May 7, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber (12) is congratulated by first baseman Bryce Harper (3) after hitting a home run against the Athletics at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
This might be the easiest top three we have had in a while. Guess that is what happens when the team is playing good baseball – you have players performing well!
Three up
Bryce Harper – I usually don’t mess around with leaderboards on the bigger numbers until Memorial Day. I’ll use them for searching for specific things that are more granular in nature, or if I’m looking for something that fits my very specific purpose in life. So today, I changed things up and brought up the Fangraphs leaderboards for hitters. Most of the time, filtering by wRC+ shows you the best hitters in the game currently and you’d expect to see the same names. Judge, Ohtani, Yordan – these are the names that are familiar at the top. Twelfth in the game right now? Bryce Harper, holding a 159 wRC+ on the year. His season has been outstanding thus far, this week a particular example (.429/.520/1.048 in 25 PA). Sometimes, we just forget how good Harper really is.
Kyle Schwarber – Want to know who’s eleventh on said leaderboard? One Kyle Schwarber, two points ahead of Harper with a 161 wRC+. He’s on his patented heater, smashing five home runs this week, which is truly what happens when this offense is clicking. Overall, the offense hit 14 home runs on the week altogether. Not too shabby.
Brandon Marsh – It’s hard to leave off a guy who hit .519/.533/.593 on the week, so Marsh gets the third nod here. Sure, we’d rather a lot of those hits be of the extra base variety, but thinking back to when they were doing nothing at the plate during their losing streak, singles are great too.
(bonus!) Cristopher Sanchez – I mean, you can’t leave a guy off a top three that had two starts in which he didn’t allow a run over 15 innings in a week, or over 20+ innings in his last three starts. Sanchez is locked back in at the moment.
Three down
Andrew Painter – Here’s a question: if the team had a viable option in Lehigh Valley that they believed could come to the majors and make a few starts effectively, without overtaxing the bullpen each time that turn in the rotation came around, do you think they’d give Painter a quick timeout in the minors? He was dreadful against the Athletics, which we still should contextualize as just one start, but it showcased some of the concerns that are surrounding the young starter. It’s still very early to worry about anything LONG long term, but this wasn’t a good week for him.
Jesus Luzardo – Luzardo had zero idea where the strike zone was for much of his Friday night start. It was reminiscent of his midseason hiccup last year, which is a shame because he had three really good starts in a row. Of course, the usual undercurrent of pitch tipping was there, but he just kind of stunk Friday.
backup catching – When J.T. Realmuto got hurt, one might not have expected the backup catchers to bring all of the value Realmuto brings to the team, but maybe some kind of semblance of offensive aptitude. Yet this week is a stark reminder: when Realmuto gets hurt and has to miss any chunks of time, the Phillies are in real trouble behind the plate. At least Garrett Stubbs can contribute on the mound…
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 20, 2026: Kade Anderson #13 of the Seattle Mariners throws a pitch during the fifth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix on March 20, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma squandered a series split with an extra-innings loss in Sunday’s contest, dropping the six game set by a score of 4-2. Despite the loss, the series still managed to provide plenty of outstanding performances offensively, perhaps providing a glimpse at a few bats that could be up with the Mariners awfully soon.
Colt Emerson had a great week at the plate and looks to be making strides in adjusting to Triple-A pitching. The young shortstop collected ten hits this week, one of which was a massive homer he launched out to dead center. Though he’s still striking out more than you’d like to see, at just 20 years old, it’s tough to knock Emerson too much for any early season shortcomings. He’s clearly making progress, and that’s ultimately what matters most for his future as a Seattle Mariner.
Brennen Davis was a monster at the plate this series, taking full advantage of the hitter-friendly stadium in El Paso. Logging 12 hits on the week, Davis’ six doubles and two homers raised his season OPS up to .965 and make him an incredibly attractive candidate to serve as the right-handed platoon mate to Luke Raley or Dom Canzone. He’s a guy I’d expect to get some run with the major league team this year.
Arkansas Travelers
The Travs pulled off yet another series win this week, taking this one by a score of 4-2 over an excellent Tulsa team. This team is playing great baseball right now, and now with both a reliable rotation and complete lineup, they’re looking more and more like the favorite for a first-half crown. There’s still a long way to go, but their turnaround in such a short timeframe has been remarkable.
Kade Anderson awesome again. Final line: 5.2IP, 2H, 1R, BB, 9K, 22 whiffs, 75 pitches, 49 strikes.
Kade Anderson continued his bid for top pitching prospect in baseball this week, working another 5.2 innings of one run ball that featured just three baserunners allowed and nine strikeouts. It’s unbelievable how good he’s been across his first 30 innings of professional baseball, seemingly requiring zero time to adjust to the increased difficulty. Whether it’s Tacoma with the Rainiers or the M’s in the big leagues, don’t be surprised if he’s pitching in the PNW sooner than later.
Ryan Sloan posted one of his better starts in Double-A this week, allowing just one earned run across five frames. Striking out six and walking none, Sloan’s needed some time to get acclimated with Double-A, but this was a great bounceback for him after a bit of a stinker last week. He remains right up there with Anderson in terms of overall potential despite his surface numbers not looking nearly as shiny.
Everett AquaSox
Everett had a dominant week in Hillsboro this week, taking all but one game from the Hops in the weekly slate. This offense has been truly relentless.
There is no other place to start than with Felnin Celesten and his scorching hot bat. Collecting another ten hits this week, Celesten has been on an absolute tear for the better part of three weeks and looks like the superstar player many have thought he’s capable of being. Maintaining a gaudy .484/.553/.839 slash on the month, Celesten has seemingly flipped a switch and ascended to new heights. He’ll head to Arkansas sometime this summer to try his hand against the Texas League.
Luke Stevenson didn’t have his best week offensively, but his plate discipline and power give him such a high floor that even his down stretches are productive. Rocketing two more homers this week, Stevenson seems like a lock to follow the aforementioned Celesten up to Arkansas this summer, a level that will be a massive test to see if his bat-to-ball shortcomings rear their head against the improved stuff. Still just 21 years old, Stevenson will be rocketing up prospect boards come time for midseason reranks.
Inland Empire 66ers
The 66ers caught a series win this week, taking four of six against a very solid Lake Elsinore team. Hopefully they are able to take this win and build on it, as up to this point, it’s been tough going for this 66ers squad.
Mason Peters was dealing again. Final line: 4IP, 3H, 1R, BB, 6K, 9 whiffs, 60-41. Legit. pic.twitter.com/ionnbEScN6
Mason Peters continues to log essentially the same start every week, and fortunately for the 66ers, that start has been consistently excellent. After another four innings with six punchouts and one walk, Peters held his season ERA at 2.25 and owns a 37:6 K/BB ratio through his first 24 innings. The M’s seem to have something really exciting here.
Grant Jay had a really nice week at the plate. An uber-physical catcher with a massive throwing arm, Jay has tremendous power to pair with an uppercut swing that’s catered for launching the baseball as far as humanly possible. This does lead to quite a bit of swing-and-miss, but he’s been able to make it work thus far and has posted excellent numbers this month. Slashing .350/.458/.750 over his last seven games, watch for Jay as a late round sleeper that could pop.
ACL Mariners
The Baby M’s had their first full slate this week, netting an even 3-3 record across their first six. This team has some super exciting names on it, and though it’s going to be several years before they end up contributing at the big league level, many of these players will be leading the next wave of great Mariner prospects.
