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Our NBA player prop projections are ready for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, with the model highlighting several high-value spots.

By analyzing the data against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges exist.

These Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Tuesday, May 5.

Cavaliers vs Pistons computer picks for Game 1

Cavaliers	Pistons
Mitchell u25.5 points -115	Cunningham o26.5 points -125
Mobley o8.5 rebounds -102	Duren o10.5 rebounds -115
Harden o2.5 3-pointers -130	Robinson o2.5 3-pointers -105

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Cavaliers Game 1 computer picks

Donovan Mitchell Under 25.5 points (-115)

Projection: 23.3 points

This season, opposing starting shooting guards have shot just 27.6% from three against the Detroit Pistons (the second-worst mark in the league) making it a difficult matchup for Donovan Mitchell to clear his points prop in Game 1.

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Evan Mobley Over 8.5 rebounds (-102)

Projection: 8.59 rebounds

The Cleveland Cavaliers have led the league with 15.0 offensive rebounds per game over their last five outings, and Evan Mobley made his presence felt on the glass against the Raptors — a trend he’ll look to carry into the Eastern Conference semifinals.

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James Harden Over 2.5 3-pointers (-130)

Projection: 2.61 3-pointers

This season, opposing starting point guards have averaged 6.2 three-point attempts per game against the Pistons — the 10th-most in the league — setting up a favorable spot for James Harden to thrive from deep. When Harden gets it going, the Cavaliers tend to follow, so expect him to set the tone early and clear the Over on this prop.

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Pistons Game 1 computer picks

Cade Cunningham Over 26.5 points (-125)

Projection: 28.7 points

Cade Cunningham is on a tear, averaging 32.2 points over his last five games — a jump of 8.2 from his season average.

The matchup with Cleveland only adds fuel to the fire, as opposing starting point guards have shot a league-high 41.4% from three against the Cavaliers this year, setting Cunningham up nicely to boost his scoring from beyond the arc in Game 1.

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Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds (-115)

Projection: 12.06 rebounds

Detroit ranks third in the league with 13.0 offensive rebounds per game, and as the Pistons’ top presence on the glass, Jalen Duren will look to assert himself early — battling Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen by owning the boards and setting the tone inside.

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Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 3-pointers (-105)

Projection: 3.22 3-pointers

Duncan Robinson cleared the Over in five of seven games during the opening round against Orlando, but this matchup brings a different kind of challenge. Cleveland’s defense is far more disciplined on the perimeter, closing out hard and limiting clean looks from deep, which will put added pressure on Robinson to find space.

If Detroit wants to keep pace, they’ll need Robinson to get going early from beyond the arc and knock down shots against a Cavaliers defense that won’t give him many easy opportunities.

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How to watch Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 1

Location	Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date	Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Tip-off	7 p.m. ET
TV	Peacock/NBC

Not intended for use in MA.
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May 5, 2026

Potential Dorion GM Hire Causes Canucks Fans To Voice Displeasure

Things appear to have accelerated greatly in the Vancouver Canucks’ search for a new General Manager. With the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery taking place today, reports have emerged regarding former Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion’s status in the hiring process.

Earlier today, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, The Athletic’s Thomas Drance, and CHEK TV’s Rick Dhaliwal all confirmed that Dorion has become one of the Canucks’ leading candidates for the open General Manager position. This comes after TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that Dorion was in consideration for the role on Sunday.

This is not the only development in this saga from today. Since the reports on Dorion emerged earlier today, fans have taken to social media and have even begun emailing the Canucks to voice their disapproval. During “Donnie & Dhali” on CHEK TV, Dhaliwal reported that fans’ displeasure at Dorion’s consideration has officially reached the team, prompting concerns.

Though dialogue around Dorion has increased dramatically today, many reports have outlined that the search is not over yet. Gary Mason of The Globe and Mail reported that Vancouver has narrowed their list down to "five good candidates," and that Dorion and Abbotsford Canucks Assistant General Manager Ryan Johnson are two of them.

As of 12:30 pm PT on May 5, no other reports have come out regarding Vancouver’s GM search.

The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery will take place at 4:00 pm PT later today.

May 9, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion attends a press conference to introduce Guy Boucher as the new head coach of the Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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May 5, 2026

A Self-Inflicted Exit: Ranking the Reasons Behind the Boston Celtics’ Playoff Meltdown

Boston, MA - May 2: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla argues a call in the second quarter. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers played in the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

The story of the 2025-2026 Boston Celtics is a complicated one. A team that blew expectations out of the water after a 56-win season, that, fair or not, reset those expectations going into the playoffs. The team then fell dramatically short, blowing the first 3-1 series lead in franchise history, and, to dump salt into the wound, they did it against the Philadelphia 76ers. A lot went wrong in the 3-1 collapse. Let’s power rank the reasons why the Celtics are watching the second round of the playoffs from their couch.

