Season in Review: Oso Ighodaro proved his doubters wrong

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 27: Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns looks on before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we revisit every player who suited up during the 2025–26 campaign through the lens of expectation, reality, and what it ultimately meant.

Player Snapshot

  • Position: PF/C
  • Age: 23
  • Contract Status: Rookie-scale contract, team has a club option in 2027-2028, UFA in 2028-2029 if not resigned
  • SunsRank (Preseason): 10
  • SunsRank (Postseason): 8

*SunsRank is based on Bright Side writers’ ranking.

Season in One Sentence

In his sophomore year, Oso Ighodaro showed that there is room to grow, but the prospect has the potential to be something special.

By the Numbers

The Iron Man suited up for all 82 games and had some nice stats.

GPMINPTSREBASTSTLBLKFG%3PT%FT%DEFRTGOFRTG+/-
(TOTAL)
8222.06.55.12.30.90.765.3%0.0%45.3%109.7114.8+5.1

The Expectation

Coming into this year, Oso Ighodaro was expected to continue to grow as a backup big and prove that he deserved to be part of the rotation. Last season, the big man saw sporadic playing time and did not get much burn until the season was dust. This had the fans questioning what his role could truly be on the roster, especially with the front court getting two new additions. Would Ighodaro get lost in the shuffle or rise through the cracks to make a name for himself?

The Reality

Well, Ighodaro definitely proved his worth, even if his role did change throughout the year. To begin the year, he was the big man Jordan Ott trusted the most, getting the start with Mark WIllimas getting to game speed. This was a bit too much for Ighodaro to handle, but who else would they throw into the fray, their rookie? Ighodaro dealt with tough matchups against Nikola Jokic and Ivica Zubac to start the season, and it had fans ready to ship the big man away, not even a week in.

That is where it all started to change for Ighodaro, though, as when Williams returned, he found himself in his true role: the backup center. This is where his and Gillespie’s connection began to brew as the duo quickly realized their pick-and-roll would be a feast for opponents. This allowed Oso to find multiple trips to the boom room and get comfortable in the rotation. He also used his passing to make plays for Gillespie.

Then, towards the end of the season, Ighodaro began to see starts again as Williams was out for the playoffs. Against a dominant OKC team, the Suns were going to struggle anyway, but without their best big, it was just too much size for Oso to handle.

Throughout the season, Ighodaro proved that, in the right role, he can be successful and was a steal at pick 40 last year. He definitely has areas to grow, too, but for someone who did not have high expectations when he was drafted, he has definitely exceeded them in the eyes of many.

What It Means

There is no hiding that I love what Ighodaro brings to this team. I even made a drop for him on Suns Planet Pod because I’m such a fan of his game. He truly is one of those underrated pieces that may not have the stats to show it every game, but gets better in every performance.

Since the Suns have him under contract for at least the next year, I see him continuing to fight in this rotation next season. With the uncertainty of Mark Williams returning, this means Ighodaro could be in line for a starting opportunity, depending on the other offseason moves.

If Ighodaro can continue to improve, as he stated at the end of the year, by working on his areas of weakness, he could truly mold himself into one of the best bench bigs in the association. He already added some size from last year, so if he continues to get stronger and tune his jump shot, as he alluded to, he can find himself getting picked back up on the club option and landing a comfortable extension.

Defining Moment

Oso’s defining moment came early on in the season when the Suns took on the Indiana Pacers. After a struggling start with getting guys fully healthy, the Suns gave the Pacers the belt. Before people knew they would be tanking, the Suns showed they were in a different class than Indiana this year, and a big reason was Oso Ighodaro.

In this game, he posted up 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks while shooting 78/0/60 from the field with a +52 on the court. This is the highest +/- of any Suns player in the play-by-play era and the third highest all-time in the NBA. To achieve something like this, put Ighodaro on fans’ radar, as even though +/- is not the end-all, be-all stat, it showed he could be part of the future in this role.

This gave Ighodaro the confidence, as did the fans, in their second-year project, which was looking better than advertised. In a year where the whole team overachieved, it was great to see the young guys participate in that as well.

Grade: B+

Even if he was not a positive every night for the Suns, I would say Oso showed up for most of them. Not to mention that he was Iron Man and played all 82 games this year, with a team plagued with injuries, that is also a positive.

Ighodaro proved this year that the skepticism around him should not be discussed. Yes, there are areas he can grow, but with every young player, there are, and he will specialize in that this offseason. For the year he had thought, he definitely put trust in him and this coaching staff. Something that is not quite seen with many second-round selections in their sophomore season.

