FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 12, 2026: Kristian Campbell #28 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after being hit by a pitch during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex on March 12, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The biggest story out of this topsy-turvy game was that Justin Slaten, a couple days removed from his opener in Portland, made another rehab start and struck out two, including Oswaldo Cabrera, while allowing a hit and walking a batter in his inning of work. He also retired Anthony Volpe, who finds himself in Triple-A due to, well, not being good for almost a calender year now. Slaten’s fastball also touched 96, which is a very good sign. Good on him for getting out of the inning with no damage taken.
And thank goodness for that, because the WooSox pitching staff would incur plenty of trouble throughout the night from the Rail Riders (Yankees AAA). Scranton would score two runs each in the ninth and tenth innings. After leading the team through the eighth inning, Wyatt Olds would wear it a bit and wouldn’t record an out in the tenth inning, giving the inning to Tommy Kahnle to close out. The WooSox, despite three home runs in the first five innings courtesy of Nate Eaton, Nathan Hickey and Mickey Gasper, couldn’t manage any late fireworks.
Portland: PPD to today (Rain)
The Fisher Cats (Blue Jays AA) and Sea Dogs will play a double header beginning at 5:00 this afternoon. The Sea Dogs are promoting a Jhostynxon Garcia bobble head night, which seems curious, or at least decision that was made last season, as “The Password” struggled with the Pirates’ Triple-A club before landing on the injured list, but the promo is cool enough considering Password raked in his short time in Portland last season.
It’s not great when 12 runs isn’t enough to win a baseball game, much less when you get walked off like Greenville did on Wednesday. Kyson Witherspoon ran into some early issues but made it through four innings allowing just two hits but three runs. Greensboro (Pirates High-A) powered eight runs in the seventh inning to come climbing back from a deficit that saw Greenville hit SEVEN home runs on the night including two a piece from catcher Ronny Hernandez (not to be confused with ex-Red Sox catcher Ronaldo Hernandez) and Nathanael Yuten. Yoelin Cespedes, who’s been raking as of late, also got into the action. But the Drive couldn’t seal the game away and were handed their sixth consecutive loss.
And to round out the winless night on the farm, only four of the nine batters in Salem’s lineup reached base, although three of them did multiple times. But when you’re 1 for 10 with runners on, that causes an issue bringing that scarcity of runners in. On the contrary, Delmarva (Orioles A) had three such hits and that was the difference maker in this one.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 03: Bryson Stott #5 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot park on May 03, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is said that a leopard can’t change its spots. Change is a necessary part of success as a ballplayer, and thus, leopards do not play baseball (please note, per the Air Bud clause, that this is not technically banned). Bryson Stott cannot be suspected of being a leopard in disguise, despite his cat-like swiftness, because he has indeed changed his spots. Metaphorically speaking.
Stott entered the league as one of its slowest swinging players. In 2023, the first year in which Statcast recorded bat-tracking data, Stott’s bat speed of 68 MPH put him at 206 of 221 qualified batters, just above the snail-like territory we like to call the Kwan-Arraez zone. But he’s increased his bat speed every year of his career, and now he’s swinging his bat at 70.1 MPH, putting him at 176 of 230 qualified batters (Steven Kwan and Luis Arraez are taking it slow at 229 and 230, where they are surely agreeing that while at the plate one ought to stop and smell the roses. And the dandelions. And the marigolds. And the tulips).
So far, it’s paying off, at least in the peripherals (all data prior to yesterday’s game). Stott’s barrel rate has gone from 5.1% to 6.9%. His rate of blasts (a Statcast metric tracking swings that combine good bat speed and good contact) has gone up, from 10.5% of his contact to 16.8% of it. His average exit velocity has gone from 87.6 MPH to 90.5 MPH. His hard hit rate in his rookie season was 36.8%, and declined every year since… until 2026, which has seen it shot up to 43.7%.
It hasn’t led to better top-line results yet, as his batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage are all down from last year. But that may be the result of some bad luck; his BABIP so far is .232, which, if it held, would be by far the lowest of his career. And with some impressive hitting in the past few games, including a pair of homers in the past week, things may be changing. It would be surprising if all of those underlying improvements in bat speed didn’t end up leading to some improvements once a full season’s data is in. All those numbers tell the same story: he’s swinging the bat faster, and hitting the ball harder.
All those numbers but one, that is.
Despite his average bat speed going up, Stott’s fast swing rate— the percentage of his swings that reach 75 MPH or above— has been cut in half. It was 5.7% in 2025, and in 2026 it’s 2.5%. Granted, 2025 was an outlier, with his fast swing rate being much lower in 2023 and 2024. But it still seems strange that his fast swing rate would drop when he’s, on average, swinging faster. What’s going on there?
This colorful chart of bat speed distribution tells the tale. For a year-over-year comparison, ignore the orange and the blue (that shouldn’t be too hard for a Phillies fan). Take a look at the red and the green. Stott’s average bat speed has gone up, but his range of bat speeds has also gotten narrower. He’s hitting speeds between 70 and 75 MPH with a much greater frequency than he did last season, and he’s posting far fewer swings below 65 MPH. He hasn’t had a single swing at 60 MPH or below. But while the most dramatic change is on the slower end, there’s also been a change on the faster end. He’s now a little less likely than last season to post swings over 75 MPH. And that, of course, is the range that MLB counts as a fast swing. It’s possible that whatever changes Stott made to tap into that 70-ish speed with more consistency are resulting in him tapping into that top-level speed less frequently. Or perhaps it’s just small sample size, and we’ll see his fast swing rate rise by the time all is said and done. But we’ll have to wait for more data to be sure. Some things, unlike Bryson’s bat, can’t be sped up.
