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Possible Reasons Why Nashville Predators General Manager Search Is Taking So Long

It's been over three months since Barry Trotz announced his intent to retire, with Trotz staying on as the Nashville Predators general manager until a replacement is found. 

In that time, rumors have been swirling about multiple names, with it seemingly coming down to three candidates: Tom Fitzgerald, Brett Peterson and Bill Scott, with Fitzgerald leading the way. 

Fitzgerald is the New Jersey Devils' recently ousted general manager. Peterson is Florida's assistant general manager, and Scott is Edmonton's assistant general manager. 

While those three names have come to light in the last few weeks, there's been no movement or signaling from the Predators front office that they are ready to make a hire. 

Since Trotz announced his retirement, New Jersey and Toronto have both fired and hired general managers in less time.

Fitzgerald was fired on April 7 and the Devils hired Sunny Mehta nine days later. The Maple Leafs fired Brad Treliving on March 30 and hired John Chayka on May 3, a little over a month after the search began. 

So what is causing this selection committee to take so long? 

Candidate Is Still In Playoffs 

May 9, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) celebrates a goal with teammates against the Philadelphia Flyers in game four of the second round of the 2026 Stanely Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
May 9, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) celebrates a goal with teammates against the Philadelphia Flyers in game four of the second round of the 2026 Stanely Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

While the three leading candidates we've heard of are no longer in the playoffs or did not qualify, a candidate the Predators could be eyeing may still be in the postseason. 

Hurricanes assistant general manager Darren Yorke is a name that's popped up a few times that the Predators may be considering. He's served in that role for six years and has been the Chicago Wolves general manger for two seasons. 

Nashville reportedly did an in-person visit with Yorke in early April, so there's interest. However, the Hurricanes show no sign of slowing down as they are 8-0 In the playoffs, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. 

If the Predators are waiting for Carolina's season to end before hiring Yorke, they could be waiting as late as June 21, the final possible day of the Stanley Cup Finals. 

Anaheim Ducks assistant general manager Martin Madden was reportedly interviewed by the Canucks. Buffalo Sabres assistant general manager Marc Bergevin was an early name mentioned for the Nashville job and is expected to be considered for a handful of other teams. 

Both Anaheim and Buffalo are still alive in the playoffs, adding on that not just Nashville, but other teams could be waiting before announcing a hire. 

Predators Sticking To "Draft Day" Deadline 

In February, Predators owner Bill Haslam said the team had a deadline of Draft Day in June but wasn't fully set on it, implying they could announce then. 

Nashville could be sticking to that timeline a little bit closer than expected. Possibly wanting the new general manager until a replacement is found. to focus specifically on the draft and have their first action be selecting the 10th overall pick. 

Trotz is still executing general manager duties following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, signing KHL free agent Vitali Pinchuk to a 1-year, $1.025 million contract at the end of April. 

Nashville also has four players and two prospects playing in the IIHF World Championship, not that it requires any general manager involvement, but it may be something that Trotz wants to oversee before stepping away. 

The deadline will allow the Predators to bring in a new general manager for the draft in one swoop, but the question is how prepared this general manager will be until a replacement is found. will be for a draft with little time to prepare. 

Waiting On Canucks

Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Fin the mascot and the Vancouver Canucks celebrate their victory against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Fin the mascot and the Vancouver Canucks celebrate their victory against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

A new conversation is revolving around the Vancouver Canucks general manager search, which is still ongoing. 

Patrik Allvin was fired on April 17 and is one of the more appealing jobs in the NHL, given the larger Canadian market. The Predators had requested to speak with Vancouver's assistant general manager, Ryan Johnson, but didn't get the opportunity. 

It's rumored that if the Canucks pass on promoting Johnson, the Predators may try to swoop in and hire him instead. 

According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast on May 8, Boston Bruins assistant general manager Evan Gold is a leading candidate and, if hired, would pass over Johnson, who is a very similar candidate but already in the organization.

Johnson has been with the Canucks since 2013, joining as a development coach. He was promoted to the Canucks' AHL affiliate general manager until a replacement is found. In 2017 and became Vancouver's assistant general manager in 2024. 

He has a successful track record in the AHL, winning the Calder Cup last season with the Abbotsford Canucks. 

This could be a red herring, but Predators fans should keep an eye on whatever happens in Vancouver, as it could signal some movement of things to happen in Nashville. 

There Is Disagreement On A Hire 

This is unlikely, but still a possibility that a new general manager will be appointed until a replacement is found. The front office wouldn't disclose this if it were true. 

From the outside, the rumors that Fitzgerald is a leading candidate sparked a lot of displeasure among fans.

With him having been recently fired, struggling to prove himself during his tenure as general manager until a replacement is found. , and having a connection to the Predators, fans did not take it well. 

It's possible that the committee has no collective agreement on whether to hire Fitzgerald or another candidate. Trotz said in his final press conference as general manager until a replacement is found. that he believes he never made a wrong decision, as it was well-thought-out among those in the front office.

That same mentality could be carried into this situation. Nick Saban also brings a different perspective to the table that many NHL teams do not have, one focused on leadership and success. 

His addition to the conversation could make these talks a little longer, with a new take and a look toward who Nashville is interviewing. 

The committee will likely need to wholeheartedly agree on a candidate before making an offer, but it's not too far-fetched to say that disagreement over a hire could be why this general manager is not until a replacement is found. The search has been so elongated. 

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When will Knicks begin Eastern Conference Finals?

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 10: Miles McBride #2 and Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks celebrate after McBride's 3-pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The New York Knicks are earning a break for themselves after a Game 4 win against the Philadelphia 76ers that completed a sweep and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row.

The Knicks will face off against the winner of the other Eastern Conference series between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, which is only three games deep. The Pistons lead 2-1 with Game 4 coming on Monday in Cleveland.

Game 5 for the series is scheduled for Wednesday, while Game 6 would take place on Friday if the Cavs win at least one more game. If the series were to reach Game 7, that would mean the series would end on Sunday, May 17.

If the series goes that long, the Eastern Conference Finals would begin on Tuesday, May 19, either at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit if the Pistons come out on top or Madison Square Garden if the Cavs win the series.

If the series were to end in five or six games, there is potential for the series to begin early on Sunday. This means the Knicks will have at least a week to heal and rest up for the Eastern Conference Finals.

It’s rare to get this kind of break in the middle of the playoffs, but that’s what happens when you take care of business during the postseason.

Posting and Toasting Community, which team would you want the Knicks to face off against in the ECF? Let us know in the comments below.

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Vegas is Disrepecting the Timberwolves at Their Own Peril

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 10: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 10, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The disrespect continues for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After the Timberwolves clawed back to even their Western Conference Semifinals series against the San Antonio Spurs at two games apiece, the latest NBA title odds dropped, and Minnesota somehow ended up with the longest odds of any remotely viable contender left standing. I’m excluding the Lakers who are currently hanging on by a thread against Oklahoma City with odds sitting at a hilarious +60,000 like somebody accidentally left an extra zero on the spreadsheet.

