MLB Predictions and Moneyline Picks for Saturday, May 16

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A full 15-game slate awaits, and we have 15 moneyline picks throughout the day for you to consider.

We've found solid matchups with good odds and a nice opportunity for you to grow your bankroll.  

Find out more in my MLB picks for Saturday, May 16. 

MLB moneyline picks for May 16

MatchupPick
Blue Jays Blue Jays
vs
Tigers Tigers
Blue Jays
-108
Royals Royals
vs
Cardinals Cardinals
Cardinals
-113
Diamondbacks Diamondbacks
vs
Rockies Rockies
Diamondbacks
-117
Orioles Orioles
vs
Nationals Nationals
Nationals
-113
Phillies Phillies
vs
Pirates Pirates
Pirates
+117
Marlins Marlins
vs
Rays Rays
Marlins
+122
Reds Reds
vs
Guardians Guardians
Reds
+150
Cubs Cubs
vs
White Sox White Sox
White Sox
-104
Brewers Brewers
vs
Twins Twins
Brewers
-108
Rangers Rangers
vs
Astros Astros
Rangers
-104
Red Sox Red Sox
vs
Braves Braves
Red Sox
+117
Yankees Yankees
vs
Mets Mets
Mets
+108
Padres Padres
vs
Mariners Mariners
Mariners
-133
Dodgers Dodgers
vs
Angels Angels
Dodgers
-138
Giants Giants
vs
Athletics Athletics
Athletics
-127

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 5-15.

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Expert MLB moneyline picks for May-16

Blue Jays vs Tigers: Tigers (-108)

Tigers win probability: 52%

Detroit gets the nod at home, where its relievers have been more reliable than Toronto's over the last two weeks. 

This is a coin flip with a home-field tiebreaker, and if this game is close late, the Tigers are the team to back.

Royals vs Cardinals: Cardinals (-113)

Cardinals win probability: 53%

St. Louis is seven games better than Kansas City in the standings and opens this series at home.

Kyle Leahy gets the ball against Noah Cameron, and the Cardinals’ lineup has been productive at Busch Stadium all season.

Diamondbacks vs Rockies: Diamondbacks (-117)

Diamonbacks win probability: 53.9%

Although Arizona's lineup has been ice cold lately, the Rockies are 17-27 and (once again) one of the worst teams in baseball. 

Their pitching has been getting shelled all season, and Eduardo Rodriguez gives Arizona a real advantage on the mound. 

Phillies vs Pirates: Pirates (+117)

Pirates win probability: 46%

Pittsburgh's lineup has been the hottest in baseball over the last two weeks, and the Pirates own a better record than Philadelphia. 

With Bubba Chandler taking the mound at PNC Park, the Buccos get the nod. 

Orioles vs Nationals: Nationals (-113)

Nationals win probability: 53%

Washington's lineup has been one of the hottest in the NL over the last two weeks, while Baltimore's offense is among the coldest.

The Nationals' hitting edge is significant enough to back the home team.

Marlins vs Rays: Marlins (+122)

Marlins win probability: 45%

Miami’s bullpen has been genuinely stingy lately, and Sandy Alcantara vs. Nick Martinez sets up a real pitching duel.

The Marlins aren’t getting blown out here, and that’s enough to make them worth a look.

Reds vs Guardians: Reds (+150)

Reds win probability: 40%

Cincinnati's lineup isn't far behind Cleveland's recent production, and Chris Paddack gives the Reds tremendous value at this price. 

Rangers vs Astros: Rangers (-104)

Rangers win probability: 51%

Houston is 17-28, and its lineup has been among the least productive in the American League recently. Jacob deGrom starting for Texas against Kai-Wei Teng is the entire argument.

Getting a pitcher of deGrom's caliber at essentially even money against a struggling team is a straightforward play.

Cubs vs White Sox: White Sox (-104)

White Sox win probability: 51%

The White Sox have been one of the hottest offensive teams in baseball over the last two weeks, while the Cubs' lineup has gone quiet. 

For the first time in a while, the South Side has life in this Windy City rivalry.

Brewers vs Twins: Brewers (-108)

Brewers win probability: 52%

Milwaukee’s relievers have been among the best in baseball lately, and they now face a Twins team whose biggest weakness is the bullpen.

Despite Minnesota getting Royce Lewis back from the IL, that's not going to prevent them from blowing games in late-inning situations.

Padres vs Mariners: Mariners (-133)

Mariners win probability: 57%

San Diego's lineup has been one of the two coldest offenses in baseball lately.

Logan Gilbert is one of the better pitchers in the AL and gets to face that dormant lineup at home.

The price is steep, but the Mariners are worth the price.

Red Sox vs Braves: Red Sox (+117)

Red Sox win probability: 46%

Boston's bullpen has been one of the best in the sport recently, and rookie starter Payton Tolle has proven to be no slouch either.

The Red Sox are a live underdog with real teeth.

Yankees vs Mets: Mets (+108)

Mets win probability: 47%

The New York Yankees' lineup has been one of the best in baseball lately, but Carlos Rodon has been unreliable, and the Mets' bullpen has been sharper than the Yankees' recently.

With Mendoza reportedly on the hot seat, the stakes of the Stadium Series at Citi Field add even more urgency. The home team at nearly even money is worth backing.

Dodgers vs Angels: Dodgers (-138)

Dodgers win probability: 58%

The Angels possess one of the coldest lineups in baseball over the last two weeks. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have a deeper, more talented roster top to bottom, and their bullpen has been sharp lately. 

Take the defending champs to pull away in Anaheim. 

Giants vs Athletics: Athletics (-127)

Athletics win probability: 55.7%

San Francisco's bullpen has been the worst in baseball over the last two weeks, and the Giants' lineup hasn't fared much better. 

The A’s offense continues to take the league by storm, and Luis Severino should deliver a solid start in this Northern California battle.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Open Thread: The Spurs advance to the Western Conference Finals

May 15, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) looks on again the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half during game six of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Since joining the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs have played in the Conference Finals fourteen times. For six of those, they advanced to the NBA Finals and have won five NBA championships.

