It's a small slate Thursday with slim pickings for home runs and MLB player props, but there are some bats to back and get me over this cold spell.
Familiarity is creating some value on the lead-off man in Camden Yards tonight, when George Springer steps in against old friend Chris Bassitt. Plus, we've got a relative unknown this afternoon in Wade Meckler while also backing Oneil Cruz in favorable Wrigley Field conditions.
These are my favorite MLB home run predictions for Thursday, May 28.
UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Oneil Cruz
+441
Wade Meckler
+940
George Springer
+525
💲Today's HR parlay
+34050
Home run pick: Oneil Cruz (+441)
There isn’t a massive list of +EV home run props today, but Oneil Cruz is firmly on it with a fair price around +400. He’ll face Chicago starter Colin Rea, who has allowed multiple home runs in two of his last three starts and ranks as one of the weaker starters on today’s board in both HR/FB rate and BlastContact%, per Fangraphs.
That matchup lines up well for Cruz, who is one of just three hitters in baseball over the last seven days with a swing speed north of 79 mph. His BlastContact% remains among the best in baseball, and he never cheats his swing.
Cruz will hit atop the order against the right-hander, and his one home run across his last 63 plate appearances makes this a good buy-low spot, especially with that rate sitting well below career norms. The 11-mph winds blowing out to right field only add to the appeal for the left-handed slugger.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Marquee Sports Network
Home run pick: Wade Meckler (+940)
Wade who? Wade Meckler, that’s who. I want a left-handed bat against Jack Flaherty with double-digit winds blowing out to right field at Comerica Park.
This also isn’t some bottom-of-the-order hitter. Meckler posted an OPS near 1.000 at Double-A before flying through Triple-A and joining the big-league club last week. He homered in his first game and enters today 6-for-14 at the plate. His SquareUp% is also one of the best on the team, even in the small sample.
Flaherty remains one of the worst ground-ball pitchers in baseball, with only 14 qualified starters carrying a lower ground-ball rate than his 31.8%. With the home-run cold streak I’ve been on, I’m more than willing to go off the board on a small slate for a massive number in a favorable matchup.
Time: 1:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Detroit SportsNet, ABTV
Home run pick: George Springer (+525)
The Toronto Blue Jays get a shot at former teammate Chris Bassitt, who has taken a clear step back this season. His strikeout rate has fallen off, and his grip on a rotation spot feels much looser than it once did.
There is a reason Toronto didn’t bring him back, and familiarity matters against a lineup that knows him well. His BlastContact% suggests even more damage should be coming, as the fly balls are being hit hard, and the expected metrics indicate the struggles are very real.
George Springer might not be the healthiest player these days, but the bat speed and swing path are still there. He owns the best Ideal Attack Angle percentage on the team, per FanGraphs, and has already gone deep twice over the last seven days while sporting a .577 slugging percentage. He has also taken Bassitt deep twice in a smaller 17-at-bat sample.
Of the Toronto bats on this short late Thursday slate, Springer at +450 or better is the best home run look.
Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SN1, MASN
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 13-97, -29.94 units
Today’s HR parlay
Oneil Cruz
Bet Now +34050
Wade Meckler
George Springer
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 21: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks celebrates after making a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter in Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Expectations have followed Karl-Anthony Towns since he entered the league. This isn’t unique for a former No. 1 overall pick, but it always felt different with Towns.
He’s been far from a bust. Six All-Star appearances, three All-NBA selections, three trips to the conference finals. Most front offices would be beyond themselves at the prospect of drafting a player with this kind of resume. But Towns has always left people wanting more.
Historically, he’s been at his best offensively at the center position. But his physical limitations gave his teams a hard ceiling on defense when they went with this alignment. If you play him at the four spot, he tends to disappear on the offensive side of the ball. How can you build a true contender with this sort of conundrum on your hands?
Well, this postseason, Towns has given us the answer to this seemingly unsolvable riddle, and now, we’re finally getting the fully-realized version of him that we’ve all been waiting for.
Mike Brown Has Optimized Towns
A critical flaw of Towns is that he often gets tunnel vision whenever he puts the ball on the floor to attack, making it easy to load up on him without fear of him burning the extra help with a pass. Of the 161 players with at least five drives per game in the regular season, Towns touted the fourth-lowest pass rate (18.8%, per NBA.com).
However, Towns has always had a knack for feathering pretty passes in tight windows when he can survey the floor from a standstill position. To maximize this, after their Game 3 loss to the Atlanta Hawks (the inflection point of the New York Knicks’ season), head coach Mike Brown started running more five-out offense with Towns initiating from the perimeter (often referred to as “delay”).
Delay Rip – Playoff Playbook
playoffs: 17 plays 1.58 PPP🔥🔥 + season: 61 plays 1.17 PPP🔥
Part of the new action cycle Brown and staff added in March, increasing Towns' passing usage, and overall half-court touches + space leverage pic.twitter.com/OYNvd8UI4b
If you spent any amount of time watching the Sacramento Kings when Brown was their coach, you’ve probably seen some form of this with Domantas Sabonis. However, it works even better with Towns on the perimeter because his all-time shooting prowess makes it so that the player guarding him (usually a center) must stay attached to him, nullifying their ability to sink back and protect the paint. Couple that with how hard it is for teams to switch off-ball screens featuring the bruising OG Anunoby and the slippery Jalen Brunson, and you have a recipe for offensive dominance (the Knicks are first in offensive rating this postseason).
Towns Deserves Some Flowers
To say that Towns is playing the best basketball of his career simply because of decisions made by his coach would be a major disservice. After all, the Cleveland Cavaliers did a great job of defanging the Knicks’ delay offense (as seen in the Knicks’ first offensive possession of the series). Yet, Towns was still immensely effective, finishing a +79 in four games. At the end of the day, Towns’ success is firmly his own doing.
For starters, quick decisions have never been a strong suit of his. Too often, it seems like he overcomplicates the game, allowing smaller players to get under his skin and bait him into silly offensive fouls, when he should just enable his blend of size, quickness, and skill to make him a walking mismatch.
