Knicks Bulletin: ‘I’m just sitting there praying that I’m healed’

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 10: Action Bronson is seen arriving to the Knicks Playoff game 3 at Madison Square Garden on May 10, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Aeon/GC Images)

Crazy fact I found out today: It’s been six years since COVID-19 began.

Now for the shocking news, it turns out it’s actually been eight years since the last time the Knicks played basketball. Would you believe that!?

Here’s the latest from Tarrytown.

Mike Brown

On OG Anunoby’s limited participation in practice on Wednesday:

“(The medical staff) told me what he can do today, and then they’ll tell me what he can do [on Friday], so I don’t know what he’ll be able to do for Game 1. He practiced today, some aspects of it. Some parts of practice. When we went live, he did not go live. Anytime anyone is able to do stuff, you get encouraged.”

On how Anunoby looked during his on-court work:

“The stuff that he went through, he looked fine.”

On balancing preparation, rest and scouting during the layoff:

“You try to get the input of everybody in the different departments, try to do the best you can to keep it competitive while keeping guys sharp while giving them a break as well. That’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to mix it up with some live stuff, some shooting stuff while watching some film. Not trying to do the same thing every day. Touching base on both opponents to a certain degree, but making sure it doesn’t get overwhelming. It’s a fine balance.”

On limiting live work this time of year:

“You don’t want to have too many days of live [work]. The last thing you want this time of year is an injury so we mixed in some live today. Not sure if we’ll do it again. Maybe we’ll do it one more day. That would be on feel and based off of whether we play sooner or later.”

On the value of versatility in the postseason:

“You need versatility especially come playoff time. Every step you go the teams are better. They are better on both sides of the ball so it becomes more challenging. But it can be challenging in different ways. To have guys you can move around to help you out is definitely huge.”

On empowering Karl-Anthony Towns and leveraging playmaking bigs:

“It’s my job as a head coach, as well as [our] assistants, to try to put guys in position to help them out. Being able to do stuff off-ball is another way to attack a defense. When you have guys that pass the ball like Draymond Green, like Sabonis, like KAT, you try to utilize their strengths to help others out and make others better. Putting KAT in that position knowing we have great screeners and great cutters, and like I said a great facilitator, it was easier to say, ‘Let’s try it and do it more.’”

On offering condolences following Jason Collins’ passing:

“[Jason] was a great man. I knew him personally through Jarron, and it’s gotta be tough times to go through what they’re going through when you’re dealing with the passing of somebody so young. So my best condolences go out to him, his family and all their friends.”

Jalen Brunson

On embracing a reduced on-ball role for the team’s benefit:

“Was there any concern (about playing more through KAT)? No. What was the dialogue? The dialogue was, ‘OK, let’s do it.’ It was that simple. There’s not really much you can talk about at that point when you’re down 2-1.”

On rejecting the ‘star’ label and prioritizing winning:

“One, I’m not a star. Two, I want to win. I’m not self-centered. That’s why.”

On maintaining rhythm during the extended layoff:

“I think we have our plan. Obviously, utilize rest, but then when we’re in the gym, no, we’re doing everything we have to do to stay in rhythm, stay having the edge that we need to have.”

On focusing inward while awaiting an opponent:

“Obviously, we have to prepare for one of these two teams. And then we’ve talked about the differences between the two and all that, but just focusing on what makes us the best thing we can be as well.”

On staying focused despite the success to date:

“I think the most important thing is our mentality and making sure that we’re not comfortable.”

On chasing a breakthrough in the conference finals:

“[I’m driven to clear that hurdle] a lot. But it’s something that you can’t just continue to dream about. You’ve got to continue to prepare the way you’ve been preparing and obviously find a way to push through.”

On Mike Brown’s open communication style:

“He’s always one to have open dialogue since Day 1. Obviously, he’s the coach and makes decisions and everything. Whether they’re good or bad opinions, they’re talked about and they’re decided on later. I’m pretty comfortable with it. I think a lot of us are comfortable with it.”

Josh Hart

On the extended downtime compared to earlier in the playoffs:

“The first series, we had, what, four days break, I think it was? That was good enough, yeah. This right now, I think, what, at least a week… nine days? It’s a long time. Obviously, it’s good for recovery. But mentally, I’m watching the games, I’m just like, just waiting… It’s a little long.”

On keeping the focus internal during the layoff:

“Every day we’re focused on ourselves. Obviously we don’t know who we’re going to play. If we continue to just focus on ourselves and take care of the things that we can take care of we’ll be in a good position. So that’s all today was. The next couple of days until we figure out who we’re going to play. You’re not just a guy that goes out there, plays basketball, sleeps, and goes back out there for a game, so it’s a ton of [free] time, but I think the guys that we have, we talk consistently, whether it’s here, group chat or our own separate conversations.”

On praying through his hand injury scare:

“When I had the hand, I obviously walked back and got X-rays of that. I’m sitting there praying about it. That’s my first go-to. I’m just sitting there praying that I’m healed, praying that I’m good, and I was blessed with it not being a fracture. For what it is, I can play with [it], and I was happy with that.”