Yorger Bautista has been dialed in at the plate to kick off his 2026 season. Already with a walkoff bomb under his belt, Bautista has led the way for the M’s offensively and seems to be well adjusted right now. Though the strikeouts are still a touch high, he’s slashing .286/.375/.571, good for a .946 OPS. He’s a tantalizing talent that should absolutely be on people’s radar as a breakout candidate.
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 22: Anthony Eyanson #24 of the LSU Tigers pitches against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in Game 2 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals at Charles Schwab Field on June 22, 2025 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Alec Gamboa went from making his Major League debut earlier in the weekend to pitching five innings of one-run baseball for the WooSox in the finale against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees AAA). Unfortunately, Jack Anderson would come in and let up what would become the game-losing home run, but let’s not pin that all on him. The WooSox looked listless with runners on at the plate, stranding eleven and having just one run until the ninth inning. At least a lot of guys got their knocks, though, with everyone but Kristian Campbell having at least a hit, and even he reached on a walk. It just wasn’t enough to capitalize overall, and the WooSox lost a close one.
For those excited for last year’s third round draft pick Anthony Eyanson to skyrocket through the system , you have reason to be: he looked good in his AA debut, and despite going just four innings he struck out four Fisher Cats (Blue Jays AA) and allowed just a run on three hits and a walk. Eyanson, a product of LSU (Geaux Tigers!), was pretty much untouchable in his time in Greenville to start the year and was given a well-deserved promotion following a combination of his results and his fastball being nasty, topping out at 98. The 21-year-old wasn’t quite as dominant in his first time facing Double-A bats but was also backed up by a great offense, including a white-hot Brooks Brannon having an incredible game: 4 for 4 with a home run, two doubles, a walk and five total RBIs. While the catcher was a big reason for the Sea Dogs’ success, Franklin Arias also had a great day with four hits as his average creeps back up over .350.
It is worth wondering how quickly Eyanson climbs the organization with him already achieving success in college, being seasoned through that success, and being awesome so far in his professional career. This is the same organization that saw Payton Tolle go from Greenville to the Majors in the same season just 12 months ago, so, really, the sky may be the limit.
The Drive are having a disastrous season defensively thus far, and that nightmare continued in Greensboro (Pirates High-A) as the team has still won just one game in May. They’ve now allowed at least ten runs four times this week, and have scored at least nine runs and still lost in three of those. A big part of this game starting off on the wrong foot was due to the Drive finding themselves down 10-0 at some point due to the Grasshoppers treating Luis Cohen’s start like it was batting practice, and it didn’t get better from there, as Joey Gartrell eventually had to just wear some of it while eating some mop-up innings before tempering the lineup down for the remainder of his appearance. Greenville made it appear close by hitting two home runs in the ninth, but this game was never even within striking distance.
Another game that wasn’t within striking distance due to a towering righty from Georgia, Leighton Finley, making light work (Orioles A) of Delmarva for his five innings. Finley actually may have been able to go longer in this one if he wasn’t already at 73 pitches through 5; he has never pitched into the sixth in his professional career as of yet. He departed with a 13-2 lead thanks to the RidgeYaks’ six hits with runners in scoring position, and while you, the reader, or I could have at least generated some outs with that lead, it’s good that these professional pitchers were also able to do so without the game even coming close.
For the second straight season, the Knicks are going to the Eastern Conference Finals, this time on the back of a 4-0 sweep over the 76ers. New York won the series by a combined 89 points, averaging out to roughly a 22-point blowout per game, despite most expecting a competitive six- or seven-game series.
Instead, the Knicks delivered their most dominant stretch of basketball in recent history, and will look to build off that momentum to make their first NBA Finals appearance in over a quarter-century. Here’s how they did it, and what we can glean from it going forward.
From a bird’s eye view, there was no area of the game that the Knicks didn’t spectacularly outperform. In the series, they scored 129.1 points per 100 possessions, eight points higher than the regular-season leader, and allowed only 106.3, or worse than the rock-bottom Nets.
However, let’s start with the defense, as it was the foundation for this conclusive win. The Philly offense is run through its two cornerstones – Joel Embiid and TyreseMaxey – and New York was able to stop them at the source.
Embiid’s 26.9 points per game during the regular season dropped to a measly 18.7 against New York, though he was relatively efficient and able to get Karl-AnthonyTowns and the Knicks in foul trouble. That was seemingly the ceiling to his contributions, though.
In Game 1, Embiid went just 3-for-11 from the field, despite largely being covered solo. After missing Game 2, the Knicks went to a more aggressive strategy, sending a second defender on every touch.
This forced Embiid into more of a playmaker role, where he struggled with six turnovers in the final two games. New York did a strong job of bodying up the paint, so Embiid had to generate much of his offense on the perimeter, where his jumpshot wasn’t bailing him out this series.
He wasn’t 100 percent, but the Knicks strong-armed and schemed him out of his comfort zone as well. Ditto for Maxey, who looked even less like himself than Embiid did this series.
Maxey went from scoring 28.3 points a night in the regular season and 26.9 against Boston in the first round to just 18.3 versus New York, shooting a rough 43.3 percent from the field and 16 percent from three. Credit to Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride for the jobs they did one-on-one, tracking the explosive Maxey.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) drives against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) in the third quarter during game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. / Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Both did an excellent job on the scout and keeping Maxey out of the paint, where he causes the most havoc. He never scored less than 20 against the Celtics and did it three times against the Knicks, in large part due to their defensive talent.
They also schemed Maxey super aggressively, high-hedging or trapping every one of his screens, especially anything towards the baseline where he loves to get going downhill. This forced him to continually burn energy trying to turn the corner on Towns, who’s having the defensive postseason of his life, or try and force passes over the outstretched arms of Knicks defenders.
Maxey couldn’t find the easy targets – if dumped off to Embiid, who needs a beat to make the next read, the defense recovered. The rest of the Sixers didn’t have the scoring or creation chops to continually take advantage of a 4-on-3 halfcourt, especially with how quickly and accurately the Knicks rotated.
Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson and the rest of the roster cannot be overlooked here. They each did their jobs on multiple different matchups, allowing the heavy-handed defense on Embiid and Maxey to work.
When the Sixers would miss, the Knicks did a phenomenal job of securing the defensive boards to take advantage on the other end. The ensuing transition opportunities helped open up the gates for their offense.
The truth is, New York’s offense was historically anomalous in Games 1 and 4, while doing just enough in Games 2 and 3. A lot of that has to do with the mental side of the game and some shooting luck, but the headline from the series is the Knicks found their winning recipe on this end.
Their strategy carried over from the back end of the Hawks series – have Towns facilitate from the high elbow, and watch the embedded motion offense and top-tier talent make use of the space. Towns averaged 7.5 assists against Philly in a show of comfort with the pivot.
This flow got the Knicks so many looks and the Sixers so worried about Towns's passing, that in one Game 4 possession running the same action, Towns kept pivoting for a pass, until his man bizarrely left him wide open for a mid-range swish. It was a hilarious signal of Philly’s panic in trying to cover the Knicks’ vexing attack.
Of course, Brunson was the star of the offense, averaging 29 points and six assists on 51 percent shooting from the field. While he benefited from ample transition opportunities and off-ball looks playing off Towns, he also reminded folks of the gaping chasm in talent between him and the rest of the league.
Philly simply did not have the bodies to guard Brunson, who was a bit slower against Dyson Daniels and the big-winged Hawks. The 76ers opted for sticking rookie VJ Edgecombe, a feisty but smaller defender, on Brunson for most of the series.
Other teams, even the Sixers of two years ago, would have sent more double teams or different, bigger defenders at Brunson. They kept it conservative with Brunson this series, opting to let him beat them one-on-one, and he did so efficiently time and time again.