Conviction has gone from a question mark to a weapon for Towns this postseason. His dribbles per touch are the lowest they’ve ever been, evidence of his decisiveness as an attacker. When a tilt in the defense presents itself, he no longer waits for the floor to re-balance; he exploits it and cashes in.
This is another reason why Towns, the passing hub, has worked so well. Since he’s bullying his way through tinier players, you have to guard him with a big man. Cross-matching assignments is no longer a choice; it’s a death sentence.
Part of the reason Towns is flourishing on offense is that the Knicks have allowed him to operate as the sole big man on the floor (only sharing 27 minutes with Mitchell Robinson this postseason, per PBP Stats). Only this time, it isn’t the detriment to their defense that it once was.
I want to say that Towns is defending is you know what, off. But since this is a family-friendly website, I’ll just say he’s defending his tail off.
A picture-perfect example of this came in Game 3 against the Cavaliers. Early on, Cleveland was doing a great job of punishing his soft hedge/at the level coverage by hitting the roll man and unlocking a 4-on-3 power player (first clip in montage below). The Knicks adjusted by having Towns switch to drop coverage (which he executed perfectly, second clip). But Towns also maintained the presence of mind to know when to switch to a hard hedge/trap when ballscreens were angled toward the sideline (like he did to force a jump ball on James Harden).
It isn’t a perfect measure, but one way to get a glimpse of Towns’ impact is through Basketball Reference’s Box Plus-Minus (BPM). Through two rounds, Towns was one of only four players to maintain a BPM over 14 while playing at least ten playoff games. Since then, that number has dipped a hair, but he is still at a level that few players in NBA postseason history have ever reached.
Through 14 games Karl-Anthony Towns is having the greatest postseason of all-time by Box Plus-Minus by anyone not named LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, Nikola Jokic or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. pic.twitter.com/227EKMYHW3
Now, is Towns actually in the same player classification as the names listed in that tweet? Absolutely not. But is Towns playing at a borderline All-NBA level right now? Probably.
And most importantly, the Knicks are the closest they have been to ending their championship drought that they have been in the last three decades, thanks in large part to Towns unlocking the best version of himself.
Victor Wembanyama may be in only his third year in the NBA, but it is hard to imagine the San Antonio Spurs’ superstar letting the Western Conference Finals end short of seven games.
Of course, the Oklahoma City Thunder hope to end this series tonight, but these Thunder vs. Spurs props and NBA picks put too much trust in San Antonio’s role players on Thursday, May 28.
Game 6 Prop #1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 7.5 assists
These Game 5 props included this same bet priced at -130. The Oklahoma City Thunder star then proceeded to dish out nine assists. Thus, this price moving to -145 makes some sense, but it is not enough of a move to scare off the thought.
Frankly, oddsmakers need to move this number to 8.5 in this series, and until they do, it will continue to be a quick bet.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has little choice but to move the ball. Down two backcourt mates — Jalen Williams is again listed as questionable, but consider yours truly skeptical of his availability — SGA has the ball in his hands more, but also has more defensive attention.
Look at his field-goal attempts. The two-time MVP took 23 and 24 shots in the first two games, respectively. He has since averaged 17 shots per game, despite handling the ball more often.
It is no coincidence SGA has now cleared this prop in four of five games, falling short by only the hook in Game 4 and averaging 9.8 assists per game.
Oklahoma City needs the ball in his hands, while the San Antonio Spurs are able to devote the defensive pressure to force it out of his hands.
Game 6 Prop #2: Dylan Harper Over 3.5 rebounds
Since Dylan Harper tweaked his hamstring in Game 2, his scoring has plummeted. Perhaps that is by coincidence, but going just 5-for-16 from the field in the three games since and averaging six points per game is rather notable for someone who was previously shooting 53.5% this postseason and averaging 14.4 points per game.
There is some inclination to take the Under on Harper’s points prop, set at 9.5 (-115 at bet365). But he is still logging minutes, 25 in Game 5, and perhaps he finds a rhythm now eight days removed from that initial injury.
Despite the clear knock on his explosiveness, Harper has still found rebounds. He snagged five in Game 4 and six in Game 5. Credit the rookie for finding ways to impact the game despite losing some of his offensive effectiveness.
That emphasis should continue. San Antonio needs to play Harper, and he needs to keep making those minutes matter in some way.
Game 6 Prop #3: Julian Champagnie Over 2.5 3-pointers
This is somewhat out of the usual want to include at least one plus-money prop. (Many days in the WNBA feature three plus-money props, and those are the halcyon days of spring and summer.)
But it is also recognizing just how many 3-pointers Julian Champagnie has taken in this series. Sure, he went 0-for-5 in Game 4, but the number to notice there is the five. It marked actual reluctance from the gunner.
Otherwise, Champagnie has taken at least seven 3-pointers in each game of this series. He has shot 37.6% from deep in the postseason after hitting 38.1% in the regular season.
When taking seven 3-pointers, it is more likely than not Champagnie will hit at least three of them. This should not be set at plus money.
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Converted kickboxer takes unified champion deep in WBC title bout
End of round bell may have rung before referee stopped fight
Rico Verhoeven, the Dutch former kickboxer who has switched to boxing, wants an apology as well as a rematch, after being stopped one second before the end of the penultimate round in a WBC title bout with unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk last Saturday.
The stoppage was controversial, with Verhoeven feeling he could have continued and some replays suggesting the bell may have rung before the referee signalled the end of the fight — only Verhoeven’s second since switching to boxing — at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
NEW YORK — Carson Benge figured maybe that scraggly mustache was holding him back — so the rookie outfielder made a big league decision.
“I haven’t really been getting a ton of hits, so I just shaved it off and it worked,” Benge said after coming through with a couple of clutch singles for the New York Mets.
Facial hair or not, the 23-year-old Benge quickly is becoming one of the few bright spots for the last-place Mets this season.