Therefore, I think he deserves a B+ rating for showing more positive than negative. If the plan continues for Ighodaro, he could be a staple of this bench unit and continue working with his Big East partner, Collin Gillespie, to torch opposing teams.


The Red Sox really, really cannot hit

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 12: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox walks off of the field after striking out against the Philadelphia Phillies during the sixth inning at Fenway Park on May 12, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning! The Boston Red Sox have scored just four runs in their last three games. It is now abundantly clear that this is not a good offensive team. Moreover, it won’t be a good offensive team even if we see a little bit of a bounce back from Trevor Story, Caleb Durbin, Carlos Narvaez, Roman Anthony… from everyone except Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu, really. The lineup’s ceiling is… league average, maybe?

There are four major components of the game — hitting, fielding, starting pitching, and relief pitching — and it’s rare for any team to excel in each of them. But when a team is outright bad in one of those areas, it can make for some ugly watches. But I will say this: if your team has to be terrible at one of those components (note to Craig: it doesn’t!) then I think I’d take the ugly lineup. The Red Sox might be losing ballgames, but at least they aren’t losing lopsided, four-hour affairs that are out of hand by the fourth inning, which is what fans of teams with terrible starting pitching are forced to deal with.

So I suppose my question today is: what’s the most tolerable kind of bad baseball team?

Use this space to talk about that and whatever else you want and, as always, be good to one another.

Mariners' Cal Raleigh ends hitless streak with unconventional approach

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, determined to break out of a frustrating 10-game hitless streak, decided to take drastic action, showering in his full uniform Monday after another tough night at the plate. His unconventional approach paid off, as he broke his slump Tuesday night and helped lead the Mariners to a 10-2 win over the Houston Astros.

In Seattle's May 12 victory, Raleigh snapped his 0-for-38 skid with two singles. Last year’s American League MVP runner-up recorded his first hit since April 27 with a sharp line drive to center field in the seventh inning. Moments later, Randy Arozarena doubled to right field, allowing Raleigh to capitalize and score, pushing the score to 8-2.

“Logan (Gilbert) gave me some good advice to wash off the bad mojo or juju from the baseball gods,” Raleigh told the Associated Press. “So yeah, it worked. He was right, so I got to give him credit where credit’s due.”

Raleigh capped off his night with another single in the ninth inning, finishing the game with two hits and a much-needed renewed sense of confidence at the plate.

Last year, Raleigh led the American League with an impressive 60 home runs and 125 RBIs. However, this season has been more challenging for the slugger, as he has recorded only seven home runs and 18 RBIs over the first 40 games.

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mariners' Cal Raleigh ends hitless streak after washing off bad luck

New York Islanders Alumni Josh Bailey To Be Inducted Into New York State Hockey Hall of Fame

During the second intermission of the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabers' Game 4 matchup, it was shared that New York Islanders alumnus Josh Bailey will be enshrined in the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame this summer. 

The announcement came as ESPN announced broadcaster Steve Levy will be a part of this year's class. Sharing the announcement on the air, Bailey was named one of eight inductees in this year's class. 

Bailey, a lifetime Islander, was drafted with the 9th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft. The forward became a mainstay after his debut on Nov. 11, 2008, playing in 1,057 games with the franchise. He is one of only three players to reach the milestone with the team. 

He recorded 184 goals and 396 assists for 580 points in 15 seasons on Long Island. He sits in fourth and seventh in Islanders history in assists and points, respectively. 

However, the playoffs were where Bailey truly made his mark. In 71 games, he recorded 16 goals and 34 assists for 50 points, helping New York to a pair of third-round appearances in his career. He also added a pair of overtime winners, both against the Pittsburgh Penguins, including his iconic Game 1 goal in the team's first postseason game back at Nassau Coliseum in 2019. 

His Islanders career came to a close on June 29, 2023, when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks with a second-round pick for future considerations. His contract was brought out later that afternoon, and Bailey didn't play another NHL game despite signing a pro tryout with the Ottawa Senators the following preseason. 

Today, Bailey can be found in the broadcast booth, working alongside Alan Fuehring on Islanders broadcasts on the New York Islanders Radio Network. 

He will become the fifth Islanders player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Forward John Tonelli was enshrined in 2023, and legends Ken Morrow, Denis Potvin and Ed Westfall joined him one year later. Hall of Fame journalist Stan Fischler was also inducted in 2023. 

The 2026 Induction Ceremony will take place on July 12 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy. More information is available here

Angels vs Guardians Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Cleveland Guardians seek a series sweep when they host the Los Angeles Angels in Game 3 of their three-game set.