On facing pressure after the title-or-bust comments made by James Dolan:

“I don’t think we look at it as a pressure situation. Obviously, we’re in New York and everything that we do is amplified. Whether it’s winning three games in a row [and] people crowned us champions. Lose three games in a row and people crowned us a team that’s tanking. You know what I mean? Our job right now is to stay even, to focus on that task at hand. If or when guys’ minds wander, we have a good enough team, a good enough camaraderie to hold everyone accountable and bring everyone back into the fold. So it’s not really pressure in terms of that. With that character of guys that we have in the locker room you’ll never see anyone that’s more judgmental or criticizes themselves more than ourselves individually. And when you’re your hardest critic there’s no other pressure. Because at the end of the day I’m going to look at myself in the mirror and wonder what I could do better and no one that’s not in my shoes can tell me what I could do better.”

On casually arriving with a puppy at Wednesday’s presser:

“Just hanging. Just vibing. We’re a dog friendly establishment. It’s good vibes around here. Whatever makes good vibes, we’re good.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On finally being able to showcase his full skill set with Brown’s Knicks:

“I feel like I’ve always had this my whole career. It’s just I never had the opportunity to utilize that skill set.”

On being outbid for a prized collectible card:

“This has us SICK. Thought it was ours for the taking, until a last-minute NUCLEAR bid snuck in! Who has this card now!? We have to know!”

Steve Kerr

On the Knicks’ Game 4 offensive performance in Philadelphia:

“That first half was one of the greatest offensive displays I’ve seen in a playoff game. They are playing so fast. So aggressively. Every single guy is playing with incredible confidence. There is an energy and juice about them that jumps off the screen. It is hugely impressive watching them play. It’s beautiful to watch, but it’s not an accident. I believe Mike was the perfect guy for that job.”

On Mike Brown steadying the team during tense stretches:

“There was a vibe there at the Garden where you could tell everyone was on edge. That’s probably life in New York, but it’s also life as a contender when you are starting out the season with great expectations from fans, ownership and management. The beauty of Mike is he’s very comfortable in his own skin. When you go through these difficult nights like the one they had in March against us, Mike is exactly the right guy. When people are freaking out, Mike is the guy you want to steady the ship. He did that all year. Now, they are playing their best basketball. They are confident. fast, loose and aggressive. It’s beautiful to watch.”

On how far the Knicks can go this season:

“They’re already in the conference finals. They are really, really damn good. I think they will be a heavy favorite in the conference finals. Regardless, they are one of the very best teams in the league. I think Mike recognized that when he got there. He knew the great work Tom had done and he knew the foundation was there and he wanted to take it and see if he could build on that. It seems like he has.”

Rick Pitino

On the Knicks’ depth compared to other contenders:

“I think they have the best nine or 10 players. They may not have the best three, they have the best nine or 10. Their bench is excellent, [coach Mike Brown] uses them great. The improvement offensively and defensively in OG, the improvement in Karl-Anthony Towns away from the basket with his passing, Brunson is the most unique player I’ve ever watched in my lifetime. I love it. I root for the Knicks like they’re my team. I do think they are championship driven.”

On the Knicks’ ball movement compared to earlier in the year:

“They look for each other much better than before. If you watch Cleveland and Detroit, you know the ball is going to Cunningham or Harden is going to create or the ball is going to be in Donovan’s hands. Although Brunson is a great scorer, they are sharing the basketball so well that keying on Brunson is not enough to stop this team. Before the Atlanta series, keying on Brunson was the way to stop the Knicks. That’s no longer working because of their ball movement. They went from a one-on-one team to a ball movement, player movement team. They do a lot of different offensive things that are much more pleasing to the eye.”

On Brunson’s skill set and shot-making ability:

“How a player that size with that vertical can get off any shot around the basket, he’s got Tiny Archibald in him around the basketball. He has the best midrange game. He gets off any shot midrange and he’s become a great 3-point shooter. He’s just an amazing, amazing 6-foot, 2-inch basketball player. Pound for pound, inch for inch, maybe one of the best players I’ve ever seen.”

On home-court concerns and overall outlook:

“The only negative is the home court. Outside of that, I think the Knicks have the best team. Now OKC obviously is great, they’re the defending champions. But the Knicks are deep, talented, and the way they are playing offensively — I don’t mean 3-point shooting, I’m talking about the ball movement, player movement — it’s so much better than what I watched in January.”

Red Sox Minor Lines: Brooks Brannon shows up with home run

Brooks Brannon of the Portland Sea Dogs reacts during a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on May 1, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images

Worcester: W, 6-2 (BOX SCORE)

Although the WooSox again had to go to a bullpen game, nearly everyone pitched well and kept the Bison (Blue Jays AAA) off the board. Worcester then subjected Buffalo to death by a thousand cuts, as all nine of their hits were singles, but a good third inning where they nearly batted around the lineup was all they needed to score six runs. The success of this inning, a three-run frame that put them up 4-o, was also thanks to a Buffalo defensive error as well as Braiden Ward stealing his twentieth base of the season already.