After batting just .136 with two extra-base hits and three RBIs in his first 21 career games, he’s hitting over .300 with 17 RBIs and 19 runs in 32 games since April 23. Earlier in May, Benge delivered the go-ahead swing in three extra-inning wins during a span of six days.
“He’s always aggressive. He has a really good swing and he knows it,” star teammate Juan Soto said. “He’s squaring balls most of the time and that’s really cool to see.”
Benge enjoyed a rousing major league debut on opening day in March with a home run, two walks and a stolen base in a win against Pittsburgh at Citi Field. But he then started to look overmatched in the batter’s box.
Undaunted, he adapted. Benge has streamlined his approach to the ball and shortened his swing — especially with two strikes. And his growth at the plate particularly was evident in a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that ended New York’s five-game losing streak.
With two outs in the fifth inning, the left-handed hitter came back from an 0-2 count against lefty starter Andrew Abbott and punched an up-and-in fastball into center field on the eighth pitch of the at-bat for an RBI single that snapped a 1-for-20 slump and gave the Mets a 3-1 lead.
“Just fight,” Benge said. “Fight for every pitch. Not give them anything. Try to be a tough out. That’s all you can do.”
With two outs in the seventh, he fell behind 0-2 again and delivered another RBI single to center on a 98 mph up-and-in fastball from right-handed reliever Zach Maxwell to make it 4-2.
“It’s really good to see,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Because that’s a pitch that he struggled (with) early on. And he just continues to get better. He continues to find a way. That wasn’t an easy at-bat there. It’s two of them. Left on left — it was also pretty impressive. I mean, you’ve got to give him credit. He’s not going to back down. He’s going to continue to work. He’s going to continue to show up.”
How does Benge explain his adjustment against heaters high in the strike zone?
“Just trying to stay short, put it in play. Not trying to do too much with them, and things have been working out,” he said. “Getting reps, playing every day is definitely nice, and building that confidence up is really good.”
With five-time All-Star Francisco Lindor on the injured list, Benge is batting leadoff for the Mets (23-33) after beginning the season toward the bottom of the batting order.
His overall numbers remain modest at .247 with three homers and 20 RBIs, but Benge has come a long way in a short time: He was drafted 19th overall in 2024 from Oklahoma State and won the starting right-field job in spring training only with 24 games of Triple-A experience last year.
“The one thing that I like about him is you can never really tell whether he’s 0 for 8 the past couple of days or he’s just coming off a couple of games where he either hit a walk-off or had a game like this,” Mendoza said. “He’s going to show up the next day and he’s going to be the same person and he’s going to give you his best. So, it’s pretty impressive for a player his age.”
Benge’s athleticism never has been questioned. He also pitched at Oklahoma State, and he’s showed off his strong arm in right field on a couple of occasions while making several sensational catches, too.
The high-priced Mets entered this season expecting to contend for a championship, but Benge’s rapid improvement and the arrival of 21-year-old center fielder A.J. Ewing from the minors are providing hope for the future, at least.
“There’s something special,” rookie pitcher Jonah Tong said. “I don’t even think you guys have seen the half of it yet. Being in the clubhouse with them for so long, just seeing the guys they are and what they do day in and day out, it’s really exciting. And they’re going to be staples in New York for a very long time.”
ARLINGTON, Texas — Yordan Alvarez was expecting to take a strike with a 3-0 count and the score tied in the eighth inning for the Houston Astros against the Texas Rangers.
Then came a slider, and the Houston slugger just liked the look of it.
Next thing Alvarez knew, he had homered twice in consecutive games for the first time in his eight big league seasons, and put the Astros in front for good in a 4-3 victory.
“Like, who swings on a 3-0 slider and hits it 110 (mph) to the batter’s eye?” Jeremy Peña asked as part of an answer to what he thought was Alvarez’s most impressive at-bat in a 3-for-4 night. “That goes to show that he’s two steps ahead. He knew that they weren’t going to challenge him with something hard.”
The Rangers weren’t trying to challenge him at all. And they didn’t in the ninth inning, when they walked Alvarez intentionally right after Peña’s single. That led Houston’s leadoff hitter and shortstop to playfully tell the powerful man following him in the lineup, “You’ve got to thank me for that walk. You owe me that walk.”
The question for Texas manager Skip Schumaker was why he didn’t walk Alvarez intentionally an inning earlier when Rangers reliever Tyler Alexander already had thrown him three balls.
“It’s tough to walk the leadoff hitter, no doubt, with a tie game in the eighth inning,” Schumaker said while also mentioning he would have been fine with a walk to Alvarez in that spot. “I don’t know if I’ve ever done that before. But the way he’s hitting, hindsight is always maybe we should have just put him on at that point.”
Alvarez has 17 home runs in 33 games at Globe Life Field, including five in the first three games of this four-game series.
“Apparently, I love playing here,” Alvarez said through an interpreter.
He reached 20 for the season in his 56th game — the fastest Houston slugger to reach that mark while doing it on the same night as Munetaka Murakami of Chicago White Sox. Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber leads the majors with 21 homers.
Alvarez’s first solo homer pulled Houston even at 2-2 against Texas ace Jacob deGrom, who struck out Alvarez in the first inning.
“I was joking with the guys in the dugout that it was kind of like he was throwing me, like, Playstation style, just dotting the corners,” Alvarez said. “But in the second at-bat, I was able to adjust.”
The homer off Alexander went 448 feet to deep right-center field, landing not far from his 449-foot drive a night earlier — a three-run shot that was the first of two when Houston lost 10-7 after falling behind 8-0 in the first inning.
Alvarez leads the American League with a .306 average and is fourth in the AL with 39 RBIs, one behind teammate Christian Walker.
“It is a combination of skills and intelligence,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “You guys see the skills. I see the intelligence. In between at-bats, how he talks through an at-bat, ‘This is what I’m looking for, I’m going to stay within myself and I’m going to try to do something.’ There is a level of intelligence and calm through his at-bats that I have never, ever seen in my career.”
