The 18-year-old became the face of the Islanders franchise and helped them make a playoff push before falling short in the final couple of weeks of the regular season. He received all 198 first-place Calder votes.
Montreal’s Ivan Demidov was second and Anaheim’s Bennett Sennecke third in voting by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
The San Jose Sharks were on a tight deadline to sign forward Carson Wetsch to an entry-level contract, as his rights were set to expire on June 1, but Mike Grier was able to get it done.
The captain of the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League, Wetsch is preparing to participate in this year's Memorial Cup but he had to file some paperwork before the tournament kicked off later this month.
As the Sharks' third round draft pick in 2024, Wetsch had the opportunity to re-enter the NHL Entry Draft this June if he didn't reach an agreement with the Sharks. Instead, the 20-year-old winger opted to sign and will remain a member of the Sharks organization.
Wetsch's offensive production took a major step forward this season, his first in Kelowna. He registered a career-high 72 points in 65 games while scoring 22 goals, which, ironically, was his lowest total since his first season in the WHL.
Known for his physical style of play and getting toward the net to create scoring chances from the dirty areas of the ice, Wetsch projects to be an effective bottom-six forward at the NHL level whenever his time comes. As a 20 year old, Wetsch will most likely join the Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, next season where he could potentially fill a top-six role if needed.
Wetsch's Kelowna Rockets qualified for the 2026 Memorial Cup as the host team for this year's event, which will start on May 21st. Currently, the only other team that has locked in a place in the Memorial Cup are the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers, who won their league title on Tuesday night.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 04: Jr. Ritchie #60 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 04, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves pulled off a win against the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs in yesterday’s matchup and are now looking at rookie JR Ritchie to continue their winning streak to capture an early series win.
Ritchie, who’s boasting a 3.63 ERA and 1.50 WHIP, didn’t appear in his usual rotation during the Los Angeles Dodgers series. His last start was against the Seattle Mariners, where he walked six batters during his stint. He remarked in an interview that he was going to study film to see what specific things were wrong with his approach to correct for his next outing.
Well, now the time has come for him to put his studying to the test. Already an impressive young flame-thrower, getting his fourth start on the mound with a veteran-heavy team behind him to hold down the offense, should lead to an entertaining showdown against the split-finger master and the Cubs.
Speaking of which, Shota Imanaga, holding a 2.28 ERA with a 4-2 record so far this year, is out to lead the team to their comeback of the night. Coming off a dominant win against the Reds on May 7 ( 6 IP/ 6 H/ 1 ER/ 3 BB/ 10 K), Imanaga will want to capitalize on the Braves’ lack of offensive power (despite their game one win) from the night before, and get ahead of them early to set the tone for the Cubs.
Two of the top MLB teams are looking to come out with their own versions of success. The Braves are finding ways to win, even through downsides, clinching the MLB-best once again. The Cubs…they want to put an end to their streak.
It’s all going down tonight at Truist at 7:15 p.m. EDT.
AMARILLO, TX - MAY 06: Josh Grosz #30 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles pitches during the game between the Wichita Wind Surge and the Amarillo Sod Poodles at Hodgetown on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by Elisa Chavez/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Last week, in the space of fewer than 24 hours, Jake McCarthy hit a grand slam and drove in five runs as the Rockies beat the Mets 6-2, and Alek Thomas was designated for assignment. In the short-sightedness of many fans (no judgment; I’m in this category sometimes as well) this meant that we had traded away the wrong outfielder.
It’s impossible to know that, because we do not know what the return for Thomas would have been, but it’s also important to note that while results are the only thing that makes a difference in wins and losses, Thomas was fantastically unlucky at the plate this year. All of his expected stats exceeded the results, some by a substantial margin. His xwOBAcon (this takes into account quality of contact and also sounds delicious) exceeded his wOBA by an astounding 110 points. His barrels, launch angles, and hard hit rates were improved on last season. McCarthy, meanwhile, has one of the lowest hard hit rates in the game, although he has also improved his launch angles. But his xwOBAcon is .385 while Thomas’s is .359, a difference not entirely attributable to playing in Coors Field, but which is certainly helped by that. Thomas is also the superior defender. The Diamondbacks designated Thomas for assignment just as much because of roster crunch as because of performance; given his improved launch angles, they surely hope he clears waivers and can go to Reno. If he does not and he suddenly starts hitting above replacement level for another team, it’s not that they suddenly fixed him so much as it is the fixes the Diamondbacks already gave him having better luck.
But anyway, this isn’t about which light hitting outfielder the Diamondbacks should have traded. It is about the overlooked player the Diamondbacks got for McCarthy.
