CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Rolando Blackman smiles during 2025 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, 2025 in at Chicago, Illinois at McCormick Convention Center. 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 Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks hold the No. 9 overall pick in the NBA Draft this year, but they need more than another flashy rookie to get their team back on track.
Something the Mavs didn’t have much of during the 2025-26 season was good health. Those fortunes will need to reverse themselves in order for Dallas to attempt to get back into contention in the Western Conference.
Rolando Blackman, the Mavericks’ representative at the NBA Draft Lottery, spoke about the team’s need to stay healthy.
According to Spotrac, the Mavericks had 18 players miss a game on the injury report at some point during the season. Over the course of the season, that adds up to over $72.6 million, which is ranked second in the league behind the Indiana Pacers, who did not have All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton for the entire season due to injury.
Kyrie Irving’s absence makes up for a good chunk of that, but if the Mavericks hadn’t traded Anthony Davis in February to the Washington Wizards, it’s possible that the Mavs could have leapfrogged the Pacers on this list.
Another top-10 pick, a full offseason for Cooper Flagg and a healthy Irving should help make the Mavs more competitive in the 2026-27 season, but they will need their whole roster to be healthy in order to make it work.
Mavs Moneyball community, what do you make of Blackman’s comments? Chime off in the comments section below.
Hearing over spying allegations on or before Tuesday
Fans warned before booking travel and accommodation
The English Football League has indicated that Southampton could be kicked out of the playoffs and that the date of the Championship playoff final may be delayed if the club are found guilty of breaching regulations.
Southampton have been charged by the EFL for allegedly spying on Middlesbrough’s training within 72 hours of their first-leg meeting and for not acting “with the utmost good faith”.
After losing the last game against the Buffalo Sabres, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves back to square one with the series tied 2-2. In the last two games, the Habs had a slow start and allowed the Sabres to take the lead; that’s something they need to avoid tonight in Buffalo. If Montreal can manage to take an early lead and silence the crowd, they’ll have a much better night.
Historically, when a series is tied 2-2, the home team has a 177-127 record for a .582 winning percentage. As for Buffalo, they have a 15-20 record in the fifth game of a series (.429), and when they started the round at home, they are 8-7 for a .533 winning percentage. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have a 57-41 record in game 5 (.582), but on the road, they are 17-21 (.447). However, in these playoffs, the Habs are 4-2 on the Road and have outscored their opponents 18-14. As for the Sabres, they are 2-3 at the KeyBank Center and have been outscored 16-12.
There were shots fired by Lindy Ruff in his media availability on Wednesday. When he was asked about the penalties his team is taking, he replied:
I know Montreal's got a good power play, but I think they're going down easy. […] It's playoff hockey; every team in this league does it.
When his answer was relayed to Martin St-Louis, the Canadiens’ coach smiled and said:
So, he was talking about his team as well? That’s what he sees through his lenses. I won’t comment on how he sees through his own lenses. It’s his view.
When he was asked how he saw things through his own lenses, he added:
I think calls for one side or the other even themselves out; I don’t care.
The coach may not care, but it stands to reason that he will most probably relay what Ruff said to his players and use it as motivation. To get the win on Thursday night, Montreal will need to open the shooting lanes. On Tuesday, Buffalo blocked 27 shots; if the Habs had gotten more pucks on net, the result might have been different.
The Sainte-Flanelle has yet to lose two games in a row in these playoffs; they have a 4-0 record and have allowed only six goals in the four games immediately after a loss. They’ll aim to keep that perfect record. Jakub Dobes has only lost two regulation games in a row once during the regular season. He had an 8-1- 1 record after a regulation loss, with a .928 save percentage. Needless to say, that must help the Canadiens’ confidence ahead of this must-win game.
The Canadiens will not have a morning skate today, but they will hold a media availability from their hotel at around 11:45. The puck is set to drop at 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, and CBC. Chris Rooney and Graham Skilliter will be officiating, while Bevan Mills and Kiel Murchison will be the linemen. Win or lose, Game 6 will be played on Saturday at 8:00 PM at the Bell Centre. The first Saturday night playoff game in a packed building since 2015, expect an electric atmosphere once more.
Arkansas Razorbacks' Hunter Dietz (32) pitches as Auburn Tigers take on Arkansas Razorbacks at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. on Friday, April 3, 2026. Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Auburn Tigers 3-2. | Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
If you blinked, you may have missed it.