Cleveland starter Parker Messick has been a revelation, and my Angels vs. Guardians predictions expect a convincing Guardians victory today.

Read on for my MLB picks for Wednesday, May 13. 

Who will win Angels vs Guardians today: Guardians -1.5 (+156)

The Cleveland Guardians send Parker Messick to the mound against a Los Angeles Angels lineup without many answers for left-handed pitching. 

Messick owns a 2.30 ERA and 0.98 WHIP through eight starts, with his fastball-changeup combination generating elite run value on both pitches. 

Three of the Angels' top four hitters rank among MLB's individual strikeout leaders, and Los Angeles owns the highest raw strikeout total in baseball with 419 on the season. 

With Cleveland's bullpen pitching decently over the last two weeks, the plus-money value is there. 

Covers COVERS INTEL:The top of the Angels' lineup, Zach Neto (62), Mike Trout (49), and Jorge Soler (52) have combined for 163 strikeouts across 556 plate appearances.

Angels vs Guardians Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-108)


Two left-handed starters take the mound in Cleveland, and neither figures to allow much damage. 

Messick ranks in the 85th percentile in chase rate with a 28.3% strikeout rate, while Reid Detmers owns a 2.90 xERA and a 91st-percentile breaking ball that neutralizes opposing lineups. 

The Angels have struck out 115 times against left-handed pitching this season, while the Guardians lack much power against lefties, evidenced by their .148 ISO.

With two southpaws dealing and sharp money moving the total down to seven runs, a low-scoring affair is in the cards today. 

Phil Naessens' 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 6-11, -3.75 units
  • Over/Under bets: 6-9, -4.30 units

Angels vs Guardians odds

  • Moneyline: Angels +133 | Guardians -138
  • Run line: Angels +1.5 (-170) | Guardians -1.5 (+163)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+127) | Under 7.5 (-133)

Angels vs Guardians trend

The Under is 3-7 in the Los Angeles Angels' previous 10 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Angels vs. Guardians.

How to watch Angels vs Guardians and game info

LocationProgressive Field, Cleveland, OH
DateWednesday, May 13, 2026
First pitch1:10 p.m. ET
TVAngels.TV, CLEGuardians.TV
Angels starting pitcherReid Detmers
(1-3, 4.33 ERA)
Guardians starting pitcherParker Messick
(4-1, 2.30 ERA)

Angels vs Guardians latest injuries

Angels vs Guardians weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Sarah Taylor named England men’s fielding coach while Gay, Rew and Baker are called up

  • Uncapped trio in squad for first New Zealand Test

  • Crawley dropped; Ahmed and Bashir selected as spinners

On a day when England named three uncapped players in their Test squad, brought Ollie Robinson out of cold storage and officially confirmed a new selector had joined the set-up, perhaps the most significant news was the identity of their fielding coach.

Sarah Taylor, the former England wicketkeeper, will be in charge of the fielding drills during the three-Test series against New Zealand that begins at Lord’s on 4 June – the first female coach to work in the men’s senior setup.

Continue reading...

Flyers Captains Go To Bat For Matvei Michkov

Understandably, Matvei Michkov is going to be the talk of the Philadelphia Flyers world this summer, but the team's captains all took moments to stand up for the sophomore forward after a challenging second season in the NHL.

Flyers captain Sean Couturier, as well as alternate captains Travis Konecny and Travis Sanheim, commendably offered words on Michkov's unique situation while being able to put themselves in his shoes, defending a young player who's been in the spotlight non-stop.

Michkov, 21, ended his 2025-26 season on the bench with the Flyers losing 3-2 in overtime to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and whether we believe it to be right or wrong, it was what the coaching staff and team decided.

The Russian phenom still scored 51 points this season, though, and now knows what is expected of him and his game in the postseason.

This is all while barely being able to communicate with teammates and staff effectively, living in North America for not even two years.

"I remember when I was his age, trying to find my way. It's not easy, and I couldn't imagine with the language barrier. But he's a guy that's always putting in the work," Konecny said of Michkov at his exit interview Tuesday.

NHL Insider Cautions Flyers Against Matvei Michkov Trade: 'You Can't Find Guys Like This'NHL Insider Cautions Flyers Against Matvei Michkov Trade: 'You Can't Find Guys Like This'NHL insider Elliotte Friedman likens the current Philadelphia Flyers saga with Matvei Michkov to the controversial Cutter Gauthier debacle from just a few years ago.

It was just last year that we would come out with stories of Michkov coming home from an afternoon game and going back to the rink, coming out for practice early, staying for practice late, so on and so forth.

He's still the same kid he was.

