Southern California is again recruiting at an elite level, and that means big wins are on the way under Lincoln Riley.
Nationals at Braves Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 12
It's Monday, May 12, and the Nationals (17-24) are in Atlanta to take on the Braves (19-21). Jake Irvin is slated to take the mound for Washington against Grant Holmes for Atlanta.
The Braves are coming off a 4-3 walkoff loss at the Pirates and a 2-1 series loss at that after taking three out of four against the Reds. For the opposite dugout, the Nationals have lost five straight games getting outscored 37-10 and losing by two or more runs in all five.
Let's dive into the 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 how to catch tipoff, 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 & how to watch Nationals at Braves
- Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
- Time: 7:15 PM EST
- Site: Truist Park
- City: Atlanta, GA
- Network/Streaming: MASN, FDSNSO
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.
Odds for the Nationals at the Braves
The latest odds as of Monday:
- Moneyline: Nationals (+145), Braves (-173)
- Spread: Braves -1.5
- Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Braves
- Pitching matchup for May 12, 2025: Jake Irvin vs. Grant Holmes
- Nationals: Jake Irvin, (2-1, 3.94 ERA)
Last outing: 5.1 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 0 Strikeouts - Braves: Grant Holmes, (2-3, 4.58 ERA)
Last outing: 5.1 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 5 Strikeouts
- Nationals: Jake Irvin, (2-1, 3.94 ERA)
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!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Nationals and the Braves
Rotoworld Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Braves in this game and the series:
"Atlanta is two games under .500 and thought they would reach that with the Pirates series, but lost twice by a combined two runs. This is another good series matchup against a Nationals team that has lost five straight games getting outscored 37-10 and losing by two or more runs in all five. I would consider the Braves -1.5 every game of this series for +100 or better or the Braves series price."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
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 Monday’s game between the Nationals and the Braves:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Atlanta Braves on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Nationals at Braves
- The Braves have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against National League teams
- Each of the Nationals' last 4 road games with the Braves have stayed under the Total
- The Braves have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight home games
- James Wood is tied for 7th with 10 home runs this season
- Austin Riley has a team-high eight homers for Atlanta (Tied for 30th in MLB)
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!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Will Sixers have a 2025 1st-round pick? All the odds going into draft lottery
Will Sixers have a 2025 1st-round pick? All the odds going into draft lottery originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
A high-stakes date on the 2025 Sixers calendar has arrived.
Here are the essentials ahead of the NBA draft lottery:
When and where is the lottery?
The event will begin at 7 p.m. ET in Chicago on ESPN. Jared McCain will represent the Sixers.
What do the Sixers need to keep their first-round pick?
The Sixers’ first-rounder this year is top-six protected because of the 2020 trade that sent Al Horford to the Thunder and brought Danny Green to the Sixers.
If the Sixers’ pick does not convey to the Thunder in 2025, it will become top-four protected in 2026 (and 2027, in the event the Sixers wind up with very high selections for two consecutive years).
As far as the Sixers’ 2025 outlook, it’s simple: A top-six lottery draw means they own their first-round pick. Anything outside of the top-six means they don’t. In that scenario, the Sixers would only have their second-rounder, which is No. 35.
The odds
The team’s top-six odds are 63.9 percent.
Here’s a rundown of the Sixers’ chances at every pick between No. 1 and No. 6:
- First: 10.5 percent
- Second: 10.5 percent
- Third: 10.6 percent
- Fourth: 10.5 percent
- Fifth: 2.2 percent
- Sixth: 19.6 percent
How do the Sixers view this draft?
Though Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is always open to trades, there’d clearly be plenty of logic in using a top-six pick.
“Definitely best player available,” Morey said on April 13 of his approach. “It has to be that in the draft for sure, but we see the pick as sort of a tool to upgrade the team. It will matter if it’s one, two, three, four, five, six or we just have the pick in the future. That could also happen. It’s just a tool to make the team better, but there’s obviously a good chance we take someone.
“In that case, it will just be the best player. I’ve never shied from that.”
The Sixers have generally done well on draft nights during Morey’s tenure.
They’ve made (and kept) first-round picks in three years under Morey, drafting Tyrese Maxey (No. 20), Jaden Springer (No. 28) and McCain (No. 16). The team’s second-rounders with Morey in charge have been Isaiah Joe, Paul Reed, Charles Bassey, Filip Petrusev and Adem Bona.