New York needed more than just their two stars to step up. Anunoby had 18 and 24 points in his two contests before going down with a hamstring injury, and Bridges stepped up in his wake to average 17.5 on 64 percent shooting from the field on the series.
Both were pivotal to the offense converting at this rate, knockdown from range, decisive in attacking smaller defenders, and methodical in their cuts and transition breaks.
Both took on pick-and-roll reps to ease the creation from their stars, while filling in corners and making the little plays required that don’t fill up the stat sheet. But perhaps the Knicks' biggest edge here came from their bench.
While the 76ers struggled to field a true eight-man rotation, the Knicks were finding sparks from all over their pine. Mitchell Robinson was an unsurprising lift, McBride broke out in Game 4 with 25 points on seven threes, Landry Shamet joined the rotation late and delivered two massive games, all while Jose Alvarado and JordanClarkson provided steady hands throughout.
It can be hard to judge a team’s true ability to contend during the regular season, when stakes are lower and randomness much higher. But Knicks fans who waited until the postseason to draw their conclusions are being rewarded handsomely.
These last seven games have been the best basketball New York has played this millennium, with this Philadelphia sweep serving as Exhibit A in their case for competing. If they can build off what got them here, the Knicks have a real chance at accomplishing what they’ve been desperate to.
The Philadelphia Flyers' playoff run came to an end with their Game 4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. While the Flyers got swept in the second round, they still have a very bright future.
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft will provide them with the chance to add another promising prospect to their system, too, as they still have their first-round pick. But who could the Flyers pick?
The Athletic's Corey Pronman recently released his latest 2026 NHL mock draft. For the Flyers, Pronman predicted that they would select right winger Casey Mutryn with the 21st overall pick.
If the Flyers selected Mutryn with their first-round pick, they would be bringing in another big winger who plays a heavy game. The 6-foot-3 forward has the potential to become a good NHL player and could be a nice addition to the Flyers' prospect pool because of it.
In 62 games this season with the United States National Development Team, Mutryn recorded 18 goals, 28 assists, 46 points, and 89 penalty minutes. Overall, the Norwell, Massachusetts native had a strong season and demonstrated plenty of promise in the process.
While the Flyers have plenty of depth on the wing, the idea of adding Mutryn to their prospect pool is still interesting. Time will tell if he ends up being their first-round pick this year from here.
Thanks to everyone who asked questions for today’s off-day mailbag! I especially appreciate the slightly unhinged ones.
Speaking of which, since I do not have an answer to the question of why God hates the Mets (though after a few months here, I must admit I can’t dispute the premise), I figured I would focus on some slightly less existential ones for now. Here’s what I’ve got…
“As Gary and Keith discussed, why not bring up [A.J.] Ewing and [Nick Morabito]? At least that gives me a look at a possible future. What good are retreads Slater and Ibanez?” – @FAN5577
I think the main concern with bringing up either of those guys is rushing them: Morabito has only been in Triple-A since Opening Day, and Ewing only has 12 games there (though he is hitting .326 with an .827 OPS, so he seems to have adjusted quickly). Their numbers are good, yes. But as we saw with Carson Benge early in the year, the jump from Triple-A pitching to major league pitching is substantial and requires time for adjustment.
The risk in calling up Ewing and/or Morabito would be that they are called upon to help a struggling team, find themselves unable to do so, and need to be sent back down with less confidence as the big-league team continues to flounder. Now, of course, they could also adjust quickly. They could thrive. But having watched the Nationals and Orioles thrust young players into key roles out of need over the last few years – or even watched the way the Red Sox have struggled counting on young guys to make leaps for them this year -- I can say that relying on young players to fix things is a risk to the franchise in the present and the future.
Still, to your point, calling up one or both of those guys at least ensures that more at-bats on this struggling Mets team will go to players who are likely to be part of good Mets teams to come. Austin Slater, Andy Ibañez, Vidal Brujan and whoever else they funnel into these spots are not the answer now or in the future. They are Band-Aids. And I think one can argue they should be ripped off in favor of more substantial roster interventions.
But more substantial roster intervention would require a shift in posture from David Stearns and his front office, who, to this point, have preached patience with a historically expensive roster. If they suddenly decide that the Mets’ slow start means they should prioritize the future over success this year, then yes, calling those players up makes sense. But it does not seem the front office is there yet. And if it gets to the point of surrender, calling up young players will be the least significant move it will probably make between now and the trade deadline.
“Is there anything to point to in spring training or otherwise that might help explain why the team is so impacted by significant injuries so early this year? Or is it just bad luck?” – Fir Douglass on BlueSky
I think the Mets are so impacted by injuries because they built their roster around a few players who have a history of injury. Period. End of story. Stearns took a risk this winter: As part of his roster remodel, he bet that the Mets could keep Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. healthier than any of their previous teams ever had. Even with careful handling in spring training and beyond, they couldn’t. Robert’s back has not yet allowed him to do baseball activities. Polanco’s bursitis lingers, flaring up seemingly whenever he threatens to make progress, and is not the kind of injury that will simply go away.
Apr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) reacts after popping out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Juan Soto, I think, is pure bad luck. He has so little history of injury and returned so quickly that his calf issue seems to be a blip. As for Francisco Lindor, I think the Mets might have to confront a new reality there: Between the back issue at the end of last season, his elbow cleanup in October, the hamate bone break in spring training, and now the calf injury, the 32-year-old is no longer as invincible as the guy who has played at least 158 games in six of his 12 seasons (and all 60 during the Covid campaign).
Ronny Mauricio, Mike Tauchman,and Jared Young seem to fall more in the bad luck category. But if it weren’t for the injuries to the players they were needed to replace, their injuries would not be substantial enough to derail the Mets like the others.
No one can predict injuries. Every player expects to be healthy. But I think it is the job of the front office to make sure their team is not counting on players to be healthier than they have ever been, and the Mets look like victims of their own optimism so far.
“How can Cohen justify leaving Stearns in his role? He created this mess of a roster. He can’t be trusted to fix it, can he?” -- @Big_John1906
Everything I have heard about Steve Cohen’s stance during the last few weeks is that it is largely one of patience. Stearns would not have told MLB.com he is not firing Carlos Mendoza had Cohen not ok’ed the message. And Cohen does not have a history of dramatic reactivity.
That being said, Cohen knew what he was doing when he told reporters in spring training that he is annoyed that his team has not won regularly during his tenure. He was not bloviating when he said the Mets “have to make the playoffs.” With a roster as expensive as his, that standard seems more than fair.
All of which is to say, I think Cohen gives Stearns a chance to fix this between now and the end of the season. If they miss the playoffs, I do not think he will get more chances beyond that.
“If you were Stearns, what would you do in this situation?” – Brian Bardin on BlueSky
I have thought about this a lot, and I am aware there are always things we don’t know about why some moves have been made and not others. For example, while I have heard the Mets are in contact with teams about potentially moving a pitcher for help, I do not know exactly what offers they have had or considered, so exactly what kind of roster shakeup is available to them is not entirely clear to me.
Still, the first thing I would do is go to Cohen and say, do you want me to try to save this season at any cost, or do you want me to operate with an eye toward the future. If he says the former, I would take advantage of my financial flexibility and pursue a major trade for a big contract that might bring in a new veteran presence and might also bring in some kind of bullpen help or starting depth if I shouldered enough of the money.