"He's always in the shooting room, he's always on the ice doing extra stuff. So that part of it's there. It's just trying to find where he's comfortable, at dinner, or wherever it is, to help him get to that next step," Konecny continued. "

I couldn't imagine going over and trying to understand Russian for two years. I'd be pretty lost at times, too. But when he's doing good things and he's scoring goals and he's making good plays, you just make sure you're there to pat him on the back, 'Hey, this is the good stuff. You do this over and over, you'll be a heck of a player.'"

Couturier, who broke in to the NHL himself as a teenager, shared Konecny's sentiment.

"I can't imagine the language barrier at a young age, coming overseas," Couturier said. "It's only his second year in the league, and I'm sure he's going to learn from this past year. Knowing him, knowing his character, I know he's going to be super motivated to prove everyone wrong next year. That's what you want to see."

NHL Mock Draft: Flyers Need to Avoid Repeating This MistakeNHL Mock Draft: Flyers Need to Avoid Repeating This MistakeThe Philadelphia Flyers have no reason to continue reaching in the NHL draft as the latest mock draft suggests they will.

"The pressure that's been put on him is a lot higher than anyone else has had. He's just like anyone else: we've all been through struggles and good times," added Sanheim. "Obviously, it's been difficult with the language barrier the last couple years. I think he's gotten better and understands a lot more. So, you can start to have more conversations with him, and better conversations... ones that feel like you're getting somewhere."

So, that about sums it up for the Flyers and Michkov through two seasons. The common denominators are age and inexperience, as well as the language barrier. This was anticipated well in advance, but it's something everyone has to work towards to collectively benefit the Flyers in the long term.

Michkov's KHL contract would have originally expired this summer, but the timeline for his arrival was instead sped up by two years by his own accord.

Going into 2026-27, Michkov will have two years of the NHL and North American life under his belt to build on and reference, which should only help him as the Flyers and his teammates learn to better work with him, and vice versa.

Open Thread: Keldon Johnson shined in Game 5

May 12, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) warms up before game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

The postseason has been tough for Keldon Johnson.

Ever since winning NBA Sixth Man of the Year, he’s struggled to maintain the vitality that earned him the league honor.

This season the Spurs had seven players average scoring in double figures. *Harrison Barnes was 5 points from the Spurs having eight players in double figs, which would have been an NBA first. Ever since then, Keldon’s scoring dropped off.

In his first playoff series versus the Portland Trail Blazers, KJ averaged just over 6 points per game.

Against the Timberwolves, he’s scored 11, 9, 11, and 4 in the first four games. Better, but not stellar.

Last night, Keldon reignited early, bringing a spark off the bench, which is saying a lot considering the game Victor Wembanyama was having.

Johnson’s signasture highlight came on his psterization of Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert.

It was vintage KJ all night as he scored 21 points on 8 of 11 shooting. He hit one three-pointer and added two steals to that viral block.

Johnson’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time.

After sitting out the majority of three quarters in Game 4, Victor Wembanyama came out swinging, scoring 18 of his 27 points in the first quarter. He cooled considerably in the latter half of the game, leaving the Spurs looking for scoring.

Although De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper played, their participation was a game time decision. With so much uncertainty coming out of the locker room, KJ was a driving force.

It was Keldon who embraced the moment, riding that patented high energy into timeouts and ramping up his team and the crowd, just as he has done all season.

Look for Keldon to continue to bring passion to Game 6, where the Spurs head into hostile territory, returning to the City of Lakes.

A Game 6 win sends the Spurs into the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2017.


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The Brewers’ bullpen is working its magic again

May 6, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Aaron Ashby (26) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Note: All statistics are as of May 11

At some point every season, the Brewers’ bullpen stops making sense.

Not bad, necessarily. Just… different.

There’s no clean seventh-eighth-ninth progression. There’s no “this is the closer, this is the setup guy, everyone else fall in line.” Instead, it’s a constant shuffle of arms, innings, and situations that feel like they’re being decided on the fly.

And yet, more often than not, it works.

This year, a big part of that weirdness — and a big part of why it’s working — comes down to Aaron Ashby and DL Hall.

If you’ve watched even a handful of Brewers games this year, you’ve probably felt it. The most stressful inning is almost never the ninth. It’s the fifth when the starter runs out of gas with two on and one out. It’s the sixth when the lineup turns over and the middle of the order is coming up. It’s that one stretch where the game can flip, even if there are still 12 outs left to get.

That’s where Ashby has lived.

He leads the bullpen in plenty of stats, as he’s already up to 19 appearances and 26 innings with a 2.08 ERA, a perfect 7-0 record (those seven wins lead the majors), and 41 strikeouts. That alone stands out, but it’s how those innings are coming that really matters. These aren’t clean innings with nobody on and the bottom of the order due up. Ashby is getting the “this could unravel quickly” moments, and more often than not, he’s shutting them down.

