May 3, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) runs to second base against the Texas Rangers in the sixth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Happy Friday, everyone! Well, it’s been a dismal week to be a Tigers fan, that’s for sure. They were swept by the Mets, which is the first time all season the Mets have swept anyone. But they’re home again, they’re facing the Blue Jays this weekend, and hopefully they have some wins ahead.
If we want to look at the positive, though, we’re spotlighting our choice for Rookie of the Year, Kevin McGongile below, who continues to amaze us and prove he’s no fluke. In terms of broader baseball news, we discuss the CBA, the Rays stadium deal, jail time for Yasiel Puig, and Cy Young chatter around Shohei Ohtani.
Let’s just get right into it.
Detroit Tigers News
This kid is good.
Kevin McGonigle is the first player in Tigers history with at least 45 hits and 24 walks in his first 40 big league games. He is only the second Tiger in franchise history, age 21-years-old or younger, to tally 45 hits in his first 40 major league games, joining Travis Fryman who… pic.twitter.com/4oruaPZCck
There's an update regarding the delay in the 4th inning. A fan fell into the visiting team bullpen. That fan has now been transported to the hospital for treatment.
The Cubs are still having trouble scoring runs, as you likely saw in the team’s 2-0 win over the Braves Thursday evening in Atlanta.
But with Ben Brown’s second straight excellent start and solid work from the bullpen, two runs was enough to win the game and end the Cubs’ four-game losing streak.
The Cubs had their chances off Chris Sale in the early innings, with two singles in the first and second innings. But all that did was add to their RISP woes.
They had five hits over the first four innings, but nothing doing. Brown, though, was holding the Braves down even better than that — just one hit and one walk over four innings, with seven strikeouts. Brown threw 65 pitches (40 strikes) and just two runners got past first base.
The last Cubs starter to depart after four scoreless innings was . . . Ben Brown, last week at Texas. He gave up no hits in that one; tonight, one.
Shōta Imanaga gave up no hits in a four-inning start on Opening Day of 2025 against the Dodgers at Tokyo.
Brown allowed one hit in 4.0 at home vs. the Braves on May 23, 2024, after Imanaga had yielded two at home vs. the Dodgers on April 7.
Javier Assad (four hits) and Marcus Stroman (two) turned the trick in 2022, for a total of seven such games in the last five seasons.
There had been 14 in all of 1901-2021.
The Cubs finally broke through against Sale in the sixth. Ian Happ led off with a walk. Seiya Suzuki hit a ground ball on which Ha-Seong Kim made an error, and the runners wound up on first and third.
Jacob Webb, who has been very good lately, threw the eighth, and like his predecessor relievers, allowed one hit, a single. Webb, last 10 games: 1.69 ERA, 12 strikeouts in 10.2 innings. He’s definitely going up in Craig Counsell’s circle of trust.
Thus Daniel Palencia got the save opportunity. He struck out the first two Braves in the ninth on six pitches, then allowed — you guessed it! — a single.
I concur with Counsell on his thoughts about Brown. As you know, I’ve been skeptical of Brown as a starter, but these two starts have certainly given Brown a lot of confidence, and adding new pitches has definitely helped him. It gives the Cubs the possibility of choosing Brown to do this again, and if they continue the rotation in order, his next turn would come up Tuesday against the Brewers at Wrigley Field.
Everyone in the NL Central won on Thursday, so the Cubs’ lead remains 2.5 games over the Brewers and Cardinals. This was a solid team effort, especially from the bullpen. Here are some shutout notes from John:
This shutout, the Cubs’ third of the season, was their…
1,465th in the regular season since 1876 656th on the road in the regular season since then 183rd vs. the Braves 76th vs. the Braves on the road 34th vs. the Braves since 1966, their first year in Atlanta 13th at Atlanta, in 291 games there
The last had been July 18, 2015, by 4-0. Jon Lester gave up two hits in 7.1 innings, Hector Rondon retired two batters to end the eighth and Jason Motte walked one in the ninth.
Lastly, the Cubs pitchers did a pretty good job of holding down a really good Atlanta offense, giving them just nine runs in three games. The Cubs, though, scored just five runs in the three-game series. They’ll have to do better than that going forward.
The Cubs returned home to Chicago after this win and will take on the White Sox this weekend on the South Side in the first of two three-game series against their crosstown rivals (the other, at Wrigley Field, will be in August). The teams will open the three-game series Friday evening. Edward Cabrera will start for the Cubs and Sean Burke goes for the Sox. Game time is 6:40 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network (and CHSN with the Sox announcers).
There are marriages that survive because of love. There are marriages that survive because of shared history. And then there are marriages that survive because both sides are too stubborn or afraid to walk away from each other.
And right now, the relationship between the Lakers and LeBron James is the latter.
That’s why the report that came out Wednesday from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin about LeBron feeling “unappreciated” after the Lakers’ March 31 win over the Cavaliers landed with so much force around the league.
The Lakers’ LeBron James said he felt “unappreciated” by the team after a March 31 win, according to an ESPN report. Getty Images
Not because it was shocking, but because it wasn’t.
The greatest player in Lakers history since Kobe Bryant doesn’t just storm out of the locker room with ice bags wrapped around his knees and slides on his feet randomly — especially not because he didn’t get a game ball.
That kind of resentment and animosity builds slowly, layer by later, over years of passive-aggressive messaging and emotional distance.
And if we’re being honest, both sides are to blame for this mess.
Let’s start with the obvious: The Lakers absolutely should have honored LeBron that night.
Surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most combined (regular season and playoffs) wins in NBA history is not some throwaway stat. It is one of the defining accomplishments in league history. On par with LeBron passing Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA’s all-time scoring record. It deserved its own moment, acknowledgment and celebration.
