power of having LeBron’s full Bird rights.

However, that would also take them out of the running for other marquee free agents.

LeBron’s max salary next year is the same as his cap hit, $57.75 million. He and Luka Dončić alone would be earning $107.25 million. Add in Jarred Vanderbilt ($12.4 million), Jake LaRavia ($6.0 million), Dalton Knecht ($4.2 million), the No. 25 pick ($3.2 million), Adou Thiero ($2.1 million) and the guaranteed $1.26 million portion of Bronny James’ salary in 2026-27, and the Lakers would already be up to nearly $136.5 million.

That’s before factoring in the possibility of Deandre Ayton ($8.1 million) and Marcus Smart ($5.4 million) picking up their respective player options or Austin Reaves’ $20.9 million cap hit. Add those into the picture, and they’d already be over the cap after re-signing LeBron.

If the Lakers decided to operate as an over-the-cap team this offseason, they could have access to the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception as long as they stayed below the first apron. But using it would trigger a first-apron hard cap, which could complicate their ability to re-sign Reaves, Rui Hachimura and/or any of their other free agents.

Otherwise, if they re-sign James and opt to use cap space, they’ll have only the $9.4 million room mid-level exception at their disposal. (More on that later.)

Below max, above NTMLE

If LeBron wants more than the non-taxpayer MLE but is willing to take less than a max, the Lakers could meet him anywhere in the middle.

With just Luka, Vando, LaRavia, Knecht, the No. 25 pick, Thiero, the guaranteed portion of Bronny’s salary and Reaves’ cap hold on their books, the Lakers would be at $99.6 million in guaranteed salary. If they somehow convinced Ayton and Smart to decline their respective player options, they could have upward of $60 million in spending power. Granted, that would require them to renounce the rights to everyone, including LeBron, Rui and Luke Kennard. That isn’t likely to happen.

If the Lakers signed LeBron to a deal in the $25-30 million range, they still wouldn’t have any cap space once factoring in cap holds for Hachimura ($27.4 million), Kennard ($13.2 million) and Jaxson Hayes ($6.6 million). They’d have to renounce all of them to have significant cap space.

So, the TL;DR version: If the Lakers re-sign LeBron to something more than the non-taxpayer MLE, they aren’t likely to have cap space this summer.

NTMLE

If LeBron is willing to settle for the non-taxpayer MLE, that could open up more options for the Lakers.

The Lakers could go about that one of two ways. They could operate as an over-the-cap team and use their actual non-taxpayer MLE on LeBron, or they could just give him an equivalent amount with his Bird rights.

If they went the Bird rights route, they’d then have either the room MLE or non-taxpayer MLE to spend on another free agent, depending on whether they dipped below the cap or stayed above it.

This is the contractual range where it starts to make sense for the Lakers to bring LeBron back. If they lost Rui and Kennard in free agency, they still could have significant spending power to bring in other free agents before they turned their attention to re-signing Reaves.

Room exception

Unless LeBron is willing to take a minimum deal, this would be the Lakers’ dream scenario.

They would renounce their rights to LeBron at the start of free agency, spend all of their cap space and then re-sign him using the $9.4 million room MLE. This would not impact their free-agent plans whatsoever since his $57.75 million cap hold would be off their books.

If the Lakers also renounced their rights to Hachimura, Kennard and the rest of their free agents, they could have upward of $50 million in spending power to round out their roster around Luka and Reaves before re-signing LeBron with the room MLE.

The only question is whether LeBron is willing to settle for that amount when other contenders (including the Spurs) would be able to offer more via the non-tax MLE.

Min deal

If LeBron doesn’t care about money at this stage of his career and only wants to maximize his chances of winning a championship, he should take a minimum contract this offseason, whether with the Lakers or another team.

Teams get a special salary-cap exception to sign players to minimum deals, so even teams over the second apron are able to hand out such contracts. Much like the room MLE scenario, the Lakers would renounce their rights to LeBron at the start of free agency, spend the rest of their money elsewhere and then re-sign him once they’re capped out.

The only difference here is that they’d preserve their access to the room MLE to spend on someone who might be more of a long-term fixture in L.A. moving forward. That would help put the Lakers in a better position for whenever LeBron retires.

The bottom line is that the Lakers technically can give LeBron whatever he wants contractually. But the less that they can convince him to take, the better off they’ll be with regard to the rest of free agency.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM.

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