Who are the best prospects?
As always, experts’ opinions vary on the draft’s leading players. However, Cooper Flagg will be No. 1 anywhere you look. Flagg was fantastic in his freshman year at Duke, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals. And the 6-foot-9 forward doesn’t turn 19 years old until December.
Two Rutgers products are projected to go very early in the draft: Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Harper’s a big, crafty lefty lead guard. Bailey’s a 6-foot-10 shotmaker capable of draining tough jumpers.
Other names regularly found in mock draft top 10s include ultra-athletic Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe, sharpshooting Duke wing Kon Knueppel, high-scoring Texas guard Tre Johnson and 7-foot-2 Duke rim protector Khaman Maluach.
Will Sixers have a 2025 1st-round pick? All the odds going into draft lottery
Will Sixers have a 2025 1st-round pick? All the odds going into draft lottery originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
A high-stakes date on the 2025 Sixers calendar has arrived.
Here are the essentials ahead of the NBA draft lottery:
When and where is the lottery?
The event will begin Monday at 7 p.m. ET in Chicago on ESPN. Jared McCain will represent the Sixers.
What do the Sixers need to keep their first-round pick?
The Sixers’ first-rounder this year is top-six protected because of the 2020 trade that sent Al Horford to the Thunder and brought Danny Green to the Sixers.
If the Sixers’ pick does not convey to the Thunder in 2025, it will become top-four protected in 2026 (and 2027, in the event the Sixers wind up with very high selections for two consecutive years).
As far as the Sixers’ 2025 outlook, it’s simple: A top-six lottery draw means they own their first-round pick. Anything outside of the top-six means they don’t. In that scenario, the Sixers would only have their second-rounder, which is No. 35.
The odds
The team’s top-six odds are 63.9 percent.
Here’s a rundown of the Sixers’ chances at every pick between No. 1 and No. 6:
- First: 10.5 percent
- Second: 10.5 percent
- Third: 10.6 percent
- Fourth: 10.5 percent
- Fifth: 2.2 percent
- Sixth: 19.6 percent
How do the Sixers view this draft?
Though Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is always open to trades, there’d clearly be plenty of logic in using a top-six pick.
“Definitely best player available,” Morey said on April 13 of his approach. “It has to be that in the draft for sure, but we see the pick as sort of a tool to upgrade the team. It will matter if it’s one, two, three, four, five, six or we just have the pick in the future. That could also happen. It’s just a tool to make the team better, but there’s obviously a good chance we take someone.
“In that case, it will just be the best player. I’ve never shied from that.”
The Sixers have generally done well on draft nights during Morey’s tenure.
They’ve made (and kept) first-round picks in three years under Morey, drafting Tyrese Maxey (No. 20), Jaden Springer (No. 28) and McCain (No. 16). The team’s second-rounders with Morey in charge have been Isaiah Joe, Paul Reed, Charles Bassey, Filip Petrusev and Adem Bona.
Who are the best prospects?
As always, experts’ opinions vary on the draft’s leading players. However, Cooper Flagg will be No. 1 anywhere you look. Flagg was fantastic in his freshman year at Duke, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals. And the 6-foot-9 forward doesn’t turn 19 years old until December.
Two Rutgers products are projected to go very early in the draft: Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. Harper’s a big, crafty lefty lead guard. Bailey’s a 6-foot-10 shotmaker capable of draining tough jumpers.
Other names regularly found in mock draft top 10s include ultra-athletic Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe, sharpshooting Duke wing Kon Knueppel, high-scoring Texas guard Tre Johnson and 7-foot-2 Duke rim protector Khaman Maluach.
Michael Jordan joining NBC for NBA coverage as a special contributor
Michael Jordan joining NBC for NBA coverage as a special contributor originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The NBA’s GOAT is coming to NBC.
Michael Jordan will join NBA on NBC coverage for next season as a special contributor, the company announced Monday.
Jordan starred for the Chicago Bulls throughout the 1990s, when NBC aired NBA games. NBC was the home of the NBA Finals from 1991 to 2002, with Jordan’s Bulls winning six titles over that span.
The announcement came at NBCU’s Upfront presentation Monday. Composer John Tesh took the stage for a live performance of his iconic “Roundball Rock” jingle before a video message came in from Jordan.
“I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC,” Jordan said. “The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project. I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October.”
