After splitting a pair of games at Paycom Center, the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs shift to Frost Bank Center for Game 3 tonight.
Our Thunder vs. Spurs props dive into the best NBA player prop values for Friday, May 22, headlined by Victor Wembanyama.
Game 3 Prop #1: Victor Wembanyama Over 14.5 rebounds
Victor Wembanyama has been unstoppable on the glass since the second round. Not counting the game in which he was ejected, Wemby has averaged 15.6 boards across his last seven contests.
The big man has corralled 15+ rebounds in six of those seven games, including two straight against the Thunder.
The Thunder have thrown Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein at him as primary defenders, but the result has been the same.
Oklahoma City has allowed the fourth-most offensive rebounds per game this postseason, and Wemby has gobbled up 14 of them across his last two outings.
Game 3 Prop #2: Ajay Mitchell Over 21.5 points + rebounds + assists
Jalen Williams re-injured his hamstring in Game 2, and he's questionable tonight. Given his injury history and risk of re-aggravation, it would be surprising if he took the court.
Ajay Mitchell filled in for Jay Dub admirably in the playoffs, starting six straight games. Mitchell’s usage skyrocketed from 15 to 28.3 in six games without Williams, and his PRAs jumped from 16.3 to 30.2 compared to the four games they played together.
Mitchell has the clearest path to picking up Williams’ vacated production, and I expect him to cruise past his PRA total tonight.
Game 3 Prop #3: Chet Holmgren Under 23.5 points + rebounds + assists
Wembanyama has Holmgren’s number, and he’s locked him down all season. Holmgren averaged a career-best 27.7 PRA in the regular season, but that number plummeted to 19.3 in four matchups with Wemby.
Holmgren has been even more limited in the Western Conference Finals, averaging just 17.5 PRA in Games 1 and 2.
Wembanyama ranks in the Top 3 in opponent FG% (39.4), opponent points per game (64.3) and defensive rating (98.8) this postseason. He’s expected to be on Holmgren again tonight, impeding the OKC big man once again.
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Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog lead the Colorado Avalanche in expected goals generated during the playoffs. They are piling up quality chances and plenty stem from Martin Necas' playmaking.
Necas has recorded 10 assists through 10 games. He is serving as the main distributor for his line, and his facilitation skills become more important on the power play with Cale Makar injured.
The Avalanche have a team total of 3.5 that is juiced to the Over, and Necas is a likely candidate to facilitate a goal. Look for him to assist against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2.
Game 2 Prop #2: Brent Burns Over 1.5 shots on goal
Brent Burns is an elite shot-generator and he's being put in prime situations to shoot. Jared Bednar gave Burns more offensive zone starts at 5-on-5 than any other defenseman on the Avalanche in Game 1.
Burns took advantage of the favorable usage, generating six shot attempts and recording a couple of shots on target.
That kind of output is par for the course without star defenseman Makar in the lineup. Burns has averaged 5.8 attempts through eight games without Makar this year, and he has cleared 1.5 shots in seven straight.
Game 2 Prop #3: Nazem Kadri Over 0.5 points
Nazem Kadri's line spent a ton of time on the front foot in the series opener. The Avalanche won the scoring chance battle 12-4 and controlled well over 80% of the expected goal share with Kadri on the ice at full-strength.
Kadri didn't factor into the goal his line scored but he was front and center all night, tying the team-lead in 5-on-5 shots while leading the way in rebounds created.
He also continued to skate on the top power play, giving him exposure to the team's elite forwards like Necas and MacKinnon.
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CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 14: Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds runs to second base against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park on May 14, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
By now you are all well aware of the quad issue that plagued Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz during the second half of the 2025 season. He rolled into the All Star Game having already hit 18 homers on the season, sporting a .495 slugging percentage and .854 OPS at the time.
During the season’s second “half,” or the final 65 games after the break, he swatted just 4 bombs, slugged just .363, and sported a meager .666 OPS. Clearly the leg was a problem despite him still playing each and every single day, and that was reflected in the decline in his sprint speed, too.
When he broke in during the 2023 season, he was at 30.5 feet per second – in the 100th percentile.
During his first full season in 2024 (when he swiped an MLB-best 67 bags), he was at 30.0 – once again in the 100th percentile.
During that 2025 season with the quad issue, though, he slipped a bit. He still ranked in the 91st percentile overall, but his speed was down to just 29.1.
The Elly we’ve seen so far in 2026 sure looks like he’s not dealing with any quad issues anymore. He’s hitting .290/.356/.525 (.881 OPS) through 50 games, and he’s already swatted 11 homers. Despite the spike in on-base percentage, he’s not nearly on the same pace when it comes to stealing bags, however – he has just 9 on 13 attempts, perhaps impacted by the fact that so many more of his hits so far this season have been of the extra-base variety than in previous years.
It’s not the decline in steals that jumps off the page to me, however. We know manager Terry Francona is much less inclined to push the issue on the bases than was David Bell, who managed during Elly’s league-best steals season in 2024. What’s puzzling to me is that despite Elly a) being 100% healthy this year, by all reports and b) having dealt with a pretty serious quad injury in 2025, he’s actually slower this year than he was last year.
It’s by a significant amount, too. So far in 2026, he’s averaging just 28.1 feet per second when sprinting, and that’s all the way down to the 74th percentile. That’s slower than Blake Dunn (30.0), Noelvi Marte (28.9), Will Benson (28.7), Matt McLain (28.6), and even Spencer Steer (28.3). Elly, who a blink ago was the fastest, most electric runner in the sport, is now just the 6th fastest player who’s donned a Reds uniform this season.
I’m not at all sure the origins of this decline. Perhaps it’s still just early season noise, and he’s just not had enough opportunities to motor to 1B on a weakly hit grounder on infield, or to try to score from 1B on a ball in play. Perhaps as the summer heat rolls in he’ll unleash a few faster runs and make this somewhat a moot point.