LeBron James has passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,228) for the most TOTAL WINS (regular season + playoffs) in NBA history
Lakers coach JJ Redick even said as much in his postgame speech to his team that night. After listing all the accomplishments, he finished by saying:
“More importantly, LeBron James, the winningest player of all time in the regular season and playoffs.”
What happened next is what caused the ruckus, and what makes it even more ridiculous in hindsight is that the whole thing could have been avoided.
Rob Pelinka interrupted the celebration to honor Redick’s 100th win as a head coach and even had a video of his two sons congratulating him. He then presented Redick with a game ball.
But why on earth did Pelinka not have more than one game ball ready?
NBA teams prepare three game balls before every game. Just like an NFL head coach hands out multiple game balls after the game, Pelinka easily could have secured all three to hand out to Redick, LeBron and Luka Doncic, respectively.
Instead, the Lakers somehow turned a night that should have celebrated organizational greatness into another chapter of awkward family tension. And LeBron had every right to feel slighted.
If we’re ranking the accomplishments that occurred that night in order of historical significance, it would look like this:
LeBron surpassing Kareem for most wins in NBA history.
Luka breaking Kobe Bryant’s franchise record with 600 points in March.
Redick earning his 100th win while becoming the first Lakers coach since Phil Jackson to post back-to-back 50-win seasons.
Luka reaching 15,000 career points.
Rui Hachimura reaching 5,000 career points.
The Lakers finishing March 15-2.
LeBron’s accomplishment was the greatest based on the history of the NBA. Period. And Pelinka should have done more to recognize it.
But LeBron needs to own something about himself, too. Because his reaction also exposed something contradictory to his words.
The Lakers’ Rob Pelinka could have handled the situation better by presenting multiple game balls March 31. Getty Images
LeBron consistently says he “doesn’t care” about what people think about him. He claims to ignore articles, podcasts and criticism. He says he’s “too busy watching golf videos on YouTube” to worry about his public perception. He says winning and his teammates are the only things that matter to him.
Except his actions have not always backed up his words.
You don’t storm out of a locker room over feeling underappreciated if appreciation doesn’t matter deeply to you. And there’s nothing wrong with owning that. In fact, it makes you more human.
Of course, LeBron wants to be appreciated. Of course, he wants reverence. He’s spent 23 seasons carrying the weight of the sport on his shoulders. Players like LeBron don’t just want championships. They want legacy. They want validation. They want history to stop for a second and recognize the enormity of what they’ve done. Especially when it comes with three decades’ worth of sacrifice, dedication and hard work.
That’s why all this talk about him retiring and disappearing feels unrealistic.
LeBron might not want a yearlong farewell tour filled with rocking chairs and framed jerseys. But he absolutely wants to feel appreciated and honored by the game of basketball before he leaves it forever. This only confirms that.
And at the same time, the Lakers have every right to feel frustrated. They gave LeBron everything he wanted. They won a championship together in 2020. They traded for Russell Westbrook when he asked. They drafted his son, Bronny. They empowered his voice for nearly a decade.
And yet, since Doncic arrived, the relationship has clearly shifted.
Luka is the future now. Everybody knows it. That’s what makes this relationship so emotionally volatile. Aging superstars rarely handle succession gracefully — hell, there was an entire television series about it.
The Lakers have spent the last year slowly transitioning their team from LeBron to Doncic. And it’s that tension that bleeds into everything. Which is why this offseason cannot be handled through leaks to the media, anonymous quotes and more passive-aggressive behavior.
James and the Lakers need to have a brutally honest conversation soon. Getty Images
These two sides need to sit down and have a brutally honest conversation.
If LeBron feels unappreciated, he needs to say it directly. If the Lakers believe LeBron doesn’t show enough gratitude for what they’ve done for him, they need to stay that, too. Air all of it out.
Because LeBron is about to discover in free agency that there may not be a better basketball situation for him, both on the court and off, than staying in LA, playing alongside Luka and sharing a locker room with his son.
And the Lakers need to recognize that players like LeBron do not grow on trees. You don’t nickel-and-dime emotional acknowledgment with someone who delivered you a championship, restored relevance and helped bridge the franchise from the Kobe era into the Luka era.
If both parties actually want this marriage to continue, both sides need to evolve and grow.
The Lakers need to appreciate LeBron more and show it.
LeBron needs to show more gratitude toward the Lakers.
Otherwise, this relationship isn’t heading toward reconciliation.
It’s heading toward a loud, ugly and very public divorce.
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"I’ve got to take it on the chin, handle it how I’m supposed to and be ready for the next one. You know, it’s going to suck. I’ve just got to be better to help my team out there."
The quote is from Knicks wing Mikal Bridges after Game 3 of the Hawks series, while he was answering questions from reporters about his play that night. Bridges had four turnovers, one rebound, and two assists in 21 minutes. He didn’t score in Game 3, missing all four of his shot attempts.
"I’ve just got to clean it up," Bridges had said. "It’s on me."
Sometimes, those answers turn out to be empty cliches.
The Knicks won all seven games by an average of more than 26 points. They were plus-123 in Bridges’ 203 minutes.
"It's a testament to who he is and how he prepares himself and how he gets ready for the game, regardless of what's going on," Jalen Brunson said last week of Bridges. "Having a next-play mentality, having short-term memory, just focusing on the next play, next play.
"So, regardless of what happens, positive or negative, he's locked into the next one. That's just who he is."
Bridges obviously didn’t let his Game 3 performance against Atlanta linger for too long.
He played strong team defense and slowed Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker over the course of the series.
Bridges then served as the primary defender on Tyrese Maxey in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
In the first three games of the series, Maxey averaged 18.6 points, 10 fewer than his regular season average. He went 2-for-12 from beyond the arc, and had four turnovers per game – nearly double his regular season average.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) drives against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) in the third quarter during game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. / Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Mike Brown and Bridges’ teammates were quick to credit him for the effort he displayed in chasing Maxey all over the floor.