Portland: W, 9-6 (BOX SCORE)

Gage Ziehl had his worst start in a while, getting tagged for six runs in five innings, but the bullpen kept the Yard Goats (Rockies AA) within arm’s reach and the Sea Dogs then exploded for five runs in the eighth. That inning included three home runs, including one by Brooks Brannon, whose power has been raising some eyebrows. Miguel Bleis also joined in on the action in a feel-good win where everyone got involved, and Franklin Arias now has nine hits in his last four games.

Greenville: L, 4-10 (BOX SCORE)

Greenville has now lost eleven of their last twelve games. They have relievers with ERAs approaching ten, and some with that metric over ten. No pitcher on Tuesday departed the game unscathed from home run balls, in which the Hot Rods (Rays High-A) hit five. Jack Winnay’s home run in the fourth was the closest the Drive got all night as far as winning percentage expected is concerned (8.7%); even then, the game was 6-1.

Salem: : W, 3-1 (BOX SCORE)

The RidgeYaks didn’t need much offense in Fredericksburg (Nationals A) to come out on top due to their pitching staff striking fourteen out and the Nats stranding fourteen runners including not getting a hit with nine chances with runners in scoring position. Salem got just enough offensive spark in the nick of time through a two-run, two-out double from catcher Luke Heyman in the eighth inning. The play brought Salem from a 51% chance winning all the way up to 85.4%, a .344 WPA, and Salem wouldn’t look back.

Have a productive Wednesday.

Sharks Forward Will Smith to Participate in Third Annual 'Stanley Pup'

The San Jose Sharks' young stars are keeping themselves busy over the summer. While Macklin Celebrini heads to the IIHF World Championship with Team Canada, his teammate Will Smith will be doing something a little less conventional.

Smith has been announced as a guest at the NHL's third annual Stanley Pup competition. The Stanley Pup is a friendly competition designed to help 32 adoptable rescue dogs find their rescue homes. Essentially, it's the NHL's version of Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl, which has been held around the same time as the Super Bowl every year for over two decades.

The Stanley Pup will air during the Stanley Cup Final. In the United States, it'll be broadcast for the first time on June 8 at 6:30 PM PT on TruTV and HBO Max.

At this time, it's unknown how Smith will be involved with the Stanley Pup, but he will be joined by two fellow NHL players, Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes and former San Jose Sharks netminder Devin Cooley, now of the Calgary Flames.

Legendary broadcaster Doc Emrick and comedian Kenan Thompson have also been announced for the Stanley Pup. Elias Weiss Friedman, known professionally as "The Dogist" will also be involved with the production for the first time.

Are the Astros Headed Toward Telling Joe to Go?

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 19: Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (19) watches play from the home dugout during the MLB game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros on April 19, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

For Astros fans, this season has been a harsh reminder that baseball is not always fair. What once looked like a team capable of another miraculous turnaround is now a club dangerously close to rock bottom. Unlike last season, when Houston managed to claw its way back into the divisional race, this year’s team appears to be spiraling further out of control with each passing game.

In professional sports, when things go wrong, the players are rarely the first to pay the price, especially when they are tied to massive contracts worth millions of dollars. Instead, organizations often look to the manager as the easiest way to shake things up. That reality may soon be approaching for Astros manager Joe Espada.

To be fair, the Astros have faced significant adversity from the start of the season. Beginning the year with 16 players on the injured list created immediate obstacles and left the roster depleted before the campaign truly got going. Injuries, however, can only excuse so much. Despite flashes of offensive success, the team as a whole has underachieved in nearly every area.

The biggest concern has undoubtedly been the pitching staff. Both the starting rotation and bullpen have struggled badly, and the numbers paint an ugly picture. Houston is currently on pace to challenge all-time records for walks allowed both per game and over the course of a full season. Regardless of injuries, that level of inconsistency and lack of command simply cannot continue if the Astros hope to remain competitive.

Much of the blame for the roster construction and pitching depth should rightfully fall on General Manager Dana Brown. Still, with the amateur draft approaching and critical decisions looming regarding potential trades, Houston likely needs Brown’s experience steering the organization through whatever comes next, whether that means attempting to buy at the deadline or beginning a larger reset for the future.

That leaves Espada in a difficult position.

This is not necessarily an argument that Espada is a bad manager or undeserving of the job. By most accounts, he is respected throughout the organization and well-liked inside the clubhouse. But sports can be unforgiving, and when a team consistently underperforms, ownership often believes a new voice is needed to spark change.

One name that could quickly enter the conversation is bench coach Omar López. Fresh off a championship run coaching in the World Baseball Classic, López has become one of the more intriguing rising names in baseball managerial circles. He carries strong relationships within the clubhouse and is viewed as someone capable of bringing fresh energy and perspective to a struggling team. If the Astros decide to make a move, promoting López could represent the organization’s best internal option.

Around Major League Baseball, managerial changes have already begun. Teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox have made leadership changes in response to disappointing performances, and Houston could soon find itself following a similar path very soon.

The question now becomes: how much responsibility should fall on Espada? Is the Astros’ disappointing season primarily the result of injuries and roster shortcomings, or does the team truly need a new manager to change its direction?