For now, though, it’s hard not to notice that despite still being just 24 years old and, reportedly, fully healthy, he’s slowed down pretty significantly even from his time playing hurt.
PORTLAND, ME - SEPTEMBER 05: Blake Wehunt #37 of the Portland Sea Dogs pitches during the game between the Erie SeaWolves and the Portland Sea Dogs at Hadlock Field on Friday, September 5, 2025 in Portland, Maine. (Photo by Ella Hannaford/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The Woo Sox used up all of their firepower in the first inning on Thursday night against the Red Wings (WAS). Anthony Siegler’s three-run double, and Allan Castro’s RBI single gave Worcester a 4-0 lead after one, before Rochester got the final nine runs.
Primarily a reliever, Jacob Webb got the start, allowing three runs in 2 ⅔ innings. The loss went to Devin Sweet, who gave up the go-ahead run in the fourth inning.
Castro and Tsung-Che Cheng had two hits for the Woo Sox, with Braiden Ward picking up his 23rd stolen base of the season.
Not sure in how much detail you may have looked at that box score, but yes that says 20 strikeouts in total underneath the Sea Dogs pitchers on Thursday. They were not playing a high school team, this was the double-A team from Reading (PHI), which has the same number of wins as Portland so far this season.
Blake Wehunt got things going by throwing five innings and getting the win, while striking out 11 batters. He did so in a nice and tidy 69 pitches, which seems mathematically impossible. Patrick Halligan was in relief of Wehunt, with all six of his outs retired coming via the strikeout. Cooper Adams got the save, striking out three more in two innings.
Though the Sea Dogs only had four hits in the victory, three of those came from shortstop Marvin Alcantara. Their lone run came in the bottom of the third, on a Nate Baez RBI groundout.
Each of the other two levels was postponed on Thursday, due to rain.
Greenville at Frederick will play a doubleheader beginning at 5:00 ET on Friday. Devin Futrell (2-0, 4.35 ERA) will throw the first game for the Drive.
Salem at Hill City will also play a Friday doubleheader, kicking off at 4:00. Leighton Finley (2-1, 4.05) gets the ball in game one for the RidgeYaks.
KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 22: Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro answers questions during a press conference before a MLB game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals on April 22, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Kansas City Royals are in midst of an awful streak, having lost 11 of their last 14 games. During the streak, the main culprit has been the offense, as they’ve scored 3.07 runs per game.
Unfortunately, this inability to score runs is also part of a season-long struggle to put together runs. On the year, they are scoring 3.88 runs per game, which ranks 28th out of the 30 Major League Baseball clubs. It is extremely difficult to consistently win baseball games when you can’t score, which is reflected in the Royals’ record of 20-30.
A particularly frustrating aspect of the Royals offense has been the baserunning. They have the fourth-lowest stolen base success rate in the league. They have made the fourth-most non-stolen base outs in the league. Overall, the Royals make outs on the bases at the third highest rate in the whole league.
On Tuesday, I was covering the game as a credentialed reporter. It was not a good contest, as the Royals were blown out by the Boston Red Sox. And, somewhat unsurprisingly, Kansas City made a pair of outs on the bases and once again struggled to score. At the end of every game, there is a postgame press conference with manager Matt Quatraro down in the media room outside the Royals clubhouse, and the bad offense and odorous baserunning would surely be topics of discussion.
They were. I recorded the interview, and I have some thoughts. Below is a majority of the interview that Q gave. Everything below is in sequential order, but I will note when I skipped a portion of the interview and what was talked about just for context.
After an initial inquiry about the pitching, we get to the first question about the offense.
Anne Rogers, MLB.com: Offensively you get the run in the first, but what kind of adjustments did they make with Suarez and then the bullpen shut you guys down later?
Quatraro: I thought our bats against Suarez were good. I mean, he was at 70-something pitches after four innings. I mean, the guys didn’t expand with him. They laid off some tough pitches. Obviously he puts the ball on the ground. That’s what he does really well. But as far as the competitiveness of those at bats and what the guys got him out of there in the fifth inning, it was working pretty good.
Immediately afterwards, we get into a lengthy discussion about baserunning:
Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star: Can you take us through just some of the base running today, particularly Maikel Garcia in the fifth inning and then Lane Thomas later in the game?
Quatraro: Yeah. Well, I mean, start with Lane in the first inning, the hustle double getting to second base, setting up a second and third situation there. So that was a positive from him going hard out of the box. He’s got a green light to steal and in a situation where obviously we’re struggling to score runs, that’s a split second from being him standing up on third. The guy held the ball a split second longer and got us. So that was a tough break there. And Maikel reads the high throw out of the guy’s hand, he launched the throw and the catcher did a good job of throwing him out at second.
Rogers: Just to be clear, you do like that aggressiveness from Garcia going to second?
Quatraro: Yeah. When you read a throw like that, I mean that’s what everybody’s taught to do. You read that throw launch out of his hand like that, you go.
Rogers: I think metrically that you guys grade out pretty well baserunning this year in terms of extra bases taken and some of the stolen bases, but do you feel like those, I don’t know if you’d call those two mistakes tonight. Do you feel like they’re magnified more when you’re not scoring?
Quatraro: Sure. And at the same time you have to try to create some things when you’re struggling to score a run. So with every opportunity there’s also a chance to be thrown out and it feels bad when it doesn’t work out. But at the same time, like I said, like you accentuate the one in the first inning if we come through there and put up a crooked number or maybe the game has a totally different complexion. But yeah, I’m not going to sit here and tell you it doesn’t hurt when it doesn’t work out your way. But at the same time, if you’re trying to be aggressive and make some things, create some opportunities for yourselves on the bases, you got to do that.
Kurtis Seaboldt, 810 Sports: From a philosophical standpoint, can you be too aggressive on the base paths? What would that be?