There are several veterans around the sport who look uncomfortable with their current teams. Rafael Devers looks hapless with the frustrated San Francisco Giants. Trevor Story is struggling, even as he is vocally frustrated with Red Sox management: Could the Mets pair a deal for him and his contract while grabbing an outfielder from Boston’s longstanding logjam? The Orioles could use some infield depth, and while the Mets might not have it to offer, perhaps some kind of mutual shakeup is possible there. If that sounds like throwing good money after bad, it might be. But if the whole season is going to be bad money anyway, might as well see if a fresh start for a player with a strong track record can help revive him and the Mets at once.
Mostly, I would hunt for a first baseman who can hit for power. There are plenty of them around and securing one would not eliminate Polanco’s usefulness when and if he is healthy. Polanco, famously, has never been a full-time first baseman anyway. Bumping him into more of a utility role deepens the team immediately.
Absent options there, I would make clear that a $400 million-dollar roster is not a place to experiment, but rather a place where every spot is earned.
New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) reacts during the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
For example: Sean Manaea is neither starter nor effective short reliever. The Mets do not need a long reliever, since they have Tobias Myers. Keeping Manaea on the roster means working around him when the only thing the Mets should be worried about is winning games.
Besides, it does not seem fair to Manaea, who simply does not look right. When he is right, his velocity is better and his stuff is sharper. Whatever he and the team insist about his health, he has been off since spring training, throwing in the high 80s. I would see if the loose bodies he decided not to get surgically removed are still affecting that elbow, and I would suggest he remove them. He is not helpful in the bullpen as is, and the Mets need as many effective relievers as they can get. And his best chance at an effective future is likely a total physical reset.
I would also be decisive about Kodai Senga’s future. The veteran right-hander threw a bullpen this week, which means he is starting to build his way back from the lumbar spine inflammation that landed him on the injured list after several bad outings. But rosters paid nearly $400 million should not be proving grounds, and Senga has not proven he is an asset. Perhaps he could use a fresh start elsewhere. Perhaps he and the Mets have both needed one for quite some time.
Speaking of which, I would also stop patching holes with veterans trying to reestablish themselves. Tommy Pham,Slater, and the rest have been solid players throughout their careers. But they are not hitting well now, and the Mets do not have enough at-bats to give them to allow them to figure things out while playing in games the Mets must win to save their season. I would call up whichever prospects (Morabito, Ewing, Ryan Clifford) I think are most ready and let them prove they cannot handle it until injured veterans come back. The playing time they need is available in the big leagues now. I think I would let them take it.
And finally, I would tell the entire lineup, top to bottom, to take more pitches. I know the Mets are built around aggressive hitters. But that aggressiveness has not yielded good results. They are not stringing enough hits together to create consistent offense, so they need to find ways to get men on base. No more first-pitch outs from the bottom of the order down a run. If the Mets are built around hitters who cannot work the count and succeed offensively, they need to be built around different hitters. Seeing pitches does not have to come at the expense of making contact, and seeing pitches is the most proven recipe for success this sport has ever had.
Oklahoma City looks to close out their series with the Lakers tonight in Los Angeles. They lead LeBron James and co. three games to none. Each game has remained relatively close through three quarters only to see the Thunder roll in the fourth quarter and win by double digits. Their depth, pace, and defensive pressure have overwhelmed Los Angeles at every turn, and their dominance has been consistent both in Oklahoma City and in Game 3 in SoCal.
The Lakers have repeatedly doubled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and dared the rest of the Thunder to knock down shots. They have slowed down SGA, but the aforementioned depth has made plays. Chet Holmgren scored 19 points and pulled down 9 rebounds, Cason Wallace had 16 off the bench in 25 minutes, and Isaiah Joe was 4-6 from deep in the 131-108 win Saturday.
Down 0–3, the Lakers face a deficit no team in NBA history has ever overcome, and their performances so far haven’t suggested a breakthrough is imminent. LeBron James and Austin Reaves have carried or attempted to carry the offense, but turnovers, inconsistent shooting, and the absence of Luka Dončić (hamstring) have left Los Angeles overwhelmed.
The Lakers’ path to extending the series requires near-perfect execution: controlling tempo, limiting turnovers, and finding reliable scoring beyond James. Rui Hachimura’s strong Game 3 performance—21 points and five made three’s—offers a glimmer of hope, but Los Angeles will need multiple players to exceed expectations to stay alive. Their defense must also find answers for Oklahoma City’s balanced attack, which has punished every coverage adjustment so far.
Should the Thunder close out the series tonight – and they are heavy favorites to do so - they know they’ll have more than likely a week off as Minnesota and San Antonio are knotted up at two games apiece in the other West semifinal.
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 Live: Thunder vs. Lakers
Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
Time: 10:30PM EST
Site: crypto.com Arena
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
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Game Odds: Thunder vs. Lakers
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder (-520), Los Angeles Lakers (+390)
Spread: Thunder -10.5
Total: 214.5 points
This game opened Thunder -9.5 with the Game Total set at 211.5.
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: Thunder vs. Lakers
Oklahoma City Thunder
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG Luguentz Dort
C Isaiah Hartenstein
SG Ajay Mitchell
PF Chet Holmgren
Los Angeles Lakers
PG Marcus Smart
SG Austin Reaves
C Deandre Ayton
PF Rui Hachimura
SF LeBron James
Injury Report: Thunder vs. Lakers
Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalen Williams (hamstring) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Thomas Sorber (knee) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Doncic (hamstring) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Thunder vs. Lakers
The Lakers are 30-15 at home this season
The Thunder are 33-10 on the road this season
The Lakers are 49-41-1 ATS this season
OKC is 44-44-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 49 of the Thunder’s 89 games this season (49-40)
The OVER has cashed in 46 of the Lakers’ 91 games this season (46-45)
Chet Holmgren is averaging 21.3 points and 10 rebounds per game in this series
Ajay Mitchell is averaging 20.7 points and 6.7 assists per game in this series
Cason Wallace has seen his point totals increase from 5 to 12 to 16 in this series
Austin Reaves has turned the ball over 14 times in this series
LeBron James is averaging 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in this series
Luke Kennard is 7-13 from 3-point range in this series including 4-6 in Game 3
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 Lakers’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Thunder -10.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 214.5
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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Samuel Girard #49 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 31, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
There were a lot of things that contributed to the Pittsburgh Penguins strong 2025-26 performance and their return to the playoffs, and one of the biggest was the number of players that exceeded individual expectations. In some cases, it was not just a case of exceeding expectations, but having career years.
When that happens across an entire roster you do not have many bounce-back candidates for the following season.
There are, however, still a handful of players that the Penguins will be hoping for a bounce-back performance from during the 2026-27 season. So let’s take a look at a few of them and how likely it will be for them to perform better on an individual level.
Most-likely bounce-back: Sam Girard
Girard’s brief time with the Penguins has produced some mixed results, and I would say the majority of those results have been on the disappointing side. He initially struggled after coming over from the Colorado Avalanche in the trade for Brett Kulak. His work alongside Kris Letang produced some ugly moments in both the regular season and playoffs. Early on, he looked like a player that was doing more thinking on the ice than playing. Sometimes he seemed more interested in just spinning around with the puck than making a decision with it.
But for all of the negatives there were still some flashes of strong play (both with and without Letang) and some games where he truly did shine. It was not all bad.
I have seen enough defenseman come through Pittsburgh, initially struggle while trying to fit in with a new team and system, have people get down on them, only to have them bounce back with a fresh start in the next season and play at a really high level.
Sergei Gonchar had some rocky moments early on and then became a pivotal part of a Stanley Cup winning team.
Paul Martin was viewed as a liability with an albatross contract after one year before playing like the rock-solid, two-way defender he was in New Jersey.
Erik Karlsson was completely written off by many until he bounced back this season.
