WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 07: Gus Varland #47 of the Washington Nationals celebrates after defeating the Minnesota Twins at Nationals Park on Thursday, May 7, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Like so many of these Nats relievers, Gus Varland has bounced around a lot in his career, and is no stranger to the waiver wire. However, it really feels like the 29 year old has finally found a home in the back of the Nats bullpen. He has become the Nats closer, and has become a trustworthy presence in that role.
When Blake Butera needs big outs at the end of games, Varland is the man he turns to. That is what he did yesterday against the Twins. He called on Varland to get four big outs against his home town team. After allowing a single to Byron Buxton in the 8th, Varland blew away the next four batters he faced, getting his 4th save of the season.
Gus Varland gets his 4th Save of the season as the Nationals win the series and push towards a .500 record
— Baseball Unstitched (@BaseUnstitched) May 7, 2026
In a game where expanding arsenals are becoming all the rage, even for relievers, Varland keeps things simple. He throws a mid-90’s fastball with a lot of carry at the top of the zone and a high 80’s bullet slider that plays well off the heater. Varland throws each pitch about half of the time, and dares hitters to beat him.
Both of Varland’s pitches are good, but neither is a truly elite pitch. That means the right hander has to execute and control his arsenal. Varland absolutely fills up the zone, which can be rare to see from a reliever. He is only walking 1.84 batters per 9 innings, an elite number. Lately, he just has not been walking anyone at all. The last time Gus Varland issued a walk was on April 14th.
Varland can be hittable at times, with a .276 batting average against. However, as long as those hits are staying in the ballpark, it is not a big deal. You know Varland will not beat himself with walks, so allowing a couple hits here and there is not the end of the world.
Right now, Gus Varland has a 3.07 ERA and an even lower FIP at 2.46. Even when Clayton Beeter comes back, it is clear that Varland should be the main man in the bullpen. While Beeter’s fastball/slider mix is nastier, his control is nowhere near as good as Varland’s. Gus Varland has become the first Nats reliever of the year where you don’t have to hold your breath at all times when he is pitching.
Pitching is a family affair for the Varland’s. If you have been following baseball this year, you would know that 2026 has been the year of the Varland family. While Gus has been a big asset in the Nats bullpen, he is not even the best reliever in his own family. His brother Louis has been one of the best relievers in baseball for the Blue Jays this season.
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) May 6, 2026
Louis is like a turbo charged version of his brother. His fastball is harder, he has a deeper mix, but still has good control. The rise of the Varland brothers is almost unfathomable. Both went to Concordia University in Minnesota and were picked in the 14th and 15th rounds respectively. Now, both brothers are closers and have been two of the better relievers in the sport.
It was not meant to be like this for the Varland’s. Both making the big leagues, let alone being good big leaguers was against the odds, but here we are. The kids from Minnesota are kicking ass and taking names right now.
I remember talking to Gus, and he was telling me about what a privilege it is to pitch in the big leagues. After some rough outings in Spring Training, Varland worked on the mental side of the game, and it really seems like something has clicked for him. He is throwing the ball the best he has in his career.
Gus Varland has had to work for everything he has gotten. This is a 14th round pick who has been DFA’d four times in his career. That hard work looks like it is finally paying off in a big way. After mowing down the Twins yesterday, fans of his hometown team were upset that they did not give the local kid a shot. Like the rest of the league, they had many chances to claim Varland, but decided not to.
Gus Varland has been DFA'd four different times and not once did the Twins care to grab the St. Paul product.
While this is the best he has pitched, this is not the first time Gus Varland has had success in the big leagues. Back in 2024, Varland posted a 3.42 ERA and 3.13 FIP in 26 outings with the Dodgers and White Sox. However, just as he was gathering momentum, he was hit with the injury bug in 2025. He only pitched in 8 games, none of them in the big leagues.
Like a lot of pitchers these days, Varland has dealt with a lot of injuries. He told me that he has had four surgeries in his career, but now he is healthy again. As he has shown in his past couple stints at the MLB level, a healthy Gus Varland is an effective big league pitcher.
Paul Toboni made a lot of bets on the waiver wire this offseason, and Varland was one of them. Not all of the moves have worked out, but there have been some hits. Those moves are a big reason why the Nats bullpen has improved so far this season. Guys like Varland, Richard Lovelady and Paxton Schultz have been reliable pieces for this bullpen. The other two have not been as good as Varland, but they have been solid, and that is exactly what the Nats need.
When building a bullpen, you do not need to splash the cash. Sure, a couple free agent additions can be helpful, but you can build a good bullpen with lesser known guys. Instead of paying stale veterans like Lucas Sims and Jorge Lopez, Paul Toboni has built the bullpen a different way. He is trying to find undervalued talent and cycle through guys until he finds the right mix. Gus Varland has been the biggest success story so far.
On this day five years ago, Yasmani Grandal joined Babe Ruth in the AL record book. | (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
1912 Pitching most of his career in the dead-ball era, it’s no shock that all-time hurling great Walter Johnson allowed just 97 home runs over his 802 career games and 5,914 1⁄3 innings. But you might be startled to know that in a 7-6 loss to the White Sox, Johnson surrendered two home runs (2.1% of his career home runs allowed) — and they were the only homers he allowed all season!
White Sox third baseman Harry Lord and center fielder Ping Bodie victimized The Big Train in this one.
Because game accounts and box scores from more than a century ago are incomplete, and Washington committed one error in the game, there is no earned run count in the game record for Johnson, who entered action having surrendered just one in the three prior starts with full stats available from 1912. But box score logic dictates that the White Sox slapped at least five earned runs on Johnson in this game, which almost assuredly would place this as one of the worst efforts of his career.
The win powered the White Sox to their 16th win in 21 tries to start the season, and the third win in an eight-game winning streak, as they sat atop the AL by 3 1⁄2 games over second-place Boston. The White Sox pushed their record to a gaudy 21-5 and their league lead to as many as 5 1⁄2 games before tumbling down to an eventual fourth place, 28 games out, at 78-76-4.