Joe Mazzulla

When assigning credit or blame to a basketball team, I tend to shy away from assigning it to the coach. I believe that in basketball, players have an outsized impact on game results compared to other sports. It’s a simple equation: fewer players on the court or field equals more individual player impact. It’s one reason coaches are more valuable and impactful in the NFL than in the NBA. That being said, I have Joe Mazzulla at the top of my list when it comes to why the Celtics were bounced early this season.

There was a litany of head-scratching decisions from Mazzulla throughout the first round. His decision to turn his back on the identity of the team that won 56 games for him triggered a domino effect that culminated in the collapse. The 2025-26 Boston Celtics racked up wins by being the deeper, harder-playing team every night. Mazzulla left that identity behind immediately to start the playoffs.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 24: Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 108-100. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Over the last 15 regular-season games, Baylor Scheierman played 24 minutes per game and contributed 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists while shooting 45.5% from three-point range. Scheierman peaked with monster performances late in the season in MSG and a 30-point masterclass in the last game of the regular season. In Game 1 of the first round, Baylor played three minutes going into the fourth quarter. This decision had a compounding impact on the team, as these minutes were funnelled towards Jayson Tatum, who was tasked with playing over 42 minutes in Game 3, and tasked with a heavy load in any game that became close. Tatum himself was not surprised that it led to an injury.

“A little bit to be expected, I was away for ten and a half months, and then I came back, and I’m playing every other day, and I’m playing 36-40 minutes. So it’s not unusual that something would come up.”

Not only did Mazzulla abandon what made this team special, but he also tightened his rotation and loaded his superstar with minutes after an Achilles rupture.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 28: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff at TD Garden on April 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There are additional micro decisions that I think really hurt the Celtics. Tyrese Maxey fried the faces off of the Celtics in their first-round matchup, dumping 26.9 points per game on an efficient 57.9% true shooting on the heads of the Celtics. There was one player on the Celtics this season who showed they could slow Maxey down: Jordan Walsh. Walsh held Maxey to 18.4% true shooting in the regular season and 54% true shooting in the first round. Mazzulla played Walsh an inexplicable 5 minutes in Game 7. Walsh should have been in the starting lineup several games prior.

Last on the Mazzulla front. The decision not to play Payton Pritchard more minutes was baffling. When Pritchard was on the court, he gave the Celtics offense a zip that wasn’t there with him off the court. Without Pritchard on the court, the team and specifically the offense, cratered. With Pritchard on the court in the first round, the Celtics had an 11.7 net rating; with him off the court, the Celtics have a negative 14.1 net rating. Zooming in on the offense, with Pritchard on the court, the Celtics offense had a scorching 120.5 offensive rating. With him off the court, the offense collapsed to a 99.8 offensive rating. Joe’s decision to only play Pritchard 26 minutes in Game 5 hurt the Celtics, especially coming off a Game 4 in which Pritchard had flames shooting out of all of his orifices.

And I won’t even mention the choice to start a lineup in Game 7 that had played zero minutes together.

Three of the last four seasons ended with Celtics losses, and the Celtics were heavy favorites going into all of these series. Joe Mazzulla did not cover himself in glory in any of those losses.

2. Jaylen Brown

Moving on to the first player on the power rankings: Jaylen Brown. Brown had an incredible season, and will deservedly find his way onto either First or Second Team All-NBA. Jaylen again showed the world that putting a ceiling on him is typically a mistake.

However, part of what made Jaylen’s season special was the leap he took as a passer and decision-maker. Historically, Jaylen has tended to get tunnel vision in big spots. But in the regular season, Brown was consistently making the right play, getting teammates involved and leading a Celtics offense that ended the season ranked second in the entire league. Brown reverted to his old ways in these playoffs. Jaylen recorded more turnovers (25) than he did assists (23).

