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Series Preview: Milwaukee Brewers @ Houston Astros

May 6, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill (29) celebrates a 4-3 win over the Houston Astros in the ninth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Brewers, fresh off another sweep of an NL Central foe in the Cardinals, are headed to Texas as they’ll take on the Houston Astros for three games beginning Friday night. The Brewers sit at 33-20 on the season, 4.5 games ahead of the second-place Cardinals heading into Thursday’s play. The Astros, at 25-32, sit in fourth place in the AL West, though they’re just three games back of the first-place Mariners (28-29). Houston wraps up their intrastate battle with the Rangers in Arlington tonight, as the Astros have won two of three entering the series finale.

The Brewers are currently without pitchers Logan Henderson (mid-June), Jared Koenig (early June), Brandon Woodruff (early June), Quinn Priester (TBD), and Rob Zastryzny (early June), as well as Angel Zerpa, who is out for the season. Outfielder Akil Baddoo was activated from the IL and sent to Triple-A Nashville, while fellow outfielder Brandon Lockridge is out until mid- to late June with a knee injury.

On the other side, Houston is without several of their big-name players. On the position player side, Jose Altuve (TBD), Yainer Diaz (June), Carlos Correa (out for season), and Joey Loperfido (could return this weekend) are all shelved. For the pitching staff, they’re without Cristian Javier (June), old friend Josh Hader (June), Hunter Brown (mid-June), Lance McCullers Jr. (TBD), fellow old friend Bennett Sousa (TBD), Ronel Blanco (second half of 2026), and Hayden Wesneski (second half of 2026), giving them a very depleted rotation.

Offensively, the Brewers are led by Brice Turang, Jake Bauers, William Contreras, Christian Yelich, and Jackson Chourio, Bauers leads the team with eight homers thus far, driving in 30 and scoring 29, while Turang has seven homers with 30 RBIs and a team-high 43 runs scored to go with nine steals. Gary Sánchez has struggled lately after jumping out to a hot start, but the return of Chourio and Andrew Vaughn has helped in a big way over the last few weeks. Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Joey Ortiz, David Hamilton, Luis Rengifo, and Blake Perkins round things out. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .246/.332/.364 (.696 OPS ranks 17th), with 37 homers (last), 259 runs (seventh), and 57 steals (second).

Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker are powering the Astros, as Alvarez leads the way with 20 homers and Walker has 15 bombs. Alvarez is hitting .312/.422/.663, making him an early contender for AL MVP. Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith both had five homers, while Smith leads the team with seven steals. Christian Vázquez is the team’s primary catcher with Diaz out, while Brandon Shewmake and Jeremy Peña round out the infield. Jake Meyers starts in center, with Brice Matthews, Taylor Trammell, Zach Dezenzo, Nick Allen, and César Salazar serving as depth. As a team, the Astros are hitting .246/.322/.412 (.734 OPS ranks fifth), with 74 homers (tied for fourth), 253 runs (12th), and 20 steals (29th).

Aaron Ashby sits atop the Brewer bullpen with 25 appearances, also leading the league with nine wins and a perfect 9-0 record. He’s struck out 49 over 35 innings with a 2.06 ERA. Grant Anderson, DL Hall, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill are the other regulars for Milwaukee, with Shane Drohan, Jake Woodford, Chad Patrick, and Carlos Rodriguez serving as depth/long-relief arms. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.14 team ERA (third), including a 3.05 starter ERA (third) and a 3.26 bullpen ERA (seventh). They’ve struck out 514 batters (fourth) over 472 1/3 innings.

The Astros’ bullpen — as you’ll see in the numbers below — is the worst in baseball through two months. Steven Okert leads the team with 26 appearances with a 3.86 ERA, while they’ve had plenty of arms going up and down from the minors and due to injuries. AJ Blubaugh (4.81 ERA over 33 2/3 innings) and Bryan Abreu (6.88 ERA over 17 innings) have both struggled, while Bryan King (3.04 ERA over 23 2/3 innings) leads the team with six saves in eight tries and Enyel De Los Santos (3.57 ERA over 22 2/3 innings) has four saves. Former Cub Nate Pearson, Logan VanWey, and Alimber Santa (who pitched the final two innings of a combined no-hitter in his MLB debut this week) round out the ‘pen. As a staff, the Astros have a 5.12 team ERA (29th), including a 4.84 starter ERA (29th) and a 5.46 bullpen ERA (last). They’ve struck out 469 batters (13th) over 499 1/3 innings.