1966 New White Sox manager Eddie Stanky gave a real indication that the season was not going to be like any other, and that he was a lot different from former skipper Al Lopez.
On this date, the Sox dropped a 3-1, 11-inning game to the Tigers. Stanky was asked by reporter Watson Spoelstra of the Detroit News what pitch Bob Locker threw to Detroit’s Gates Brown in a key situation (Brown stung a two-run double in the 11th inning off of the pitch.) Stanky, who was preparing to change into his street clothes, went temporarily crazy. He launched an abusive tirade at Spoelstra, while ripping his jersey to shreds. Then he took off his spikes, and threw them crashing against the wall!
1967 White Sox outfielder Ken Berry was part of the cover shot for Sports Illustrated for a story describing “The Tangled American League” race.
1995 Among 16,485 fans who saw a 4-2 White Sox win over the Minnesota Twins, one was the 10 millionth fan to cross the turnstiles at the new White Sox Park.
2021 How do you hit .000 in a game and match Babe Ruth in the record books? If you’re White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal, you walk four times in a 9-1 win over the Royals in Kansas City. That gave him 13 walks in four games, tying an American League record first set by Ruth in 1930. If you add in the National League, Bryce Harper (2016) is the only other player to accomplish this feat.
If you have been watching the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Playoffs over the last few weeks, chances are you have seen some familiar faces sitting in the stands and courtside. On top of the countless other celebrities attending Pistons games, there have been several members of the Detroit Lions, too.
We have seen quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, and wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams all in attendance, a trend I would expect to continue for as long as the Pistons continue their playoff run. Side note—it really is cool how the Detroit sports teams support one another, proving yet again that Detroit is an S-tier sports town.
With all of that said, seeing so many of the Lions players in posts like this one from the NBA Twitter account, it got me thinking—who is the biggest star on the Lions right now? And because the term star can be interpreted in a multitude of ways, let’s make the parameters for this discussion as who is the biggest household name? As in, who would a casual NFL fan living in a different state recognize on the Lions?
My answer: I am going with Jahmyr Gibbs. On the field, Gibbs has quickly cemented himself as one of the most dynamic offensive players in the entire league, and someone that puts fear in the hearts of defensive coaches everywhere. And off of the field he has inked deals with globally known brands such as Jordan and Sony.
What about you? Who do you think is the biggest name on the Lions? Let us know in the comments below.
Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Diamondbacks play a three-game series in Arizona starting on Friday.
5 things to watch
Mets showing signs of life
The Mets have won four of six games on their current road trip, taking two of three from both the Los Angeles Angels and the Colorado Rockies. In truth, they could have and maybe should have won all six games against two bad teams, but after their disastrous April, they’re at least playing a little better in May.
Yet as of Friday, they still are tied with the San Francisco Giants for the worst record in baseball at 14-23, but the Mets have a chance to do more damage on the final leg of this nine-game trip against an Arizona Diamondbacks team that has lost six of its last seven games to fall to 17-19, mainly because of poor pitching, especially from their starters.
A chance to beat up on bad pitching
The Diamondbacks rank 26th in the majors in ERA at 4.78, and their starters are worse, ranking 28th with a 5.09 ERA. And that’s despite Eduardo Rodriguez having an All-Star season so far, pitching to a 2.50 ERA in seven starts covering 39.1 innings.
Unfortunately for the Mets, Rodriguez, who pitched a strong game at Citi Field to beat New York in April, is lined up to pitch the Sunday finale of this series. But there’s no excuse for the offense not to make some noise in the first two games, against Ryne Nelson (1-3, 6.61 ERA) and Merrill Kelly (1-3, 9.95 ERA).
Can Nolan McLean's dazzling stuff produce a win?
With a record of 1-2, McLean hasn’t earned a win in over a month, going back to April 3 against the Giants. Obviously, some of that is due to a lack of run support, but as dominant as he looked in most of his starts, McLean also has had some trouble getting through the fifth and sixth innings, facing a lineup for a third time.
He goes into Friday night’s start coming off perhaps his worst outing of the season, as he was pulled after only four innings, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk. Overall, though, McLean has been very good, holding opposing hitters to a .184 batting average while pitching to a 2.97 ERA.
May 2, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) throws in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Carson Benge figuring it out?
Benge has provided a spark for the Mets on this road trip, playing some brilliant outfield defense while coming to life with the bat. With five hits in his last four games, including a home run and a double, as well as three walks, the rookie has raised his batting average to .208 while having much better at-bats overall than he did in his first month in the big leagues.
Benge actually has been making significant progress for a few weeks, going back to March 22 when he was hitting just .136 and looking overmatched. The Mets desperately need him to blossom into the impact hitter they envisioned, and the sooner the better.
Ildemaro Vargas
One of the surprise stories of the season so far is Vargas, a journeyman infielder who is off to the start of his life, leading the majors with a .360 batting average to go with a .995 OPS while playing first base for the Diamondbacks. Vargas actually has cooled off slightly in the last few days, after his 27-game hitting streak, extending back to late last season, ended last Saturday. He was hitting .404 until then.
His early-season success is remarkable considering the 34-year-old Vargas has never been able to earn regular playing time in his 10-year career, during which he has been designated for assignment seven times while playing for five different teams.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Juan Soto
It’s not the boldest prediction, and Soto cooled off against the Rockies, but in this lineup, he has to hit for the Mets to win the series. Thus, the pick.
Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?
Clay Holmes
At 1.69, Holmes has the second-best ERA in MLB among qualified starters, behind only Shohei Ohtani. He hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his seven starts this season.
Which D-Backs player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?
Ildemaro Vargas
How can I pick against the guy who’s leading the majors in hitting with a .360 average?