NBA coverage will return to NBC next season as part of a new media rights deal, with games and telecasts also available to stream on Peacock. It will be the first time since 2002 that the league will be on NBC.
NBC has made several announcements for its coverage next season, including Carmelo Anthony, Jamal Crawford and Reggie Miller joining the network. Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle have been revealed as play-by-play announcers, and more hires are expected to be shared in the coming months.
Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action
Bradley offers pointers to Liverpool’s future, Forest at risk of losing stars and Watkins epitomises Villa’s sunny outlook
Late-season at Anfield, a welcome show of spirit in a comeback from Arsenal became the tale of three full-backs. Following an early booking, Myles Lewis-Skelly, who began sketchily, found the measure of Mohamed Salah. There may be no tougher discipline for a defender in 2025. Does “MLS” have a long-term future as a defender or is his broad skillset better suited to midfield? The same questions have long been asked of Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose second-half arrival gave rise to a loud, vicious barracking, rancorous accusations of treachery that will grab headlines. If not unprecedented – Steve McManaman received similar treatment in 1999 – it was shocking to hear the Kop’s open contempt for one of their own, though one who has dared to flee the Merseyside nest. Before Alexander-Arnold’s arrival, Conor Bradley staked claims to be a first-teamer with typical ferocity in the tackle and speedy overlaps. He was also booked. As his replacement arrived to boos, the Kop pointedly sang the youngster’s name. John Brewin
Match report: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal
Match report: Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea
Match report: Manchester United 0-2 West Ham
Match report: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Leicester
Match report: Tottenham 0-2 Crystal Palace
Continue reading...Can watching sport really improve your wellbeing? The science suggests it can | Sean Ingle
Couch potatoes and die-hard fans rejoice; all that time and money spent on your sports addiction may just be worth it
And still the feast goes on. Since Rory McIlroy won a Masters for the ages, fans with multiple satellite TV subscriptions – and irregular sleeping habits – have been able to gorge on an extraordinary amount of dramatic sport. Seesawing shifts in momentum? Late twists? Huge shocks? We’ve had them all.
It says something when Barcelona’s epic 3-2 victory against Real Madrid in a Copa del Rey final was only their third-most exciting match in the past month; and when my sober-eyed colleague Robert Kitson describes Northampton’s 37-34 Champions Cup win at Leinster as “one of the all‑time great knockout heists”.
Continue reading...Pacers win to edge closer to Conference final
The Indiana Pacers overcame the first-quarter ejection of guard Bennedict Mathurin to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109 and go 3-1 up in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series.
A win for the Pacers over the top seeds in game five in Cleveland on Wednesday (00:00 BST) will see them reach a second straight conference final.
Mathurin left the game with four minutes and 32 seconds left in the opening period after a punch to the chest of De'Andre Hunter.
At that stage, the Pacers led 22-10 and they were 38-23 at the end of the quarter before outscoring their rivals 42-16 in the second to hold a 80-39 advantage
The total was a Pacers franchise play-off record for points in a half.
Pascal Siakam scored 21 points for the Pacers while Myles Turner and Obi Toppin each added 20 as they bounced back from a heavy 126-104 loss in game three.
"This is a group that plays better through adversity," said Turner. "We got punched in the mouth last game, we had a hell of a response. The starters set the tone and the bench picked it up the rest of the game."
The Cavaliers were without six-time All Star Donovan Mitchell in the second half after he suffered an ankle injury - the 28-year-old will have an MRI scan on Monday to see if he can play on Wednesday.
Thunder level series in 'disgusting' game
Elsewhere, Oklahoma City Thunder edged the Denver Nuggets 92-87 to level their Western Conference series at 2-2.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points with six rebounds and six assists to lead Oklahoma City, while NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Denver.
The game tipped off approximately 38 hours after Denver's overtime win in game three and both sides showed signs of fatigue with Nuggets coach David Adelman describing Sunday's encounter as a "really disgusting basketball game".
He added: "Give their team credit, those guys made plays, made enough plays to push them over the edge and win the game."
The Nuggets overcame a poor start to lead 53-52 midway through the third quarter and led by eight points early in the fourth.
But the visitors regained the lead thanks to a Cason Wallace three-pointer with 8:35 to play and held on until the end.
The Thunder host game five on Wednesday (02:30 BST).