Probable Pitchers

Friday, May 29 @ 7:10 p.m.: RHP Coleman Crow (0-0, 2.61 ERA, 2.29 FIP) vs. Kai-Wei Teng (3-3, 2.19 ERA, 3.55 FIP)

Crow, 25, has looked strong in his first two career starts against the Marlins and Twins. Across 10 1/3 innings, he’s allowed three runs on seven hits, a walk, and a hit batter to go with seven strikeouts. He took a no-decision in both appearances, though the Brewers won both of those games. Since that start against the Twins on May 15, he’s made one start with Triple-A Nashville, going 4 1/3 innings with three runs allowed on six hits, a walk, and a hit bitter with five strikeouts against the Durham Bulls on May 22. This marks his first career start against Houston.

Teng, 27, is in his third MLB season and first with Houston after spending the last two with the Giants. After starting the season in the bullpen, he’s made his last three appearances as a starter, totaling 37 innings over 17 appearances (four starts) with a 2.19 ERA, 3.55 FIP, and 36 strikeouts. Teng’s last start was his best yet, as he went six scoreless innings against the Cubs, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out six to pick up the win. This marks Teng’s first career appearance against Milwaukee.

Saturday, May 30 @ 3:10 p.m.: RHP Brandon Sproat (1-3, 5.84 ERA, 5.55 FIP) vs. Peter Lambert (3-4, 3.79 ERA, 3.37 FIP)

Sproat, 25, has picked up his strikeout numbers, but he still has difficulty making it through five innings — across eight starts this season, he’s made it through five-plus innings just three times. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that has translated to difficulties his second time through the order — while hitters are batting .220/.352/.390 against him the first time through, they’re hitting .254/.329/.508 the second time through, including five homers. Sproat went four-plus innings against the Dodgers in his last outing, allowing three runs on four hits, four walks, and a hit batter with seven strikeouts in a 5-1 loss. This marks his first career start against Houston.

Lambert, 29, is in his fifth MLB season and first with the Astros, as he spent parts of four seasons with the Rockies between 2019 and 2024. After coming into the majors as a starter (he made 19 starts for Colorado in 2019), he transitioned to a swingman role before returning to the rotation in Houston this year. Across seven starts this season, he has a 3.79 ERA, 3.37 FIP, and 40 strikeouts across 40 1/3 innings. The former second-round pick sent five innings against the Cubs his last time out, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks with five strikeouts in a victory. Lambert made two appearances against Milwaukee while with the Rockies, totaling eight innings with five runs allowed (5.63 ERA) and six strikeouts.

Sunday, May 31 @ 1:10 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (5-2, 1.83 ERA, 1.88 FIP) vs. Tatsuya Imai (2-2, 6.17 ERA, 6.03 FIP)

Misiorowski, 24, has simply dominated this month. Through five starts, he’s allowed just one run across 31 1/3 innings (0.29 ERA) with 49 strikeouts to just 11 hits and six walks (0.543 WHIP). That makes for one of the more interesting NL Pitcher of the Month races we’ve ever seen, as the Phillies’ Cristopher Sánchez has gone 39 scoreless innings with 45 strikeouts to 25 hits and three walks (0.718 WHIP) across five starts this month. Given that Miz has allowed a run and Sánchez hasn’t, I’d guess Miz needs to go seven or eight scoreless frames with 10-plus strikeouts to have a real shot at winning the award. As is the case with Crow and Sproat, this is Miz’s first career start against Houston.

Imai, 28, signed with the Astros out of Japan during the offseason, agreeing to a three-year, $54 million deal. He reportedly struggled acclimating to American culture, which translated to struggles on the field, though he’s coming off his best start in the majors. After entering Monday night with an 8.31 ERA over his first five starts, he went six no-hit innings against the Rangers, allowing four walks with a pair of strikeouts, as a pair of relievers (Okert & Santa) closed out Houston’s fifth no-hitter in the last five years (including one in the 2022 World Series). This marks Imai’s first career start against Milwaukee.

How to Watch & Listen

Friday, May 29: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Saturday, May 30: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Sunday, May 31: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Prediction

The Astros haven’t gotten off to a great start, and a long string of injuries hasn’t helped them. I’ll take the Brewers to win two of three against their former division rivals.

