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Game #57: Athletics vs. Yankees Game Thread

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MAY 21: Luis Severino #40 of the Athletics pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 21, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Athletics had a much-needed day off yesterday to reset and, hopefully, figure out how to play better at home. The team opened its latest homestand by being swept in three games by the Seattle Mariners, who knocked the A’s out of first place in the American League West for the first time in several weeks.

Now 10-15 at Sutter Health Park, things will not get any easier for the A’s. Tonight, the team begins a three-game weekend series against the New York Yankees, who own one of the best records in baseball. The “Bronx Bombers” enter on a four-game winning streak after sweeping the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City. Led by Aaron Judge and Ben Rice, the Yankees will look to bounce back after the Athletics took two of three from them in the Bronx earlier this season.

For the A’s, however, it is imperative that they bounce back and take this series to avoid dropping both series this week. Veteran right-hander Luis Severino will take the mound in today’s series-opener. Severino was originally supposed to start Tuesday. The A’s moved his next start back a few days, adjusting the rotation to allow the team top pitching prospect, left-hander Gage Jump, to make his first MLB start that day. Jump wound up allowing four runs on nine hits in five innings.

Facing his former team on seven days’ rest, Severino will likely pitch with extra motivation tonight. The 32-year-old enters his 12th start of the season with a 2–5 record, a 4.23 ERA, and 64 strikeouts over 61.2 innings pitched. He is coming off one of his best starts of the season, allowing two runs over seven innings against the Los Angeles Angels while recording a season-high 10 strikeouts. The Yankees’ offense is much more potent than the Angels and this game will be at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park, a place where Severino and the entire A’s pitching staff has struggled to replicate their success on the road.

If the A’s want to snap their losing streak, they will need a strong performance from Severino and the bullpen to limit the Yankees’ opportunities and keep runs off the board. The Athletics’ offense must also improve after scoring just four runs in their previous three games.

Here’s how the Athletics’ lineup looks for the series opener:

A’s manager Mark Kotsay is rolling out a lineup that looks very similar to the ones used over the past few games.  Designated hitter Brent Rooker is back in the lineup and hoping to snap out of his slow start to the season.

The biggest change comes at the top of the order. Right-handed hitter Colby Thomas gets the start in right field and will bat leadoff in place of the usual starter, left-handed hitter Carlos Cortes. Additionally, Henry Bolte draws another start over fellow outfielder Lawrence Butler, whose playing time has diminished significantly amid his season-long offensive struggles.

Butler and Cortes are on the bench because left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodón will start for the Yankees. The 33-year-old veteran missed the first month of the season while completing his rehabilitation from offseason elbow surgery. Rodón enters his fourth start of 2026 with an 0-2 record, 4.15 ERA and 17 strikeouts over 13 innings pitched. He seems to be rounding into form, limiting the Toronto Blue Jays to one run over five innings in his most recent outing.

The southpaw aims to win his first game of the year against an A’s lineup that has been scuffling lately. For the A’s offense to succeed, they will need to be patient at the plate, work counts, and capitalize on any mistake pitches over the heart of the zone.

And the Yankees’ starting lineup this evening:

The Yankees, led by their dynamic trio of Judge, Rice and Cody Bellinger, have hit the most home runs in MLB and rank fourth in runs scored. Last year, A’s owner John Fisher said he was looking forward to watching Judge hit home runs at Sutter Health Park, and that possibility looms again this evening.

The matchup between Luis Severino’s power arsenal and the Yankees’ slugging lineup will likely hinge on traffic ahead of the heart of the order. If Severino wants his third win, he’ll need to consistently retire the bottom of the Yankees lineup and avoid letting Judge and Rice come to the plate with runners in scoring position in a park that punishes mistakes.

With a win tonight and a Mariners loss, the Athletics can jump right back into first place. More importantly, they need this victory to close the week strong and secure their first win of the homestand. Let’s go A’s!

Follow the Game:
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Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, A’s Cast

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The case for keeping Jalen Green

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 06: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns reacts to a three-point shot against the LA Clippers during the second half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 06, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Clippers 115-102. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.

The offseason ahead forces the Phoenix Suns into a delicate balancing act. There is a very real temptation to shake up the backcourt following a season that left everyone wanting more despite exceeding expectations. Still, Jalen Green shouldn’t just be cast aside as expendable trade bait. That is, unless the perfect deal comes along.

Arriving in Phoenix in late June as a part of the blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston, Green was brought in to provide a premium athletic punch next to Devin Booker. 

Green is a high-octane offensive motor with immense upside, but it’s clear his first year in the Valley wasn’t entirely a smooth ride. He has far more to his game than a standard isolation scorer; he is a legitimate athletic downhill threat who puts massive structural pressure on the paint when he attacks. While a recurring hamstring injury sidelined him for a significant chunk of the calendar, and his raw efficiency was highly erratic, Green still showcased why he is one of the most dynamic young assets on the team, posing a physical problem for opposing defenses that few others on this roster can replicate.