For Astros fans, that debate is only going to grow louder if the losses continue piling up.

Mets' Carlos Mendoza provides positive injury updates on Francisco Lindor and Francisco Alvarez

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza provided a couple of positive injury updates prior to first pitch of Thursday’s matchup with the Detroit Tigers.

Shortstop Francisco Lindor’s MRI revealed that things are heading in the right direction, though when exactly he’ll be able to return to the field remains unknown. 

“He’s getting better, showing signs of healing,” Mendoza said. “Now we’re moving to the phase of the strength part, moving to the weight room before he starts his running progression. Positive sign, we’ve just gotta let it heal.”

Lindor landed on the IL after suffering a left calf strain on April 22. 

Mendoza said that he doesn’t think Lindor will need additional imaging, but that there is still no timetable for him to resume baseball activities or get back on the field for game action. 

Meanwhile, catcher Francisco Alvarez underwent surgery on Thursday morning, with Mendoza saying there was no additional structural damage to his right knee, aside from the torn meniscus

The manager said that Alvarez is likely looking at an eight-week recovery.

Alvarez is hitting .241 with four home runs and 10 RBI this season. 

Oilers Next Head Coach Odds: Bruce Cassidy Favorite to Go to Edmonton

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Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid has two years left on his contract, and Priority No. 1 for the organization is cashing in on a Stanley Cup championship while No. 97 is still on the books.

The Edmonton brass is on the hunt for a new bench boss afterfiring Kris Knoblauch on Thursday, May 14, and Stanley Cup and Jack Adams winner Bruce Cassidy (+100) is the frontrunner in the Oilers' next head coach odds.

Bruce Boudreau (+300) and Peter Laviolette (+400) are also top candidates to take over coaching duties, while David Carle (+600) is widely considered the most progressive coaching mind and voice outside the NHL.

Next Oilers head coach odds (2026)

Coaching candidateBet99
Bruce Cassidy+100
Bruce Boudreau+300
Peter Laviolette+400
Gerard Gallant+500
David Carle+600
Patrick Roy+700
Dean Evason+1000
Todd McLellan+1200
Jim Hiller+1400
Mark Letestu+7500
Manny Malholtra+1800
Jay Woodcroft+5000
Mark Messier+7500
Jari Kurri+7500
Paul Coffey+7500
Wayne Gretzky+10000

Odds via Bet99 as of Thursday, May 14.

The Edmonton Oilers exited stage right in the opening round of the playoffs this year after consecutive unsuccessful trips to the Stanley Cup Finals, and an inability to keep the puck out of their net was on full display during their six-game series against the Anaheim Ducks.

Edmonton allowed 3.5 goals per game with 3.71 expected goals against per 60 minutes, and the Oil also posted a postseason-low 50.0 penalty-kill percentage.

The Oilers will begin the 2026-27 season with a new voice behind the bench, and a number of roster moves are likely coming, as the championship window might be closing quicker than expected in the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl era.

Who'll coach McDavid, Draisaitl?

While I think the best candidate for the job is David Carle, Edmonton went with a first-time head coach when they hired Kris Knoblauch, so I’m expecting them to bring in a proven head coach with championship pedigree. The Oilers have already requested permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to interview Bruce Cassidy.

Bruce Cassidy (+100)

While Cassidy’s disciplined 200-foot defensive system could be an answer to the Edmonton defensive woes, there is also definitely competition around the league for his services. Though the Golden Knights reportedly denied the Oilers permission to speak with Cassidy, the coach has noted it would be “cool to coach in Canada,” and the Toronto Maple Leafs are also expected to formally ask for permission to speak with Cassidy about their own coaching vacancy. 

Let’s not forget Cassidy still has a year remaining on his contract with the Golden Knights, which is worth $4.5 million guaranteed, and the Vegas brain trust has been hesitant to grant interview permission to other teams until they’re guaranteed the hiring team will absorb Cassidy’s entire salary for the 2026-2027 season.

I’m hesitant to recommend a Cassidy bet right now because this process is going to draw on, and the +100 odds Cassidy is the next Oilers head coach carry a 50% implied probability, which is far too short given all the balls in the air.

Are Gretzky and Coffey coaching candidates in Edmonton?

There’s been no credible report of Wayne Gretzky returning to the NHL bench. His last coaching tenure came all the way in 2008-09, which was the final season of a four-year run as the bench boss for the Phoenix Coyotes.

Paul Coffey, meanwhile, is far more interesting as a potential new head coach for the Oilers because he wasn’t let go after spending two stints as an assistant coach. 

Coffey was hired alongside Knoblauch on November 12, 2023, and the former defenseman was behind the bench for both trips to the Stanley Cup before stepping down and returning to his role as a special advisor to hockey operations following the 2024-25 season. Coffey then joined the coaching staff again during the Olympic break this year in an attempt to tighten up the team’s defensive struggles.

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SnakeBytes 5/14: Burger hitting on SpongeBob Night

May 13, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo takes the ball from Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Paul Sewald (38) during the ninth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

In The Desert

[AZSnakePit] Rangers 6, D-Backs 5: Angina in Arlington

It seems as if no amount of lineup tinkering or prospect call-ups has been able to shake the Arizona offense out of its malaise and the team’s pitching (both in the bullpen and in the rotation) have significant question marks themselves. 