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Bontemps: Nets a ‘potential bidder’ for Austin Reaves

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) drives to the basket during the Brooklyn Nets vs Los Angeles Lakers game on March 27, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The consensus among pundits is that this year’s free agent class is not the best, putting aside the mystery of where LeBron James suits up. That said, the Nets have more than enough cap space to make significant offers for whoever is out there plus draft assets that could be put to use in sign-and-trades.

That said, Tim Bontemps of ESPN is out Thursday with his assessment of where the top eight free agents could win up when the bidding begins in a little more than a month. Among the eight are a couple of players the Nets have had reported interest, including Denver’s Peyton Watson and Minnesota’s Ayo Dosunmu, Bontemps doesn’t mention Brooklyn as potential suitors for those two, but he thinks they could be a player in the player most who will likely wind up with the biggest payday outside of James: his Laker teammate Austin Reaves, the 6’5” 27-year-old shooting guard who would add needed punch to Jordi Fernandez’s offense.

One potential bidder to watch this summer, sources said, is the Brooklyn Nets, who will enter the offseason with more than enough salary cap space to accommodate a max-type player.

While other writers have listed the Nets on the list of potential suitors, Bontemps singles them — and only them — as an LAL competitor for Reaves’ services. Bontemps does note that getting Reaves on the roster would not be cheap.

The majority opinion is that Reaves will remain in Los Angeles — and on a massive raise. But after playing on one of the best value contracts in the league the past few seasons, what number gets that done?

Several scouts and executives predict something in the range of five years, $200 million, but below his five-year max of $239 million, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

“I’d be pretty surprised if the first year starts with a 3 instead of a 4,” an East scout said, “but the Lakers need to keep him, and by all accounts he wants to be there, so I think they make it work.”

Indeed, Reaves is coming off a four-year, $53.8 million contract with Los Angeles Lakers. He also reportedly was offered and declined a four-year $89 million extension from the Lakers, expecting a big payday this summer. Despite missing 31 games, mostly to an oblique strain, Reaves managed to put up big numbers again: 23.3 points on 49/36/87 shooting splits. He also averaged around five assists and five rebounds as well. In his two previous seasons, he missed a total of nine games.

Although he’s not been named to an All-Star team in his time with L.A., he’s seen as one of the franchise’s future keystone pieces along with Luka Doncic. Since he’s an unrestricted agent, the Lakers would not be able to match any bid from the Nets or other teams.

Although Bontemps did not mention the Nets as a team that could pursue Watson but notes that the Nuggets will have to make several moves in order to find the financial resources to keep him.

retaining Watson and keeping the current roster intact would push Denver far into the luxury tax.

The Nuggets have never been big spenders, which is why the belief around the league is that Cameron Johnson (on an expiring $23 million deal) or Christian Braun (on a five-year, $125 million extension signed in the fall) is likely to be moved to create enough room to give Watson something in the per-year range of those players.

Bontemps, a former Nets beat writer for the Post, also cites a Western Conference scout suggesting Watson’s recurring hamstring issues could hurt him.

“They could easily just pay him and pay the tax, but we know how the Kroenkes operate,” a West scout said. “That means sending out either Johnson or Braun, and I don’t know where that lands. The injury stuff is a concern, but so is how they struggled without him.”

Watson is also close to Michael Porter Jr.

In his assessments the off-season possibilities of the Nets’ 27 teams no longer in contention for the O’Brien Trophy, Bontemps’ colleague Bobby Marks noted that the Nets will likely have about $34 million in cap space assuming they deal with the team options for Day-Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams (both $6.3 million) and Josh Minott ($2.6 million). He also noted that Malachi Smith who the Nets signed to a multi-year deal at the end of the season has a $2.1 million team option, indicating the contract isn’t guaranteed.

Bobby Marks laid out some territory familiar to Nets fans as he assessed the franchise that employed him for more than two decades. He found both optimism and pessimism, but mostly a lot of questions.

From an evaluation standpoint, the Nets currently have the look of an expansion tea… The offseason presents an opportunity for Brooklyn to improve significantly, with the No. 6 pick in the draft and cap flexibility this summer..

Marks (again no relation to the Nets GM) wrote that the big question other than their draft pick at No. 6 will be what to do with MPJ, whether they should keep him or trade him for even more assets as well and if they don’t what they should pay him … and how.