Quatraro: Yeah, sure. I mean, if you’re just running without any regard for the game situation and those kinds of things, but yeah, for sure.
After some questions about the defense, the umpire review, and some more pitching, we got back to the offense.
Rogers: Just offensively, I know you guys are searching for answers searching for consistency. Where do you think that lies in terms of: Is it approach? Is it the mentality? Is it the personnel? I mean, where do you feel like the answer could be?
Quatraro: Well, I don’t know if there’s one answer. I think the mentality is good. I mean these guys are preparing, their execution, thoughts about the game plan and the approach are really solid. They’re competitive. These guys are between every at bat trying to make adjustments. Unfortunately it hasn’t stacked together. For 10 days, two weeks we were trending pretty good there offensively and then this last week’s been rougher and it’s been a grind, but I mean these guys are good players and with the ability to bounce back and that’s what we’re counting on.
Seaboldt: You’re around the major league average in almost every offensive category with the exception of runs scored. Is that a situation where if those other numbers stay there, the runs will eventually come. It really seems like it’s something you really can’t address.
Quatraro: Yeah. I mean I’m glad you brought that up because yeah, we look at that stuff all the time and even the underlying numbers as far as hard hit and those kinds of things, they are there and it’s just a matter of—I hate saying that just because it’s not that easy, but you know, cashing in some of those opportunities, we talk about that a lot in here, right? You got to give yourself the opportunity first and then you have to figure out how to put that best at bat together when you have it.
And finally, not pleased with Quatraro’s answers so far and wanting to push for a real answer, I asked again about the baserunning at the end of the presser.
Matt LaMar, Royals Review: You mentioned the hustle double earlier. A large part of the attitude of the team is aggression, but the Royals are third in the league in total outs on the bases this year. How do you sort of reconcile with ‘we want to be aggressive’ versus ‘we’re making a lot of outs on the base paths when maybe we don’t have to?’
Quatraro: Yeah. I mean, again, I think not all of those are going to be equal, right? Because some of them are talking about stolen base opportunities. Some of them are talking about things like tonight where the aggressiveness is warranted and some of them were much earlier in the season as well. We need to create opportunities. So we have to try to do things like that because we’re not hitting a bunch of homers. Our offense has to be predicated on some of the aggressiveness on the bases and sometimes you’re going to make those outs.
Thoughts on the interview
The Royals have played poorly all year. They are objectively a poor offense and were an objectively a poor offense last year, when their 4.02 runs per game ranked 26th in MLB. They have objectively ran into a high rate of outs on the basepaths. Their run differential lines up with their actual win-loss record. And they’ve done this while the vast majority of the team has stayed healthy.
All of this is important context, because there is a big underlying question here: why are the Royals bad? What is their plan to improve it? And what do they think about all of this? These are, ultimately, the queries that Quatraro—and by extension the front office, who are in lockstep with Quatraro on important decisions—was posed on Tuesday.
And I don’t know about you, but I get a distinct vibe from Q’s answers, and that vibe is “Yeah, bad things are happening to the Royals in these games, but it’ll all turn around eventually.” This is an extraordinarily frustrating position for the team to take because it feels like an abdication of responsibility. Nowhere in the press conference did Quatraro say that something was a mistake or that the Royals players or coaching need to do better.
From a baserunning perspective, this is clearest in his talk of aggression—that the Royals need to be aggressive and that outs on the bases just happen when you’re aggressive. When I specifically mentioned that the Royals have the third most outs made on the bases, Q brushed it off because “not all of those are going to be equal” and “sometimes you’re going to make those outs.” And from a batting perspective, Q lauded the team’s mentality, preparation, and execution.
But something just doesn’t add up. Bad teams don’t become bad on accident, and yet it feels like the Royals aren’t really convinced that they’re even bad at the things they’re bad at. It would be very, very easy for Quatraro to say something like this about the baserunning: “We want to stay aggressive. It’s part of our identity. But we need to be better at execution.” It’s easy to say about the offense: “Our underlying metrics look good, but at some point you have to perform and we didn’t do that.”
There just seems to be a huge disconnect going on between what the Royals see themselves as and what they are. I worry that the organization operates with too much faith in its own process and too much fear in making a change. Would moving Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen into the top four spots in the lineup really move the needle? Maybe, maybe not. Would firing Matt Quatraro or Alec Zumwalt really result in better coaching or preparation? Maybe, maybe not. But you’re rapidly approaching the point where the risk for an awful lot of moves is vastly outweighed by the potential reward, and the worst thing the Royals can do right now is nothing.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 20: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder look on during Game Two of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 20, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We anticipated an epic clash of titans before the Western Conference Finals even began, and we’re getting it after two intense battles in OKC between the Spurs and Thunder. Mark Daigneault made some impressive moves to change things up in Game 2 after the Spurs stole Game 1, and now the series comes to San Antonio all tied up but with injury questions lingering for both squads. With that, I continue Fraternizing with the Enemy, in this round Cray Allred of the Daily Thunder, as we discuss what those chess moves were and what we can expect in Game 3.
As a reminder, this round is in honor of the late great J.A. Sherman: friend and former manager of Welcome to Loud City, who passed away last year at the age of 49.
J.R.
It’s never been a stretch to call playoff basketball a chess match. (I’ll bet someone made the comparison as far back as the 60’s.) But if it’s largely true, then it’ll be specifically true for any series. If it’s definitely true, then it’ll be phenomenally true for a series that conventional wisdom said would be epic before it even began. So let’s look at the chess moves made by the coaches and the players Wednesday night.
In order to fully evaluate a game of chess, you have to understand the context in which it was played. Same with basketball, so the place setting for Game 2 includes a quick cap of Game 1. The Spurs didn’t play particularly well with tons of turnovers and poor shooting but OKC shot well from deep. SA dominated the glass and got 10 more free throws. Chapagnie, Vassell, Harper, and Castle shot 8-33 from 3pt and the Spurs still won. SGA had what could be expected to be his worst game of the series; San Antonio turned the ball over a ton and hemorrhaged transition points, but won anyway, which set up round two in Oklahoma.