Is Girard going to be Gonchar or Karlsson next season? No. Because even at his peak he was never that type of player. But given his talent and track record as an NHL player (which is very good!) I do not think it is a stretch to believe he can come back next season and be a productive, top-four defenseman. It would be a welcome addition if he does.
Possible bounce-back: Arturs Silovs
Recency bias might tell us there is nothing for him to bounce back from because of how he played in the playoffs when he got his opportunity. And he was fantastic in those three games, giving the Penguins a fighting chance and nearly pushing them to a Game 7 out of a 3-0 series hole.
But his season overall wasn’t great.
His .887 save percentage ranked 44th out of the 59 goalies that appeared in at least 25 games.
His minus-8.3 goals saved above average ranked 79th out of 98 goalies that played in at least one game.
His minus-11.9 goals saved above expected ranked 89th of 98 goalies.
Objectively speaking, he was not great. His rebound control needs work, his puck-handling needs work and sometimes he has a tendency to just let in some absolutely ugly goals.
Even with that being the case, he is still only 25 years old and has shown flashes of being a good goalie at both the AHL and NHL levels, especially in big-game moments. Goalie performance is also completely unpredictable at times and it wouldn’t be a shocking development to see him come back next season and put together a strong season in a platoon role with Sergei Murashov.
You need to bounce-back: Ville Koivunen
There were some reasonably high expectations for Koivunen going into the 2025-26 season, and he started off with a prominent role on the NHL roster. He did not always take advantage of it, finishing the season with just two goals and seven assists in 39 games.
The AHL numbers since coming over in the Jake Guentzel trade have been consistently excellent.
The talent and vision are not in question.
The underlying numbers when he is on the ice are consistently solid, and he always seems to find himself in good positions with open looks.
But none of it has translated over to NHL production just yet, and those open looks too often turn into harmless possessions with blocked shots, deflected shots or shots that just do not find their way into the net.
He is going to be 23 years old at the start of next season and with 94 points in 97 games over the past two years he is going to have nothing left to prove in the AHL. It is time for him to take the next step and start to show something at the highest level. If he doesn’t, he officially goes from NHL prospect to NHL suspect.
Not likely to bounce-back: Ryan Graves
Kyle Dubas’ first year running the Penguins produced more strikeouts than home runs. The only strikeout from that offseason that has not either 1) bounced back, or 2) been jettisoned somewhere else is Ryan Graves. And unless it is part of another salary dump from another team, or unless he gives up an asset to get rid of him (which he should not do) the Penguins are going to still have Graves playing somewhere in the organization. Most likely in the AHL.
He is going to be 31 next season. He has had three seasons here under two different head coaches. It is just not in the cards here for him to be anything more than an organizational depth defenseman with a high price tag. Sometimes when you swing big, you miss. They missed with Graves. It happens more often than not in free agency.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils have hired Braden Birch as an assistant general manager, the first front-office addition by Sunny Mehta since taking over as the team's head of hockey operations.
“His blend of on-ice experience, management background, and intellect will serve him well in his new role," Mehta said. "Braden will work to bolster all areas of our operation, and I look forward to him joining our existing front office, where his personality and work ethic will fit in excellently.”
The Devils, as expected, did not renew the contracts of executives Dan MacKinnon and Chuck Fletcher as Mehta remakes the organization. They had reported to longtime GM Tom Fitzgerald, who parted ways with the Devils in early April.
Birch spent more than a decade with the Panthers, much of it as director of hockey operations and most recently overseeing salary cap management.
“I am really excited to take this next step in my professional career,” said Birch, who turns 37 just before the NHL season begins in late September. "I want to thank Bill Zito, the Viola family, and the entire Florida Panthers organization for 12 amazing years, and the ability to help a front office achieve the ultimate goal of Stanley Cup championships.
"I also greatly appreciate them giving me the opportunity to grow my professional career in New Jersey. I look forward to working with Sunny and his group on returning the Devils to the levels of success that we believe they can achieve.”
Zito called Birch a great person who will be missed by the Panthers and wished him the best.
“When you have success like we had the past few seasons, individuals are going to get opportunities to advance and it’s only a good thing for everyone,” Zito said.
May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) during the first quarter of game three in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Steal a road game, steal the series. That is what both the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers must be thinking as they enter Game four with Detroit up 2-1. That means Cleveland will be looking to protect its homecourt advantage, where it is unbeaten these playoffs, while Detroit attempts to take full control with a win in enemy territory. All three games in this series have featured one team seemingly to roundly outplay the other before the opponent somehow storms back to take a late lead that they can’t quite maintain. Will that trend continue tonight?
Much attention was paid to Cade Cunningham’s three consecutive turnovers, which allowed the Cavs to pull away in the fourth quarter of a tied game. Fair enough. Cade giveth great performances, and Cade taketh away in a critical moment. The bigger issue, to my mind, is Detroit’s biggest problem in these playoffs — its big men.
Jalen Duren is straight up having a bad playoffs, and it’s now stretched to 10 games. It’s not just that opponents are taking away his opportunities, though they are doing that. It is that Duren is fumbling away the opportunities he does get, sometimes literally.
This season for Duren has been all about an elevated level of skill and assuredness that he added to his prolific strength as a big man. He was no longer strictly a rim-running big; he was a center who had a dangerous face-up game, who could make the right decision in the short roll, and who could combine burst with a new level of touch and finesse that made him a lethal scorer within eight feet.
Duren shot 67.3% on 10.6 attempts within eight feet in the regular season. That trailed only Giannis Antetokounmpo for players with at least eight such shots per game. Duren was a monster. In the playoffs, Duren’s attempts have been whittled to just over seven per game, and his field goal percentage has plummeted to just 50%. Of the 17 players in the playoffs who have averaged that many shots within eight feet, only Paolo Banchero and Jamal Murray shoot worse than Duren. The 22-year-old big man has also seen his free throws and rebounds tick lower while his turnovers have increased.
No problem, you might think, Detroit’s deepest position was at the center spot, and Isaiah Stewart was a whispered defensive player of the year candidate before a suspension and injury took him out of contention late in the season.
Stewart has been a bit of a disaster in these playoffs. There has been no definitive indication of any health concerns, but something simply doesn’t look right. In the regular season, Stewart’s impact was felt up and down the floor. His absence in last year’s postseason matchup against the Knicks is often cited as one that swung the series.
Well, Stewart is available in these playoffs, but he isn’t making any impact. He’s been limited to just under 14 minutes per game, but that is masking just how little he is accomplishing on the floor. On a per 36-minute basis, Stewart’s scoring has plummeted from over 15 to around 10, his three-point shot has almost completely disappeared, down by 66%. Detroit’s defense has been stout throughout the playoffs, and is a mighty 94.1 when Stewart is on the floor. The issue is that offense, already a middle-of-the-road offense in these playoffs, falls off a cliff with Stew on the floor. It goes from a modest 110.2 to a 93.7. Looking at Stewart’s on-off splits, the team is 20 points per 100 possessions better on offense with him off the floor compared to on the floor. That’s not all on Stewart, of course, but it’s been a black hole of a position for the Pistons, and it’s so bad not even Stew’s defense can make up for it.
It was no surprise to many Pistons fans that when the Pistons finally made their run to take the lead in game 3, it was with Paul Reed on the floor. He scored 11 points in just over nine minutes of action and breathed some actual life into a very stagnant offense.