He was critical during the play-in games against Portland and Golden State, keeping Phoenix’s playoff hopes alive for just a bit longer.

Expanded Role + Growing Pains

Green’s 2025–26 season naturally requires us to look through an optimistic yet grounded lens. This wasn’t a flawless debut campaign, to say the least. Missing all of December and most of January with a recurring hamstring injury disrupted his rhythm significantly, and watching his three-point efficiency slide to a cold 31.3%, alongside a 42.2% overall field-goal percentage, are glaring yellow flags of caution to monitor.

Across his 32 regular-season appearances, Green averaged 17.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. However, the efficiency split between wins and losses tells the real story: in Suns victories, he shot 45% from the field and 33.6% from deep, but in losses, those numbers plummeted to 39% and 28.3%. When Jalen isn’t hitting shots, his tendency to “hijack” the offense can stall out ball movement, occasionally leading him to take more field goal attempts than Devin Booker, which is a structural flaw this team cannot afford.

Yet, when he got his legs underneath him, the aggressiveness and high-intensity vertical pop were undeniable. Let’s not forget his true ceiling: he saved the Suns’ season in the do-or-die play-in game, putting together a masterclass to lift Phoenix past the Golden State Warriors. He has an elite first step and vertical bounce that force opposing coaching staffs to respect him, even during an objective shooting slump.

3 Reasons the Suns Should Keep Him

With the Suns’ influx of guard depth, it is incredibly easy to fall into the trap of viewing Green as expendable trade bait, similar to Grayson Allen. Just on a larger scale, from a role and salary-wise. But trading away a high-upside athletic weapon to clear a positional logjam could be a panicked mistake if the return doesn’t check several boxes.

1. Perimeter Gravity + Paint Pressure

Even in a down shooting year, Green still commanded defensive attention. Teams don’t completely leave him open on the perimeter because they are terrified of his lightning-quick first step and ability to explode downhill.

When Booker is running the offense, the floor geometry completely changes if Green is loaded on the wing. If he can tighten up his shot selection, his ability to aggressively attack closeouts and pressure the rim will transition from an erratic luxury into necessity. It comes down to being a make-or-miss league sometimes, and when Green is “on,” he is nearly impossible to stop.

2. Physical Engine

This Suns team has historically been plagued by athleticism and toughness gaps, often leaning too heavily on perimeter finesse.

Jalen Green possesses the exact explosive, high-motor archetype that every contending front office craves to puncture modern defensive shells/sets. He is a constant downhill threat with an explosive first step and athleticism to get where he wants on the court more often than not.

While his defense and playmaking still require major development and discipline, having that raw vertical power already in-house is a massive competitive advantage you don’t just throw away.

3. The Moveable $36.3M Sweet Spot

What makes Green even more vital is his financial structure heading into next season. He is under contract for ~$36.3 million for the 2026–27 campaign. In an era where the restrictive second apron can completely paralyze a front office, Green’s contract sits in a highly productive mid-tier sweet spot. It is a highly movable asset. For that exact reason, his name surfaces in potential trade rumors. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a large chunk on the surface, but it’s not one of those impossible-to-move type of deals. Especially at his age, with the flashes he’s shown.

If the front office can find a premium blockbuster deal where combining his salary with another contract nets an elite, high-level forward that perfectly aligns with our timeline, you absolutely pick up the phone. But trading him for pennies on the dollar just to clear the runway is a mistake.

Closing Thought

As mentioned in my Grayson Allen piece, guard depth is a position of strength, not a flaw that requires a panicked offseason over-correction. Unless it makes sense.

Jalen Green is far from a finished product; his health history and shot selection are entirely valid concerns that keep this team’s ceiling volatile. However, unless a landscape-altering frontcourt piece becomes available via a consolidated trade package, keeping Green’s transition pressure, elite physical ceiling, and competitive fire in the Valley is the smartest path forward.

Let’s see if he can take the leap in year two with the Suns. If the perfect deal comes along that moves the needle, you look at it. Otherwise, let’s welcome Jalen back to the Valley with open arms.

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Thunder star Jalen Williams ruled out for Game 7 in major injury crusher

Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Keldon Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs looking up during Game Two.
Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs boxes out during the game during Game Two of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 20, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Thunder will be without one of their stars for their biggest game of the season thus far.

Oklahoma City shooting guard Jalen Williams has been ruled out for Game 7 of the Western Conference finals against the Spurs with a left hamstring sprain, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Friday.

Williams, 25, initially suffered the injury during Game 2 of the Thunder’s first-round series against the Suns.

Jalen Williams and Keldon Johnson (3) of the San Antonio Spurs box out during Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 20, 2026, at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NBAE via Getty Images

Despite missing the Thunder’s next six games following the injury, the swingman returned for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

Williams put up 26 points and seven rebounds while playing 37 minutes in the series opener, but left Game 2 after playing just seven minutes due to re-aggravating the lingering injury.