Between them, they have a total of six MVPs, but the irony is that through the first two games of the series, the two best players on the floor are not the ones deciding the outcome.
It’s everyone else.
While LeBron James and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have been great when on the court, the series has shifted when the two stars head to the bench. AP
When James and SGA share the stage, this series tightens.
The numbers reflect that.
If both players played the entire 48 minutes, the games would be an extremely close back-and-forth heavyweight fight. But the moment either superstar heads to the bench, everything tilts.
And someone should call Harry Styles, because right now, it’s tilting in only one direction.
Let’s start with James, because at 41 years old, what he’s doing in the playoffs is downright absurd.
Every minute he’s on the court, he’s in full control. He dictates the pace, manipulates defenders, and is carrying the Lakers offense deep into the postseason without the NBA’s leading scorer in Luka Doncic.
LeBron James has been sensational when he on the court this series, but the Lakers completely fall apart when he sits on the bench. Getty Images
James has played 77% of the available minutes in this series. That’s not a typical workload for a quadragenarian.
When he’s on the floor, the Lakers are competitive. They’re always within striking distance, especially early in the games where they have led.
But within those two-to-three minute breathers he takes each quarter, that is where the series collapses like a house of cards.
In the 22 total minutes that James has not been on the floor, the Lakers are a -18.
If not for a brief second-quarter pulse on Thursday when Austin Reaves led the Lakers on a little run, they would have lost every single stint that James has been on the bench in the series.
“Being undermanned it’s hard. We’re trying our best with the rotations we got,” Lakers head coach J.J. Redick admitted.
The truth is that when LeBron sits, the Lakers don’t just struggle — they unravel.
James is doing everything he can to will this series in the Lakers favor, but he’s only one man and needs more help from the rest of the squad. NBAE via Getty Images
But the Thunder have the exact opposite problem.
When SGA sits, the Thunder dominate in his absence.
When SGA left the floor with 10:34 remaining in the third quarter of Game 2, the Lakers were up 66-61. That should have been the window the Lakers needed. With the MVP on the bench, that was the moment they could swing the game and even the series.
Instead, it became the breaking point of the series.
OKC ripped off a 32-14 run the rest of the quarter as SGA sat with four fouls.
“In the non-Shai minutes in the second half we got blitzed. 32-to-14. Seven turnovers. They shot 14 free throws during that stretch,” Redick said. “We’ll look at everything and try and see how we can be better in those minutes.”
Better might not cut it because through two games, OKC is an astonishing +26 when SGA is off the floor.
That’s right, the Thunder are absolutely thumping the Lakers when the soon-to-be back-to-back MVP is not in the game.
Gilgeous-Alexander is widely considered the best basketball player in the world and expected to win the 2026 MVP award. NBAE via Getty Images
Meanwhile, the Lakers are hemorrhaging points the second their star heads to the bench for a breather.
You don’t need advanced analytics to understand that math.
This series has exceeded expectations when the two stars are on the floor. But when they’re not on the floor it reveals what we’ve known all along.
This series wasn’t about James vs. SGA. It was about infrastructure. It was about depth. It was about identity.
And right now, OKC has all three. And the Lakers just have a 41-year-old.
Labeled as the “Free Throw Merchant,” Gilgeous-Alexander has made a living at the free throw line throughout the regular season and postseason. AP
There are other issues plaguing the Lakers as well.
They’re getting outshot from three. They’ve coughed up 37 total turnovers. They’re losing the second-chance points battle 38-17, which is basically like handing over extra possessions like party favors.
Those feel more like symptoms though. The real disease is what happens when James and SGA sit.
The series now shifts back to Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles, beginning Saturday night. NBAE via Getty Images
Through two games, the Lakers have slowed down SGA by throwing doubles, blitzes, hedges, and traps at him. But when he’s gone, they go back to man-to-man defense. The focus and aggression disappears. The communication softens. The physicality dissolves.
“We need to up our physicality,” said Lakers’ guard Luke Kennard. “When Shai is off the floor, we really have to sit down and guard.”
Kennard and Reaves must step up offensively in the James-less minutes, as well.
In the SGA-less minutes, the Lakers need to treat the Thunder’s primary ball-handler as if that’s the reigning MVP. Throw two guys at him and force him into mistakes.
Or, go back to playing the connected, physical defense they played against the Rockets when Kevin Durant missed five games.
Because right now this series isn’t being decided by its two superstars.
It’s being decided by everything that happens when they’re not playing.
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The New York Knicks will attempt to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals when they travel to Philadelphia to battle the 76ers on Friday.
The Knicks used a dominating performance in Game 1 and held on in Game 2, as they attempt to get back to the East finals. But New York, like Philadelphia, has its own injury concerns heading into a crucial Game 3.
The 76ers played Game 2 without Joel Embiid, who is dealing with hip and ankle issues, and the Knicks are awaiting the status of starting forward OG Anunoby.
Anunoby was injured in Game 2 with three minutes left in the 4th quarter after grabbing at his leg during a cut to the basket. He was helped off the floor and didn't return. The team said he has a right hamstring strain and is listed as questionable for Game 3 on Friday.
OG Anunoby stats
Anunoby averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 67 games during the regular season. In the playoffs, he has upped his game, averaging 21.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, and almost 2 steals per game, while shooting a blistering 61% from the field.
Our MLB picks for Friday are picking on the Astros, as we love the value on both fading Houston and the total in that game, based on prices from Polymarket.
See why our baseball experts are backing both angles of that game — plus an Under in the South Side of Chicago.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Astros/Reds Over 9.5
Price: 48¢ (+108) at Polymarket
The wind is blowing out at Great American Ball Park, and this sets up as a battle between two of the worst bullpens in baseball — that are likely to be heavily involved today. The Cincinnati Reds are sending out Nick Lodolo, who is making his first start of the year after throwing just 79 pitches in his last rehab outing (while dealing with a blister). On the other side, for the Houston Astros, starter Mike Burrows has allowed 8+ hits in four of his seven starts, and he's much worse on the road. Late scoring is also a likelihood, with the Reds bullpen carrying a 7.79 ERA over the last 14 days — and also taxed after getting embarrassed in Chicago — and Houston not far behind at 7.44.