Josh Grosz was an 11th round selection of the Yankees in 2023, five picks after the Mariners drafted Brandyn Garcia. With the Diamondbacks’ own pick of Casey Anderson, he is the third member of the 11th round in 2023 in the organization. (That 2023 draft is looking pretty solid this year. Anderson seems to be finding his feet as a reliever in AA, Philip Abner has already reached the major leagues, and Tommy Troy and LuJames Groover are both knocking on the door. Caden Grice is finally healthy, and Jack Hurley looked to be turning things around at AAA.) These are just interesting facts that have no bearing on the discussion, which is the return for McCarthy.
Grosz starred at East Carolina, a “mid-major” school but one with a top-level (but extremely snake bitten) baseball program. They hold the record for most NCAA tournament appearances without ever making to Omaha, and only two teams are even halfway to their 35: South Alabama (alma mater of Turner Ward, Matt Peacock, and some guy named Luis Gonzalez) with 28, and Stetson. He entered the starting rotation in 2022 and started the game that looked to break the schneid. He gave up two runs (one earned) and the Pirates built a 7-2 lead in the seventh inning. But Texas came back to win and dominated the following day. He was a regular in a rotation that included Trey Yesavage in 2023, with mixed results. (East Carolina has produced some excellent pitching in recent years. In addition to Yesavage, Carson Whisenhunt and Gavin Williams both starred in Greenville post-COVID.)
He signed with the Yankees and got good results, performing well enough to get a spot start in AA. He was even better in 2025, but struggled after being traded to the Rockies in the Ryan McMahon deal. He was a bit unlucky; his xFIP- was 100, indicating that he would have been expected to get average results rather than the poor results he got.
The raw numbers of a 4.12 ERA and a 1.322 WHIP at Amarillo make it look like his luck has turned. That’s not accurate. Jose Cabrera leads the Soddies in WHIP at 0.862. His xFIP- is 75. Jonatan Bernal leads the Soddies in ERA at 1.32. His xFIP- is 63. Grosz’s xFIP- of 55 is closer to Kade Anderson’s than Cabrera’s. Kade Anderson was in line to be the top pick in the draft last year and has an ERA of 0.60 and a WHIP of 0.667 as a starting pitcher in the Texas League. His xFIP- is 46. (Lower numbers are better for minus stats, while higher numbers are better for plus stats, but the meaning is basically the same, with 100 average.) Grosz is allowing a .395 BABIP, which is substantially above his career numbers and is certain to come down. (All statistics are through Sunday, May 10.)
Since it’s not luck, how has he improved so much? It basically comes down to two stats which xFIP absolutely loves. He’s striking out more batters and getting more ground balls. And not by a small margin. He’s faced enough batters for his strikeout rate to mean something, and he’s striking out 40% of the batters he faces. In addition to the strikeout rate, he’s getting more than twice as many ground balls as fly balls.
It is imperative to note what I am not saying here. I am not saying that Josh Grosz is a future ace, or even a guaranteed future rotation piece. Strikeout rate is the only statistic that is really meaningful at this point, and players with strikeout rates like his tend to already be or eventually become relievers. I am not even saying that Josh Grosz would have success in the big leagues. But I do think he’s cracked the code to be a successful pitcher at Amarillo and Reno, if he can keep it up. Strike out batters, make the others hit the ball on the ground, and you can get good results, even at Hodgetown.
Grosz isn’t getting quite as many whiffs as one might like, but he’s still quite good in that department. He’s getting swinging strikes on 14.2% of pitches. For context, Seth Hernandez has the highest rate in the minors at 25%, Rio Britton has the highest rate in the organization at 18.1% (which is in the top-20 across the minors), Mason Miller has the highest in the majors at 26.5% (minimum 10 innings pitched) and Juan Morillo has the best in the organization at 16.1%. One would expect that to drop moving up levels, but it doesn’t always; Morillo is getting more whiffs in the big leagues than he did at AA.
Grosz’s ceiling is mid-rotation starter, and will most likely wind up as a reliever. We’ll likely never know if he would have been the return for a theoretical Thomas trade, but there’s a very good chance that the Diamondbacks wind up on the better side of the McCarthy trade in the end.
Here are the other pitchers who have faced 70 batters and struck out more than 30%. Sanchez and Aracena are the only other ones starting some of the time, and Aracena has also appeared in relief.