[AZCentral] Diamondbacks’ crushing, walk-off loss comes with a silver lining

“We’ve seen this before,” Lovullo said. “We’ve seen this lineup do what they did today.” He added: “We play games like this — and I know they’re very eager to get back out there and show what they can do — we’ll be just fine.”

[SI.com] What D-backs Poor Series Loss to Rangers Told Us — And What it Didn’t

The D-backs were held to just 6-for-25 with runners in scoring position, and stranded 21 batters. That is not a recipe for success, no matter how good the pitching may or may not be.
Gallen has been on a bit of a downturn ever since he was struck by a comebacker and forced to leave a promising start in Mexico City. Since that game, he has gone 0-3 and allowed 17 runs in 14.1 innings.

[DBacks.com] ‘This game will rip your heart out’: D-backs lament missed chances in Texas

“It’s brutal,” Lovullo said. “This game will rip your heart out. But the one thing I want to say is these guys play their [butts] off. And when you look at the full body of work, I thought today there was so much progress made and we were pushing in the right direction. I learned a lot about this team as I watched them rally and come together in those late innings and fight to win that baseball game.

[DBacks.com] Thomas trade provides Hazen, D-backs ‘flexibility’ for Deadline

In addition, the financial savings could pay dividends in a couple months at the Trade Deadline.

That’s because the Diamondbacks are getting close to the first Competitive Balance Tax threshold. They are around $5-$10 million away from that threshold, and if they want to make significant acquisitions at the Deadline, they’ll need some financial flexibility unless they are willing to go over the CBT for the first time in franchise history.

[Rangers.com] Burger delivers on SpongeBob Night as his ‘swagger’ leads to walk-off

For SpongeBob SquarePants Night at Globe Life Field against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, it was only right that Burger would blast a three-run opposite-field homer in the fifth inning before delivering a game-tying RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.

Around The MLB

[MLB.com] Varsho delivers walk-off hit in 10th

[MLB.com] McCarthy’s unassisted DP from left field is a Rockies first, MLB first in 13 years

[MLB.com] Josh Bell steals base for first time since 2018

[MLB.com] Braves first team to reach 30 wins

[FanGraphs.com] Dansby Swanson is King of old Shortstops

[CBS Sports] How to blow up the Astros: Why Houston could dictate the trade deadline if ugly season continues

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Report: The Jazz want to trade up to No. 1

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: The Utah Jazz win the 2nd overall pick during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, 2026 at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Utah Jazz are looking to trade up to the No. 1 draft position up from No. 2 in the 2026 NBA Draft. And former Brigham Young star AJ Dybantsa is also open to staying in Utah, according to Sam Quinn of CBS Sports. Here is the “money quote.”

CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein reported this week from the NBA Combine in Chicago that Dybantsa was hoping to remain in Utah. When asked about possibly trading up from No. 2 to No. 1, Smith told The Deseret News that “everything should be on the table.” The Washington Wizards hold the top pick, and team president Michael Winger told Jake Fischeron lottery day that Washington was at least open to moving down. 

Now, again, are the Wizards likel trading their No. 1 pick to the Jazz and move down? Based on how most teams are, they will ultimately keep their No. 1 selection. However, the Wizards should listen just to get a full read on what is out there for the No. 1 pick in a hypothetical trade situation, whether with the Jazz or anyone else.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Game #44: Colorado Rockies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Carmen Mlodzinski #50 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on May 08, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Colorado Rockies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, May 14, 2026, 12:35 p.m. ET

Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh

Pitching Matchup: Chase Dollander (3-2, 3.35 ERA) vs. Carmen Moldzinski (2-3, 4.50 ERA)


The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home with a three-game series against the visiting Colorado Rockies at beautiful PNC Park.


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BD community, this is your thread for today’s game against the Rockies. Enjoy!

Colorado Rockies game no. 44 thread: Chase Dollander vs. Mason Montgomery

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 08: Chase Dollander #32 of the Colorado Rockies walks back to the dugout after being relieved in the sixth inning during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Friday, May 8, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Derik Hamilton/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

It was a very happy birthday for Mickey Moniak as he helped propel the Colorado Rockies to a 10-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night. If the team is hoping for some more birthday magic, it just so happens to be Brenton Doyle’s birthday, and he could use some of that magic himself. With the series tied, the Rockies are looking to end the road trip on a high note and finish 3-3.

Chase Dollander (3-2, 3.35 ERA) will get his second straight start as it appears the team is moving away from the opener for “Mr. Hundy.” Dollander wasn’t exactly sharp in his last outing in Philadelphia as he issued five walks but he still managed to grind out 5.2 innings and allowed just two runs on three hits with five strikeouts. The command has been a little lacking his last two times out, but the ability to get strikeouts and be effective when he doesn’t have his best stuff is what top-of-the-line pitchers have to be able to do. This will also be Dollander’s first time facing Pittsburgh.