Jon Metler's expert pick: Reds moneyline
Price: 57¢ (-133) at Polymarket
Mike Burrows has been struggling to locate his four-seam fastball, which is a dangerous problem heading into a start at Great American Ballpark. In a bigger stadium (like Houston's Daikin Park), those mistakes might turn into harmless fly balls — in Cincinnati, they can quickly become home runs. Burrows has allowed a .341 batting average and a 1.016 OPS against lefty hitters, and four of Cincinnati's first five projected hitters bat from the left side, including switch-hitter Elly De La Cruz, giving the Reds ample opportunity to pressure him early. The market has Cincinnati priced as 57-cent favorite on Polymarket, but I make them closer to 62 cents, which gives me enough value to back the home side.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Mariners/White Sox Under 8.5
Price: 55¢ (-122) at Polymarket
A pair of emerging starters, backed by bullpens in rock-solid form, sets the stage for a low-scoring game in Chicago. Emerson Hancock gets an extra day of rest after striking out 14 in his last outing, and he’s been excellent on the road with a 2.41 ERA. Sean Burke has been equally as sharp at home, posting a 2.66 ERA and allowing zero earned runs in back-to-back starts. Add two offenses ranked 24th or worse in home/road scoring — plus the wind blowing in — and the Under looks like a great way to kick off the weekend.
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Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees hit the road to take on the Brewers in a three-game series starting Friday...
Carlos Rodon's season debut
It's been a while, but the Yankees are finally ready to welcome Rodon back to the rotation.
The veteran southpaw is set to start Sunday's series finale after offseason elbow surgery had him missing the start of the regular season. How Rodon pitches in the big leagues after so many months away is unknown, but he had his up and downs in the minors during his rehab assignment.
Across three minor starts, one in High-A, Double-A and Triple-A, Rodon allowed seven runs (six earned) across 16.0 innings pitched while striking out 20 batters. His last start was by far Rodon's worst outing, when he allowed five earned across 6.1 innings pitched.
Should we glean anything from those starts? We'll find out on Sunday.
Spencer Jones' MLB debut
The Yankees placedJasson Dominguez on the IL and called up Jones, one of their top offensive prospects, to the club on Friday.
How manager Aaron Boone plans to use Jones is unknown, but the athletic outfielder can play the field very well and run the bases. The everyday outfield of Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge is pretty set, but Jones could slide in as the DH against right-handers this weekend, which the Yankees will see two of -- more on that later.
The potential for Jones to receive at-bats is there and the Yankees could see what they have. In 33 Triple-A games, Jones smashed 11 home runs and drove in 41 runs to go with seven stolen bases while batting .258.
Going up against the Miz
One of those right-handers is Jacob Misiorowski. The flamethrowing starter will start opposite Max Fried in a blockbuster matchup on Friday night.
Spencer Jones runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning during spring training at Lee Health Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium / Nathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
The 24-year-old has a 2-2 record with a 2.84 ERA across seven starts this season. Of course, it's his strikeout rate that's eye-popping. He has 59 punchouts across 38.0 innings pitched, including at least eight in five of his seven starts, including in three straight.
Misiorowski had to leave his last start (May 1) after 5.1 innings with cramps, so we'll have to see how he bounces back and if the Yankees can hit him.
Will Ben Rice return to the lineup?
Rice has missed four games since exiting Sunday's game after being hit in the hand with a pitch. The Yankees haven't put the slugging first baseman on the IL, so it seems he's close to returning. But will he finally return to the lineup?
Could the Yankees change course and just put Rice on the IL?
The Yankees are 3-1 in the games Rice has missed, and Paul Goldschmidt has filled in admirably, but New York needs Rice, who is arguably the team's most consistent hitter this season, batting .343 with 12 home runs and 27 RBI.
Will Cody Bellinger stay hot?
While the Yankees wait for word on whether Rice can return to the lineup, the others have picked up the slack, including Bellinger. The outfielder enters the weekend series on a nine-game hitting streak. During that streak (since April 28), he's batting .471/.525/.971 with six runs, seven doubles, two triples, two home runs and 14 RBI.
Bellinger has played 25 games in Milwaukee in his career and has hit .320 with five home runs.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Aaron Judge
Judge already has 15 homers and will continue to show off his power.
Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?
Max Fried
Fried has been great and will solidify his place at the top of the early Cy Young race with another strong start.
Which Brewers player will be a thorn in the Yankees' side?
Jackson Chourio
The talented young outfielder has returned after missing the start of the season with a hand fracture. Entering Friday, he's 6-for-9 with three extra-base hits in the two games since coming back.
Playoff James Harden was in full force Thursday night.
Harden is off to an awful start through the first two games of the Cavaliers’ Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Pistons, with his 3-of-13, four-turnover performance Thursday dooming Cleveland in its 107-97 loss that landed it in a 2-0 series hole against Detroit.
The veteran scored just 10 points Thursday and has 11 turnovers to nine field goals in the series.
Udonis Haslem says that James Harden has been holding the ball too carelessly. Getty Images
Longtime ex-NBA big man Udonis Haslem called out Harden for his showing in this series.
“The Magic gave us the blueprint [the Pistons] are a one-trick pony in the half court,” Haslem said in reference to Detroit having trouble scoring. “How can you give these guys 31 points off turnovers?”
“There is five guys who have been in the NBA that have went to the playoffs 17-plus consecutive times. (John) Stockton, (arl) Malone, Jason Kidd, Tony Parker, James Harden. Why the hell are you turning the ball over so much? You have been in the playoffs and know what it’s like to be in the playoffs. Why the hell are you turning the ball over? It’s so self-inflicted wounds. One-handed passes. Things that I would take my son out the game for if I was coaching him for throwing passes like that. Why are you having these kind of passes and plays in the 2nd round of the playoffs? I don’t understand that.”