It’s interesting that none of these were signed as highly regarded prospects. The Diamondbacks signed Mercado last year after he went undrafted out of Oregon in 2024; he initially didn’t find any takers among the thirty big league organizations and signed with Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League. Rio Britton also attended Oregon once upon a time, but transferred to NC State and went undrafted. The Diamondbacks pounced quickly in his case and signed him in 2023. Aracena may be a prospect now, but he signed for just $70,000, while Sanchez and Santana do not have listed signing bonuses, meaning that they were almost certainly below $50,000. While there have been plenty of complaints (including from me) about the organizational failures in pitching development, there are a few success stories as well, but mostly on the bullpen side.
Jose Cabrera may be having the best season of any of the pitching prospects thus far, but he just missed the 30% cut. Brian Curley and Chung-Hsiang Huang are two starting prospects who have done well to keep walks down while striking people out in the 25-30% range. And pitchers in the complex haven’t faced enough batters yet to form any judgment. Dean Livingston had a solid debut, and Modesto Vargas can be added to the list of potential future bullpen arms who can reach triple digits, but it’ll be at least a few weeks before much more can be said.
New York Islanders forward Matthew Schaefer has won the Calder Trophy, awarded to the rookie of the year:
#Isles Matthew Schaefer on @GMA just now was emotional as he was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy surrounded by his family, friends at the Martin family.
“Schaefer is the sixth Islander to win the Calder Memorial Trophy, joining Mat Barzal (2018), Bryan Berard (1997), Mike Bossy (1978), Bryan Trottier (1976), and Denis Potvin (1974). He is also the 13th first-overall pick to be awarded the Calder and just the fourth defenseman to do so, joining Aaron Ekblad (2015), Berard and Potvin. Notably, three of those four defensemen played for the Islanders. Schaefer is the eighth player to win the award in their 18-year-old season. At 18 years, 223 days on the final day of the regular season, Schaefer is the youngest Calder Trophy winner in NHL history.
Schaefer had a record-breaking rookie campaign in which he registered 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) over 82 games. He tied Brian Leetch’s record for the most goals by a rookie defenseman in a single season. Schaefer also set NHL records for the most points by an 18-year-old defenseman, average time on ice by an 18-year-old skater (24:41) and the most overtime points (4) by a teenage defenseman. He added another notable milestone on March 24, logging 31:59 of ice time, the most in a single game by any NHL teenager since the statistic began being tracked.
Among his historic accomplishments, Schaefer became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to reach both 20 goals and 50 points in a season. He is the first rookie defenseman to lead his draft class to the 20-goal mark and is one of just four rookie defenders ever to reach that milestone. Schaefer is also the youngest player in league history to score an overtime goal and the youngest blueliner to record a power-play goal, game-winning goal, multi-goal game and to have a point in his NHL debut.
The Hamilton, Ontario native led all rookies in average time on ice, power-play goals (8), and shots on goal (222), while tying for first in goals and overtime goals (2). He ranked second in power-play points (18), third in assists and points, tied for third in game-winning goals (4) and fifth in plus/minus rating (+13). Among NHL defensemen, Schaefer finished second in goals and shots on goal, tied for second in power-play goals and ranked ninth in takeaways (38). He led the Islanders in TOI, plus/minus rating and power-play goals, tied for the team lead in overtime goals and ranked second in goals, assists and points.
Schaefer led all NHL defensemen with 38 penalties drawn and was second overall behind Connor McDavid (56). His drawn penalties were the most by a rookie defenseman since P.K. Subban (40) in 2010-11.
Within the Islanders’ record books, Schaefer set franchise highs for the most goals, points, power-play goals, overtime goals and game-winning goals by a rookie defenseman in a single season. He became the fifth rookie – and third rookie defenseman – in franchise history to appear in all 82 games and was one of four Islanders skaters to play a full schedule this season. His 23 goals were the sixth-most in a single campaign by an Islanders blueliner and the most since Hall-of-Famer Denis Potvin in 1981-82, while his plus/minus rating was also the best by an Islanders rookie defenseman since the 1992-93 season.
Schaefer earned league recognition by being named “First Star” for the period ending March 1 after posting five points (4G, 1A) and a +5 rating over three games. He was also selected “Rookie of the Month” for October after recording eight points (3G, 5A) in 11 games, highlighted by a six-game point streak to open his career.
The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres square off in a pivotal Game 5 at KeyBank Center on Thursday, May 13.
My Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks lean toward a high-scoring contest in Buffalo.
UPDATE: Added who will win prediction & goal scorer pick.
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 5 prediction
Who will win Canadiens vs Sabres Game 5?
Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres received a huge goaltending boost from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to take Game 4, and I fully expect bounces to start going their way on home ice in Game 5. Buffalo has generated 17.77 expected goals at the KeyBank Center across five home games and only scored 12 times, after all.