India’s Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket: ‘I’ve given everything I had’
- Sachin Tendulkar leads tributes to former captain
- Kohli: ‘I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude’
The former India captain Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket. The 36-year-old’s decision comes the week after Rohit Sharma, who succeeded Kohli as skipper, also retired from the red-ball format and a month before India start a five-match Test series in England.
The 36-year-old Kohli amassed 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, putting him 19th in the all-time list for runscorers and behind only Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar among his fellow Indians.
Continue reading...Door open for overseas Wallabies to take on the Lions, says Australia coach Joe Schmidt
- Players like Samu Kerevi, Pete Samu and Will Skelton in frame
- Squad of up to 40 players to be picked before first Test in Brisbane
Such is the magnitude of the challenge and occasion that Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is set to ditch his no overseas-based players selection strategy for the blockbuster series against the touring British and Irish Lions.
While not picking talent from outside of Australia is not strictly a set-in-stone policy, Schmidt has made clear his preference to mostly overlook Wallabies stars playing offshore, or heading overseas.
Continue reading...Top fantasy baseball prospects: Jacob Misiorowski strikes out 11, Jac Caglianone keeps hitting
A reminder: This is ONLY players who have Rookie of the Year MLB eligibility, and ONLY a look at potential help for 2025.
That out of the way, here’s a look at the top prospects who can help your fantasy roster this season.
1. Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox
2025 stats: 35 G, .302/.423/.476, 5 HR, 3 SB, 28 BB, 33 SO at Triple-A Worcester.
If there’s a negative to how Anthony has been playing since the start of May, it’s the lack of extra-base hits. And by lack of extra-base hits, I mean an entire lack, as he hasn’t picked up a single one in that time frame. That’s not ideal, but he’s gone 12-for-37 (.324) and drawn seven walks during those games, and getting on at a .422 clip is nothing to sneeze at. On the contrary. The Red Sox have some, well, roster issues right now, but unless a certain former third baseman wants to become a current first baseman, it’s a little hard to see a roster spot for Anthony in the coming days. It should be by the end of the month, and he’s well worth rostering now so you don’t miss out.
2. Jordan Lawlar, INF, Arizona Diamondbacks
2025 stats: 37 G, .336/.413/.579, 6 HR, 13 SB, 18 BB, 39 SO at Triple-A Reno.
Lawlar was due for some struggles, and the fact that he’s hit just .267/.283/.333 since the end of April and still has these kind of stats tells you just how good the former first-round pick has been. Like Anthony, he hasn’t been able to go deep since the calendar turned, but he has added three doubles. The D-Backs may want Lawlar to get on another run before they decide to bring him up to the highest level and there’s no obvious roster spot, but it’s pretty obvious Lawlar is ready to face MLB pitching again. Fantasy managers should pounce on it as soon as the Diamondbacks make that call.
3. Matt Shaw, 3B, Chicago Cubs
2025 stats: 18 G, .262/.392/.415, 1 HR, 3 SB, 13 BB, 9 SO at Triple-A Iowa; 18 G, .172/.294/.241, 1 HR, 0 SB, 10 BB, 18 SO at Chicago (NL).
Shaw failed in his time with the Cubs to open the year. Those who watched Shaw play know that, and those who didn’t can just look at those stats. But you know how this works. You know how hard baseball is. You know how many young players faltered to begin their career and still went on to become excellent players. Shaw started out slowly after being demoted to Triple-A, but the infielder has turned a corner and been a solid contributor since May began. Shaw isn’t guaranteed to help fantasy rosters in 2025, but there’s obviously enough talent for him to be a contributor in redraft leagues this summer. He wouldn’t be on this list if that wasn’t the case.
4. Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
2025 stats: 7 G, 28 IP, 2.25 ERA, .160 BAA, 11 BB, 41 SO at Triple-A Indianapolis.
Chandler was due for a bad start, and he had one Wednesday against Columbus. He went just 2 2/3 innings while allowing three runs on five hits, and while he did strike out five, he also issued four walks. Considering how dominant he was prior to that start -- he had a 1.42 ERA bump up to 2.25 due to the struggles -- it’s hard to be too concerned about it. Chandler’s stock was high coming into the year, but the stuff and command have seen it rise so much that many believe he’s now the best pitching prospect in baseball. Even pitching for a bad baseball team like the Pirates, there’s still a great chance he’s relevant in 2025.
5. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
2025 stats: 8 G, 42.1 IP, 1.49 ERA, .148 BAA, 18 BB, 54 SO at Triple-A Nashville.