The “Inside the NBA” crew began discussing Harden having 35 playoff games (now 36 after Game 2) in which he had more turnovers than field goals, which Barkley said “should never” happen.
Green defended Harden, saying he has the ball all the time and his team relies on him too much to facilitate offense for his team.
James Harden is having a tough series. NBAE via Getty Images
ESPN then revealed that Green has the most of those games in NBA playoff history, with 43 games scoring fewer field goals than turnovers committed, tied with Kendrick Perkins with the most ever.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons also had some harsh comments for the Cavaliers.
“This Cleveland thing is going so bad that we’re now going into a scenario where LeBron [James] may need to come in here as a savior this offseason.,” Simmons said. “Detroit is making him look old. He’s lost the ball multiple times on moves he used to make in his sleep for the 16 years of his career.”
The Cavaliers traded for Harden at the NBA trade deadline in an attempt to make a Finals run, but his poor playoff performances continue to haunt him and have Cleveland on the brink of elimination.
It all began when the Warriors took Curry with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. They followed that up with Klay Thompson in 2011, Draymond Green in 2012 and then built a championship dynasty, winning four NBA titles (2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022).
Since their last ring, they've been eliminated in the second round or missed the playoffs altogether. This season, they were eliminated in the final NBA Play-In game against the Phoenix Suns, which determined the No. 8 seed, sparking questions about the future of the Warriors, head coach Steve Kerr and what's next in the Curry era.
They believe that there would have been a different outcome if they didn't battle injuries to Curry all year, or experience Jimmy Butler's season-ending ACL tear. There's no quit in this team. The Warriors brass are confident they will be back next year.
They are looking to bring in another superstar to pair with Curry. Here are some trade targets the Warriors could be looking to acquire:
Golden State Warriors potential trade targets
There are many targets that the Warriors could pursue in the offseason. ESPN's Marc J. Spears said two months ago that Golden State will look to go after a big-time player to team up with Curry. Some options:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Warriors flirted with talks of trading for Antetokounmpo around the trade deadline during the regular season, however discussions stalled out. Could those calls begin to funnel through again, now that both teams have turned their attention to the offseason?
Kawhi Leonard
Leonard's time in Los Angeles could be coming to an end with the Clippers, especially amid the Aspiration fiasco. The Warriors can strike while the iron's hot and make a move to pursue to Leonard. ESPN has already put together a mock trade offer that would send Butler to LA in return for Leonard.
Kevin Durant
Whenever there's a potential rumor that Durant and his current team are disgruntled with one another, everyone wants to send Durant back to the Bay Area. Even though, when he made the move a decade ago, it was frowned upon, seemingly causing a talent imbalance in the league. Reports say that Durant and Rockets coach Ime Udoka are essential pieces to the Rockets future, but a reunion between the Warriors and the two-time Finals MVP would be almost like a storybook ending.
Jamal Murray
Murray to the Warriors would be a major backcourt upgrade. The Denver Nuggets could look to move off of their combo point guard that was selected seventh overall in 2016. Golden State could create a respectable package deal that would give the Nuggets a solid return value, according to Heavy's Sean Deveney.
Aaron Gordon
Gordon, Murray's teammate, is reportedly no longer off the table when it comes to trade discussions and is being shopped. There hasn't been anything linking both parties, but Gordon could give the Warriors, and Curry, a few more years of playoff contention and championship relevance.
LeBron James
The Lakers are not trading LeBron James. (He's set to be a free agent.) However, there's been speculation over James and Curry teaming up for the past few years. Of course, the Warriors made a bid for James via trade with the Lakers, which was shut down. Spears believes a big move is on the horizon for the Warriors, whether it's James, Antetokounmpo or another superstar.
Marc Spears (@MarcJSpears) on Stephen Curry and the Warriors’ young players:
"[Stephen Curry] wants to play this season. He wants to play in the postseason. Does he have championship aspirations? I think he's realistic about that. He mentioned to me that Jimmy Butler is not… pic.twitter.com/PtZ7BPpmYB
CHICAGO - 1986: Bill Dawley of the Chicago White Sox pitches during an MLB game at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois during the 1986 season . (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bill Dawley would appear in 275 games as a reliever during his major league career. He’d make his debut with the Astros on April 15th and set ablaze the first half of the 1983 season, winning 5 contests while posting a 1.88 ERA. That start would culminate with an All-Star Selection at Old Comiskey Park in the Mid-Summer Classic in Chicago.
Here’s the 12th installment of our continuing legends series.
Q: Did you have any idea you were going to be dealt during spring training in 1983?
A: I had obviously been with the Reds for years and I thought that year I would make the club, but I didn’t make the starting five.
On one of the very last days of spring training, they demoted me, but back then you had 72 hours to report to the minor leagues. I was disappointed, but then I received a phone call from Chief Bender who was the man responsible for building the foundation for the Big Red Machine. He told me he about a trade to the Astros, so I get optioned to Tucson, AZ and now I’m in their system but not with the main club.
As fate would have it, the Astros started the year 0-9 and they brought me up.
Q: And then upon being brought up, you catch fire immediately and start paying dividends. What do you remember most from your first game?
A: I’m brought up and we’re playing the Expos. The first batter I faced, I actually hit in the ribs, that was Chris Spiers.
So, he’s on first and then Terry Francona comes up next and bunts into a double play with a hard ground ball to Phil Garner. I get the next guy out, we score a run the next inning, and all of sudden, I have my first win.
The team is 1-9 and I’m 1-0! (laughs) It happens again a few nights later, I get another win after the team loses a few, and I’m 2-0, but the team is 2-11. They quickly gave me the nickname “The Vulture”.