I don’t think this came from selfishness. I believe Brown tends to press and force the issue; he wants to put the team on his back and will them to victory. Despite his play coming from a well-intentioned place, it brought out his worst habits. Leading to a Celtics offense that stalled out when he was on the court. With Jaylen on the court in the first round, the Celtics had a negative 1.3 net rating; with him off the court, the Celtics had a 23.2 net rating. With Jaylen on the court, the Celtics had a 108.7 offensive rating; with him off the court, the Celtics had a 131.3 offensive rating. An astronomical swing — a swing that can’t happen with a team’s second-best player.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 28: Jaylen Brown #7, Derrick White #9, and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics look on during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff at TD Garden on April 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images

3. Derrick White

Derrick White is up next. Coming into the playoffs, I wasn’t worried about a down shooting year for Derrick. I thought the team could survive his 32.7% three-point shooting clip. Unfortunately, Derrick took his bad shooting to another level, making it untenable for the Celtics. Not only did White shoot 27.3% from the three-point line, but his two-point field goal percentage also plummeted from 48.7% in the regular season to 42.3% in the playoffs. To make matters worse, White lost confidence and stopped being aggressive. Hesitancy in the playoffs will get you killed. In the last 15 games of the regular season, which marked Jayson Tatum’s return, White was taking 10.5 field goals per game. Coming into Game 7, White was only taking 9.2 field goals per game. It’s very hard for a team to win with their third player struggling to this degree.

4. Neemias Queta

Neemias Queta unfortunately joins the ranks. Specifically, Neemias Queta’s foul trouble. In Game 7, we saw what Queta was capable of on a big stage. The Portuguese big man was the most impactful Celtic as the team tried to save their season. Pouring in 17 points and 12 rebounds on the way to being a team-high plus nine in his 32 minutes. It was all on display in Game 7: the athleticism, the improved touch, the clutch free-throw making, the ability to clean the glass.

Unfortunately, the Boston Celtics needed more Neemias Queta early in the series. From the first game in the series, Queta found himself in foul trouble, which shouldn’t happen when playing against Andre Drummond and Adem Bona. If I had any hair left, I would have pulled it out when the big man committed another unnecessary foul, reaching in after the 76ers had corralled a defensive rebound. You could live with some of the fouls; it was the avoidable ones that killed the team. With a weak front line, the Celtics needed Queta to play at least 30 minutes per game in this series, and he eliminated that possibility with some horrendous fouls.

There is plenty of blame to go around for the excruciating first-round loss that the Celtics experienced in round one of the playoffs. However, while it hurts, every issue on the list is fixable, but only if the issues are acknowledged. A lot went wrong for the Celtics in this year’s playoffs, but I remain confident that the team will be right back in the mix this time next year.

May 5, 2026

Texas Rangers lineup for May 5, 2026

DETROIT, MI - MAY 02: Texas Rangers left fielder Ezequiel Duran (20) warms up before a regular season Major League Baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Detroit Tigers on May 02, 2026 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Texas Rangers lineup for May 5, 2026 against the New York Yankees: starting pitchers are Jacob deGrom for the Rangers and Elmer Rodriguez for the Yankees.

The Rangers have a game in New York this evening, and have a weird looking lineup.

The lineup:

Carter — CF

Seager — SS

Jung — 3B

Pederson — DH

Duran — 2B

Burger — 1B

Osuna — LF

Jansen — C

McCutchen — RF

6:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +105 underdogs.

May 5, 2026

3-Man Fastbreak: Three Challenges Cleveland Creates for Detroit in Round 2

NBA: Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers

That was fun, eh?

The Detroit Pistons’ first round victory over the Orlando Magic that was overloaded with storylines and narrative shifts feels like it should have earned the victor a vacation. Instead, Detroit turns the page quickly to a tougher test in the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Game 1 tipping off tonight at Little Caesars Arena. The beauty of the NBA playoffs is that it allows no rest for the wicked.

If there’s one thing we learned about Detroit in Round 1, it’s this: they don’t go away easily. That mindset, echoed by J. B. Bickerstaff and his players all season, now faces its stiffest test yet.

Here are the three biggest challenges Cleveland presents.

1. Frontcourt size

Detroit struggled early in the Orlando series adjusting to physicality in the paint and Cleveland brings an even tougher version of that problem.

Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are simply a different tier of frontcourt. Mobley is coming off a strong first round, averaging 18.1 points and 8.6 rebounds while showing off an expanded offensive game, including timely perimeter shooting. His versatility is amplified by Allen, who anchors the paint defensively (2.3 blocks per game in Round 1) and frees Mobley to operate more offensively. Oh, did I mention that Mobley was last year’s Defensive Player of the Year?

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JANUARY 04: Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons steals the ball from Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Rocket Arena on January 04, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Allen, meanwhile, is riding momentum from a dominant Game 7 performance (22 points, 19 rebounds) that may have swung Cleveland’s fate.

On paper, Detroit has more resistance inside than Toronto did – but a concern that didn’t come up as often in round 1 was foul trouble. The Pistons’ physical style is a strength, but against savvy bigs like Mobley and Allen, it can quickly become a liability.

Jalen Duren will need to replicate his Game 7 impact (15 points, 15 rebounds), and Isaiah Stewart has to be a more steady presence. Without that, Cleveland’s size could tilt the series early.

2. Harden’s playstyle

James Harden’s playoff reputation has long been debated, but his ability to manipulate defenses – especially by drawing fouls – still makes him dangerous. It is worth mentioning this will be the first time this season Detroit plays this iteration of Cleveland with both Donovan Mitchell and Harden available. And with Mitchell commanding the bulk of defensive attention, Harden becomes a potential X-factor.

Harden was productive in Round 1, averaging 20.6 points and 6.1 assists while consistently getting to the line (6.9 free throw attempts per game, top 10 in the first round). That matters against a Detroit team that avoided major foul trouble against Orlando – something that may not hold here.

Matchups will be key. Ausar Thompson will be glued to Mitchell, leaving Cunningham and Duncan Robinson to deal with Harden. That’s where Cleveland will hunt advantages, particularly targeting Robinson, which could limit his minutes if he becomes a defensive liability. Do we see an unleashing of Ron Holland to help contain?

3. A style-proof offense?

Detroit just held Orlando to 45.6% shooting in the paint – the worst mark of any playoff team in seven years. That defensive dominance won’t translate as cleanly in this series.

DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball as Daniss Jenkins #24 of the Detroit Pistons plays defense during the game on October 27, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Cleveland can beat you in multiple ways. They can run through Mitchell and Harden, punish mismatches inside with Mobley and Allen, or stretch the floor with perimeter shooting. Unlike Orlando, you can’t neutralize one player and expect everything else to collapse.

The Magic showed flashes of offensive versatility early in Round 1, but ultimately became predictable by the end. Cleveland won’t.

What gives Detroit more than a chance is elite defensive versatility, led by Thompson, who’s may be the best perimeter defenders in the league and can even switch onto bigger players in spurts. If he can disrupt Cleveland’s rhythm the way he did Orlando in Round 1, Detroit has a path.

But this series will demand more. More discipline, more shot-making and more answers.

May 5, 2026

2026 NHL Draft Lottery results: Toronto Maple Leafs win No. 1 pick

2026 NHL Draft Lottery results: Toronto Maple Leafs win No. 1 pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery was held on Tuesday.

Picking No. 1 overall is the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the San Jose Sharks took a jump to pick at No. 2.

Penn State forward Gavin McKenna is likely to be the first prospect off the board, but there’s no true consensus this year. Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg, Canadian defenseman Carson Carels and American defenseman Chase Reid are fellow top prospects.

The draft will be held from Friday, June 26 to Saturday, June 27 in Buffalo, home of the Sabres.

Here are the draft lottery results following the two big draws for the first two selections:

2026 NHL Draft Lottery results

16. Washington Capitals

15. St. Louis Blues (via Detroit)

14. Columbus Blue Jackets

13. New York Islanders

12. New Jersey Devils

11. St. Louis Blues

10. Nashville Predators

9. Florida Panthers

8. Winnipeg Jets

7. Seattle Kraken

6. Calgary Flames

5. New York Rangers

4. Chicago Blackhawks

3. Vancouver Canucks

2. San Jose Sharks

1. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs entered the lottery with an 8.5% chance at winning the first pick, the fifth highest of the 16. Fellow Canadian side Vancouver had the top odds with a 25.5% chance, but didn’t get within the first two picks.

Vancouver has never picked No. 1 overall in the draft, so the drought will continue after a season in which it won just 25 games, the fewest in the league.

Toronto would’ve also had to shift its first-rounder to the Boston Bruins had it not been in the top five due to a previous trade agreement involving Brandon Carlo. But it’ll be safe now with McKenna likely going first.

San Jose, which picked Macklin Celebrini No. 1 overall in 2024, had a 5% chance at picking first but will gladly collect second as it hopes to take another step forward to a playoff berth.

May 5, 2026

2026 NHL Draft Lottery results: Toronto Maple Leafs win No. 1 pick

2026 NHL Draft Lottery results: Toronto Maple Leafs win No. 1 pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery was held on Tuesday.

Picking No. 1 overall is the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the San Jose Sharks took a jump to pick at No. 2.

The draft will be held from Friday, June 26 to Saturday, June 27 in Buffalo, home of the Sabres.

Here are the draft lottery results following the two big draws for the first two selections:

2026 NHL Draft Lottery results

16. Washington Capitals

15. St. Louis Blues (via Detroit)

14. Columbus Blue Jackets

13. New York Islanders

12. New Jersey Devils

11. St. Louis Blues

10. Nashville Predators

9. Florida Panthers

8. Winnipeg Jets

7. Seattle Kraken

6. Calgary Flames

5. New York Rangers

4. Chicago Blackhawks

3. Vancouver Canucks

2. San Jose Sharks

1. Toronto Maple Leafs

Vancouver has never picked No. 1 overall in the draft, so the drought will continue after a season in which it won just 25 games, the fewest in the league.

San Jose, which picked Macklin Celebrini No. 1 overall in 2024, had a 5% chance at picking first but will gladly collect second as it hopes to take another step forward to a playoff berth.

May 5, 2026

Mets show slight signs of life — can they get back up on their feet? | The Mets Pod

Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo recap a somewhat good, maybe not bad week on the latest episode of The Mets Pod.

The guys discuss a Mets team that won some games, the shaky status of manager Carlos Mendoza, some offensive production, the ups and downs of Mark Vientos, Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, and Carson Benge, plus the ace-like work provided by Clay Holmes.

Connor and Joe then cover the developing Christian Scott story, the non-development of hitting in the minor leagues the last few years, and answer Mailbag questions about the bullpen, Sean Manaea, and top prospect A.J. Ewing.

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

May 5, 2026

In a new role, Mitchell Parker looks like a very different pitcher for the Washington Nationals

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 14: Mitchell Parker #70 of the Washington Nationals in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 14, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a disastrous 2025 season, Mitchell Parker knew he had to change a lot. That point was driven home even further when the former rotation mainstay was sent to the minors on March 13th. Coming off a season where he posted a 5.68 ERA, Parker had to become a new pitcher to stick around in the big leagues.

The Nationals have made the following roster moves:

Optioned to Triple-A Rochester
-LHP Andrew Alvarez
-LHP Jake Eder
-LHP Mitchell Parker

Reassigned to Minor League camp
-RHP Trevor Gott
-INF Seaver King
-INF Trey Lipscomb
-1B Matt Mervis
— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) March 13, 2026

Parker has done just that in 2026, totally changing up his arsenal. Last season, Parker threw his 4-seam fastball 55% of the time and his slider at a 12% clip. This year, he is throwing the slider at a crazy 58% rate and throwing the heater just 31% of the time. Who knows if this will work long term, but Mitchell Parker is a very different pitcher these days.

It is not just the usage that has changed though. The shape of Parker’s slider is also quite different. It is almost 2 mph slower than last year, but has much more break. When you look at the pitch plot, you can see how much Parker subtly manipulates the shape as well.

Despite heavy usage, the slider is really fooling hitters. Parker is generating whiffs almost 40% of the time on the slider, despite using it as his primary pitch. Batters are hitting a decent .259 off the pitch, but their expected batting average is .233.

The heavy slider usage is also helping Parker’s fastball be more effective. Batters are hitting .167 off his heater and whiffing almost twice as often this year. Parker’s whiff and chase rates this year have been elite, both ranking in the 93rd percentile. While this has only led to a 4.05 ERA so far, his underlying numbers suggest more improvement is in store.

Parker’s FIP and xFIP are 3.43 and 3.44 respectively. Last season both of those numbers were around 5. It is clear that Parker’s changes have made him a better pitcher. However, it is not just those changes that are allowing him to thrive. He is also in a new role as a multi-inning relief arm.

He is only going 2 or 3 innings per appearance. That allows him to spam those sliders without hitters catching on to it. If he used this approach as a starter who is meant to see hitters two or three times, he could be in trouble. However, this new mix and Parker’s experience as a starter makes him perfect as a multi-inning reliever.

Before the season, we talked a lot about the Nats cutting back on fastball usage. After being at the top of the charts for fastball usage last year, the Nats are now bottom 10 in that category. Parker is one of the guys who has benefited the most from that philosophy change. He was throwing a ton of heaters, but his fastball is not an elite pitch.

When Parker got recalled from AAA, you could immediately see his massive changes. In his first outing, Parker threw his slider over 60% of the time and was racking up the whiffs. It was pretty wild to see a pitcher you thought you knew transform that quickly.

Mitchell Parker has four strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Here's his pitch mix tonight compared to last season. Six whiffs on 14 swings against his slider. pic.twitter.com/7cBk7mx3Dy
— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) April 15, 2026

Now, these changes are not going to make Parker an ace, or even part of the Nats long term pitching plans. However, it is clear that this slider heavy approach has made him a better pitcher. He now has a clear plus weapon that he can lean on to get big league hitters out. Parker’s slider has good movement and he is commanding it very well. When he does not command it, he is in trouble, but he is doing a great job putting it just underneath the zone.

Before the season, I would not say I was that interested in Mitchell Parker. He was a pretty generic arm with no real out pitch. I figured he would get a couple spot starts here and there, but that he would just be an ordinary arm. With his mix changes, that has changed.

Again, these tweaks have not made him a star, but they could make him a viable big league arm. Last season, Parker was in the big leagues, but was not a big league caliber arm. Now, he is a guy who has a chance to be a nice multi-inning relief weapon for this team.

May 5, 2026

Pirates manager Don Kelly, pitcher Chris Devenski suspended by MLB for incident on Saturday vs. Reds

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 10: Manager Don Kelly #12 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Pirates will be down pitcher Chris Devenski for the first two games of the Diamondbacks series and manager Don Kelly for one after Major League Baseball suspended Devenski for intentionally throwing at Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart in the seventh inning of Saturday’s game against the Reds.

The league announced the moves, which are accompanied by undisclosed fines, on Tuesday. Devenski was originally suspended for three games, but a settlement was reached to knock it down to two. Kelly will still be suspended for Tuesday’s game, and bench coach Kristopher Negrón will be the manager.

This all started over disagreement when Sal Stewert stepped outside of the box and messed with the timing of Devenski. There was some arguing going on between the two then Devenski went inside on a pitch and Stewert voiced his frustration over that.

It was then determined by crew chief Alan Porter that Devenski did it on purpose. The veteran pitcher got replaced by Yohan Ramirez who got Stewert to fly out to right field.

Personally, I don’t think Devenski did that on purpose at all. This is his 11th season in the Majors and there has been no history of him being a dirty pitcher or a pitcher who likes to throw at batters.

Devenski said after the game that he had no intentions of throwing at Stewert and that it was just a pitch that missed the spot. Stewart struggled vs the Pirates pitching going 0-13 in the series which also resulted in Cincinnati getting swept.

The timing of this could be a big deal especially with how much the Bucs have been using their bullpen to start the season. Through 35 games, Pirates relievers had worked 143 2/3 innings, which is the sixth-most in MLB.

Kelly being suspended is not a massive deal for the team since he is only slated to miss Tuesday night’s game vs the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kelly will be back to his managing duties Wednesday night with Paul Skenes set to pitch.

May 5, 2026

Rockets should strongly consider reported package for Giannis Antetokounmpo

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 09: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket on Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets during the second half of the game at Fiserv Forum on November 09, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Houston Rockets were a relatively top-heavy ball club in 2025-26. Their only consistent performer was Kevin Durant, followed by Amen Thompson, although Thompson’s contributions extend far beyond the stat sheet.

Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason were all major contributors. However, they weren’t exactly consistent contributors, as each of them hit a lull at one point or another during the season.

Houston had two All-Star players in Durant and Sengun, although Sengun made the All-Star team due to injuries (which still counts). Houston will have just one All-NBA player in Durant. Which likely isn’t enough, due to Durant’s age (although any talks about his decline can and should be neutered expeditiously).

Durant took on a myriad of roles, playing every position, ranging from point guard to shooting guard to small forward to power forward. To the tune of the third-most minutes per night and the second-most minutes in total.

Durant played 78 games –his most since the 2018-19 season. And after a disappointing postseason appearance, in which the Rockets were defeated by the undermanned Los Angeles Lakers in the first-round, the Rockets are rumored to be considering a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks to land two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

It’s believed that it would take Sengun, Smith and draft capital to land Antetokounmpo. If so, the Rockets will have to think long and hard about it.

The Rockets are expected to call on Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer after another disappointing playoff run.

Houston would likely build an offer to the Bucks centered around Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr., which is a near identical salary match, plus future draft capital. pic.twitter.com/BCZxyaDaem
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 4, 2026

The only two players that should be considered as untradeable are Thompson and Durant (in my opinion). Don’t get me wrong, Smith was the x-factor for Houston. When he played well, the Rockets usually did well also.

And Sengun made consecutive All-Star teams and is still just scratching the surface of his potential.

But we’re talking about Antetokounmpo, after all. One of the league’s 75 greatest players of all-time, who just averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 65.8 percent true shooting and 63.6 percent effective shooting.

Antetokounmpo would’ve led the Rockets in scoring and efficiency, even in a season that saw him turn 31-years-old midway through the calendar year. Houston will certainly want to maximize Durant’s window, which will likely be just two more years, at most.

Neither Smith nor Sengun will likely become the player that Antetokounmpo is, even now. And again, both are fine, young players.

But Antetokounmpo’s presence will make life easier for Durant, which Houston has to consider, after asking Durant to do essentially everything in his first season in Houston. If Houston can get a deal done with Milwaukee by parting just Sengun and Smith (and draft capital), that would be tough to turn down.

Great things happen, historically, when you pair multiple MVPs together. And the Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t going anywhere.

Houston may as well load up. It’s their best chance of dethroning the Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

May 5, 2026

Is it “Mattingly Magic” or simply reverting to “normal?”

