The Minnesota Twins have caught fire of late, winning six of their past eight games.
With Joe Ryan set to take the mound, my Twins vs. White Sox predictions expect the road team to pick up an important divisional win.
Let's break it all down with my MLB picks for Tuesday, May 26.
Who will win Twins vs White Sox today: Twins moneyline (-115)
Sean Burke allowed 12 earned runs over his last three starts and posted a 5.40 xFIP during that stretch.
It'll be difficult for him to get on track tonight. He's pitched much worse at home, posting a 4.15 FIP in Chicago compared to a 2.85 on the road.
He'll be tasked with slowing down a Minnesota Twins lineup that sits fifth in ISO and sixth in wOBA against right-handed pitching away from Target Field.
The Twins should do damage at the plate, and ace Joe Ryan doesn't need much run support. Back the Twins to -130.
Twins vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-115)
Isolating home games against Top-20 teams in OBP, Burke owns a 6.22 ERA, 6.41 xERA, and conceded multiple runs in four of five starts. Minnesota ranks ninth in OBP, so they fit the profile.
The Chicago White Sox don't have as strong of a matchup against Ryan, but they should still chip in their share of runs.
Ryan's indicators (FIP, xFIP, barrel rate, etc.) are worse on the road than at the pitcher-friendly Target Field, and the White Sox have scored 3+ runs against eight of the last 11 right-handed starters.
Play the Over to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 18-16, -3.08
Over/Under bets: 16-17-1, -3.51 units
Twins vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Twins -115 | White Sox -105
Run line: Twins -1.5 (+150) | White Sox +1.5 (-175)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-115) | Under 7.5 (-105)
Twins vs White Sox trend
Minnesota has hit the game total Over in 24 of the last 40 games (+9.55 units, 22% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs. White Sox.
How to watch Twins vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
Twins.TV, CHSN
Twins starting pitcher
Joe Ryan (3-3, 3.02 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Sean Burke (2-3, 4.08 ERA)
Twins vs White Sox latest injuries
Twins vs White Sox weather
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 25: Jacob Young #30 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There have been a lot of fun player development wins this season for the Nats. From Curtis Mead, to Keibert Ruiz and even stars like James Wood and CJ Abrams, plenty of Nats hitters are getting better. However, the most surprising development in my opinion is that Jacob Young has turned into a power hitter.
Over the first few seasons of Jacob Young’s career, fans thought they had a good idea of who he was. Young was a speedy center fielder, who plays amazing defense, but was not a good offensive player. While Young always had solid bat to ball skills and a decent approach, it was not enough to make up for his lack of power. He hit the ball on the ground a ton, and did not hit it very hard.
In his first three seasons, Young hit only 5 homers in over 1,000 at bats. Every home run from the center fielder felt like a shock. This season, Young already has 7 home runs, which is obviously a career high. That shock factor after Jacob Young’s homers is slowly going away. He has shown that he is more than capable of going deep.
Jacob Young had 5 HRs in 1000+ plate appearances over the last 3 years. He’s got 7 through 184 PAs this season.
His launch angle sweet spot has gone from the 3rd percentile last year to the 81st percentile this year.
With Young’s power surge, he is turning into an excellent player who can be more than just a 4th outfielder. His season OPS of .683 is far from elite, but it is good enough with his defense. It felt like Young started the season somewhat slowly defensively, but lately he has been making a ton of great plays, and making them look easy. Young has 8 outs above average this season, which is in the 99th percentile.
We know about JY’s defense though. Today, I want to talk about some of the changes he has made to improve his offense. The biggest one has been getting the ball off the ground. You cannot hit homers when you put the ball on the ground, and Young was doing that a lot last season. His ground ball rate in 2024 and 2025 was 56.5%, which is extremely high. This year, that number is down nearly 20 percent, to 38.8%.
Last night, Dan Kolko implied in passing that the old regime wanted Young to hit the ball on the ground to maximize his speed. As a right handed batter in the big leagues though, you are not going to get a ton of infield hits. When looking at his swing, you can see that he is hunting ground balls. Young was almost swinging directly down on the baseball last year. This season, that swing is much more level.
Who knew you could hit for more power when you aren’t swinging directly down on the baseball pic.twitter.com/YH3RoXzaCd
That plays out in the launch angle numbers as well. Young’s average launch angle has gone from 3.8 degrees to 11.1 degrees. That is a huge transformation to make in one offseason. The Nats center fielder is also swinging harder and hitting the ball harder. While some of the credit goes to the Nats new staff, Jacob Young began this process in the offseason.
He went to Driveline to try and fix his offensive game. It feels like Young has wanted to add more power for a while. Before the 2025 season, he added a bunch of muscle, but it turned out that was not the issue. His problem was his mechanics, and with the help of Driveline and the Nats hitting coaches, he has improved his mechanics a lot.
Check out Jacob Young putting in work at Driveline:
Ironically, the coach he worked with this offseason was Travis Fitta, who is now a hitting coach in the Nats organization. Fitta is the assistant hitting coach in AAA Rochester, where players like Yohandy Morales are thriving. Driveline is known more for their pitching development, but it seems like they are changing the game on the hitting side now too. Andrew Aydt, the Nats assistant hitting coach is also a Driveline product.
If these guys can turn Jacob Young into a 20 home run bat, I do not know what they can’t do. Young seemed destined to be a light hitting 4th outfielder, but the added pop has changed his outlook. It is crazy to see how much this new staff has been able to unlock in players. From Young and Curtis Mead in the majors to Seaver King and Yohandy Morales in the minors, the Nats hitting development is on point.
He has played at least 20 minutes in all three games, and logged 24 minutes of ice last time out as the Avs desperately attempted to avoid falling into a 0-3 hole.
The captain will see a healthy dose of ice with their season on the line, especially with key Avalanche players banged up and missing today’s morning skate. Landeskog averaged 3.7 shots on 6.9 attempts when logging 20+ minutes this season. Play up to -130.
Game 4 Prop #2: Nazem Kadri Over 2.5 shots on goal (-120)
Landeskog is the only player on the Avalanche with more shots or scoring chances in the third round. Nazem Kadri has been all around the net, and he has done a better job of tilting the ice in Colorado's favor than anybody.
Shot attempts are 53-30 Colorado at 5-on-5 during Kadri's minutes. That's a nearly 64% share of the shot attempts, which is tops among all Avalanche players.