Q: All told the first half is so impressive, that you are named to the All-Star Team. What was that experience like?
A: I was sitting in a hotel in Atlanta, and back then the managers and coaches picked the pitching staff so Whitey Herzog calls and says “Congrats! You’re an all-star.”
It all happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to think about it. Ironically, I had grown up a huge Red Sox fan, and the first guy I faced that night was Jim Rice.
Q: You get Rice, you face George Brett, Lance Parrish, and Manny Trillo. You got all of those guys out. What was that experience like?
A: I was pumped. I was on cloud nine. I struck out Parrish, I got Brett to foul out to third base. After Brett, Dave Winfield came up and I made him look silly on two sliders to start things, and thought I could get a fastball by him, but he hit it into right field and then I got Trillo. I still remember what I threw those guys and it sometimes feels like yesterday.
Q: Toughest hitter you ever faced?
A: Andre Dawson. When he was with the Expos, I think I got him out every single time. When he was traded to the Cubs, he just owned me. He hit three home runs against me, a fastball, a slider, and a change up. He was my toughest out by far.
Q: Pitching in the Dome. What comes to mind?
A: I loved it. You know my first 10 or 11 innings; I hadn’t given up a run. So, one night, the count is 2 balls and no strikes on Dale Murphy, and I just thought because the dome was so massive that I’d throw him a fastball on the outer half, because no one in the Dome hits a homerun to center field.
Well, I was wrong (laughs). Dale hits it over the fence and that was the first run I ever gave up. It was a great place to pitch, and I actually liked the AstroTurf because you rarely got any bad bounces along the way.
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 06: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Michaela Schumacher/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
I definitely have much more negative feelings reserved for the feelings. I don’t really even have strong feelings, including negative feelings, for the Dodgers — but I know a lot of others do. So, let’s hear it.
SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 18: Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser (17) turns toward the dugout after striking out during an MLB Spring Training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 18, 2025 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
For these Orioles, after the rotten 2025 they had, one thing was supposed to be true this year: this would be a lineup that could weather bad injury luck. Mike Elias signed Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million deal, added competent veteran outfielders in Taylor Ward and Leody Taveras, and supplemented the infield depth.
That plan sounded fine, in theory, but in truth, these signings could never fully compensate for the bottom falling out when it comes to homegrown players. There are a few places you could point to, but no hiding the ugly truth: Colton Cowser and Coby Mayo are, at the moment, the team’s most conspicuous weak points. Mayo holds a .152/.218/.283 line, while Cowser sits at .179/.282/.209. Those are brutal numbers, and for two bat-first players, they demand scrutiny.
As prospects, both Cowser and Mayo crushed minor league pitching, but the transition to MLB has been rough for both. A first-round pick in 2021, Cowser hit .300 (.916 OPS) in three MiLB seasons, then came out guns a-blazing as a rookie, slashing .242/.321/.768 with 24 home runs and 69 RBIs over 153 games in 2024. But in 2025, the Milkman suffered a fractured thumb, broke some ribs in a wall collision, and sustained a concussion that limited him to 92 games. His numbers have gotten worse since. Mayo, meanwhile, signed well above slot for $1.75 million after scouts saw elite raw power in his 6’4” frame. Mayo tore through the minors, a career .905 MiLB hitter, but his early MLB exposure has not been encouraging—he’s batted .193 in 134 games while playing a ham-handed third base, the position he came up playing.
Both Cowser and Mayo hit Triple-A pitching for the same fundamental reason: they have plus raw power and can punish mistakes. Triple-A pitchers make mistakes frequently—they leave fastballs over the plate, hang breaking balls, and miss spots on offspeed pitches. A hitter with Cowser’s bat speed or Mayo’s raw power can feast in that environment even with significant swing-and-miss in their profiles, because the mistakes are frequent enough to keep the barrel busy.
But at the major league level, the margin for error disappears. Cowser handles fastballs well, but he’s posted a whiff rate north of 40% against breaking balls in each of the past three seasons. Predictably, opposing pitchers have fed him a steadily mounting diet of breaking and offspeed pitches, down and away. For Mayo, the challenge is slightly different: scouts have long noted that his plus-plus raw power requires a swing that is sufficiently short and smooth to make contact. Perhaps for that reason, he’s selling out on fastballs right now, to the detriment of his ability to hit offspeed pitches.
Are things as bad for both hitters as the data seems? Peripheral data complicates the story for one hitter, not the other. Cowser’s expected numbers are barely better than his actual, with a wOBA of .213 but an xwOBA of .249, and batting average of .189 versus an expected average of .204. His batting average on balls in play (BABip, a test of luck) is .279, meaning that his hitting about as well as he should. Meanwhile, Mayo has a .244 wOBA against an xwOBA of .277, and an actual batting average of .164 versus an expected average of .221, a 57-point gap that is one of the largest on the entire roster. His BABip, .186, is terrible. That is the kind of statistical disparity that suggests bad luck on balls in play, which for him is good news.
One more comparative angle to note is the teamwide one. The Orioles, as a unit, are the sixth-most strikeout-prone unit in baseball: in the AL, only Chicago, Seattle and Los Angeles whiff more than them. This is problematic, to say the least. So there could be an approach problem not the fault of either hitter. Cowser and Mayo strike out closer to as many times as Gunnar Henderson (all between 30-31%), with Blaze Alexander and Samuel Basallo (25.9%) close behind. On the other hand, when it comes to isolated power, Basallo, Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Pete Alonso all exceed .200, an excellent mark. Meanwhile, Mayo sits at .130 (below average) and Cowser’s .030 mark is what Fangraphs calls “Awful.” A 30% strikeout rate with little power is not doing much in the lineup, to state the obvious.