The Wolves are a team that already survived their matchup with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, has now been to back-to-back Western Conference Finals, and has repeatedly punched above its weight in the postseason over the past three years.

And Vegas looked at all that and basically shrugged. The Wolves currently sit at +8,000 to win the NBA title at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs, the exact team Minnesota is currently tied with 2-2, are sitting at +380.

Now, to be fair, nobody is arguing that the Wolves should be favorites. That would be ridiculous. The road in front of them is absolutely brutal. They already had to go through Denver and the best player on the planet in Nikola Jokic. Now they’re in a trench war against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. And even if they survive this? Oklahoma City is looming like the final boss.

The Thunder, deservedly, have become the betting darlings of the postseason. They’re sitting at -180, the only remaining team with negative odds, and Vegas is treating them like Thanos after he finally got the last Infinity Stone. OKC is deep, athletic, relentless, and terrifying. Nobody is disputing that.

But +8,000 for Minnesota? That feels absurdly aggressive, especially when you actually look at what this Wolves team has already accomplished and who they’ve accomplished it against. They just eliminated Denver. Again. They beat the Nuggets in the playoffs for the second time in three years. They’ve now won playoff series in three consecutive seasons. They’ve proven repeatedly that when they lock in defensively, they can drag elite teams into ugly rock fights and survive. They split their regular season series with Oklahoma City 2-2. They’ve split this Spurs series down the middle despite being held together by athletic tape, pain tolerance, and whatever mutant healing factor Anthony Edwards apparently stole from Wolverine.

Yet somehow they’re still being treated like a novelty act. It’s funny because we’ve seen this exact cycle before. Nobody believed they could beat Phoenix in 2024. Then the Wolves stomped them into dust. Nobody believed they could beat Denver after dropping three straight games in that same postseason. Then Minnesota marched into Ball Arena and pulled off the largest Game 7 comeback in NBA history. Nobody believed they could survive the injuries against Denver this year after losing Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Then they closed the Nuggets out anyway behind defense and one of the gutsiest team efforts this franchise has ever produced.

Every time, the Wolves have responded by making the doubters look ridiculous.

That’s part of what makes this current version of the Timberwolves so fascinating. They’re simultaneously battle-tested and doubted. Proven and dismissed. At some point, maybe people should stop acting surprised.

Now, again, let’s be realistic here. The Wolves are not some flawless juggernaut. Their offense can go into deep freezes. Their reliance on three-point shooting can make them look unstoppable one night and borderline unwatchable the next. Anthony Edwards is clearly compromised physically. The backcourt injuries have forced role players into critical minutes. Victor Wembanyama remains to be conquered and SGA is waiting in the wings after that.

There are legitimate reasons why Vegas is hesitant, but +8,000 still feels far from a fair assessment. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last few postseasons, it’s this: counting out the Wolves is a dangerous hobby. This team has embraced the underdog role. They seem to genuinely enjoy being doubted. The more people pick against them, the more they lean into the “nobody believes in us” identity they’ve built over these playoff runs. Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels turning games into defensive hostage situations. Julius Randle bulldozing people downhill. Naz Reid detonating off the bench. Terrence Shannon Jr. becoming a quick step freight train. Mike Conley somehow continuing to outrun Father Time like he found Tom Brady’s avocado ice cream diet. And then there’s Ant, who even without functioning knees still walks around with the confidence of a guy who thinks every arena belongs to him.

All of this matters in playoff basketball. Belief matters. Chemistry matters. Defense absolutely matters.

And if Minnesota survives San Antonio? Suddenly those +8,000 odds start looking a whole lot sillier. Because once you get down to the final four, weird things happen. Injuries happen. Matchups matter. One hot shooting stretch can flip an entire series. One defensive masterpiece can rewrite everything.

So no, Minnesota probably shouldn’t be favored to win the title, but treating them like they’re 20 times less likely than the Spurs to pull it off? If you’re the gambling type and feeling a little reckless, Vegas may have just handed you the basketball equivalent of finding a wallet on the sidewalk.

Because if this Wolves team keeps defending like maniacs, keeps embracing the fight, and keeps making everyone look stupid for doubting them…

+8,000 might not stay on the board much longer.

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Series Preview: Angels at Guardians

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 16: Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians takes a photograph of Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians, Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox, and Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during All-Star Workout Day at Nationals Park Monday, July 16, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Man, do the Guardians need to figure things out with the Angels coming to town.

The Angels are 16-25, 16th in MLB with a 99 wRC+, 28th in baserunning runs above average at -2.6, 27th in defense at -14.7, 17th in starting pitcher ERA at 4.05 (3.88 FIP), and 28th in bullpen ERA at 5.38 (4.98 FIP).

The Guardians are 21-21, 19th in MLB with a 96 wRC+, 16th in baserunning runs above average at 0.1, 16th in defense at -6.4, eighth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.91 (4.15 FIP), and 16th in bullpen ERA at 3.98 (3.98 FIP).

The Angels have a bad record and look, on paper, like a pretty bad team. Let’s see if the Guardians can take advantage of that… this time, unlike with the Twins.

Matchups:
Game One, Monday, 6:10PM: Opener of Brent Suter, LHP 4.05 ERA (4.23 FIP) followed by Alek Manoah, RHP (has thrown 1 inning so far this year) vs. Joey Cantillo, LHP 3.43 ERA (4.41 FIP).
Game Two, Tuesday, 6:10PM: Walbert Urena, RHP 3.22 ERA (3.88 FIP) vs. Slade Cecconi, RHP 6.15 ERA (5.53 FIP).
Game Three, Wednesday, 1:10PM: Reid Detmers, LHP 4.33 ERA (3.09 FIP) vs. Parker Messick, LHP 2.30 ERA (2.82 FIP).

The Angels’ starters Urena and Detemers are actually solid starters. The Guardians need to try to get them out of the game as soon as possible and capitalize on a weak Angels’ pen. It would really help if they can get Manoah out of the game in 2-3 innings tonight and try to tire out the Angels’ relievers for the remainder of the series.

The Angels are led on offense by Mike Trout 158 wRC+, Oswald Peraza 127 wRC+, Vaughn Grissom 119 wRC+, Jorge Soler 115 wRC+, Adam Frazier 105 wRC+ and Zach Neto 104 wRC+. STEPHEN VOGT – DON’T LET MIKE TROUT BE THE ONE WHO BEATS YOU IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. GO AFTER EVERY OTHER HITTER IN THIS LINEUP BUT TROUT.

The Guardians are led by Chase DeLauter 152 wRC+, David Fry 133 wRC+, Daniel Schneemann 132 wRC+, Austin Hedges 120 wRC+, Brayan Rocchio 115 wRC+, Jose Ramirez 110 wRC+, Travis Bazzana 106 wRC+ and Rhys Hoskins 101 wRC+. Let’s see if we can get Kyle Manzardo to crack 75 wRC+ by the end of this series, huh?