Mason Montgomery (1-0, 2.87 ERA) will make the start for the Pirates, serving as the opener. Montgomery has slotted in as a fireballing lefty since coming over from the Tampa Bay Rays in the trade that also brought in Brandon Lowe. He has tossed 11-straight scoreless outings and is also making his third start of the season. Carmen Mlodzinski (2-3, 4.50 ERA) was initially scheduled to start the game, but the Pirates are choosing to go the opener route and use him as the bulk reliever, as they did on April 15 against the Washington Nationals. Mlodzinski was excellent in his last outing, allowing just two runs on six hits over six innings in his start against San Francisco, but he only had one strikeout.

In roster news, the Rockies placed Jimmy Herget on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement. In the corresponding move, Tanner Gordon was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque.

First Pitch: 10:35 AM MDT

TV: Rockies TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

Pirates SB Nation site: Bucs Dugout

Lineups:

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Charles Barkley on gay athletes: ‘You’re just stupid’ if you don’t think there’s more players in NFL, NBA, MLB

Jason Collins was an icon, not simply because of his ability on the court, but for his profound bravery off it. Collins became the first active player in a major four sport to come out of the closet, announcing that he was gay in 2013. It may have been the twilight of his career, but he became a north star for other athletes simply by continuing to play team basketball while being out in the open.

Collins’ family announced on Tuesday that he had died at home at the age of 47, taken far too soon by stage-4 glioblastoma, a relatively common, but aggressive form of brain cancer. Inside the NBA gave a tribute to Collins on Wednesday night in the wake of his death, and while Kenny Smith spoke kindly of Collins’ contributions to the NBA, the most poignant statement came from Charles Barkley who both lauded Collins for his bravery, while also acknowledging that we still live in a prejudiced, homophobic world.

“Kenny, in fairness now, if another guy did it, it would still be a big deal, because we live in a homophobic society. That’s unfortunate. First off, anybody who thinks we don’t have a bunch of gay players in all sports, they’re just stupid. There is so much animosity towards the gay community, and that’s what’s really unfortunate. If anybody thinks him, and I know a couple of soccer players that came out — if you don’t think there’s more gay players in the NFL, Major League Baseball, and the NBA — you’re just stupid.”

Collins didn’t put up huge traditional numbers, but carved out a 13-year NBA career on the back of his basketball IQ and defensive ability. The No. 18 pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, he played for six teams, putting up his best seasons with the New Jersey Nets as the starting center on a phenomenal team that boasted Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson as its nucleus. Predominantly a piece of the puzzle who understood his role, every team, every locker room was made better due to the contributions of Jason Collins.

Barkley also discussed homophobia he’s witnessed in the black community, and implored people struggling with their sexuality to find peace with who they are. “Do you,” Barkley said, “gay people have the right to do what they want to do. Its nobody else’s business at all. For him to come out, it was great. […] I was proud of him for coming out, and when I got that news yesterday it just sucked.”

There’s nothing else to say, because what Chuck added to this conversation was already perfect.

Yankees Birthday of the Day: Earle Combs

1924 New York Yankees: Outfielder Earle Combs. (photo by: HUM Images/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

As we saw when the Angels had literally Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout at the same time and couldn’t sniff the playoffs, you need more than just a couple stars to make a good roster in baseball.

The “Murderers’ Row” Yankees of the 1920s and ‘30s are a good example. Yes, they had the likes of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and without those two, those teams would’ve gone nowhere. However, if it was just those two with a roster of below average players everywhere else, those teams might not have won a World Series, never mind be historically notable. One of the other good players who played on those great Yankees teams of the ‘20s and ‘30s was Earle Combs. Today happens to be his birthday, so let’s look back on the life and times of “The Kentucky Colonel.”

Earle Bryan Combs
Born: May 14, 1899 (Pebworth, KY)
Died: July 21. 1976 (Richmond, KY)
Yankees Tenure: 1924-35

As that nickname might suggest, Combs was born and raised in Kentucky, and basically lived his entire life there apart from his baseball career. He grew up working on his family’s farm, but eventually decided to attend Eastern Kentucky University to study to be a school teacher. He played on several of the college’s sports teams, including baseball, where he was a star. After graduating, he did follow through on becoming a teacher, but eventually the pull of baseball, including the money that came with it, became too much to ignore.

Combs first signed with the local Louisville Colonels, where he was managed by his future Yankees skipper Joe McCarthy. Combs quickly locked down the center field role for Louisville and became a star, hitting .380 in his second season. That season led to the Yankees purchasing him ahead of the 1924 season.

In Louisville, Combs had been not only an excellent hitter but a dangerous base-stealer. Upon getting to New York, Miller Huggins had him tone down that aspect, as Combs would be tasked with hitting in front of Ruth and a strong Yankees’ lineup. With Combs’ on-base ability, that ended up allowing him to become the perfect lead-off hitter for the Yankees’ Murderers’ Row era.