Only four Conference Finals appearances took place before Gregg Popovich became head coach. Ten trips with Pop occurred between 1999 and 2017.

2017 was the last time the Spurs made the Western Conference Finals, and it was a pivotal turning point for the organization. In Game 1, Zaza Pachulia slid his foot under Kawhi Leonard, injuring him in a way that altered his career and sent the Spurs into a tailspin for a few years.

This year, the Spurs have been considered “ahead of schedule” by pundits, but as Stephon Castle pointed out last night after the Spurs dominant Game 6 close out in Minnesota, they knew they were ready.

If 2017 was the beginning of the pendulum swing for the storied franchise, this Western Conference Finals represents the Spurs on their upswing, considered to be a contender for years to come.

Their next challenge facing the Spurs is one of the most anticipated matchups of the year. Oklahoma City are the reigning NBA champs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP and Finals MVP and was recently named this year’s Clutch Player of the Year. They just went through the Phoenix Suns in round one and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals without a loss.

As Udonis Haslem stated in the postgame show, what happened in the regular season doesn’t matter now, the teams are 0-0, starting from scratch.

The Spurs will have to make adjustments. After being pushed around by the Timberwolves, Victor Wembanyama will face Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren in the paint, forcing him to alter his shot selection.

SGA is NBA royalty and gets to the line quite often. By comparison, Stephon Castle’s aggressive defense has gotten him into foul trouble throughout the playoffs.

When asked about the Spurs inexperience with postseason, Victor Wembanyama simply stated “heart matters more than anything.”

Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals takes place in Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night.


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Letters to Sports: Another split decision on future of LeBron James and the Lakers

It’s sad and stony-hearted that the Lakers should unload LeBron James, recoup resources, unload his albatross-like salary, and build a championship contender bolstered by Luka Doncic. Yes, James is still a top-15 player, but unable to lead an ill-balanced team to the NBA Finals.

The Lakers allowed sentimentality toward Kobe Bryant to distort their vision, signing Bryant to a two-year, $48.5-million extension. Bryant missed 39% of the games while the Lakers won 38 times in the two seasons. Abysmal.

The Lakers should use James' $52.6-million salary to sign long, athletic players who can drain threes with regularity.

James might make a great addition to a championship contending team like the Cleveland Cavaliers. Otherwise, thank him for his greatness as a Laker.

Marc D. Greenwood
Opelika, Ala.


Some legendary athletes, like Jim Brown and Sandy Koufax, retired at the peak of their careers. Other greats, like Muhammad Ali, Johnny Unitas and Willie Mays, waited too long. Memo to LeBron James: Which camp will you choose?

Denny Freidenrich
Laguna Beach


After reading Bill Plaschke's article about LeBron James — which closes with the line "Anywhere but here" — I have a better idea. Keep LeBron, get rid of Bill. Let him write anywhere but here.

Tom Irish
Rancho Palos Verdes


Father Time is as undefeated just as Bill Plaschke is winless with predictions. Many before Bill have buried LeBron James, only to see him rise to the occasion once again and prove them wrong.

If this is in fact LeBron’s last go-round, it’s been epic! Thanks for the memories. If not, let’s see him alongside an injury-free Luka Doncic for a full run to next year’s championship!

Marty Zweben
Palos Verdes Estates

Thunderous ending

With apologies to the Coen brothers, the Lakers' season can be titled "No Titles For Old Men." Save for the 2020 asterisk bubble title, the Lakers have not won a championship for nearly two decades. LeBron James is now a fancy hood ornament on a broken-down jalopy. The Lakers need a total rebuild, not just a tuneup.

Mark Roth
Playa Vista


Game 4 was the best game Jaxson Hayes has ever played in a Lakers uniform. If he put forth that effort in every game he could be an NBA starter, and maybe an All-Star, despite the fact his offensive game is limited to lobs and put-backs. Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura also had outstanding games.

LeBron James and Austin Reaves gave great efforts and had good games, but James missed a few too many shots and Reaves had a disastrous eight turnovers. The Lakers gave a heroic effort and with just a bit more luck they could have forced a Game 5.

Ray McKown
Torrance


Sometimes a team like the Thunder just has your number, to the tune of 4-0 in the regular season and 4-0 in the postseason, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Vaughn Hardenberg
Westwood


The Clippers traded for Paul George in a blockbuster deal with Oklahoma City, sending a massive haul including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, to finally build a championship roster, which it did — for the Thunder.

Steve Ross
Carmel

True blue questions

I have questions regarding the Dodgers season so far: (1) How long can we continue to say, "It's still early?" (2) Are the Dodgers digging a hole too deep to get out of? (3) Is their slump real or manufactured behind a hidden agenda? (4) What happened in Philly after they fired their manager? They stopped losing and started winning.

I am a firm believer that players control or help influence their destiny.

Russell Morgan
Carson


How to fix the Dodgers: (1) Call up power-hitting outfielder James Tibbs to see if he can produce at the major league level; (2) If you get a baserunner with no outs try bunting. It will put some pressure on the pitcher and get a man in scoring position; (3) Try the Tommy Lasorda trick by pulling the batting order out of a hat. It might wake up the bats.

Russell Hosaka
Torrance

New addition

Congratulations on your recent hiring of sportswriter Maddie Lee. Her unique and enjoyable writing style is a welcome addition to the Dodgers' beat and to your sports section.

Richard Larson
Huntington Beach


Fallen Angels

It's only six weeks into the season and the Angels already have the worst record in baseball. Combine that with the worst minor league system and worst owner and that makes them the winner of the MLB Losers Triple Crown. Sell the team, Arte!!

Mike Gamboa
Buena Park

Built to last

General manager Pat Verbeek and coach Joel Quenneville have put together an exciting young Ducks team that should make deep runs in the playoffs for years to come. Compare them to the Kings, who are old, slow and quickly fading into mediocrity. Phil Anschutz needs to rebuild the entire organization, starting with firing Luc Robitaille. And if he’s not serious about putting together a championship team, he should sell it to someone like Mark Walter or Stan Kroenke, who know how to build winning organizations.