Canadiens vs Sabres best bet: Over 5.5 (-125)
The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres scored six or more goals in the first three games of Round 2, and I’m anticipating the increased workload continuing to catch up with Habs No. 1 Jakub Dobes.
He’s started 12 consecutive games dating back to the regular season, and his previous high was four straight starts. Dobes sporting a ho-hum .895 SV% in Round 2 after posting a .923 mark in the opening round reinforces the mileage is taking a toll.
Additionally, Sabres starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen posted a .909 SV% with 0.311 goals saved above expected (GSAx) per 60 minutes during the regular season, so I’m anticipating his play to also dip after turning away 28 of 30 shots with 1.62 GSAx in Game 4.
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 5 same-game parlay
Montreal turning to Jake Evans between Ivan Demidov and Alex Newhook has paid off, with the trio pacing the Habs in Corsi For percentage and expected goals at 5-on-5 — combining for 12 points in the series. Demidov and Newhook have also both individually marked the scoresheet in three of the four Round 2 games.
Canadiens vs Sabres SGP
Over 5.5
Ivan Demidov Over 0.5 points
Alex Newhook Over 0.5 points
Canadiens vs Sabres Game 5 goal scorer pick
Alex Tuch (+195)
Buffalo winger Alex Tuch was dangerous again in Game 4 without finding the back of the net, and he’s now up to 2.06 expected goals, six high-danger scoring chances and 15 shots without a goal in the series. The back-to-back 30-goals scorer skates with the top line and No. 1 power-play unit, too, so the opportunities will continue to present themselves for Tuch to finally cash in.
Canadiens vs Sabres odds for Game 5
Moneyline: Montreal -105 | Buffalo -115
Puck Line: Montreal +1.5 (-250) | Buffalo -1.5 (+205)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-125) | Under 5.5 (+105)
Canadiens vs Sabres trend
The Buffalo Sabres have covered the puck line in 10 of their last 15 games (+7.55 Units / 33% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Sabres.
How to watch Canadiens vs Sabres Game 5
Location
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Date
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet, TNT
Canadiens vs Sabres latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
It appears that Dave Portnoy has made his stance known.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, LeBron James returned the Lakers to glory when Los Angeles won the 2020 NBA title by defeating the Miami Heat 4-2. USA TODAY Sports
Following comments made by Nick Wright, sportscaster and personality for Fox Sports 1, the Barstool Sports President responded to Wright by absolutely annihilating James’ legacy with the Lakers.
“I’ve never been the biggest Lebron fan but anybody saying his career as a Laker so far hasn’t been a major flop is doing a disservice to LeBron. Obviously we’re not counting the micky mouse And 1 Bubble tournament as a real title. So we’re judging him on just his ability to make the playoffs for a cup of coffee? To never be a real threat?” Portnoy said on Twitter.
The most damning thing Portnoy said was blasting James’ 2020 NBA title alongside Anthony Davis during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the resumption of the NBA season at the Disney Resort in Florida where everyone was sheltered, James and Davis led the Lakers to a title over the Miami Heat by winning 4-2, a series in which James averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists.
Barstool Sports President Dave Portnoy took to social media on Tuesday to blast LeBron James’ legacy with the Los Angeles Lakers.EMMY PARK Barstool Sports President Dave Portnoy took to social media on Tuesday to blast LeBron James’ legacy with the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, Portnoy didn’t stop there.
“Meanwhile MJ and Russell were winning titles at his age not just being cannon fodder for their opponents. So out of respect for LeBron and his legacy I refuse to describe his time in LA as anything other than a complete and utter failure. After all this was his longest consecutive tenure with any team and he didn’t win a title. He’s basically Clyde Drexler or Karl Malone Great players in their own right that never won.”
Calling James’ legacy in Los Angeles as a “complete and utter failure” is a hot take.
After missing the postseason in his first season, James led the Lakers to the playoffs in six of the next seven seasons. They were eliminated three times in the first round, lost in the Western Conference finals to the Nuggets (who would later win the title that season), won the title in 2020 and fell this season in the Western Conference semifinals.
Again, Portnoy didn’t stop there.
I’ve never been the biggest Lebron fan but anybody saying his career as a Laker so far hasn’t been a major flop is doing a disservice to LeBron. Obviously we’re not counting the micky mouse And 1 Bubble tournament as a real title. So we’re judging him on just his ability to… https://t.co/OQjuNsnzu8
He finished his rant when said, “LeBron doesn’t even make the roster of all time Laker greats. It’s an insult to his legacy and the legacy of a top 5 player of all time to say his tenure in LA was successful. Although I suppose if he truly was a top 5 all time player would have probably won in LA right? Hmm. Tough to wrap my brain around it.”