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Victor Wembanyama will not be suspended or fined following flagrant foul ejection Sunday

The NBA has completed a review of Victor Wembanyama's flagrant 2 penalty for an elbow to the neck of Naz Reid and subsequent ejection, and has decided not to proceed with further discipline — no suspension or fine is coming, something first reported by Shams Charania at ESPN and confirmed by NBC Sports.

Wembanyama was ejected in the second quarter of Game 2 after he battled with Reid for a rebound and, after securing the ball, threw an elbow that hit Reid in the neck.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson stuck up for his star after the game, including saying of a suspension, "There was zero intent … I think it would be ridiculous." He then went on to say that teams are intentionally very physical with Wembanyama to throw him off his game, and that the Frenchman is allowed to defend himself.

"At some point, he's going to have to protect himself. We've been asking (the officials) to do that now for a while... the lack of protection is really disappointing. At some level, it's starting to get actually disgusting."

Despite the feelings in Minnesota, a suspension was never likely — postseason suspensions are based on a points system counting flagrant fouls, and Wemby isn't close to that mark. This Flagrant 2 gives Wemby two points, but it takes four (another Flagrant 2 or two Fragrant 1 fouls) for him to get there. This is similar to why Nikola Jokic did not come close to a suspension after an altercation and ejection in the first round. (For clarification, flagrant foul points and technical foul points are counted separately, but both can lead to a suspension.) Also, Wembanyama does not have the lengthy history of incidents like this compared to someone such as Draymond Green (despite what Green thinks).

However, no fine for Wembanyama was more of a surprise to many around the league, but was there a reasonable fine the league could have levied that would have been a deterrent in the future? The prospect of a possible future suspension is the real deterrent.

Behind a strong finish from Anthony Edwards and some key late plays from Ayo Dosunmu, the Timberwolves came back on the Spurs to win Game 4, 114-109, to even the series 2-2.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in San Antonio at 8 ET, you can watch it on NBC or stream it on Peacock.

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Yankees vs. Orioles prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 11

The Yankees (26-15) and the Orioles (18-23) open a three-game series at Camden Yards beginning tonight.

 

New York enters after being swept by the Brewers in Milwaukee over the weekend. Despite the three straight losses and falling a game behind Tampa in the AL East, the Yankees remain the team to beat in the American League. Powered by Aaron Judge (MLB-best 16 HRs) and Cody Bellinger (.444 average in May), New York carries an AL-best run differential of +73 into the game tonight.

 

The Orioles, meanwhile, have the worst run differential in the American League (-41). They have lost three of their last four. They sit nine games behind Tampa in the AL East. Gunnar Henderson is hitting .211 and Pete Alonso just .214. Those numbers are at the foundation of their issues.

 

On the mound, the Yankees hand the ball tonight to Ryan Weathers, a left-hander who has quietly become a reliable rotation piece for New York. He brings a 3.03 ERA and strong strikeout numbers (45 in 38.2 innings) into the matchup. The southpaw has already handled Baltimore earlier this month in the Bronx. The Orioles counter with Brandon Young (3-1, 4.35 ERA), a right-hander who has shown flashes of potential, but who has been consistently inconsistent through four starts on the season.

Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.

 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

 

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Orioles

  • Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
  • Time: 6:35PM EST
  • Site: Camden Yards
  • City: Baltimore, MD
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, YES, MASN

 

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

 

The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Orioles

The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: New York Yankees (-156), Baltimore Orioles (+129)
  • Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+104), Orioles +1.5 (-126)
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable Starting Pitchers: Yankees vs. Orioles

Pitching matchup for May 11:

  • Yankees: Ryan Weathers
    Season Totals: 38.2 IP, 2-2, 3.03 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 45K, 10 BB
  • Orioles: Brandon Young
    Season Totals: 20.2 IP, 3-1, 4.35 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 14K, 8 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. Orioles

  • Pete Alonso was 1-12 (1 HR) against the A’s this past weekend
  • Leody Tavares is 6-27 (.222) in May
  • Cody Bellinger has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games (18-44)
  • Ben Rice is hitless in his last 13 ABs
  • Jose Caballero was 3-9 over the weekend against the Brewers

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Orioles

  • The Yankees are 12-9 on the road this season
  • The O’s are 10-11 at home this season
  • The Yankees are 23-18 on the Run Line this season
  • The Orioles are 18-23 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 26 times in Orioles’ games this season (26-15)
  • The OVER has cashed 18 times for the Yankees this season (18-21-2)

 
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Orioles

 

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts. 

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Yankees and the Orioles:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Run Line
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees’ Team Total OVER 4.5 runs

 

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

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What to do with Trevor Story? Weighing the options with struggling shortstop

What to do with Trevor Story? Weighing the options with struggling shortstop originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It’s May, and the Boston Red Sox have a Trevor Story problem. Sound familiar?

Story’s early-season struggles were a hot topic last year, when he hit just .138 (20-for-145) with 49 strikeouts over a 38-game span from April 22 to June 6. The brutal slump sparked debate over whether Boston should designate Story for assignment despite owing him more than $50 million.

But the Red Sox stayed patient with the veteran, and he rewarded them by becoming one of the league’s most productive shortstops from June 7 onward. Story posted an .827 OPS over the final four months of the season and finished with a team-high 25 homers and 96 RBI.

It’s been déjà vu through Story’s first 38 games of 2026. The 33-year-old is hitting .200 (31-for-155) with 55 strikeouts and a .520 OPS. He can’t hang his hat on his defense either, as he has the third-most errors among MLB shortstops (five) with -1 Outs Above Average.

Again, the Red Sox face a difficult decision about Story’s future with the club, but he believes he can turn it around as he did in 2025.

“I mean, I think if you know exactly what it was, you could kind of fix it right away,” Story said of his struggles, per The Boston Globe. “But that’s not baseball. And there’s a lot that goes into it, physically, mentally, and effort-wise. I know that was a big one for me last year, and I think it’s just a matter of time before I get it right.”

“It’s tough to go through in the moment, but I have confidence that I can do it because I’ve done it before,” he added. “Takes one game, takes one pitch. And I’m always optimistic about it. I’m not gonna sit here and pout about it. I’m not gonna sit here and feel sorry for myself.”

So, should Boston stay the course and bet on another Story bounce-back, or is it time to make a major move? Below, we’ll weigh all the options with Story and share our take on how the Red Sox should proceed:

Option 1: Designate for assignment

Just like last year, many have grown impatient with Story and are clamoring for him to be DFA’d. While it might seem like the easiest solution, it’s hard to imagine the organization eating the $50 million remaining on his contract, especially given how he snapped out of his 2025 funk.

If Story is DFA’d, and he goes on to post an .800-plus OPS the rest of the season with another club, it will give fans yet another reason to lambast the Red Sox front office. He may give Craig Breslow & Co. no choice if this slump extends well into the summer, but now is too soon to pull the trigger. Story has earned additional time to figure it out.