He’ll give you multiple innings. He’ll come in mid-inning. He’ll face righties, lefties, whoever. There’s no clean label for it, but it’s pretty clear what the Brewers think of him: when things start getting dicey, he’s one of the first calls. That’s not a middle reliever or a setup guy. That’s just one of your most important pitchers.

Hall’s role isn’t identical, but it’s cut from the same cloth.

He’s been one of the more reliable arms in the bullpen so far, and like Ashby, he’s not being boxed into a traditional role. Some outings are longer, some are shorter, some are clearly matchup-driven, and some feel like pure feel. The Brewers aren’t asking him to be a one-inning specialist. They’re asking him to take whatever inning is available and turn it into something manageable.

Between Hall and Ashby, they’ve essentially created two malleable pieces that can plug into almost any situation. Starter exits early? They can cover it. Bullpen is taxed? They can stretch out. Tough pocket of hitters coming up? They can take that too.

If you’re trying to map out the Brewers’ bullpen by role, you’re going to drive yourself crazy. There isn’t a traditional structure here. Instead, it’s more about coverage. Ashby and Hall handle the messy middle innings and the multi-inning work, and the rest of the staff combines to get them to the finish line. Even that shifts from game to game.

The Brewers aren’t really managing innings as much as they’re managing problems, and Ashby and Hall are the guys solving the biggest ones.

Here’s the thing: even when it’s working, it doesn’t feel comfortable. You don’t get that sense of “OK, just three outs left.” Instead, you get Ashby coming in with traffic and throwing upper-90s with movement all over the place. You get Hall bouncing between roles. You get Abner Uribe hitting triple digits and occasionally losing the zone. Same with Trevor Megill. You get pitching changes that don’t follow a script.

It feels like the game is constantly on the edge.

And maybe that’s why Brewers fans never fully trust the bullpen, no matter how good the numbers look, because it doesn’t look stable.

But it works because of guys like this.

Take Ashby and Hall out of the equation, and everything gets thinner, fast. Suddenly you’re asking more of the traditional relievers. You’re exposing the lower-leverage arms. You’re burning through pitchers just to get from the fifth to the eighth.

Instead, the Brewers have built in some margin. Not through defined roles, but through flexibility. Ashby and Hall don’t just fill innings — they absorb chaos. They turn messy situations into manageable ones and keep games from getting away before the late innings even arrive.

No two games look the same. No bullpen usage pattern repeats cleanly. And no lead ever feels totally safe.

But somehow, Pat Murphy and this bullpen make it work.

That’s not happening by accident. It’s happening because in the middle innings — the ones that actually decide games — guys like Aaron Ashby and DL Hall are quietly doing the hardest work on the staff, even if it never really feels that way while you’re watching it.

Orioles news: Rogers pummelled in return, O’s injury crisis continues

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 12: Catcher Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles drops a foul ball in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 12, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning Birdland,

Those two back-to-back wins the Orioles had on Sunday and Monday were cool, huh? But yesterday felt like a slap back to reality.

The 6-2 loss to the Yankees is easy enough to swallow. Losses happen in baseball. But the fact that Trevor Rogers got hit around does not instill much confidence that his IL stint allowed him to reset in any meaningful way. His pitch velocity was up, but so were the Yankees’ exit velocities.

On top of that, the O’s got some bad injury news. Grant Wolfram was placed on the IL just before the game with a low back strain. It doesn’t seem super serious. The team was trying to wait it out, but it got to the point where they just needed the fresh arm. Possibly more concerning was the late scratch of Dylan Beavers with right oblique discomfort. O’s manager Craig Albernaz said that Beavers felt it in the batting cage while preparing for the game. No IL stint was said to be imminent, but obliques do tend to linger.

Beavers has not been a star for the Orioles this year. He has a .243/331/.369 batting line after all. But he has at least been competent in the box, and had been putting together some nice at-bats lately. Missing him for any length of time does weaken the team’s outfield.

This team can’t really absorb the loss of any sort of offense contributor. It has been one week since the Orioles last scored more than three runs in a game. They have scored more than four runs in a game just twice in the month of May, both against the Marlins. You aren’t going to win many games consistently scoring four runs or fewer, especially with the O’s rotation in its current state.

Maybe an earlier game time wakes them up! The Orioles and Yankees will wrap up their series at 1:05 p.m. today, a late change to the schedule due to expected rain in the area. That might make it hard for some of us to take this game in. Depending on your feelings regarding this team, that could be construed as a positive.