So should these two youngsters get ticketed for the Norfolk shuttle? I’m not sure, frankly. For Mayo, the case for patience is twofold: one, the demonstrated gap between his actual and expected results, and two, the absence of realistic options at third base, with Jordan Westburg still working back from a partial UCL tear in his right elbow with no timetable, and Blaze Alexander confirming that he’s utility piece, not an everyday answer. Jeremiah Jackson has hit well this season, but he’s primarily a middle infielder.
For Cowser, the case is getting tougher, but he is a high-ceiling prospect deserving of some margin. At the same time, his hitting data here suggests he’s not underperforming; he’s just not hitting. A team trying to salvage its season can’t exactly give him infinite rope. Dylan Beavers is not exactly knocking on the door, but while Leody Taveras has essentially been a backup since 2024, he’s producing positive value right now, and may be worth riding as a CF option for as long as the team can.
In the end, it seems that optioning Cowser and Mayo wouldn’t solve anything, because there aren’t great replacements for them at any level in this organization. What this roster really needs is for Henderson and Alonso to heat up, for the balls Mayo is hitting to start falling in, and for Cowser to spend lots of time in the cage on his timing. Probably, at the present time, the team will give it another few weeks. If Mayo is still in the .160s and Cowser is still whiffing at breaking balls with no power in sight, then the conversation changes. Right now, sending Mayo and Cowser down just means Blaze Alexander starts at third base and Leody Taveras starts in center. That could be an upgrade in the short-term, but does little to answer this team’s larger questions.
Apr 11, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Orion Kerkering (50) throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Orion Kerkering was probably the biggest story from the end of the 2025 season. His gaffe that sealed the Phillies’ elimination at the hands of the Dodgers in the NLDS loomed like a specter over the entire offseason. But as we sit in May 2026, Kerkering has been in the background amid the team’s early struggles and feels as though he’s a forgotten man in the discussion at this point.
An injury in early spring training delayed Kerkering’s season debut until shortly after Opening Day, but he’s been quietly effective in his limited work. He’s appeared in 14 games entering play on Thursday and owns a 2.08 ERA through 13 innings pitched. Kerkering has collected nine strikeouts but also has six walks and surrendered nine hits including a home run. His underlying metrics paint a good picture, as his xERA of 2.01 is currently in the 97th percentile of all pitchers. Meanwhile, his expected batting average of .142 and average exit velocity of 80.5 MPH are among the best in all of baseball.
Despite his strong quality of contact numbers, Kerkering has once again struggled to generate swings and misses. He finished 2025 with a 24.4% strikeout rate that was only slightly above average and felt lacking considering the stuff Kerkering possesses. His whiff rate of 23.3% was well below league average and is down to 19.8% in the early going of 2026. He has however begun to experiment with throwing a splitter, a pitch he never utilized in the past. It’s only been thrown ten times, nine of which were to lefties, but Kerkering’s splitter has already generated six whiffs. The high number of walks in 2026 isn’t new either, as his 10.2% walk rate in 2025 was the highest among qualified relievers in the Phillies bullpen.
So, what do you make of Orion Kerkering’s season so far? Do you feel as though his error to end last season still lingers in his head? Or do you think he’s put it behind him?
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 04: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives around Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of a game in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 04, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs Date: May 8th, 2026 Time: 8:30 PM CDT Location: Target Center Television Coverage: ESPN
Wolves-Spurs Game 3 Preview: Bury the Blowout, Protect the Den
The Timberwolves had a chance to put this series in a vice grip.
That’s what Game 2 could have been. Steal another one in San Antonio, fly back to Minneapolis up 2-0, and suddenly the Spurs, young, talented, terrifying, but still young, would be staring at the full weight of playoff reality. The Wolves would have gone from escaping Game 1 to talk of a gentleman’s sweep in the span of 48 hours.
Instead, Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs grabbed the script, lit it on fire, and spent the second half treating Minnesota like the Washington Generals.
Game 2 was ugly. Not “missed a few shots” ugly. Not “the other team got hot” ugly. This was 35-points-at-halftime ugly. This was “turn the TV off and go reorganize the garage” ugly. This was one of the poorest postseason performances in Timberwolves history, which is not exactly a franchise category lacking competition.
The Wolves looked nothing like the team that marched into Frost Bank Center in Game 1 and stole home court with grit, defense, and just enough offensive burst to survive. In Game 2, their offense was disjointed. The ball stuck. Easy looks turned into clanks. Layups and threes spun out. The Spurs ran, ran again, and then ran some more, turning every Minnesota miss or mistake into a track meet. The Wolves wanted another rock fight. San Antonio decided to sprint past them while they were looking for rocks.
This was a game of want-to, and the Spurs wanted it more. They were the desperate team. They played like it. Minnesota kept it within reach early, but as the lead grew, the fight slowly drained out of the Wolves. A 24-point halftime deficit ballooned into the 40s, and by the end, the only reasonable response was to take the tape, bury it somewhere in the desert, and hope nobody with a conscience ever digs it up.
But here’s the thing about the playoffs: a 40-point loss counts the same as a four-point loss.
The series is 1-1.
That’s it.
There are no style points. No standings penalty. No automatic carryover because you got embarrassed. The Wolves still did their job in San Antonio. They split the first two games. They stole home court. They put themselves in position to control the series if they can protect Target Center.
We’ve seen how little a dominant playoff victory means in the larger context of a series. The Wolves blew out Oklahoma City by 42 in last year’s Western Conference Finals and still lost that series 4-1. The 2024 Denver series had teams taking turns laying the wood to each other before everything came down to Game 7. In the playoffs, one game can lie to you. One game can make you feel invincible or doomed, and then 48 hours later the entire story changes.
So Game 2 has to go in the rearview mirror. Not ignored, not excused, but filed away properly. It was a bad night with bad energy and bad execution. If you want a silver lining, the Wolves got the Scott Foster game out of the way before he could really ruin something more consequential. Whatever helps you sleep.
Now comes Game 3.