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 29: Don Mattingly #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies walks off the field prior to the game against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park on April 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The game between San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies has been postponed. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Phillies return to Citizens Bank Park Tuesday in a much better place than when they left it.

Rob Thomson began last week at the helm of a struggling 9-19 team that had suffered a 10-game losing streak and had lost 11 of 12. Dave Dombrowski reacted and replaced Thomson with his new bench coach, Don Mattingly.

Everyone said the right things in the days after the switch. No one expected Mattingly to magically fix everything just because he was a reasonably successful manager in Los Angeles and Miami.

One week later, the 15-20 Phillies have won two consecutive series and are 6-1 in Mattingly’s first seven games at the helm. They are playing crisper baseball, making fewer mistakes and, by no coincidence, are winning again.

So is it Mattingly Magic, as we discussed on the latest Hittin’ Season podcast from WHYY?

The Phillies are 6-1 under Don Mattingly. Are we witnessing Mattingly Magic? Or are the Phils simply getting back to normal thanks to strong starting pitching and weaker competition? We discussed on an all NEW Hittin' Season, powered by @WHYY!

LISTEN: https://t.co/MQkr7hvjwG… pic.twitter.com/KAA8vVAdPI
— John Stolnis (@JohnStolnis) May 5, 2026

You can listen to the FULL Hittin’ Season podcast here:

It’s almost impossible to say Mattingly himself has radically changed how the Phillies have played, but multiple players have mentioned the firing of Thomson as a wakeup call. To the average fan, it’s bewildering that a team of star players whose lone goal is to win a World Series would need a wake up call like that in the first place, but Bryce Harper appeared to say as much after Monday night’s 1-0 victory in which his solo homer in the second inning was the game’s only run.

“I think we were all just waiting for that ball to drop, waiting for something to happen,” Harper said. “If Topper was going to get fired or he wasn’t, it was just kind of, ‘We need to get over this hump and get through this,’ whatever that looked like. So as a team, I think it’s just coming out, playing our game, understanding that we didn’t play well the first couple weeks of the season.
April’s behind us. We’ve got to step forward and understand that we’re stacking days and playing better and just keep it going, no matter where we’re at, what’s happening in the game or anything. Just stack the days and be where we want to be at the end.”

Perhaps it’s less magic, and more the return of outstanding starting pitching.

Here is how Phils starters have fared over the past week:

Jesus Luzardo vs. Giants: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 Ks
Cristopher Sanchez vs. Giants: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 Ks
Bullpen Game
Zack Wheeler at Miami: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 Ks
Andrew Painter at Miami: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 Ks
Luzardo at Miami: 6.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 10 Ks
Aaron Nola at Miami: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 Ks

Over the past week, the Phillies piled up 45 strikeouts against 8 walks and gave up a total of 6 earned runs over 37 innings. That’s a 1.46 ERA. That kind of pitching will make any manager look better.

Starting pitching was always supposed to be this team’s strength. That they were so ineffective through the first 28 games was a genuine surprise. Over the past week, the starting five finally began to put together the kinds of performances we were expecting of them.

Were Phils pitchers simply not as dialed in under Thomson? Did they focus more after the managerial change? Did Mattingly unlock some mechanical adjustment that helped them throw more strikes and fewer meatballs over the middle of the plate?

The schedule also provided some needed relief. While the Phillies’ 12 straight games against the Cubs and Braves were challenging, one of the reasons those teams were so “red hot” was in part because they were facing a struggling Phillies team. That being said, there was an obvious drop off in competition against a Giants team that has scored the fewest runs in the Majors, and a Miami team that is obviously less talented than the Phils.

And while the upcoming schedule doesn’t feature a slew of cupcakes, there are three winnable series in a row coming up.

3 vs. the Athletics (18-16) at home
3 vs. the Rockies (14-22) at home
3 vs. the Red Sox (14-21) in Boston

It’s a nice respite ahead of another jump in competition thereafter that will hopefully allow the Phillies to creep close to .500 by the time they leave Beantown.

The defense has also improved over the last week. It’s still not great, but for a team tied for the 7th-most errors (19), in dead last by Defensive Runs Saved (-24) and tied for 26th in Outs Above Average (-10), the Phillies made their first error of the Mattingly Era on Sunday, his seventh game.

Are the players more dialed in? Focusing more? Doing extra drills? Mattingly has talked about stressing more fundamental play, but it’s hard to imagine Thomson didn’t also stress playing fundamentally sound baseball.