The biggest move from Game 1 to Game 2 was MD’s decision to place one of his knights, Hartenstein, on the opposition’s queen, Wemby, with the instructions that no holds are barred. This was the biggest move of the game and all others pale by comparison. Freed from having to defend the pivot, the other knight, Caruso, was a terror all over the court. Knights move oddly, show up where they’re not expected, and are difficult to nail down. The incisive use of Thunder’s supplemental pieces tilted the game their way.
But the match wasn’t decided. The rooks were in play, and they were making themselves felt when one was taken out from each side. JDub and Harper left the game with injuries and without being able to expect either’s return, the series will likely not be the same. Without a major piece to support his most powerful piece, Daigneault leaned on SGA, his most powerful piece, and was not disappointed.
What did you see as the second match went to the home team, and what do you expect from match number three?
Cray:
I love the chess analogy, but I’d call Game 2 closer to a round of “Chesskers: We Gave the Checkers a Pieces a Gun” (yes, that’s a real game). Hartenstein didn’t just provide more physicality against Wemby; he applied all his might to block, hold, lane screen, pull, smack, pin, and spend as many hard playoff fouls as the refs afforded him. That he hit some pretty moonball floaters over Wemby’s umbilicals made him look a little more like a chess piece at times. That Daigneault didn’t just use his championship starting center to guard the tallest starting center in the NBA *at all* for Game 1 made the adjustment less brilliant.
And who better to fill in for both Spurs Rooks than San Antonio’s Castle? Well, Stephon Castle is more of a gunslinger than a finesse piece. The guy is powerful, applying enough brute force and speed to keep Shai from breaking into space, and yamming all over Hartenstein for one of the fiercest dunks of the season (iHart’s hair pull on Castle, if even 1% accidentally-on-purpose, was the furthest thing from a power move). Castle can sling lethal passes to the corners and lob grenades for Wemby to detonate from the highest rung of the ladder, but he can’t keep a live dribble or make clean passes against the Thunder pack of defenders for the duration of the game. Now averaging 10 turnovers in the series, Castle is being tasked with work that De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper have been underappreciated for.
In the 18 minutes Castle shared the court with Harper, the Spurs were +6. In his other 20 minutes, they were -17. When Caruso and Cason Wallace smell blood, ball handlers are never safe.
If Williams is out, Daigneault won’t even have the Mighty Mouse in the House option outside of Alex Caruso’s minutes. I expect the Spurs to find ways to get Wemby back on the prowl, and/or for different officiating crews to blow the whistle more. Wembanyama earned about 7 fewer free throws per-36 than normal, and SGA was down about 4 attempts per-36. I also expect San Antonio to get a needed boost of energy from their home crowd after such a demanding open to the series. They have to be tired. Shoot, I’m tired just watching.
Both teams seem poised to maintain sky-high intensity all series, but now it’s OKC’s turn to try and keep their oomph for 48 minutes on the road. They’ll need another night of steady shotmaking to steal the first in San Antonio, and not just from Shai. And as fluid and effective as the Spurs have been flying around on defense, they haven’t generated many of the live ball turnovers that can power huge runs and overwhelm the opponent.
Get ready for the weekend with a trio of NRFI/YRFI bets for Friday, May 22!
My top MLB picks call for a low-scoring first frame between the Cleveland Guardians and Philadelphia Phillies, with the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels also blanking the first inning to wrap up my betting card.
Williams has held opposing hitters to a .222 batting average while tossing a scoreless first inning in seven of 10 starts, and it’s been a similar story for Sanchez. The southpaw has pitched a scoreless first in eight of 10 starts with a 2.70 ERA.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSP, CLEG
Mariners at Royals: NRFI (-121)
The Kansas City Royals have scored in the opening inning in just 24% of their games, tied for sixth-lowest in the majors.
Although Seattle Mariners starter Logan Gilbert has been hit for a 1.045 OPS in the first inning, he posted a .645 mark in 2025, making this a great spot for the righty to flip the early script.
Seattle also ranks 29th in wOBA against left-handed starters, and Royals southpaw Noah Cameron has fired a scoreless first inning in six of eight starts.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ROYL, SEAM
Team at Team: Rangers at Angels: NRFI (-127)
While it might be asking a lot to back Los Angeles Angels right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, the Texas Rangers have scored in the first inning at the eighth-lowest rate in baseball this season. Rodriguez also held the Los Angeles Dodgers scoreless in the first inning in his season debut last time out.
Rangers righty Jacob deGrom is also due for some statistical correction in the opening frame. He’s allowed four first-inning home runs with a 1.010 OPS, but considering he’s surrendered just 10 total homers and a .625 OPS overall, those early struggles should start to subside.
Time: 9:38 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ABTV, CW33
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
NRFI/YRFI picks: 6-10, -4.27 units
What is a NRFI bet?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.
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.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 21: Josh Hart #3 reacts after scoring a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter of the New York Knicks in Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last night the five-man lineup that’s caught more flack than any in the NBA for two years led the New York Knicks to a 109-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, a 2-0 lead in the conference finals and their ninth straight playoff win. For a little more than half the game, neither team led by double-digits; for the last 20 or so, the Knicks did almost entirely. In the process, they’ve presented their opponents with an all-new kind of nightmare.
Three years ago, the Cavs were eliminated in five games by the Knicks. Two years ago, it was 4-1 Celtics. Last year the gentleman’s sweep came courtesy of the Pacers. Now the only double-apron payroll in all the land — whose all-in move was trading a quicksilver 26-year-old All-Star point guard (albeit once in the past four years) for a molasses-legged 37-year-old All-Star point guard (albeit once in the past four years) — are in danger of being swept in a decidedly un-gentlemanly manner by a Knick team that marries the traits of Cleveland’s past three conquistadors.