[T]he Nets must decide whether to build around Porter or to explore trades. Acquired last offseason from Denver along with an 2032 unprotected first-rounder, Porter averaged a career-high 24.2 points per game and shot 36.3% on 3s. It was his fourth consecutive season shooting greater than 36% from deep. He is on an expiring $40.8 million contract and is eligible for four additional years and up to $234 million.

Porter’s impact on the court, durability and age — he will turn 28 in June — should warrant discussions on a new contract. (Prior to suffering a strained left hamstring last month, Porter Jr. had missed just 14 games since the 2023-24 season.)

Because Brooklyn will have cap space, it could also increase his current salary and then decrease the first year of the extension by up to 40%. For example, Porter would earn $49 million this season and then $30 million next year.

Would a team with Porter, Reaves (admittedly pure speculation) along with the Flatbush 5 and the No. 6 pick help the Nets move into respectability if not playoff contention? The Nets, of course, have no interest in tanking again this year. They will have to swap their first rounder with the Rockets if they finish below Houston in the standings come next April.

Marks also looks into the Nets other free agency this summer, that of Noah Clowney who is looking for an extension beyond 2026-27, the final year of his rookie contract. Marks notes that Clowney had an up-and-down season that could hurt his bargaing position.

Clowney remains an inefficient shooter. For a second straight season, Clowney is shooting below 40% on field goals and 34% on 3s. Defensively, opponents shot 49.9% against Clowney. That ranks fourth worst of any player to contest 750 shots this season.

One final footnote from Marks: “The Nets will have the $9.4 million room midlevel exception available after cap space is used.” That could work out to $29.9 million over three years. Not an insignificant sum.

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Claude Lemieux, four-time Stanley Cup champion and Devils hero, dead at 60

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion who led the Devils to their first title in 1995, has died at the age of 60, Image 2 shows Claude Lemieux carries the torch in the opening ceremony before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Canadiens and Hurricanes in Montreal on May 25, 2026

Claude Lemieux, the four-time Stanley Cup-winning winger who led the Devils to their first championship in 1995 and was one of the most-hated players in the NHL, has died, the NHL Alumni Association announced Thursday.

He was 60.

Lemieux died by suicide, according to TMZ, which reported he was found Thursday morning at the family’s furniture showroom. Per The Athletic, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suicide attempt at the Lake Park warehouse, which has since been closed off for investigation.

The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Lemieux’s death to The Athletic, but was not able to release any records.

Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion who led the Devils to their first title in 1995, has died at the age of 60. Getty Images

“The New Jersey Devils organization is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of former Devil Claude Lemieux,” the team said in a statement. “A clutch player on the ice and greatly appreciated by Devils’ fans off it, Claude’s impact in bringing the first-ever Stanley Cup to New Jersey will forever be remembered as one of the paramount performances in team history. Widely respected throughout the NHL, both as a trusted agent and a valued colleague, Claude leaves behind a lasting legacy within our game that he gave so much to. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this time.”

The Quebec native, who won his first Cup with the Canadiens in 1986, was in attendance as Montreal hosted the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night, carrying the ceremonial torch before the game.

“Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community. I wish to express my most sincere and deepest condolences to Claude’s family and loved ones,” Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said in a statement. “A fierce competitor who rose to the occasion in big moments, Claude was a relentless, courageous, and tenacious player who led the team to the highest honors. He embodied the very essence of being a Montreal Canadiens player. Today we mourn the untimely passing of one of our champions. Our thoughts are with his family on this difficult day.”

A clutch scorer and one of hockey’s most reviled agitators, Lemieux won the Conn Smythe award as the playoff MVP after scoring 13 goals during the Devils’ Cup run in 1995, and after spending the next four-plus seasons with the Avalanche, he returned to New Jersey in a November 1999 trade and helped the Devils win another Cup that season.

Lemieux, who became a player agent after he retired, scored 80 postseason goals, the ninth-most all-time.

Lemieux recorded 379 goals and 407 assists in 1,215 regular-season games, and had 158 points in 234 playoff matches.

Traded by the Devils to the Avalanche before the 1995-96 season, Lemieux won a Cup for the second straight season

Claude Lemieux carries the torch in the opening ceremony before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Canadiens and Hurricanes in Montreal on May 25, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images

His most memorable moment from that postseason, however, was his vicious hit on Kris Draper during Game 6 of the Western Conference finals

Lemieux drilled Draper from behind in front of the benches at the red line and Draper’s face smashed into the boards, causing a concussion, along with a broken jaw, nose and cheekbone.