It may be a super small slate, but with games rolling all day long, there are still plenty of ways to keep the vibes high from your lunch break all the way through dinner.
My favorite MLB props target the Blue Jays vs. Orioles game, with two props that stand out on tonight’s board.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jesus Sanchez has been on a tear lately, posting a .433 wOBA and 44.44% barrel rate over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitchers.
This evening, he draws Baltimore Orioles veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt, who has a poorly rated average-hitter matchup wOBA and strikeout percentage, per Batters-Box.
Left-handed hitters have given the veteran some trouble recently, as they are producing a 42.9% hard contact rate, 26.2% line drive rate, and 38.1% fly ball rate over the last 60 batters faced.
These lefties are making a ton of hard contact and consistently elevating the baseball. They also own a .352 xBA, .533 xSLG, and .334 xwOBA during that span.
With Sanchez carrying nearly 75% arsenal coverage against Bassitt’s offerings, combined with how well he has been seeing the ball and how often the veteran right-hander has been allowing lefties to mash, this feels like a great spot for him to have a ton of success.
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Sportsnet 1, MASN
Taylor Ward Over 1.5 total bases (+129)
Despite being a little chilly over his last few games, Taylor Ward is in a great spot this evening against veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin.
Against southpaws at home this season, Ward has done an excellent job elevating the baseball, posting just a 28% ground ball rate. On top of that, he owns a .409 OBP, .355 wOBA, and 125 wRC+ against lefties this season.
I mentioned Ward has been a bit cold over his last 10 games, but the underlying metrics still look fantastic. During that stretch, he is producing 46.1% hard contact, a 50% fly ball rate, and a 38.5% line drive rate.
Against Corbin, he also owns 80.8% arsenal coverage, per Batters-Box. The veteran left-hander features five pitches in his arsenal, and 57% of those offerings grade below league average, according to FanGraphs.
Corbin has also struggled recently against right-handed hitters. Over the last 60 batters he has faced, the 36-year-old has allowed 47.8% hard contact while producing just a 34.8% ground ball rate.
Opposing hitters also own a .354 xBA, .608 xSLG, and .343 xwOBA during that span.
I believe Ward is due for a bounce-back performance, and this feels like a great spot for the veteran outfielder to get rolling again. We are getting a great price on his total bases prop, and do not be afraid to sprinkle on his home run line, hovering around 5/1.
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Sportsnet 1, MASN
Davis Martin Over 5.5 strikeouts (+100)
One of the most exciting pitchers to watch through the early part of the season has easily been Davis Martin, the pride and joy of the Chicago White Sox starting rotation.
The 29-year-old has been wheeling and dealing all season long, averaging 6.6 strikeouts per game, while averaging 7.25 at home. Over his last five starts, he owns a 32.5% strikeout rate, along with a 32.7% whiff rate and a 17% swinging strike rate.
He draws a Minnesota Twins offense that has been a bit swing-happy on the road, owning a 24.9% strikeout rate, the fifth-highest mark in baseball.
Their lineup features five hitters with at least a 23.3% strikeout rate over their last 30 road plate appearances. Zoom in a little more, and three of them own at least a 30% strikeout rate during that stretch.
The power of friendship is extremely strong in that White Sox clubhouse, and I expect Martin to help lead this team to another series win while cashing this prop. I would take this down to -110. Anything lower than that, try to find plus money if possible.
Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CHSN, MNMT
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 166-285-26, +6.40 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CANADA - MAY 12: The Blue Jays have relied heavily (too heavily?) on the strong right arm of reliever Duane Ward. (Photo by Jeff Goode/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
Today marks Duane Ward’s 62nd birthday.
Duane ranks second on the Blue Jays’ all-time saves list with 121. Jordan Romano is third with 105 saves. The way pitching is changing, I don’t see anyone getting into that top three for a long time, unless the tide changes again and we go back to one reliever getting all the save opportunities.
Ward was born on May 18, 1964, in Park View, New Mexico. Drafted out of high school, he was selected ninth overall in the first round of the 1982 amateur draft by the Atlanta Braves. The tall (6’4”) right-hander initially struggled as a starting prospect in Atlanta’s system, battling control issues—walking five batters per nine innings and not yet racking up strikeouts as he would later. On July 6, 1986, the Jays traded Doyle Alexander to the Braves for Ward. Alexander was a solid starter, but the Jays ultimately got the better end of the deal.
After brief stints in the majors in 1986 and 1987, Duane began the 1988 season in the Jays’ bullpen and quickly emerged as Tom Henke’s setup man. He excelled, posting a 9-3 record with 15 saves and a 3.30 ERA over 111.2 innings in 64 games. With 60 walks and 91 strikeouts, his wildness contributed to his effectiveness. Times have certainly changed—no setup man would be expected to pitch 111 innings today. Now, if a reliever throws 70 innings, it’s considered a heavy workload.
Ward continued as Henke’s setup man for the next four seasons, and together they formed an outstanding bullpen duo. Duane improved each year, with ERAs of 3.77, 3.45, 2.77, and 1.95. He was no longer used strictly as a setup man—often pitching multiple innings—and reached double digits in saves each season, peaking at 23 in 1991. His strikeout rate soared to 11 per nine innings that year, while his walk rate decreased. He finished ninth in Cy Young Award voting in 1991.
After Tom Henke left via free agency following the 1992 season, Duane took over as the Jays’ closer. He thrived in the role, leading the league with 45 saves, striking out 97 in 71.2 innings, and posting a 2.13 ERA. Those 45 saves remain the highest single-season total in Blue Jays history. Ward’s dominance showed in his 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings and a .182 opponents’ batting average. He earned an All-Star selection, finished fifth in Cy Young voting, and even received MVP votes.
Ward played a crucial role in the Blue Jays’ two World Series championships. In 1992, he appeared in three ALCS games against Oakland, earning a win, and pitched in four World Series games against Atlanta, collecting two wins, allowing no runs, and striking out six in 3.1 innings. In 1993, Ward made four appearances with two saves in the ALCS victory over the White Sox, then added four more outings—including a win and a save—in the World Series win over the Phillies.