You wouldn’t know off of last night, when no Knick starter played fewer than 32 minutes and Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell were the only Cavs to play more, but the Knicks are the deeper team. Their much-maligned starting five are the superior quintet. Jalen Brunson’s better than Mitchell. Karl-Anthony Towns clears Evan Mobley. James Harden is a first-ballot HOFer, but in 2026 OG Anunoby is the better player. I’d grant you Jarrett Allen may have done more over 82 games for his team than Mikal Bridges did for his, but in the playoffs Bridges has played like he’s worth 10 draft picks. And while Dean Wade looks better with a mustache-less beard than most, Josh Hart looks better doing everything else.
Two years ago New York were down to three healthy players and a couple assistant coaches by Game 7 against Indiana. Last year the Knicks ran seven-deep. This series, 10 Knicks have played in both games for a total 14-plus minutes, to just eight Cavs. If that doesn’t seem like much of a difference, multiply it by two or three, depending how long this series goes. Then square it by this: since April Fool’s Day, the Knicks have played 17 games and flown three times, all to Atlanta; the Cavs have played 22 (including two Game 7s) and flown nine times. It adds up.
In 2025 the Cavs ran into a Celtic squad on its way to the title. That Boston team featured a five-out offense, with each starter a two-way player. The only answer to that kind of firepower is to feature a five-out offense with five two-way players yourself, but that ain’t easy; if it were, the Mavs would’ve already tried and failed to re-invent it.
Hart’s growth as a shooter, crystallized by last night’s John Starks-like explosion from deep, plus the presence of shooters like Miles McBride, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson — all two-way players — means the Knicks can play five-out whenever they want. The only time they don’t is when Mitchell Robinson is gobbling 50% of the available offensive rebounds. Pick your poison. Either way, the Cavs look sick.
The 2023 Knicks were just plain tougher than the 2023 “Lights Too Bright” Cavaliers. Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert — those are total sweeties. Meanwhile those Knicks featured the sinister, sinewy musculature of RJ Barrett and Julius Randle, plus granite block Isaiah Hartenstein. If you landed from the planet Xylar at the start of that series and just looked at the Earthlings for each squadron, you’d know who was gonna win.
And that, beyond Brunson’s brilliance and Hart’s heroics and KAT contorting the very question of what is and isn’t possible for an NBA offense, is the subatomica powering the Knicks to their 2-0 lead: their power.
In one of the few moments last night when the fourth-quarter lead was double to single-digits, and the game was a Cav three away from squeaky-bum time, OG Anunoby went baseline and got to the basket and just powered the ball through the hoop. It wasn’t a dunk. Wasn’t a lay-up or a floater. It was just literally like when three little kids are all giggling and hanging on their dad’s arm, trying to hold it down, and he just pulls whatever strength he needs from whatever reservoir he has and raises it. The arm doesn’t flow with the grace of its usual freedom, nor struggle or tremble beneath the added weight. It is simply what is going to be, visibly being.
These Knicks are big and strong and good. All of them. Brunson is a power point. Hart’s a 4 that’s tough enough to play 5 in the body of a 2. KAT is big and brilliant and beautiful. This playoff offense has spawned some interesting new species. Por ejemplo: what is this feeling when the ball moves around and Towns of all people is wiiiiide-open? When Towns-as-shooter is an afterthought, given how good he and his teammates look with him doing more with less?
Could there be any sweeter justice from the basketball gods than Towns becoming a superior version of his envious troll, Draymond Green: a brilliant passing big and face-up fulcrum, plus he can actually shoot? And work out of the post?
Donovan Mitchell moved for much of the game like something isn’t 100%. He refuses to confirm that, as you’d expect from anyone in his position. During the game, Kenny Atkinson confirmed to ESPN — during the game! — that he, the coach of the Cavaliers, the team Mitchell plays for, agreed that Mitchell looked off.
WHAT?!
How is that real??
Quoth DWilTheKnicksfan: “Finish strong.” The Knicks continue to play strong. They put the Hawks to the sword the first chance they got, and Games 3 and 4 in Philadelphia were your classic no-rope, no-hope one-two. The Cavs are going to play their best* game of the season tomorrow. Elimination games are almost always the hardest to win, but trying to go up 3-0 is often the same energy.
In my lifetime the Knicks have taken 2-0 leads in the ECF twice. In 1993 they followed that up with four straights Ls. In 1994 they lost the next three, before rallying to win the last two. Normally I’d say this time I’ll settle for a split, but today I wouldn’t.
I don’t think that does these Knicks enough credit. They can finish this in four, both because they are in fact that good, and because these Cavaliers do not exactly have a 2004 Red Sox vibe to them.
The Knicks have learned what works the past few seasons and now represent the best of what the East has been. If they can finish the Cavaliers off sooner than later, they can rest before pitting their best against the West’s.
There’s a potential playoff lookahead as two of the best teams in the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers, begin a three-game weekend series on Friday.
With two effective hurlers on the mound in Justin Wrobleski and Logan Henderson, my Dodgers vs. Brewers predictions envision a low-scoring contest.
Read on for my full analysis and MLB picks for Friday, May 22.
Who will win Dodgers vs Brewers today: Dodgers (-106)
Justin Wrobleski has experienced a breakout start, notching two more wins (6) than any other hurler on the Los Angeles Dodgers, with a single loss to show for it. He carries a 2.49 ERA and 1.03 WHIP while avoiding walks (5.9% BB%) and home runs (0.36 HR/9).
The Milwaukee Brewers have struggled to hit southpaws all season, ranking 26th in wRC+ (78) and 27th in wOBA (.283).
That contrasts greatly with L.A.’s numbers against righties — second in both wRC+ (120) and wOBA (.345) — so the edge goes to the Boys in Blue.