After missing the following three games, Williams retuned for Game 6, but saw just 10 minutes of action and took only one shot during the Thunder’s 118-91 loss to San Antonio.

During Thursday’s Game 6 loss, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said that Williams’ Game 7 status would be up to him and how his body is responding to the ongoing injury, The Athletic reported.

Jalen Williams (8) drives into the paint against the San Antonio Spurs on May 20, 2026, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Getty Images

“He’s been hellbent on trying to get himself to this point. I give him credit,” Daigneault said. “He’s a big team guy, big competitor. He’s obviously not 100%. He didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know what to expect.

“So it was a matter of getting him out there in an insulated role and see what he could bring to the team. … He hasn’t done a full return to play the way that he would.”

Injuries have already derailed Williams’ fourth year in the NBA, with the All-Star missing time to start the 2025-26 season recovering from a wrist injury, along with a right hamstring strain causing him to be sidelined for roughly 30 regular season games.

In just 33 games played this season, Williams, averaged 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists while shooting 48.4 percent from the field.

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76ers to hire Mike Gansey as president of basketball operations

The Philadelphia 76ers are hiring Mike Gansey as their new president of basketball operations, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Gansey had spent the past season as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager.

He joined Cleveland’s front office in 2011-12 before rising through the ranks. He was promoted to assistant general manager in 2017, serving under Koby Altman. He was then promoted to general manager in 2022, still under Altman.

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished this season with a 52-30 overall record and were fourth in the Eastern Conference. The New York Knicks swept the Cavs in the conference finals.

The Knicks also swept the 76ers in the conference semifinals. Philadelphia, which had a 45-37 overall record, fired Daryl Morey after the season.

Bob Myers, the former Golden State Warriors general manager, led the search for the 76ers as the president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. Myers recently participated in the UCLA football coaching search, which led to the hiring of Bob Chesney.

Who is Mike Gansey?

Gansey finished second to Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James as Ohio's "Mr. Basketball" in 2001.

Gansey played college basketball at St. Bonaventure (2001-03) and West Virginia (2003-06) before going undrafted in 2006.

After a short professional playing career, which included stints in the NBA's D-League and overseas, he began his executive career. Gansey served as the Canton Charge's general manager and was named the NBA Development League's executive of the year for the 2016-17 season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 76ers to hire Mike Gansey as new president of basketball operations

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Colorado Rockies game no. 58 thread: Logan Webb vs. Michael Lorenzen

May 23, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images | Anna Carrington-Imagn Images

After a much-needed day off yesterday, the Colorado Rockies return home tonight to open their final series of May against the San Francisco Giants.

Colorado enters at 20-37, last in the NL West, after going 1-6 through Arizona and Los Angeles. The Rockies won just one of four against the Arizona Diamondbacks, then were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers by scores of 5-3, 15-6, and 4-1. They have lost five straight and are now 6-19 in May as they head back to Coors Field.

Bad road trip. Miserable month.

And yet, somehow, there is still a small opportunity sitting in front of them. The Giants arrive at 22-34, fourth in the division and only 2.5 games ahead of Colorado.

That means the Rockies could finish May not in last place.

It is not a lofty goal, and the fact that it is even on the table probably says as much about the Giants as it does about the Rockies — San Francisco is just 9-16 this month, and has lost three straight — but after the way May has gone, Colorado will take any step forward it can get.

To start moving in that direction, the Rockies will need a better showing from Michael Lorenzen. The veteran righty enters at 2-7 with a 7.21 ERA, 1.90 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings.

Hitters are squaring Lorenzen up too often, and he has not generated enough swing-and-miss to survive the hard contact. His 47.2% hard-hit rate is in the 10th percentile, while his 15.7% strikeout rate and 20.3% whiff rate underline the problem.

The Coors Field numbers are even more unsightly. At home this season, Lorenzen owns a 10.03 ERA and 2.44 WHIP across five starts.

For the Rockies, a useful start from Lorenzen does not have to look dominant. It just has to look stable: avoid the early crooked inning, keep the ball in the park, and get the game into the middle innings without putting too much stress on the bullpen.

The Giants counter with 29-year-old right-hander Logan Webb, who is expected to return from the injured list after missing time with right knee bursitis. Webb has not pitched in the majors since May 5, though he did make a rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento, throwing 62 pitches over 3 1/3 innings, before completing a bullpen session earlier this week.

That makes his workload worth watching. Webb enters at 2-4 with a 5.06 ERA and 1.40 WHIP through eight starts, but the profile is not as simple as the surface numbers. He is still getting hitters to chase, with a 34.9% chase rate in the 88th percentile, and he is still keeping the ball on the ground, with a 58.5% ground-ball rate in the 96th percentile.

