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.
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 candidate
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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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
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.
“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.”
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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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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.
The Rockies announced today the following transactions:
– Placed RHP Jimmy Herget on the 15-day IL, retroactive to May 13 (right shoulder impingement). – Recalled RHP Tanner Gordon from Triple-A Albuquerque.
— Rockies Club Information (@RockiesClubInfo) May 14, 2026
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.
Inside The NBA: While discussing Jason Collins' passing, Charles Barkley: "We live in a homophobic society … anybody who think we ain't got a bunch of gay players in all sports, they're just stupid."
“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.
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.
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.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Red Sox vs. Phillies
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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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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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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.
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 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
Location
Daikin Park, Houston, TX
Date
Thursday, May 14, 2026
First pitch
2:10 p.m. ET
TV
Mariners.TV, SCHN
Mariners starting pitcher
Luis Castillo (0-4, 6.57 ERA)
Astros starting pitcher
Mike Burrows (2-4, 5.04 ERA)
Mariners vs Astros latest injuries
Mariners vs Astros weather
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CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Rolando Blackman smiles during 2025 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, 2025 in at Chicago, Illinois at McCormick Convention Center. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks hold the No. 9 overall pick in the NBA Draft this year, but they need more than another flashy rookie to get their team back on track.
Something the Mavs didn’t have much of during the 2025-26 season was good health. Those fortunes will need to reverse themselves in order for Dallas to attempt to get back into contention in the Western Conference.
Rolando Blackman, the Mavericks’ representative at the NBA Draft Lottery, spoke about the team’s need to stay healthy.
According to Spotrac, the Mavericks had 18 players miss a game on the injury report at some point during the season. Over the course of the season, that adds up to over $72.6 million, which is ranked second in the league behind the Indiana Pacers, who did not have All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton for the entire season due to injury.
Kyrie Irving’s absence makes up for a good chunk of that, but if the Mavericks hadn’t traded Anthony Davis in February to the Washington Wizards, it’s possible that the Mavs could have leapfrogged the Pacers on this list.
Another top-10 pick, a full offseason for Cooper Flagg and a healthy Irving should help make the Mavs more competitive in the 2026-27 season, but they will need their whole roster to be healthy in order to make it work.
Mavs Moneyball community, what do you make of Blackman’s comments? Chime off in the comments section below.
Hearing over spying allegations on or before Tuesday
Fans warned before booking travel and accommodation
The English Football League has indicated that Southampton could be kicked out of the playoffs and that the date of the Championship playoff final may be delayed if the club are found guilty of breaching regulations.
Southampton have been charged by the EFL for allegedly spying on Middlesbrough’s training within 72 hours of their first-leg meeting and for not acting “with the utmost good faith”.
After losing the last game against the Buffalo Sabres, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves back to square one with the series tied 2-2. In the last two games, the Habs had a slow start and allowed the Sabres to take the lead; that’s something they need to avoid tonight in Buffalo. If Montreal can manage to take an early lead and silence the crowd, they’ll have a much better night.
Historically, when a series is tied 2-2, the home team has a 177-127 record for a .582 winning percentage. As for Buffalo, they have a 15-20 record in the fifth game of a series (.429), and when they started the round at home, they are 8-7 for a .533 winning percentage. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have a 57-41 record in game 5 (.582), but on the road, they are 17-21 (.447). However, in these playoffs, the Habs are 4-2 on the Road and have outscored their opponents 18-14. As for the Sabres, they are 2-3 at the KeyBank Center and have been outscored 16-12.
There were shots fired by Lindy Ruff in his media availability on Wednesday. When he was asked about the penalties his team is taking, he replied:
I know Montreal's got a good power play, but I think they're going down easy. […] It's playoff hockey; every team in this league does it.
When his answer was relayed to Martin St-Louis, the Canadiens’ coach smiled and said:
So, he was talking about his team as well? That’s what he sees through his lenses. I won’t comment on how he sees through his own lenses. It’s his view.
When he was asked how he saw things through his own lenses, he added:
I think calls for one side or the other even themselves out; I don’t care.
The coach may not care, but it stands to reason that he will most probably relay what Ruff said to his players and use it as motivation. To get the win on Thursday night, Montreal will need to open the shooting lanes. On Tuesday, Buffalo blocked 27 shots; if the Habs had gotten more pucks on net, the result might have been different.
The Sainte-Flanelle has yet to lose two games in a row in these playoffs; they have a 4-0 record and have allowed only six goals in the four games immediately after a loss. They’ll aim to keep that perfect record. Jakub Dobes has only lost two regulation games in a row once during the regular season. He had an 8-1- 1 record after a regulation loss, with a .928 save percentage. Needless to say, that must help the Canadiens’ confidence ahead of this must-win game.
The Canadiens will not have a morning skate today, but they will hold a media availability from their hotel at around 11:45. The puck is set to drop at 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, and CBC. Chris Rooney and Graham Skilliter will be officiating, while Bevan Mills and Kiel Murchison will be the linemen. Win or lose, Game 6 will be played on Saturday at 8:00 PM at the Bell Centre. The first Saturday night playoff game in a packed building since 2015, expect an electric atmosphere once more.
Arkansas Razorbacks' Hunter Dietz (32) pitches as Auburn Tigers take on Arkansas Razorbacks at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. on Friday, April 3, 2026. Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Auburn Tigers 3-2. | Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
If you blinked, you may have missed it.
That was the time flying by, quicker than any of us realized. We’re halfway through May, which means that All-Star weekend is coming up in two months. And now, thanks to MLB thinking that their presentation needs to rival that of the NFL and/or the NBA, that means the MLB first year player draft is coming up soon as well. We’ve documented how much we don’t care for the league making this into some kind of event that it really is not, but hey, why not?
With the quickly approaching MLB draft coming up, that means people are starting to think about which amateur players will go where. This may be the last year the draft looks like this with the impending labor dispute threatening to upend everything we know about the sport, so while it’s still something we’re used to, let’s take a look at what those who are a lot smarter on this topic than I am are saying about who the Phillies might be selecting.
Remember: the Phillies have fallen 10 spots in this year’s draft thanks to being over the largest luxury tax so many years in a row.
Double-dipping in the Arkansas cheese dip, the Phillies go back and grab an exciting southpaw in Hunter Dietz. He’s been in the race for the top southpaw in this class for a while now, and while the track record isn’t as lengthy as his peers, the angle he creates allows his breaking pitches to be absolutely devastating. The fastball has reached into the upper-90s, too.
An athletic 6-foot-1 left-hander, Mendes will use a robust five-pitch mix to keep hitters guessing. While his fastball sits around 92 mph and tops out at 96, it does feature some life upstairs with some angle to his glove side. His 80-mph changeup is his best secondary, a plus cambio he sells well with arm speed, the kind of offspeed offering that seems to pause in mid-air with late arm side depth to it. His low-80s slider can show some good short glove side tilt and he can back foot it to right-handed hitters and he’s added a new, harder cutter, with better shape and control of it as the season has gone on. He’ll use his upper-70s curve to steal a strike early in counts.
Like basically all of the pitchers mentioned in this mock outside of Flora, Dietz has a chance to go as high as the early teens depending on how he pitches down the stretch. He’s currently leading the SEC with 108 strikeouts and owns a 3.22 ERA over 13 starts and 72.2 innings—far and away a career high—with a 35.4% strikeout rate and 8.5% walk rate.
There will be many more mock drafts put up for us to discuss, so check back often as we update the mock draft round ups.
COVERS INTEL: Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo has surrendered an alarming 