Kadri had three shots and eight attempts in more than 19 minutes last time out, and could be heading for an even bigger workload with Nathan MacKinnon fighting injury. Playable to -130.
Game 4 Prop #3: Noah Hanifin Over 1.5 blocked shots (-160)
That's one reason he's been on the ice for 106 shot attempts against in just three games. There are a ton of opportunities to jump in the shooting lanes, and Hanifin's done a great job in that regard.
He has blocked nine shots in the series, including a five-block performance in Game 3. Hanifin registered at least two blocks in five of the last six, and I'm backing him to do it again up to -175.
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Mar 12, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; NC State Wolfpack guard Matt Able (3) scores as Virginia Cavaliers forward Devin Tillis (11) defends in the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Today it was announced that NC State transfer Matt Able withdrew from the NBA Draft, and he will officially play for UNC for the 2026-27 season. His decision to officially make his way to campus is the break that Michael Malone and his staff needed after Henri Veesaar decided that he was done with college.
Able faced a tough decision following his freshman campaign with the Wolfpack. When Michael Malone was hired at UNC, he decided that taking his talents to Chapel Hill would be the best move for his long-term basketball career. Despite announcing that he was transferring, Able had already built up enough of a case to get selected in the NBA Draft — he finished his lone season with the Wolfpack averaging 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists while only playing 21.7 minutes per game. His abilities as a shooter attracted a lot of attention, and 247Sports ranked him as the fourth-best shooting guard in the transfer portal. Able clearly has NBA aspirations, and he is hoping that one more college season under a former NBA coach that isn’t plotting to sneak off to LSU during the final leg of the season will help him get drafted in the first round of the 2027 NBA Draft.
Now that Able has announced his return to college, UNC doesn’t have to sweat trying to find another shooter in what is a depleted transfer portal. Malone is looking for one more center to complete the roster, and it could be that we hear more about who that will be sooner rather than later. But for now, how is everyone feeling about Able suiting up for the Tar Heels this fall? Let us know in the comments below.
I've rediscovered the NBA in recent days. Not because NBC has returned to the roster of NBA broadcast partners (which doesn't hurt), but because Victor Wembanyama is the most exciting and unique basketball talent since, in my own personal view, Michael Jordan.
As a result, I've been paying closer attention to the NBA. It was hard to miss the ridiculous remarks made by Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson after Cleveland fell behind 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals. While watching the second half of Monday night's blowout loss to complete the Knicks sweep, I made a simple observation on Twitter: "When is Game 5 in the analytical Eastern Conference Finals?"
I didn't expect anything to come of it. But then, out of nowhere, they used the tweet on Inside The NBA. Complete with the Shaq seal of approval: "Good job, ProFootballTalk. That was funny right there."
The moment (which I missed live because I decided to watch the NHL game) was a big one for me. My son loves that show, and he has sent me multiple clips over the years that have brought both of us to tears. We both appreciate the humor (especially when Charles Barkley sends Shaq into a laughing-coughing fit), the authenticity, the free-wheeling, no-effs-given style. As evidenced by their recent decision to jump with both feet on a potential NFL third rail.
So I'm back on board with the NBA, after years of not really paying much (or any) attention to it. Given that I've got strong opinions about tanking and flopping, that may not be a good thing for the current stewards of the game. Regardless, I'll be watching the rest of the ongoing postseason games, even if the Spurs don't advance to the Finals.
Next season, any Wemby game will be appointment viewing. And maybe it'll spill over to other games — especially the ones on NBC.
Regardless, the horizons are re-broadening. Basketball is back on the viewing menu. Wemby buried the hook, and Inside The NBA reeled me in.
TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 19, 2026: Braylon Doughty #27 of the Cleveland Guardians throws a pitch during the ninth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on March 19, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Let’s Scout the Lake County Captains!
Welcome back to my annual, unrequested article for Covering the Corner. My name is Mike, and you may have heard me on the Disgusting Baseball podcast rotation with Quincy. If not, here’s who I am.
I’ve been the “datacaster” with the Lake County Captains for 5 seasons. That means I relay pitch-by-pitch data from the ballpark to the server at Major League Baseball. That job requires two things, and affords one advantage to me with respect to scouting.
I have to pay attention to every pitch for every game I work. MLB takes the live reporting very seriously, so our accuracy is important.
I have to pay attention to every player on the roster. Wherever a player appears in this recap, rest assured I have seen this player enough times to have an informed opinion on them.
In exchange, I do get access to some information that does not get publicly shared on the game file. Those include the precise pitch location and velocity. While the client does not tag and identify pitches to me automatically, it does differentiate pitch types, and I have seen enough baseball to inform you what those pitch types are.
Without further ado, let’s break it down. I am using the roster as of May 19, 2026, to define our list (sorry, Justin Campbell fans- you will be reading about him from many people more qualified than me, rest assured). This roster is mostly derived from the MLB Draft, and it contains primarily later-round 2024 selections and higher-round 2025 selections. I will include biographical information as the team provides.
Ratings are based on a 20-80 scale, with 20 being fringe-professional and 80 being elite. Future projections are hard- I will try my best to estimate these, but development is not linear, and at High-A, these players have years ahead of them to develop.
Part 1 will cover the rotation and bullpen. In a future part 2, I will take you through the infield, including catchers. Last but not least, I will scout my favorite position group on the team, the outfield. In part 3, I will also rank this version of the roster in order.
Rotation: Braylon Doughty and The Boys
Another note before we crack into this: minor league rotations yield many kinds of pitchers, from spot-starters to mainstays to single-inning relievers. High-A is not the level for that transition, however. A number of these arms will be better suited for relief roles. Additionally, I am an optimistic evaluator, and I will sell you that vision if I can see it. It’s part of the fun! Please let me know where you land.
Doughty has a starting arsenal, a good feel for the spin, and can place most of his pitches for strikes. Doughty is not given to walking guys, but he has been willing to work outside of the strike zone more than he did in his professional debut last season. Doughty can give up his fair share of hits, despite having good enough stuff to attack the zone. He has used the sinker often, but its shape and velocity currently blends with his changeup.
Verdict: Kitchen-sink Starter (think Seth Lugo), projects to the middle of a MLB rotation. FV:50.
Franklin Gómez, LHP: 6’0”, 220, DoB 7/6/2005 (20 yrs. old), Samaná, DR (Acq. in trade w/ NYM, 2026). Four-seam Fastball: 45/45 (90-92 T94), Changeup 50/55(82-85), Cutter 45/50(86-88), Slider 45/50(79-83), Sinker 45/50(88-91), Control 60/60, Command 55/60.