But when you asked Bridges about it, he deflected praise.
"Shout out to the bigs being up to touch and having to deal with him sprint off while also (defending Joel) Embiid in the pocket and the low man having to be in and Kelly (Oubre Jr.) cutting and shooting threes," Bridges said after the Knicks swept the Sixers.
Bridges regularly credits his teammates when he’s asked about his own strong performance. He also routinely holds himself accountable after subpar games.
In his first two seasons as a Knick, Bridges has had some big playoff moments but has been uneven in the regular season. That’s led to constant criticism of Leon Rose and the Knicks’ decision to send five first-round picks to Brooklyn in exchange for Bridges.
But that criticism has been muted lately. For the second straight postseason, Bridges has delivered in timely situations. He helped hold the fort down while OG Anunoby missed two games with a hamstring strain. Regardless of who the Knicks play in the next round, they’ll need solid play from Bridges to get through.
"I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to win," Bridges said last week. "You know, just beginning of (the) playoffs, knowing that, all 82 – the regular season means a lot, but it's just (a fresh season in the playoffs). Just giving it all. That's pretty much all I gotta say."
Bridges didn’t really need to say much that night. He’d already made a loud statement with his play on the court.
REST VS. RUST
The Knicks were playing at an elite level on both sides of the ball against the Sixers. Will they be out of rhythm early in the Conference Finals because of a long layoff (either seven or nine days)?
Brown can’t predict the future. But the head coach did see the long break as a challenge for his veteran group.
"If we expect to be who we think we're capable of being, we'll find a way to stay consistent with what we're doing," Brown said, "Whether it's the energy level, the effort level, or embracing/focusing on the details that we have to be able to understand in order to go out and get a win."
The mood around the team after the Philly series was much different from the second round last year. The Knicks pulled off an upset of Boston last season. This year, a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals was expected.
"I think the way we beat Boston last year, the comebacks and all that, it was very – I don't want to say celebratory, but it was – it hit a little bit different than here," Josh Hart said last week. "It's just we're approaching the business as normal and we gotta make sure we're locked in and focused on the next team."
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 12: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up before Game Five of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on May 12, 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs Date: May 15th, 2026 Time: 8:30 PM CDT Location: Target Center Television Coverage: Prime Video
The Minnesota Timberwolves are out of runway.
After dropping Game 5 in San Antonio in embarrassing fashion, the Wolves now find themselves down 3-2, wounded, staring at elimination, and trying to convince themselves that the season still has one more pivot left in it.
And honestly? It might.
That’s the part that makes this so agonizing. This series has not felt like some inevitable Spurs coronation. The Wolves have had chances. Real chances. They stole Game 1. Game 3 was a one-possession game heading into the final five minutes. They capitalized on a golden opportunity in Game 4 after Wembanyama’s ejection. They tied Game 5 in the third quarter after falling behind by 18 early. That’s the generous interpretation of the series.
The realistic version, the one that has them trailing 3-2 and on the brink of elimination, reveals that every time that Minnesota has put itself in position to seize this series, it has found a new and creative way to let go of the rope. Game 2 was a total no-show. Game 3 started with nearly seven minutes of offensive malpractice before the Wolves finally remembered that the ball is supposed to go through the orange circle. Game 4 required a late Anthony Edwards miracle against a Spurs team missing its centerpiece. Game 5 was the most painful version of all. The Wolves clawed back, tied the game at 61-61, had a chance to take their first lead since the opening minutes, watched Anthony Edwards’ shot rim out, and then immediately gave the whole thing back in a blur of turnovers, transition buckets, missed rebounds, defensive breakdowns, and second-chance points.
That’s not a bad break. That’s a pattern.
And now the pattern has led them here.
On Friday night at Target Center, the Wolves are facing elimination. The situation is not hopeless, but the margin for error has disappeared. There is no “clean it up next time.” There is no “we’ll respond.” There is no “we still control our destiny” in the normal, comfortable sense. Their destiny now has a 7-foot-6 Frenchman standing in front of it, swatting away shots, inhaling rebounds, and waiting to end their season.
The injuries are real. Donte DiVincenzo’s shooting, toughness, and hustle would matter in this series. Anthony Edwards is clearly not at full force. Naz Reid’s shoulder, Ayo Dosunmu’s calf, and the cumulative toll of 94 games all matter. This Wolves team that looked so deep on paper is suddenly a battered playoff survivor trying to patch together enough healthy bodies and enough clean possessions to force a Game 7.
But the Wolves can’t hide behind injuries, because the mistakes have been too self-inflicted. They have turned the ball over. They have started slowly. They have allowed San Antonio to run wild in transition. They have wasted good defensive possessions by failing to secure the rebound. They have made Wembanyama’s life too comfortable for too many stretches.
Now they get one choice.
They can drift into the offseason, fade into the cold dark night, and spend the summer replaying all the missed chances from this series in their heads. Or they can take on the identity of their leader. Take the hit, feel the pain, stagger backward, and then heal like Wolverine and come back swinging.
They’ve done this before. Two years ago, in this same round, against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, the Wolves defended their home floor in Game 6 and sent the series back to Denver for a Game 7.
When you reach Game 7, in the immortal words of Kevin Garnett, “anything is possible.”
But before they can dream about San Antonio on Sunday, they have to survive Friday. And with that, here are the keys to Game 6…
Keys to the Game
1. Stop Digging Yourself a Hole
The Wolves cannot spend the opening minutes of Game 6 treating offense like a rumor. Slow starts have been an issue for this group for years, and while they have often shown a strange ability to find life after falling behind, this is not the time to test that trick again. Not against a Spurs team this young, this energized, and this close to breaking through. Minnesota cannot spot San Antonio an early lead and spend the rest of the night trying to claw its way out of a pit it built with its own hands.