Over the course of a 12-year career with the Yankees, Combs hit .325/.397/.462, which equated to a career 125 OPS+. He was extremely adept at getting on base ahead of he likes of Ruth and Gehrig, as he was skilled at both getting hits and walking. Even with all the stars that littered the 1927 Yankees, it was Combs who ended up recording a league-leading 231 hits that season. In addition, Combs could still use his speed even without stealing bases. He recorded 154 triples in his career, and led the league on three occasions.

Over the course of his 12 seasons in the majors, Combs would be part of three World Series championship teams with the Yankees: 1927, ‘28, and ‘32. Combs performed especially well in the third of those, as he OPSed 1.125 in the sweep of the Cubs in ‘32.

In addition to his remarkable career on the field, Combs was also regarded as one of the best human beings in baseball in his era. He was also a fan favorite in the Bronx, and some fans even apparently once took up a collection to buy him a gold watch. That’s something that won’t — and shouldn’t to be real — happen in today’s game.

Combs remained a very solid player to the Yankees until 1934. He was on pace for another good year that season, but he suffered a fractured skull after crashing into an outfield wall trying to make a catch. There were briefly fears for his life after the accident, but Combs eventually recovered in time to return to the Yankees for 1935. However, he dealt with further — not as serious — injuries that year. He was limited to just 89 games and didn’t play to his previous level. At that point, Combs was 36 years old, and the Yankees had also signed a young center fielder named Joe DiMaggio. Sensing that the writing was on the wall, Combs retired after 1935.

After retiring as a player, Combs joined the Yankees as a coach, where he was credited with helping DiMaggio learn how to play center field at Yankee Stadium. Combs would also spend time on the coaching staffs of the St. Louis Browns, Red Sox, and Phillies before leaving baseball for good and returning to his Kentucky farm.

In 1970, Combs was voted into the Hall of Fame via the Veterans Committee. He’s considered a bit of a reach in retrospect, although the Veterans Committee still makes plenty of those choices today. Combs himself was surprised by his induction, saying “I thought the Hall of Fame was for superstars, not just average players like me.” He was a bit unfair to himself, there, as he was definitely not “average.”

Combs eventually passed away in 1976 at the age of 77. He was never as famous or as good as the likes of Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig, but if you look ever look back at the play-by-play data of Yankees’ games of those era, chances are good that he was the one scoring on their hits.


See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

Phillies vs. Red Sox prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 14

The Phillies (20-23) and the Red Sox (18-24) take the field for the finale of their three-game series tonight at Fenway Park in Beantown.

 

Last night the Sox squared the series at a game apiece with a 3-1 win. Just as he had the night before, Ceddanne Rafaela delivered the big hit with a pinch hit two-run home run in the home half of the sixth inning. Sonny Gray limited the Phillies to two hits and a single run over six innings to earn his fourth win of the season. Andrew Painter had one of his better outings of the season for Philly allowing a run over five innings, but the bullpen failed to bring it home.

 

Breaking News: Kyle Schwarber failed to homer for the first time in five days. The Philadelphia DH was hitless in two at-bats with a couple walks.

 

Jesus Luzardo gets the ball for Philadelphia today against former Phillie Ranger Suarez. The southpaw Suarez is currently riding a 12-inning shutout string while Luzardo is looking to bounce back from a dreadful last outingin which he allowed five earned runs in just three innings. Since coming over from Miami, Luzardo has run hot and cold allowing five or more runs in four starts and two or fewer in the other four. Suarez has allowed four runs in three starts and shut out his opponent in his other four appearances.

Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.

 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

 

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long. 

Game Details and How to Watch: Red Sox vs. Phillies

  • Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
  • Time: 6:45PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, NBC Sports Philadelphia, NESN

 

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

The Latest Odds: Red Sox vs. Phillies

The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Boston Red Sox (-108), Philadelphia Phillies (-112)
  • Spread: Red Sox +1.5 (-186), Phillies -1.5 (+153)
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable Starting Pitchers: Red Sox vs. Phillies

Pitching matchup for May 14:

  • Red Sox: Ranger Suarez
    Season Totals: 39.0 IP, 2-2, 2.77 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 32K, 10 BB
  • Phillies: Jesus Luzardo
    Season Totals: 43.2 IP, 3-3, 5.77 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 57K, 12 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Red Sox vs. Phillies

  • Alec Bohm is riding a 4-game hitting streak (6-14)
  • Brandon Marsh had his 13-game hitting streak snapped last night
  • Ceddanne Rafaela is 6-17 over his last 5 games and 12-40 in May
  • Trevor Story has hit in 3 straight games (4-10)

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Red Sox vs. Phillies

  • The Phillies are 8-11 on the road this season
  • The Red Sox are 8-13 at home this season
  • The Phillies are an MLB-worst 11-32 on the Run Line this season
  • The Red Sox are 16-26 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 19 times in games involving the Red Sox this season (19-22-1)
  • The OVER has cashed 22 times in Phillies’ games this season (22-19-2)

 

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions: Red Sox vs. Phillies

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

 

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

 

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Red Sox and the Phillies:

 

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Red Sox on the Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 7.0 runs

 

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The Cincinnati Reds offense is actually a Statcast darling

CINCINNATI, OHIO - APRIL 13: The Cincinnati Reds mascot celebrates after the 4-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on April 13, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images

You are perpetually judged on results in the business of baseball. Wins are ultimately what matter to fans (and most owners), and flags fly forever. Chasing results, however, is an administrative tactic of the past.