Chandler struggled in his last outing. Misiorowski did the opposite. He was able to work 6 2/3 innings while allowing just two hits without giving up a run, and he struck out a season-high 11 batters against just one walk. It’s nice to see him bounce back from the four free passes he gave up in the outing before, but even that one saw him give up just one run. The Brewers have dealt with a plethora of injuries in their rotation, and while Aaron Civale and Brandon Woodruff have a chance to come back soon,, it’s hard to imagine that Misiorowski isn’t one of their best options. The risk with the command is real, but so is the reward with electric swing-and-miss stuff.
Around the minors:
Jac Caglianone lost the race to Nick Kurtz to be the first big bat from 2024 to make the majors, but to say he’s impressing in the minors is quite the understatement. Over his last 10 games, Caglianone is slashing .410/.477/.795 with five homers and drawn five walks for good measure. The Royals offense is playing better -- it would be hard to play much worse -- but it’s hard to argue that Caglianone doesn’t make them better right now. I seriously considered him for the final spot in this week’s list, and if you wanted to argue he should be rostered over those two pitchers -- or even Shaw -- I wouldn’t argue with you for too long.
Jonah Tong was a seventh-round pick back in 2022 who didn’t receive much fanfare before 2024, but he posted a 3.03 ERA while reaching Double-A last season, and things have gone well for the right-hander in 2025; particularly as of late. He threw 6 2/3 perfect innings for Double-A Binghamton on Saturday, and he did it while striking out 13 hitters. His low-to-mid 90 mph fastball plays up because there’s so much deception in his delivery, and he complements that heater with a plus curve and solid slider. Command is an issue at times, but Tong’s ability to miss bats gives him a chance to be a mid-rotation starter -- maybe more -- in the coming years.
When the Nationals drafted Elijah Green with the fifth pick in 2022, the hope was that his elite athleticism would translate into making him a potential star. That athleticism still shows up, but the translation hasn’t been good. That’s an understatement, unfortunately. Over his last 10 games Green has whiffed 20 times in 37 at-bats, and he’s hitting an unusable .157/.242/.259 with a whopping 58 strikeouts in 108 at-bats over 30 games. It’s worth pointing out that Green struck out 206 times in 2024, so this isn’t new. It’s just disappointing it hasn’t gotten better. There could be some sellers' remorse for those who move on from Green in dynasty leagues, but there’s just too many issues here to bet on him becoming more than organizational depth at this point. I hope I’m wrong.
Hey. Remember Everson Pereira? You’d be forgiven if you don’t; there are a lot of baseball players to remember and Pereira only played 40 games last year because of internal brace surgery. He also missed a couple of weeks in 2025, but he’s made the most of his time on the field with eight homers and a .951 OPS over 24 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Strikeouts are always going to be an issue for Pereira, but he has plus power from his right-handed bat, and the 24-year-old also has above-average speed that gives him a chance to steal 15-to-20 bases -- possibly more -- in his best seasons. The Yankees don’t have room right now, Pereira may force his way into their plans, and if not, he could be a player to watch if he was to be moved at/near the deadline.
Cavaliers vs. Pacers Game 4: Indiana dominates from opening tip in 20-point win, Donovan Mitchell injured
May 11, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) and forward Obi Toppin (1) celebrate a made basket during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
It's hard to imagine a game so radically different from the one the same two teams had played 48 hours before.
Friday night, the Cavaliers looked like the dominant 64-win East leaders they were this season, cruising to a 22-point win behind 43 points from Donovan Mitchell, who played like a guy deserving of First Team All-NBA.
Sunday Indiana was dominant squad, taking command from the opening tip, getting up by double-digits with 5:15 left in the first (and the game never got closer than that), led by 41 at the half, stretched that lead out to 44 at one point, and turned the second half into essentially 24 minutes of garbage time.
Indiana now has a commanding 3-1 lead in the series — and that's potentially not even the worst news for Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell did not play in the second half due to an ankle injury. He will get an MRI when the team returns to Cleveland, coach Kenny Atkinson said. What's most concerning is how it appeared to happen, a non-contact injury warming up for the second half (he had been playing through a calf issue, it's unclear if it's related).
Donovan Mitchell is doubtful to return with an ankle injury that appeared to happen at halftime… pic.twitter.com/TbsbVAUb8y
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) May 12, 2025
As for Game 4 itself, Atkinson summed it up well.