COVERS INTEL:Milwaukee’s struggles against LHP are backed up by their poor batted ball metrics. Its lineup hits soft grounders (first in groundball rate, 26th in hard-hit rate) and rarely goes deep (28th in HR/FB).
Dodgers vs Brewers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-110)
It’ll be cold (56 degrees) and windy (11 mph blowing in toward first base) day at American Family Field, which already has the sixth-lowest Park Factor (97) of any venue.
That’s pitching weather if I’ve ever seen it, and it’ll benefit two effective starters.
Logan Henderson is a budding star, notching a 2.49 ERA across his first nine starts. That’s supported by a 114 Pitching+ and a robust 26.5% K-BB% that would rank second among qualified starters.
These are the top two bullpens in FIP this month (Milwaukee 2.36, LA 2.45), and both are well-rested after Thursday’s off day.
J.D. Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 14-16, -6.53 units
Over/Under bets: 23-8, +14.64 units
Dodgers vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Los Angeles -103 | Milwaukee -107
Run line: Los Angeles -1.5 (+152) | Milwaukee +1.5 (-168)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-103) | Under 8.5 (-107)
Dodgers vs Brewers trend
The Dodgers have cashed the Under in five of Justin Wrobleski’s seven starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Brewers.
How to watch Dodgers vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Friday, May 22, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet LA, Brewers.TV
Dodgers starting pitcher
Justin Wrobleski (6-1, 2.49 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Logan Henderson (1-1, 3.50 ERA)
Dodgers vs Brewers latest injuries
Dodgers vs Brewers 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.
New York, N.Y.: New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) dribbles against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) in 2nd quarter during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 23, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
Welcome to the conference finals and the last step to see who goes to the NBA Finals.
If you’re wondering who to root for in the Conference Finals as we near the end of the playoffs this season, you are in luck.
Let’s have a look at the teams in the conference finals and how they match up.
Knicks vs. Cavaliers
Both teams are led on offense by high usage guards. Both teams have a front court that has a floor spacing four and a defensive five. On the wings, there are 3-and-D players. While the teams are similar in roster make-up, the way they play makes this matchup different from what one would expect.
Both the Knicks and the Cavaliers are in the top five in playoff scoring. The Knicks are second and the Cavs are fifth with 119.9 and 109.9 points per game, respectively.
Jalen Brunson leads the Knicks in scoring at 27.6 points per game. Donovan Mitchell, in contrast, averages 29 points per game for Cleveland.
Karl Anthony Towns and Evan Mobley lead their teams in rebounding with 10.5 and 14 rebounds per game, respectively. The combined rebounding of KAT, Hart and Mitchell Robinson propels them to the fourth spot as a team in the playoffs.
The series will be decided on if the Cavs can slow down the Knicks from continuing their playoff-leading shooting from the field and three. The Cavs are leading the playoffs in 3-pointers made. Which teams can slow down the scoring in those areas will be the main deciding factor for this series.
Game 3: New York at Cleveland | Saturday May 23 (8 ET, ESPN)
Game 4: New York at Cleveland | Monday May 25 (8 ET, ESPN)
Game 5: Cleveland at New York | Wednesday May 27 (8 ET, ESPN)*
Game 6: New York at Cleveland | Friday May 29 (8 ET, ESPN)*
Game 7: Cleveland at New York | Sunday May 31 (8 ET, ESPN)
Thunder vs. Spurs
This is a series mainly focused on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama and on how the teams will defend them. The Thunder will have Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and, at times, will have Alex Caruso defending Wemby. On the Spurs side, they have Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell to defend SGA.
Both SGA and Wemby lead their respective teams in most stats, including in scoring. Wemby leads the Spurs in rebounding while SGA leads his team in assists. Castle and Hartenstein are the other two players leading their sides in stats with assists and rebounding, respectively.
Both teams are in the top three in points in the playoffs. The Thunder lead the playoffs with 26.6 in assists and the Spurs lead in rebounding and blocks. with 48.4 and 7.9, respectively. The Thunder and Spurs are very close in field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, made 3-pointers and free throw percentage.
The main factors in this series will be slowing down field goals on drives. The Spurs will have to continue their fast break scoring, where they average 16.5 points per game. Despite the Thunder being second in the playoffs in steals, they are not in the top five in fast break points. San Antonio is leading the playoffs in points in the paint.
Finally, the Spurs need to keep their league-leading defensive rating going of 103.9. The Thunder, despite having the defensive talent, are not in the top five in the playoffs in defensive rating. On the other side of the court, the Thunder lead in offensive rating at 123.4 while the Spurs third at 116.3.
So, if the Spurs can slow down the Thunder’s 3-point shooting and double SGA, they can make the series pretty close.
Game 7: San Antonio at Oklahoma City | Saturday May 30 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)*
My Predictions
Knicks in 6 games
Spurs in 6 games
If you want to discuss anything, you can do so below. I will update this thread as the two conference finals series continue. In the meantime, you can share your thoughts of the conference Finals in the comments below.
When I am not posting ridiculous trades on here you can find me talking about Nintendo, LGBT content, music, and the Lakers on my Twitter. You can follow Alexis on Twitter at @BeautifulShy_RSand on BlueSky at @msshyskye.bsky.social.
While the Carolina Hurricanes' early qualification for the Eastern Conference Final gave them plenty of time to rest, it also gave the Montreal Canadiens plenty of time to prepare for them. Not that Martin St-Louis started preparing his men before eliminating the Buffalo Sabres, but the bench boss knows how to delegate and use his staff.