Ho hum, anyone see anything interesting on Wednesday night? With all due respect to the 2016 Cubs, this team is becoming the most “must watch” Cub team of my lifetime. That ‘16 team was a rampaging juggernaut. But that was like sitting down and watching Michelangelo bang out a work of art. You expected them to win and they didn’t disappoint all too often. This year’s team had no such expectations and with a crazy run of injuries, basically all to the pitching staff, there remains a feeling that it could end at any time.
There were points during both Monday and Tuesday’s late wins where I thought if the Cubs could get the line moving, they were in good shape. Wednesday? Obviously, it was easy to feel pretty confident all night long. Everything was going right until a disastrous top of the ninth inning where the bullpen imploded. A 4-2 lead instead became a 6-4 deficit on a rare tag up and score from second play.
I definitely thought the sands had finally all run down on the hourglass and one was going to get away. The Cubs had a 94.2 percent chance of winning after a scoreless Reds eighth. It was 92.9 percent after the Cubs were held scoreless in the bottom of the inning. Spencer Steer’s homer dropped the odds down to 84.1 percent. But that inning just kept going. After that two run sacrifice fly, the Cub chances dropped all of the way to 8 percent. When Michael Busch struck out leading off the Cub ninth, it dropped to 4.3 percent. Wow.
Carson Kelly had a nice plate appearance and then singled. That gave the Cubs 10.3 percent. That set the table for Pete Crow-Armstrong. His two-run homer tied the game. That moved the odds all of the way up to 57.8 percent. What a wild ride. This team just doesn’t quit. They battle and they are playing with an immense amount of confidence. The Cub offense put up 10 hits, drew four walks and was hit by a pitch.
Fourteen straight home wins (tied for second most in team history and most since they won 14 straight in 2008). Seven straight wins (longest since, last month). 18 wins in 21 games. Three walk-offs against the same team for the first time since 1943. Three straight walk-offs for the first time since 2009. Ian Happ has a 27-game on-base streak, the longest since Bryan LaHair in 2012. Yeah, let’s run past that one.
This is such an amazing stretch of baseball. The Cubs have gone from last to first. But not only first, they now lead the Cardinals by 3.5 games in the Central and after that, the Brewers, Reds and Pirates are five back. The Cubs are just a half game back of the Braves for the best record in the NL.
So many achievements. So many accomplishments. Seemingly, every single day. What a wild and crazy ride.
Go Cubs.
Three Positives:
Pete Crow-Armstrong had a pair of hits, was hit by a pitch, drove in two and scored one. That homer was the play of the game. The OPS continues to creep up and is now at .702. He’s just under league average at wRC+ 98.
Ian Happ would have had the top spot if this had been a ho hum 4-2 win. He had three hits, one a homer (as he continues to climb the All-Time homers as a Cub list). He drove in two, scored two and stole a base. One of the all-time most underappreciated Cub players has an .890 OPS and a wRC+ of 149. And he still grades out as a plus fielder in left.
Jacob Webb inherited two runners in the sixth, didn’t allow them to score and recorded five outs on five batters faced. Special mention to Trent Thornton recording three outs while facing two batters in the tenth.
Game 37, May 6: Cubs 7, Reds 6 (25-12)
WPA GRAPH
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Pete Crow-Armstrong (.471). 2-3, HR, HBP, 2 RBI, R
This is the fourth highest WPA score of the season by a Cub.
Hero: Michael Busch (.350). 1-3, BB, RBI, R
Sidekick: Trent Thornton (.339). IP, 2 BF (W 1-0)
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Hoby Milner (-.505). IP, 6 BF, H, BB, ER, K
This is the second lowest WPA score of the season by a Cub
Goat: Corbin Martin (-.367). 0 IP, 3 BF, 3 H, 3 ER
Kid: Nico Hoerner (-.132). 0-5, R, DP
WPA Play of the Game: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s one-out, two-run, game-tying homer in the ninth. (.475)
*Reds Play of the Game. JJ Bleday’s RBI-single with one out and the bases loaded in the ninth to cut the deficit to one. (.262)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 36 Winner: Michael Busch (232 of 250 votes)
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Michael Conforto +10
Michael Bsuch +9
Nico Hoerner +8.5
Pete Crow-Armstrong/Caleb Thielbar/Phil Maton -6
Matt Shaw -9
Seiya Suzuki -14
Current Win Pace: 109.46
Up Next: The Cubs will attempt to sweep the Reds in a four-game series on Thursday afternoon at Wrigley. Amazingly, the Cubs already have a four-game home sweep this season. Shōta Imanaga (3-2, 2.40, 41.1 IP) will make his eighth start of the season. Last time out, he threw seven scoreless against the Diamondbacks, picking up a win. The Reds will start 24-year-old righty Rhett Lowder (3-2, 5.09, 35.1). This is the eighth start of the season and 14th start of Lowder’s career. He was the seventh overall pick by the Reds in the 2023 draft. Last time out, he allowed eight runs in just 1.1 IP in a start at Pittsburgh.
This would be an excellent day for the offense to have one of those double digit scoring games.
Let’s get number 15 in a row at home for the first time in a very long time.
The state-owned football team it’s OK to like (and proof that sportswashing works), Paris Saint-Germain booked their place in Bigger Cup final courtesy of a draw against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. Like Shaun Murphy in Monday’s night’s thrilling denouement of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, the German champions didn’t do a great deal wrong and were similarly gracious in defeat despite their obvious disappointment. “The level of both teams was very, very high,” sighed Vincent Kompany as he ruminated on his team’s exit. “PSG have so much quality, they’ve probably been the best team in Europe in the last two years.” A team that is currently so good it was forced to replace deadweight no-marks such as Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Neymar to finally shed their tag as Bigger Cup nearlymen and bottlers, the willingness of their replacements to do the dirty work of defending played no small part in helping PSG get over the line.