Game 5 was the warning. Wembanyama dropped 18 points in the first quarter, San Antonio built a 13-point lead, and although the Wolves eventually cut it to four, the whole game was played on Spurs terms. Minnesota was reacting, chasing, and patching leaks, hoping each run would finally become the run. That is not a sustainable way to survive an elimination game.
From the opening tip, the Wolves need to draw first blood. They need to be the aggressor. They need to light the building on fire early and make San Antonio feel the pressure of a Target Center crowd that knows the season is on the line. The Spurs cannot be allowed to settle in. Wembanyama cannot be allowed to walk into another monster first quarter. Fox, Castle, Harper, and Vassell can’t be gifted rhythm because Minnesota is still stretching its legs.
The Wolves need urgency immediately.
2. Run the Floor
Desperate times call for desperate legs. If Minnesota has to run wind sprints for 48 minutes to survive, then that’s what this moment demands. The Wolves need to push pace offensively before Wembanyama and the Spurs defense can get fully set, and they need to sprint back defensively so San Antonio does not feast in transition the way it did in Game 5.
That was one of the defining failures in San Antonio. The Spurs got too many easy buckets before Minnesota could organize. Turnovers led to runouts. Misses became fast breaks. The Wolves’ defense, which can be excellent in the half court, was too often forced to defend from a compromised position.
Minnesota has to flip that script. Secure the rebound and run. Force the Spurs to retreat. Make Wembanyama cover ground. Make San Antonio’s young legs work both ways. And when the Spurs get the ball, the Wolves need to get back with the kind of urgency that says every possession might be their last.
They cannot get outhustled in an elimination game. Not at home. Not with this much on the line.
3. Dominate the Glass
Second-chance points are the lifeblood of this Spurs team right now, and the Wolves have donated far too many of them.
Wembanyama is going to get some putbacks. That’s just math and anatomy. But what cannot happen is San Antonio guards like Dylan Harper outworking Minnesota for offensive rebounds and creating extra possessions that extend leads, kill momentum, and make the Wolves feel like they have to win the same defensive possession two or three times. That was backbreaking in Game 5.
Minnesota has the size to control this part of the game. Between Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid, the Wolves should be able to punish a Spurs team that usually plays one true big at a time, whether it’s Wembanyama or Luke Kornet. But size only matters if it comes with force. The bigs have to vacuum the glass. The guards have to crack down and help, because the Spurs have proven they will attack the offensive glass from everywhere.
Possessions are everything now. The Wolves need to maximize theirs and minimize San Antonio’s. That starts with rebounding.
4. No Self-Inflicted Wounds
The Spurs are going to pressure the ball. They are going to crowd Minnesota’s handlers. They are going to put the Wolves in awkward situations and try to turn every lazy pass or loose dribble into an instant track meet going the other direction.
Minnesota has to be smarter than it was in Game 5. Turnovers don’t just waste offensive possessions. Against San Antonio, they become kindling. They let the Spurs run. They let Fox and Harper and Castle attack in space. They prevent Minnesota’s defense from getting set, which is the one place the Wolves have a real chance to control the game.
Cooler heads have to prevail. Mike Conley needs to steady things. Edwards needs to be aggressive without being reckless. Randle cannot try to bully through traffic while losing sight of the ball. Everyone has to understand that the simple play is often the right play.
Make San Antonio earn its points in the half court. Do not serve them layups on a silver platter because you couldn’t take care of the ball.
5. Someone Has to Rise
This playoff run has been a tremendous team effort. Jaden McDaniels has taken over games defensively. Gobert has battled Jokic and Wembanyama in consecutive rounds. Ayo authored a 43-point masterpiece. Mike Conley has defied Father Time for important stretches. Terrence Shannon Jr. has given this team real downhill juice. Naz has fought through pain.
But with Edwards hobbled, Game 6 cannot rest solely on his shoulders.
He needs help.
Even if Ant throws on the cape and gives Minnesota 40, the Wolves still need a 1B. And the most obvious candidate is Julius Randle.
This is exactly the kind of game Randle was brought here for. He is supposed to be the No. 2 option. He was the centerpiece of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. He has shown that he can be a primary scorer, a physical tone-setter, and a facilitator who bends a defense with his strength. Against this smaller Spurs team, there is no excuse for him not to impose himself.
If Randle scores in the high 20s, gets downhill, controls his turnovers, punishes mismatches, and creates for others when help comes, the Wolves have a real recipe. Pair that with Edwards doing Edwards things, and suddenly Game 7 becomes much more than a fantasy.
And if it’s not Randle, then it has to be someone. Does Ayo find another heater? Does Jaden stay out of foul trouble and attack offensively while locking things down defensively? Does Naz catch fire? Does Shannon become a force again? Someone has to rise to the size of the moment.
Someone has to grab Game 6 and drag this team to San Antonio.
The Edge of the Cliff
It has been a long road. Ninety-four games. A brutal and costly Denver series. A chaotic San Antonio battle. Injuries, comebacks, collapses, heroic performances, missed opportunities, and now one final stand at Target Center.
The Wolves have no choice but to win if they want a 95th game.
Game 7 in San Antonio would be daunting. Frost Bank Center has largely been a house of horrors for Minnesota in this series. Wembanyama would be waiting to defend his home floor. The Wolves would still be battered, bruised, and definitely not favored.
But if they win Friday night, they give themselves a chance.
That’s all this is about now. A chance.
A chance to take this series to the limit. A chance to summon one more road miracle. A chance to keep alive the pursuit of a third straight Western Conference Finals. A chance to prove that this team, wounded as it is, still has another bite left.
But they only earn that chance by playing their best basketball now. Not eventually. Not after falling behind. Not when desperation finally kicks in midway through the second quarter. Now.
The Wolves need collective focus. They need defense. They need rebounding. They need discipline. They need someone to rise. They need to treat every possession like the season is hanging from it, because it is.