That was the time flying by, quicker than any of us realized. We’re halfway through May, which means that All-Star weekend is coming up in two months. And now, thanks to MLB thinking that their presentation needs to rival that of the NFL and/or the NBA, that means the MLB first year player draft is coming up soon as well. We’ve documented how much we don’t care for the league making this into some kind of event that it really is not, but hey, why not?
With the quickly approaching MLB draft coming up, that means people are starting to think about which amateur players will go where. This may be the last year the draft looks like this with the impending labor dispute threatening to upend everything we know about the sport, so while it’s still something we’re used to, let’s take a look at what those who are a lot smarter on this topic than I am are saying about who the Phillies might be selecting.
Remember: the Phillies have fallen 10 spots in this year’s draft thanks to being over the largest luxury tax so many years in a row.
Double-dipping in the Arkansas cheese dip, the Phillies go back and grab an exciting southpaw in Hunter Dietz. He’s been in the race for the top southpaw in this class for a while now, and while the track record isn’t as lengthy as his peers, the angle he creates allows his breaking pitches to be absolutely devastating. The fastball has reached into the upper-90s, too.
An athletic 6-foot-1 left-hander, Mendes will use a robust five-pitch mix to keep hitters guessing. While his fastball sits around 92 mph and tops out at 96, it does feature some life upstairs with some angle to his glove side. His 80-mph changeup is his best secondary, a plus cambio he sells well with arm speed, the kind of offspeed offering that seems to pause in mid-air with late arm side depth to it. His low-80s slider can show some good short glove side tilt and he can back foot it to right-handed hitters and he’s added a new, harder cutter, with better shape and control of it as the season has gone on. He’ll use his upper-70s curve to steal a strike early in counts.
Like basically all of the pitchers mentioned in this mock outside of Flora, Dietz has a chance to go as high as the early teens depending on how he pitches down the stretch. He’s currently leading the SEC with 108 strikeouts and owns a 3.22 ERA over 13 starts and 72.2 innings—far and away a career high—with a 35.4% strikeout rate and 8.5% walk rate.
There will be many more mock drafts put up for us to discuss, so check back often as we update the mock draft round ups.
After matching their season-high 10-game winning streak, the team has now followed with a season-high four game losing streak. Spoiler alert, the last (full) season where the Cubs didn’t have a losing streak longer than four games was back in 2003. I didn’t take pen to paper (or make a spreadsheet), but the Cliff’s Notes are this. In the seasons where the Cubs are at least decent, the longest losing streak tends to check in right around five. When the Cubs are bad, that losing streak tends to be several games longer. As I’m pretty confident this is a good Cub team, I’d feel comfortable betting that the Cubs win at least one of their next two games. This is the hard-hitting analysis you come here for. Right?
Here’s the thing, if you were making Bingo cards, not just for the Cubs, but any MLB team, one of the spaces would be “whole team slumps for multiple games simultaneously.” This is the least fun period of time for any team. “Bullpen blows multiple games consecutively” is at least fun for a bit. Save for some pitching highlights, these four games have been brutal. The whole offense has completely vanished. This stretch has really tanked the Cubs season numbers. I mean, they’ve fallen from first place in the whole league in on-base percentage to second. Their on-base plus slugging still sits in the top five. That is to say that even with this painful stretch built into the recipe, they are still an elite offensive team.
This is definitely unfortunate. It’s doubly unfortunate when Shōta Imanaga is as excellent as he was Wednesday night. You really hate for that start to go to waste. You hope, at least, that maybe a well-rested bullpen lets you go after Thursday’s game a little more aggressively and it helps you snap this skid against a terrific Braves team.
My son asked me several times this year, largely in jest, if I ever got tired of writing about win after win. I will say this. I never actually heard any of the sports talk or print media people actually say that they preferred a little losing from time to time. I think some of that is overblown. Sure, sometimes, amidst a skid, certain storylines become available that might generate a little extra attention. I suspect most of them really hope for their local team to make a deep run every year and that maybe they’ll get to go to some big games and cover them. For me? I’ll take a win every single day and I’ll find something to talk about. I promise. So any time they want to get a long winning streak going, I’m here for it. I’d certainly like to write about one championship team before I’m done doing this.
Three Positives:
Shōta Imanaga pitched into the eighth inning, throwing less than 100 pitches. He allowed five hits, no walks and just two runs. Pitching for this team, that’s almost always going to be enough.
Alex Bregman had two of the four Cub hits.
Ian Happ drew a pair of walks. It’s not flashy, but he’s tied for seventh in walks among all MLB hitters.
Game 43, May 13: Braves 4, Cubs 1 (27-16)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
Billy Goat: Phil Maton (-.295). IP, 5 BF, 3 H, 2 R, K
Goat: Seiya Suzuki (-.185). 0-4
Kid: Moisés Ballesteros (-.115). 0-4
WPA Play of the Game: Mike Yastrzemski batted with runners on first and second and one out in the eighth inning, the game tied. He doubled and a run scored, though the Cubs did throw the other runner out trying to score. (.189)
Cubs Play of the Game: Nico Hoerner batted with runners on first and second and one out in the fifth. He singled and the Cubs tied the game. (.134)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 42 Winner: Alex Bregman received 89 out of 107 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Michael Busch/Shōta Imanaga +13
Michael Conforto +12
Dansby Swanson -8
Matt Shaw -9
Seiya Suzuki -17
Current Win Pace: 101.72 wins
Up Next: The third and final game of this series Thursday night. I’ll start by booing the Braves for scheduling a night game for the Cubs on travel day. They are at least travelling back to Chicago to play the White Sox on Friday night on the south side. Still, it’s always nice to be able to play and get out of town early.
Ben Brown (1-1, 1.82, 29.2 IP) makes his second start of the season (25th career) after a very successful stint as a multi-inning reliever for the team. Last time out, he surprised me by going one more inning than I thought possible for him on three days rest. He threw four no-hit and scoreless innings against the Rangers in the last game won by the Cubs. With the off day Monday, he has a full five days of rest between starts. He threw 46 pitches last Friday, a number he’d topped twice out of the pen coming out of spring training. I’d think you’d probably let him try to get up around 60 in this one. As noted in the open, the Cubs have a pretty rested pen heading into this one and can deploy it aggressively to chase a win here.
37-year-old Chris Sale (6-2, 2.20, 49 IP) makes his ninth start of the season. Those are some old school numbers. A decision in every appearance and more than six innings per start. Age doesn’t appear to be slowing down the former 13th overall pick by the White Sox in 2010. He was a tough luck loser in his last start, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks in seven innings in Los Angeles against the Dodgers last Friday. In less than a week, this will be the second opposing starter who will be one day printed on Hall of Fame ballots and have at least some discussion. Simply put, this doesn’t get any easier.
Find a way to sneak out of Atlanta with one and stop the skid.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Max Holy #99 of the Houston Astros bats during the sixth 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. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (19-22) lost 6-1 (BOX SCORE)
Ullola started for Sugar Land but lasted just 3 innings allowing 3 runs, which all scored in the first inning. The offense got on the board in the 6th on a Nelson RBI groundout. The pen allowed another 3 runs and the offense was quiet the rest of the way as Sugar Land fell 6-1.
Miguel Ullola, RHP: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
Joey Mancini, RHP: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Tom Cosgrove, LHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (16-19) won 7-6 (BOX SCORE)
Mayer got the start but struggled allowing 3 runs over 1.2 innings. The Hooks got on the board in the 4th inning on an Austin 2 run double. They picked up another in the 5th on a Holy RBI single. The Sod Poodles extended their lead with 2 in the 7th but the Hooks got one back on a Bush RBI single. The Hooks entered the 9th inning down 6-4 but rallied. They scored a run on a Bush RBI single and then tied it with a Spence bases loaded walk. With two outs and the bases loaded, Encarnacion drew a walk to bring in the winning run as the Hooks won 7-6.
Ramsey David, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (WIN)
A+: Asheville Tourists (8-27) lost 6-4 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got on the board in the first on a Frey sac fly. Santos started for Asheville and was solid allowing 3 runs over 5.2 innings. He was relieved by Pena who allowed another 3 runs as Asheville found themselves down 6-1. They rallied in the 9th scoring a run on an error, a run on a wild pitch and a run on a Nunez groundout but that was it as Asheville fell 6-4.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (14-21) won 5-1 (BOX SCORE)
Potter started for the Woodpeckers and was solid allowing 1 run over 4 innings of work. The offense broke open the game in the 4th inning scoring 4 runs on a Sierra 2 run home run, a run on an error and a run on a wild pitch. They picked up another run in the 6th inning on a Salas RBI single. Oakes relieved Potter and was great losing 5 scoreless innings with 7 strikeouts as he closed out the 5-1 win.
Mar 12, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; NC State Wolfpack guard Matt Able (3) and Virginia Cavaliers forward Devin Tillis (11) fight for the ball in the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
There are a number of things happening in the NBA Draft Combine that is worth UNC fans keeping an eye on, but the most important when it comes to what next season could look like is the Matt Able situation. The former NC State guard is going through the draft process to get feedback, but the door was always left open that he could stay in the draft. That has made Carolina fans nervous, and of course, it has made NC State fans troll harder than usual.
Following an excellent showing in yesterday’s scrimmage, someone asked Able whether or not he might stay in the NBA Draft. Here is what he had to say:
Matthew Able says he’s “back and forth” on his stay-or-go NBA draft decision.
“It’s definitely a tough decision. I love UNC, I’m excited to get over there at some point … I’m still back and forth on it. I gotta think about it some more, get with my camp and figure it out.” pic.twitter.com/ssG9OxA4LQ
“It’s definitely a tough decision. I love UNC, I’m excited to get over there at some point … I’m still back and forth on it. I gotta think about it some more, get with my camp and figure it out.”
Able goes on to say that where he is projected to go will determine if he will play for UNC in the 2o26-27 season. It’s not terribly surprising to hear him say that, but what is giving fans deja vu is that Henri Veesaar essentially said the same thing before deciding to completely commit to the NBA. Does that mean that Able will decide to do the same thing? Not necessarily, but it cannot be ruled out that he may take second-round money over whatever UNC is paying him.
It’s worth noting that Able’s former teammate, Kevin Thomas, just committed to UNC, and Able took to Instagram to respond to the news:
Matt Able per his Instagram story 👀
Able and Thomas played AAU together and could potentially be teammates again this fall if Able was to return to college. pic.twitter.com/nn5BByejZO
There is an existential paradox that goes: everything is nothing, nothing is something, and something is what you make of it. One could argue that it applies to this situation — does his Instagram post mean anything? What about him wearing a Tar Heels shirt during his interview? Also, can we really take what he said about how he’s making his decision at face value? It all means nothing until it means something, but hopefully it will mean something soon so Michael Malone will know what next steps to take in building his roster.
AJ Dybantsa has turned heads as the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
But the former BYU standout also turned heads when he was asked to build an ideal NBA starting five with current players.
“I’m about to get canceled from some of this,” Dybantsa said Wednesday at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. “I’ll put LeBron [James] at the one, I’ll put [Nikola] Jokić at the five. I’ll play the three. I’ll put [Kevin Durant] at the four, and I’ll have [Steph] Curry at the two, but he’s strictly there to shoot.”
Thoughts on AJ Dybantsa's ideal current starting 5? 🤔
PG: LeBron James SG: Steph Curry SF: Himself PF: Kevin Durant C: Nikola Jokic
We're starting nice and early with our MLB picks for today, double-dipping in a 12:30 p.m. ET matchup at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
Read on to see why our baseball experts are on the side and the total for Rockies/Pirates — and why we're also backing the Red Sox tonight in a battle of star southpaws.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Rockies/Pirates Over 7.5
Price: 53¢ (-113) at Polymarket
I’m hitting the early game and getting back on the Over with 14-mph winds blowing out to center field at PNC Park. Last night turned into a 14-run game — and Hunter Goodman wasn’t even in the starting lineup. Both bullpens have been more than generous over the last two weeks, ranking among the bottom four teams in ERA. Mason Montgomery gets the ball as Pittsburgh’s opener, and then it’ll be time for the Colorado Rockies to take swings at Carmen Mlodzinski, who has allowed 17 runs over his last 19+ innings. I like the Rockies, but I like runs more.