"Complete domination by them," the Cavaliers coach said. "That's the story — in every facet."
Pascal Siakam scored 21 points to lead Indiana, with Myles Turner and Obi Toppin each adding 20. Everything Indiana did seemed to work, they moved the ball and got open looks, and shot 42.9% from 3 for the game.
PACERS TAKE 3-1 SERIES LEAD ON A DOMINANT PERFORMANCE AT HOME
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2025
Siakam: 21 PTS, 9-10 FGM, 6 REB
Turner: 20 PTS, 4-4 3PM, 7 REB
Toppin: 20 PTS, 9-14 FGM, 5 REB pic.twitter.com/B2wNary2fu
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle sounded like a coach making sure his team doesn't take its foot off the gas, heading back to Cleveland for Game 5.
"We haven't done anything yet," Carlisle said after the win. "We're a pretty significant underdog in every game we've played in this series, and that will continue til the end. And we're going to keep approaching this like we have everything to prove."
Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 21 points, and he could have a lot more responsibility on his plate in Game 5 if Mitchell cannot play in a must-win game.
Marcus Stroman struggling to get over ‘final hump' of rehab; Yankees unsure of next step
Yankees starter Marcus Stroman is not progressing as the club hoped during his rehab of a knee injury, manager Aaron Boone said Sunday.
Stroman, who was placed on the injured list with left knee inflammation in early April, was still feeling discomfort after throwing a live session on Friday in Tampa, and the next step in the process for the right-hander remains unclear, Boone noted before Sunday’s series finale win over the Athletics.
“He’s got a lot of treatments on it and stuff, and he just can’t kind of get over that final hump to really allow him to get to that next level on the mound,” the manager said, via The New York Post. “We’ll try and continue to get our arms around it and try and make sure we get that out of there.”
Stroman struggled in all three of his starts this season, and lasted just nine batters in his most recent start on April 11 before landing on the IL. On a rainy night in The Bronx against San Francisco, he allowed five runs on four hits and three walks in just 0.2 innings.
Boone added that it was “definitely possible” the knee ailment contributed to his poor start to the year.
“Certainly his last start, I think he just couldn’t really step on that front side like you need to,” the manager said. “I talk about these guys that are like race cars — a little thing off, it can affect just that last level of command or that last level of extra stuff that you need.”
Overall, he has surrendered 12 runs on 12 hits in 9.1 innings for an 11.57 ERA and 2.036 WHIP in his second season in pinstripes.
And that’s been a big problem for New York, as outside of Max Fried, who has been excellent (1.05 ERA in 51.2 innings) and Carlos Rodon, who has been solid (3.29 ERA in 54.2 innings), the Yanks’ rotation has simply not been reliable.
With Gerrit Cole out for the year after Tommy John surgery and Luis Gil still a ways away from his season debut, Carlos Carrasco has already been DFA'd after six ineffective starts (5.91 ERA), and Will Warren (4.75 ERA in 36 innings) and Clarke Schmidt (4.79 ERA in 20.2 innings) haven't pitched in a way the club would have hoped.
The Yanks did get a big boost on Sunday with Ryan Yarbrough going five innings and allowing two runs, working as an opener pressed into a spot starter role as he was efficient, needing just 67 pitches to get 15 outs.
That has temporarily cooled the fire, but getting Stroman back and hoping the 34-year-old, when healthy, can match last year's form (4.31 ERA and 1.468 WHIP) would be a huge boost to the rotation.
In addition to the big question of "if" he will be able to match that level of performance, the matter of "when" is equally unanswerable.
IceHogs Eliminated By Admirals In Devastating Fashion
The Rockford IceHogs were looking great in the Calder Cup Playoffs. When they took a 2-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Admirals in their second-round matchup, they did it with their fourth win in a row.
That gave them three chances to close out the series. After losing the next two, the two teams competed in a winner-take-all game five on Sunday in Milwaukee.
Game five started negatively for Rockford. Chase De Leo scored his first of the playoffs for Milwaukee to put them up 1-0.
However, the IceHogs showed some life in the first ten minutes of the second period. Zach Sanford scored two goals in under three minutes to give Rockford a 2-1 lead.
Before the middle frame ended, the Admirals took the lead back. Back-to-back goals by Fedor Svechkov and Jesse Ylonen made it a 3-2 score.