Duane missed all of 1994 due to a torn rotator cuff. He attempted a comeback in 1995, but after just four appearances, his career ended at age 31—a testament to the toll that heavy reliever workloads can take. Ward was an outstanding pitcher for six seasons, frequently throwing 95 mph fastballs and sharp sliders. In his era, relievers were expected to pitch more than one inning per outing, and Ward often appeared in 80 games a season.
Rob Neyer ranked him as the Blue Jays’ second-best reliever in franchise history. Ward now runs the “Duane Ward Baseball Clinic” and delivers motivational speeches, also traveling with the Jays’ baseball clinics. My youngest son attended those clinics a couple of times, and Duane was great with the kids.
Happy Birthday, Duane! Wishing you a fantastic day.
Also, having birthdays:
Tilson Brito turns 54. Before being traded to the A’s, he was a utility infielder in 1996 and 1996. He played in 75 games for the Jays. Hitting .228/.306/.291.
Mike Maksudian turns 60. He had three at-bats with the team in 1992. He’d go on to have a few at-bats with the Twins and White Sox.
Ryota Igarashi turns 47. He pitched one inning for the Jays in 2012, spent two seasons with the Mets, and played several games with the Yankees.
Ryan Burr turns 32. He pitched in 36 games with the Jays over the past two seasons. In 34.2 innings, he had a 3.89 ERA. In his one outing last year, he injured his shoulder and ended up having right capsule surgery and is currently recovering from that, and is a free agent.
On non-Jays birthdays, Kirk Gibson turns 69 today. He had a very good 17-year MLB career, finishing with a .268/.352/.463 batting line, 255 home runs, 284 steals and a 38.4 bWAR. The one moment that everyone remembers is the pinch-hit walk-off home run against Dennis Eckersley in Game One of the 1988 World Series.
The Hockey News is currently in the process of revealing its Top 100 NHL players of the 2025-26 season rankings. So far, The Hockey News has revealed players 100 to 71.
Two Pittsburgh Penguins have made the rankings so far, as Erik Karlsson and Evgeni Malkin both made the cut.
Karlsson was given the No. 98 ranking by The Hockey News. It is not surprising to see Karlsson make these rankings, as he turned back the clock in a big way this season. In 75 games this season with the Penguins, he recorded 15 goals, 51 assists, 66 points, and a plus-8 rating. He was a significant reason for Pittsburgh's turnaround this season due to his strong all-around play.
As for Malkin, he was given the No. 84 spot in The Hockey News' rankings. The 39-year-old forward was excellent this season for Pittsburgh, posting 19 goals and 61 points in 56 games. With numbers like these, Malkin demonstrated that he can still be a star in the NHL. It also helped him land a one-year contract extension to stay in Pittsburgh.
Overall, the Penguins got some excellent value from both Karlsson and Malkin this season. It will be intriguing to see what kind of years they put together in 2026-27 from here.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Yankees’ Gerrit Cole was quick to point out that his second straight dominant start in his long-awaited return from Tommy John surgery was just that: his second start.
“Small sample size,” the former Cy Young winner said.
What a sample, though.
After allowing two hits over six scoreless innings against Tampa Bay in his first major league start since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Dodgers, the 35-year-old Cole did even better against struggling Kansas City. He allowed four hits while striking out 10 without a single walk, sending the Yankees to a 7-0 victory — their 14th straight win over the Royals.
“I feel like maybe the first game was the appetizer,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, “and that was the main course right there. That was surgical. You saw everything, like, good fastball, both breaking balls going, mixed in the cutter a little bit, made some really good change-ups along the way. There was good defensive plays behind him early and then he kind of cruised.”
Cole (1-0) needed only 79 pitches to get through 6 2/3 innings, and he probably could have gone deeper into the game against Kansas City. But at this point in what the Yankees hope is a long season, there was no reason to push Cole’s once-ailing right elbow.
The closest the Royals came to scoring off him came in the third, when Michael Massey hit a one-out double. Cole bounced back to strike out Isaac Collins, bringing Maikel Garcia to the plate. He ripped a single to right field, Aaron Judge fielded a tough hop cleanly, and then made a perfect throw to catch Massey at the plate for the final out of the inning.
Cole also stranded Garcia at second base after a two-out double in the sixth. Salvador Perez singled off him in the seventh.
And that was it. All the runners Kansas City managed against him.
“I think it just reminds you of who he is, and how great a consistent pitcher he is,” Boone said. “And to see him go through the process the last several months to get back to this, and go out there and execute like he is here to start, it’s fun to watch.”
Cole brutally was efficient, especially with his 96 mph fastball. He threw first-pitch strikes to 16 of the 23 batters he faced, and only a couple of batters even managed to drive the count to three balls against him the entire night.
“I expect to execute pitches. I don’t necessarily expect to not give up any runs, especially on 75% strikes. You’re putting a lot of pressure on guys,” Cole said. “So you have to play good defense, which is what we did tonight.”
There was pressure on Cole to execute, too, because the Yankees never really gave him a cushion. They managed a pair of runs on a single by Paul Goldschmidt, a triple by Ben Rice and Judge’s sacrifice fly, but the rest of their offense came after Cole departed.
It wasn’t nearly as prolific as the Yankees’ memorable 15-1 win in which they belted six homers and had 24 hits — and, in a first for one of the game’s historic franchises, every player in the New York starting lineup had at least two hits.
But with Cole back on the mound, they only needed a fraction of that offense in the series finale.
“It’s two games. Small sample size,” Cole said. “We still have stuff to improve, and just have to keep the same mindset that we have right now, and that’s to take it one outing at a time.”
(Original Caption) Three of the New york Yankees who had a lot to do in the 4-2 win over the Dodgers in the final game of the Series, whoop it up in GALA style after the classic triumph, October 7. Left to right are: out fielder Mickey Mantle, who homered; pitcher Bob Kuzava, whose mound performance saved the game; and outfielder Gene Woodling, who also homered.