JB Bickerstaff has to figure out this big man conundrum, and he’s got to be willing to ask some hard questions and come to some hard conclusions. The Cavs, with both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, were always going to present some challenges for the Pistons bigs, but I think we can definitely say whatever the team is doing is not working. Maybe it’s more Paul Reed; maybe that means resting Isaiah Stewart. Maybe it means whoever starts the game isn’t necessarily finishing the game, and instead riding whatever is the closest resemblance to a hot hand.
It feels like if Detroit can get a good to great game from a big, they are almost defacto going to win that game, and if they win that game, they will be on the doorstep of winning the series and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals (with its own matchup issues for bigs against the mighty New York Knicks).
If you’re a golfer, odds are you’d do just about anything if you had the chance to tee it up with Tiger Woods—especially in the mid-2000s during the peak of Tiger Woods’ career. That was the situation former MLB player Jeff Francoeur found himself in before a spring training game while on the Atlanta Braves.
Francoeur, a huge golfer, was just 22 years old and about to play his first full season with the Atlanta Braves. So asking his manager if he could play hooky to go play golf would’ve been a bold move. Luckily, he had an even bigger golfer on his team—John Smoltz, who was legendary for his golf escapades en route to a Hall of Fame Career, was buddies with Tiger Woods and heard about the offer Francoeur had to play with Tiger.
Smoltz put in a good word with legendary Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox, and well, we have to just let Francoeur tell the story because he does a great job. Have a listen to Francoeur’s chat on a recent episode of Tim Kirkjian’s podcast with his son, Jeff.
How hilarious is that? Imagine your manager having your back that hard? Then after the game, reporters probably asked Cox about Francoeur’s sudden injury in the first inning, and Cox double-downed on it and called his infielder “day to day” with a “high ankle sprain.”
The extra cherry on the top of the story? This was 2006, when Francoeur played in all 162 games, making him only the fourth Braves player in franchise history to do so. The media must’ve been impressed by Francoeur’s iron-man-like streak, especially how he recovered so quickly from that spring training injury.
We still have a few more follow-up questions as golf sickos ... who else was in the group with Francoeur and Woods? How did Tiger play that day? We'll have to get Francoeur on our podcast, The Loop, soon so we can dive deeper into this hilarious story.
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES - MAY 10: Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers falls during Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, United States. (Photo by Nathan Morris/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Would you believe the aftermath of a sweep is one week without the Knicks?
On why he trusted Miles McBride in OG Anunoby’s absence:
“Deuce, he’s not afraid. He gives us the ability to make shots from range and or the ability to go get a shot. He gives us another ball handler. He’s a really good defender, and he’s versatile. When he’s on the floor with Jalen, analytically, they’re pretty good together. But he just brings a lot to the table for us on both ends of the floor, last thing offensively he’s got to be guarded because he can makes shots.”
On McBride’s mental toughness during the series:
“He’s just tough-minded. In order to have success in anything you do in life you need to have a short memory, and he definitely has a short memory.”
On how McBride’s shooting performance elevated the team in Game 4:
“Obviously, all of our guys, starting with Jalen [Brunson] and KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns], were really good, but Deuce — he was unbelievable. His ability to stretch the floor and create space for others is second to none. He’s got a confidence about him and in himself that just makes us take another level on both ends of the floor.”
On where McBride’s resilience comes from:
“It’s Mother’s Day. It comes from his mom. Get that correct. It comes from his mom. [Deuce is] just tough. He’s tough. He’s a football player, you know? In order to have a chance in life and at anything you do, you have to have a short memory, and he definitely has a short memory.”
On embracing criticism while making bold adjustments:
“We made a lot of moves throughout the course of the year and throughout the course of the playoffs, and you just keep trying to do what’s best for the team. I don’t care what team I’m with. When you’re talking about being in the NBA, even if you do stuff right, you’re going to get criticized. So you just embrace whatever’s out there and you keep trying to do what’s best for the team. And at the end of the day, if it doesn’t work out, the one thing I know I can do is I can go look in the mirror and say, ‘Hey, I tried to do the best I could for this group, regardless of anything else.’ I try to do the best I could, and that’s what keeps me going.”
On gaining appreciation for the Knicks’ traveling fan base:
“I obviously didn’t know how well they traveled and stuff like that, because I was out of coaching, so I watched [them] once in a while. I watched ESPN and all of that stuff during basketball time. And they showed videos of fans after first-round wins climbing light poles. So I’m like, wow. You love it. You love seeing stuff like that. But I got a lot of respect for them. And the more you’re around, the more you appreciate and understand why they are like that. But more than anything else, they’re knowledgeable. It’s a knowledgeable group, a knowledgeable fan base, and you respect that just as much as their passion shows.”
On the timing of the next game after a sweep:
“I wouldn’t want to play [Monday] or Tuesday. Maybe Wednesday?”
"I definitely knew the Knicks had crazy fans…but for them to travel the way they've traveled, be as loud & always have our backs…I've never seen anything like [this arena takeover] honestly. It really does give us energy"
On meeting the expectations placed on him in a starting role:
“This is what I expect to do. I feel like that’s why the coaching staff trusts me in the lineup, my teammates trust me out there, and just I trust my work.”
On his mindset when stepping into bigger minutes:
“I just want to win and do what I can to help this team win.”
On the significance of being part of a record-setting playoff performance:
“It’s definitely special. I didn’t even know honestly. To have anything like that on your name is a legacy you want.”
On capitalizing when the Sixers left him open:
“They left me open. This is what I expect to do. That’s why the coaching staff trusts me, my teammates trust me. And I trust my work.”
On seeing Knicks fans hand out posters of Mitchell Robinson’s dunk on Embiid:
“Man, Mitch did his thing right here, so shout-out to the fans.”
On how the team’s mentality shifted after an earlier loss in the series:
“I feel like our mindset shifted. We know we’re the better team (but) we can’t just come out there and expect to win, because they’re talented too. So I feel like our mindset just shifted totally to ‘take the game’ instead of (waiting for) them to give us the game.”
On the internal standard the team is holding itself to:
“People on the outside always have their expectations, but internally we have our own. Our expectations are a championship, nothing less. So, this series is done, enjoy it. Obviously we’re happy, can’t take it for granted but we have a lot more to go.”
"This year we just have another year with each other, it's just us being very locked into the moment and understanding there's a lot more work to do"
Karl-Anthony Towns was asked about the mindset switch from advancing to the ECF last season vs. this season: pic.twitter.com/5WwEnUvT5x
On the team’s maturity heading into another Eastern Conference Finals:
“This year we just have another year with each other, it’s just us being very locked into the moment and understanding there’s a lot more work to do.”
On how McBride’s early barrage set the tone in Game 4:
“He was fantastic. The start of the game really was the Deuce McBride show. He went out there and hit some really big shots that gave us momentum. We talked about how we wanted to start fast and we’ve talked about starts, and Deuce allowed us to do that. Shout out to Deuce. That’s one of the best games I’ve ever seen Deuce play, especially in the moment.”
On adjusting the team’s approach after the first-round struggles:
“Shout out to our team. We found a way to, in a way, stabilize our season and do what was needed to adjust to Atlanta. And [we] found ourselves in a better position. It’s a shout-out to the coaching staff for realizing adjustments that needed to be made and also [a] shout-out to me personally that they trusted me.”
On the difficulty of closing out a series and ending another team’s season:
“It’s great when you see a team having that kind of focus and discipline and execution. I’ve always said that the toughest games are to end someone’s season and to see us taking that to a series, it’s great. It’s great for us to see. But now we’ve got to reset. We’ve got to readjust. Get our minds back right and enjoy this time with our family and get back to business.”