At 11:09 of the third period, Joey Anderson tucked in his fifth of the playoffs to tie the game for the IceHogs. At that point, it was clear that both teams wanted to move on badly. It would be an understatement to say that they were evenly matched, despite where they finished in the regular season standings.
60 minutes wasn't enough to settle this game or series. Just 1:38 into the fourth period, Fedor Svechkov scored his second to win the game and the series for Milwaukee. It was a hard-fought matchup between two great teams. It was only fitting that it came down to one sudden-death goal.
Now, the Admirals will move on to the Central Division Championship of the Calder Cup Playoffs. They will see the Texas Stars in that series.
As for Rockford, there will be some changes. The Chicago Blackhawks may have a handful of their players in their opening night lineup next year.
Guys like Artyom Levshunov, Ethan Del Mastro, and Nolan Allan, amongst others, are all going to compete for jobs at training camp. There are also players on the IceHogs roster who may be looking to make their NHL debut in the fall.
Reinforcements could be on the way as well. The Blackhawks will likely have some of the younger guys, like Taige Harding and Marek Vanacker, play in Rockford to begin their careers.
Goaltender Drew Commesso deserves some individual praise. He gave the IceHogs a chance to win every night. The Blackhawks' backup situation in 2025-26 is cloudy, but he will be in the mix.
Only time will tell if Rockford has what it needs to make a run again next season. It can be difficult in the AHL with all of the NHL transactions that affect their on-ice list of players.
Every player, including veterans like Joey Anderson and Brett Seney, should be proud of the year that they had.
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Yankees trying not to take Aaron Judge’s greatness for granted
Playing for a team and a city where the first grand ballpark was built on the back of a man who ended up being more myth than man, where the great ghosts of the past physically loitered beyond the centerfield wall, the belief that if anybody could measure up to what it meant to be the next Yankee great, Aaron Judge looked the part.
The home runs came right away and in bunches for the six-foot-seven, hulking outfielder, showing he was a true slugger. In the last few years, since turning 30, a high on-base percentage arrived, demonstrating he could be a great, disciplined batter.
This year, with a batting average above .400 after a quarter of the season, Judge showed that he had the final piece of the puzzle, that he was truly a great hitter.
After striking out his first time up on Sunday, Judge had four hits in his next four at-bats in the Yanks' 12-2 win over the Athletics, driving in two runs in the process. Smoking three balls harder than 99.8 mph, increasing his 57.1 hard-hit percentage he had entering the game.
Ben Rice, who notched his first career grand slam in the game, could only shake his head about the right fielder.
“Just another day at the office for him,” Rice said. “It’s crazy you sometimes catch yourself taking it for granted what he’s doing. It’s been so impressive to watch, so fun to watch him hit every day and go out there and help us win.”
For Judge, the series against the Athletics helped right the ship after three games against the Padres in The Bronx saw him collect just one hit (a solo home run) in 10 at-bats with two walks, three strikeouts, and one double play. In West Sacramento, he tallied seven hits in 14 at-bats, including two doubles, two home runs, and five RBI to give him the third-highest batting average for a Yank through 40 games, trailing Paul O'Neill in 1994 (.465) and Mickey Mantle in 1956 (.430).
Even after the San Diego swoon, his slash line ballooned to .409/.494/.779 for a 1.273 OPS by Sunday. Not only is he first in all of baseball in each of those four categories, but he's blowing away the competition.
Judge is first in batting average by 60 points (Paul Goldschmidt at .349 is next closest), in OBP by 60 (Pete Alonso at .434), slugging by 138 (Shohei Ohtani at .641), and OPS by 222 (Ohtani at 1.051).
And for good measure, he’s put himself in position for a shot at history. He's in the conversation to be the 11th player to win the American League triple crown and first since Miguel Cabrera in 2012. And by leading the AL with 63 hits (ahead of Jacob Wilson by nine) and home runs (ahead of Cal Raleigh by two), he could be the first player to lead the league in both categories since Jim Rice in 1978.
And yet, both manager Aaron Boone and Judge agree he is still not as locked in as he would like to be.
“Still not where we want to be,” Judge said after Sunday's game. “But we’re improving. I think that’s the beauty of this game: there’s always room for improvement. There’s always areas of your game that you can try to get a little bit better at. That’s just a constant chase in the game that we play.”
Always room for improvement. Always another mountain to climb. Always another chance to be 'the first player since...'