Links

Ahead of her final game, Nicole Sherry reflects on two decades as Orioles head groundskeeper | The Baltimore Banner
Sherry is an iconic figure in Orioles history and a trailblazer in professional sports. She is part of what has made Camden Yards such an incredible place to take in a game. Now she moves on to another role that sounds like a great opportunity. But it will be odd to see someone else taking charge of the grounds crew.

Lou Trivino Elects Free Agency | MLB Trade Rumors
The Trivino era of Orioles baseball has come to end, at least for now. He pitched in two games and was worth -0.2 bWAR. Thanks for the memories, Lou.

Beavers (oblique) scratched as injuries continue to plague struggling O’s | MLB.com
Here’s more on the latest injuries that the Orioles are dealing with. It’s just one thing after another with this club. Their fortune has to turn around at some point, right?

More this, that and the other | Roch Kubatko
Lots of notes from Roch, including about the rotation. In short: it’s been a disaster but the Orioles are trying to keep their cool. What else can they do? It’s not as if Norfolk is frothing with top prospects. There’s one Trey Gibson and more than one questionable spot in the rotation at the moment.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

  • Mychal Givens turns 36 today. The sidearming reliever had two stints in Baltimore. The first, from 2015 through 2020 went well. The second, which lasted just six games in 2023, did not.
  • David Hernández is 41 years old. He pitched in a total of 61 games for the Orioles between 2009 and 2010, as both a starter and reliever. the club then included him in a deal that landed slugging third baseman Mark Reynolds in Baltimore.
  • Ryan Bukvich is 48. He pitched in four games for the 2008 O’s.
  • Lyle Mouton turns 57. In 1998 he was an outfield option for the Orioles, playing in 18 games for the club.
  • Juan Beníquez is 76 today. He spent 17 seasons in Major League Baseball, including the 1986 campaign in Baltimore.

This day in O’s history

2007 – The Orioles fall apart right at the end of a game that they were leading 5-0. Dubbed the “Mother’s Day Miracle” in Boston, the Red Sox rally for six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning against a combination of starter Jeremy Guthrie and relievers Danys Báez and Chris Ray, winning in walk-off fashion.

2011 – Rays rookie Jeremy Hellickson throws his first career complete game and shutout, leading his team to a 3-0 win over the Orioles.

2018 – Fresh off of a call-up from Triple-A, Joey Rickard hits two home runs and drives in four as part of the Orioles 17-1 romp of the Rays. Danny Valencia and Trey Mancini also homer in support of Dylan Bundy’s seven scoreless innings on the mound.

Phillies news: Cristopher Sanchez, Dylan Carlson, Anthony Volpe

Mar 17, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Dylan Carlson against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Truly, I am not looking forward to the takes that will be coming out of the woodwork about Thursday’s game. The much anticipated Jesus Luzardo-Ranger Suarez dustup is going to bring the hottest of hot takes.

Not looking forward to that.

At. All.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

MLB news:

Game 43 Preview: Tigers try to even series at Mets on Wednesday night

The struggles continue for the Detroit Tigers, who opened up their three-game road series at the New York Mets on Tuesday night with a miserable 10-2 loss. Jack Flaherty only lasted 3 2/3 innings and gave up three runs, which was all it took to overtake the visitors’ anemic offense.

The good news is that the Motor City Kitties get their No. 2 starter, left-hander Framber Valdez, back from suspension with a chance to even up the midweek series. The 32-year-old had one of the worst outings of the season, allowing 10 runs (seven earned) on nine hits (three home runs) and a walk while striking out three before the bean-ball incident that led to his five-game stint in the penalty box.

Last time Valdez faced the Mets was with the Houston Astros on opening day 2025, when he threw seven frames of shutout ball while allowing four hits and two walks while striking out four to earn the win. He did, however, hit a batter in that game.

For New York, right-hander Christian Scott takes the mound for the fourth time this season. His season debut only lasted 1 1/3 innings after issuing five walks, plunking a batter and balking before he was pulled in that one. The 26-year-old’s next two outings saw him throw five and 4 2/3 innings, respectively, putting up a 2.79 and a 2.50 FIP while striking out 14 over that stretch.

Scott has only pitched a dozen games in his major league career, but none of them came against the Tigers.

Take a look below at an overview of the two starters in Wednesday night’s clay diamond duel.