After retiring from the NHL following the 2002-03 season, Lemieux mounted a comeback in 2008 at 43 years old, playing 18 games for a Sharks team that won the Presidents’ Trophy.

Devils GM Lou Lamoriello (l.) celebrates with Claude Lemieux (r.) after the team won the Stanley Cup in 2000. NEW YORK POST

He made one playoff appearance for San Jose as it was upset by the eighth-seeded Ducks in the first round in six games.

One of Lemieux’s three sons, Brendan, played parts of seven seasons in the NHL, including 109 games with the Rangers from 2019-21.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free and confidential crisis counseling.

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The Wizards’ ticket sales are increasing after trades and draft lottery

Mar 27, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr (20) on the bench after fouling out against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images | Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

The Washington Wizards experienced nearly triple their revenue in new full season ticket revenue and have triple the sales of new season tickets compared to last year, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic. Robbins’ report came after an interview with Monumental Sports & Entertainment Chief Revenue Officer Jim Van Stone.

Let’s give ExPatDE a shout-out for posting this on the feed earlier today. This also is a follow up to a post Greg Finberg wrote last February about the Wizards raising ticket prices though they finished with the worst record in the 2025-26 NBA season.

In Greg’s article, some fans were upset about the increase in ticket prices despite poor performance. But from Robbins’ piece today, the Wizards have a rationale to raise the prices anyway. With the team anticipated to be better in 2026-27, there will be more demand for tickets. And with … maybe … AJ Dybantsa or Cameron Boozer headlining the roster this fall, perhaps the demand and the number of fans in the stands will stay high for years to come.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Game 55: Braves at Red Sox; Chris Sale vs. Payton Tolle

May 22, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Payton Tolle (70) pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

TV: NESN

First Pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET

The Red Sox and Braves will compete in the rubber match of their three-game series on Thursday at Fenway Park.

Payton Tolle and Chris Sale will be the men tasked with getting the job done.

I don’t have to tell you guys just how fun this matchup could be, with the former riding an incredible streak of four consecutive quality starts into the outing, while the latter has allowed six total earned runs across his last seven starts. Tolle and Sale both had an opportunity to meet each other on Wednesday.

Andruw Monasterio, Carlos Narváez, and Caleb Durbin will slot back into the lineup, with the former getting the start as the designated hitter over Masataka Yoshida. Narváez will return behind the dish, while Durbin plays third base.

Sandy León and Dom Smith will join their starting pitcher as former members of the Red Sox to return to Fenway Park.

I’ll be betting the under on total runs and over on total strikeouts, in case you were wondering…

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Submit your Warriors mailbag questions

Steve Kerr and Steph Curry laughing.
From left: Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) have a laugh in the fourth quarter during an NBA preseason game against the LA Clippers at Chase Center in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. The Clippers won 106-103. (Photo by Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Hello again, Golden State Warriors fans. It’s been a while since I’ve written anything substantive, as I took some PTO to reset before the offseason begins, and see what all the hype around the food in Italy was about.

But now I’m back, and it couldn’t be at a more exciting time for Bay Area basketball. Steve Kerr is back, and committed for multiple years. A Steph Curry extension is being discussed. A pivotal and fascinating offseason is right around the corner. Superstar names are swirling in rumors and reports. The 2026 NBA Draft is a month away. The Golden State Valkyries are underway and playing well. Two teams that remind us of the Dubs of yesteryear are battling for Western Conference supremacy in the NBA Playoffs.

What a time to be alive!

And what better way to get caught up on all things Golden State than with a mailbag? It’s been both a quiet few weeks, and an exciting few weeks, and I’m curious what’s on your mind, Dub Nation. So drop your comments here — or in The Feed — and I’ll get to them on Friday.

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Led by Abimelec Ortiz, the Rochester Red Wings are on an historic winning streak

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Abimelec Ortiz #76 of the Washington Nationals poses for a photo during the Washington Nationals photo day at Cacti Park at the Palm Beaches on Friday, February 20, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

As we all know, the Nationals have surprisingly played winning baseball in the first two months of the season, with a 29-28 record. However, the winning has not just been taking place at the MLB level. Nats minor league teams are winning more than ever, and the Rochester Red Wings are the hottest of the bunch.

The Red Wings are on a wild 10 game winning streak, and have won 15 out of their last 16 games. That 10 game winning streak is the longest in Rochester history since 1992. Obviously, this is long before they were a Nats affiliate. Like the big league club, the Red Wings are winning with a deep lineup and solid pitching.