Gómez is a true throwback, feel-for-pitching lefty in a system that has successfully developed pitchers like him. His five pitch mix is headlined by a changeup that separates well from his fastball offerings. The rest of the arsenal is a mix of 40-45 grade offerings that all play significantly better off each other. He works quickly, recovers from mistakes, and pitches with energy. If his fastball offerings can improve, he shows flashes that remind me of Parker Messick, albeit Gómez is significantly younger for the level.
Verdict: Swingman/ Back of rotation starter with possible upside to the middle of a rotation. FV: 40+.
Schlesinger is an interesting evaluation. He is remarkably hittable for how good his stuff is, especially at this level of competition. He strikes out well over a batter an inning, benefitting from a deceptive low three-quarters delivery and a quality breaking ball. THe low arm slot also adds run to his fastball- but the fastball comes in hot and flat. He gives up loud contact when hitters are ready for the heater, and he does not locate it consistently. His new sweeper changed my evaluation somewhat – I now think he can be a swing-man with upside to the back of the rotation. If he does not end up there, he will be a very difficult at-bat for left handed hitters in a bullpen role.
Verdict: Likely a leverage arm from the bullpen, with upside to be a swing-man/back of rotation starter. FV: 35+.
Hernandez is the most interesting of the remaining rotation arms in terms of whether they can stay starters. He has four pitches that I can identify, and none of them are particularly good for the level. He often pitches himself into trouble, but he has been allowed to work out of his own messes. When he starts, he has more success than when asked to piggy-back. I am intrigued because he has shown toughness on the mound, and he does not give in to hitters.
Verdict: He will remain in pro ball for a while. If his stuff creeps up, he may be a depth starter. FV: 35.
Garcia has thrown out his (pretty bad) changeup and moved to an arsenal that capitalizes on his great feel for spin. His slurve and slider have distinct movement patterns despite carrying similar velocity. Command is not his strong suit, but he controls his breaking balls a bit better than his heat. He is using his fastball more than he should, but his current role requires that of him. Garcia is destined for the bullpen, but the longer he can maintain his role in the rotation, the more excited you should be about his potential- it will mean those two breakers can navigate hitters of either handedness, and that they can perform when they’re not at their best.
Verdict: If you liked Scott Barlow, you will love Jogly Garcia. FV: 35.
Humphries has the ingredients to be a successful pitcher. He has a steep overhand delivery, and his fastball and changeup work well together from that release point. He changed his arsenal in 2025, throwing a cutter/slider hybrid to lefties in addition to his fastball/changeup heavy approach to righties and eschewing the curveball almost completely. Humphries simply cannot consistently command the baseball, and right now his arsenal is akin to a left-handed Eli Morgan. Humphries is a prime example of a future reliever who is in the rotation to figure out the basics.
Verdict: high-risk reliever profile with back of rotation upside if it clicks. FV:30+.
Michael Kennedy is a crafty left-handed pitcher who does not have the requisite control or command to make his pitches work. Much like Josh Hartle, who was acquired in the same trade, Kennedy relies on deception and location to get his results. He struggles to put away hitters unless he is pinpoint, and he often surrenders hard contact. Unless his command and control improve significantly, it will be difficult for him to remain in pro baseball.
Verdict: Something needs to change before you can imagine a role for him. FV: 25+.
The Bullpen, ft. Kendeglys Virguez, Cam Schuelke, and Questions
Virguez is a big-bodied righty who stands out on this pitching staff. He has a relatively conventional delivery, but explosive stuff. His slider gets great depth with little lateral movement, while his fastball gets almost no depth with exceptional run to the arm side. When he throws strikes, Virguez can dominate his innings. However, he gets fewer swings and misses than you might project. I believe this is due to the shapes of his pitches, and he may benefit from trying a different breaking ball or a true sinker in the future. When his command gets away from him, the hittable nature of his fastball causes issues.
Verdict: Keep your eye on this guy- he is someone with the stuff you want in the back of a bullpen. FV: 35+
I am almost certainly not doing Schuelke justice with the arsenal above- he throws a number of pitches from three arm slots. He goes from high three quarters to low three quarters to submarine within the same at-bat. Far from a party trick, he regularly deceives hitters with this approach, and with improved command and control, Schuelke could carve out a MLB role due to these unique traits.
Verdict: If his command holds and improves, this is a guy who can make a career out of his willingness to use new arm slots. FV: 35+.
Zsak was a relatively high pick in 2024, and the expectation was always that he would be a high-octane reliever with command issues. He has been exactly that as a professional. He will have an outing where he is untouchable, and he will usually follow that up with a bevy of walks. He reportedly threw harder as an amateur, but Zsak still generates good ride on his four-seamer and relies on it primarily.
Verdict: He has the stuff to be a bullpen arm, but he needs to show better control and live more consistently in the upper range of his velocity band to be an impact reliever. FV: 30+.
McGuire is the kind of reliever that can stick in an organization for years, and he could even develop into a middle reliever option as a pro due to his propensity to throw strikes and attack the zone. None of his pitches are anything special, but he has a frame that allows for some projection. If he can get a few more ticks up on his fastball, then I would feel much better about projecting him to the majors. For now, he is a useful organizational arm.
Verdict: I am happy to see him enter a game- the stuff needs to improve if he is going to be a big leaguer, but the control and feel for pitching are present. FV: 30+.
This one is for the short kings. Izaak Martinez is not blowing anybody away on the mound, but he is an athletic mover who shows decent command of all three offerings. His fastball is just deceptive enough to get swings and misses above the zone, and his changeup is certainly the star of the show. While Martinez is old for the level, he is skilled enough to make me feel confident that he will finish an inning he starts. I do not see a major leaguer here, but I am glad to see him enter a game.
Verdict: Martinez should be a bullpen arm in the organization for some time. FV: 30.
Cam Walty was a starter through mid-2025, but the arsenal is not deep enough for that to continue. Additionally, the stuff is just okay- he can get outs at this level, but he labors through innings on occasion. His fastball does not generate swing and miss, and the slider/cutter hybrid suffers the same fate in-zone.
Verdict: Walty needs something more in the arsenal to make it out of High-A. FV:30.
The other Martinez has a very similar mix to Izaak. He primarily works with his fastball and changeup, but he can get a bit too predictable. I do not foresee him being a major league arm at any point, and his control needs to improve to keep playing at the level.