We’ve not heard a lot about Alex Burrow since he stepped down as an assistant coach back in July 2024, but he still works for the Habs as a player development consultant, and last night, St-Louis gave him some credit for the Canadiens’ win in Game 1:
We knew for a long time that if he got through Buffalo, we were playing Carolina. Obviously, our analytics people, but also Alex Burrows, does a lot of that grunt work for us, and he worked hard while we were trying to close out the series against Buffalo. You have to be careful when giving players so much information in a short amount of time; pick a couple of things and try to address them. That’s what we did. I [...] We didn’t take so much time that we took the instinct out of our players. You know that it’s going to be a long series; you have to get better through it. You don’t have to be perfect; you have to find ways. But we did talk about a few things we needed to address before we jumped into this series.
Once again in this series, St-Louis likes to give credit where credit is due. In the previous round, he credited Marco Marciano with a key decision when it came to goaltending, and in this one, he sang Burrows’ praises.
Watching the Canadiens counter-attack in the first frame, it was obvious that they had been well briefed about how the Hurricanes would attack and where the holes would be. It looked extremely easy for the Habs’ forward to create odd-man rush opportunities, and that allowed their skill players to have time to work their magic. Ivan Demidov came down in front of Frederik Anderson all on his lonesome and had plenty of time to use his fancy stickwork.
When Cole Caufield scored the first goal, it looked like he used the puck as bait, throwing it in the opposite corner, knowing that Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky would go in to retrieve it, but also that the Hurricanes would go to it like a moth to a flame. That’s exactly what happened. Four of the Canes five players converged toward the puck, leaving the sniper all alone to not only receive Slafkovsky’s pass, but also cut to the middle of the zone to give himself a better angle.
Montreal shouldn’t expect things to be so easy in Game 2; however, the Canes looked like the Habs did in their first game against the Sabres and coach Rod Brind’Amour confirmed that:
We weren't ready for the pace... Give (Montreal) credit, they made plays. They made plays, and they got us, but I didn't really know what we were doing.
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It will be interesting to see how the Hurricanes adjust in Game 2, as they’ll want to tie the series before heading to Montreal for Game 3 on Monday night.
NEW YORK - CIRCA 1987: Tommy John #25 of the New York Yankees poses for this portrait prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game circa 1987 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. John played for the Yankees from 1979-82 and 1986-89. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the baseball canon, Tommy John’s name gets used with more frequency and gravity than almost any one else’s. Unlike some of the other cemented names in the game’s history, John’s recognition comes largely from reasons outside of his play. Now, this does make sense, given the importance of the surgery that bears his name, but it’s also perhaps a bit unfair, as the left-hander was a very good, and sometimes great, pitcher in the big leagues for the better part of three decades.
A four-time All-Star who enjoyed a run of particular run of excellence in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, John made his mark on and off the field, as a monument of longevity, and of course, providing the name to the procedure that forever changed the game.
Tommy John Born: May 22, 1943 (Terre Haute, IN) Yankees Tenure: 1979-82, 1986-89
Born in Indiana in 1943, Thomas Edward John would be pitching in the Major Leagues 46 years later, taking a route that was anything but straightforward.
He made his big league debut back in 1963 with Cleveland, as a spry 20-year-old. The lefty spent two decent-but-brief seasons in Cleveland, before being shipped to the South Side of Chicago in a three-team trade. He had his first great season with the White Sox in ‘68, when he managed a sub-2 ERA and made his first All-Star team.
Prior to the 1972 season, Tommy John was traded to the Dodgers in as high-profile a one-for-one trade as you will see, sent in exchange for Dick Allen. Allen immediately went and won the MVP award in ‘72, but John did his best to match it, entering the best and most significant stretch of his career. His first two seasons in L.A. saw him pitch over 400 combined innings with a neat and tidy 3.00 ERA.
While John had already established himself as a reliable and highly effective starter, his fame would skyrocket for the wrong reasons in the mid-’70s. After an excellent start to the 1974 campaign, the lefty had to leave mid-game in a July start against the Expos. John heard a pop and had significant pain in his throwing elbow; he would not return for the rest of the season. An external doctor told John that it was a career-ending injury, having torn his UCL, though Dodgers’ team doctor Frank Jobe had different plans. He performed the now universally known and eponymous reconstructive surgery, using a tendon from John’s wrist and placing it in his throwing elbow. It was a leap of faith, with the procedure never being done on an athlete, but it was a resounding success. John missed all of the ‘75 season, but ultimately returned, pitching 14 more seasons following the procedure, and of course, paving the way for thousands of other hurlers.
Following the famed procedure, the veteran starter returned for his age-33 season, and was just as good as ever. In fact, it would mark the beginning of the finest stretch of his career. The lefty pitched three more seasons with the Dodgers, working well over 200 innings in each, finishing second in Cy Young voting in ‘77, and making another All-Star team during that stretch. Following another excellent run in 1978, the 15-year veteran hit free agency for the first time, when he signed a three-year deal with the Yankees.
Upon arrival, the impact John had was immediately clear. In 1979, He set a career high with 276.1 innings pitched, doing so at a very high level, managing a sub-3 ERA, notching his first 20-win campaign, and once again finishing second in Cy Young voting. Now several years removed from his revolutionary surgery, the doubt that shadowed him was rightfully subdued.
When the 1980s rolled around, John had entered his late-30s, but he remained near the top of his game. He tossed a whopping 265.1 innings, he won another 22 games, and made his fourth (and third consecutive) All-Star team. In 1981, despite his medical history and 40th birthday beginning to knock on the door, John continued to deal. Although he pitched in just 140.1 innings, thanks to a strike and a frightening medical scare with one of his sons, it was one of his best seasons from a run prevention standpoint, posting a 2.63 ERA in the shortened campaign.
During his initial stretch in New York, he did his part in the postseason as well, particularly in 1981. That year, he was the winning pitcher in Game 1 of the ALCS, stymieing the A’s with six innings of one-run ball. Then in Game 2 of the World Series against the Dodgers that season, John tossed seven shutout frames and did not allow a baserunner to reach until the fifth inning.