Jon Metler's expert pick: Rockies moneyline
Price: 39¢ (+156) at Polymarket
There won’t be many chances this season to back Chase Dollander in a true pitcher-friendly environment, considering he calls Coors Field home, but this is one of those spots — and it’s hard not to like the setup for him at PNC Park. Dollander has looked every bit the part of a frontline starter this season, featuring a 99-mph fastball paired with elite, high-spin secondary pitches. Those breaking balls and off-speed offerings should play even better away from altitude, with the conditions at PNC Park likely giving them sharper movement and more bite. The matchup also lines up well against Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz; a power right-hander with a high-carry four-seam fastball is exactly the type of pitcher that can give Cruz trouble because of his long swing path. If Dollander can neutralize Cruz at the top of the lineup, the Pittsburgh offense becomes far less intimidating. Given the combination of the park upgrade, Dollander’s stuff, and the matchup dynamics, I think the Rockies should be trading closer to 45-cent underdogs in this spot.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Red Sox moneyline
Price: 49¢ (+104) at Polymarket
The Boston Red Sox haven’t had many bright spots this season, but they’ve been excellent against left-handed pitching, ranking fourth in OPS versus southpaws over the last month. That sets up well against Jesus Luzardo, who has regressed badly this season and already owns four starts with five or more earned runs allowed. Meanwhile, Ranger Suarez will face his former team after allowing zero earned runs in four of his last five outings. The Philadelphia Phillies also rank dead last in road OPS, while Boston’s bullpen leads MLB in ERA over the last two weeks.
Neil Parker's expert pick: Mariners/Astros Under 9.5
Price: 54¢ (-117) at Polymarket
Houston Astros starter Mike Burrows has found a groove across his past three starts with a 2.50 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a 30.6% hard-hit rate, and Seattle Mariners righty Luis Castillo has an unsustainably bad .364 BABIP and 59% strand rate. Add the potential for both teams to rest regulars in this afternoon series finale, and I’m anticipating both starters to put enough zeros on the scoreboard to keep this total Under the number.
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.
July 14, 2009; St. Louis, MO, USA; American League pitcher Roy Halladay (32) of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch during the first inning of the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Today would have been Roy Halladay’s 49th birthday.
Depending on who you ask, Roy Halladay is either the best or second-best Blue Jays starter of all time, but there’s no question that he and Dave Stieb top the list in franchise history. Stieb was the best AL pitcher of the 1980s, while Halladay dominated the AL in the 2000s. Doc ranks second in franchise wins with 148 (Stieb had 175), second in BWAR at 48.5 (Stieb 57.2), and third in starts at 287 (behind Stieb’s 408 and Jim Clancy’s 345).
Halladay won two Cy Young Awards (one as a Jay, one as a Phillie) and finished in the top five in voting five other times. He was also selected for eight All-Star teams. Doc was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise average Blue Jays squad during most of his tenure. I always looked forward to his starts. Beyond his immense talent, he was a fierce competitor. On days he pitched, he was completely locked in—teammates and especially the press knew not to disturb him as he focused on the task at hand.
Halladay’s passing remains one of the saddest moments for me as a fan.
Pat Borders turns 63 today. Borders was never a star player or a great hitter, but he did have one above-average season as a Jay. In 1990, he posted a 120 OPS+, hit .286 with 15 home runs, and had an on-base percentage above .300 (.319) for the only time in his Blue Jays career. His career offensive win percentage with the Jays was .458. He had decent power, though his lack of plate discipline held him back. Still, he was a tough catcher and an excellent handler of pitchers, with a decent arm, though never quite Gold Glove caliber.
Borders played 747 games for the Jays, ranking second among catchers behind Ernie Whitt. He went on to play for eight other MLB teams and was still playing professional baseball at age 42. Kirk is at 569.
Borders was the World Series MVP in 1992, and every Jays fan owes him a beer or two for that feat alone. I thought he e could have pursued a career as a coach or manager after his 17-year major league stint, and he did spend some time managing in the Phillies system. Now, he coaches at the university level.
Pat always struck me as the kind of guy you’d want to share a drink with—just a genuinely good person and a hard worker.
I also want to mention Dennis Martinez, who turns 72 today. Though he never played for the Jays during his 23-year career, he spent eight years as an Expo. Martinez racked up 245 wins, but the highlight for me will always be his perfect game against the Dodgers in 1991. Dave Van Horne’s call—“El Presidente, El Perfecto”—remains iconic. Martinez overcame alcoholism to become one of the era’s best pitchers.
It’s a shame he dropped off the Hall of Fame ballot after just one year.
Also, having birthdays:
Hosken Powell would have turned 71 today, but sadly, he passed away last June.
Powell played six seasons in MLB—four with the Twins and his last two with the Jays.
He played for the Jays in 1982 and 1983. In 1982, he performed respectably, batting .275/.304/.389 over 112 games. The following year didn’t go as well—he hit just .169/.213/.205 in 40 games before being released on July 10th. Over his career, Powell hit .259/.314/.349 with 17 home runs and 17 triples in 594 games, adding 43 steals while mainly playing right field. As a left-handed hitter, his splits were remarkably similar: a .649 OPS against lefties and .665 against righties. I don’t recall much about him except enjoying his Strat-O-Matic Baseball card.