Verdict: This Martinez also should acquit himself well in the bullpen for some years. FV: 30.
Luis Flores, LHP: 5’11”, 190, DoB 10/5/2003 (22 yrs. old), Samaná, DR (Int’l free agent, 2021). Four-seam fastball (91-95 T97): 40/40, Slider (83-86) 35/40, Control: 30/40, Command, 30/35.
Flores is a difficult evaluation. Year over year, his stuff has improved considerably, and he now has some similarities to Steven Perez. Unfortunately for him, the main differentiator here is fastball shape. Flores shows the ball early, and hitters are not fooled by his breaking pitch. The end result is loud contact, taken pitches in competitive areas outside the zone, and early identification of pitches that will be sprayed. And he sprays both of his offerings, displaying little feel for the zone.
Verdict: He is a tough watch- the whole is worse than the sum of the parts. He is young, but there is not a lot of upside here. FV: 25+.
Pay attention for analysis of the Rake County collection of hitters soon!
(Editor’s Note: We want to offer a big thank you to Mike for choosing to share his firsthand analysis of the Guardians’ High-A team with our site!)
May 19, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood (29) hits the ball into play against the New York Mets during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images | Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
On Monday night, the Washington Nationals were in Cleveland for the start of a three-game series with a Guardians who just left Philadelphia having won two out of three games while holding the Phils to just four runs.
In the first game of their series, the Nats plated 10 runs on 15 hits in their 10-2 victory. They did it against Tanner Bibee, who entered the game with an 0-7 record and a 4.57 ERA. He lasted just three innings against Washington, gave up seven earned runs on eight hits with just three strikeouts.
Washington did what you’re supposed to do with a lousy pitcher. They bullied and bloodied him.
The Phillies, meanwhile, trudged into San Diego having lost four of their last five with an unreal pitching staff but dragging an offense that has struggled mightily against, well, everyone. They entered their three game series against the Padres facing right-hander Griffin Canning, who had a 7.54 ERA in his first four starts of the season. Canning held the Phils to one run on one hit, a first inning Kyle Schwarber homer, before Brandon Marsh touched him for a two-out, two-run blast in the 7th, helping the Phillies to a 3-0 victory.
They did not bully and bloody a lousy pitcher. They made him look like a Cy Young contender. They managed just three hits off him, and have not compiled at least 10 hits in a game since Friday, May 15, in an 11-9 win against the Pirates in which they totaled 14.
That was 10 days ago.
Through the first two months of the season, Washington leads MLB in runs scored (298), while the Phillies are tied with Toronto for 22nd (216). If you look at all the numbers, you will see a Nationals team that had few expectations coming into 2026 totally outperforming the Phils’ collection of “stars.”
The Nats are outpacing the Phillies in every offensive category. It’s not even close.
But is it real?
To answer that question, ask yourself this.
Would you trade the Nationals offense/position players straight-up, right now, for the Phillies’?
It seems crazy to say out loud, but consider that the Nats appear to have young talent that the Phils could only dream of. You could argue James Wood (.939 OPS, 14 HRs) alone would be worth the swap. C.J. Abrams (.925, 12 HRs), is finally playing like an elite shortstop. Both should be starters in the NL All Star Game at the moment.
Outfielder Daylen Lile is emerging as a young star (.752) in his own right. Catcher Keibert Ruiz (.754) and Luis Garcia Jr. (.719) are starting to produce, and center fielder Jacob Young has found a power stroke he never had before, with seven bombs, 24 runs and 24 RBIs. He’s certainly been more productive than Justin Crawford thus far. And would you rather have Ruiz or J.T. Realmuto at catcher?
Washington is also getting big time production from platoon and part-time players. Curtis Mead, given up by the Phils in the Cristopher Sanchez trade to the Rays, plays first and third base for the Nats and launched two dingers on Monday night, giving him seven on the season with a very healthy .844 OPS in 136 PAs. And waiver claim Joey Wiemer is absolutely destroying left-handed pitching as a right-handed hitting outfielder, with a 1.199 OPS in 43 PAs against them. The Nats claimed him from the Giants back in January, and Wiemer made history by reaching base in each of his first eight plate appearances with the Nationals back in late March.
Wiemer is exactly the type of the player the Phils need and don’t have.
Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper don’t quite cancel out the production Wood and Abrams are giving the Nats, but it’s relatively close. Lile and Brandon Marsh are essentially a wash in left field, too. At some positions, the Phils have the advantage. You’ll take Bryson Stott over Nasim Nunez, whose 22 steals leads the NL but who will have a hard time staying on the field with a .188/.288/.206 slash line. And at third base, Brady House has a .681 OPS, while Alec Bohm is at .605, but rising (House was sent to AAA by Washington this week to improve his defense). By the end of the season, it’s more likely Bohm’s numbers will be better.
In my heart, I honestly do not believe Washington has a “better” offense than the Phillies. While I am a firm believer in Wood, Abrams and Lile, no one else on that roster deserves much trust yet. That’s why I would not flip the offensive rosters if I could. I truly believe, by the end of the season, the Phils’ offensive numbers will surpass the Nationals’ in most categories.
That being said, it’s hard not to be envious of what Nats fans are watching right now, at least offensively. They’re a fun, entertaining group, hitting the ball hard, playing solid fundamental baseball, and scoring a bunch of runs.
The bats are giving them a chance to win every night.
The same cannot be said of the Phillies.
On the latest Hittin’ Season podcast, powered by WHYY, we discussed this and lots more! Listen to the full podcast below!
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - : Nick U'Ren of the Phoenix Mercury announces Nate Tibbetts as the team's new head coach on October 20, 2023, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage / NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Think of an imaginary basketball team — good, but not good enough to make serious noise in the postseason. Not bad enough to have a realistic shot at a top draft pick. A few stars on the roster, but most of them on the wrong side of 30 and headed quickly into the twilight of their careers.
There’s a good chance the Philadelphia 76ers just crossed your mind. They fit the bill — talented but inconsistent, never quite reliable enough for a deep postseason run, with Joel Embiid and Paul George aging out of their primes. But the team I’m describing isn’t the 76ers. It’s not even an NBA team. It’s the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, from 2022 to 2024.
Fresh off a Finals appearance, the Mercury lost in the first round in 2022, missed the postseason entirely in 2023, and flamed out in the first round again in 2024. The aging stars in question were Brittney Griner, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Diana Taurasi.