Manager Matt LeCroy really has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal. In the last game, the Red Wings lineup featured Christian Franklin, Harry Ford, Abimelec Ortiz, Brady House, Joey Wiemer and Riley Adams. They also had Yohandy Morales, Robert Hassell and Seaver King on the bench. This is the deepest core of hitters I have ever seen the Nats have in AAA. There may not be a mega star like in 2024 when they had James Wood, but there are a lot of solid ball players here.

During this winning streak, Abimelec Ortiz has been putting the offense on his back. He has 7 home runs and 20 RBI’s in his last six games. Ortiz, who the Nats acquired in the MacKenzie Gore trade, was doing a nice job getting on base at the beginning of the year, but was not showing his signature power. That power has arrived, and he is putting on an absolute show.

He has put up insane numbers in May, and as you can see, the underlying numbers back it up. Ortiz is already on the 40 man roster, so a big league call up should come before too long. The Nats could make a spot for him by DFA’ing Jose Tena or trading Luis Garcia Jr. at the deadline. Ortiz is an absolute masher, and he is ready for the big leagues.

While Ortiz doesn’t provide much value in the field or on the bases, the kid can hit. He is also able to hit righties and lefties. In fact, his OPS is higher against lefties, and he has hit 4 of his 10 homers against southpaws, despite having far fewer at bats against them. Maybe, he is just a platoon masher, but he has the chance to hit against righties and lefties.

Another corner infielder who is red hot for the Red Wings is Yohandy Morales. He is cut from a similar cloth as Ortiz. Both are large men who hit the ball very hard. Morales hits more ground balls and low liners, which has resulted in a higher average. This season, Yohandy Morales is hitting .355 in 172 at bats with an OPS over 1.000. Morales has the ability to play first and third base as well. There are holes in his profile that we will discuss, but his numbers are making him tough to leave in AAA.

One might wonder why Paul Toboni has not called up Morales. In my opinion, the biggest reason is some of his under the hood data. Morales’ swing and miss concerns, combined with his nearly 55% ground ball rate raise some red flags. Players with this profile tend to struggle in the big leagues. However, Morales has earned the opportunity to see if his approach can work.

He would easily be an upgrade over Andres Chaparro as the right handed platoon bat at first base. However, I think the Nats don’t want to call up Morales and then have him on the bench for an extended period. With Curtis Mead locking down the third base spot for now, I am curious to see what the Nats do with Morales. He deserves a chance at the big leagues, but there is clearly some hesitation from this front office.

The last player carrying this Red Wings offense right now just got to the level. That would be the 2024 first round pick Seaver King. After a red hot start in AA, King was recently promoted to Triple-A. He has kept hitting at the new level. In six games, King is hitting .391 with a 1.140 OPS. He also hit his first AAA home run a few days ago.

The Nats have been playing King at both shortstop and second base. King playing some second base intrigues me because that position is a big need for the Nats. Nasim Nunez does a lot of really nice things, but he can’t hit. Even as he is adjusting to the big leagues, King would be an offensive upgrade over Nunez and probably Jorbit Vivas too. The question is whether the Nats front office wants to call him up quickly.

There is an argument to be made that King could use time to mature in AAA. He had a really rough season in 2025, so you want to make sure he is fully ready to go once he hits the big league level. There is also a looming lockout coming, and King would not be able to play games if he is added to the 40 man roster. However, if he stays red hot for a few more weeks and Nunez is still feeble at the plate, he may force the Nats hand.

Overall, it is a great time to be a Rochester Red Wings fan. You have these three big bats, along with some other guys too. Brady House has looked good since getting to AAA, Harry Ford is heating up after an ice cold start and the pitching staff has some exciting names like Jackson Kent and Luis Perales. The Nats stock as an organization is shooting up, and it is not just because of the success at the big league level. Teams like the Fred Nats and the Red Wings are giving fans a glimpse into a very bright future.

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Tigers place closer Kenley Jansen on the 15-day injured list with pelvic inflammation

DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers placed closer Kenley Jansen on the 15-day injured list with pelvic inflammation.

Jansen left a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels in the ninth inning. The 38-year-old Jansen is 1-3 this season with a 4.80 ERA and seven saves in 11 chances. He has allowed three walk-off homers since April 24.

On April 14, he recorded his 479th career save to move past Lee Smith for third place on the MLB career list. He now has 483, trailing only Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera (652 saves) and Trevor Hoffman (601).