The concern is what happens when hitters do square him up. His average exit velocity allowed is in the 13th percentile, and his hard-hit rate is in the 6th percentile, so there has been more damage on contact than usual. That gives the Rockies a pretty clear assignment: avoid quick outs against the sinker, stretch the at-bats, and see how much leash the Giants are willing to give him in his first start back.

The Rockies need a complete team game tonight. Lorenzen has to limit the traffic and damage enough to set-up the bullpen. The offense needs to make Webb work in his return. The defense needs to be clean behind all of it.

Do all of that, and the Rockies might be on their way to starting June somewhere other than last place.

The details:

First Pitch: 6:40 PM MDT

TV: Rockies TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM , KNRV 1150

Giants SB Nation site:McCovey Chronicles

Lineups:

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Game thread LVII – Royals at Rangers

Jac Caglianone takes batting practice
KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 25: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals takes batting practice prior to the game between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Monday, May 25, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Sydney Schneider/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Royals did not follow through after that Mariners series to do anything to the Yankees except scare them enough in that series opener to annoy the Yankees into grinding them into the dirt for two straight nights. The Royals don’t have a lot to play for in terms of wins and losses, but if they want to be a good team next year, they’d do well to look for some diamonds in the rough with the rest of their season. That’s going to start with figuring out if Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone can learn to hit lefties. Unfortunately, the Royals don’t seem to have figured that out, and one of them is sitting against lefty Mackenzie Gore.

The Rangers made one of the bigger trades this past offseason when they traded for the former Nationals ace. Unfortunately for them, he’s struggled since donning the Rangers colors. In particular, the effectiveness of his slider has diminished quite a bit despite a slight arm-angle change giving him more depth and movement on the pitch even without a change in its spin rate. Laying off of that pitch, as the rest of the league has done, is probably going to be a key for the Royals tonight.

Gore did have one of the best starts of his season last time out against the Angels. In that game he struck out 7, walked 1, and allowed only a single run in 6 innings. He hasn’t faced KC in the regular season in almost exactly 3 years, May 28, 2023. In that game he pitched 7 innings of 1-run ball and struck out 11. It remains one of the best starts of his career. He did face KC twice this spring training. In the first game, he allowed 7 runs in 1.2 innings. In the last, an exhibition matchup in Globe Life Field, he tossed 4 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts.

Stephen Kolek will take the mound again tonight for KC. His last time out all he did was pitch a complete-game no-hitter. The first for the Royals since 2020. I wouldn’t expect him to manage the same thing tonight, but 6-7 scoreless innings would not be amiss considering how the Royals’ offense has performed on the road this year.

Lineups

As you can see, Carter Jensen is getting the day off. It took until now, but Matt Quatraro is finally trying one of the lineup configurations that seemingly half of Royals Kingdom has been begging for for weeks; Lane Thomas will lead off, and Maikel Garcia will bat third in an attempt to juice the middle of the order. Vinnie Pasquantino is moved down to sixth in the order. Jac Caglianone hit his first two major league home runs in this park, off of two different Rangers lefties, both of whom are still with Texas.

Yes, that is old friend Nicky Lopez batting a gentleman’s .000 in 11 at-bats at the nine slot for the Rangers. Still, they don’t seem to miss Marcus Semien with Nimmo providing good offense in their outfield and Semien completing his fall off of a cliff that he started last year.

A couple of injury updates for you, that I picked up from MLB.com. Matt Strahm seems primed to return to the bullpen by the end of this series when he is first eligible. Kris Bubic is still dealing with arm fatigue and has not resumed throwing off the mound, yet. He’s still expected to return sometime in June.

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Astros vs. Brewers Game Thread: Game 59, 5/29/2026

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 28: Cam Smith #11 of the Houston Astros goes up to catch a deep fly ball off the bat of Brandon Nimmo #24 of the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field on May 28, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (26-32), who have won six of their last seven games, will open a 10-day, nine-game homestand tonight against the NL Central division leading Milwaukee Brewers (33-20).

RHP Kai-Wei Teng (3-3, 2.19 ERA), a native of Taiwan, will get the start for the Astros tonight on AAPI night at the ballpark. He’ll be opposed by rookie RHP Coleman Crow (0-0, 2.61 ERA), who’s making just his third Major League start.

AAPI NIGHT: The Astros will honor Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Night tonight.

The celebration will include a private pregame reception in the 42 Room, pregame performance by the Taiwanese Association of America, local community and organizational tabling throughout Hall of Fame Alley, a ceremonial first pitch, and more.

FOR STARTERS: Astros starters have a combined ERA of 3.20 (27ER/76IP) over the last 13 games (since May 15) with a 1.01 WHIP. In that span, they have allowed just 44 hits in 76.0 innings for a Major League-best .169 opponent average, while also ranking first in the AL in WHIP and fifth in ERA.

Astros starters have allowed one or fewer runs seven times in the last 13 games.