Doug Vikser
Manhattan Beach

Sparking interest

Thank you for running a first page spread and photos about Kelsey Plum and the Sparks schedule and brief previews of the WNBA teams for this season! So great to also see Caitlin Clark back and healthy. Buy your tickets, the WNBA season is here! Go Sparks!

Joan C. Fingon
Ventura


Kudos to Lisa Leslie for her statue outside the Crypt, but there is one glaring omission of those honored.
Can someone please explain to me why Darryl Sutter, who did the impossible — bringing the Stanley Cup to Los Angeles (twice yet) — has not been honored. It makes no sense!

Jack Wolf
Westwood


The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.

Email: sports@latimes.com

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

On this date in Penguins history: Crosby’s OT winner in the Eastern Conference Final

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 16: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with teammate Matt Cullen #7 after scoring a goal in overtime against Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning to win Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final with a score of 3 to 2 during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Consol Energy Center on May 16, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Ten years ago today, Sidney Crosby scored an overtime game winning goal in the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Pittsburgh had dropped the opening game of the Eastern Conference Final to Tampa and Game 2 was going to overtime with the Penguins at risk of falling behind 2-0 in the series.

A chaotic opening 20 minutes of Game 2 saw the Penguins jump out 2-0 with goals from Matt Cullen and Phil Kessel.

Anton Stralman and Jonathan Drouin leveled the game at 2-2 with goals in the final few minutes of the period.

A scoreless second period and a scoreless third period were sending things to overtime.

One shot and the Penguins could be down 2-0 with their chances of surviving the series dramatically diminishing.

Then 40 seconds into overtime, Sidney Crosby happened on a beautiful setup from Bryan Rust.

The playoff overtime goal for Crosby was the first of his illustrious career.

Crosby’s goal evened the series for the Penguins, who won Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead.

Pittsburgh would drop the next two games before rallying to win the series in seven.

YouTube Gold: The ABA’s Dr. J

DENVER, CO - 1976: Julius Erving #32 of the New York Nets grabs the rebound against the Denver Nuggets circa 1976 at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1976 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

When Julius Erving was at UMass, his game was seriously limited by the rules of the day. His number one frustration was that he could not dunk.

It took him a while to sort out who he would play for professionally, largely because of some contractual issues, which we’re not going to get into here, but consider this: he nearly ended up playing with Milwaukee, when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson were still Bucks. That would have been incredible. He also nearly joined the Atlanta Hawks, where he would have teamed up with Pete Maravich, which would have sold tickets across the league.

When the issues were hammered out, he had to play in the ABA, first with the Virginia Squires, and then with the New York Nets.

And while there was no TV contract for the ABA, Erving’s play was so off the charts that everyone around the country understood something extraordinary was happening.

Everyone knew. The highlights occasionally made it onto sports news, but there was no cable or anything like that. It was strictly word of mouth.

However, the awareness of greatness in New York was so insistent that it crept into pop culture and ultimately drove the ABA-NBA merger.

Here is some video of young Erving, just killing it.

He’s been somewhat pushed down the list of greats, which is not right, because the guy was clearly special. He built on what Connie Hawkins did, but took it further: Erving was a basketball visionary, and we see the fruits of his vision every night when a game is played. Every exultant dunk is a tribute.

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Thayron Liranzo homers again in Erie victory, Vest and Brieske rehab

Beau Brieske got the start in this one as his rehab progression advanced to Triple-A. He gave up a run in the first, but tossed a clean second inning. Brieske averaged 95.9 mph on his fourseamer, and mixed in some good changeups in his outing. He looks fairly close to rejoining the Tigers.

Will Vest blessedly has avoided a tendon or ligament injury and is working his way back as well. He tossed a scoreless third inning. averaging 95.8 mph with his fourseamer. Vest struck out one in a perfect inning of work, but may need another outing before rejoining the Tigers’ pen.

In the top of the second, Corey Julks singled and later scored on a Tyler Gentry single to even things at 1-1. That’s how it stayed until the fifth, when Max Clark reached on an infield single and Eduardo Valencia mashed a two-run shot to left center field.

Troy Watson took over after the rehab work was done, allowing one run in five innings of work. Matt Seelinger handled the ninth, looking for a save. He got Josh Rojas to fly out, but allowed a single to John Rave. That brought the dangerous Kameron Misner to the dish. Seelinger carved him up with cutters for a strikeout, and then blew Drew Waters away with a good fastball to earn the save.

Valencia: 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR

Clark: 1-4, R

Watson (W, 1-0): 5.0 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 0 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 8:05 p.m. ET start on Saturday with the series all tied up.

Erie SeaWolves 8, Richmond Flying Squirrels 6 (box)

The SeaWolves were down early in this one, but another Thayron Liranzo blast got them back into the game and they held off the Squirrels on Friday.

Max Alba made a spot start, and it didn’t go too well. The right-hander allowed three runs in the second inning. He did settle in to pitch in the fifth without more trouble.

In the bottom of the third, catcher Bennett Lee doubled with one out, and took third on a wild pitch. Brett Callahan and Peyton Graham didn’t press in their at-bats, and both walked to load the bases. A sacrifice fly from John Peck scored Lee. Liranzo stepped in against lefty Cesar Perdomo, and for the second day in a row crushed a right-handed homer, this time a three-run job to left, seizing a 4-3 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Callahan reached on a fielder’s choice, and Graham singled him to third. Another Peck sacrifice fly made it 5-3. In the bottom of the sixth, Richmond’s Will Bednar walked four straight hitters and Bennett Lee smoked a two-run double to make it 8-3.

Wandisson Charles leaked a late run, and Tanner Kohlhepp surrendered two more, but they held on to win.

Liranzo: 1-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR, BB, K

Graham: 3-3, R, BB, SB, CS

Lee: 2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B, BB, K

Alba: 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:35 p.m. ET start on Saturday with the series tied up at two apiece.