Bob “Sarge” Kuzava was a left-handed pitcher who found success with the New York Yankees during a career in the majors that lasted a decade and saw him suit up for eight different teams. Kuzava, pronounced koo-ZAH-vuh, was born and raised in Wyandotte, Michigan, a town about 15 miles outside Detroit that now features a baseball field named in his honor.
Kuzava’s biggest claim to fame was being a valued swingman for Hall of Fame manager Casey Stengel during the Yankees’ early-1950s dynasty. In fact, the southpaw became the first pitcher to earn a save in back-to-back World Series clinching games, turning the trick to close out Subway Series showdowns with the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951 and 1952, respectively.
Robert Leroy Kuzava Born: May 28, 1923 (Wyandotte, MI) Died: May 15, 2017 (Wyandotte, MI) Yankees Tenure: 1951-54
Signed by Cleveland before the 1941 season out of St. Patrick High School in Wyandotte, Kuzava reported to Class-D Mansfield in Ohio. He performed modestly enough at age-18 to get the bump in 1942 to Class-C Charleston, where he posted a terrific campaign. Impressing both his organization and the fans in West Virginia’s capital, Kuzava went 21-6 with a 1.72 ERA and 1.145 WHIP in 235 innings.
However, Kuzava’s baseball career would not fully begin until after military service. Able men throughout the sport joined the fight in World War II, and Kuzava entered the U.S. Army in 1943. He served through 1945, focusing on military policy and spending two years overseas in Burma (now Myanmar), India, and China. When speaking about his time in the service, Kuzava said he was fortunate to see little, and no heavy, action but was nonetheless simply happy to survive and make it home.
After returning from the service, the left-hander had a solid season in Class-A for the Wilkes-Barre Barons, one of the predecessors of the Yankees’ current Triple-A club. Playing alongside future big leaguers like Ray Boone (Aaron’s grandfather), Kuzava went 14-6 with a 2.36 ERA in 217 innings, earning his first taste of the big leagues in a couple innings as a September call-up for Cleveland in 1946. While Kuzava did not make the club out of spring training the following year, he again got a few more cups of coffee in 1947, appearing in four games. Instead, most of his time was spent in Baltimore, as the O’s were a Triple-A affiliate for Cleveland in their final years as a minor-league club before the St. Louis Browns came to town and became the modern Orioles.
Cleveland eventually dealt Kuzava to the White Sox following the 1948 season as part of a trade including Ernest Groth for Frank Papish. This provided Kuzava with his first full season in the majors. In 1949, Kuzava appeared in 29 games for the Pale Hose, posting a 10-6 record with a 4.02 ERA while making 18 starts, good enough to earn him a single AL Rookie of the Year vote (the Browns’ Roy Sievers took home the honors with 10).
Kuzava started the 1950 campaign with Chicago but was traded in May when the White Sox packaged him alongside Cass Michaels and Johnny Ostrowski in a trade to Washington for Eddie Robinson, Ray Scarborough, and Al Kozar. The parts of two seasons that Kuzava spent with the Senators got interrupted by a torn Achilles. The injury occurred when Kuzava attempted to cover first on double play and got stepped on by former White Sox teammate Nellie Fox.
The extent of the injury was not known to the Yankees and general manager George Weiss, who acquired Kuzava at the then-Trade Deadline on June 15, 1951.
In exchange for Tom Ferrick, Bob Porterfield, Fred Sanford, and some cash, the Yankees got a still-on-crutches Kuzava. However, the Yankees needed a lefty reliever and once recovered, Kuzava quickly became an important arm for Stengel’s club as a bullpen arm and spot starter. With New York in 1951, Kuzava went 8-4 with a 2.40 ERA appearing in 23 games and making 8 starts.
Kuzava’s earn-your-pinstripes moment arrived during the 1951 World Series against the crosstown rival Giants. With a chance to clinch the Yankees’ third consecutive championship in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium, Kuzava made his playoff debut in a helluva spot: the ninth inning with the bases loaded after three-straight singles off Johnny Sain, none out, and the Yanks holding a 4-1 lead. Stengel opted for the lefty despite a pair of right-handed batters due up next in future Hall of Famer Monte Irvin and recent “Shot Heard ’Round the World” playoff hero Bobby Thomson due up. The move was called “perhaps as deep and mystifying a piece of managerial strategy as any world series has seen,” by the New York Times. He hadn’t pitched in a week and a half.
Per SABR, Stengel told an admittedly nervous Kuzava to get the ball over and make the Giants hit it in the air. That is exactly what Kuzava would do. Irvin flew out to left, as did Thomson. Two runs scored to trim the lead to 4-3, but both Kuzava and his skipper were happy to trade them for outs. Then Kuzava preserved the Yankees championship by recording the final out against another righty, pinch-hitter Sal Yvars, who almost found the outfield grass until Hank Bauer who made a game-saving, diving catch.
That moment gave Kuzava the save and secured the Yankees’ three-peat, a feat only matched by the 1936-39 Yankees, the the 1972-74 Oakland A’s, and of course the more recent 1998-2000 Yanks. This particular dynasty wasn’t done yet, however, as they had their sights set on breaking the record held by those Lou Gehrig/Joe DiMaggio-led late-’30s teams.
The left-hander continued serving as an important bullpen arm and occasional starter over the next few seasons. In 1952, Kuzava won eight games and posted a 3.45 ERA across 28 appearances and 12 starts. The Yankees won another championship that season this time taking down the Dodgers in seven games.
For the second year in a row, Kuzava didn’t pitch in the Fall Classic until the very end. And wouldn’t you know it? The bases were loaded again. He was last on the mound on September 27th during a meaningless game against the Philadelphia A’s. Stengel had stuck with his top starters in Game 7, deploying each of Eddie Lopat, Allie Reynolds, and Vic Raschi before having to to turn to someone else when it was evident that Raschi didn’t have it.