This is what the hunt is all about.
The Wolves are wounded. They are backed into a corner, but they are not dead.
Friday night is their chance to strike back on their home floor, to land one more bite, to drag this fight into a final showdown.
Who will win Phillies vs Pirates today: -127 at Polymarket
The Pittsburgh Pirates have yet to face the Philadelphia Phillies in 2026, but they are riding a three-game winning streak against them dating back to last season. The Bucs also send one of their top arms to the hill in Braxton Ashcraft, who has been spectacular alongside Paul Skenes.
Ashcraft owns a 2.77 ERA, and he's given up only one run across his last two starts. Ashcraft's last outing at PNC Park was 7.2 scoreless frames against the Cincinnati Reds. The righty has a 3.42 ERA at home, and he's throwing the baseball with a lot of confidence.
The Phils also have one of the worst offenses in the sport, and they didn't score more than three runs in any game in their most recent series against the Boston Red Sox.
Aaron Nola, meanwhile, has a 5.48 ERA, and his ERA also sits at 4.94 on the road. The Pirates haven't had a ton of success against him, but Pittsburgh is sixth in runs scored, and they just scored seven runs on Thursday.
COVERS INTEL: Nola has a career-worst .432 xSLG so far this season, and he's surrendered 11 earned runs across his last three road starts.
Phillies vs Pirates Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 runs (-122 at Polymarket)
Three of the last four meetings between these two have cashed the Under in runs, and there are signs that Nola is trending in the right direction, which strengthens this play.
The righty has given up just three earned runs across his previous two appearances. I do expect the Bucs' impressive offense to give him some trouble, but he's shown more composure lately, which should help him limit serious damage.
Philadelphia's bullpen has also been better lately, and they've hit the Under in four straight contests. As for Pittsburgh, Ashcraft's consistency is crystal clear, and he often brings his best each week.
While he hasn't faced this Phillies lineup a lot, he's only allowed more than two earned runs once this season.
With both starters in good form and Pittsburgh's pen also holding their own lately, this contest screams value with the Under.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 10-11, -4.71 units
Over/Under bets: 12-9, +1.35 units
Phillies vs Pirates odds
Moneyline: Phillies +122 | Pirates -127
Run line: Phillies +1.5 (-178) | Pirates -1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+117) | Under 8.5 (-122)
Phillies vs Pirates trend
Four of the last five meetings between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have cashed the Under. Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Pirates.
How to watch Phillies vs Pirates and game info
Location
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Friday, May 15, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Philadelphia, Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Phillies starting pitcher
Aaron Nola (2-3, 5.14 ERA)
Pirates starting pitcher
Braxton Ashcraft (2-2, 2.77 ERA)
Phillies vs Pirates latest injuries
Phillies vs Pirates weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Rangers have lost four consecutive league matches for only the second time in the club's history, after a run of five successive defeats from October to November 1983.
Including the curtailed 2019-20 campaign, Rangers have only lost their final league game in one of the past 17 seasons (W9 D7), a 2-1 defeat at Kilmarnock in 2018-19.
Falkirk have lost just one of their past five home league games against Rangers (W2 D2), although that was their most recent, a 6-3 defeat in April.
Rangers have only lost one of their past 48 top-flight matches against Falkirk (W39 D8), a 1-0 defeat in December 2006 under Paul Le Guen.
Falkirk have lost four of their past five league games (W1), including both of their latest two. They are yet to lose three in a row in the league this season, last doing so in the top flight in March 2010.
In the Montreal Canadiens’ 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night, there were many heroes. Jakub Dobes bounced back after a shaky start, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky put up three points each, Cole Caufield found the back of the net at even-strength, and Ivan Demidov finally scored. Another performance was largely undetected: Phillipe Danault’s.
Some might have noticed that he missed a golden opportunity to score a big goal when the puck got to him in the slot, but he largely made up for it. Not only did he provide two assists on two of the first three goals, but he had a fantastic night at the faceoff dot.
Nobody took more faceoffs for the Habs in that game than Danault. The Quebecer took a total of 18 draws and won 14 of them for a 77.8% success rate. When Kent Hughes decided to acquire the struggling center from the Los Angeles Kings before the Christmas roster freeze, he didn’t do it to increase offensive production; he did it because he was fully aware of how important winning draws can be.
In the Canadiens two other wins over the Sabres, the centerman had a 66.7% success rate in the faceoff department. He took 15 draws in Montreal’s 5-1 win in Game 2 and nine in the Habs 6-2 win in Game 3.
To add: Danault Faceoffs: 13-2 (87%) so far.
ALSO - coming into tonight no line has been matched against Thompson/Tuch/Krebs more than Danault’s at 5on5
Shots 10-3 MTL Goals 1-0 MTL xGF 83.8% for Habs
He’s lookin like the star shutdown machine he was in 2021.
The Victoriaville native has played a key role for the Canadiens all through the first two rounds, not only because of how good he is in the faceoff department, but also because of his responsible two-way play. After 12 games, he averages 16:13, has won 61.9% of his faceoffs, has five points (all assists), and a plus-six rating, on top of playing big minutes on the penalty kill.
When the Canadiens are protecting a lead, Martin St-Louis often sends the 33-year-old veteran center onto the ice with Nick Suzuki, giving him two centers to take draws. If the linemen kick one out, the other one can take charge. Whichever way you look at it, Danault’s acquisition by Kent Hughes was a masterstroke; he has been more than worth the second-round pick he cost.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 13: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets is looked at by a trainer after being hit by a pitch during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Citi Field on May 13, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees have been sputtering a bit of late, losing five of their last six games while also dealing with injuries, including one to Max Fried that the extent of is not known yet. However, it almost always could be worse, and we just need to look at this weekend’s opponent for an example of that.
This weekend, the Yankees are headed across the city, as they go to Queens for a three-game set against the Mets. Not only do the Mets currently sit in last in the NL East with one of the worst records in baseball so far, they’ve also been dealing with a mess of injuries. Expected regulars Francisco Lindor, Francisco Alvarez, Luis Robert Jr., Jorge Polanco, and Kodai Senga are all currently on the IL. Juan Soto has been one of the only regularly good bats for them, but he’s already had an IL stint and recently had another scare after fouling a ball of his foot (though he did homer yesterday).
However even with those struggles, the Mets always seem to get up for Subway Series matchups, and both fanbases certainly do, too. Before the action gets going tonight, here’s a look at this weekend’s expected pitching matchups.
Friday: Cam Schlittler vs. Clay Holmes (7:15 pm ET)
In his last outing, Schlittler had a gem wasted, as the Yankees’ offense and bullpen couldn’t hang on after the young ace allowed just two hits and no runs. There’s not much more you can say about Schlittler other than that he’s been awesome, leading the league in a number of statistics (namely ERA, FIP, WHIP, and H/9 entering play yesterday). We’ve seen how he gets up for the rivalry against the Red Sox, so let’s see what he does for this cross-city matchup.
The second year of the Holmes as a starter experiment is going … pretty well. The former Yankees closer has a 1.86 ERA in 48.1 innings across eight starts. He has yet to allow more than two runs in any one start, which is especially solid considering he’s made it through at least five innings in every start he’s made. Anecdotally, the Yankees also sometimes seem to struggle against pitchers who had down notes while a member of the Yankees, so we’ll see what happens this time around.
Saturday: Carlos Rodón vs. TBD (7:15 pm ET)
On Saturday, Rodón will be making his second start back off the injured list. His 2026 debut definitely saw some rust despite some good velocity, as he walked five batters in 4.1 innings. That partially caused him to give up three runs to the Brewers despite only giving up two hits. At least, hopefully that was only rust. You still can’t judge much on only two outings, but we’ll get a better sense of how he looks after this game.
At time of writing, the Mets haven’t announced who will be going in the second game. As mentioned, they’re a bit injured, and previous times at this spot in their rotation, they’ve gone with Huascar Brazobán as an opener. 2025 All-Star David Peterson lost his spot in the rotation with an awful start to 2026, but he’s been getting some work as a “bulk guy,” so he could follow Brazobán.
Sunday: Ryan Weathers vs. Freddy Peralta (1:40 pm ET)
Last time out, Weathers flirted with a no-hitter at Camden Yards, only for things to go to pieces after he left the game, leading to a Yankees’ loss to the Orioles. After an up-and-down start to his Yankees career, Weathers has been very solid in recent weeks. Over his last four starts, he has a 1.88 ERA and a 2.77 FIP.
Peralta was one of the biggest name pitchers to move over the offseason, as the Mets acquired him in a trade with the Brewers. He’s been good so far, especially of late, posting a 3.10 ERA and a 3.67 FIP over his first nine starts as a Met. As was the case in Milwaukee, he’s not the type of guy to go 7-8 innings, as his longest outings of the season have been 6.0 innings flat, without ever starting the seventh. However, he can still go out there and strike a bunch of batters out in bunches.
Cam Schlittler has been a dominant force for the New York Yankees this season, making up for the loss of two key arms and inserting himself in the AL Cy Young conversation in the process. The right-hander owns a 1.35 ERA while striking out 59 hitters in only 53 1/3 innings of work.
Schlittler has cashed the Over in Ks in two of his last four outings. The youngster collected six punchouts against the Minnesota Twins in his most recent start, and he also had eight Ks in his last road appearance.
The Yankees visit the New York Mets tonight. The Mets are one of the worst teams in the big leagues, and Schlittler has a mind-boggling 0.98 road ERA, striking out 42 in 36 2/3 frames.
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: YES, SNY
Taylor Ward Over 0.5 runs (-115)
Taylor Ward has been a nice pickup for the Baltimore Orioles. In his first season with the team, Ward is hitting .265, coming across the plate 28 times in 43 games. The veteran has hit the Over in runs in back-to-back games, also registering three hits during that span.
The O's begin a series with the Washington Nationals tonight, and the matchup plays in Ward's favor.
The Nats send the struggling Zack Littell to the hill, who has a 6.94 ERA. Ward is 4-for-8 lifetime against the right-hander with two home runs and three RBI. Ward also has 20 of his runs versus righties, and Littell allows a lot of runs.
Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, Nationals.TV
Edward Cabrera Over 5.5 strikeouts (-104)
The Chicago Cubs' rotation is led by Edward Cabrera, who owns a 3.88 ERA. He's struck out 43 in 46 1/3 innings of work, and he's cleared tonight's number in three consecutive starts.
Cabrera has been hit around a bit lately, but he racked up six Ks in his most recent outing, and eight before that.
The Cubbies take on the Chicago White Sox this evening, who struggle to make contact. They rank 28th in the MLB in strikeouts, and Cabrera is striking out more hitters than usual at the moment.
A matchup against a lineup who aren't swinging it well plays in the right-hander's favor.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, CHSN
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 29-50, +6.18 units
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Head to NBCSN and Peacock this Sunday for an exciting slate of MLB action. Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with an MLBSunday Leadoff showdown featuring the Miami Marlins vs Tampa Bay Rays. Then, at 7:00 PM ET, it's the San Diego Padres vs Seattle Mariners on Sunday Night Baseball. See below for additional information on how to stream both games.
Last season, Clayton McCullough,in his first year as Miami's skipper, guided the club to its largest improvement from one full season to another, excluding the 2020 season that was shortened by COVID. Miami finished with a 79-83 record, a 17-win improvement from 2024. The Marlins, who now have the second-youngest active roster in the league, look to build off that success.
The Tampa Bay Rays have missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. The team, led by current AL Manager of the Year favorite Kevin Cash, looks to rewrite the narrative this season.