Option 2: Trade in a salary dump

With a hefty contract and poor early-season numbers, Story’s trade value is at its absolute lowest. If the Red Sox look to trade him, it would likely be in an attempt to dump a good chunk of the $50M remaining on his deal, meaning they won’t get much of anything in return.

Perhaps there’s a club desperate for infield help that’s willing to take a chance on a struggling, high-upside veteran. Still, Story’s price tag makes such a move unlikely.

Option 3: Bench

Benching Story would be understandable, as he’s been a liability at the plate and hasn’t provided much value defensively. Perhaps that’s the kind of reset he needs, and he could look to regain form while Andruw Monasterio takes over as the starting shortstop.

That said, it seems doubtful that the club will sit its veteran leader, especially since he’s far from the only Sox player with awful offensive numbers.

Option 4: Move to second base and/or drop in the lineup

Story’s status as a veteran leader on an expensive contract is the only reason he remains a middle-of-the-lineup, everyday shortstop. Ex-Red Sox manager Alex Cora moved him down in the order earlier in the season, but Chad Tracy has put him in the fourth or fifth spot since taking over as interim skipper.

While the offense as a whole has been a massive disappointment, continuing to plug Story into the middle of the lineup is not a winning strategy. Moving him back down in the order while potentially switching him to second base, where there would be less pressure on him defensively, could help him get back on track.

Option 5: Stand pat and hope for the best

Story and the Red Sox seem convinced that another bounce-back is right around the corner. We wouldn’t be surprised if Option 5 is the organization’s pick, but if so, they’re playing with fire.

As of Monday, Boston owns the third-worst record in the American League at 17-23. The good news? The club is remarkably only 2.0 games back of a Wild Card spot, but it has to start stringing some wins together to stay in the mix. Sticking with this version of Story without making adjustments only hurts the Red Sox’ chances of doing just that.

Our pick: Option 4

DFA’ing Story would be a drastic move at this stage, though it’s fair to revisit the conversation if his struggles extend into mid-summer.

Heading into the upcoming series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Red Sox should move Story down in the lineup and consider a position switch. The latter seems less likely, as the organization has shied away from playing Marcelo Mayer at shortstop, but it has to be considered. If Mayer isn’t moved to short, Monasterio could take that spot while Story and Mayer platoon at second.

If those adjustments still don’t solve the issue, Option 3 comes into play. Options 1 and 2 will be on the table if Story can’t turn things around in June.

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Victor Wembanyama will not face any further discipline for flagrant foul, available for Game 5

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 10, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

As expected, the NBA will not be taking any further action against Victor Wembanyama after he was ejected from Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves for elbowing Naz Reid in the throat area, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The incident occurred with 8:39 left in the second quarter, after Wemby had grabbed an offensive rebound, and Reid and Jaden McDaniels were swiping and draped all over him. Wemby then swung his elbow and hit Reid in the throat, and after video review, head referee Zach Zarba determined that the three key points of intent, wind-up and follow-through were met to meet the criteria of a Flagrant 2 foul, resulting in him being ejected from the game for the first time in his NBA career.

While making it clear that he did not justify the play itself, head coach Mitch Johnson had Wemby’s back after the game, stating his frustration with the officiating and how the amount of contact and physicality players are allowed to get away with on him led up to this point, perhaps at the risk of his own fine.

“Just the amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself. Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on you. He’s gotten pushed down in transition, running freely. We don’t complain because we’re just going to play. We don’t really give a s—. But at some stage, he should be protected. If not, he’s going to have to protect himself, and unfortunately, stuff like that happens.

“It’s starting to get disgusting in terms of when he tries to fight through things, be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff. I’m glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid, but he’s going to have to protect himself if they’re not. And I think it’s disgusting.”

Wemby reportedly had words of encouragement for his teammates at halftime, and to the Spurs’ credit, they didn’t fold or give up on the game without their star center (despite Carmelo Anthony’s idiotic suggestion that they should during NBC’s halftime show — perhaps that mindset is an insight into why he never even made the finals himself). Instead, they weathered the initial storm and rode their star guards to a 9-point second-half lead before what felt like an inevitable Anthony Edwards fourth-quarter storm, and they didn’t have quite enough time recover, resulting in a 109-114 loss with the series tied at 2-2.

The good news is Wemby will be available for Game 5 after avoiding suspension. That shouldn’t be a surprise considering it was a pretty standard flagrant 2 (or at least as standard as a flagrant 2 can be) without anything extra, plus we already saw Nikola Jokic attempt to throw a punch against this same team in the last round with no suspension, as well as several far more egregious fouls that didn’t lead to suspension, although Wemby will have to pay the mandatory fine of $2,000 that comes with a flagrant 2. His case is likely also helped by the fact that has no prior history of such acts (unlike Draymond Green or Isaiah Stewart, whom we’ve seen receive “repeat offender” suspensions in the past).

Speaking of Green, one thing that likely won’t impact Wemby but he will have to keep in mind is the NBA’s technical counter, which can lead to a player being suspended after accumulating 7 points in the playoffs, with 2 points for Flagrant 2’s and one point for Flagrant 1’s or technical fouls. While it is extremely unlikely he will reach 7 points, hopefully this is still something he learns and grows from.

The series will resume on Tuesday in San Antonio. Thanks to the Knicks sweeping the 76ers, there is no double-header to contend with, so tip-off will be at the preferred time of 7:00 PM CT (instead 8:30) on NBC and Peacock. (Game 6 may be another story, depending on if Cleveland vs. Detroit reaches a Game 6, but at least that’s on Friday.)

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We Have a Problem: Mariners at Astros Series Preview

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 04: Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) gets high fives from teammates after scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning during the MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros on May 4, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Mariners took another two steps backwards over the weekend after such a promising start to their week last week. The 12-run outburst on Friday was very good to see but to follow that up by scoring two runs total over the final two games in Chicago was a huge let down. It feels like I write this same bit every week, but the uninspired play across the entire American League means Seattle isn’t really in too much trouble despite its struggles. The M’s are still the favorite to win the division and currently have the third highest playoff odds in the AL. The last time the Mariners faced the Astros, the vibes were in the toilet following a three-game sweep at the hands of the Rangers. Seattle responded by sweeping Houston in four games. The team is in need of some of that schadenfreude this week.