Front offices, at least I hope, don’t go sign a guy because he had 112 RBI the season before. Even if he swatted 40 dingers the season before free agency, where he hit them, how far they went, and how many he’d ever hit in a season before that carry just as much weight in the evaluation now than simply staring at the back of one’s baseball card.

So far in 2026, the results of the Cincinnati Reds offense are pretty poor. They own just a 90 wRC+ as a team, a mark good for just 26th out of the 30 MLB clubs. Their .220 batting average ranks dead last, their .306 OBP just 25th. There are 227 MLB players who have logged at least 110 PA so far, and the Reds have the guy with the single worst wRC+ mark (Ke’Bryan Hayes, 10), 14th worst (TJ Friedl, 51), and tied for 23rd worst (Tyler Stephenson, 66).

If you had never looked at the FanGraphs leaderboards, though, and simply cruised over to the team stats at Baseball Savant, you’d be shouting from the rooftops that this Cincinnati Reds offense has been built up as a powerhouse.

Only the New York Yankees (7.5%) have a better barrels per PA percentage than the Reds (7.2%). The team with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, breakout star Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt…and then the Cincinnati Reds. Barrels, for those that aren’t familiar with the term, are effectively qualified on a rolling scale based on exit velocity and ideal launch angle, but are effectively a term that describes squaring a ball up, and only the Yankees do it with better frequency than the Reds so far this season.

It’s the same story for Brls/BBE%, or barrels per batted ball event – the Reds rank 2nd (11.2%) to only the Yankees (11.7%) in the rate in which they barrel the ball in plate appearances where the ball ends up in play.

No team, and it’s not particularly close, has a higher average launch angle this season than the 17.5 degree mark posted by the Reds. In fact, dating back to the start of the 2021 season, no team in any season has posted a mark better than 16.1 degrees over the course of a season.

They rank 4th in launch angle sweet spot percentage. They rank 5th in maximum exit velocity, and 4th in average exit velocity. In other words, they’re hitting the ball square with more frequency than just about every team out there, hitting harder than almost every team out there, and hitting it with the highest average launch angle in recent memory – all hallmarks of a club that should be seeing line-drive lasers plastered all over every ball park in which they play.

Yet here they are sporting that lowly 90 wRC+ over a quarter of the way through the 2026 season.

What we get to ponder, for now, is which one of these begins to normalize and reveal itself as the true indicator of what this Reds club truly is. Will they continue to mash like this with middling results? Will the mashing produce better results? Is this offense actually even worse than it’s shown so far, and will it produce even worse results as the rate in which this club hits barrels sinks back down towards league average?

What we get to watch for the rest of the season is which one wins out, since for now, there’s a pretty clear divergence between process and results.

Mariners vs Astros Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros finish off a four-game AL West series at Daikin Park on Thursday, May 14, and my top Mariners vs. Astros predictions and MLB picks expect Houston to eke out a win this afternoon in the series finale. 

Who will win Mariners vs Astros today: Astros moneyline (+117)

The rubber has hit the road for Seattle Mariners righty Luis Castillo, and his annual statistical decline has hit rock bottom through eight 2026 starts. His average fastball velocity has dropped each of the past four seasons while his xFIP has also climbed in sync to his current, career-high 4.34 mark.

This isn’t a layup matchup against the Houston Astros for Seattle, either.

Houston is third in wOBA against right-handed pitchers, and Astros starter Mike Burrows has found a groove across his past three starts with a 2.50 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a 30.6% hard-hit rate.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo has surrendered an alarming 58.3% hard-hit rate across his past three starts.

Mariners vs Astros Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 (-125)

While the sum of Castillo’s statistical parts isn’t pretty, there have been a few signs, with the righty allowing three earned runs or fewer in four of his eight starts. Additionally, his highlighted xFIP is well below his 6.57 ERA, and there is screaming statistical correction coming to his unsustainable .364 BABIP and 59.0% strand rate.

Add the potential for both teams to rest regulars in this afternoon series finale, and I’m anticipating both starters to put enough zeros on the scoreboard to keep this total Under the number Thursday.

Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 20-11, +10.05 units
  • Over/Under bets: 12-6, +5.37 units

Mariners vs Astros odds

  • Moneyline: Seattle -125 | Houston +105
  • Run line: Seattle -1.5 (+130) | Houston +1.5 (-150)
  • Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+105) | Under 9.5 (-125)

Mariners vs Astros trend

The Seattle Mariners have hit the Under in 14 of their last 22 away games (+6.50 Units / 27% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Astros.

How to watch Mariners vs Astros and game info

LocationDaikin Park, Houston, TX
DateThursday, May 14, 2026
First pitch2:10 p.m. ET
TVMariners.TV, SCHN
Mariners starting pitcherLuis Castillo
(0-4, 6.57 ERA)
Astros starting pitcherMike Burrows
(2-4, 5.04 ERA)

Mariners vs Astros latest injuries

Mariners vs Astros weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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