On staying grounded despite outside criticism during the season:
“It was a rollercoaster for sure. I think outside the Knicks organization, things looked worse than what they were. From the outside looking in. But inside the building, we were working every single day to be the best team we can be. That’s all we were focusing on. There were times when there were positives and negatives, ups and downs. But that’s what our goals were. And that’s still our goal. Be the best we can be. Continue to learn. Continue to get better. The journey shows you who you are.”
On what lies ahead despite the sweep:
“We have a lot of work to do.”
"Roller coaster for sure…
Outside the NY Knicks organization
Things looked worse…
Inside the building…
We were working every day to be the best team we could be…
“We’re focused. We’re staying poised, staying composed. Just focusing on the little things. One day at a time, one game at a time. Not looking ahead at all, staying in the moment.”
On whether it matters who they face next in the conference finals:
“One game at a time. One game at a time. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
On hearing Knicks fans take over opposing arenas:
“It’s one of the coolest things in the world hearing Knicks fans take over opposing arenas.”
On how team chemistry has developed over time:
“I think the more we’ve played together as a team, the more we’ve grown. And we’ve continued to get better. It’s a chemistry thing. It’s a feel thing. It’s how things get better. Things get better over time.”
On reflecting on his growing legacy in New York:
“I think that’s a question I would love to answer when I retire. This place means a lot to me. We’re still writing our story. I’ll answer that another time.”
“I used to think Philly was a sports town. I don’t know if it is anymore. Everybody was begging for Philly (fans) not to sell their tickets. It never felt like a road game.”
On keeping emotions in check after advancing to the ECF:
“No relief, no jubilation. Just another step in the process. The way we beat Boston last year, the comebacks and all that, it was — I don’t wanna say it was celebratory — but it hit a little bit differently. Here, it’s business as normal, and we gotta make sure we’re locked in and focused.”
On the ball movement that fueled the Knicks’ historic shooting night:
“Guys were sacrificing good shots for better shots, and when you do that, the ball has energy and we have to knock down shots. So playing a style like that is fun.”
On rediscovering his three-point touch in Game 4:
“My right hand remembered that the goal was to make 3s. So happy to have her back.”
On how the Sixers’ arena atmosphere felt during the takeover:
“It was like a branch of MSG here today.”
On the importance of recovering during the playoff break ahead:
“We’re a little banged up. We need to get some treatment, get some rest, recover a little. And be ready to go.”
On how he plans to spend the downtime before the next series:
On Jalen Brunson’s long-term impact on the franchise:
“He’s definitely proved himself. I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he’s done for this team for, what, the last five years? S—, they don’t give him his credit.”
Kenny "Gets real again next round for Knicks…Cade such big guard…Cavs possibly most explosive backcourt NBA. This round…cakewalk … Shaq "They'll breeze thru whoever next if they play like this … Chuck "Had cakewalk…Whoever next v difficult … Shaq "Knicks going to Finals" pic.twitter.com/y31zkDBi9K
“We ran into a hot New York team. They’re getting momentum. And they’re playing better and better as these games are coming. And they came out hot. They threw haymakers early and they kept throwing them.”
On the Knicks being simply superior to the Sixers:
“I mean, they were just better. I’m proud of this group. I feel like we play hard, we tried, as we have done all season, and at times it’s OK to say that the other team was just better. Tonight, they made every shot, they made every single play, we didn’t make shots. We just got to get better from top to bottom. Ownership, front office, players, coaches … everybody just got to get better.”
On the organization-wide need for improvement after the sweep:
“So, we just gotta get better, from top to bottom. Ownership, players, coaches, everybody just has to get better.”
On taking personal responsibility for the team’s shortcomings:
“Frankly, they were just better than us. So, we have to look at each other, and that starts with me. I wasn’t around for much of the season for a lot of things. So, moving forward, I have an understanding of what it takes to make sure that I get to play. I think we will be better next year. But, for now, I’m disappointed we didn’t get a chance for a championship. So, everyone has to look at themselves, starting with me.”
"It actually really sucks
It just sucks bruh
It just sucks man
Yeah It just sucks…
It felt louder here than it did for them in the Garden…
On the frustration of Knicks fans taking over Philadelphia’s arena:
“It absolutely sucks, if I’m being honest. It just sucks. That’s really all I can say about it, man. It’s hard. It’s definitely difficult. It’s only one way to put a stop to it and it’s, we have to go out there and win these games. Just being completely honest, we were better when we played them in the Garden this entire season. I know we lost Game 2 and 1, but Game 2 was better. The regular season was better. I was telling them, it felt louder here for them than it did in the Garden. We got to put a stop to it as a team. Winning these games, that’s gonna make our fans louder than theirs or whatever. I don’t know how to keep them out. I don’t know the logistics of it, but it does suck. I can’t even lie. It definitely does suck.”
On Joel Embiid battling through injuries during the series:
“I commend him man, he worked his ass off to get out there and play. He certainly was trending upward toward the end of the Boston series…obviously, he gets the hip, ankle, injury that took him out a game, and I don’t think he ever got back to where he was trending.”
Chad ochocinco calls out Shannon Sharpe and Joe Johnson for doubting the New York Knicks all postseason and now what are y’all going to say after they swept the sixers pic.twitter.com/WIDBskPyJA
— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@Thechat101) May 11, 2026
Coverage of the 2026 NBA playoffs continues tonight on NBC and Peacock when Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons take on Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Live coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Game Preview:
The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 116-109 on Saturday, cutting Detroit's series lead to 2-1. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 35 points and 10 rebounds. James Harden added 19 points and 7 assists.
Cade Cunningham finished with a 27-point triple-double (10 rebounds, 10 assists) but committed eight of Detroit's 15 turnovers.
“That’s too many turnovers for us as a group. Sixteen is too many,” said Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff after the game. “Give up 27 points off those turnovers … our defense is so stingy if we get you in the half court. We’ve just got to make sure we get shots on goal so we can set our defense and make people have to work through it.”
The Pistons are looking to reach their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2008, while the Cavaliers look to reach their first Conference Finals since 2018.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 18: Drew Millas #14 of the Washington Nationals throws the ball to second base against the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park on April 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Heading into the offseason, Nats fans knew that one of the biggest needs on the team was behind the plate. Paul Toboni knew too, with the Jose A Ferrer for Harry Ford trade being his first major move. However, Ford did not make the team and is struggling in AAA. Meanwhile, neither Keibert Ruiz nor Drew Millas are hitting their weight in the big leagues.
The only positive development we have seen behind the plate is the fact that Keibert Ruiz has become competent defensively. That is actually a big win for the organization, and something I thought was impossible. With the help of Bobby Wilson, Ruiz now has a +2 fielding run value.
The big problem for Ruiz this year has been the bat. Outside of a monster game against the Twins, the bat has shown no signs of life. He is hitting .205 with a .224 on base percentage. The crazy part is that Ruiz is pretty easily the best option behind the plate right now.
Ruiz has been in a 50/50 timeshare with Drew Millas this year. While Ruiz has been far from great, he has been better than Millas and deserves more playing time. It just feels like Millas makes at least one massive mistake in every game he plays. Yesterday it was his awful challenge. Millas challenged a pitch 3 inches off the zone, wasting the Nats last challenge. Later in that at bat, there was a pitch in the zone that was called a ball, but Millas could not challenge.
Millas has been a complete liability on both sides of the ball this season. In his brief call ups in the past, Millas showed promise on both sides, but has been exposed as a regular big leaguer. His plate discipline and blocking have completely cratered this season. As we saw yesterday, his baseball IQ is also shaky.
This would be a perfect time for the Nats to call up Harry Ford if he were performing. However, Ford has had a disastrous start to the season. After having a good season in AAA last year, the 23 year old catcher looks to have regressed a lot. He is hitting just .192 with a .572 OPS, and that number has risen a lot lately.