To replace Jansen, the Tigers recalled left-hander Drew Sommers from Triple-A Toledo. Sommers had four appearances with the Tigers last season, posting an 0-1 record with an 18.00 ERA.

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Game Thread: Twins (27-29) at White Sox (28-27)

Can he go deep four games in a row? | (Getty Images)

If the White Sox aren’t all exhausted from running around the bases so much in last night’s 15-2 lambasting of the Twins, they’ve got an excellent chance to make it three out of four for the Minnesota visit today.

Not only are the Chicago bats hot — okay, just for one game so far, but hot has to start somewhere — but a Twins offense that would have had to work its way up to feeble against lesser Sox starters has the problem of facing Davis Martin and his 2.04 ERA while themselves holding what will be pretty much a bullpen game.

Acting as an opener+ for the Twins will be lefty Kendry Rojas, who went four innings of two-hit shutout ball against the Astros the other time he started a game this season. The rookie has been excellent in limited action, with a 1.26 ERA and 14 K’s in 14 1/3 innings, but with a wildness problem — 10 walks, though just one in each of his last two appearances.

With a southpaw on the mound, Will Venable moved Chase Meidroth, who hit a grand slam in last night’s laugher, up to the leadoff spot.

Martin, who had his only bad start of the season against the Giants last time out — four earned runs in 5 2/3 — faces a Twins lineup that has only produced five runs in regulation in the series so far.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 Central on a beautiful day for baseball, 62 degrees and mostly sunny at game time, with wind a possible factor, gusting to 21 from left to right. Usual broadcast suspects.

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Longtime Red Wings Rival Claude Lemieux Passes Away

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The NHL world is stunned today with the passing of four-time Stanley Cup winning forward Claude Lemieux, who was one of the central figures of the legendary rivalry between the Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche.

Lemieux passed away on Thursday at the age of 60 as confirmed by multiple sources. 

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Just days ago, Lemieux was in Montreal carrying the torch prior to their Game 3 Eastern Conference Final matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. 

A four-time Stanley Cup winner, Lemieux helped the New Jersey Devils defeat the Red Wings in a shocking four-game sweep in the 1995 Stanley Cup Final, collecting his second Stanley Cup ring.

Moving on to the Avalanche, Lemieux delivered the infamous hit from behind to Red Wings forward Kris Draper in Game 6 of the 1996 Western Conference Final, effectively sparking what became one of the most iconic rivalries in sports. 

The infamous "Fight Night at the Joe" on March 26, 1997 remains one of the most memorable games in Red Wings history.

Lemieux would later win the Stanley Cup once again with the New Jersey Devils in 2000, and would go on to play for the Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars, and briefly, the San Jose Sharks. 

He would routinely make appearances with former rival Darren McCarty at joint autograph signings. Additionally, he became an NHLPA-certified player agent and included current Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider among his clients. 

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REPORT: Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet likely returning for 2026-27

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 6: Landry Shamet #44 and Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks high five during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on April 6, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Most years, as June approaches, you have plenty of time to prepare for the offseason and everything that it may potential entail, in the draft, on the trade market, and in free agency.

Yet, with the Knicks in the NBA Finals, it’ll be a quick turnaround, so in the lead-up to the Finals, we’re getting to hear some rumors surrounding Knicks free agency, specifically with two of the players about to hit the market and be in line for nice paydays.

According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, the belief around the league is that both Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson will re-sign with the Knicks on multi-year contracts this summer.

After a few years of ducking the harsh penalties of the second apron, it is believed that the Knicks will blow past it to preserve the best roster in generations. The penalties are only considerably harsh if you exceed them for more than two seasons, so Bontemps believes that Shamet and Robinson will sign two-year deals to allow the team to hit a hard reset after the 2027-28 season, which by that point, much of the core will be exiting their prime in their early-to-mid 30s.

Robinson, as the longest-tenured Knick, has full Bird rights, which allow the team to extend him for as much as possible. With his injury history and limited offensive game, his market value is difficult to pin down. ESPN projected him for a three-year, $39 million contract earlier this month, but Bontemps believes a bidding war could push it over the mid-level exception, which would give him a raise over his prior deal with a max value of $64 million over four years.