Portnoy’s blasting of James comes on the heels of Wright saying that James’ legacy in Los Angeles is certified and can’t be deemed anything other than successful.
James and Michael Jordan are the consensus top two basketball players to ever live, and it’s a matter of preference for who people believe the true GOAT is. Getty Images
“LeBron the record is 8 years with the Lakers, 7 trips to the playoffs. 2 seasons where they made a conference finals and 1 championship. And you’re going to have folks today earnestly genuinely try to argue that LeBron Lakers tenure was a failure. To which I would simply say or ask and don’t even add I’m not even asking you to add any age related qualifiers to it. Has Giannis 13 year Bucks career been a failure? Because in those 13 years, Giannis has 1 trip to the finals, 1 championship, and 1 trip to another conference finals and that’s the exact same thing as Bron in his 8 with the Lakers.”
James remains undecided about his future with sources telling the California Post that retirement remains an option. However, most believe that he will not retire — not after playing at such an elite level in the postseason and dragging his undermanned Lakers squad to a series victory over the Rockets in the first round.
Whether James elects to return to Los Angeles or not is up for debate. But it’s hard to challeneg the legacy of him as a Laker after he’s spent 8 seasons in Hollywood, his longest single-tenure with any team throughout his career.
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Former Santa Clara forward Allen Graves revealed he had conversations with LSU and Duke and will still consider transferring, per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. Borzello also reported Kentucky reached out to Graves’ agents to gauge interest, but LSU and Duke are the top two.
However, Graves is still in the NBA Draft process at this time. According to Borzello, Graves would prefer to stay in the NBA Draft if he’s going to be a first round selection.
The Boston Red Sox should consider acquiring a right-handed slugger from the Los Angeles Angels, but it isn’t Mike Trout.
Michael Felger of 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Felger & Mazz sparked the Trout-to-Boston rumors on Tuesday, citing a “loose” source that told him “don’t be surprised” if the Red Sox end up with the three-time MVP.
“They think he’s a better leader than (Alex) Bregman and will hit a bunch of home runs at Fenway Park,” Felger relayed from his supposed source. “And L.A. likes (Jarren) Duran and (Brayan) Bello.”
The chances of such a deal are slim to none. Trout’s contract, which pays him $37.1 million per year through 2030, includes a full no-trade clause. While he could choose to waive it, the 34-year-old has been incredibly loyal to the Angels. It’s unlikely he suddenly opts to leave L.A., especially for a last-place Boston club at this stage of his 16-year MLB career.
If Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow calls Angels general manager Perry Minasian about a potential trade, shortstop Zach Neto makes more sense.
Almost a decade younger than Trout at 25 years old, Neto is coming off back-to-back seasons with a 5.1 bWAR. The 2022 first-round draft pick notched 23 homers with a .761 OPS in 2024 and 26 homers with a .791 OPS in 2025.
Boston’s lackluster lineup desperately needs that kind of pop, particularly from the right side. Neto has also been a solid defender for most of his four MLB seasons, though he has had some uncharacteristic mental miscues this year.
It’s been an odd season all around for Neto, who entered the campaign as one of MLB Network’s top 10 shortstops and widely considered one of the league’s most underrated talents. Through 43 games, he’s slashing .216/.322/.386 with six homers, 18 RBI, and 62 strikeouts. He leads all American League shortstops with six errors.
None of that should dissuade Boston from pursuing Neto, who’s under team control through 2029. He may benefit from a change of scenery, because as bad as the Red Sox have been so far this season (17-24), the Angels have been even worse (16-28). They haven’t had a winning season since 2015.
Neto offers far more upside than current Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story, whose early-season struggles have once again sparked DFA debates. The 33-year-old has offered zero value at the plate so far in 2026, and his defense has rapidly declined over the last three years.
According to Sean McAdam of MassLive.com, the Red Sox inquired about Neto during the offseason, but the Angels set a “very high bar” when it came to the return. Perhaps his recent struggles, and what appears to be another lost season for L.A., will bring down the cost. If it’s true that the Angels are eyeing Duran and Bello, that’s a good place to start.
Neto wouldn’t solve all of Boston’s problems this season, but he’s an exciting young talent who would give Sox fans something to be excited about long-term. Breslow should be operating like his job is on the line, and a big splash for Neto is the kind of move that could buy him more time.