Doing some half-hearted/@rsed research of potential Bigger Vase finalists, Braga, I drifted into a section about the city’s famous old inhabitants. One of these was a 16th-century skeptic philosopher called Francisco Sanches, who claimed that nobody knows anything, particularly those who say they do. With a European campaign – that was helmed, briefly, by both Big Ange and Sean Dyche (et al) – potentially ending in an unlikely final, Forest seem to have proved old Fran-San’s point” – Andrew Boulton.
It’s interesting that Declan Rice thinks that Arsenal’s achievements can’t be underestimated (yesterday’s Football Daily). The only things that can’t be underestimated are things that are extremely small. Anything large can easily be underestimated” – Bob Cushion (and others).
Maybe Chester and Wrexham (yesterday’s Football Daily, full email edition) could go down the Forest/Derby route and rename the A483 to ‘Phil Parkinson Way’?” – Jim Hearson.
Am I the only one who saw this fine picture of Pep Guardiola and Jordan Pickford at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night and thought: ‘All this really needs is the addition of an ‘I’ and an ‘S’ to be perfect?’” – Adam Sherlock.
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Ben Kindel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Nothing about the 2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins went as anybody expected it to go.
When offseason began early in the summer of 2025, there was a belief that the team would not only be bad, but that it would be one of the worst teams in the NHL. There was a common theme nationally that there was only one team trying not to win this season, and the Penguins were it.
There was also an expectation that the Penguins were going to go extremely young with their roster and really kickstart a rebuild and youth movement.
As it turns out, the team actually won a lot. It more than a lot of the teams that were supposedly trying to win, and it won enough games that it made the playoffs for the first time in three years.
They also did not go as young as many people expected, still relying on a lot of players in their 30s to win games and get through the season.
It was not a traditional rebuilding year in that sense.
That does not mean it was not a rebuilding year, and it does not mean they did not attempt to go younger in a lot of areas with their roster.
They used more young players than at any point over the past five years, and received significantly more contributions from them than they have in recent years.
Some of them proved they were worthy of getting more playing time.
Some of them did not.
Some of them still have some work to do.
But a lot of young players got a look and had their opportunities.
First, let’s just look at how many “younger” players the Penguins used this season. I am counting “younger” players as anybody that was age 24 or younger when the 2025-26 season began.
The Penguins used 14 such players that totaled 289 man-games. Those players scored 51 goals, including 17 from Ben Kindel and the 18 that Egor Chinakhov scored following his addition from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Here is how those numbers compare to the rosters the Penguins were using over the previous five seasons.
Season
Total Players
Total Man Games
Total Goals
2025-26
14
289
51
2024-25
8
132
13
2023-24
7
191
14
2022-23
8
200
19
2021-22
6
115
5
That is a lot more players, a lot more games, and especially a lot more goals. Considering where the Penguins farm system was as recently as a year-and-a-half ago, those might even be somewhat surprising numbers.
While that may not be as young as many people may have expected (or wanted … or hoped), there were a lot of variables that went into that.
They opened the season with two teenagers on the roster. One was ready for a full season in the NHL (Kindel) and one was not (Harrison Brunicke).
Rutger McGroarty’s season got off to a delayed start due to injury.
Ville Koivunen was on the opening night roster and received several extended looks, and instead of building on his strong finish to the 2024-25 season, he slowly morphed into a more modern-day version of Dominik Simon with elite possession-driving numbers but absolutely zero offense created.
With all of that said, let’s take a little closer look at the young players that contributed to the Penguins this season (in order of games played).
1. Ben Kindel (Age: 18, 77 games, 17 goals). By far the most significant development of the 2025-26 season for the Penguins. I am not sure we are giving his rookie season enough attention for how good it was and how promising it was for the long-term. Since the start of the 2007-08 season, here is the list of 18 or 19 year olds that played in at least 50 games, scored at least 15 goals, and had a shot attempt share of better than 52 percent.
Look at that list of players. Every single one of those guys developed into a top-line, high-level player. The worst player on there is Pierre-Luc Dubois. He basically had the Aleksander Barkov and Andrei Svechnikov 18-year-old rookie seasons. Those two guys were top-three picks. Kindel was the No. 11 overall pick. We still do not know what his actual ceiling is, but a two-way center that is already playing this sort of game at this age is something you can dream on. If you are not going to get a top-three pick you need to find some unexpected home runs somewhere else. This ball has not cleared the wall yet, but it looks and sounds really promising coming off the bat. The outfielders are moving back to the warning track and the wall, and they are not slowing down.
2. Egor Chinakhov (Age: 24, 43 games, 18 goals). The benefit of accumulating so many mid-round draft picks is it gives you the flexibility to roll the dice and take chances on players like this. Chinakhov arrived in Pittsburgh as a fascinating talent that looked lost in his previous environment. Getting a chance to play real minutes in Pittsburgh, around winning players, immediately unlocked something big in his game. Is he going to score on 17.3 percent of shots on goal over a full season? Probably not. But even if he gets down into the 12-15 percent range (which is not unthinkable given his shot) that is still a potential 25-30 goal-scorer over 82 games. You need that. That will play. I think I was even more impressed with his play away from the puck than his play with it, because that was supposed to be a problem. It was not. It would have been nice to see more from him in the playoffs, but I thought he was close to getting that breakthrough.
3. Ville Koivunen (Age: 22, 39 games, 2 goals) Not sure there was a bigger disappointment among the young players than Koivunen. I had high hopes for him at the start, especially given where he was starting in the lineup and what he did at the end of the 2024-25 season. I like the possession numbers he displayed. I like that when he was on the ice the play generally moved in the right direction. But too often he just seemed a split second too slow in getting his shot off, turning countless good looks into blocked shots that harmlessly went off the glass or into the netting above the glass. That’s not great. It may not seem like much, but that split second is the difference between dominating in the AHL and contributing in the NHL. Not giving up on him, but some of these guys are not going to pan out. He needs to show more next season. A lot more. He is more suspect than prospect right now.