Mark Dalesandro turns 58 today. He served as a backup catcher for the Jays in parts of 1998 and 1999, appearing in 48 games and hitting .266/.276/.383 with two home runs. He also played a few games for the Angels and made a single appearance for the White Sox.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 13: Danny Jansen #9 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammates following a run scoring single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on May 13, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning, all!
Adam and I were at the game last night, though Adam left in the sixth and missed the theatrics. That was something.
Chris Martin made a rehab appearance for Round Rock on Tuesday and batters teed off on his splitter. Martin doesn’t know if it’s a mechanical issue or execution and described the sudden demise of his most effective pitch “a real head scratcher.”
Nathan Eovaldi threw a bullpen session yesterday and thinks he will be able to make his next scheduled start on Sunday, though Skip Schumaker is not yet ready to write that in stone.
Last night’s walkoff featured some unlikely heroes in Jake Butger and Danny Jansen.
Jansen would say he’s not an unlikely hero at all, as he reminded his teammates that last night was his fifth career walkoff hit.
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers fired coach Kris Knoblauch on Thursday, dismissing him after a first-round exit followed him guiding the team to consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final.
Knoblauch coached the Oilers to the playoffs three times since taking over as a midseason replacement when Jay Woodcroft was fired following a bad start in November 2023. They won 166 of their 286 total games behind the bench, and Knoblauch's .623 regular-season points percentage ranks sixth among active NHL coaches.
The Oilers are now set for their sixth coach since Connor McDavid entered the NHL in 2015 and became the best player in the world, skating alongside fellow MVP Leon Draisaitl. The two still have not won a championship, now going into their 12th season together.
Moving on from Knoblauch comes in the aftermath of a report earlier this week that Edmonton had sought and were denied permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to speak to Bruce Cassidy, whom they fired as coach in late March but is still under contract. Teams making offseason changes typically wait until there is a vacancy before reaching out about prospective candidates.
General manager Stan Bowman getting to make this move seems to indicate he will keep his job, along with president of hockey operations Jeff Jackson, who joined the organization in August 2023. Jackson took over control of hockey operations following the team’s first trip to the final in 2024 and hired Bowman as GM that summer. Assistant coach Mark Stuart was also fired.
“Following a thorough review of this past season, we believe these changes are needed,” Bowman said. “We are grateful for the contributions both Kris and Mark have made to our organization and we wish them the best moving forward.”
The Oilers fell behind 3-0 in their first final matchup against Florida before pushing the Panthers to a Game 7 and losing by a goal. They made it back the following year and had home-ice advantage but seemed to regress in a six-game series defeat that could be blamed on poor defense and goaltending.
Those problems continued this season, before and after Bowman made a goalie swap to get Tristan Jarry and send Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh. It made the situation worse, as Edmonton ranked 29th out of 32 teams in the league in save percentage at .883.
McDavid late in the season heaped praise upon Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper after the Lightning beat the Oilers 5-2. Even if it was not meant as criticism of Knoblauch, it stood out from a player who usually speaks more about taking responsibility for losses.
Edmonton was eliminated by the less-experienced Anaheim Ducks, when he was unable to find someone to stop the puck between Jarry and backup-turned-starter Connor Ingram. They combined for an .880 save percentage, worst in the playoffs, and the Oilers’ 4.33 goals allowed also ranked last.
The three-year contract extension the Oilers signed Knoblauch to in October kicks in next season and runs through 2028-29. They are obligated to pay him until another team hires him and would be on the hook for any differential in salary over that time.
The New York Mets will look to complete a home sweep as they take on the Detroit Tigers at Citi Field on Thursday afternoon.
Nolan McLean takes the mound for New York, and my Tigers vs. Mets predictions believe he'll help the Mets dominate Detroit.
Keep reading to see my full analysis and free MLB picks for May 14.
Who will win Tigers vs Mets today: Mets moneyline (-160)
Nolan McLean has been one of the few bright spots for the New York Mets this year, and if anything, his results haven’t quite lived up to his performance.
McLean is averaging 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings, has a WHIP of 0.904, and has an xERA of 2.34, putting him in the 94th percentile of eligible pitchers.
The Mets have been able to shut down the Detroit Tigers so far in this series, allowing just two runs in each of the first two games.