Boro to return to training on Friday after semi-final loss
Southampton analyst accused of spying on training
Middlesbrough are scheduled to return to training on Friday in order to be ready to contest a potential playoff final against Hull at Wembley on Saturday week.
Although Boro lost the semi-final to Southampton, they are pushing for the south-coast side to be expelled from the playoffs after William Salt, one of Tonda Eckert’s analysts, was allegedly caught spying on Kim Hellberg’s team at their Rockliffe Park base near Darlington last Thursday.
The misery continues for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, and the locals could be getting restless again tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies.
With last night’s win, Philadelphia improved to 8-3 in May, and my Phillies vs Red Sox predictions jump on the visitors here, even with Boston’s likely edge in the pitching matchup.
Take a closer look at this clash with my free MLB picks for Wednesday, May 13.
Who will win Phillies vs Red Sox today: Phillies (+109)
After two early runs, it turned out to be a nail-biter for the Philadelphia Phillies in yesterday’s series opener, but they’ve now won seven of their last nine games.
Rookie Andrew Painter takes the ball tonight and, though he drags in an ugly 6.89 ERA, I see the Philly bats giving him enough run support to outlast the Boston Red Sox.
With an out-of-sorts lineup, the Red Sox are 7-13 at Fenway this season, and I’m fading them tonight.
COVERS INTEL: The Red Sox are 6-19 this year when they allow a home run, and the Phillies have mashed 50 dingers, ninth-most in the majors.
Phillies vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Under 9 (-115)
It’s hard to take the Over here after watching these lineups flail away in clutch moments last night, so I’m grabbing the Under, which has been a winning ticket in three of the last four meetings between these teams.
Though I’m banking on the Phillies to get more traction at the plate tonight, the Red Sox have scored just four runs across their past three outings, and only three ballclubs have served up fewer runs this year than Boston.
For all of Painter’s bumpy spells, five of his seven starts have finished with a total below 9, and Gray looked sharp last week after shaking off a hamstring issue.
Tom Oldfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 3-6, +4.30 units
Over/Under bets: 7-2, +4.31 units
Phillies vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: Phillies +109 | Red Sox -131
Run line: Phillies +1.5 (-186) | Red Sox -1.5 (+153)
Over/Under: Over 9 (-105) | Under 9 (-115)
Phillies vs Red Sox trend
The Under is 8-3-1 in Boston's last 12 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Phillies vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
First pitch
6:45 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Philadelphia, NESN
Phillies starting pitcher
Andrew Painter (1-4, 6.89 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Sonny Gray (3-1, 3.54 ERA)
Phillies vs Red Sox latest injuries
Phillies vs Red Sox weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
It's been said time and time again that the Colorado Avalanche prospect pool is pretty thin. Many scouting outlets rank the pool among the league's lowest, and it makes sense. Many, if not all, of the Avalanche's top prospects or high-round picks have been traded to help the current team compete for a Stanley Cup, which has resulted in them drafting in the later rounds and hoping to find a gem in the rough.
At the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the Avalanche made nine selections from rounds two to seven, the most since the 2007 Entry Draft. The sections are already showing some promise and have helped the team in some ways. Ilya Nabokov looks like the goalie of the future. Will Zellers was traded for Charlie Coyle, who was flipped for Gavin Brindley. Max Curran was a part of the massive trade for Nazem Kadri.
Though there was one prospect I wanted to keep an eye on, Christian Humphreys, out of the U.S. National U18 Team in the NTDP. What started as a rough initial step into the NCAA turned into a stepping stone into the OHL, and with a new look and growing confidence, his return to the NCAA and what he can truly bring to the Avalanche franchise.
First Steps Into The OHL
During his first season with the Kitchener Rangers, I had the opportunity to talk with him about his transition from the NCAA to the OHL, the mental toll it took on him, and any impacts it had on how he plays the game. It impacted him a ton, and it showed on the score sheet, with only one point in his first ten games. Add on less ice time; he knew that if he wanted to continue to grow as a player, he needed to do what was best for him, and that meant signing an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.
“Yeah, I mean obviously the deadline was a part of it…it’s hard whenever you’re a player, and you’re playing good hockey, and you’re not getting rewarded for it, it’s frustrating. And I think for me there’d be games where I’d play really well, and I’m still only getting eight minutes a night, and you’re kind of sitting there as a player, what more do I need to do? And obviously, a little bit in the season, I had talks with my family about it, and I was like, hey, maybe this isn’t the best option for me… , but I think just the opportunity when it presented itself, it was hard to say no.”
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The transfer showed immediately, in his first 14 games with the team, he already had four goals and 12 assists for 16 points. He applauds the work ethic and ease of transition his teammates showed when he was introduced into the lineup and worked on integrating his skills and talents into their system.