4. Arturs Silovs (Age: 24, 39 games, .887 save percentage). What a weird year. It started with him getting a shutout on opening night in Madison Square Garden against Mike Sullivan in the New York Rangers. It ended with him giving the Penguins a fighting chance in the playoffs, thanks to him playing three consecutive mostly magnificent games. In between there were some wild highs and lows that had you alternating between, “Maybe this guy is a player,” to “how is this guy in the NHL?” No idea what he is or what he will be, but he is intriguing. Him and Sergei Murashov seem likely to share the next next season
5. Rutger McGroarty (Age: 21, 24 games, 3 goals). As mentioned above, his season started off poorly with him being sidelined due to injury. It was an uphill battle back from that. I actually really liked what we saw from him when he played and I figure he opens next season with a full-time NHL roster spot. I still like him a lot, and I think if you were going to argue for a young player to have received more of a look, this is the guy.
6. Elmer Soderblom (Age: 24, 20 games, 5 goals). Similar to Chinakhov in the sense that he is a talented player that did not seem to fit in his previous spot. The Penguins rolled the dice, and they may have found a useful bottom-six player. He arrived with little in the way of expectations (two goals in 39 games with the Red Wings will do that), and then tallied five goals and 10 total points in 20 regular season games with the Penguins, before adding a goal in the playoffs. When he realized he is bigger and stronger than every player on the ice on most shifts things really turned around for him.
7. Avery Hayes (Age: 23, 16 games, 5 goals). Given Noel Accairi seems to be on his way out I would suspect that Hayes is going to have the inside track on a fourth-line spot next season. He made an immediate impact with two goals in his NHL debut and was a bit hit-and-miss offensively after that. What was not hit-and-miss was the effort and his willingness to rattle cages. He at least put himself on the radar. Good first impression and something to build on.
8. Philip Tomasino (Age: 24, 9 games, 0 goals). When you take a chance on players like this you sometimes get Egor Chinakhov, and you sometimes get Philip Tomasino.
9. Harrison Brunicke (Age: 19, 9 games, 1 goal). Great first impression. He was not ready for the NHL just yet, and that is okay. He is a 19-year-old defenseman. It happens. Matthew Schaefer is the exception, not the rule. But he got a taste of life in the NHL, showed the potential, and is one of the prospects in the organization that you should be excited about.
10. Sergei Murashov (Age: 21, 5 games, .897 save percentage). If there is a young player in the organization that has superstar, franchise-changing ability, this is the guy. That is due both to the nature of his position (goalie) and the impact that can have on a team, as well as his talent and upside. I am not going to pretend to know what he is going to do next season because trying to guess or project goalie performance, and especially young goalie performance, is almost impossible. But the upside …. the upside is enormous. He only played five games in Pittsburgh, but we saw flashes of it. He has dominated the AHL the past two years. He is ready for his chance next season.
11. Owen Pickering (Age: 22, 4 games, 0 goals). I fear we are on bust watch. Given the makeup of the defense this season the fact this guy couldn’t even get any sort of look is discouraging. He seems to be way off the radar.
12. Samuel Poulin (Age: 24, 2 games, goals). Officially a bust. At least here. He was part of the Stuart Skinner-Tristan Jarry trade with the Edmonton Oilers.
13. Tristan Broz (Age: 23, 1 game, 0 goals). Other than McGroarty, I think this is the one young player in the organization that Penguins fans expected to see more of this season. He just never got a look in the NHL. Understandable given the forward depth, as well as the unexpected emergence of Kindel. Another strong year in the AHL, however.
14. Jake Livanavage (Age: 21, 1 game, 0 goals). He joined the organization so late in the season that there is really nothing to evaluate here. Intriguing prospect due to his skating.
It was not as young of a team as we expected, but they definitely worked in some players and found at least a couple of players that should have a future here.
For the first time since 2012, the Flyers will host a second-round playoff game.
The last time the Flyers made the second round was 2020, but those playoffs were in the bubble because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Rick Tocchet’s club faces the Hurricanes on Thursday at Xfinity Mobile Arena for Game 3 of this best-of-seven matchup. The Flyers trail Carolina 2-0 in the series.
“We’ve got to physically invest tonight,” Tocchet said, “and I think the crowd will help us physically invest.”
Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET with Flyers Pregame Live on NBC Sports Philadelphia+. Puck drop is scheduled for around 8 p.m. ET on TNT. Flyers Postgame Live will follow immediately after the game on NBCSP+.
Rick Tocchet has really liked Denver Barkey at center, said he hasn’t been a liability at all defensively. Has liked his offensive smarts.
When Flyers needed help at center a few weeks ago, Keith Jones told Tocchet to not be afraid to try Barkey there. They’ve liked it so far. pic.twitter.com/SndrNp6h7P
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 02: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With a take this inflammatory, we must all operate with the same basic assumptions. Here are mine: The Boston Celtics probably do not want to trade Jaylen Brown. He is eligible for a two-year, $141.9 million extension in July, and I expect they will offer it to him. I have no idea if Brown wants to sign said extension, and if he doesn’t, they will trade him. That is, as we say in the biz, that.
Because of the contract situation, we really don’t have to speculate much on if he willbe traded or not; the fountain pen and the expensive piece of paper will do the talking. But we can certainly wonder if Boston should proactively move past the Jaylen Brown era (short answer: no) or if Brown himself is starting to think past his time as a Celtic (short answer: probably, but everyone thinks about their future).