HOMER HAPPY: The Astros have slugged 16 homers in their last seven games.

Houston now ranks second in the AL in homers with 76, trailing only the Yankees (83) in that category.

AIR YORDAN:DH Yordan Alvarez had a three-game span from Monday thru Wednesday in Arlington in which he went 6×12 with five homers and eight RBI.

Some notes on his sizzling run:

• he became the first Astros player with multiple homers in back-back games since Jose Altuve turned the trick, Sept. 4 (2 HR) and Sept. 5 (3 HR) at TEX.

• he matched the club record for HR in a three-game span. That record is shared by Jose Altuve (2023), Richard Hidalgo (2000) and Glenn Davis (1990).

• he became the fifth Astros player with multiple homers in consecutive games: the others: Jose Altuve, 9/4-5, 2023 at TEX; Richard Hidalgo, 9/9-10, 2000 at CHC; Moises Alou, 8/13/2000 at PHI, 8/14/2000 vs. PIT; Doug Rader, 7/20-21/1973 vs. NYM.

FROM THE TRAINER’S ROOM: The Astros have 12 players on the Major League Injured List.

• RHP Ronel Blanco (rt. elbow surgery) and RHP Hayden Wesneski (rt. elbow surgery) have began live BP progressions in West Palm Beach.

• RHP Hunter Brown (rt. shoulder sprain) will make his second rehab start tonight at Triple A Sugar Land, he worked 2.0 scoreless innings on 35 pitches in his first rehab outing on Sunday at Double A Corpus Christi.

• LHP Josh Hader (lt. biceps tendinitis) made his ninth rehab app. last night, tossing 22 pitches in 0.2 of an inning at Triple A. Hader also pitched on Wednesday, giving him appearances on back-to-back days.

• RHP Cristian Javier (rt. shoulder strain) is scheduled to throw live batting practice today at Daikin Park.

• RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (rt. shoulder inflammation) and LHP Bennett Sousa (lt. elbow inflammation) have began throwing progressions.

• LHP Brandon Walter (lt. elbow surgery) continues his throwing progression this week in West Palm Beach.

• 2B Jose Altuve (lt. oblique strain) was in West Palm Beach rehabbing earlier this week. He has rejoined the team in Houston to continue his baseball activity.

• C Yainer Diaz (lt. oblique strain) has began baseball activity.

• OF Joey Loperfido (rt. quad strain) continued his rehab assignment last night at Triple A Sugar Land, going 0x4 in a start at DH. He also played on Wednesday night at Triple A (1×2, 2 BB).

ON THE LEADER BOARD: DH Yordan Alvarez currently leads the Majors in OPS (1.073), SLG (.654) and total bases (134).

In the AL, he ranks first in extra-base hits (31), tied for first in HR (20), second in batting avg. (.307), second in OBP (.419), tied for second in hits (63), fourth in RBI (39), tied for seventh in walks (37), and ninth in runs (37).

WALKER, TEXAS HAMMER:1B Christian Walker has four homers and nine RBI in his last five games.

For the season, he has been one of the top hitters in the AL, ranking third in the AL in RBI (40), tied for fifth in extra-base hits (25), sixth in HR (15), seventh in SLG (.519) and seventh in total bases (108).

Walker also has not committed an error in his 57 games played.

TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2017 – In a Memorial Day matchup in Minnesota, the Astros trailed 8-2 before scoring 11 runs in the 8th inning en route to a 16-8 win over the homestanding Twins. It marks just the fourth 11-run inning in franchise history and the first since the 1994 season.

in the inning, the Astros hammer out eight hits, including just one homer, a three-run shot by DH Carlos Beltrán. Four different Astros record three-plus hits, including Beltrán (4×5), 2B Jose Altuve (3×5), SS Carlos Correa (3×5) and 1B Marwin Gonzalez (3×5).

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Friday, May 29, 7:10 p.m. CT

Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX

TV: Space City Home Network

Streaming: SCHN+

Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

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GameThread: Tigers vs. White Sox 7:40 p.m.

May 28, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Wenceel Perez (46) hits a home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Detroit Tigers (22-35) vs. Chicago White Sox (29-27)

Time/Place: 7:40 p.m., Rate Field
SB Nation Site: South Side Sox
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Troy Melton (1-0, 1.59 ERA) vs. RHP Erick Fedde (0-5, 5.47 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Melton15.213.613.631.33.600.1
Fedde1049.114.39.236.26.31-0.5

Lineups

TIGERSWHITE SOX
Kevin McGonigle – 3BSam Antonacci – LF
Dillon Dingler – CMunetaka Murakami – 1B
Jahmai Jones – DHMiguel Vargas – 3B
Riley Greene – LFColson Montgomery – SS
Spencer Torkelson – 1BChase Meidroth – 2B
Wenceel Perez – RFAndrew Benintendi – DH
Matt Vierling – CFTristan Peters – CF
Zach McKinstry – 2BRikuu Nishida – RF
Zack Short – SSDrew Romo – C

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Liberty’s Jonquel Jones’ play style has roots in beloved Pistons team

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A New York Liberty player dribbling a basketball on court, Image 2 shows Four Detroit Pistons basketball players huddled on the court during game 5

Jonquel Jones grew up a fan of the Detroit Pistons. 