So in came Kuzava with a 4-2 lead in the seventh, nowhere to put Hall of Famer Duke Snider, and the fans at Ebbets Field imploring “the Duke of Flatbush” and their Dodgers to finally drop the hammer on the hated Yankees. Remarkably, Kuzava stayed cool and induced a pair of popups from Snider and no less a luminary than Jackie Robinson himself. He needed a last-second bailout by Billy Martin to actually snare the second pop fly, but the inning was over with the Yankees still up by two.
A high throw by Gil McDougald on an error with one out in the eighth gave Brooklyn two more cracks at tying the game off Kuzava. The unflappable southpaw instead struck out pinch-hitter Andy Pafko and got a fly ball from Carl Furillo to Gene Woodling just shy of the warning track in left. The final inning was the least dramatic, Kuzava retiring the side in order and ending it on a fly ball from Pee Wee Reese to Woodling in left. A euphoric Yogi Berra hopped aboard hit batterymate’s back in the celebration.
That Game 7 cemented Kuzava’s place in history. Although the save statistic was not yet established, he became the first person in baseball history to earn a save in back-to-back World Series clinching games. Oakland’s Rollie Fingers almost accomplished the feat, but Darold Knowles got the save for the A’s in 1973, sandwiched between Fingers’ saves in 1972 and 1974. Will McEnaney of the Cincinnati Reds become the second pitcher to accomplish this after closing the doors in 1975 and 1976.
There has only been one pitcher to top Kuzava and McEnaney and, of course, it was another Yankees legend: Mariano Rivera. Mo earned the save in the clinching games of the 1998, 1999, and 2000 World Series, extending the Yankees’ dynasty nearly 50 years after Kuzava inked his name in the record books.
Kuzava stayed with the Yankees for the 1953 season, another solid year in the Bronx resulted in a 6-5 record with a 3.31 ERA. The team continued rolling as well winning the World Series in six games over the Dodgers; Kuzava again pitched just once, but this time it was just a third of an inning in the Game 5 victory. Reynolds relieved Kuzava for the save in that game, and then collected the win in relief of Whitey Ford for the clincher in Game 6. Martin’s walk-off single secured the club’s fifth consecutive title, a streak that remains unmatched to this day.
In 1954, Kuzava’s role in New York began shrinking as age and mileage started catching up to him. Fresh off the franchise move from St. Louis, the Orioles claimed him off waivers in August of that season, ending his Yankees tenure after four seasons and three World Series championships in the Bronx. In parts of four seasons with the Yankees, Kuzava went 23-20 with a 3.39 ERA and 13 saves.
Kuzava’s career then turned into the familiar late-career baseball shuffle many veteran pitchers experienced during that era. He spent time with the O’s, Phillies, A’s, Pirates, and Cardinals organizations while continuing to bounce between the majors and high minors. His best seasons were behind him, but Kuzava’s ability to provide innings and mentorship kept him around until 1960 when he finished up his career as a player-manager for the Charleston White Sox in the South Atlantic League.
As a manager, and after, Kuzava spoke out about the difficulties black athletes were experiencing at the time. Recalling the experience, Kuzava said, “I’d get phone calls from people threatening that if those guys played, they were going to do this or that. It was terrible. I’m talking 1960! We had Cubans whose skin was darker than the Blacks and they could live with us in the hotels. The Blacks couldn’t and those were the guys who went to war for us along with me and the other guys.”
Across 10 MLB seasons, Kuzava compiled a 49-47 record with a 4.05 ERA and 13 saves across 213 appearances. Often shifting between starting and relieving, Kuzava regularly did whatever managers needed him to do.
Following his time as a big leaguer and manager Kuzava spent another decade travelling the country scouting ballplayers. As his family grew and the strain of travel picked up, he decided to return to Wyandotte and started a career in the beer industry. In 2003, Kuzava was elected to the Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. The three-time champion only passed away a few years ago, at age-93 in May 2017, one of the last living links to the heart of that particular Yankees dynasty.
Happy birthday, Sarge!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
DETROIT — Detroit Tigers pitchers Casey Mize and Kenley Jansen both left against the Los Angeles Angels because of right groin issues, potentially adding to a crowded injured list.
Mize started the game and threw four scoreless innings, striking out six, before leaving the game. The 29-year-old was making his third start after returning from the injured list because of a similar injury against the Atlanta Braves.
When healthy, the right hander has pitched well this year with a 2-3 record and 2.27 ERA over nine starts.
“Same area — just the sensation of it was less than last time,” Mize said. “Obviously, we’ll know more in the next couple days. But I don’t think it was as bad as what I felt in Atlanta. We’ll see how I wake up and feel.”
Jansen earned the first two outs of the ninth inning before leaving the game with a trainer. He was replaced by Brenan Hanifee, who recorded the final out to secure the Tigers’ 4-0 victory and snap a season-long, seven-game home losing streak.
Jansen has a 1-3 record, a 4.80 ERA and seven saves this season.
The Tigers have a disappointing 22-34 record this season, partly due to injuries. Other players currently on the injured list include ace left-hander Tarik Skubal and veteran right-hander Justin Verlander, along with hitters Parker Meadows, Kerry Carpenter, Javier Baez and Gleyber Torres.
The Hockey News revealed players 71 to 80 on their Top 100 NHL Players In 2026 rankings. A Philadelphia Flyers defenseman was among the players listed, as Travis Sanheim made the cut.
Sanheim was given the No. 72 spot in the Hockey News' rankings, and it is understandable when looking at the year he had. In 81 games this season with the Flyers, the 30-year-old blueliner recorded 11 goals, 26 assists, 37 points, 152 blocks, and a plus-12 rating. With numbers like these, Sanheim had a strong all-around season for the Flyers and was a notable reason for them taking a big step in the right direction this campaign.
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Sanheim also moved up in The Hockey News' rankings compared to last season. This is because The Hockey News ranked him as the 86th best player in the NHL during the 2024-25 season.
Sanheim will now be looking to build off his strong 2025-26 campaign by having another good year next season. He is one of the Flyers' most important defensemen, and it will be interesting to see what he can do next season for the Metropolitan Division club from here.