His strikeout rate is up nearly 10% and he is not hitting the ball as hard. It has been a real disaster for a guy who was supposed to come in and be the catcher of the present and future. The only thing that has remained a constant is his ability to draw walks and not chase. He needs his hit and power tools to get closer to big league average though.
If you want to be optimistic about Ford, he has been better in May. He has gotten on base in his last six games, and hit his first home run of the season the other day. Ford has a .778 OPS in the month of May, but that number has mainly been driven by walks.
It has been a brutal start, but with the way Millas is playing, Ford should only be a couple more good series away from a call up. Eventually we need to see what Ford has to offer. The Nats traded a good reliever for him, so we want to see a return on investment.
However, with the way Ford has started the season, it would be irresponsible to call him the nailed on catcher of the future. Scouts already had some questions about him before the season, and those concerns have only grown now. Besides his plate discipline, Ford does not have a standout trait. Hopefully his numbers last year were not just a product of the hitter friendly PCL.
If the Nats wanted to spend some money on a catcher, this offseason could be a good time to do it. I was really impressed with what I saw from Ryan Jeffers of the Twins when they were in town. Jeffers has been a solid starting catcher for a number of years, but is having a career year this season. He is also just 28 years old. Carson Kelly and Tyler Stephenson are also going to be on the market.
While the Nats are already paying Keibert Ruiz, we all know he is not the catcher of the future. With his improved defense, he could stick around the roster as a backup, but his bat has not been there for three seasons now.
Another catcher on the Nats books with big league experience is Riley Adams. He had been the backup the past few seasons, but the new regime picked Drew Millas over him. I think Adams is better, but he has not played since April 26th, so he must be dealing with an injury.
When the Nats picked up Harry Ford, I hoped that would be the answer to their catching woes. The early returns on that have not been positive. It is also clear that neither Keibert Ruiz or Drew Millas are the guy going forward. Beyond that, there is not a whole lot to love. Caleb Lomavita is tracking like a backup catcher, and Sir Jamison Jones has had moments, but remains a massive project.
Paul Toboni and the Nats are going to have to keep taking dart throws at catchers until they find an answer. Hopefully we can find one soon because I miss having a good catcher on this roster.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 08: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals bats during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium on May 08, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
About seven or eight years ago, there was an established adage/joke among baseball fans, and it went something like this: the MLB season doesn’t officially start until Mike Trout leads the league in Wins Above Replacement. At the time, Trout was the undisputed best player in the league, and eventually other players’ hot starts would fade—leaving Trout standing alone at the top of the leaderboard.
It’s 2026 now, so maybe it’s time to give it a good ol’ update. Let’s say, oh, something along the lines of: the MLB season doesn’t officially start untilBobby Witt Jr. leads the league in Wins Above Replacement. In any case, the season has officially started, because if you go look at the Fangraphs and Baseball-Reference version of WAR, you’ll find that Witt has indeed accrued more WAR than any other American League player.
Over on Bluesky, Kevin O’Brien of Royals Keep posted Witt’s season batting percentiles and wondered if this could be the year that Witt wins the MVP. Yes, it’s just May, but again, Witt is already leading the league in WAR. Is it his to lose? Is it finally his time?
But something Kevin said in the post also stuck with me: “[Witt] doesn’t have the home runs (yet),” Kevin wrote. And while it’s very clear that Witt is an excellent and extremely valuable baseball player, I think that idea deserves a little more exploration as it pertains to Witt’s MVP chances.
There have been arguments about MVP forever, with some of them semantic and some of them philosophical. It’s the “most valuable player” award, but are we talking overall value or value to the team? To what extent do we reward individual accomplishment or positional difficulty? Do past MVPs factor into it? What about pitchers? Are there certain kinds of player who are rewarded more often?
These are all interesting arguments, but the reality is that the Baseball Writers’ Association of America—the MVP voters—essentially consider the MVP to be a “best player” award, and they generally only award a pitcher if that player is clearly the best player. But there are some other things at play, too, and I have a chart to illustrate them: the position player winners of the AL and NL MVP award dating back a dozen years, with 2020 and Shohei Ohtani’s awards thrown out for obvious reasons.
Player
Year
AVG
wRC+
HR
fWAR rank
bWAR rank
Aaron Judge
2025
.331
204
53
1
1
Aaron Judge
2024
.322
220
58
1
1
Ronald Acuna Jr.
2023
.337
171
41
1
2
Aaron Judge
2022
.311
206
62
1
1
Paul Goldschmidt
2022
.317
175
35
3
2
Bryce Harper
2021
.309
170
35
3
9
Cody Bellinger
2019
.305
161
47
1
1
Mike Trout
2019
.291
177
45
2
3
Christian Yelich
2018
.326
167
36
1
1
Mookie Betts
2018
.346
185
32
1
1
Giancarlo Stanton
2017
.281
158
59
2
1
Jose Altuve
2017
.346
160
24
2
1
Kris Bryant
2016
.292
148
39
1
1
Mike Trout
2016
.315
170
29
1
1
Bryce Harper
2015
.330
197
42
1
1
Josh Donaldson
2015
.297
154
41
2
2
Mike Trout
2014
.287
167
36
1
1
AVERAGE
.314
176
42
1.5
1.8
First, the best way to get an MVP award is by being the best player, but the thing about that is that there are other great players also trying to be the best player. Kris Bryant’s 2016 is a prime example here: a 7.5 fWAR season is, in the context of other MVPs, just ok. But no one else in the NL was as good, and so that 7.5 fWAR cleared. Witt, on the other hand, has had to content with Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh the last two years, both of whom put together historically great campaigns. Just no fighting that.
Second, MVP award winners clear a gigantic offensive bar. The average position player MVP winner since 2014 has had a batting average of .314 and has swatted 42 home runs en route to a wRC+ of 176. That’s the average hitter. In Witt’s best season (so far) in 2024, he was double-digit home runs away and seven points of wRC+ away from both figures.
Third, there is simply a bias towards offense in MVP award voting. Most votes go how the WAR total goes, with nearly all winners on this list ranking as the top or second-best WAR in both Fangraphs and Baseball-Reference versions. There were only three players who won
MVP and ranked below second place in either fWAR or bWAR: Mike Trout in 2019, Bryce Harper in 2021, and Paul Goldschmidt in 2022. In all three situations, the voters prioritized bat over glove, overlooking WAR to do so. In 2019, it was Alex Bregman and Marcus Semien who lost out. In 2021, it was Trea Turner and Fernando Tatis Jr. who lost out. And in 2022, it was Nolan Arenado and Manny Machado who lost out.
Witt’s game particularly vulnerable to the biases of MVP voters. Witt is a very good hitter who also happens to be the best defensive player in baseball and also one of the deadliest basestealers in the league. But Witt is not going to hit 50 home runs. He’s not going to walk at a 15% clip. He’s probably never going to hit a 169 wRC+ again. There’s a reason that none of the platinum glove winners have ever won an MVP; Arenado came the closest, but again, even though he accrued more WAR than Paul Goldschmidt, voters thought Goldschmidt’s offense was more important than Arenado’s defense.
So, is it Witt’s year to win MVP? I doubt it. That’s not because I don’t think Witt is good; on the contrary, I think Witt is clearly the best player in baseball because how he can impact the game every second he’s on the field. I’m just jaded about the process and about what voters value. I hope it is Witt’s year to win MVP, because he certainly deserves it for how good he’s been over the last two plus seasons.
Kurt Helin