But then there’s the keystone question, one that is the genesis of this whole discussion and the reason I’m writing this at all: should Jaylen Brown want a trade now, and could that ultimately be good for Boston? (short answer: I think so)
Should the Celtics want to trade Jaylen?
If I’m Brad Stevens and Boston’s front office, I’m not getting in the habit of proactively trading All-NBA players who won a championship and Finals MVP for your franchise. The Celtics are no longer in dire financial straits, and it would be pretty cold to say “thanks for your service Jaylen, peace out!” without having your hand forced. Jaylen isn’t even 30 yet, just had the best season of his career and has the two best abilities a superstar can have: durability and availability. Boston would be stupid to throw that away.
But Brown is not just a contract or a stat sheet; he’s a guy with personal and professional priorities. I don’t know if those are still best served in Boston, and Brown and I might be on the same page.
Brown’s reaction to their recent first-round series loss to the Philadelphia 76ers hasn’t exactly been gracious, and he even said that this season was his “favorite year” of his career. Not crazy because it was easily Brown’s best statistical season, but also not really a team-first view either, given that they won the NBA Finals in 2024, this was the first time the Celtics had missed the second round of the playoffs since 2021 and this was Brown’s first major stretch of his career without Jayson Tatum since he was a rookie.
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” is not true whatsoever (ever heard of a smoke machine?) but I don’t think Jaylen is saying this stuff just… cuz. It feels like a soft launch of a trade request, or at the very least, a cup of coffee with one. And I wouldn’t blame him, given we all just saw the best Jaylen Brown ever is one without Jayson Tatum on the floor. If you were Jaylen, you’d at least be wondering what life would be like if that were all the time, right?
Brown is not going to find that arrangement in Boston. Put simply, Tatum is a significantly better player than Brown and one the Celtics are more financially tied to. He will be healthy next season and regain his status as the primary creator and ball handler. Does Brown actually want to return to his old role?
How Jayson and Jaylen work in 2026 and beyond
The “Can Tatum and Brown win together?”debate… thing that dominated Celtics circles for over half a decade was finally put to rest when they, ya know, did. But personally, I always found both sides of the argument profoundly stupid. For one, it implied that this was an equal partnership, which it basically never was; Tatum’s dribble advantage always ensured he would dominate the ball. For another, it had this weird, New England Puritanical determinism bent to it; it was like you had to decide if you were committing your whole heart and soul to this core or if you were 100 percent out. God had already decided whether this was the right path, so you were either on the bus to salvation or nowhere near it.
I, conversely, always felt that trading Brown would make sense if I could be sure the Celtics would get better. Some Kevin Durant smoke back in 2021 piqued my interest, as did some 2019 Anthony Davis packages. For who those guys were at the time, Jaylen included, we were just talking about a categorical upgrade for Boston. It was always a question of how valuable Brown was to Boston versus how valuable he was to other teams.
And it’s the same deal now. Before the Celtics won it all in 2024, Brown’s value as an asset never exceeded his impact as a player. But it’s a brave new world in Boston, and Jaylen’s ability to be an elite first option may entice some interested teams to part with some serious beans to give Brown what he will never have on the Celtics: his own show, with all the trappings of superstardom and franchise control. How could he possibly avoid thinking about this?
Brown and Tatum have been extremely productive colleagues, but any suggestion from the Tatum-Brown Eternal Cult that they are blood brothers who never want to be separated ignores plenty of counter evidence. Logan Murdock’s excellent profile of Brown for The Ringer in 2023 explored the two’s relationship at length, and while the crux was basically “there has never been any conflict between them and that they’re good friends,” it also wasn’t “this guy is my ride or die forever, and I couldn’t imagine playing basketball without him.” Nor did Brown say much this year about how much he missed the then-injured Tatum on the court and how excited they all were to have him back. Calling this his “favorite year” isn’t super endearing either.
It was never a personal conflict, and I will resist to no end any notion that it was, but there has been obvious basketball friction between the two; they never ran much of a two-man game like some sort of Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray duo, and both are most comfortable with the ball in their hands. Then again, find me a pair of superstars in NBA history that have been completely, 100 percent without a basketball conflict. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen? Absolutely not. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook? Nope. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant? Are you kidding me?
I think Pippen/Jordan is very instructive, as while Pippen was better than Brown is now, and Jordan was uh, better than Tatum, you have to wonder if Jaylen knows the first word everyone thinks of when they think Scottie Pippen: sidekick. It wasn’t until Jordan retired that Pippen left the Chicago Bulls, and, already past his prime, his production plummeted. Does Brown really want to be remembered as a sidekick? Or does he want a fabulous second act to his career? Personally, I would want the second act.
What does Jaylen Brown want?
As I said before, Brown can force Boston’s hand by refusing to sign the extension they will offer him. That will speed things along, and then Boston will try to get the best deal they can; you’ll notice I avoided speculating about Giannis Antetokounmpo or any of the other packages thrown out on social media because they would have distracted from the crux of the issue: should Jaylen Brown actually want this, but an Antetokounmpo swap with Boston attaching a pick or two would probably be good for both parties. I wonder if Milwaukee would actually trade Giannis to Boston of all places — that would be a Category 5 betrayal of their fans — but Brown is probably by far the best player they could get back. Meanwhile, Tatum-Giannis-Derrick White is another category upgrade. His media circus and durability would make me nervous as a Celtics fan, but this is Giannis Antetokounmpo we’re talking about — still a business you want to be in.
But again, this really will be Brown’s decision, and I am essentially at peace with the fact that the right one for him might be to take his talents someplace else. He spent nine years in Boston blowing through every expectation and ceiling ever put on him, by me and many others, and I would be happy for him to be here another nine as a Celtic. But I also want him to be happy as Jaylen Brown; if it is no longer in Boston, that is, as we have said, that.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 6: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks dunks the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 6, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks took a 2-0 series lead Wednesday night, grinding out a 108-102 victory over the 76ers at Madison Square Garden. New York trailed after the first quarter, 33-31, and stayed close through three, tied at 89 heading into the fourth. The relentless Knicks defense gradually wore down Tyrese Maxey (47 MIN, 26 PTS) and Paul George (43 MIN, 19 PTS)—and maybe both sides were a little gassed. Philly managed just 12 points in the final frame, and each team squeaked out just three points in the final three minutes. This wasn’t the blowout that we’ve become accustomed to, and the offense faltered at times (7-of-26 3PT), but the paint dominance (56 points), a 20-10-7 line from KAT, and Anunoby’s two-way bullying were enough to claim the victory.
Brunson was the engine, as usual, but it wasn’t easy. Kelly Oubre, Jr. and VJ Edgecombe took turns harassing JB through most of the first quarter, and he worked hard just to make 9-of-21 from the floor. He made up for it at the free throw line, where he converted 7-of-8. Those trips to the stripe were crucial in the fourth quarter when Philly was clinging to their lead. Given how well he was guarded, a 6:3 assist-to-turnover ratio ain’t too shabby. Cap still found his spots, still made the right reads, and outdueled Maxey yet again. Grade: B+
This was a KAT performance that reminds you of what he can do when he’s aggressive. He shot 75% from the field, drew eight fouls, and dished seven dimes. The double-double was almost a footnote given how efficient he was. Without Joel Embiid (ankle/hip), Philly had no answer for Karl inside or as a passer at the elbow. His free throw trips kept the Sixers in foul trouble all night. Three turnovers and that silly foul right after halftime keep the grade from climbing higher. Grade: A-
Best player on the floor last night? Quite possibly. OG logged four steals, zero turnovers, and 24 points on clean, efficient shotmaking. He generated 11 points off turnovers by himself and added six fast-break points, turning defense into offense while demoralizing Philly. Add to that a perfect 4-for-4 from the stripe. The three-point shooting was a little off, but who cares when he’s so active and impactful everywhere else? The Knicks needed a difference maker in a close game, and OG answered the call. The only dark cloud? Late in the game, he tweaked something in his leg and exited. Say your prayers it’s merely something minor. Grade: A
A quietly terrific game. ’Kal shot 69 percent from the field, did his damage in the mid-range and at the rim (with very encouraging aggression). Crashing the glass and running hard, he hustled to score four second-chance points and four fast-break points. The threes weren’t falling, but he wasn’t the only one with that problem last night. Defensively, he was excellent, with more of an impact than his one steal and one block suggest. Consistent, efficient, low-noise production. Two more points and the Knicks would have had four starters with 20 or more. Grade: A-
The stat line is a tale of two halves. The good: seven boards, six assists, three steals, a +5. The bad: four turnovers, a tech foul, and 2-of-6 shooting. Hart’s energy is essential to the team’s success, and his playmaking and defensive activity were genuine contributions. One of the game’s biggest moments came when, after jamming his thumb in the third quarter, he returned in the fourth to make a back-breaking triple. The turnovers were costly, though, and the shooting kept him from having a complete game. By our count, Josh must have a splint on two of his 10 digits—and the series is still young. Grade: B-
The tall sophomore’s main crime was the foul trouble. With Mitchell Robinson sidelined by illness, and two first-quarter fouls on Towns, coach Mike Brown needed a clean game from his back-up center. Instead, Huk (who played very well in Game One) registered four personal fouls that limited his impact and shortened his stint. He grabbed three boards and had a second-chance bucket, but he fell short of expectation. Grade: C+
Defense was Deuce’s saving grace yesterday. He had a rough shooting night, making 1-of-5 from the field. One turnover, one assist, and a -2 in his stint. Sure, he canned a timely triple in the fourth, but he wasn’t a factor on offense otherwise. He’ll need to be more of a threat from deep as the playoffs continue, and if Anunoby misses any time, expect Deuce to play bigger minutes. Grade: B-
Shamet’s night was the definition of “cardio” in the box score, but don’t be fooled. That +6 in his eight minutes of action tells a truer tale. While Landry didn’t record a single counting stat, the Knicks went on one of their better mini-runs while he was on the floor. he functioned purely as a floor spacer tonight, and supplied some solid defense on the other end. Nothing memorable, but sometimes that’s exactly what’s needed. All those blanks bring down his mark. Grade: C+
A mixed bag. Clarkson went 2-of-4 from the field and grabbed five boards (three offensive), which is the hustle we like to see from him. The -6 in his minutes was a bummer. Grade: C
Bench / Rotation Notes
Jose Alvarado chipped in three points on 1-of-2 shooting, with one assist and one turnover in a seven-minute cameo. Overall, six NY reserves combined for 15 points and 52 minutes. Conversely, Nick Nurse played just three bench guys, who also scored 15 points. So far, New York’s depth is fine against Philly. It might prove less so in other rounds. Grade: C+
Coach Mike Brown
Battling poor officiating in addition to a well-coached opponent, Brown made the right adjustments heading into the fourth. The Knicks allowed 13 triples on 34 attempts, which is a bit concerning, but the overall defensive structure was sound, and New York outscored the Phillies 19-12 in the fourth to close it out. Up 2-0, no complaints. Grade: B+
The Knicks are in the driver’s seat heading to Philadelphia. Game Two was less pretty than Game One, but not unexpected. We figured the Sixers would come back with a strong counterpunch—and maybe play better without Embiid sucking up so much oxygen, frankly. Games Three and Four will be played in a tougher environment, but despite Philly’s attempts to block their attendance, Knicks fans should be present and vocal. Let’s hope the ‘Bockers give them something to cheer about.