GameTimeMariners StarterAstros StarterMariners Win%Astros Win%
Game 1Monday, May 11 | 5:10 pmRHP George KirbyRHP Peter Lambert56.4%43.6%
Game 2Tuesday, May 12 | 5:10 pmRHP Bryan WooRHP Tatsuya Imai52.9%47.1%
Game 3Wednesday, May 13 | 5:10 pmRHP Bryce MillerRHP Lance McCullers Jr.47.6%52.4%
Game 4Thursday, May 14 | 11:10 amRHP Luis CastilloRHP Mike Burrows49.2%50.8%
*Game odds courtesy of FanGraphs
OverviewAstrosMarinersEdge
Batting (wRC+)113 (2nd in AL)104 (3rd in AL)Astros
Fielding (FRV)-2 (7th)-13 (15th)Astros
Starting Pitching (FIP-)107 (13th)97 (7th)Mariners
Bullpen (FIP-)136 (15th)91 (3rd)Mariners

Nothing has gone right for the Astros this year. They’ve been decimated by injuries and have limped along at the bottom of the AL West standings for nearly the entire season. Carlos Correa was the latest star to succumb to a significant injury; he injured his ankle last week and will be out for the season. He joins 14 other players on the IL, the most of any team in the majors. While the lineup hasn’t really been affected by all these absences yet, the pitching staff has been one of the worst in baseball. Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Josh Hader are all working through significant injuries and six other pitchers have been sidelined with minor maladies. 

PlayerPositionBatsPAK%BB%ISOwRC+
Jose Altuve2BR16319.0%10.4%0.13299
Yordan AlvarezDHL18014.4%13.3%0.325188
Isaac Paredes3BR14816.2%9.5%0.124111
Christian Walker1BR16718.0%9.0%0.242143
Cam SmithRFR15827.8%10.1%0.13183
Zach Cole (MiLB)LFL3727.0%18.9%0.310138
Brice MatthewsCFR9533.7%8.4%0.21293
Braden ShewmakeSSL2114.3%0.0%0.450218
Christian VázquezCR7418.9%8.1%0.194130

The lone bright spot for the Astros has been their offense. They’ve scored the second most runs in the AL and it doesn’t seem like a fluke. Yordan Alvarez has been one of the best hitters in baseball so far, running a career-high 188 wRC+. Christian Walker has also bounced back after a rough first season in Houston last year; he’s blasted nine home runs this year and is sporting a 143 wRC+. Even though the injury bug has hit the lineup hard, Houston has found enough depth to cover for its absences. Isaac Paredes has looked solid covering third base while Correa was covering shortstop for the injured Jeremy Peña and Brice Matthews and Zach Cole have been solid in the outfield while Jake Meyers and Joey Loperfido have been sidelined.

Probable Pitchers 

Updated Stuff+ Explainer 

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Peter Lambert22.124.7%11.8%0.0%44.6%2.422.82
George Kirby5219.1%5.9%8.3%57.6%2.943.44
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam42.2%32.9%94.795118480.381
Sinker18.1%0.0%94.289
Cutter8.6%16.7%92.388
Changeup7.8%36.0%88.680
Slider23.3%14.4%86.4101
Slurve16.4%10.8%81.8100

After struggling to make much of an impact with the Rockies to start his career, Peter Lambert signed a one-year deal with the Yakult Swallows of NPB last year. He didn’t exactly excel, but he showed enough promise outside the oppressive environment in Colorado to earn a minor league deal with the Astros this offseason. He’s been pressed into service thanks to all the injuries Houston has dealt with and he’s looked pretty solid across four starts this year. He developed a straight cutter in Japan and that pitch has been a solid addition to his repertoire. He’s also got an excellent changeup to round out his deep arsenal. 

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Tatsuya Imai (2025-NPB)163.227.8%7.0%4.6%48.3%1.922.01
Bryan Woo4720.3%4.3%8.2%30.9%4.023.81

From a previous series preview:

The Astros emerged as the surprising suitors for Tatsuya Imai this offseason, signing him to a three-year deal well below what many were expecting. Perhaps his contract fell short because it’s really hard to figure out his arsenal. There were plenty of questions about how his fastball would play against MLB batters and pitch models had a terrible time trying to figure out his slider. That breaking ball is unique to say the least. The pitch has the least amount of horizontal movement of any slider thrown in the majors, and depending on how he locates it, it can look like a screwball at times. The heater has looked really good too, benefitting from a low arm slot and a lot of cutting action. Imai will also pepper in a splitter, changeup, and curveball to round out his pitch mix, but the fastball and slider are the two primary weapons.

Imai couldn’t work out of the first inning in his last start against the Mariners, walking four and allowing a single hit in just 0.1 innings of work. He was placed on the IL with general fatigue after that start in Seattle and will be activated from that list to make a start on Tuesday.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Lance McCullers Jr.3425.0%13.5%16.1%42.7%7.414.81
Bryce Miller (2025)90.118.9%8.7%15.5%37.9%5.685.17
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam3.3%6.5%91.9
Sinker57.1%13.5%91.4911001770.349
Cutter13.7%40.6%89.194871060.368
Changeup16.5%14.5%85.583
Curveball9.3%24.9%81.6106151660.323
Sweeper35.7%10.5%82.311792760.310

From a previous series preview:

Lance McCullers Jr. finally got back on the big league mound last season after missing more than two years following elbow surgery back in 2023. It wasn’t an easy return to his previous form. He struggled with his command throughout the season and his velocity was down two ticks across the board from where he was sitting way back in ‘22. His pitch mix looked a lot different too, with his sweeper taking the place of his trademark curveball as his preferred breaking ball. Command is usually the last skill to return after major elbow surgery and he’s now three years removed from that procedure. I’m not sure we’ll ever see peak McCullers again, but he’s got the deep repertoire and experience to be a solid starter as long as his health holds up.

The Mariners scored six runs off McCullers in that series in Seattle; he pitched 4.1 innings allowing five hits and two walks.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Mike Burrows44.221.6%7.2%14.3%37.8%5.044.65
Luis Castillo38.120.8%7.3%12.0%34.1%6.574.56
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam21.6%33.9%95.010051880.403
Sinker24.3%5.4%94.69778940.380
Changeup16.4%34.2%87.1861181400.250
Curveball16.4%14.0%79.797119660.271
Slider21.3%12.5%89.89588800.250

From a previous series preview:

The Astros acquired Mike Burrows in a three-team trade involving the Rays and Pirates this offseason. He was surprisingly solid for Pittsburgh in his first full season in the big leagues, even as he was overshadowed by some of the bigger name pitching prospects that were coming up through their system. Those same prospects gave the Pirates a surplus to deal from and Burrows ended up in Houston. He throws relatively hard and has a plus changeup to keep batters from sitting on his heater. That offspeed pitch is his go-to swing and miss pitch too, though he has a pair of above average breaking balls as well. Because the Pirates treat their pitching prospects so carefully, most of Burrows’s work came in four- or five-inning stints. He’ll need to prove he can work through an opposing lineup a third time to really take a step forward in his development.

Burrows is coming off his best start of the season, a scoreless seven-inning gem against the Reds. In his previous start against the Mariners, he allowed six runs on 11 hits and a walk in six innings of work.

The Big Picture:

TeamW-LW%Games BehindRun DiffRecent Form
Athletics21-190.525-6L-W-W-W-L
Rangers19-210.4752.0-3W-L-L-W-W
Mariners19-220.4632.5+2L-W-W-L-L
Angels16-250.3905.5-24W-W-L-L-W
Astros16-250.3905.5-34W-L-W-L-L

The Athletics maintained their grip on the top of the AL West standings, winning their weekend series against the Orioles. They return home this week to take on the Cardinals. The Rangers managed to quiet the red hot Cubs over the weekend, holding them scoreless across both games on Saturday and Sunday. Texas hosts the Diamondbacks to start this week.

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San Jose Sharks Prospect's Rights Set to Expire on June 1

The San Jose Sharks need to sign prospect Carson Wetsch to an entry-level contract this month, or the 20-year-old winger will be eligible to re-enter the NHL Draft in June. 

The Sharks drafted Wetsch, who was then playing for the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League, in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft. In his draft year, he scored 25 goals and 50 points in 67 games for the Hitmen. The following season, his goal-scoring ability took a step forward, as he scored 33 goals, but his overall point total barely rose, as he finished the 2024-25 season with 53 points. 

In May of 2025, Wetsch was dealt to the Kelowna Rockets and was named their captain for the 2025-26 season. Overall, his offensive production hit new heights in Kelowna, but his goal scoring took a hit. He finished the season with 72 points in 65 games, but only scored 22 goals, the lowest total since he was drafted by the Sharks. 

As a 2024 draftee who is still playing in Major Junior, Wetsch meets the criteria to re-enter the draft this summer unless he either signs an entry-level contract with the Sharks, or commits to an NCAA team. 

"He’s a high-motor, high-effort, connective, physical player," Elite Prospects scout Daniel Gee wrote in February. "A lot of Wetsch’s best work comes below the goal line, chopping, crashing, and jousting for inside positions for second-chance offence."

"More forecheck and inside-driven than most WHL forwards, he plays a smart, low-risk game that doesn’t always generate highlight-reel moments but tends to produce results," Dobber Prospects' Ryan Downey added. "The 75 penalty minutes add some banger value on top of the offensive production."

If he reaches his potential, Wetsch projects as a bottom-six forward in the NHL, but it will likely take some time for him to get there. He'd be a beneficial addition to the San Jose Barracuda in the near future, at the very least.

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Rays Minor League Roundup: Week 5

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - MARCH 18: Caden Bodine (18) of the Tampa Bay Rays runs after a hit during a minor league spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles on March 18, 2026 at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

This was the 5th week of full minor league play (stats are entering play on Monday, May 11th).

According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), 19-year old Caden Bodine has regained his spot as the top hitter spot in the Rays system. The backstop is proving to be too advanced for Single-A as he was hitting .411 entering play on Sunday. After a zero hit performance though, he has dropped to .397/.442/.629 with 4 HR, registering a 184 wRC+ over 131 plate appearances..

Meanwhile, Aidan Cremarosa is still the team’s top minor league pitcher and among the top performers in all of minor league baseball. The 22-year old was taken by the Rays in the 8th round of the 2025 draft out of Fresno State. Thus far over six starts in Single-A, Cremarosa has a 2.38 ERA | 2.01 FIP with a 38.3 K% & 3.9 BB% over 34 IP. Most recently, Cremarosa completed a complete game no-hitter, a rarity in Rays organizational history.

RUMBLINGS

  • RHP TJ Nichols began a rehab assignment with the FCL Rays
  • INF Andreimi Antunez, a 2024 international signing, had quite the day on Friday. He was 4-6 on the day and homered twice in the first inning, including a grand slam. Overall he had the 2 homeruns, 2 doubles, and 10 RBI.
  • Baseball America highlighted 12 prospects with impressive exit velocties early on this season; Taitn Gray and Nathan Flewelling are mentioned.
  • Baseball America has also updated their top 100 prospect rankings, the Rays have players make the cut (this is a huge shake up, so I will not be updating the top 10 prospects futher below until Baseball America fully updates their rankings).
    • 36. Theo Gillen
    • 55. Brody Hopkins
    • 91. Nathan Flewelling
    • 95. Caden Bodine
    • 97. Cooper Flemming

TEAM LEADERS

  • Must currently be assigned to that team
  • Baseball America’s top ten prospects are featured below each team they’re currently assigned to.
  • (minimum of 60 TBF & PA)

Tampa Bay Rays

Top 10 Prospects

  • None currently on active roster

Durham Bulls

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .323, Victor Mesa Jr (hasn’t played since 4/15)
OBP: .417, Victor Mesa Jr (hasn’t played since 4/15)
SLG: .565, Victor Mesa Jr (hasn’t played since 4/15)
HR: 5,Blake Sabol & Dom Keegan
wRC+: 153, Victor Mesa Jr (hasn’t played since 4/15)
SB: 17, Jacob Melton (Placed on the IL on 4/23)

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 1.62, Kodi Whitley
FIP: 3.01, Kodi Whitley & Trevor Martin
K%: 40.0%, Joe Rock
BB%: 6.3%, Kodi Whitley
WHIP: 0.90, Kodi Whitley
AVG: .135, Evan Reifert
WHIFF%: 15.9%, Joe Rock

Top 10 Prospects

  • #1 Brody Hopkins
    • AAA: 3.79 ERA | 5.26 FIP | 25.3 K% | 19.6 BB% | .210 AVG | 14.2 WHIFF% | 35.2 IP
  • #3 Jacob Melton
    • AAA: .231/.346/.431 | 40.2 K% | 15.9 BB% | 1 HR | 17 SB | 98 wRC+ | 82 PA
      • 4/23: Suffered sprained ankle. Expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Montgomery Biscuits

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .341, Cooper Kinney (promoted to AAA on 5/5)
OBP: .440, Xavier Isaac
SLG: .605, Xavier Isaac
HR: 8, Xavier Isaac
wRC+: 170, Xavier Isaac
SB: 21, Austin Overn

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 1.71, Michael Forret
FIP: 2.60, Alexander Alberto
K%: 33.3%, Alexander Alberto
BB%:  4.4%, Hayden Snelsire
WHIP 0.76, Hayden Snelsire
AVG: .157, Michael Forret
WHIFF%: 16.1%, Hayden Snelsire

Top 10 Prospects

  • #4 T.J. Nichols
    • AA: 1.80 ERA | 1.71 FIP | 25.0 K% | 0.0 BB% | .300 AVG | 12.3 WHIFF% | 5 IP
    • CPX: 4.50 ERA | 3.05 FIP | 11.1 K% | 0.0 BB% | .333 AVG | 18.5 WHIFF% | 2 IP
      • 4/7: Placed on Injured List
      • 5/9: Began rehab assignment in Complex League
  • #6 Santiago Suarez
    • AA: 5.70 ERA | 5.58 FIP | 28.7 K% | 5.9 BB% | .226 AVG | 13.9 WHIFF% | 23.2 IP
      • 4/25: Placed on Injured List
      • 5/5: Activated from Injured List
  • #8 Michael Forret
    • AA: 1.71 ERA | 5.08 FIP | 26.2 K% | 11.5 BB% | .157 AVG | 15.5 WHIFF% | 31.2 IP