Their success during the early 2000s, known as the franchise’s “Goin’ to Work” era, inspired a young Jones. 

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The Pistons, anchored by Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Ben and Rasheed Wallace, went to six consecutive Eastern Conference finals from 2003-2008.

They went to back-to-back NBA Finals, winning it all in 2004. 

But it wasn’t just the results that drew Jones in. It was the way the Pistons produced those results. 

“I loved the way that they played,” Jones said Friday before the Liberty’s 75-68 win. “I feel like it was a very different style for what was really popular back then.” 

Center Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty dribbles the ball up court during the second half against the Portland Fire at Moda Center on May 12, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers had Kobe Bryant. The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted LeBron James in 2004. 

The Pistons didn’t have an obvious individual superstar. But together, they shined. 

Detroit relied on their chemistry and togetherness. 

“I just felt like the Pistons were, to me they looked like a basketball team through and through,” Jones said. “They played that way and they all were rewarded for that, like, going to the All-Star game and being able to start the All-Star game with their starters, and I don’t know, just being a really successful team, Eastern Conference Finals, championships, all that stuff and they just played the right way, they moved the ball and they relied on each other and you saw it.” 

With the Liberty’s lineup acting like a revolving door, Jones has gone back to what made that Pistons team she admired when she was a pre-teen. 

Chris Webber, Richard Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace of the Detroit Pistons talk during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills on May 31, 2007 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NBAE via Getty Images

Sabrina Ionescu is set to miss her third consecutive game — second with back soreness. That leaves Pauline Astier as the team’s only true point guard. But there are plenty of other players who can handle the facilitating responsibilities, including Jones. 

“It’s just my game,” Jones said after tallying four assists in back-to-back games. “I’m the type of player, I see two or I see teammates open, I just want to move the ball because that’s just the type of basketball that I love to play. And I grew up being a huge Detroit Pistons fan, watching Rip and Tayshaun and Chauncey, and they played team ball and so that was always the type of basketball that I wanted to play, and I wanted to be a part of so I just try to play the way that I want our team to play.” 

Jones probably embodies more of Rasheed Wallace’s skill set, with her accurate passing and ability to stretch the floor as a big. 

Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty looks on during warmups before their game against the Golden State Valkyries at Barclays Center on May 21, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images

Her favorite player of that Pistons’ era, though, was Hamilton. 

“I know that probably nobody’s probably ever said that before, but Rip was my favorite,” she said. “But it was just that whole Pistons team, like, I feel like I could take a little bit of something from everybody. So Chauncey Billups, like, when I was younger I was a guard. Tayshaun, just getting up and down the court, ball handling, obviously just being elite in every level, Rip midrange, Rasheed Wallace tough in the paint. Ben Wallace rebounder. So I feel like you can kind of see aspects of each of those starters in my game now.” 

The Liberty might be getting close to having an empty injury report but they will need Jones to continue to embrace the Pistons’ blue-collar grit and teamwork for the team to be successful. 

“When JJ is aggressive, we’re a better team,” coach Chris DeMarco said. “Sometimes it’s more than that. Sometimes, there’s other variables throughout the game and maybe she hasn’t touched the ball, maybe defensively sees a couple bad calls, she’s in foul trouble, has to play differently, so sometimes it’s outside things that hurt her, but again, especially third quarter [Wednesday], she made that little run, she’s really aggressive. Ill say it again, she’s been fantastic.” 

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Ethan Holliday to miss remainder of 2026 season

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 21: Ethan Holliday #2 of the Colorado Rockies looks on during the sixth inning of the Spring Breakout game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 21, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Multiple sources, including Thomas Harding of MLB.com, reported on Friday afternoon that Colorado Rockies top prospect Ethan Holliday (no. 2 PuRP) will miss the remainder of the 2026 minor league season. The report comes with news that Holliday will be undergoing surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.

Holliday, 19, was the Rockies’ first round pick in the 2025 MLB draft. Selected fourth overall out of Stillwater High School in Oklahoma, the youngest son of former Rockies star Matt Holliday has been viewed as a potential franchise savior for a Rockies team that has long needed to develop a true superstar.

The big-bodied infielder made his professional debut with the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies late last season and struggled somewhat to adjust. He hit .239/.357/.380 in 18 games and 71 at-bats with four doubles, two home runs, and six RBIs.

He did start the 2026 Low-A season somewhat slow, but tuned out the noise and eventually found his stride. Before his injury, Holliday was hitting .262/.395/.557 with five doubles, two triples, 32 RBIs, and a team-leading nine home runs through his first 33 games. He is currently listed as Major League Baseball’s no. 17 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline.