The teams for the final in Budapest are set. We look at how they got there and the factors that could determine the champion
Destination Budapest, where Paris Saint-Germain will attempt to be the first club apart from Real Madrid to win two consecutive European Cups since Milan in 1990. Vincent Kompany’s promise of “more” from Bayern Munich after a nine-goal first leg did not materialise. PSG offered a different proposition in Wednesday’s second leg; they put on a performance of defensive discipline, with their attacking players committed to closing down their opponents. Luis Enrique’s team never allowed the tie to spin from their control even if there were 33 shots in Munich compared to 22 in Paris.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia plays like an old-style winger, and set up Ousmane Dembélé’s goal, but he is also thoroughly modern in the way he presses hard and high. Bayern found space at a premium until Harry Kane’s late goal. Luis Enrique’s team is much the same as last season’s, sticking to the same formula. They are a year older but still flush with youth. The PSG project took many years and billions of euros to hit pay dirt but is now delivering the success that was dreamed of after the Qatari takeover in 2011.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were messy in the series opener versus the Detroit Pistons.
Think “James Harden’s beard after eating ribs” kind of messy.
Game 2 of this Eastern Conference semifinal tips off tonight, and my Cavaliers vs. Pistons props expect a cleaner effort from Cleveland and more halfcourt action because of it.
That boils down to my best NBA picks for Game 2 on Thursday, May 7.
Best Cavaliers vs Pistons props for Game 2
Player
Pick
James Harden
Over 6.5 assists
-112
Jalen Duren
Over 15.5 points
+100
Donovan Mitchell
Over 2.5 threes
-115
Game 2 Prop #1: James Harden Over 6.5 assists
-112 at bet365
James Harden pointed the finger at himself following the Cleveland Cavaliers’ loss to the Detroit Pistons in Game 1. The Cavs guard had seven turnovers to seven assists in the opener. Yuck.
Those miscues combined with cold shooting from Cleveland left Harden’s 14 potential assists to shrivel up and die. And losing Jarrett Allen to foul trouble early also threw a wrench in the Cavaliers’ schemes.
Game 2 could see a shake up in the starting lineup, with Max Strus replacing Dean Wade and giving Cleveland more spot-up threats for Harden to find in drive-and-kick sets. If Allen can stay on the floor, he also benefits from the point guard’s playmaking.
Projections for Harden aren’t bullish on his assist output but do lean toward seven or more dimes in Game 2, with forecasts ranging from 6.1 to 7.3 assists. With fewer wasted possessions and improved fluidity on offense, Harden tops his passing prop.
Game 2 Prop #2: Jalen Duren Over 15.5 points
+100 at bet365
Jalen Duren’s box score from Game 1 doesn’t exactly tell you how troublesome the Pistons’ beefy forward is for the Cavaliers.
Duren got Allen into early foul trouble and dominated the glass with 12 rebounds. Offensively, he finished just 4-for-11 from the field for 11 points, staying below his closing point total of 16.5 O/U. He's gone Under in that prop market in seven of his first eight postseason outings.
While Duren has underperformed in the playoffs, Tuesday’s output was a byproduct of Detroit scoring a ton of points off turnovers and transition. Game 2 will be cleaner with more halfcourt action, which is where Duren throws his weight around.
Tonight’s game projections are positive, as most models sit around 17 points with a ceiling flirting with 20 points from Duren. My number comes out just north of 17 points in Game 2. His scoring total is bouncing between 14.5 and 15.5 O/U, depending on the book.
Game 2 Prop #3: Donovan Mitchell Over 2.5 threes
-115 at bet365
Detroit didn’t have to worry about protecting the perimeter against Orlando’s lack of outside threats in Round 1. Cleveland, on the other hand, has Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell hit 4 of 10 shots from beyond the arc in Game 1 and has hit three or more triples in five of his eight playoff outings so far. All 10 of those 3PAs in Tuesday’s loss were graded as either “open” or “wide open,” meaning there were no defenders within at least four feet of Mitchell.
Game 1’s offense flowed like a backed-up crapper and Mitchell found it tough cracking the Piston’s stingy interior defense, even complaining about the physicality when attempting to drive to the basket.
With Detroit pushing him out the perimeter and game script calling for Cleveland to claw from behind, Mitchell will continue to take and make shots from downtown. His Game 2 forecasts all sit beyond three 3-pointers tonight.
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Devin Vassell isn’t the first name you think about when it comes to NBA sharpshooters, nor is he the guy you’d expect to hit circus shot in the playoffs — but here we are.
Everything has been going right for the Spurs this season with the Victor Wembanyama-led team quickly becoming a force in the Western Conference. It’s not just Wemby who is coming through for San Antonio, but role players who has ascended above their potentials to turn into assassins when the moment calls.
It’s difficult to know if Vassell’s three was more based on pure instinct or awareness. The shot clock was about to expire, he was the target of a desperation pass — and without thinking he jumped, took the pass in the air, and drained the corner three in one fluid motion. It was simply sensational.
A lot of players would have tried to set their feet and watch as time expired, but I love Vassell just going for it here. It’s a small moment in the scheme of things, but one that definitely highlights how the Spurs have zero quit — even when they’re up by a huge margin, they’re looking to make shots like this and keep the scoreboard ticking.
Double Tour de France winner makes his debut when race begins on Friday and is the outstanding favourite for victory in Rome
Jonas Vingegaard’s bid to complete a rare Grand Tour grand slam by winning the 2026 Giro d’Italia begins in Bulgaria on Friday when the double Tour de France winner makes his debut in the Italian race.
Vingegaard, the winner of the 2022 and 2023 Tours de France, has been eclipsed by the achievements of Tadej Pogacar – winner this season of nine races in 11 days of racing – but is the outstanding favourite for victory in Rome on 31 May.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens are both denying any rift between the two.
In fact, Brown says that if it were up to him, he'd be happy playing in Boston "for the next 10 years."