Tommy John was traded to the Angels in August of 1982, and despite being 39 at the time, he still had plenty of baseball ahead of him. He pitched in parts of four seasons for the Angels, not quite meeting his standards of performance, but continuing to pitch plenty of innings. After a brief and disappointing finish to the ‘85 season with Oakland, John once again defied the odds and continued to pitch for four more seasons after.
All of this time came in a return to the Yankees. He even posted a sub-3 ERA in over 70 innings in ‘86, and tossed 187.2 innings a year later at the age of 44. Tommy John would pitch his final game at 46-years-old in the 1989 season with New York.
Tommy John’s career and legacy in the baseball world is as significant as some of the biggest names in the game. While that may be primarily for reasons aside from his playing ability, the lefty was a terrific pitcher, and was generally as durable as they come for multiple decades. His eponymous surgery is certainly vital to baseball history, but John should also be remembered as an excellent pitcher, who pitched more than 4,700 Major League innings.
Here’s to a happy 83rd birthday to one of baseball’s biggest names!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
RALEIGH, N.C. — The off days added up for the Carolina Hurricanes after they swept their way to another Eastern Conference Final, leading to the longest between-rounds playoff break in more than a century.
They started out like a team that had been waiting around nearly for two weeks, too. And that has them in yet another hole in the playoff round that keeps growing into a bigger roadblock.
The Hurricanes emerged from their 11-day break, the longest rest for any team before starting the next playoff run since at least 1920, by watching the Montreal Canadiens pounce for four goals in the first 11-plus minutes. That set the tone in what would become a 6-2 victory to open the best-of-seven series.
Along the way, the team that had gone 8-0 through two playoff rounds while not allowing more than two goals in any game repeatedly racked up defensive breakdowns and missed assignments while watching the Canadiens get loose in open ice for high-end chances.
“We lost the game from the start,” Carolina captain Jordan Staal said. “Obviously, giving them that many freebies, any team is going to make you pay, especially at this time of year. There wasn’t enough respect for them. They played a great game. They were ready to roll and we weren’t.”
That will only further fuel the rest-versus-rust discussion that had followed the team since closing out Philadelphia on May 9, when the wait began for Montreal to close out Buffalo in a seven-game battle. It turned out the Hurricanes were both rested (Seth Jarvis scored an opening-minute goal for a quick start) and rusty (giving up a bevy of high-end scoring chances).
Even Canadiens center Jake Evans noted: “That’s a really unique circumstance to be off however many days.”
“I don’t think that had anything to do with it,” Jarvis said about the break. “I think it was just a lack of awareness and just us not being ready to go right from the puck drop.”
It was a jarring start to the series for the Hurricanes, and that was beyond the 4-1 deficit after Ivan Demidov went forehand-backhand-forehand to beat Frederik Andersen on a breakaway. Rather, it was more about the efficiency with which the Canadiens carved up Carolina’s defense.
Carolina has thrived with an aggressive forecheck and puck possession that pressures opponents in the offensive zone while minimizing chances going the other way. The approach has fueled an eight-year postseason run, along with finishing behind only Presidents’ Trophy-winner Colorado in this year.
Then the Hurricanes closed out Ottawa and Philadelphia, becoming the first team to sweep the first two rounds since the NHL went to best-of-seven series for all four rounds in 1987. They didn’t trail at any point in the first five games. They rolled behind a scorching-hot line of Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake to offset a quiet offensive showing from the Jarvis-Sebastian Aho-Andrei Svechnikov top line. And Andersen had been elite in making every key stop.
Little of that form showed.
“We weren’t ready, we weren’t mentally ready to play at that (level) we had been playing,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Everything was just a little off and they’re a very, very talented team. Obviously, some of them were just blown coverages that I don’t know what we were thinking.”
The Canadiens were teeming with confidence after winning a Game 7 on the road against Tampa Bay, then doing it again in overtime against the Sabres.
Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said the team’s analytics staff put in early scouting work on the Hurricanes while the team was battling through the Buffalo series. The Canadiens sure looked prepared in another rowdy and hostile environment, effectively moving the puck out of danger against Carolina’s aggressive pressure early to set up clean breakouts and multiple breakaway chances at Andersen.
Meanwhile, Brind’Amour noted it was a “tough” night for multiple of Carolina’s top players. That includes defenseman Jaccob Slavin, who finished at minus-4.
Worse, this only adds to the growing weight of the Hurricanes’ struggles in the Eastern Conference Final. This is the team’s third appearance in four years and fourth time in the current eight-season playoff run under Brind’Amour. The Hurricanes are now 1-13 in those games, including sweeps against Boston in 2019 and Florida in 2023.
“I think we just toss this game to be honest,” Brind’Amour said. “I hate that this time of year that’s what we’ve got to do. But there wasn’t much to grab on to there.”
NEW YORK — New York Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham was relieved that tests did not reveal any structural damage to his left knee a day after he exited a game in the fifth inning.
“Last night I was pretty optimistic just with how I was feeling there would be no structural damage but still good to get the news,” Grisham said before the Yankees concluded a four-game series against Toronto.
Grisham grimaced at second base after his bloop double fell between left fielder Yohendrick Piñango and third baseman Kazuma Okamoto in the second inning Wednesday of a 2-1 loss.
The 29-year-old remained in the game until Spencer Jones replaced him in center in the fifth. Jones made his second start in center Thursday after playing 22 games there for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Grisham is hitting .174 with six homers and 27 RBIs. While his batting average is the fourth-lowest in the majors among qualifying hitters, Grisham has the third-most RBIs among center fielders.
Acquired from the Padres in December of 2023 along with Juan Soto, Grisham returned to the Yankees on the one-year, $22,025,000 qualifying offer in the offseason after batting .235 with a career-high 34 homers and 74 RBIs in 143 games.
Victor Wembanyama
Ajay Mitchell
Martin Necas
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COVERS INTEL:
