Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony was put on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right wrist before the start of a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.
Anthony, 21, hurt his wrist during his first at-bat of a game at Detroit. He flew back to Boston to see the team’s hand specialist, Dr. Matthew Leibman.
Interim manager Chad Tracy said there wasn’t enough progression for Anthony to avoid going on the IL.
“Still sore,” Tracy said. “I think it’s more of a case of ‘How are we willing to play short-handed?’ We’ve already done it for two days.”
Wearing a brace on his hand, Anthony said that he hasn’t picked up a bat. He’s optimistic that he won’t be sidelined beyond the 10 days.
“Obviously not where I want to be, but just got to keep getting better every day. The hand is tricky and I’ve never dealt with a hand issue before. Getting the news that it’s nothing serious is the best news we’ve could have gotten,” Anthony said. “When the IL stint is over, I plan to be in that game the next day and off the IL.”
Signed last year as a rookie to an eight-year, $130 million contract, Anthony has started slowly at the plate this season. He’s hitting .229 with one home run in 130 plate appearances.
“Just got to get better as fast as I can,” Anthony said.
It’s Anthony’s second IL stint in as many seasons. Last year, he missed most of September and Boston’s wild-card playoff series against the New York Yankees after suffering an oblique strain.
The Red Sox brought up Mickey Gasper from Triple-A Worcester to take Anthony’s spot on the roster.
Top NBA draft prospect Darryn Peterson believes he knows the reason for the severe cramping issues that caused him problems as a freshman at Kansas this past season.
Peterson said ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft lottery and the start of the NBA Draft Scouting Combine in Chicago next week that a new round of a bloodwork and other tests following the college basketball season led doctors to determine high doses of creatine he was using caused the condition.
Peterson told ESPN in an interview published Friday, May 8 that he'd never taken the supplement used to increase muscle mass and enhance athletic performance before getting to college. "But after the season I took two weeks off and they did tests which showed my baseline level was already high," he explained. "So, they said when I dosed, it must've made the levels unsafe."
Peterson then revealed to reporters at the Big 12 Tournament he endured a scary incident in September in which he went into a full-body cramp after Kansas coach Bill Self's preseason boot camp. Peterson wound up being taken to the hospital in an ambulance and said he worried it could happen again throughout the season.
"I made it to the training room and just started begging them to call 911," he told ESPN. "They were trying to get a vein to get me the IV, get me back hydrated. But I was cramping so hard they couldn't get a vein. I thought I was going to die on the training table that day."
"Whenever I felt anything like that come on, my initial thought was that it might get to that again," Peterson added. "And I can't let that happen and be embarrassed and have that on TV and all that. ... My biggest thing was I'm going to keep trying because we don't know what's wrong and we can't say something's wrong. So, I'm going to go out there and when it happens, I'm going to ask to come out. I don't know if that was a right or wrong move."
Peterson noted he hasn't had any cramping problems since identifying creatine as the root cause of the issues. He has been training for the draft in Los Angeles and was among the more than 70 players invited to attend the NBA Draft Scouting Combine beginning Monday.
Darryn Peterson stats
Peterson averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds over 24 games with Kansas during the 2025-26 season.
The 2026 NBA playoffs action continues this Sunday night on NBC and Peacock when the San Antonio Spurs go head-to-head with the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Live coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds, such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
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 & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
“Let’s go baby! The most deserving incredible man. I love you!” O’Connor wrote on her Instagram Story, including the MLB breaking news post and a fire flame emoji and a blue heart.
The Post’s Jon Heyman was the first to report the news Thursday.
Spencer Jones’ girlfriend, Ava O’Connor shared a sweet message responding to the 6-foot-7 outfielder getting called up by the Yankees after Jasson Domínguez was injured. Instagram/Ava O'Connor
Jones, the Yankees’ No. 6 prospect on MLB Pipeline, has 11 homers and a Triple-A leading 41 RBIs to start the season.
The 24-year-old slugger will get his chance at the majors after he struggled with strikeouts in the minors this season, tallying 46 through his first 33 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones and his girlfriend, Ava O’Connor in September 2025 while he was in Triple-A. Instagram/Ava O'Connor
Jones was called up after Domínguezcrashed into the outfield wall while making a catch during the first inning of the 9-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday.
An MRI revealed a sprain in the AC joint in his left shoulder, sending him to the injured list.
Ava O’Connor celebrated boyfriend Spencer Jones’ Yankees promotion. Instagram/Ava O'ConnorNew York Yankees center fielder Spencer Jones #78, at bat in the 2nd inning in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida on February 23, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Yankees manager Aaron Boone cited consistent at-bats recently when asked about Jones after Thursday’s game.
“Feel like the last three, four weeks, been having a lot of consistent at-bats,” Boone said. “The power’s been there. Less swing and miss. … The signs have been encouraging.”
Jones will suit up Friday for the start of the Yankees’ three-game series against the Brewers in Milwaukee.
Who will win Cubs vs Rangers today: Cubs moneyline (-133 at Polymarket)
The Chicago Cubs are arguably the hottest team in baseball right now, having wonnine straight games. They just swept the Cincinnati Reds, scoring 18 runs in the series.
The Cubbies' offense is firing on all cylinders, ranking in the top five in most categories. Most notably, they're second in runs with 5.5 per game.
Chicago will face Kumar Rocker tonight, who has a 4.71 ERA. He's pitched better at home, but Rocker has been poor lately. Although the righty has never faced the Cubs, the hosts are raking at the moment, and he tends to leave a lot of pitches in the zone.
Also, Ben Brown is on the bump for Chicago, and although this is his first start, he has a 2.10 ERA across 12 relief appearances. Chicago's bullpen also has a 3.90 ERA, and they will likely eat up innings here after Brown is the opener.
COVERS INTEL: Opponents are hitting .278 against Rocker, and he's given up seven earned runs across his last two starts.
Cubs vs Rangers Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 runs (-110)
The Cubbies are rolling, and they've cashed the Over in two of their last three games. I expect them to do damage to Rocker. They have also hit the Over in two of their previous three contests, although both of those games were losses.
Rocker is prone to hard contact, while the Cubbies' bullpen can be vulnerable at times. Globe Life is hitter-friendly when the roof is closed, too.
That being said, I believe most of the offense in the series opener will come from the Cubbies, who cannot be stopped right now.
Chicago is averaging 5.57 runs per game in May, and they've also hit the Over in five of their seven games this month. Texas has also given up 24 runs across its last four games alone.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 9-11, -5.45 units
Over/Under bets: 12-8, +2.35 units
Cubs vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Cubs -136 | Rangers +116
Run line: Cubs -1.5 (+120) | Rangers +1.5 (-140)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 runs (-110) | Under 8.5 runs (-110)
Cubs vs Rangers trend
The Chicago Cubs have hit the Moneyline in 20 of their last 24 games (+16.75 Units / 52% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Rangers.
How to watch Cubs vs Rangers and game info
Location
Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
Date
Friday, May 8, 2026
First pitch
8:05 p.m. ET
TV
CW33, Marquee
Cubs starting pitcher
Edward Cabrera (3-0, 3.27 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcher
Jack Leiter (1-3, 5.45 ERA)
Cubs vs Rangers latest injuries
Cubs vs Rangers 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.
Coverage of the 2026 NBA playoffs continues this Saturday afternoon on NBC and Peacock when Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons take on Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Live coverage begins at 2:00 PM ET with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
Don't miss Sunday night's San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves Game 4 action at 7:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Game Preview:
The Pistons lead the series 2-0 after defeating the Cavaliers 111-101 on Tuesday and 107-97 on Thursday night. Cunningham had 25 points and 10 assists, while Tobias Harris finished with 21 points and 7 rebounds.
"We never lost composure, we just stayed poised, stuck to our principles, stuck to our system, and just turned up the energy a little bit," said Cunningham after the win.
Cleveland guard James Harden finished with just 10 points, shooting 3-for-13 from the field.
"We won the possession game, we just didn't make shots. We had plenty of chances," said Harden after the loss.
"They came out super aggressive, of course, but it’s the playoffs. Obviously, we haven’t figured that one out. Still back to the drawing board," said Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
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 & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
Boston, MA - May 2: Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid reacts after making a 3-pointer in the fourth 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
After two losses at Madison Square Garden, the Sixers return home for the first time in over a week facing another two-game deficit in a best-of-seven series against one of their rivals. This time it’s a 2-0 hole against the New York Knicks, a series deficit Philly has never been able to dig out of in a best-of-seven in its history. But don’t let that feel like the Sixers are climbing Mount Everest as they attempt to pick themselves up off the mat.
In case you needed a reminder, Philadelphia’s comeback against Boston in the first round was the first series victory from a 3-1 deficit in franchise history. It was the first time since 1982 that the Sixers eliminated the Celtics in the postseason, having lost seven consecutive series to Boston previously. The Celtics had been 32-0 in best-of-seven series when holding a 3-1 cushion. Whether you needed to read those facts or not, they were worth repeating. The Sixers just had their greatest playoff moment in a quarter century and that ought to earn some positive equity in the minds of its fans.
There are no moral victories in the playoffs, but Wednesday night’s effort in Game 2 should have Sixers fans feeling optimistic that they can fight back against the Knicks. Down Joel Embiid on the road, Philly went toe-to-toe with New York, a team that appears to be firing on all cylinders, for 40-45 minutes of regulation. The Sixers simply ran out of gas down the stretch and the Knicks escaped with a 108-102 victory.
There wasn’t much to nitpick in Game 1 as the Sixers just got steamrolled in a quick turnaround after last Saturday’s Game 7 in Boston in the first round. But by now, we’ve all heard the most common complaints about the Game 2 loss. Some say it was a Daryl Morey loss as the President of Basketball Operations opted to subtract instead of add three months ago at the trade deadline and Philly had a thinner bench as a result in a game it was already without Embiid. Others have pointed the finger at Tyrese Maxey. There’s reason to be upset with Maxey after he had a relatively pedestrian stat line by his standards and if he’s going to be the face of the franchise after Embiid, he’ll have to be better than he was in Game 2. On a lesser note, Nick Nurse not playing Dominick Barlow enough when Barlow clearly looked like the best option at center on a night sans Embiid has also been brought up.
There have even been questions about Embiid’s toughness and some have quickly resorted back to the common critiques of Embiid that we hear this time of year. Sixers fans, it’s time to move forward with confidence. Friday night will be the first time the team plays a game at home since completing the 3-1 comeback against Boston. Regardless of how many Knicks fans are in the building, Friday offers a chance for the Sixers fanbase to throw its full support behind a team that has undoubtedly earned it. Don’t let such a great moment from less than a week ago be erased from your memory so quickly. Don’t allow yourself to think that the Sixers only won the series against the Celtics because Boston’s three-point field goals weren’t dropping and Jayson Tatum didn’t play in Game 7.
I get it. It’s easy to think more about the extensive history of postseason disappointments that this franchise has provided us with than a good week-long stretch of basketball against the Celtics. But everyone owes it to the Sixers to get behind them and attempt to will them back into this series with New York. They certainly showed ample grit and fight in Game 2 and we should expect them to bring that same energy for the rest of the series.
Of course, the availability of Embiid looms large. We’ll see if New York wing OG Anunoby suits up on Friday night after suffering a hamstring injury in Game 2. Both Embiid and Anunoby were on their respective rosters two years ago when these two teams met one round earlier in the playoffs. Philadelphia lost the first two games in New York in that series as well. Embiid dropped 50 points in Game 3. The Sixers would go on to extend that series to a Game 6 at home, one that they ended up losing by three points, and the game was tied until Josh Hart buried a triple with 25 seconds remaining for the Knicks.
A strong argument can be made that both the Sixers and Knicks are better teams now than they were two years ago. But the point we’re getting at is, the Sixers were very close to forcing a decisive seventh game back at Madison Square Garden in 2024 after trailing 2-0 and 3-1 in that series. They haven’t bowed out of the playoffs in embarrassing fashion since the Mother’s Day 2023 blowout loss in Boston.
So save me your “same old Sixers” takes and go support your team on Friday night on their home floor. Maybe have a little bit of faith that they can win a basketball game after seeing what they did in the first round. Should they get it done on Friday, a series can’t be any closer than 2-1 after three games. They’d be one home win in Game 4 away from making it a best-of-three at that point. The series isn’t over so don’t act like it is. If you didn’t learn that after watching the Celtics series, you never will.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 03: Greg Weissert #57 of the Boston Red Sox walks to the dugout after pitching during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on May 03, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We learned after the game on Thursday that Jake Bennett has been sent down to Triple-A. Jack Anderson, who allowed three runs in 8 1/3 innings in his first stint in the majors, will be the corresponding promotion.
Other moves are likely on the horizon. Justin Slaten seemingly threw his final rehab outing for Worcester on Wednesday night, a scoreless inning. I had expected Slaten to be recalled today, with Bennett going down since Sonny Gray’s return brings the Red Sox back to a full rotation. It’s possible that Anderson is only here for one day and will swap with Slaten over the weekend.
It’s also possible that a second, or even a third move is coming. Greg Weissert and Ryan Watson simply haven’t gotten it done thus far out of the pen. Weissert, despite blowing numerous wins for starters a year ago, finished the season with a 2.82 ERA in 72 appearances. This year has been a different story, allowing four home runs in 14 2/3 innings, and Weissert is now sporting a 5.52 ERA.
Ryan Watson, despite having the Rule-5 tag, probably isn’t safe either. His 6.46 ERA in 15 appearances (23 2/3 innings) is equally concerning, and his K-BB% is just 7.2%.
Slaten’s return is imminent, along with the fact that Tommy Kahnle exercised his “assignment clause” last week. If another team offers Kahnle a major league deal, the Red Sox will either have to promote him or let him go. Kahnle has a 2.38 ERA at Worcester and 11 seasons of big league experience. His ERA in the big leagues from 2019-2025 is 3.33.
I could see a full-line change coming soon, with Anderson, Slaten, and Kahnle in and Bennett, Watson, and Weissert out. Of course, if this happened, Weissert would need to be DFA’d, and Watson would be returned to the Giants by the Rule Five rules.
What would you do with the ‘pen over the next few days? Discuss in the comments, and be good to each other.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Joseph Sullivan #19 of the Houston Astros bats during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (17-19) lost 10-3 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the 3rd inning on an Alexander 2 run double. Gordon got the start but struggled allowing 7 runs, 6 earned, over 4.2 innings. The offense got one back in the 6th but the Isotopes would get 3 more in the 9th and put the game out of reach as Sugar Land fell 10-3.
Note: Nelson is hitting .302 in Triple-A this season.
The Hooks got on the board in the 4th inning scoring 2 runs on a wild pitch and Whitaker RBI single. Mayer got the start and went 4.2 innings allowing 4 runs, though only one was earned, while striking out 6 batters. The Hooks got a run back in the 6th on a Holy RBI single but that was it as they dropped game one 4-3.
The Hooks got on the board in the first inning scoring 2 runs on a Sullivan 2 run home run. Hicks started for the Hooks and pitched well allowing 2 runs over 6 innings while striking out 6. The offense scored 2 runs in the top of the 7th on a Hernandez sac fly and Holy RBI single. Chirinos tossed a scoreless 7th inning to close out the 4-2 win.
Hertzler started game one but only went 1 innings allowing 4 runs while striking out 3. The offense got on the board in the first on a Nunez solo HR. After the Emperors got two runs in the top of the 2nd, the offense responded with two of their own on a Call solo HR and Walker solo HR. The offense got another run in the 4th on a Walker RBI single and one more in the 5th on a Schiavone solo home run. The Emperors added one more run and the Asheville offense was quiet the rest of the way as they fell 7-5 in game one.
Asheville jumped out to a nice lead in the first scoring 3 runs on a Nunez 2 run home run and Call RBI double. They got 2 more in the 3rd on Brutcher and Powell RBI singles. Santos got the start and went 3.2 innings allowing 3 runs. Asheville picked up another run in the 4th on a Thomas RBI double. Ogando allowed 2 runs in relief but Wohlegemuth tossed a scoreless inning to close out the 6-5 win.
Yeriel Santos, RHP: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
Joan Ogando, RHP: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K (WIN)
Nate Wohlgemuth, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (SAVE)
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (12-18) won 3-2 (BOX SCORE)
Perez started for the Woodpeckers and pitched well allowing 2 run over 6 innings while striking out 6. The offense got on the board in the 4th scoring 3 runs on a Ramirez RBI double and Newman 2 run home run. Weber relieved Perez and tossed a scoreless 7th inning. The game went into a rain delay but was called after 7 innings with the Woodpeckers winning 3-2.
Note: Ochoa is hitting .400 over his last 13 games.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers will donate 500 tickets for each remaining home second-round playoff game to area community groups in their latest attempt to keep more of their own fans in the building and avoid a New York takeover.
The Sixers’ previous strategy to ward off Knicks fans in this playoff series was to try through Ticketmaster to geographically restrict sales to fans in the greater Philadelphia area.
The Sixers said 250 frontline medical personnel from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine and 250 local educators selected by Learn Fresh, Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia, the Philadelphia school district and Camden, New Jersey, school district would attend Game 3 on Friday night.
The 76ers will host 500 moms and children selected by Uplift Center for Grieving Children, Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, La Liga del Barrio and Apologues for Sunday's Game 4.
The Knicks lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.
When the teams met two years ago in the first round, Knicks fans swarmed Philadelphia, and Sixers All-Star center Joel Embiid pleaded with fans ahead of this series not to let it happen again.
“Last time we played the Knicks it felt like this was Madison Square Garden East. So we’re going to need the support,” Embiid said. “Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys. The atmosphere we’ve had the last couple games in Philly, especially the last one pushing it to Game 7, I mean, we need all of it.”
(Original Caption) 1959-Scene from the film "Pillow Talk" with Doris Day and Rock Hudson outside a door. Written by Stanley Shapiro, Maurice Richlin, Russell Rouse, & Clarence Greene. Directed by Michael Gordan. Universal, 1959.
Hickory starter Kamdyn Perry allowed a solo homer in four innings of work, striking out four and walking one.
Yolfran Castillo went 3 for 5 with a double and two stolen bases. Hector Osorio doubled and stole a base. Marcos Torres was 1 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. Daniel Flames was 2 for 4 with a double. Dewar Tovar doubled.
In Game One, starter Dalton Pence threw four shutout innings, striking out five and walking three. Joey Danielson struck out three and walked one in a scoreless inning.
Rafe Perich was 2 for 2 with a homer and a walk. Gleider Figuereo was 2 for 2 with a walk. Yeison Morrobel had a pair of hits. Malcolm Moore had a hit.
In Game Two, starter Enrique Segura struck out four and walked three in three innings, allowing four runs. Brock Porter struck out five and walked two in 3.2 shutout innings.
Rafe Perich had a hit and two walks. Yeison Morrobel had a hit.
Frisco starter Winston Santos allowed five runs in 3.2 IP, including a pair of home runs, striking out five and walking two. Bryan Magdaleno struck out three in 1.1 IP. Ryan Lobus allowed three runs in two innings, strking out one. Wilian Bormie struck out three in two scoreless innings.
Dylan Dreiling went 2 for 3 with a homer, three walks and a stolen base. Ian Moller drew two walks.
For Round Rock, Emiliano Teodo allowed a solo homer in an inning of work, striking out two and walking one. Michel Otanez struck out one and walked one in a shutout inning.
Aaron Zavala was 4 for 4 with a double and a stolen base.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 07: Shea Langeliers #23 of the Athletics celebrates a two-run home run with Nick Kurtz #16 in the first inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 07, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Friday A’s fans!
The team came away with a series-salvaging win yesterday in the finale against the Phillies. The Green & Gold got their teeth knocked in on Tuesday, dropped a heart breaker on Wednesday, and finally broke out the bats in a blowout victory on Thursday. Now the team is off to Baltimore to take on the Orioles for a three-game weekend series.
But before we get to the preview, the A’s made a trade yesterday that went a bit under the radar. Just a day after being designated for assignment by the club, right-handed reliever Tyler Ferguson found himself on the move as the Athletics traded him to the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations:
The A’s have traded RHP Tyler Ferguson to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations.
The move brings to an end Ferguson’s time with the organization after just over two years. Originally a 6th-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 2015, Ferguson finally made it to the big leagues with the Athletics in 2024 after nine years working his way up the minor league ladder. His rookie season went fairly well as the then-30-year-old pitched to a solid 3.68 ERA in 48 games for that A’s team that finished fourth in the AL West. That quality outing his first time facing big league hitters gave hope that the A’s had found a late-bloomer to help fill out the middle innings.
Unfortunately his second season in the big leagues did not go as smoothly as he regressed to a 4.66 ERA in 56 contests. The struggled were so great that he actually found himself demoted to Triple-A for a month in the middle of the season. Things didn’t improve this year as he struggled during Spring Training and began the year with the Aviators. He was recalled a couple days ago to help a tiring bullpen but got lit up for four runs in his lone appearance with the A’s this year, which led to the DFA. He’ll now head to Chicago and hope to right things with a Cubs squad that looks to be a contender this season.
Anyway, the Baltimore Orioles. Like the A’s they’re a team on the younger side of things led by Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Adley Rutschman. And this past offseason they added slugging first baseman Pete Alonso and outfielder Taylor Ward to go with top prospects Samuel Basallo, Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser and Coby Mayo. Even though they only went 75-87 last year, there were raised expectations this year for this group of high-end talent.
Things have improved a bit for Baltimore here in 2026 but not by a whole lot as of yet. They’ve been bitten by the injury bug multiple times already this year, missing Holliday and Westburg for the entire season to date as well as seeing first baseman Ryan Mountcastle hit the IL after just eight games. Thanks to those injuries, a lineup that has some serious talent is around the middle of the pack in most offensive categories. On the bright side for them they’ve managed to tread water and at 17-21 are only a game out of a Wild Card spot. Once they get Holliday and Westburg back, they could become a bit more dangerous than their record suggests.
On the pitching side of things for Baltimore, the team yet again has problems with their starting rotation. Their top-four starters all have below-average ERA’s as guys like Shane Baz (4.99 ERA), Kyle Bradish (5.03 ERA), Trevor Rogers (4.75 ERA and currently on the IL) and old friend Chris Bassitt (5.91 ERA) have all struggled in the early going. The A’s will be seeing the three B’s this weekend in Bradish, Baz and then Bassitt. The A’s offense needs to feast against these struggling arms, though the Baltimore bullpen hasn’t been much better and is also without closer Ryan Helsley against the A’s.
As for the A’s, they’ll be sending Jacob Lopez to the mound tonight, followed by veterans Aaron Civale and Luis Severino on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. This could be Lopez’s last chance to show he deserves to stick in the rotation as he’s coming off a six-run outing and has struggled all year. Civale and Severino, meanwhile, are both on a roll coming into the weekend, and Severino especially will enjoy getting a start on the road away from Sacramento.
The Green & Gold remain in first place as we begin the weekend, and though they’re seeing a Baltimore squad that is reeling, they can still be dangerous. They lost yesterday but won their series against the Marlins. Think the A’s can tame the Orioles and get a series win this weekend?
Henry Bolte notched his seventh home run tonight. He has 15 stolen bases this season. He’s cut his strikeout rate to 23.5%. Bolte’s time is coming soon. pic.twitter.com/pAAfoRNMnd
Dylan Cease is among the league leaders in strikeouts this season, and my Angels vs. Blue Jays predictions are expecting him to rack up more punch outs in a plus-matchup against strikeout-prone Los Angeles.
Angels vs Blue Jays best bet: Dylan Cease Over 7.5 strikeouts (-130)
It’s a high total at 7.5, but this is a plus-matchup for Toronto Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease, who faces off against the most strikeout-prone lineup in baseball.
Cease K’d 12 Los Angeles Angels batters in just five innings in their April 20 meeting, and owns a 42% career strikeout rate against this current lineup.
He has nasty stuff with the second highest K/9 this season, while ranking in the 98th percentile in whiff rate.
L.A. carries a 25.5% strikeout rate and a 27.6% whiff rate. Those numbers grow to a 38% K-rating with a 42% whiff rate against the slider, which is Cease’s put-away pitch with 47% whiff rate against.
COVERS INTEL: Cease has 13.15 K/9, averaging eight strikeouts per game this season.
Angels vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)
Kazuma Okamoto has recorded a hit in six straight games, going Over his posted base total in five of those contests.
He also owns a .290 against lefties this season, crushing the fastball, which is LHP Reid Detmers' most utilized pitch.
Myles Straw has been extremely consistent this year, hitting .310 on the season and grabbing hits in each of his last four starts. He also owns a .333 average in 12 at-bats against Detmers in his career.
Angels vs Blue Jays SGP
Dylan Cease Over 7.5 strikeouts
Kazuma Okamoto Over 1.5 total bases
Myles Straw Over 0.5 hits
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Angels vs Blue Jays home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+450)
I’m only betting a half unit on this one.
Detmers has only allowed three home runs this season, and doesn’t allow much hard contact. However, Okamoto has shown a lot of pop in his bat lately, homering in four of his last six games with a 1.506 OPS.
Okamoto has six home runs against the fastball, which is Detmers’ most utilized pitch.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 15-21, -2.25 units
SGPs: 7-29, -0.70 units
HR picks: 8-28, +9.65 units
Angels vs Blue Jays odds
Moneyline: Los Angeles +136 | Toronto -162
Run line: Los Angeles +1.5 | Toronto -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Angels vs Blue Jays trend
The Blue Jays have covered the run line in four of their last five games at home (+4.20 Units / 69% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Angels vs. Blue Jays.
How to watch Angels vs Blue Jays and game info
Location
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
Date
Friday, May 8, 2026
First pitch
7:07 p.m. ET
TV
ABTV, Sportsnet 1
Angels starting pitcher
Reid Detmers (1-2, 4.28 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Dylan Cease (2-1, 3.05 ERA)
Angels vs Blue Jays latest injuries
Angels vs Blue Jays 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.
It’s go time for the Montreal Canadiens after losing the series opener to the Buffalo Sabres, and the two Atlantic Division foes go toe-to-toe at the KeyBank Center for Game 2 on Friday, May 8.
My top Canadiens vs. Sabres NHL players props and NHL picks have you covered for the action and are headlined by Montreal winger Ivan Demidov.
Best Canadiens vs Sabres props for Game 2
Player
Pick
Ivan Demidov
Over 0.5 points
-110
Alex Lyon
Over 2.5 goals against
+100
Conor Timmins
Over 1.5 blocked shots
+110
Game 2 Prop #1: Ivan Demidov Over 0.5 points
-110 at BET99
Montreal Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov was solid in Game 1, and we’re landing a good price on the uber-talented scorer to mark the scoresheet again tonight.
Perhaps, even more importantly, Demidov is a go-to puck distributor on the No. 1 power-play unit and has averaged 4:52 of ice time with the man advantage this postseason.
After all, he posted respective .906 and 0.380 marks across 36 regular-season games.
The Canadiens were also incredibly resilient in Round 1 and bounced back with three or more goals following two of their three losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning. I also value the Habs continuing to push in Game 1 in the third period by posting a 64.7 CF% at 5-on-5 and overall 61.4 xGF%.
Game 2 Prop #3: Conor Timmins Over 1.5 blocked shots
+110 at BET99
Sabres defenseman Conor Timmins’ ice time has increased in five consecutive games, and most importantly, he’s jumping the boards with the No. 1 penalty-kill unit and paces the club in blocked shots while shorthanded.
The Montreal Canadiens are going to have a push back in Game 2, as well, so I’m anticipating the Habs funnelling more pucks to the net.
Montreal has also drawn 44 penalties across eight postseason games while averaging a healthy 6:11 of power-play time per game.
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PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 21: Mike Sirota #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs to first after hitting a one-run single in the second inning during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s not often you see a nine-run inning, but that’s exactly the kind of damage the Loons conceded on their way to splitting a doubleheader with Lake County.
Player of the day
Between the two games, Mike Sirota was the undeniable standout player, reaching base safely seven times, including all five in the Loons’ 15-13 defeat. Recently elected the Player of the Week, Sirota, showcased his patience by taking multiple free passes in each of these games, scoring four runs, and also driving in four.
Make it 5 homers in the past 6 games for Mike Sirota with the High-A @greatlakesloons ⚡️
The young outfielder is up to a .344 batting average on the season and an OPS of 1.219, easily putting him as one of, if not the most dangerous hitters in High-A right now, making a case for an early promotion in 2026.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
In a bit of a sloppy game with both sides committing multiple errors, the Comets managed to outlast the Bees by a score of six to five, thanks to a three-run shot by leadoff hitter Ryan Fitzgerald, driving forward what became a five-run rally for the Comets in the fourth.
Scoring in the sixth and eighth, the Bees made this a one-run game late—they had the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth against Wyatt Mills, who had come in trying to fix the mess left by Jerming Rosario. Mills had in his way former Dodger Chris Taylor, who ended up flying out to left field.
Kiké Hernández had another solid performance, going up to the plate three times, securing one hit, and scoring a run, once again playing third base. Speaking of rehabbing big leaguers, Mookie Betts will be joining the Comets this Friday for a couple of games as he returns from injury.
Double-A Tulsa
The 3.1 scoreless innings delivered by the Drillers’ bullpen didn’t particularly matter, as more than enough damage to lose the game had been conceded by starter Patrick Copen, who took his first loss of the year, allowing nine earned runs to come across, a season-high for him.
Despite five different Drillers securing multihit performances, the offense wouldn’t get on the board until the sixth inning. Elijah Hainline’s and Joe Vetrano’s home runs weren’t enough to make this a game, as the Drillers fell 9-5 on the road.
High-A Great Lakes
Despite the nine-run inning the Loons conceded in the first game of this doubleheader, they led that one 13-12 heading into the final frame, but Reynaldo Yean couldn’t shut the door on Lake County—the one hit he allowed was a three-run shot to Jeffrey Mercedes that won the game for the home club. With that, the Loons wasted a marvelous performance from Sirota, who went three for three with a pair of walks, reaching base in all of his five plate appearances.
The second game was quiet in comparison as Logan Tabeling shut down Lake County with nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings as the Loons returned the favor, doing it so wth an unlikely source of power. Ninth-hole hitter Jose Izazza had the biggest knock of the game, hitting a three-run shot to cement a 7-2 win for the visiting club. Sirota didn’t record any hits on that one, but reached safely twice on a pair of walks.
Single-A Ontario
There was little to no offense to show for it as the Tower Buzzers lost 2-1 to the Quakes on the road. The two teams combined for just six hits and three runs. Ching-Hsien Ko, who had been one of the better hitters for the Tower Buzzers as of late, went 0 for 4 with three punchouts.
In a game with so little offense happening on both sides, it’s fitting that the winning run would come from a throwing error by second baseman Mairoshendrick Martinus. Striking out a combined 13 times as a team, the Tower Buzzers delivered one of their worst offensive showings of the year.
Transactions
Outfielders Landyn Vidourek and Brendan Tunink were sent by the Ontario Tower Buzzers to the ACL Dodgers for rehab assignments.
Thursday’s scores
Oklahoma City 6, Salt Lake 5
Arkansas 9, Tulsa 4
Lake County 15, Great Lakes 13
Lake County 2, Great Lakes 7
Rancho Cucamonga 2, Ontario 1
Friday’s schedule
3:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Wyatt Crowell) at Lake County (Kade Anderson)
Game 2 of doubleheader: Tulsa (Payton Martin) at Lake County (Nico Tellache)
3:35 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Zach Root) at Lake County (Franklin Gómez)
5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Christian Romero) vs. Salt Lake (TBD)
6:30 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at Rancho Cucamonga (Trey Gregory-Alford)
Kurt Helin
COVERS INTEL: Opponents are hitting 
Ivan Demidov
Alex Lyon