Detroit Tigers (19-23) vs. New York Mets (16-25)

Time (ET): 7:10 p.m.
Place: Citi Field, Queens, New York
SB Nation Site:Amazin’ Avenue
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 43: LHP Framber Valdez (2-2, 4.57 ERA) vs. RHP Christian Scott (0-0, 3.27 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Valdez843.117.97.752.54.320.4
Scott311.031.314.622.74.030.1

VALDEZ

SCOTT

Chicago Cubs history unpacked, May 13

Free of charge for the discerning reader.

Happy birthday to Eli Morgan, and a mighty host of others.

Today in baseball history is a story that is so good, so nice it shouldn’t be buried amongst the ther stories. In 1947 – Larry Miggins hits the first of his two major league home runs, going deep off Preacher Roe in the fourth inning of the Cardinals’ 14-8 loss to the Dodgers at Ebbets Field. The round-tripper hit by the Bronx-born outfielder, who had once shared his dream of playing in the big leagues during a prep school assembly with a buddy with aspirations to be a baseball broadcaster, is called by an overwhelmed Vin Scully, Brooklyn’s play-by-play announcer who had wondered that day with his friend “what the odds against that would be.” And enjoy the other stories as well.

Today in baseball history:

Cubs Birthdays:Eli Morgan,* Willson Contreras, Mychal Givens, Terry Hughes, Terry Hughes.

Today in history:

  • 1607 – English colonists led by John Smith establish Jamestown at a second landing near the James River in Virginia – first permanent English settlement in North America.
  • 1846 – US Congress votes in favor of President James K. Polk’s request to declare war on Mexico over border disputes.
  • 1878 – Danvers State Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Massachusetts, opens and later serves as inspiration for Arkham Sanitorium in the work of H.P. Lovecraft, which in turn inspires Arkham Asylum of the D.C. Batman universe.
  • 1905 – World heavyweight boxing champion James J. Jeffries retires undefeated after 7 title defences; returns in 1910 to be beaten by Jack Johnson.
  • 1940 – Winston Churchill says “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat” in his first speech as Prime Minister to the British House of Commons.
  • 1966 – The Rolling Stones release “Paint it Black” single in the UK.
  • 1977 – Howard Stern begins his professional broadcasting career at WRNW radio in Briarcliff Manor, New York.
  • 1981 Pope John Paul II is shot and critically wounded by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Ağca in St Peter’s Square, Vatican City.
  • 1989 – After weeks of unsuccessful attempts between the demonstrators and the Chinese government to find a peaceful resolution, the Chinese government initiated martial law in late May and deployed troops to occupy the square on the night of 3 June in what is referred to as the Tiananmen Square massacre.

*pictured.

Mets Daily Prospect Report, 5/13/26: Thirteen innings!? In this economy!?

SURPRISE, AZ - OCTOBER 24: Nick Morabito #3 of the Scottsdale Scorpions runs to first base during the game between the Scottsdale Scorpions and the Surprise Saguaros at Surprise Stadium on Friday, October 24, 2025 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (21-18)

SYRACUSE 7, SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE 4 / 13 (BOX)

With nearly even records coming into this game, Syracuse held the lead for most of the early portions of the game, but it was a thin lead. Jack Wenninger went unscored upon, lowering his ERA to 1.08, but sure enough, Scranton not only tied things up but then took control after he was taken out of the ballgame. The Mets came into the ninth inning down 4-2, but Ryan Clifford and Yonny Hernandez tied things up with an RBI double and single, respectively. With the adoption of the ghost-runner-starts-at-second rule, you don’t see extra-inning games go too long, but this one made it into the thirteenth inning and since these things are not too common anymore, you gotta appreciate it.

Nick Morabito led off the thirteenth with a sac bunt to move ghost runner Matt Rudick over to third, but old friend Ali Sanchez bungled the play- considered a sure-handed catcher, he was playing first base after having been pinch hit into the game. A few batters later, Christian Arroyo drove in two more runs with a single into left. Mike Baumann, thankfully, was able to throw a 1-2-3 inning for the save, and that was that.

·  CF Nick Morabito: 0-5, R, RBI, BB, 2 K, SB (14)

·  LF Ji Hwan Bae: 2-7, 2 R, 4 K, SB (9)

·  1B Ryan Clifford: 1-6, R, 2B, RBI, BB, 4 K

·  2B Christian Arroyo: 3-7, 2 RBI

·  3B Yonny Hernández: 1-5, RBI, 2 BB, K, SB (1)

·  RF Cristian Pache: 1-6, R, 2B, 3 K, HBP

·  SS Jackson Cluff: 0-3, 4 BB, 2 K, SB (4)

·  C Hayden Senger: 1-4, R, HR (6), RBI, BB, 2 K

·  C Ben Rortvedt: 0-2

·  DH Matt Rudick: 0-5, R, K, HBP

·  RHP Jack Wenninger: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K

·  RHP Luke Jackson: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, WP, H (1)