“Yeah, I think for me the biggest part is they’re just letting me be who I am. Obviously, the second I got here, the guys were phenomenal. I mean I can’t really put into words how great they were and the second I stepped in the locker room, they’re so happy to have me and the culture here is, you can’t really describe it. I mean all the guys are so close, and we have such a special group this year and I think just playing wise, even talking to coaches, they’re just letting me play…I just stepped in here, and they’re like, obviously on the defensive side we’re going to teach you some pointers and stuff, and it’s great. And whenever I get in the offensive side, they’re just letting me be who I am, so I can’t really thank them enough.”
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Humphreys finished the season with 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points, helping the Rangers finish second in the Midwest Division, second in the Western Conference, and into the playoffs. Despite a strong run against the Flint Firebirds and upsetting the Windsor Spitfires, they would be swept by the eventual OHL champions, the London Knights. He would finish with three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 13 playoff games.
Elevating His Game And Then Some
This past season for Humphreys and the Rangers was one to remember for both him and the team. Finishing with 27 goals and 58 assists (fifth most in the OHL) for 85 points (10th most in the OHL), he helped the Rangers not only finish first in the Midwest Division but first in the Western Conference, missing out first in the league by five points to the Brantford Bulldogs.
He, along with Jack Pridham (Blackhawks), Cameron Reid (Predators), Sam O'Reilly (Lightning), and Luca Romano (Islanders), were a few NHL prospects to help lead this team into the playoffs, and they did not disappoint.
The Rangers went on a tear against anyone who came in infront of their path towards the finals, beating the Saginaw Spirit, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and the Windsor Spitfires, all in five games, leading to their eventual championship matchup against the Barrie Colts, who just pulled off a massive upset against the Brantford Bulldogs in seven games.
That didn't stop the Rangers from continuing their warpath and eventually sweeping the Colts to secure the OHL Championship, their fifth in franchise history. Humphreys finished with nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points, including the game-winning goal to secure the OHL championship. He finished in points only behind Dylan Edwards (25) and playoff MVP O'Reilly, who had 28.
Humphreys and Kitchener will now represent the OHL in the Memorial Cup, which begins in Kelowna on May 22.
Take Two In The NCAA
With the season over and a championship under his name, its time to return back where it all started, the NCAA. It was announced that he has commitment to join the University of Minnesota next season.
Now the Gophers had a pretty disappointing past season, finishing with a record of 11-21-3, their most losses in a season since the 1997-98 season. Though this could be good for Humphreys, he can help anchor a team that had a rough last season and be a driving force to help them bounce back into the playoffs.
He's joining a group that includes Mace'o Phillips (Flames 2025 3rd round draft pick), Tanner Henricks (Blue Jackets 2024 4th round pick), Tarin Smith (Ducks 2024 3rd round pick), and potentially many more talented prospects.
It's hard to tell what a prospect can really do for your organization. You want to see what they did in the minors carry over into the NHL and help your team win, but sometimes it just doesn't happen. It's "easier" for first- and second-round picks, but expecting a seventh-round pick to slot into an NHL lineup and help produce is a lot to ask.
Humphreys is only 20, so there is still quite some time to grow and develop his skills but this past season with the Rangers really turned some heads and showed what talent is really has. If he can continue that in the NCAA with Minnesota, I hope that can lead to him signing his ELC and continuing to grow as a player in the AHL and one day in the NHL.
Alex Verdugo’s hopes of returning to MLB just took a massive hit at a time when it’s uncertain if he still is worthy of a major-league roster spot.
Verdugo, on a minor-league deal with the Padres, is set to undergo season-ending surgery after suffering a shoulder injury and has been released by the team, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
The 29-year-old will have not played a major-league game in roughly 20 months when the 2027 season — if there’s no lockout — begins.
Alex Verdugo during his tenure with the Yankees. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Verdugo signed with the Padres in March after a disappointing 2025 season with the Braves, in which he appeared in 56 games and posted a career .585 OPS.
No team signed him after the Braves released him in July with a slashline of .239/.296/.289 and a -0.3 bWAR, failing to homer in 213 plate appearances.
The Padres took a shot on him in spring training to add depth but he did not break camp with the team, and did not appear in any minor-league games with the team.
It’s unclear if the lack of minors game is tied to the potential shoulder issues.
It’s fair to wonder about his MLB future now since teams have essentially not deemed him worthy of a roster spot for the majority of the 2025 and ’26 seasons.
Verdugo with the Braves in 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Verdugo’s career has trended in the wrong direction since the Red Sox traded the former second-round pick to the Yankees before the 2024 season.
He posted a .761 OPS in four seasons with the Red Sox, but tallied a .647 mark with the Yankees.
Verdugo started hot with the Bronx Bombers before enduring a brutal second half while hitting .233, his lowest mark for any full season.
Although the Yankees played him 149 times that season and throughout the playoffs, he signed just a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Braves in March 2025.
Verdugo began his career with the Dodgers before being traded to Boston in the Mookie Betts swap, and is a career .270/.326/.406 hitter in 856 games.
2026 Top 100 Prospects - Feb. 27 2026 - Vol. 79 Issue 8 - Brian Costello
IT’S ONLY THROUGH THE assistance of NHL head scouts, directors of player personnel and GMs that The Hockey News is able to provide readers a comprehensive list of the top 10 prospects within each organization and a ranking of the top 100 from that large collection of 320 prospects.
Team scouts offer us guidance on NHL-affiliated prospects who have the highest forecasted ceilings five to 10 years out. We then ask a panel of these scouts to rank the top 60 from a list of the 32 top 10s. The scouts’ rankings are added up to form the overall top 100, and, in some cases, a team’s top-10 list is adjusted based on the data from the top 100.
As you would expect, rebuilding teams often have far more than the average 3.13 prospects per team within the top 100, and current contenders typically only have one or two – or even none.
We start this project in mid-January after the World Junior Championship while NHL teams are in the midst of their winter scouting meetings. At that point, we draw a line in the sand about who’s a prospect and who’s an NHLer. In some cases, those scenarios change. That’s why names such as Sam Rinzel, Isaac Howard, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Gabe Perreault, Nick Lardis and Hunter Brzustewicz are listed as prospects, even though they’ve broken through as NHLers over the past month or two. Meanwhile, Michael Misa (San Jose) and Zayne Parekh (Calgary) haven’t played in the junior ranks all season (other than the WJC), but we decided early on that they should be listed as prospects since injuries kept them from establishing themselves as NHLers the first few months of the season.
Each player’s top-100 rank from last year is in parentheses, while unranked players are denoted as “NR.” Prospects drafted in 2025 are denoted as “NEW.”
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Chicago Cubs hope to end a three-game skid when they face the Atlanta Braves tonight.
The opening game of the series between the top two teams in the National League was dominated by the Braves, but my Cubs vs. Braves predictions back Chicago to even the series tonight.
JR Ritchie has had a solid start to his MLB career with the Atlanta Braves, but his metrics suggest some serious issues ahead.
His FIP is three runs higher than his ERA, largely due to a BB/9 rate of 6.23 that is among the worst of any starter.
That sets him up for failure against the Chicago Cubs, whose 13.2% walk rate over the last two weeks is the best in baseball. They’re also third in xwOBA in that timeframe, thanks to the third-lowest strikeout rate.
Chicago's offense will provide run support to Shota Imanaga as he claims another victory.
COVERS INTEL:Ritchie has a 21.1% HR/FB rate this season, which could be problematic given the weather in Atlanta tonight is the second-most favorable for hitters of any game on today’s schedule.
Cubs vs Braves Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-108)
The Cubs have only two runs in the last three games, and those both came last night despite having just one hit.
They’ll get back on track against Ritchie, who ranks in the 20th percentile or worse in chase rate, walk rate, strikeout rate, and xERA.
Imanaga will limit Atlanta’s offense, but that will change once he exits. Chicago’s bullpen ranks second-worst in HR/FB rate, third-worst in HR rate, and dead last in xERA over the past week.
That will allow the Braves, whose .336 BABIP over the past week leads the majors, to get some late runs.
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 4-8, -4.67 units
Over/Under bets: 9-3, +6.04 units
Cubs vs Braves odds
Moneyline: Cubs -127 | Braves +122
Run line: Cubs -1.5 (+127) | Braves +1.5 (-133)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-108) | Under 8.5 (+104)
Cubs vs Braves trend
The Chicago Cubs have hit the moneyline in 19 of their last 25 games (+13.20 Units / 40% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Braves.
How to watch Cubs vs Braves and game info
Location
Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
Date
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
Marquee Sports Network, BravesVision
Cubs starting pitcher
Shota Imanaga (4-2, 2.28 ERA)
Braves starting pitcher
JR Ritchie (1-0, 3.63 ERA)
Cubs vs Braves latest injuries
Cubs vs Braves weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
COVERS INTEL: The Red Sox are 6-19 this year when they allow a home run, and the Phillies have mashed 50 dingers, ninth-most in the majors.