McLean is a step up in competition from what the Tigers have faced so far in this series, and I see the 24-year-old leading the Mets to victory this afternoon.
COVERS INTEL: The Tigers are pulling only 10.5% of sinkers they put in the air off of right-handed pitchers, a pitch McLean throws 36% of the time.
Tigers vs Mets Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-115)
McLean hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a game so far this season. Of his eight starts so far this season, only one has resulted in a total of more than eight runs.
That’s on brand for New York, which has hit the Under in eight of its last 10 overall.
Neither team is likely to string together long innings today, making the Under a strong play.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 8-13, -5.62 units
Over/Under bets: 7-12, -5.53 units
Tigers vs Mets odds
Moneyline: Tigers +140 | Mets -160
Run line: Tigers +1.5 | Mets -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Tigers vs Mets trend
The Mets are 5-1 straight up in their last six games against the Tigers. Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Mets.
How to watch Tigers vs Mets and game info
Location
Citi Field, Queens, NY
Date
Thursday, May 14, 2026
First pitch
1:10 p.m. ET
TV
DSN, SNY
Tigers starting pitcher
Keider Montero (2-2, 3.18 ERA)
Mets starting pitcher
Nolan McLean (1-2, 2.78 ERA)
Tigers vs Mets latest injuries
Tigers vs Mets 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.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 09: Chase Burns #26 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Great American Ball Park on May 09, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well then.
The Cincinnati Reds have fumbled the first two games of this series away, the Washington Nationals being perfectly positioned to recover them. So, once again, the Reds will turn to young Chase Burns needing him to perform a miracle just to rescue them from worst-case scenario.
After Wednesday’s blown 5-run lead and debacle down the stretch, the Reds now sit just a lone game over the .500 mark at 22-21, so you know what a loss today would mean – especially given the kind of start to their season that had the walls shaking.
Lefty Foster Griffin – who has been quite good so far this season – takes the mound, and the Reds will have to adapt their new lineup accordingly. To date, Cincinnati’s offense boasts just an 84 wRC+ against southpaws so far this year, a mark that’s just 23rd overall in the sport. That includes a woeful .196 average that’s the worst in the sport.
First pitch is set for 12:40 PM ET. Here’s how both clubs will line up to start:
Kiké Hernández, left, is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list on May 24. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
All Kiké Hernández knew about Albuquerque — the home of the Triple-A Isotopes — was the city’s elevation. But the city knew him.
For years, the city’s baseball fans grew up watching the Dukes, the former longtime Dodgers affiliate. So when Hernández arrived with the Oklahoma City Comets to continue his rehab assignment on Tuesday, the opposing fans greeted him with a thunderous ovation.
The Dodgers' recovering utilityman struggled to encapsulate his feelings about the reception.
“A little bit shocked. Slightly embarrassed, but good,” he told reporters, including Geoff Grammer of the Albuquerque Journal, before the Comets' 8-2 loss on Wednesday.
The fans’ positivity offset the emotionally tough road back from left elbow surgery to fix a tear in Hernández's tendon. Before this year, the utilityman, who agreed to a one-year, $4.5-million deal with the Dodgers in February, never missed spring training or opening day in his career.
Hernández, who is eligible to return from the 60-day injured list May 24, is 2 for 15 with a double in five games with the Comets.
“I knew it was going to be a long rehab," he said. "And even though I'm ahead of schedule, it still feels like it's forever."
The 34-year-old now finds himself at a crossroads. Although he remains locked onto each pitch he can possibly watch from the Dodgers, he also wants to mentor the players in Oklahoma City.
The paternal instinct comes naturally for Hernández, who has taken the time off to enjoy his wife and his two children, including his son who was born in February.
“We're not just baseball players,” he said. “So being able to help my wife out, and spend time with the baby and with my daughter, it's been huge, and that's kept my mind busy."
At the end of the day, though, Hernández wants to be healthy, preferably in Los Angeles.
With the Dodgers last season, he hit .203, with 10 homers across 92 games — though the team values him more for what he can do in the postseason. His career numbers in the playoffs include a .272 batting average with a .486 slugging percentage and an .826 on-base plus slugging percentage.
“I just want to feel good,” he said. “Last year was miserable, you know? Not only performance wise, but I was just in a lot of pain every time I took the field. So I'm just happy that I'm pain free right now.”
COVERS INTEL: The Tigers are 