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It has not been confirmed when Holliday suffered the injury, though he last played on May 20th against the Low-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Los Angeles Angels) in the California League. He was placed on the minor league 7-day injured list on May 24th.

This is a developing story and Purple Row will provide more updates as they become available.

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Game Thread: Tigers (22-35) at White Sox (29-27)

Erick Fedde looks to get back to winning ways against the Tigers | (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson)

For the first time since May 2023, the White Sox will finish a month with a winning record — and they still have three games left to improve upon their total. After taking three of four from the Minnesota Twins at home, the White Sox look to push the lowly Tigers even further into the depths of despair while solidifying their place in the second wild card spot.

Taking the ball for the White Sox is Erick Fedde which will surely elicit a groan from fans that can be heard in Naperville. Fedde has yet to win a game and currently sports an 0-5 record in 10 starts. It’s been a rough 2026 for Fedde, but an even rougher month of May as he has a 10.13 ERA in four games this month. For those who love diving deeper into the “splits,” Fedde does have a 3.71 ERA at home as opposed to a 7.54 ERA on the road this year, so Guaranteed Rate Field might help him a little bit tonight.

Toeing the rubber for the Detroit Tigers tonight is Troy Melton. If you haven’t heard of him, you’re likely not alone but the young 25-year old has been impressive since his debut last July. Melton posted a 2.76 ERA across 16 games last year and got the win in his only start this year, on May 24 against the Baltimore Orioles. Melton allowed just two hits in five-plus innings of work and will look to build on that success tonight.

Here is the starting lineup for the White Sox:

Here is the starting lineup for the Tigers:

First pitch is 6:40 p.m. CST. I’ll hopefully be back with a happy recap on another good team win. You can watch on CHSN or listen on ESPN Chicago 1000. Let us know your thoughts and predictions below!

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NBA Offseason Trade/Free Agent Rumors 2026: Cavaliers not likely to chase Giannis Antetokounmpo

As we move closer and closer to the NBA Draft — June 23, less than a month away — the trade rumors are ramping up around the league as well. Here is some of the latest chatter.

Cavaliers not likely to chase Antetokounmpo

For many fans, Cleveland being swept out of the playoffs by the Knicks was a sign that the team needs to make bold changes. Internally, it does not appear that's what they are thinking.

Case in point: Don't expect the Cavaliers to jump into the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, report Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line, which echoes previous reports. The price for the Cavaliers to get in the mix is 24-year-old, former Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley, and Cleveland does not want to go there. From The Stein Line:

"Mobley, at 24, is regarded in Cleveland as the sort of player who could offer a legitimate bridge to a successful post-Mitchell future. The Cavaliers, remembering how hard life was after (LeBron) James walked away from the franchise — twice — are obviously reluctant to surrender Mobley and the staying power he is projected to represent unless it's a sure-thing trade."

One quick thought on where this leaves the Bucks. Milwaukee didn't trade Antetokounmpo at the February deadline believing the market would be more robust this offseason for the two-time MVP. That is not proving to be the case. New York is in the Finals and not about to blow up its core now. Cleveland is out. Antetokounmpo doesn't want to go to the West. That makes Miami the frontrunner, but if Cleveland is looking to start a bidding war, that is not going well.

Cleveland looking to extend Mitchell

What Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman did make clear at his end-of-season press conference is his intention to lock up Donovan Mitchell, who is extension-eligible this summer. Here's Altman's quote, via Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

"Donovan is our guy. He's elevated everything about this franchise and this organization, so when he professes his love for being here, we're fortunate to have him and we'll work out those details when it comes time."

The James Harden to Cleveland trade doesn't happen without a handshake agreement to extend him, although for likely less than his current contract. The Cavs have made it clear that coach Kenny Atkinson will be back. All signs point to more minor moves this summer for the Cavaliers than anything big and bold.

Heat also eyeing Leonard, Morant

The Miami Heat are swinging for the fences this summer and are considered the frontrunner to land Antetokounmpo if he does bolt Milwaukee. But what if he stays put, or jumps to another team?

The Heat's Plan B may be Kawhi Leonard. Or Ja Morant. That according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, during an interview on 104.3 WQAM (hat tip Bleacher Report).

"Honestly, if they get a signal it's not going to be Giannis, I think they explore Kawhi [Leonard]. I think they explore Ja [Morant]. You can't get stale, especially in this market."

Miami's Antetokounmpo offer is centered on Tyler Herro and Kel'el Ware (with picks and other players), pairing the Greek Freak with Bam Adebayo, but with little around them. Does that provide a better chance to chase a ring than Milwaukee?