Great Lakes Loons 9, West Michigan Whitecaps 3 (box)

The crumbling Whitecaps are now 1-17 in their last 18 games.

Junior Tilien singled in Luke Shilger for a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but that was the last the Whitecaps would see of the lead. Unfortunately, Carlos Marcano is still stretching out after a late start to the season. He gave the Whitecaps two scoreless frames before turning things over to Duque Hebbert. Things went straight downhill as Hebbert allowed six earned runs across the third and fourth innings.

In the sixth, Clayton Campbell drew a leadoff walk, and Jackson Strong launched a two-run homer that made it 6-3 Loons. Outfielder Caleb Shpur pitched the eighth as the ‘Caps waived the white flag, allowing three runs.

The Whitecaps are struggling with injuries like the parent club, but even getting Ben Jacobs up from Lakeland and into the rotation hasn’t done much for them. Malachi Witherspoon isn’t far from joining them, and there may be a few more young arms working their way up shortly, but there’s no telling when the Whitecaps will get some of their veteran hitters back.

Strong: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR, BB, 2 K

Tilien: 3-3, RBI, BB

Marcano: 2.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:35 p.m. ET start on Saturday.

Clearwater Threshers 6, Lakeland Flying Tigers 2 (box)

Kelvis Salcedo’s start was a short one after a long second inning that saw him lifted due to pitch count per inning restrictions.

In the top of the second, Edian Espinal singled, and Carson Rucker doubled Espinal to third. A Javier Osorio sacrifice fly brought the run home. Unfortunately, after striking out the side in the first, and two more in the second along with two singles and an error that scored a run, Salcedo suddenly lost control and walked back-to-back hitters before surrendering a two-run double and exiting the game.

Yendy Gomez gave up two more runs in the sixth, and it was a 5-1 game. A pair of a walks and a sacrifice fly from Jack Goodman made it 5-2, but the bullpen allowed another run in the bottom half, and the Flying Tigers couldn’t muster a comeback.

Espinal: 2-3, R, BB

Yost: 1-4, 2B, 3 K

Salcedo: 1.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:30 p.m. ET start with the Flying Tigers up 3-1 in the series.

FCL Blue Jays 4, FCL Tigers 3 (box)

LHP Andrew Sears, our 11th ranked prospect for the Tigers in the preseason, and currently 9th for MLB Pipeline, emerged from injury blackout to spin a pair of perfect innings with four strikeouts in his first rehab assignment. He’ll need plenty of time to build himself up, but the hope is to return to Erie by early June. If he can get back and get it going, he’s a solid bet to help the Tigers out in the second half.

De Los Santos: 1-4, R, CS

Rodriguez: 1-3, RBI, BB, K

Sears: 2.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K

6 Takeaways from Cavs Game 6 loss to Pistons: Donovan Mitchell’s flaws are becoming more difficult to ignore

May 15, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) fouls Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) while going for a loose ball during the first quarter in game six of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

CLEVELAND — Every time you want to believe the Cleveland Cavaliers have turned over a new leaf, they show you that they haven’t.

After their most inspiring win of the Donovan Mitchell era in Game 5, they laid an egg at home, blowing the perfect opportunity to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 21-point loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Now, they’ll head on the road for a do-or-die Game 7 in Detroit.

Basketball teams often take on the persona of their best player. They’re built to accent that player’s skills and cover up their weaknesses. Throw in the soft power that player typically weilds within the organization, and it’s easy to see how you get to this point.

In many ways, Mitchell’s shortcomings are a microcosm of the team’s as a whole.

When things are perfectly clicking into place, Mitchell’s individual talent — combined with the skilled pieces that by-and-large fit well around him — makes him seem like one of the best players in the world. And by extension, the Cavs can look unbeatable

The second half of Game 4 is a perfect example of this. Mitchell was scoring at will, tying the record for the most individual points in a half for a playoff game, against the best defense in the conference. The Cavs were humming and unsurprisingly also looked like a juggernaut.

However, when things have gotten rocky for Mitchell, that has also happened for the Cavs. James Harden has helped slightly change this dynamic. His stabilizing force in Game 5, combined with Evan Mobley’s skill on both ends, pulled them out of the rut. But it isn’t their jobs to do that every night at this point in their careers.

This is Mitchell’s team. It still goes as he does.

Both the Toronto Raptors and the Pistons were seemingly engineered to keep Mitchell from doing what he does best. They’ve been able to throw multiple rangy defenders at him that can match both his speed and strength in a way that no other opponent in Mitchell’s previous eight playoff runs have. This has made it difficult for him to get to his spots and leaves his scoring too dependent on a streaky jumper.

And when he has an off-night, as he did in Game 6, the whole house of cards comes tumbling down.

The Cavs played their worst basketball with Mitchell on the court. They were outscored by 25 points in the 37 minutes he played, and it felt like more in the arena.

Mitchell put it on himself to lead the team. He took a game-high 20 shots, most of which came off driving into the teeth of the defense. Mitchell’s superpower is his ability to get to the basket and finish seemingly at will. But that skill was absent yet again. Only three of his 11 attempts from the paint fell.

“I can’t dwell on it, I missed shots tonight,” Mitchell said. “Do I think some of them were tougher shots that I could’ve gotten better? Sure, but I can say that about every game. I’m not here to look at the fact I missed shots. It’s the overall force and impact on the game.”

The overall force and impact on the game were the real issues, and have been for four years now.

Mitchell has no offensive counters outside of finding other ways to score.

He isn’t a skilled distributor. Either an inability to see the correct reads or an unwillingness to make the pass has limited Mitchell throughout his career. He’s yet to record more than five assists through 13 playoff games with a paltry assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.15. That’s unacceptable for someone operating that much on ball.

Assists aren’t the only measure of whether someone’s a well-rounded offensive player. However, it’s difficult to argue that someone is if they’re consistently coming up short in this key area.

Combine that with not being an off-ball mover and being a bad point-of-attack defender, and you have a player who’s only valuable on-ball and scoring at a high clip.