The decline was swift. After the 2022-23 season, Diggins-Smith departed entirely following a maternity leave dispute that ended with her being cut off from team facilities and services. Griner and Taurasi remained, but Griner was 32 and coming off an enormously difficult year after being detained in Russia. Taurasi had hit 40 and wasn’t getting any younger. Change was needed, and it came.
The Mercury parted ways with head coach Vanessa Nygaard. Long-time GM Jim Pitman announced his resignation. In came new head coach Nate Tibbetts, and on the front office side, Nick U’Ren — a name most people outside of the Golden State Warriors organization had never heard.
On the contrary, if you were around the Warriors organization, U’Ren was hard to miss. He rapidly rose through the ranks, starting his pro basketball career in Phoenix, where he grew up, spending five years with the Suns and Mercury beginning in 2009. He held roles as Suns Director of Video Operations and Mercury Head Video Coordinator before joining the Warriors in 2014 as a special assistant to head coach Steve Kerr.
He later transitioned into the front office, serving as Director of Basketball Operations from 2018 before being promoted to Executive Director of Basketball Operations in 2021. He held that role until leaving for the Mercury in 2023, having been part of four championship teams.
One of U’Ren’s more publicly memorable moments came early in his Warriors tenure, during the 2015 NBA Finals. To set the stage: the Warriors were down 2-1 to Cleveland, and LeBron James had essentially turned the series into a game of 1-on-1. The Cavs were walking the ball up the court and swarming Curry every time he touched it, grinding Golden State’s offense to a halt.
So U’Ren got to work. According to Sports Illustrated, the night after Game 3 he pulled up footage of the previous year’s Finals between the Spurs and Heat, where Gregg Popovich had benched his starting center in favor of a smaller lineup and flipped a deadlocked series into a rout. U’Ren saw the parallel, called assistant coach Luke Walton, and proposed pulling center Andrew Bogut — who had started 65 games that season — for Andre Iguodala, who had started none. Walton was sold. At 3 a.m. he texted Kerr. Kerr liked it enough that he lied to reporters in his pregame press conference, telling them nothing was changing so Cleveland couldn’t prepare.
The Warriors blew out the Cavaliers 103-82 in Game 4. Kerr was asked about the lineup change after the win and publicly named U’Ren on the spot. Per Yahoo Sports, Kerr said, “He’s behind the bench, he’s 28 years old, he’s a kid. We have a staff that is very cooperative. Whoever has the idea, it doesn’t matter. And he brought me the idea.” U’Ren, characteristically, deflected the credit right back. “Steve deserves all of the credit because he has to live and die with the consequences,” he said. “It’s easy to make a suggestion, but he has to make a decision.”
Golden State won the next two games and took the championship. Iguodala won Finals MVP.
The Warriors, under Bob Myers and alongside U’Ren, would go on to win four championships. Two of them came with Kevin Durant in the fold. The fourth and final one came in 2022, with Golden State defeating the Boston Celtics on the back of an aging but battle-tested core of Curry, Thompson and Green.
The Warriors were the gold standard. And U’Ren was about to inherit something very different in Phoenix. A franchise that didn’t need a tune-up. It needed a full rebuild.
His first order of business was hiring Tibbetts, the highest-paid coach in WNBA history at the time of his signing. From there, U’Ren got to work rebuilding the roster. He traded for 2021 WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper, giving up the third overall pick to pry her from the Chicago Sky, and signed point guard Natasha Cloud in free agency. Taurasi played her final season in 2024 before retiring.
Then came his signature move. In February 2025, U’Ren orchestrated what is considered the largest trade in WNBA history by number of assets moved. A four-team, 13-player deal that landed him five-time All-Star Alyssa Thomas and two-time All-Star Satou Sabally.
The same day the trade was announced, Griner made it official — she was leaving for the Atlanta Dream. One era ended and another began on the same afternoon. U’Ren had seen it coming from day one: “When I took the job and canvassed the landscape of the league in terms of talent that might be available, [Sabally] was a name we focused on for obvious reasons.”
Thomas was coming off her 10th season with the Connecticut Sun, bringing with her five All-Star selections, three All-WNBA nods, six All-Defensive team selections, and the all-time WNBA record for triple-doubles. She was in the MVP race in five consecutive seasons. The two-way star was heading West, and U’Ren had built a quality roster around her.
Copper, already in place from the 2024 season, went on to have an All-Star campaign. Sabally arrived alongside Thomas in the trade and immediately became a cornerstone of the offense. The work on the margins was just as sharp. U’Ren had brought Natasha Mack back to the league in 2024 after she hadn’t played a WNBA game since 2021. Playing alongside Thomas in 2025, Mack had the best season of her career, averaging 4.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 0.9 steals while shooting 57.3 percent from the floor in just 18.3 minutes per game. Then midseason, U’Ren landed DeWanna Bonner, a two-time WNBA champion and six-time All-Star, after she parted ways with the Indiana Fever.
The Mercury finished the 2025 regular season 27-17, good for second in the Western Conference and the fourth seed overall heading into the playoffs. It was their best regular season since 2014, when they won a franchise-best 29 games.
Their reward for that finish was a first-round matchup against the fifth-seeded New York Liberty, the defending champions. They dropped Game 1 at home in overtime, then responded with back-to-back wins to take the series 2-1 and send the defending champions home.
The semifinals brought a stiffer test. Phoenix drew the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, who had tied the WNBA record with 34 regular-season wins. The Mercury lost Game 1 by 13. What followed was one of the more remarkable stretches of the playoffs. They came back from 20 down on the road in Game 2 to tie the record for the largest road comeback in WNBA playoff history. They won a controversial Game 3 at home. Then in Game 4, trailing by 14 in the first quarter and 13 entering the fourth, the Mercury closed out the series 86-81 to advance.
The WNBA Finals awaited. For the first time in league history, it would be a best-of-seven series. Standing in their way were the second-seeded Las Vegas Aces, who had gone 16-0 to close the regular season and were chasing their third championship in four years. The Mercury’s run ended there. The Aces swept them in four games, including a gut-punch Game 3 where A’ja Wilson hit a game-winner with 0.3 seconds left.
While the Mercury didn’t win a championship, they accomplished one of the more remarkable turnarounds in recent league history. They went from a franchise with little direction to a Finals appearance within the span of a few seasons. Building that kind of team isn’t easy in any league.
Mercury president Vince Kozar put it plainly: “Nick and Nate have rebuilt this team from the ground up. There are no players on this roster from the last time we made the finals in 2021, or even from 2023. So everyone who is here has been hand-picked to be here and has hand-picked us.”
That forward thinking hasn’t stopped. This season saw U’Ren make another creative move, signing Jovana Nogić, a 28-year-old Serbian guard who built one of the stronger international resumes in European basketball playing across the globe. Her most recent stop came with UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia’s Premier Basketball League, where she posted a three-point rate of over 60 percent on 42 percent shooting from beyond the arc, drew fouls at a steady rate, and averaged 2.5 steals per 40 possessions.
The WNBA rookie label didn’t tell the full story. In her debut she scored 19 points on 62.5 percent shooting, going 4-of-5 from three and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line, adding four assists and two steals in 21 minutes. Days later she scored a career-best 27 points, 11 of which came from the free throw line. Sabally has since moved on, signing with the New York Liberty after the Finals run. But it’s moves like Nogić that have kept the Mercury in the conversation and given the roster genuine upside heading forward.
It’s reminiscent of the organization U’Ren came from. A semi-recent example would be when Bob Myers used the 55th pick on Brazilian forward Gui Santos — an international talent few had heard of — and watched him grow into a legitimate starter earning a $15 million extension.
After digging into his history, it makes sense that U’Ren has emerged as a candidate for the Sixers’ president of basketball operations position. The history with Myers is there, but he’s also built a track record entirely on his own.
Bob Myers told The Athletic what made U’Ren stand out: “He’s seen a lot of winning. He cares. He was very, very studious. How many people worked on a bench and in the front office? I think it’s kind of a rare combo. So it gives them a great understanding of an organization, how it operates. There’s an authenticity to him that makes him someone people want to follow. And he’s very humble. It’s really been an awesome kind of validation of his process.”
Time will tell if U’Ren gets the job with the Sixers, or if he’s the right candidate at all. But one thing is for certain: he’s earned a look.
Six hundred and fifty-plus episodes in, and the Royals Rundown Podcast is still finding new angles on Kansas City Royals baseball. Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco mark the milestone with one of the more wide-ranging conversations, from a series victory over the Seattle Mariners to a daunting date with the New York Yankees on the horizon.
The episode opens on a high note, recapping the Royals’ series win and the momentum it has generated heading into a critical stretch. Stephen Kolek is the pitching story of the week, delivering a complete game that doubles as one of the more unusual performances of the MLB season. Finishing with two or fewer strikeouts in a complete game is a feat rare enough that the hosts put it in full historical context. The bullpen’s contributions during the stretch also get their due, with the quality start metrics painting an encouraging picture of where the pitching staff stands right now.
The Yankees series preview is where the conversation takes on a sharper edge. Kansas City’s historical struggles against New York, including a 20-1 series record and a current ten-game losing streak against the club, frame a preview that is equal parts analytical and frank. With playoff positioning on the line, Jacob and Jeremy assess what winning this series would mean for the Royals’ postseason outlook and whether this roster is equipped to finally flip the script.
Pitching depth and roster construction also factor in, with a look at Noah Cameron, Seth Lugo, and Michael Wacha, who is approaching his 300th MLB start, alongside injury updates on Cole Ragans, Kris Bubic, and James McArthur. On the transaction wire, the DFA of Elias Diaz, the signing of Luke Jackson, and Tyler Tolbert’s evolving role are all addressed.
Fort Myers, FL - February 15: Boston Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow. The Red Sox held Day 6 of Spring Training at JetBlue Park on February 15, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Marcelo Mayer is now officially the Red Sox shortstop (for now, anyway) but there are a lot fewer questions about his glove than there are his bat. And when it comes to his bat, it isn’t hard to pinpoint where the issues lie: “He’s 1 for 35 since his call-up on changeups, a .029 average that is the worst in the big leagues. He’s 2 for 34 on “shadow zone” pitches near or just below the bottom of the strike zone, including 1 for 19 this season.“ (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
There have been fewer questions about Masataka Yoshida’s bat this season, but still plenty of questions about how he fits into the lineup. As a result, he has a predictably sanguine attitude about the possibility of getting traded. “It’s part of the game, right? If it happens, it happens,” he said. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
Considering the fact that the Red Sox are dead-last in the league in runs scored, we shouldn’t be focused on trading away hitters, anyway. And indeed, we are starting to hear whispers that the Red Sox are “looking for a right-handed bat” on the trade market. (Lauren Campbell, MassLive)
Any deal for big league talent would likely mean sending prospects out of the system, so it’s a good time to read up on Keith Law’s latest scouting report on a few notable Sox names. Here’s what he has to say about much-hyped 2025 draftee Kyson Witherspoon, who has struggled thus far in single-A: “If I had zero history on the guy at all, I’d say he’s a very likely reliever — he doesn’t repeat his delivery, his command is a 45 at best (on the 20-80 scouting scale) and neither the slider nor cutter is an out pitch yet. Given how much the Red Sox have changed him, however, I’m inclined to give him a lot of slack. Changing an arm action like this is a big deal and it might take him most of the year to get comfortable with it.” (Keith Law, The Athletic)
So it sounds like Witherspoon is not going to repeat Payton Tolle’s feat of breaking into the big leagues in his very first season of pro ball. That’s not at all a knock on Witherspoon, as (a) almost no one does that, and (b) Tolle just seems to be an amazing person all around, as evidenced by the fact that he seeks out autographs from just about everyone he meets. “The biggest thing right now is just appreciating where I’m at. Being a part of this organization — it sounds cliché, but it’s an honor.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - APRIL 18, 2026: Ryan Clifford #20 of the Syracuse Mets is congratulated as he walks through the dugout after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of the first game of a doubleheader against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders at NBT Bank Stadium on April 18, 2026 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Leah King/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Ryan Clifford has now appeared in 350 games as a member of the Mets organization since being traded here on August 1, 2023 along with Drew Gilbert in exchange for Justin Verlander and cash considerations. Over that period of time, which has seen him play 63 games for the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones, 204 games with the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, and 83 games with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, he has struck out 431 times. He is currently leading the minor league system in strikeouts, tallied the second-most in 2025, and had the third-most in 2024.