World Series champion pitchers Brian Anderson and Jeff Nelson will join play-by-play voice Matt Vasgersian and reporter John Fanta on this week’s edition of MLB Sunday Leadoff.
MLB Sunday Leadoff is a weekly Major League Baseball showcase featuring live Sunday daytime games. It highlights marquee matchups throughout the regular season and streams primarily on Peacock, with some games also airing across NBC Sports and NBC.
MLB Sunday Night Baseball is a weekly primetime Major League Baseball showcase, featuring marquee matchups each Sunday night during the regular season. The games air on NBC and Peacock and anchor NBC Sports’ Sunday night programming lineup.
On Sunday, July 5, all 15 MLB games will be presented nationally across Peacock and NBC as part of a special all-day “Star-Spangled Sunday” showcase.
NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock. Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits for whatever suits your mood.
Why are some MLB games unavailable to stream on Peacock?
Due to territorial blackout restrictions, select regular season, special event, and Postseason games may be unavailable on Peacock. Television territory blackout restrictions apply regardless of whether a Club is home or away and regardless of whether a game is televised in that Club's home television territory. For more information visit, Peacock’s Help Center.
Negotiators for baseball players and owners began what figures to be lengthy and acrimonious collective bargaining negotiations Tuesday to replace their labor contract that expires Dec. 1
Head to NBCSN and Peacock this Sunday for an exciting day of baseball. The action starts at 12:00 PM ET with an MLBSunday Leadoff showdown featuring the Miami Marlins vs Tampa Bay Rays. Then, at 7:00 PM ET, it's the San Diego Padres vs Seattle Mariners on Sunday Night Baseball. See below for additional information on how to stream both games.
Last season was a monumental one for the Mariners. They captured their first AL West division title since 2001 and advanced to the ALCS, where they lost to the Toronto Blue Jays. Seattle looks to build on that progress and end its World Series drought. The Mariners are the only MLB franchise that hasn't made a World Series.
The Padres, whose last World Series appearance was in 1998, are also in search of their first World Series title.
San Diego finished the regular season 90-72, winning at least 90 games in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. They were eliminated by the Cubs in the NL Wild Card series.
2007 NL Cy Young Award Jake Peavy and former Major League pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith will join play-by-play voice Jason Benetti in the booth for this week’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcast. Ahmed Fareed will host the pregame show alongside Anthony Rizzo, who will also provide “Inside the Pitch” commentary from the batter’s perspective during the game.
How to watch San Diego Padres vs Seattle Mariners:
MLB Sunday Leadoff is a weekly Major League Baseball showcase featuring live Sunday daytime games. It highlights marquee matchups throughout the regular season and streams primarily on Peacock, with some games also airing across NBC Sports and NBC.
MLB Sunday Night Baseball is a weekly primetime Major League Baseball showcase, featuring marquee matchups each Sunday night during the regular season. The games air on NBC and Peacock and anchor NBC Sports’ Sunday night programming lineup.
On Sunday, July 5, all 15 MLB games will be presented nationally across Peacock and NBC as part of a special all-day “Star-Spangled Sunday” showcase.
NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock. Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits for whatever suits your mood.
Why are some MLB games unavailable to stream on Peacock?
Due to territorial blackout restrictions, select regular season, special event, and Postseason games may be unavailable on Peacock. Television territory blackout restrictions apply regardless of whether a Club is home or away and regardless of whether a game is televised in that Club's home television territory. For more information visit, Peacock’s Help Center.
Negotiators for baseball players and owners began what figures to be lengthy and acrimonious collective bargaining negotiations Tuesday to replace their labor contract that expires Dec. 1
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 9: A view of Sea Lions at Pier 39 of Fisherman's Wharf on May 9, 2026 as the San Francisco's Beloved Steller sea lion named as 'Chonkers' missing from Pier 39 in San Francisco, California, United States. Roughly 2,000-pound Steller sea lion became an internet sensation during his extended stay on decks at Pier 39 as visitors have continued to stop by in hopes of spotting him. The sea lions camped out in PIER 39âs West Marina have been endearingly coined The PIERâs âSea Lebrities.â The boisterous pinnipeds started arriving in droves in January 1990, shortly after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Hickory starter Aidan Deakins allowed two runs in 5.2 IP, striking out 5. Louis Marinaro struck out two in 2.1 scoreless innings.
Yolfran Castillo was 2 for 5 with a homer and a sotlen base. Dewar Tovar was 2 for 4. Hector Osorio homered. Paulino Santana had a hit.
J’Briell Easley started for Hub City, allowing four runs, including a pair of home runs, in three innings, striking out three and walking two. Brock Porter struck out four and walked three in four shutout innings.
Malcolm Moore doubled twice and drew a walk. Maxton Martin was 3 for 6 with a walk. Rafe Perich had a pair of hits and a walk. Paxton Kling homered and walked twice. Gleider Figuereo drew a pair of walks. Yeison Morrobel had three hits and a walk. Chandler Pollard was 4 for 5 with a double.
2024 11th rounder Dalton Pence was promoted to Frisco and made his first start for the Roughriders, striking out three, walking two and allowing two runs. Bryan Magdaleno allowed a run in two innings, striking out two.
Jose Corniell struck out four in five innings for Round Rock, allowing two runs. Michel Otanez allowed faced five batters, walked four of them, gave up a hit, threw a wild pitch, and allow four runs. Ryan Brasier struck out two in a shutout inning. Dane Acker allowed 6 runs in 0.2 IP. Emiliano Teodo needed 10 pitches (9 strikes) to retire four batters, including one via strikeout.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 10: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Chatting with a Timberwolves expert through this series has been a blast, and this might be the last Fraternizing with the Enemy post I get with Thilo this season. But nothing has been decided yet, so we talk though the rising and falling players, and the potential for lineup changes in Game 6.