Morant will be available, the Grizzlies shopped him at the trade deadline but there just wasn't much of a market. Leonard is a more complex scenario, with everyone involved — including the Clippers — waiting for the NBA's Aspiration/salary cap circumvention investigation to wrap up. The punishments that come out of that, both to the Clippers and potentially Leonard, will have a big say in what is next for everyone. That said, there is a belief in some quarters of the NBA that he will be available via trade this summer.

OKC to trade up in draft?

This rumor has been flying around in some circles: Oklahoma City would package the Nos. 12 and 17 picks in this draft — plus maybe a player or another future pick — to move up to the top three in this draft and Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson.

I don't buy it. Mostly because I don't think any of the top four teams are going to trade out of a chance to land a franchise-changing player — this is not the NFL, where accumulating picks to deal with the attrition that comes with the sport is logical and necessary. In the NBA, one franchise player changes everything, and teams like the Grizzlies or Bulls (drafting third and fourth) need that more than a couple of later picks. It would take a Godfather offer for them to move out of those spots.

Second, can you imagine the backlash — from their fans, but particularly from the other 29 GMs in the league — if a team made a move to make the Thunder even better and deeper? It would be pitchforks-and-torches time.

Will Jalen Duren get max extension?

This question seemed like a foregone conclusion when the regular season ended. Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, shot 65%, all while playing elite defense. He showed real chemistry with Cade Cunningham and was named Third Team All-NBA. Of course he was a max player.

Then the playoffs started. Duren struggled in the postseason, averaging 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds a game. Now, it's no sure thing he gets a max offer from the Pistons. Here is what one league executive told Tim Bontemps at ESPN.

"If he wants to get a max, they'll tell him to go get one," an East executive told ESPN. "But he's Cade's guy, so they'll have to play it the right way."

It's a tricky political line for Detroit to walk, keeping a young star happy while trying to save some money, but in an apron-era, NBA teams cannot afford to miss on max or near-max contracts. Duren becomes one of the stress points, and it's worth asking if another team with cap space and a need at the five — hello Lakers — might try to swoop in and make a play. That said, Duren is a restricted free agent, the Pistons can match any offer and almost certainly would, making a play by Los Angeles or anyone else less likely.

What he ultimately signs for is something worth watching this offseason.

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Jalen Williams injury update: Thunder star out for Game 7 vs. Spurs

Jalen Williams has been ruled out of Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, according to the NBA injury report released on Friday, May 29.

He will not play as the Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, May 30 in an attempt to return to the NBA Finals.

The Thunder guard/forward, who averaged 17.1 points per game this season, reinjured a hamstring injury in Game 2. He sat out Games 3, 4 and 5 and returned to the court for Game 6, where the Spurs evened the series to force Game 7. He played just 10 minutes off the bench and had one point, a free throw.

Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault spoke to the media after the 118-91 loss about Williams' effort despite not being fully healthy.

"It was a unique situation. Ever since he got hurt, he's been hell-bent on trying to get himself to this point," Daigneault said. "I give him a lot of credit. He's a big-time team guy. He's a big-time competitor. He's obviously not a hundred percent. He didn't know what to expect. I didn't know what to expect, so it was a matter of getting him out there in kind of an insulated role and see what he can bring to the team.

"... He hasn't done a full return-to-play the way that he would if this was the regular season and yet he just wants to do whatever he can to try to contribute whatever he can to the team."

MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held to a season-low 15 points in the game.

The winner of Game 7 will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. This will be the Knicks' first appearance in the championship series since 1999.

Ajay Mitchell injury update

The Thunder also ruled out guard Ajay Mitchell with a right soleus strain. Mitchell has averaged 15.1 points per game in these playoffs.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jalen Williams injury update, status for Spurs vs Thunder Game 7

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Mets vs. Marlins: Lineups, broadcast info, and open thread, 5/29/26

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 17: Freddy Peralta #51 of the New York Mets in action against the New York Yankees at Citi Field on May 17, 2026 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Yankees 7-6 in ten innings. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Mets lineup

Carson Benge – RF
Bo Bichette – SS
Juan Soto – LF
Jared Young – DH
A.J. Ewing – CF
Mark Vientos – 1B
Brett Baty – 3B
Marcus Semien – 2B
Luis Torrens – C

SP: Freddy Peralta – RHP

Marlins lineup

Xavier Edwards – 2B
Liam Hicks – 1B
Otto Lopez – SS
Kyle Stowers – LF
Jakob Marsee – CF
Connor Norby – DH
Owen Caissie – RF
Javier Sanoja – 3B
Joe Mack – C

SP: Max Meyer – RHP

Broadcast info

First pitch: 7:10 PM ET
TV: WPIX
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2

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GAME THREAD: Red Sox at Guardians, game 59 of 162

CLEVELAND, OH - CIRCA 1948: Ted Williams #9 of the Boston Red Sox Lou Boudreau of Cleveland Indians circa 1948 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images

Here’s the Red Sox lineup:

Here’s the Guardians’ lineup:

Let’s go, Guardians!