Dec 23, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Dalton Knecht (4) against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we continue with a look at Dalton Knecht.
Things can move pretty fast in the NBA. Just ask Dalton Knecht.
After a strong collegiate career, Knecht was taken 17th by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024 draft. Many analysts pegged the selection as a steal given pre-draft rumblings projecting Knecht to go as high as the lottery. That sentiment seemed wise after his strong preseason and flashes of 3-level scoring ability throughout the year.
Things seemed to be looking up for Knecht and the Lakers. But then an unfortunate meeting with the rookie wall and a botched trade derailed Knecht’s trajectory.
The player who looked poised to be a key part of the Lakers’ future now must sit idly with a murkiness that comes next.
Let’s take a look at how Knecht’s performed this season and what may lie ahead.
How did they play?
In short, not well and not much.
After playing 76 games as a rookie, including starting 16, Knecht appeared in just 37 games, with one start, this season. His minutes, which primarily came during garbage time, dropped to just 11.3 per game from 18.6 last season.
Despite the expected ups and downs that come with being a rookie, Knecht shot the ball well in his first year as a pro. Compared to other NBA wings, Knecht’s 57.9% eFG% ranked in the 79th percentile, largely thanks to his ability to finish at the rim (74%) and from the 3-point line (38%).
Whether mental or otherwise, Knecht has failed to reach a similar level ever since. That was especially the case this season as his conversion rate at the rim fell by 10% and and from beyond the arc by 7%. As a result, his once impressive eFG% dropped by 6.8% as a sophomore (27th percentile).
Knecht’s offensive slippage wouldn’t be as much of a problem if he were able to offer value in other areas. However, the combination of his defensive deficiencies and general awareness concerns has put more pressure on his offense to keep him afloat.
With the Lakers’ improved depth on the roster, Knecht quickly fell down the team’s rotation. And every missed shot and rotation further sealed his fate.
What are their contract situations moving forward?
The Lakers signed Knecht to a 4-year deal following the draft. With a chance to cleanly cut ties with him, the team instead chose to pick up Knecht’s $4.2 million team option for the upcoming season. He has one more team option left on his deal before he becomes a restricted free agent in 2o28.
While there are those within the organization who hoped Knecht could bounce back, the decision to keep him in the fold was likely to ultimately use his contract as trade fodder.
With no suitors, the Lakers will presumably scour the market again for a trade partner, either as a part of a bigger deal or in a salary-dumping maneuver to open up maximum spending ability this summer.
Should they be back?
It would behoove both parties if Knecht were on another roster by the start of the season.
Between the trade rumors and unclear path toward minutes, Knecht would benefit from a change of scenery. His landing on a team that can give him continued reps would be the best first step in rehabbing his image around the league.
For the Lakers, their desire to create financial flexibility and bolster their squad makes Knecht all the more expendable. He is already 25, and the team may already have his best-case outcome in Luke Kennard back next year, not to mention housing other younger players who have shown more promise.
With an expected influx of new talent this summer, the Lakers have their eyes set on the future. At one point recently, Knecht would have been a part of those plans. But instead, he is just the latest example of how fickle the NBA can be.
All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social
ARLINGTON, Texas — Former NL MVP outfielder Andrew McCutchen was designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers after he hit .192 in his 37 games.
The 39-year-old McCutchen was replaced by free agent infielder Nicky Cruz in a move spurred by the lingering absences of shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Josh Smith. Seager is out with lower back inflammation, and Smith still hasn’t rejoined the team since a stint in the hospital with viral meningitis.
“Certainly respect to Andrew, what he’s accomplished, not only in this game, but more importantly, who he is as a person,” president of baseball operations Chris Young said. “It’s been wonderful having him around, but we’re at a point where given the injuries on the left side of the infield, middle infield specifically, that we’re thin and so Nicky gives us another option and provides some versatility.”
The Rangers had another setback with their middle infield when shortstop Ezequiel Duran exited a game against Houston after four innings due to an illness.
Lopez, who started at second base in the No. 9 spot against the Astros, moved to shortstop to replace Duran. Justin Foscue took over at second.
The 31-year-old Lopez, who signed a major league contract, has played in 693 big league games over parts of eight seasons with five teams. The left-handed hitter was designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs.
McCutchen had two doubles, one home run and five RBIs with Texas, with 21 of his plate appearances coming as a pinch hitter. Those were the most at-bats as a pinch hitter for any MLB player this season.
The Rangers have seven days to trade, release or outright McCutchen to the minor leagues.
McCutchen played the past three seasons for Pittsburgh, the club that drafted him in the first round in 2005 and promoted him in 2009 for his major league debut. McCutchen played his first nine years in MLB with the Pirates, making five straight All-Star teams and winning the 2013 National League MVP award while becoming one of the most popular players in that franchise’s history.
He then bounced around with four other teams between 2018 and 2022 before reuniting with the Pirates. He played in 135 games last year, hitting .239 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs before becoming a free agent.
He is a career .271 hitter with 333 homers, 1,157 RBIs and 220 stolen bases in 2,299 games.
“I played against him during his MVP season,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “I know who this guy is and I got to know him even better this year. Those are not easy, but part of the game. He was a pro and understood.”
Seager is doing moderate baseball activity, but there is no timeline for his return. The two-time World Series MVP, including with the Rangers in 2023, has been eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list.
Smith had been on the IL since May 5 with a right glute strain when the Rangers announced May 15 that the 28-year-old would be hospitalized at least a week after feeling ill and getting the diagnosis of meningitis. Young said Smith could rejoin the club soon.
“We’ll be able to evaluate where he is from a strength standpoint,” Young said. “The physical toll that it’s taking on him and what the buildup is going to be, I can’t answer yet. But he’s healthy. We’re very grateful to the doctors and the medical staff that treated him and took great care of him.”
Oneil Cruz
Wade Meckler
George Springer
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Dylan Harper
Tayor Ward
Davis Martin