J.R. Wilco
Before the series began, I was terrified of Anthony Edwards destroying my playoff hopes and dreams. And the more tape I watch of this series, the more I’m coming to feel like San Antonio is pretty lucky that he’s not 100%. The Spurs are throwing the kitchen sink at him, and he still regularly wins the play. I can’t imagine how frustrated with him I’d be if he was fully healthy.
Is it just me, or are some of the Timberwolves getting frustrated with Julius Randle? I’m not talking about how his scoring has fallen off, everybody goes through slumps. I’m talking about his effort level. Jaden McDaniels’ body language seems to be screaming something like, “Dude, we’re all trying out here. Want to join us?” Anyway, I haven’t been watching the team all year, maybe that’s just a dynamic you’re used to.
Leading up to Game 5, I was pretty concerned that Minnesota was going to try some bid for retaliation against Victor Wembanyama’s extracurricular elbow. And outside of the one play where Reid went up for a hook shot and chopped at Wemby’s neck, I didn’t see anything other than your basic psychological warfare. So, a couple of questions: were you expecting them to retaliate, and do you think anyone in the Minnesota camp actually thought that mind games would work with Victor?
Thilo
Despite his reputation as a bad boy conflict initiator, Jaden McDaniels has not really gone after anyone in a meaningful way outside of his own hand. If that’s the head of the “I want to fight” snake, I didn’t really expect anyone else on the roster to make that call.
I also think the Spurs haven’t built up enough hatred from the Wolves for them to try to start anything. The Nuggets deserve that animosity. The Lakers do as well. NBA on TNT (and its modern equivalent) did.
The Randle angle is the larger story. He is, with no exaggeration, playing to the standard of being one of the least valuable playoff players in the past 30 years of the NBA in this run. Especially after last year’s run had the inverse situation (Randle had a career best series against the Lakers as part of their gentleman’s sweep), I think the team is just hugely disappointed. They dragged him forward during the Nuggets series, but you can’t sport a negative star against a team this good.
Randle’s defense on Wemby remains the only silver lining of his play in this series. I feel I can’t accurately describe the level to which the eye test matches the numbers. Randle’s made field goals are keeping pace with his total fouls. His turnovers are doing the same to his assists.
Part of this is that Randle’s favorite passing partner, Donte Divincenzo, is out for the year with a torn achilles. But even that modicum of credit can’t undo all the bad.
In just a few words, Randle has been the Spurs second best player. And, with respect to Dylan Harper, it hasn’t been close. I fully expect Julius to be on another team next year. The question is if Rudy Gobert will join him.
However, let’s go back to that second best player question. It seems clear to me, as it does to most of Wolves twitter, that Harper is the second scariest player for the Wolves outside of that horrifying alien you guys call a center.
While DeAaron Fox and Stephon Castle continue to struggle with the defense looks they’re seeing, Dylan Harper was absolutely fantastic in Games 4 and 5. He was efficient, he got to the line, and in the fourth quarter, it was his constant driving that kept the Spurs in it when their shots went cold.
I’m curious if you think a move to the starting lineup is coming, as one is almost certainly in store for the Wolves. What would stop you from making that move? What scares you most about a potential Wolves rotational change?
J.R.
My kids are finally old enough and so I’m finally watching The Office with them. And right now I feel like Angela trying to choose between Andy and Dwight, because I really like Castle, but Harper is blowing up. I want to complement Dylan and talk about how awesome he has been and what his efficiency is doing for the Spurs in limited minutes, but I don’t want Stephon to know that I’m thinking all these things.
Fox is such a steady hand and his ability to manipulate the defense has been huge, but the rookie had that one-on-four fast break where Ayo tried to stop him, but he gave the double behind the back move (which I may not have even known was a thing) and took off to spam it on everyone’s head. Only none of the four guys in white jerseys even got off the floor, so it turned into a showboat dunk instead.
Stop asking me difficult questions because I don’t want De’Aaron to drive a Prius over to my house and drive me into the hedges. I could talk about this for much longer, but you’ve asked me other questions so I’ll just adjust my clothes as I come back from the warehouse and hope that nobody notices.
There’s no way Coach Mitch adjusts the starting lineup at this point of the season. The last time a difficult decision had to be made about the rotation, Johnson handled it perfectly, though it took some time. Now Keldon Johnson has a 6MOTY trophy to show for it and the team is excited for him following in Manu’s footsteps. But the playoffs are not the time to mess with touchy situations like that unless the end is nigh.
As far as what scares me about Minnesota changing things up, that’s easy. I feel like everything I’ve seen so far the series has led me to expect the Spurs to win Game 6. Everybody has shown their cards, tactically speaking, and so if all else remains the same, there isn’t much to keep the status quo from continuing. The Spurs are up 3-2, and so I like the status quo. If it’s all the same to you I’d prefer to keep things the way they are. Can we do that please?
Thilo
Can we? Maybe. Would I like us to? Absolutely not.
That being said, I’m sure this wasn’t the intention, but after back to back years of getting smacked by teams that are clearly in a different tier from these Wolves, I am more excited for this off-season than I should be considering it (likely) isn’t ending with a title and parade.
I am personally always in favor of tweaking things until the very end. Identity is found in continuity. Ceiling is found in change.
With that in mind, it seems unavoidable now to see that the Wolves are certainly a good playoff team, but not nearly good enough to win a title in the current Western Conference.
That leads us back to the question of where Randle and Gobert will be. And I am incredibly excited to see what Tim Connely and Co. will do with an off-season full of question marks and two teams that have clearly outpaced them.
COVERS INTEL: Nola has a career-worst .432 xSLG so far this season, and he's surrendered 11 earned runs across his last three road starts. 
Cam Schlittler
Taylor Ward
Edward Cabrera
D.J. Short
Eric Samulski