Since 2021, when the current iteration of minor league baseball began, Jaylen Palmer has more strikeouts than anybody else in the organization, with 609 punchouts and counting- and if you add his strikeouts from his time in the Chicago White Sox organization last season, that total increases to by 154 to a whopping 763. Scrolling down the list, Ryan Clifford’s name comes in at seventh, tied with Wyatt Young, with 431 strikeouts.
Although he may have catastrophic contact and swing & miss issues, Clifford also recoups some of that value by drawing a large number of walks and displaying in-game power, something very few of the organizational strikeout leaders since 2021 have.
Channing Austin
Week: 1 G (1 GS), 6.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K (High-A)
Channing Austin is enjoying an excellent season. In eight games now, he has a 1.17 ERA in 38.1 innings, with 20 hits allowed, 22 walks, and 48 strikeouts. Quickly scanning the surface stats, I was a bit worried that the right-hander would have home/road splits; Maimonides Park (FKA Keyspan Park until 2009 and MCU Park until 2021) has a habit of making some very pedestrian pitchers look like aces.
Last season, the Cyclones had the second-best ERA in the South Atlantic League (3.30), with Noah Hall leading the way with a 2.72 ERA. In 2024, they had the sixth-best ERA (3.94), with Jonah Tong posting the best ERA on the team (3.71). In 2023, they had the second-best ERA (3.72), with Tyler Stuart leading the charge (1.55). In 2022, they had the second-best ERA, with Nick Zwack posting the best (1.84). And in 2021, as members of the “High-A East”, the Cyclones were fifth-best in the league (4.51), with Justin Lasko having the best individual season (2.81).
Sure enough, Channing Austin does have some somewhat noticeable home/road concerns. In 15.2 innings at home, thrown over 3 starts, the right-hander has a 1.15 ERA, with 5 hits allowed, 7 walks, and 18 strikeouts. On the road, he has a 1.19 ERA in 22.2 innings thrown over 5 starts, with 15 hits allowed, 15 walks, and 30 strikeouts. While the earned runs allowed and strikeout numbers are roughly the same, which is good, the amount of hits allowed and the number of walks issued balloon on the road, as opposed to at home. Opposing batters are hitting .094/.200/.170 against him with a .118 BABIP while at home and .188/.327/.250 with a .294 BABIP on the road.
Pulling back the microscope from home/away splits and looking at his overall body of work, again, there are a lot of red flags of concern. A .221 BABIP is not realistically sustainable. An 89.2% LOB%, also not realistically sustainable. A 2.9% HR/FB%? Same thing. With a 39.3% groundball rate and 40.5% flyball rate, hits will start landing.
Brooklyn has habit of making players without premium stuff look like studs. The 2019 NY-Penn champions were led by Garrison Bryant, who posted a 2.39 ERA in 75.1 innings, allowing 49 hits, walking 14, and striking out 75. The year before, Jaison Vilera posted a 1.82 ERA in 73.2 innings with 50 hits allowed, 22 walks, and 78 strikeouts. Harol Gonzalez nearly won the New York-Penn League Triple Crown in 2016 with a 7-3 record, 2.01 ERA and 88 strikeouts. Shifting focus to a player who eventually made the majors, Corey Oswalt posted a 2.26 ERA in 67.2 innings with 55 hits allowed, 15 walks, and 59 strikeouts. Seeing a pattern here? That’s not to say that good pitchers haven’t passed through Coney Island and dominated, but the stadium (and at times, the league) has had a habit of hiding the flaws of players who otherwise weren’t equipped to progress to the top of the mountain of professional baseball.
The 24-year-old Channing does not have premium stuff. His fastball is a solidly average-to-above-average pitch in a vacuum, possessing above-average velocity and flashing above-average induced vertical break readings in the past; the pitch plays down however because of his poor command of the pitch. The same can be said of his slider and curveball, both of which are fringe-average-to-average pitches, also play down because of the poor command. His changeup, which is a decidedly below-average pitch? You guessed it.
You can’t take away what the Brooklyn native has done so far: two months in, roughly one-third of the 2026 season, he’s posted incredible surface numbers. It would be great if that train keeps on rolling, but the totality of the evidence suggests that it probably won’t.
More so than any other American sport, Major League Baseball stadiums have their own characteristics.
One of the biggest variations in ballparks is capacity, with the league's 2026 stadiums ranging from 56,000 (Dodger Stadium) all the way down to 13,416 (A's). While the Athletics' temporary home in Sacramento is in fact a minor league stadium, the team's new stadium in Las Vegas is expected to have a capacity of about 33,000 – which would be the second-smallest in the game.
More than two-thirds of MLB stadiums have a capacity of more than 40,000, while the league's three newest stadiums — Globe Life Field (Rangers), Truist Park (Braves) and loanDepot Park (Marlins) all rank in the lower half for capacity.
In addition to the Athletics' new home in Las Vegas, the Tampa Bay Rays are expected to have a new stadium built perhaps by Opening Day in 2029, which will likely have the lowest capacity of any stadium in the game.
Here's a look at 2026 MLB stadiums ranked by capacity:
In a pivotal Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs will face off tonight on on NBC and Peacock.
The top two seeds in the West have split the first four games of the series. When a best-of-seven series is tied
2-2, the winner of Game 5 has advanced 81.8% of the time (198-44).
In Game 5s with a -2 tie in their franchise histories, Oklahoma City is 10-8 (.556), and San Antonio is 14-10 (.583).
With a 3-2 lead, Oklahoma City is 12-2 (.857) in best-of-seven series, but the Thunder are 3-11 (.214) after they fall behind 3-2. They've won three series in such scenarios: the 2014 West first round against Memphis, the 1980 West semifinals vs. Milwaukee (as Seattle) and the 1979 West Finals vs Phoenix.
Oklahoma City won last year's NBA championship over the Indiana Pacers after the series was tied 2-2.
San Antonio is 17-3 (.850) all-time with a 3-2 series lead in a best-of-seven series, but the Spurs are 1-13 (.071) after falling behind 3-2. San Antonio's only comeback from a 3-2 deficit was in the 2008 Western Conference Semifinals over the Hornets.
This marks only the fourth time since 2011 that the Western Conference Finals have been tied 2-2 and the first time since 2018 when Golden State went on to beat Houston 4-3 en route to a championship.
See below for additional information on the Spurs-Thunder game and how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
Announcing team: Mike Tirico (play by play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Jamal Crawford(analyst), Zora Stephenson (courtside reporter) and Ashley ShahAhmadi(courtside reporter).