Bowling Green Hot Rods

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .309, Nathan Flewelling
OBP: .471, Tony Santa Maria
SLG: .610, Theo Gillen
HR: 8, Connor Hujsak
wRC+: 156, Theo Gillen
SB: 15, Tony Santa Maria

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 1.72, Jacob Kmatz
FIP: 1.87, Jacob Kmatz
K%: 41.0%, Jacob Kmatz
BB%: 4.9%, Jacob Kmatz
WHIP: 0.83, Jacob Kmatz
AVG: .172, Jacob Kmatz
WHIFF%: 17.7%, Jacob Kmatz

Top 10 Prospects

  • #2 Theo Gillen
    • A+: .280/.404/.610 | 26.3 K% | 15.2 BB% | 7 HR | 11 SB | 156 wRC+ | 99 PA
  • #5 Anderson Brito
    • A+: 4.24 ERA | 4.17 FIP | 33.6 K% | 10.3 BB% | .250 AVG | 14.5 WHIFF% | 23.1 IP
  • #10 Aidan Smith
    • A+: Hasn’t played in 2026
    • CPX: .200/.333/.333 | 11.1 K% | 16.7 BB% | 0 HR | 1 SB | 77 wRC+ | 18 PA
      • 4/2: Placed on the Injured List
      • 5/2: Began rehab assignment

Charleston River Dogs

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .397, Caden Bodine
OBP: .442, Caden Bodine
SLG: .629, Caden Bodine
HR: 5, Taitn Gray
wRC+: 184, Caden Bodine
SB: 12, Alberth Palma

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 1.96, Trey Pooser
FIP: 2.01, Aidan Cremarosa
K%: 38.3%, Aidan Cremarosa
BB%: 3.9%, Aidan Cremarosa
WHIP: 0.79, Aidan Cremarosa
AVG: .172, Jacob Kuhn
WHIFF%: 18.9%, Aidan Cremarosa

Top 10 Prospects

  • #7 Daniel Pierce
    • A: .247/.314/.403 | 29.1 K% | 5.8 BB% | 3 HR | 4 SB | 96 wRC+ | 86 PA
      • 4/22: Placed on the 7-day IL
      • 5/2: Activated from the IL
  • #9 Brendan Summerhill
    • A: .188/.235/.375 | 23.5 K% | 3.9 BB% | 3 HR | 0 SB | 62 wRC+ | 51 PA
      • 4/22: Placed on the 7-day IL
      • 5/11: Began a rehab assignment with the CPX Rays
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Arizona Diamondbacks Series Preview # 14 : Diamondbacks @ Rangers

Justin Foscue (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Are these two teams evenly matched?

Historically, yes.  When these two teams met in the regular season, the Rangers won 32 games and the Diamondbacks won 31 games.  Against all teams, they were nearly equal in runs scored per game (4.5 vs 4.6) and runs allowed per game (4.7 vs 4.6).

Last Season, perhaps not.  When these teams met in the regular season, the Diamondbacks won more games (4 vs 2).  Against all teams, the Diamondbacks had more runs scored per game (4.9 vs 4.2), while allowing more runs allowed (4.8 vs 3.7).

This Season, probably not.   As of 7 May, four websites projected more wins for the Rangers.  The Ranger projections range between 81.0 and 86.4 wins.  The Diamondbacks projections are tightly bunched (79.4 to 80.3 wins).

In May, both teams are on a cold streak. In May, in games through 8 May, the Rangers lost 5 games out of 7, while the Diamondbacks lost 6 games out of 7. Whichever team loses the three game series may need their players to do a mental reset.

Which Ranger player will be at second base? 

Each player is barely 27 years old, although this season is Duran’s fifth in the Majors. Ezequiel Duran has recently been on a hot streak (OPS of .976 in the 14 days through 6 May).  However, on 7 May, the recently called up Justin Foscue played second base and Duran played left field. 

Pitching Matchups.

Monday, 5:05 PM MST.

Michael Soroka.  In his latest start, pitching against the Pirates, with some help by excellent Diamondbacks defenders he allowed only 1 earned run in 6.1 innings pitched.  The only Diamondbacks starter with a better ERA is Eduardo Rodriguez.

Nathan Eovaldi.  In his latest start, pitching against the Yankees, he allowed only 1 earned run in 8 innings pitched.  Of the five Rangers starters, only Jacob deGrom has a better ERA.

This matchup of starting pitchers is even.

Tuesday, 5:05 PM MST.

Zac Gallen.On 25 April, a comeback hit his shoulder. Before that incident, this season he started 6 games with an ERA of 3.14.  After that day, he started two games.  He allowed a total of 10 earned runs in 9.2 innings pitched.  How long until he returns to his earlier pitching prowess?

MacKenzie Gore. In his latest start, pitching against the Yankees, he allowed 5 earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched. 

This matchup of starting pitchers is even, but with some unpredictability.

Wednesday, 5:05 PM MST.

Ryne Nelson. He has pitched well this season except for 2 games in April. In May, he allowed 2 earned runs in 12.1 innings pitched.

Kumar Rocker. Although he pitched well in April, in May he allowed 8 earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched.

This matchup of starting pitchers is advantage Diamondbacks.

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What to make of the Tampa Bay Rays

May 7, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) reacts to hitting a two-run home run as he crosses home plate during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

I do my best to try and avoid ever thinking about the Tampa Bay Rays, but they have forced themselves upon my attention with some excellent play across the season’s first quarter. I’m writing this as Logan Henderson delivers his first pitch to Trent Grisham, and Tampa’s .658 winning percentage has them nominally atop the AL East, with two games in hand over the Yankees.

It’s a little rudimentary in 2026 to immediately look at run differential, but the Yankees should have an extra win with their strong +74, even after a weekend with strong Milwaukee pitching, and the Rays should be six games back of them with just a +17 differential. By BaseRuns, which intends to neutralize sequencing, the difference is more stark, indicating that the Yankees should have a seven-game lead in the East.

But of course there’s what should have happened and what has actually happened, and the Rays have banked those additional five or six wins early. A good chunk of those wins have come on two fronts: home field advantage, and one-run games. The club is 14-4 at the Tropicana House of Horrors, and while that .778 winning percentage will not hold up through August and September, the Rays have always felt an outsized impact of their home cooking.

The last season they played in Tropicana, 2024, the Rays were not a good team, finishing 80-82. They were a paltry .469 team on the road, and 50 basis points better than that at home. In 2023, a much stronger Rays team before a couple tough seasons, they were nearly a hundred basis points better when sleeping in their own beds. I think the 2026 Rays team is better than the squad we’ve seen in the past two years, but probably not a 92-win side. The Curse of the Trop is likely to continue into the summer, but they’ll win less than three-quarters of their remaining home games.

The one-run game phenomenon is a little harder to project out. One-run games are a product of sequencing and bullpen performance, both of which can be extremely volatile over the course of the season. A groundball to the right side after a leadoff double puts you in a great position to push a run across, but that same groundball to the right side when you yourself lead off an inning objectively hurts your chances at scoring. This is the problem that BaseRuns attempts to solve for: the compelling variable is that a batter hit a ground ball to the right side, which generally speaking does not create a lot of runs. This kind of volatility, where the outcome is dependent on a pre-established context, usually means that this stuff balances out over a season.

What’s more interesting is that the Rays don’t really have a particularly strong bullpen — 15th in baseball by ERA, 21st by FIP, 19th by K-BB rate. This is something the club could fix on the trade market, but between the unpredictability of sequencing and the fact the relief corps at present doesn’t frighten me, that 8-1 record in one-run games should start to close up a little bit.

Of course all of this is subject to devil magic, and it’s been a little while since we saw good old classic Tampa Bay Devil Magic. The market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent, and the Rays can employ sorcery for longer than it takes for randomness to normalize. The Yankees looked perhaps the worst they’ve looked all year when they played Tampa, of course down at Tropicana, and keeping an eye on the devil magic meter will remain a concern all summer.

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Chicago Cubs update: Michael Conforto, Michael Busch, Shōta Imanaga

The Cubs were the hottest team in baseball for most of the past week, winning their first five games of the week against the Reds and Rangers, the last five of their second 10-game winning streak of the year, which also extended their home winning streak to 15 (and an 18-5 record at Wrigley Field in 2026).

Then, clunk… no runs scored at all over the last two games.

Still, it was a successful week, all things considered. Here’s who was hot and not for the Cubs over the past week.

Three up

Michael Conforto has found his role

Conforto hadn’t played much since he filled in for Seiya Suzuki while the latter was out for the first 12 games of the season.

But Craig Counsell gave Conforto some playing time against the Reds and Rangers and his bat came alive. He batted .500/.588/1.143 (7-for-14) with three doubles and two home runs.

One of those homers walked off the Reds last Monday [VIDEO].

Conforto has certainly earned more playing time.

Michael Busch’s bat has also gotten hot

Busch got off to a terrible start this year, but lately he has been hitting like the guy who hit 34 home runs for the Cubs a year ago.

For the week, Busch batted .348/.500/.500 (8-for-23) with a double, a home run, six RBI and seven walks. And since he bottomed out with a .377 (!) OPS after the game of April 11, Busch is batting .302/.414/.479 (29-for-96) with six doubles, a triple, three home runs, 17 walks and 21 RBI in 26 games, one of the biggest reasons the Cubs are 21-5 in those games.

Busch also walked off a game against the Reds last week [VIDEO].

Shōta Imanaga is dominant again

Imanaga is flashing the form that got him an All-Star selection and fifth place in Cy Young voting in 2024. It seems clear that he had never fully recovered last year from the hamstring injury. Now 100 percent healthy, Imanaga has a 28.3 percent strikeout rate and just a 7.0 percent walk rate.

He’s also getting tons of swing-and-miss. ranking seventh in MLB with a 32.8 percent whiff rate, which is notable given that Shōta doesn’t throw 95+ like everyone else on the list ahead of him.

Here are his 10 Ks against the Reds last Thursday [VIDEO].

Honorable mention to Ben Brown for his four no-hit innings against the Rangers on Friday.

Three down

What is going on with Alex Bregman?

Sometimes Bregman hits for a while — .333 /.400/.456 for a 13-game span from April 11-24.

And then he doesn’t — .174/.296/.217 (4-for-23) over the past week, though with four walks. His .328 season OBP does provide some value, but he’s got just five doubles, a triple and three home runs in 159 at-bats. That’s not the guy the Cubs thought they were getting.

Craig Counsell gave Bregman Sunday off. Hopefully the extra day will help him reset.

He’s still solid at third base. Check out this slick play he made last Wednesday [VIDEO].

Moisés Ballesteros is in an awful slump

The Cubs DH/catcher (mostly DH) started the season out hot, so much so that it was hard to remember that he’s just 22 years old.

The league appears to have adjusted to him. He was 0-for-16 over the week and Sunday, he struck out three times (okay, so those were all by Jacob deGrom, a very tough pitcher).

Ballesteros can hit, no question about it. But he will now also have to make adjustments. If he can’t, I would not be opposed to sending him to Triple-A Iowa for a short time, if for nothing else than to help him get his confidence back.

Edward Cabrera got hit pretty hard

Cabrera made two starts during the week and allowed 16 hits and three walks over 11 innings (1.727 WHIP), and eight earned runs (6.55 ERA). He did strike out 14, and overall has a 22.4 percent K rate, down a bit from his 25.8 percent rate a year ago. I still think Cabrera is a perfectly solid starter and he’ll be fine.

Here’s an interesting thread about Cabrera. Worth keeping an eye on these things.

Perhaps the Cubs are trying to manage his workload in a way that will keep him healthy this year, which has been an issue for him in the past. As always, we await developments.

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Spurs can rest easy after Victor Wembanyama avoids further discipline

The San Antonio Spurs, largely because Victor Wembanyama’s second quarter ejection, missed out on the chance in Game 4 to take a commanding lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

Now, they can breathe a sigh of relief.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Wembanyama has avoided suspension over the right elbow he threw at Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid on Sunday, May 10 in Game 4, an eventual 114-109 Minnesota victory.

This comes as a massive relief for San Antonio, which is now in a 2-2 tie in the series. Wembanyama is the team’s best player and arguably the player in the entire NBA who most impacts games on both ends of the floor.

Once he left the game, the Timberwolves attacked the paint more freely because of the void Wembanyama left down low.

Wembanyama committed the foul with 8:39 to play in the second quarter.

During the play, Wembanyama was battling with Reid and Jaden McDaniels after Wembanyama hauled in a rebound. Reid and McDaniels both tried to grasp for the ball, trying to pry it from Wembanyama’s hands. Wembanyama then cocked his right elbow and flung it toward Reid, striking him around the neck.

Reid instantly fell to the court as McDaniels continued trying to wrap up the ball. Officials blew the whistle and separated both sides. They eventually reviewed the play, determining that the contact was "unnecessary and excessive," and elevated the call to flagrant foul penalty two, which results in an automatic ejection.

Wembanyama appeared to be surprised on the bench, seemingly unaware of the rule around a flagrant foul two. It marked the first ejection of Wembanyama’s career and, as he exited the court, he hyped up his teammates and clapped and gestured to the crowd.

After playing just 12:29 in the game, Wembanyama left with four points on 2-of-5 shooting, adding four rebounds and one assist.

Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12 at 8 p.m. ET.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victor Wembanyama avoids suspension for throwing elbow vs Timberwolves