These individual issues affect the whole team. It’s difficult for teammates to buy in with off-ball movement if there’s no chance they will be rewarded for their effort. Defense then becomes more difficult if you aren’t getting the energy on the offensive side of the ball. And in the end, this leads to a group that has consistently looked lifeless in the biggest moments and can’t really put their finger on why.

After the game, head coach Kenny Atkinson said that he didn’t think his team met the challenge physically. Harden was asked why they didn’t come out with intensity, and he responded with, “That’s a great question.”

When Mitchell comes out flat, the team consistently has a well. This has happened far too often in the playoffs to conclude otherwise.

Cade Cunningham’s performance was the exact opposite of what we saw from Mitchell.

He wasn’t perfect. Cunningham still turned it over seven times, which is far too many for a player that skilled. But his ability to influence the game in other ways rubbed off on his team.

The Cavs came into this game with an “ABC approach” — anybody but Cade.

Instead of trying to beat that challenge all by himself, Cunningham trusted his teammates when Cleveland double-teamed him. This resulted in eight assists for himself, but also allowed everyone else to find a rhythm. His willingness to move the ball and allow his teammates to take advantage led to Detroit’s offense clicking on all cylinders.

“You just have to make the play that’s there,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.

Cunningham doesn’t let up defensively either. He’s been physical at the point of attack all series and has done a good job of making life difficult for Cleveland’s smaller guards.

Add that all up, and you have a team that’s energized on both ends and a star that is influencing the game in a wide variety of ways.

Anything can happen in Game 7.

The series isn’t yet by any stretch. Even though the Cavs blew a golden opportunity to end this series, we know that they can win in Detroit.

But that isn’t going to happen if Mitchell has another bad game like this. He simply needs to be better.

This is his chance to change the narrative.

“Everything we want is on the other side of hard,” Mitchell said. “We had an opportunity, we missed it, and we’ll have another opportunity on Sunday. That’s the mindset.”

Today on Pinstripe Alley — 5/16/26

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 15: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 15, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Yankees have been up and down the last week or so, but perhaps just what they need to get rolling again is a date with their crosstown rivals. The Bombers got this Subway Series started off nicely last night, Cam Schlittler shoving (what else is new?) in a straightforward 5-2 victory. They’ll look to cinch a series win in Queens with Carlos Rodón making his second start of the year, as he’ll look to sharpen his command a bit after last week’s debut in Milwaukee.

On the site today, Andrew runs through Friday night’s American League action, and Sam profiles a huge figure in Yankees history, Billy Martin, who was born on this day 96 years ago. Also, Nick delivers this month’s Reliever Confidence Index, and Kento looks at the tallest Yankee outfields of all time.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees at New York Mets

Time: 7:15 p.m. EST

Video: FOX

Venue: Citi Field, Flushing, NY

Questions/Prompts:

1. How do you think Carlos Rodón will look now that he’s gotten a start under his belt at the major league level?

2. Do you think the Mets are going to get their act together, or will this be another lost year in Queens?

Yankees news: Fried to IL, but worst-case scenario avoided

MLB Trade Rumors | Steve Adams: Prior to yesterday’s game, the Yankees placed ace Max Fried on the 15-day injured list with a bone bruise in his left elbow. While, obviously, this isn’t great news, as Fried will not throw for a few weeks before being reevaluated, early indications seem to suggest that he has avoided ligament damage (although we’ll get confirmation on that in a couple of days). The start of the Gerrit Cole/Max Fried tandem atop the rotation will almost certainly be delayed once again, but at least we can cross our fingers and hope to see them both on the active roster at some point this season. Elmer Rodríguez is expected to take Fried’s next turn in the rotation, though until then, his roster spot will soon likely be occupied by a reliever.

Yahoo! Sports | Scott Walsh: In an article originally published our pal Scott in The Times-Tribune in Scranton, PA, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders announce that Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will be making his sixth rehab start with them on Saturday, as they face the Syracuse Mets. Even with Fried down, the Yankees do not appear inclined to rush Cole’s rehab, and expect him to make at least two more starts before returning to the Bronx.

The Athletic | Jayson Stark: (subscription required) Now that we’re about a quarter of the way through the season, we have finally reached the point where we can begin to draw some preliminary conclusions about the game this season. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the biggest new thing this season is how the ABS challenges have changed the game, with batters swinging less and walking more — perhaps the result of the fact that the ABS strike zone is, at its edges, a touch smaller than the “traditional” zone called by most umps.

The Athletic | Chris Kirschner: (subscription required) In what will, rather annoyingly, be a staple of the next several years, the start of this season’s Subway Series once again has people talking about the fallout of Juan Soto’s decision to sign with the Mets. At this stage of the game, not much has changed since we talked about this last season, and in truth, the answer even within the front office is mixed, with people simultaneously talking about Soto’s offensive production and the importance of the moves made in the aftermath of that deal (e.g., Fried, Cody Bellinger).

Spurs win to move into Western Conference finals

Stephon Castle in action for the San Antonio Spurs
Stephon Castle was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the fourth overall pick in 2024 [Getty Images]

Stephon Castle starred as the San Antonio Spurs sealed their spot in the Western Conference finals with a convincing 139-109 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Castle led the way with 32 points, while Victor Wembanyama added 19, as the Spurs clinched the series 4-2 to set up a heavyweight match-up against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs met the Thunder - the reigning NBA champions - five times during the regular season and finished with a 4-1 record against them.

Repeating that over the seven-game Western finals would earn the Spurs a spot in the NBA finals.

"We're not even thinking about that right now," Castle said after Friday's victory over the Timberwolves.

"The games ahead are a totally different game. They are rolling right now. They've won eight straight.

"It's going to be tough to knock them off, but we're pretty confident we can do it."

Elsewhere, the Detroit Pistons beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-94 to tie their series and set up a deciding game seven .

Cade Cunningham scored 21 points, while Paul Reed and Jalen Duren added 17 and 15 respectively, as the top-seeded Pistons forced a decider for the second play-off round in a row.