At the end of the day, the Phillies are winning games for a multitude of reasons. Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm are suddenly contributing at the bottom of the lineup. Bryce Harper remains hot. The starters have been great, and the bullpen, although shaky at times, has largely held up and will welcome closer Jhoan Duran back to the ‘pen on Tuesday. There have been fewer baserunning gaffes, too.

It’s hard to ascribe the turnaround to any one thing that Mattingly has done, but perhaps the dismissal of Thomson has had the desired, nebulous effect of re-focusing the team on playing better baseball.

May 5, 2026May 6, 2026

Canadiens vs Sabres Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NHL Playoffs Game 1

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It’s an Atlantic Division showdown at the KeyBank Center as the Montreal Canadiens visit the Buffalo Sabres to open their Round 2 series on Wednesday, May 6.

Our Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks back Jakub Dobes to stay locked in and continue his strong postseason run, with the Montreal netminder expected to deliver again in Game 1.

UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & goal scorer pick.

Canadiens vs Sabres Game 1 prediction

Who will win Canadiens vs Sabres Game 1?

Buffalo Sabres: Montreal found ways to win in Round 1 despite losing the five-on-five possession battle and expected goals battle, so I’m expecting the poor five-on-five play to catch up with the Habs against the Sabres in the series opener.

Buffalo allowed the second-fewest goals per game (2.0) and posted a solid 87.5 penalty-kill percentage during the opening round, while also posting a high-end 53.4 Corsi For percentage and 52.9 expected goals percentage at 5-on-5.

Canadiens vs Sabres best bet: Jakub Dobes Over 26.5 saves (-110)

Montreal Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes has been incredible with an elite .916 save percentage with 30.35 goals saved above expected across 26 games since Marco Marciano took over as the interim goalie coach January 28.

So, with the Habs ranking 23rd with a 48.6 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five in the regular season and 14th out of 16 teams in Round 1, I’m expecting Dobes to be busy in the series opener.

After all, the Buffalo Sabres finished Round 1 with a solid 53.3 CF% at 5-on-5 while averaging the third-most shots per 60 minutes (30.9) during their six-game series against the Boston Bruins.

Canadiens vs Sabres Game 1 same-game parlay

The Sabres averaged 3.33 goals per game in Round 1, and there have been six or more goals in each of the past eight games between Montreal and Buffalo, with the total at 6.5 for seven of the eight.

Additionally, the Canadiens generated the fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 (1.99) in the opening round, so I’m anticipating an uptick in scoring chances from the Habs after posting a middling 2.69 xGF/60 at 5-on-5 during the regular season.

I’m also particularly looking to the new-look second line of Jake Evans, centering Ivan Demidov and Alex Newhook, as candidates to break out. Demidov is an elite offensive talent, while Newhook has ample postseason experience and an excellent motor and compete level to create space and time for the trio.

Canadiens vs Sabres SGP

Over 5.5
Alex Newhook Over 0.5 points
Ivan Demidov Over 0.5 points

Canadiens vs Sabres Game 1 goal scorer pick

Tage Thompson (+135)

Buffalo star Tage Thompson hasn’t scored since Game 1 of the playoffs despite racking up 2.32 expected goals and a team-high 20 scoring chances. He’s also only found the back of the net in two of his past 12 games dating back to the regular season, and his 9.1 shooting percentage during the stretch is well below the 15.1% mark he posted across 384 regular-season contests since the beginning of the 2021-22 campaign.

Canadiens vs Sabres odds for Game 1

Moneyline: Canadiens +105 | Sabres -125
Puck Line: Canadiens +1.5 (-240) | Sabres -1.5 (+195)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-120) | Under Under 5.5 (+100)

Canadiens vs Sabres trend

There have been six or more goals in each of the past eight games between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Sabres.

How to watch Canadiens vs Sabres Game 1

Location	KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Date	Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Puck drop	7:00 p.m. ET
TV	TNT, CBC

Canadiens vs Sabres latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

Arsenal 1-0 Atlético Madrid (agg 2-1): Champions League semi-final, second leg – live reaction

Arsenal are in the Budapest final thanks to Bukayo Saka’s first-half goal

Pennant Watch. There’s nothing wrong, in and of itself, with the commemorative gift stand-in captain Bukayo Saka will hand over to his opposite number Koke. But that badge. Come on, man. Stand it next to the time-honoured Victoria Concodria Crescit crest and weep. And that’s before we get to the stratospherically sexy Art Deco A-football-C logo. Ever since that fateful rebrand, Herbert Chapman has been spinning elegantly in his grave, nearly a quarter of a style-free century on.

Atletico Madrid’s offering, however, is a thing of timeless beauty. Enrique Collar would have been proud to hand that over. Arsenal are favourites to go through tonight, but they’ve lost this very important pre-match skirmish.