San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Game 5 preview:
Superstar center Victor Wembanyama has been the key in both of the Spurs' wins. The First-Team All-NBA selection scored a game-high 33 points with eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals in the Game 4 victory, which was Wembanyama fourth playoff game with at least 30 points.
Wembanyama is averaging 30.3 ppg and 13.3 rpg in the series, becoming one of three players in NBA playoff history to average at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in the first four conference finals games of their career (joining Hakeem Olajuwon in 1986 and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1970).
His most impressive shot in Game 4 was a halfcourt swish at the the halftime buzzer. "I was just thinking, 'Shoot to score,'" Wembanyama said. "I wasn't messing around at halftime."
The Spurs have an average scoring margin of plus-12.5 points with Wembanyama and are minus-11.5 without him on the floor.
“He felt — not speaking for him, but from my perspective — an obligation to set a tone for us in a variety of ways," Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said. "He wants that responsibility, and he’s built for it.”
Injuries rermain a concern for the Thunder, who have listed Ajay Mitchell as out with a right calf strain. Star wingman Jalen Williams will be questionable with a left hamstring strain.
Oklahoma City is coming off a Game 4 loss of being held to 82 points, which is the fewest for the team in a single game since Dec. 2, 2021 (when the Thunder lost 152-79 to the Grizzlies ,a 73-point loss that is the largest loss in NBA history).
The Thunder's 82 points were were also their fewest in a playoff game since Aug. 29, 2020. Oklahoma City hasn't been held under 100 pts in back-to-back games since Feburary 2022, the longest active streak in the NBA. Oklahoma City will need to improve its shooting after making 33% of shots from the field and 18.2% from 3-poit range i Game, both of which were their worst shooting percentages in a single game this season.
"I thought we left a lot to be desired on that end of the floor tonight," Okklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault said. "We didn’t have the sharpness, force or precision necessary to crack them. And they were really good defensively with just their energy and their physicality.”
No Thunder player scored more than 20 points for the second time in the playoffs. Two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held under 20 points after no games with fewer than 20 points during the regular season.
“We’ve got to do a better job of starting the games," Gilegous-Alexander said. "Obviously it’s a little more challenging on the road, and we know that, but we’ve got to go out there and do it."
How to watch the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock:
NBC Sports will present the San Antonio Spurs vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. All games will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock. Here is the series schedule:
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Buffalo Sabres forward Noah Ostlund took a major step in the right direction with his development this season. After appearing in first career eight NHL games in 2024-25, Ostlund not only cemented himself as a regular in the Sabres' lineup this campaign but emerged as one of their key forwards.
In 60 games this season with the Sabres, Ostlund recorded 11 goals, 16 assists, 27 points, and a plus-11 rating. While he got injured during the playoffs, he was still impactful when healthy, recording a goal and an assist in three games.
With how well Ostlund played this season for the Sabres, it is undoubtedly fair to say that it was a successful year for the 2022 first-round pick. Yet, now that he has a full year on his resume, it would not be shocking in the slightest if he hits a new level for the Sabres next season.
Ostlund has the potential to become a high-impact forward for the Sabres. Now that he is more adjusted to the NHL level, he is a prime breakout candidate for the Sabres heading into the 2026-27 season. The possibility of him hitting the 20-goal and 50-point marks next season should not be ruled out.
It is going to be intriguing to see what kind of campaign Ostlund can have for the Sabres next season.
The NBA’s Western Conference Final is tied at two games apiece as the series moves back to Oklahoma City for tonight’s Game 5 between the Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs.
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs dominated Game 4 to even the series Sunday evening. Wemby’s stat line illustrated that dominance: 33 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. A definite factor in that dominance, though, was the absence of Ajay Mitchell (calf)and Jalen Williams (hamstring) for OKC. That said, this is now a Best-of-3 series.
Those injuries have forced Shai Gilgeous-Alexander into heavier ball‑handling duties and limiting his off‑ball effectiveness. In Games 3 and 4, SGA shot a combined 12‑for‑32, a sign of how effectively San Antonio has disrupted his usual flow. The OKC offense has seemed a little clunky as a result. The Thunder’s bench—normally a major strength—also struggled in Game 4, posting a collective -9.4 after previously leading the postseason in bench scoring. Couple their bench woes with San Antonio’s starting five outscoring OKC’s starters by an average of 31.7 points in the series—and you can see why the Spurs have momentum heading back on the road.
The difference in what is now a Best of 3 may well be which Chet Holmgren shows up. He has shot 58.8% in OKC’s wins but only 33.3% in their losses. His efficiency and his involvement looking to score makes a difference.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Game 5 Live: Thunder vs. Spurs
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Time: 8:30PM EST
Site: Paycom Center
City: Oklahoma City, OK
Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock
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Game 5 Odds: Thunder vs. Spurs
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder (-198), San Antonio Spurs (+164)
Spread: Thunder -5.5
Total: 216.5 points
This game opened Thunder -5.5 with the Game Total set at 215.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups for Game 5: Thunder vs. Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG Cason Wallace
C Isaiah Hartenstein
SF Luguentz Dort
PF Chet Holmgren
San Antonio Spurs
PG De’Aaron Fox
SG Devin Vassell
SG Stephon Castle
PF Julian Champagnie
C Victor Wembanyama
Injury Report: Thunder vs. Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder
Thomas Sorber (knee) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Ajay Mitchel (calf) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Jalen Williams (hamstring) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
San Antonio Spurs
David Jones Garcia (ankle) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Thunder vs. Spurs
The Thunder are 39-8 at home this season
The Spurs are 34-14 on the road this season
The Spurs are 55-41-2 ATS this season
OKC is 46-47-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 53 of the Thunder’s 94 games this season (53-41)
The OVER has cashed in 45 of the Spurs’ 98 games this season (45-53)
Alex Caruso took just 1 shot in Game 4 after averaging over 8 per game through the series' first 3 games
Jared McCain was 1-10 from the field in Game 4 after shooting 17-41 in the first 3 games of the series.
After turning the ball over 19 games in the first 2 games of the series, Stephon Castle has committed just 2 the last 2 games.
De’Aaron Fox has 17 rebounds and 11 assists over the last 2 games
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 Thunder and Spurs’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Spurs +5.5
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 216.5
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COVERS INTEL:The White Sox rank 24th in home batting average (.224) against right-handed pitching.
Gabriel Landeskog
Noah Hanifin 
Kurt Helin