Detroit had trailed 3-1 to Orlando Magic in the previous round before reeling off three straight wins to take the series 4-3.

The Pistons host the Cavaliers in Detroit on Sunday to decide who will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.

Spurs blow out Wolves to advance to Western Conference Finals

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 15: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs drives around Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter in Game Six of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Spurs had a chance to punch their ticket to the Western Conference Finals Friday night, and they did exactly that with an emphatic 139-109 victory over the Wolves. 

With their backs against the wall, Minnesota changed its defensive scheme to start the game. Instead of playing Gobert against Wemby straight up, the Wolves put him on Castle instead, allowing the Stifle Tower to sag off the Spurs guard and defend the interior. Well, Castle responded by hitting three wide-open triples en route to a 14-point quarter where he shot 5-6 from the field. Defensively, San Antonio also withheld their usual doubles on Ant, but did send help to other players who didn’t expect it coming. 

Offensively, the Spurs played as one. Wemby’s gravity allowed San Antonio’s shooters to get wide-open looks, helping them start 5-11 from three. The three-headed monster in the backcourt also got easy drives to the rim, allowing Fox and Harper to shoot a combined 6-7 from the field. It certainly helped that Minnesota lost confidence in Gobert’s offense, pulling him early in favor of Naz Reid, who hit two early threes to lead all Wolves scorers. Unsurprisingly, Minnesota couldn’t score in the paint due to Wemby’s presence, and after starting 8-15 due to hot shooting, the Wolves then went 2-16 and allowed the Spurs to go on a 20-0 run to start the second quarter, going up 56-27.  

However, this is a game of runs, and we were all reminded of that shortly after. The Wolves answered with a 34-18 run of their own, cutting the Spurs’ lead down to just 13 heading into halftime. Unsurprisingly, Ant was the catalyst, driving fearlessly and finishing around Wemby multiple times while drawing a key foul that led to three points right before the buzzer. 

Still down by double digits, the Wolves switched their defensive scheme once again, putting Gobert back on Wemby. This is when the Spurs rebuilt their original lead, as the good guys went back up by 25 just a few minutes into the third. It was much of the same story, as San Antonio’s shooters remained hot and the guards got to the rim at will, since Gobert sat for large stretches again. Minnesota didn’t manage to go on another run, and the second half was so uneventful that the benches cleared not even halfway through the fourth, with the biggest storyline being that Ant shook hands with the Spurs before the game even ended.

Game notes

  • The Spurs are peaking at the exact right time. After an upset in game 1, San Antonio outscored Minnesota by 99 in games 2-6, and only lost game 4 by 5 points with Wemby logging just 12:29. More importantly, the Spurs have experienced fewer and fewer offensive lulls as the playoffs have gone on, and if that continues, the team will be virtually impossible to stop. 
  • We are seeing Harper and Castle both take leaps in front of our eyes. They’ve been spectacular all season, but to play at an even higher level in the playoffs is something else. I certainly did not expect Castle to shoot so well from three, even if most were wide open, nor did I think that Harper’s defense was so advanced that he was arguably the best matchup on Ant. Along with Fox, any of the Spurs’ three guards can play at an All-NBA level any night, which is what championship-level teams need from their second options. 
  • Speaking of Castle, he is now shooting 44% from three in the playoffs. It makes increasingly less sense for opponents to put their bigs on him, though I still expect OKC to do it since they play two bigs in Chet and Hartenstein. His shooting might be the single biggest X-factor in the Conference Finals. 
  • Fox left the game with a minute left in the first half due to an ankle injury. He did return to start the second, though, and didn’t look any worse for wear, finishing the game with 21 points on 8-10 shooting.
  • Spurs, OKC, Western Conference Finals. The first of what should be many clashes for perhaps the rivalry of this generation, and a matchup between two teams with dynastic potential. These are two teams that can become all-timers, and are also the only ones who can prevent the other from doing so. Strap in, folks: this will be the best series of the entire postseason. 

Play of the game

This is why you never test Swipa!

Next game: @ OKC on Monday at 7:30CDT

With the series ending in 6, the West finals will officially start Monday. Go Spurs go!!!

Dodgers hit three home runs, hold Angels to two hits in rout

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Andy Page belts a three-run homers in the fourth inning of the Dodgers' 6-0 road win over the Angels on May 15, 2026 in Anaheim, Calif, Image 2 shows Andy Pages celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run homer in the fourth inning of the Dodgers win over the Angels

Andy Pages got a sunflower seed shower. Then, he delivered another one himself.

In a 6-0 win over the Angels on Friday night, the Dodgers’ third-straight victory was keyed by two big swings.

Pages had the first, ambushing a 3-0 fastball from Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz for a three-run homer in the top of the fourth inning. Moments later, Max Muncy delivered the other, crushing an 0-2 mistake that Kochanowicz left over the plate to make it back-to-back long balls with a solo drive to right.

Andy Pages belts a three-run homers in the fourth inning of the Dodgers’ 6-0 road win over the Angels on May 15, 2026 in Anaheim, Calif. William Liang-Imagn Images

As Pages returned to the dugout following his trot around the bases, he got a customary seed shower from teammate Teoscar Hernández –– who has made the celebration a staple since arriving in Los Angeles three years ago.

But with Hernández on deck when Muncy went deep, it was Pages’ turn to handle the honors, grabbing a bag of seeds himself and tossing them in Muncy’s face as he came back off the field.

“He’s going to have my job when I’m not here,” Hernández joked of Pages’ seed-throwing form. “So it is getting better.”

The scene represented an uplifting turn on what started as a dark day for the Dodgers (27-18), who placed scheduled starting pitcher Blake Snell on the injured list pregame with loose bodies in his elbow that could require surgery.

Snell’s injury is the third the Dodgers have suffered to a star pitcher in the last month (after Edwin Díaz and Tyler Glasnow). It leaves them concerningly thin on depth as they try to emerge from a month-long slump.