·  LHP Nate Lavender: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, BS (1)

·  RHP Daniel Duarte: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

·  RHP Alex Carrillo: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

·  LHP Anderson Severino: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, W (2-0)

·  RHP Mike Baumann: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, S (1)

ROSTER ALERT: OF Matt Rudick assigned to Syracuse Mets from Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (11-23)

SOMERSET 3, BINGHAMTON 0 (BOX)

The Rumble Ponies fell to the Patriots to kick off the Double-A Subway Series, their fifth loss in a row and their second consecutive shutout. Nick Lorusso and JT Schwartz were the only Ponies to log hits, while Eli Serrano and Jacob Reimer drew a walk apiece and the indomitable Wyatt Young drew two. Brendan Girton made the start for Binghamton and was solid, allowing one run over five innings, but even if the bullpen hadn’t allowed two more, he would’ve been the losing pitcher in this contest.

·  RF Eli Serrano III: 0-3, BB

·  C Chris Suero: 0-4, 2 K

·  3B Jacob Reimer: 0-3, BB

·  CF Jose Ramos: 0-4, 3 K

·  DH Kevin Parada: 0-4, 2 K

·  2B Nick Lorusso: 1-4, 2 K

·  LF TT Bowens: 0-4, 3 K

·  1B JT Schwartz: 1-2, HBP

·  SS Wyatt Young: 0-1, 2 BB

·  RHP Brendan Girton: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, WP, HBP, L (1-2)

·  LHP Gabriel Rodriguez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Saul Garcia: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, WP

·  RHP Zach Peek: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

ROSTER ALERT: RHP Bryce Conley assigned to Binghamton Rumble Ponies from Syracuse Mets.

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (8-25)

ROME 2, BROOKLYN 0 (BOX)

The Cyclones fell to Rome to kick off their series, their third loss in a row. Mitch Voit and Daiverson Gutierrez were the only Cyclones to log hits, while Ronald Hernandez drew a walk. Joel Diaz made the start for Brooklyn and was decent, allowing two runs over four innings, but even if he cut that in half, he still would’ve been the losing pitcher in this contest.

·  SS Mitch Voit: 1-4

·  2B Yonatan Henriquez: 0-4, 2 K

·  CF John Bay: 0-4, 2 K

·  DH Ronald Hernandez: 0-2, BB, 2 K

·  C Daiverson Gutierrez: 1-3, CS (1)

·  1B Corey Collins: 0-3, 3 K

·  3B Colin Houck: 0-3, K

·  LF Vincent Perozo: 0-2, K, HBP, E (3)

·  RF Yohairo Cuevas: 0-3, K

·  RHP Joel Díaz: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 3 K, L (0-6)

·  RHP Felix Cepeda: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

·  RHP Danis Correa: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

·  RHP Hoss Brewer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

ROSTER ALERT: Brooklyn Cyclones transferred SS Antonio Jimenez to the Development List.

ROSTER ALERT: 2B Nick Roselli assigned to Brooklyn Cyclones.

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (14-19)

POSTPONED (INCLEMENT WEATHER)

ROSTER ALERT: SS Kevin Villavicencio assigned to St. Lucie Mets from Syracuse Mets.

Rookie: FCL Mets (2-5)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Christian Arroyo

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Binghamton/Brooklyn

On this date in Penguins history: Pittsburgh blows by Caps in Game 7

WASHINGTON - MAY 13: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals is stopped by Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during first period action in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center May 13, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Seventeen years ago today, the Penguins blew past the Washington Capitals in a series-deciding game on the road, sending Pittsburgh to the Eastern Conference Final for a second straight season.

It was 2009. The Penguins and the Capitals were putting on a show for the hockey world with six games of what felt like uncontrolled chaos where no lead was safe.

From dueling hat tricks to overtime thrillers, Pittsburgh and Washington were facing off in a Game 7that would help define the legacy of their team — and the pressure was intense.

Three of the six games in the series had gone to overtime and this night in D.C., it was win or go home.

Alex Ovechkin had scored seven goals in six games, so who better else to have an early breakaway with a chance to ignite the home crowd?

Marc-Andre Fleury thought otherwise.

Fleury’s save may have been a wakeup call for the Penguins, who responded with two hectic periods of hockey as they coasted to victory.

Two goals eight seconds apart from Sidney Crosby and Craig Adams broke the scoreless tie in the first period.

Three goals in quick succession from Bill Guerin, Kris Letang, and Jordan Staal made things 5-0 and put the game on cruise control.