The status of the team's relationship with its leading scorer this season was called into question after Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady recently said on his podcast that Brown has a frustration that "lies deeply within the organization."
Brown hasn't been shy about expressing his frustrations publicly. He was fined $50,000 by the NBA earlier this week for comments he made about the officiating after the Celtics' season ended with a Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Stevens on Wednesday, May 6, refuted McGrady's allegations, saying the last conversation he had with Brown two days earlier was "nothing but positive."
Later that day, Brown echoed Stevens' remarks on his Twitch stream.
"I hate that our president of basketball operations even had to respond to this," he said. "Me and Brad have a great relationship. I love Boston. And if it was up to me I could play in Boston for the next 10 years."
The Celtics posted the second-best record in the East during the regular season, despite playing for an extended period without star guard Jayson Tatum, who was recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Brown led the team in scoring with a career-high 28.7 points per game.
"Obviously, we're not satisfied with the result," the five-time All-Star said. "If it sounds like an excuse, it's not. But to fight and maneuver through adversity and grow, and galvanize with a bunch of guys and to have that mindset and approach, this was my favorite year."
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MAY 06: Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays rounds third base to score on an RBI double hit by Jonny DeLuca (not pictured) in the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field on May 06, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees broke their five-game winning streak on Wednesday, their offense finally getting stopped as Yankee Killer Nathan Eovaldi dominated them once again. Their last two losses both came at his hands, as he tossed seven shutout innings in their series in Texas before going eight strong with just an Aaron Judge solo shot blemishing his line in the Bronx.
The loss opens the door for the team’s rivals to have a rare chance to catch up with them, as they’ve lost just 3 of their last 18 games. Only one team taking the field was really within eyesight, and unfortunately they moved closer in that rear view mirror after taking advantage of the chance.
Tampa Bay Rays (24-12) 3, Toronto Blue Jays (16-21) 0
The Rays have also been red-hot, especially at home, and their home cooking kept going as they shut down the defending AL champs. Shane McClanahan pitched into the sixth inning, allowing just two hits and a walk against four strikeouts, and the rest of the Rays’ bullpen allowed just two hits the rest of the way to suffocate Toronto’s chances of ever starting a rally.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay struck in the fourth inning against Patrick Corbin. After Junior Caminero led off with a lineout, Jonathan Aranda walked to put a runner on ahead of Jonny DeLuca’s RBI double. Corbin got the second out to nearly keep it a minor scratch, but Chandler Simpson singled to right to score DeLuca and put up a crooked number in the inning. As it wound up, that would be all the damage that Tampa needed, but they got an insurance run in the eighth as Cedric Mullins singled and got moved around on a pair of grounders, eventually scoring on a throwing error from Ernie Clement.
Boston Red Sox (16-21) 4, Detroit Tigers (18-20) 0: Jack Flaherty had a rollercoaster of a day, striking out 10 batters in just five innings but allowing four runs (two earned) in the process. The two earned came in the third inning on an RBI double from Caleb Durbin and a sacrifice fly from Willson Contreras, while the two unearned came in the fourth after a grounder bounced off of Colt Keith into the corner in left field. Sonny Gray made his first start since April 20th and delivered five shutout on the other side, and the Sox bullpen prevented any hits from the Tigers bats to finish the sweep. Bad times in the Motor City, while Boston might feel a tad refreshed.
Cleveland Guardians (19-19) 3, Kansas City Royals (17-20) 1: Kansas City struck first, getting a sacrifice fly from Salvador Perez in the third inning, but it was all Cleveland the rest of the way. A leadoff walk and a single in the top of the fifth set up a double steal to put runners in scoring position with one out for Chase DeLauter, who drove them both home with a single to left field. The eighth saw them get some insurance, José Ramírez leading off with a walk and stealing second before eventually scoring on a groundout to third that bounced off of Maikel Garcia forcing Bobby Witt Jr. to field the ball.
Seattle Mariners (18-20) 3, Atlanta Braves (26-12) 1: Facing off against the team with the best record in baseball, the M’s managed a series victory in the rubber match thanks to six strong from Bryan Woo. It was the first time all year that Atlanta lost a series. Woo struck out nine batters and allowed just a single hit, walking two and giving up no runs. Martín Pérez did his best to match him, going 5.2 innings, but a double play ball in the third inning still brought home a run and Julio Rodríguez launched a solo shot in the fifth to give Seattle a 2-0 lead. Atlanta cut the deficit in half with a sacrifice fly in the eighth, but Seattle got it right back thanks to an RBI double from Cole Young.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 06: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres runs to first base after hitting a two-run home run go over the wallagainst the San Francisco Giants in the eighth inning at Oracle Park on May 06, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ty France came in to pinch-hit in the top of the seventh inning and hit a two-out, two-run triple to score Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ramon Laureano to give the San Diego Padres a 3-1 lead over the San Francisco Giants. Xander Bogaerts, who entered the game in the bottom of the seventh inning as a defensive substitution, added a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to make the score 5-1 and the Padres went on to beat the Giants and win the series before returning home to Petco Park. San Diego only outhit San Francisco 6-3 and the Padres were 2-for-10 with RISP, while the Giants were held without an opportunity to hit with runners in scoring position.
Matt Waldron did not start the game, instead he followed Bradgley Rodriguez, who pitch one inning without allowing a run to open the game. Waldron came into the game in the bottom of the second inning and pitched five innings without allowing a walk. He finished his five innings with one run allowed on two hits with seven strikeouts. Adrian Morejon covered the seventh and eighth innings and allowed one hit with four strikeouts. Mason Miller was called on to get the final three outs in the ninth inning and he did just that while recording two strikeouts.
The Padres return to home today to host the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park at 7:10 p.m.
James Harden
Jalen Duren