“It seems like every year we go through it,” manager Dave Roberts said of the sudden deluge of pitching injuries. “What I have learned is, we get through it.”

The easiest way to do so this time: More offensive performances such as Friday’s. 

Thanks to a third home run in the sixth inning from Hernández –– who snapped a month-long homer drought by driving a two-run blast the other way –– the Dodgers eclipsed the six-run mark for only the fifth time in their last 23 games.

It gave their pitching staff plenty of breathing room in what became an emergency bullpen game.

And it served as the latest encouraging sign that they are beginning to rediscover better form at the plate.

“The at-bats are getting better throughout this week,” Hernández said.

Given the team’s pitching situation, not a moment too soon either.

What it means

The Dodgers don’t want to go with bullpen games regularly this year.

But when they need to, as Friday showed, it isn’t always the worst tactic.

Dodgers starter Will Klein, who pitched two scoreless innings, was one of eight pitchers to blank the Angels. AP

Eight different Dodgers pitchers combined for the club’s fifth shutout this year, limiting the Angels to just two hits while striking out a combined 11 batters.

It started with two scoreless innings from Will Klein, who retired his first five batters before stranding a couple runners in the second. Edgardo Henriquez and Blake Treinen then followed with 1-2-3 frames, keeping the Angels quiet as the Dodgers built their lead. 

Wyatt Mills and Kyle Hurt both worked around walks in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. Alex Vesia negated a seventh-inning single by striking out his other three batters. Jack Dreyer and Charlie Barnes (a recent waiver claim who was called up in Snell’s place pregame) handled the final six outs.

It was the latest standout performance from a Dodgers relief corps that has a top-10 ERA in the majors this year.

It was also somewhat historic; marking only the 10th time in MLB’s modern era (since 1901) that club pitched a shutout using at least eight pitchers.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better situation tonight,” Roberts said. “It was good to see a few of the guys break out.”

Who’s hot

We covered Hernández (who is 9-for-19 in his last five games with four extra-base hits) in this space last night.

So, let’s go with Pages.

Entering Friday, the third-year slugger was in a lull, held without a hit in his last 13 at-bats. But with his score-opening home run, he continued to build on his strong overall start to the season –– continuing to be the Dodgers’ most consistent, and clutch, hitter.

Pages’ big fly was his 10th of the year, trailing only Muncy (who has 12) for most on the team.

Andy Pages celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run homer in the fourth inning of the Dodgers win over the Angels. William Liang-Imagn Images

It also put him back in a tie for the MLB lead in RBIs with 38, while helping him finish the night with a .305 batting average (11th-best in the National League) and .893 OPS (which ranks 12th).

Who’s not

Plain and simple, the Angels.

Since an encouraging 11-10 start to the season, the team has dropped 19 of its last 24 games. At 16-29 overall, they now own the worst record in the majors.

Before the game, manager Kurt Suzuki was asked if the club’s recent slump was simply in a run-of-the-mill “cold stretch” –– or something more reflective of the state of an organization that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2014.

Suzuki insisted it was the former, arguing that “there are a lot of games where we’re in it; we’re one swing away, maybe one pitch away, one out away.” 

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said he believes his struggling team will turn it around. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

“We’re gonna turn this around,” he added.

Either he was running cover for his bosses, or helplessly kidding himself.

Regardless, a franchise that has never before lost 100 games is well on its way to doing so right now. The “cold stretch,” unsurprisingly, continues.

Up next

The Dodgers will be going for only their second series win in the last three weeks on Saturday, when Justin Wrobleski (5-1, 2.42 ERA) faces breakout right-hander José Soriano (6-2, 1.66).

Mets' Juan Soto playing through discomfort as he smashes 250th home run

Early in the Mets' 5-2 loss to the Yankees on Friday night, it looked as if Juan Soto had tweaked something during a swing-and-miss early in the game.

Soto took a hack at a Cam Schlittler cutter in the fourth inning and noticeably grimaced. The Mets slugger had already landed on the IL this season, back in April, for a calf injury, and his return to the outfield was delayed due to an elbow, but Soto and his manager downplayed the moment following the Subway Series opener.

"The wrist. It’s usually when he swings and misses. It comes and goes," manager Carlos Mendoza said. "Whenever he makes contact, there’s no issue there. It’s only the swing and miss when he feels something. There’s nothing that we’re worried about there." 

"I was a little discomfort," Soto said. "No pain at all. I’ve been dealing with a couple of things. The foul ball [off my foot], the hand, the calf. Just trying to get back on track."

To Soto's credit, he completed the game in the outfield without issue. Even more impressive, he took Schlittler deep in the seventh to put the Mets on the board. And while it didn't spark a comeback victory, it did mark an individual achievement. The blast was Soto's 250th career home run, making him the fifth-youngest player in MLB history to reach the milestone.

"Means a lot," Soto said of the achievement. "A lot of hard work I’ve been putting on every year. Coming to play hard to have success for my team."

Soto's homer was a bright spot in an otherwise dour evening for the Mets. The loss snapped the team's three-game winning streak and halted the momentum from the sweep of the Tigers this week. But the Mets lost more than just the game. Clay Holmes will be out for a while with a fractured fibula he suffered after being hit by a Spencer Jones comebacker.

"It’s tough, man. Clay is a guy that shows up every day. One of the hardest workers I’ve seen in my career, Soto said of Holmes. "It’s unbelievable what he’s doing but it’s really sad about what happened to him. It’s part of the game. We’re going to support him, be right there for him in any kind of way that he needs us. It sucks."

And while the Mets navigate the loss of their most consistent pitcher, they hope Soto's blast on Friday could be the start of a hot streak for their slugger.

Soto had been hitting just .118 with an OPS of .449 from May 3-13, but now that he's homered in back-to-back games, perhaps more production is in his and the Mets' future. 