Target Center. Series tied. Home court in Minnesota’s hands. A chance to reestablish the terms of engagement and remind the Spurs that one blowout does not make a series. This is where the Wolves need to respond like the battle-tested team they claim to be.
And with that, here are the keys to Game 3…
1. Defend the Entire Length of the Floor
Minnesota is not winning this series with offense first. Not with Anthony Edwards still compromised. Not with Donte DiVincenzo out. Not against a Spurs team that has Victor Wembanyama turning the paint into a haunted corn maze.
This has to be a defense-first series, but Game 2 showed that “defense” cannot just mean getting set in the half court and trying to grind possessions out. San Antonio punished Minnesota in transition. The Spurs ran off misses, ran off mistakes, and at times even pushed off makes before the Wolves could get organized. Once they got into open space, the Wolves were scrambling, cross-matched, and reacting instead of dictating.
That cannot happen again. The Wolves need to defend from the moment a shot goes up. Floor balance matters. Sprinting back matters. Communication matters. You cannot let a young, athletic team build confidence through easy baskets. If San Antonio is going to score, make them do it against a set defense. Make them face Rudy Gobert at the rim. Make them beat Jaden McDaniels in the half court. Make them execute.
Minnesota held the Spurs to 100 points in Game 1. That needs to be the target. One hundred or less. That is the mission. That is the path.
If the Spurs get loose in transition again, they could run away with the series.
2. Stay Out of Foul Trouble, Especially Jaden
Jaden McDaniels flirting with foul trouble is becoming one of those playoff subplots that makes every Wolves fan start stress-eating. He cannot spend long stretches on the bench. Period.
When Jaden sits, the Wolves lose one of their best perimeter defenders, one of their few players with the length to bother San Antonio’s creators, and one of their most important secondary offensive weapons. We saw it against Denver. We saw it in Games 1 and 2. When he has to play cautiously, the defense loses some teeth.
He has to be aggressive, but he also has to be smart. No cheap reaches 30 feet from the basket. No frustration fouls. No picking up silly whistles just because the game is physical and the officials are calling it tight. The same applies to Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Rudy Gobert, who all have to deal with Wembanyama in different ways. The Wolves have three bigs, but that depth only matters if they are available.
If Minnesota fouls, make it count. Make it physical. Make it strategic.
3. Hit Shots… But Create Better Ones First
The Wolves’ offense was on life support almost immediately in Game 2. The missed threes were bad enough, but it wasn’t just the long ball. They missed bunnies. They missed layups. They missed chances that could have stabilized the game before San Antonio opened the floodgates.
Against Wembanyama, offense is already hard enough. You cannot make it harder by wasting the looks you actually earn. The Wolves need to generate cleaner possessions. That means ball movement and getting San Antonio’s defense rotating. That means using screens and seals to pull Wemby out of the play when possible. That means attacking with purpose rather than driving into traffic and hoping something good happens.
And yes, when the open threes come, they have to fall.
This is still a make-or-miss league, and Minnesota cannot survive another night where the ball refuses to cooperate. They need mid-30s from deep. They need confident shooting. They need Conley, Naz, McDaniels, Randle, Shannon, whoever gets the look, to step into shots like they belong there.
And free throws? Make them. Please. For everyone’s blood pressure.
4. Bring the Physicality Back
The Wolves made Wembanyama uncomfortable in Game 1. They did not do that nearly enough in Game 2.
Wemby is going to adjust. He is too smart, too talented, too absurdly gifted not to. He is going to find better spots. He is going to be more aggressive. So Minnesota has to make sure every touch comes with contact, every cut comes with resistance, every rebound comes with a body.
The Wolves’ trio of big men need to lay the wood to Wembanyama. The guards and wings need to crack down, box out, and help clean the glass. The Spurs cannot be allowed to pile up second-chance points, especially in a series where every possession feels like pulling teeth offensively.
And it extends beyond Wembanyama. Stephon Castle needs to feel pressure. San Antonio’s drivers need to be met with bodies. Their cutters cannot glide untouched through the lane. Their young legs need to learn that playoff basketball in Minneapolis is supposed to hurt a little.
You are not going to out-finesse the Spurs. You have to outmuscle them.
5. Find the Hero
With Ant still not fully himself, the Wolves do not have the clean, obvious answer they usually do.
That means someone has to step into the moment.
Maybe it’s Julius Randle bullying his way to 28 and controlling the game as both scorer and facilitator. Maybe it’s Jaden McDaniels turning defense into offense and rediscovering the aggressive scoring rhythm that changed the Denver series. Maybe it’s Terrence Shannon Jr. using his downhill burst to attack before San Antonio’s defense gets set. Maybe it’s Naz catching fire. Maybe it’s Mike Conley giving them another calm, veteran shooting night. Maybe Rudy dominates defensively so thoroughly that his impact becomes the story even without a big scoring line.
Somebody has to rise.
That has been the theme since Edwards got hurt. The Wolves cannot wait around for one savior. They need game-by-game heroes.
In Game 2, nobody grabbed the game.
In Game 3, someone has to.
Bite Back
The Wolves accomplished the basic mission in San Antonio. They split, stole home court, and gave themselves a path.
But Game 2 was a warning.
San Antonio is not some cute young team happy to be here. The Spurs are dangerous, fast, long, and confident. And if Minnesota gives them the opportunity, they will turn this series into something very uncomfortable very quickly.
Game 3 is where the Wolves have to reassert control. Not by talking about experience. Not by pointing to the Denver series. Not by assuming Target Center will save them. The building will be loud, sure. The crowd will be ready, but the players have to bring the force.
They need to defend. They need to run back. They need to hit shots. They need to stay out of foul trouble. They need to get physical. They need to play like the team that has been through postseason wars and knows exactly what this moment requires.
The Wolves cornered the Spurs with Game 1, and then the wounded animal bit back.
Now it is Minnesota’s turn to answer.
This is their hunt. This is their territory. This is where they either restore order or hand a young team even more belief.