Spurs beat Timberwolves to advance to Wester Conference finals vs. Thunder

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Stephon Castle, who scored 32 points, drives past Anthony Edwards during the Spurs' 139-109 Game 6 series-clinching win over the Timberwolves on May 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Image 2 shows Victor Wembanyam, who scored 19 points slams home a dunk over Julius Randle during the Spurs' Game 6 series-clinching win over the Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS — The San Antonio Spurs were well on their way to the Western Conference finals in the fourth quarter when Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards went down to their bench to briefly offer his congratulations.

The young Spurs left no doubt they’re already a serious NBA title contender.

Stephon Castle had 32 points and 11 rebounds to highlight another dominant performance from the backcourt, and Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs romped past the Timberwolves 139-109 on Friday night to finish in the second-round series in six games.

Stephon Castle, who scored 32 points, drives past Anthony Edwards during the Spurs’ 139-109 Game 6 series-clinching win over the Timberwolves on May 15, 2026 in Minneapolis. Getty Images

“I just tip my hat to them,” Edwards said. “They were just the better team.”

De’Aaron Fox added 21 points and nine assists and rookie Dylan Harper had 15 points off the bench for the Spurs, who set their franchise postseason record for 3-pointers made by going 18 for 38.

They will face defending champion Oklahoma City in Game 1 on Monday night. The Thunder swept their first two series.

“Of course we’re confident, but we need to keep the right confidence level,” Wembanyama said. “Right now, I’m not even thinking about it. I’m just thinking about recovering.”

Wembanyama, who bounced back from his stunning Game 4 ejection with 27 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in the Game 5 blowout, was well-guarded by the Wolves in Game 6 and had a quiet 19 points in 27 minutes. But he still served as a constant defensive deterrent in the paint, and he dutifully joined the Spurs in transition whenever they had the opportunity to run — which was often.

The size, smarts and shooting touch of the Spurs guards were too much for the Wolves, who predictably had their hands full with the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama.

Victor Wembanyam, who scored 19 points, slams home a dunk over
Julius Randle during the Spurs’ Game 6 series-clinching win over
the Timberwolves. Getty Images

Castle made his first five 3-pointers and finished 11 for 16 from the floor. Fox was 3 for 3 from deep, and Julian Champagnie made four 3s among his 18 points for the Spurs, who outscored the Wolves by a whopping 97 points in the series and never once trailed by double digits. The Spurs breezed by Portland Trail in five games in the first round.

“It shows that we already gained a little bit of experience from our short playoff time,” Wembanyama said. “I feel like we put ourselves in the best conditions, as simple as that.”

Anthony Edwards had 24 points on 9-for-26 shooting for the Wolves, who got another spark from reserves Terrence Shannon (21 points) and Naz Reid (18 points) but were again flustered by the Spurs and their relentless switch-heavy defense. Julius Randle had just three points on 1-for-8 shooting.

“It just felt like we kind of ran out of bullets as this series went on,” coach Chris Finch said.

This no-show in the elimination game might’ve felt familiar to Wolves fans, who’ve otherwise enjoyed an unprecedented run of success in the playoffs over the last three years.

Minnesota trailed by 33 points at halftime in a 30-point loss at Oklahoma City in the Game 5 ouster in the Western Conference finals last year and were down by 29 points at the break to Dallas in losing the Western Conference finals in 2024 in a 21-point loss in Game 5.

Analyzing potential Mets starting pitching replacements following Clay Holmes injury

For the first seven weeks of this trying 2026 season, Clay Holmes was the least dramatic thing about the New York Mets

He pitched like the ace they needed as the aces they planned for, Freddy Peralta and Nolan McLean, worked through minor inconsistency. He pitched into the sixth inning in seven of his first eight starts, never taxing a bullpen often needed to carry a heavier load as Kodai Senga and David Peterson took their turns. 

But Friday night, he succumbed to whatever relentless force keeps pulling Mets onto the injured list whenever this team threatens to start getting in rhythm. The broken fibula he suffered on Spencer Jones’ comebacker will keep him out for “a long time,” according to Carlos Mendoza, though the Mets had no timetable immediately after the game. He had no spin about how the Mets proceed now, either.  

“It’s a huge blow,” Mendoza said. “He’s been one of the most consistent guys that we had in that rotation. Yeah. It’s a big blow.” 

Logistically, the loss of their steadiest starter in a season that has already required them to tap into minor league depth makes the Mets’ potential climb back to contention even more complicated. They began the year with promising starting pitching depth. By late May 15, they were running out. 

Senga is on the injured list. Sean Manaea is pitching out of the bullpen, scraping for innings where he can find them and hoping he pitches well enough to prove he deserves more. His bullpen colleague Tobias Myers is a former starter, but he has pitched so well that he has been promoted from mop-up duties early to keep-it-close duties recently. His first 10 outings were multiple innings. His last four — all of his work in May — have been one inning or fewer. 

“At the moment, I’m [not stretched out to where I could start]. Maybe 35, 40 pitches,” said Myers, noting that no one had approached him about how the Holmes news might affect him yet. 

Of course, they hadn’t. The news was so jarring that when someone asked Mendoza whether Triple-A righty Jonah Tong might be an option, the normally patient manager interrupted. 

“We don’t know,” he said. “We don’t know. It’s too early.” 

Tong, who was called up last year but has spent the beginning of this season trying to expand and hone his arsenal in Triple-A, is part of the pitching depth that reassured the Mets about their chances prior to this season. But Tong has been inconsistent, and at times wholly ineffective: He allowed six earned runs on five hits and three walks while recording just five outs Thursday. 

His Syracuse Mets teammate Jack Wenniger, on the other hand, has a 1.08 ERA and more strikeouts than innings pitched in seven starts. The 24-year-old last pitched May 12. 

Wenniger, a sixth-round pick, has never carried the same expectations as Tong. And despite his sparkling headline numbers, he is walking nearly five batters per nine innings while benefiting from an anomalously low .237 batting average on balls in play. Still, results as good as his do not happen fully accidentally. 

Perhaps by Saturday, the Mets will probably have a better idea of their short-term plans. They will not, however, have many more long-term answers. Because as they sit eight games under .500, just 44 games into the season, chaos remains the only constant.