Shamet, who’s risen to the level of role player folk hero that we rarely see, is in Early Bird territory in a similar fashion to Isaiah Hartenstein in 2024. Unlike Hartenstein, no team is coming with a $29 million AAV offer. Based on Early Bird rules, Shamet can extend for up to $11 million as a Year 1 salary in 2026-27, something that doesn’t feel as risky due to most teams’ financial pictures.

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Adam Silver talks flopping, using AI to help NBA referees with some calls

What's the best way to improve NBA officiating? Introducing some AI into it, of course. What could possibly go wrong?

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver went on ESPN's Pat McAfee show to prop up his anti-tanking, dramatic lottery reform "3-2-1" proposal expected to be approved by NBA owners on Thursday. However, as part of that, he got drawn into the annual conversation around officiating in the NBA playoffs, which this year has focused on "flopping" and players who draw contact and a lot of fouls. Specifically on the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

"It's been a conversation. I would only say that there's a difference between selling a call, exaggeration, and a true flop which is where you're actually fooling the referees. I think sometimes, even as I sit in the stands at games, players may be falling down, players may be reacting to a call. But then to me, if they're not fooling the referees, it's like, 'Okay. That's like, the players are taught to sell calls these days.' I mean, can officiating get better? Of course, we're always working on that. Can officials get fooled occasionally? We're always looking that as well. But the officiating is incredible."

That becomes the line that's increasingly hard to draw for officials and the league. Gilgeous-Alexander drives the lane as well as anyone, absorbs the contact and gets his shot off as he sells a call, often by falling. Where the line between selling a legit call by exaggerating contact is versus flopping is an eye-of-the-beholder thing — SGA walks that line as well as anyone. But there are plenty of players across the other 29 teams who do it to varying degrees, and fans of those teams don't see it the same way when their guy does it.

Silver then talked about trying to speed up the replay process and game flow by, at some point, using Hawkeye technology (not unlike tennis) with AI to handle in-bounds and out-of-bounds calls.

"Those calls will be done by an AI automated system with cameras lined around the court and it'll take all those so-called objective calls out of the hands of the referees. It'll be instantaneous, it'll be automatic. Just, 'Play on. Let's go, Spurs inbound.' And you'll move on, you won't have to deal with challenges on those calls."

It's a little more complex in the NBA. For example, the ball can go out of bounds off a thicket of players' hands under the basket, all going for a rebound. Having AI quickly determine whose hand from which team is not as straightforward a process as "in or out." That said, we're seeing things headed in that direction.

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Cam Spencer and Tristen Newton wrap up solid second pro seasons

Feb 21, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer (24) drives past Miami Heat forward Myron Gardner (15) during the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Cam Spencer (53rd overall) and Tristen Newton (49th overall) were second round picks in the 2024 NBA Draft. Both have performed well with the opportunities presented to them as less-heralded pro prospects.

Drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies, Spencer saw the floor 25 times in his rookie campaign with eight G League appearances. After signing a four-year, $10.5 million contract, he made a major jump in the sophomore season, playing in 72 games and starting in 25.

The 6 ‘3 guard averaged 11.1 points on 44.9% from three-point range, which ranked him 3rd in the NBA behind Bobby Portis and Luke Kennard. The former UConn sparkplug has become a key role player for the Grizzlies.

Spencer is on a rebuilding Memphis team which dealt Desmond Bane to Orlando last offseason and 2-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah at the deadline. He faced off against former teammate Stephon Castle and the San Antonio Spurs in early January, finishing with 21 points, 13 in the 4th quarter, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Spencer hit the go ahead shot with 36 seconds left, knocking off the powerhouse Spurs team.

“It felt good, I love winning,” Spencer said postgame.

Winning is what the former Husky is used to. Off the court, Spencer caught some UConn games, most notably the Elite 8 classic as the Huskies knocked off Duke to head to the Final Four.

“I wouldn’t be here today without them and, super grateful to have had those guys in my life. Got to play with a few of the guys who are still left on the team, obviously, and, just super proud of them for fighting back yesterday,” said Spencer after seeing Braylon Mullin’s buzzer beater to cap off the comeback win over the Blue Devils.

Newton’s path has been more winding. He was selected 49th in the 2024 draft by the Indiana Pacers. The guard played for their G League affiliate before being waived and picked up by Minnesota. This season, he appeared in 35 G League games, 5 for the Iowa Wolves and 30 for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, where he is currently on a two-way Contract with the Houston Rockets.

Newton was selected to play in this year’s Rising Stars Game at NBA All Star Weekend in Los Angeles. Four out of the five starters on the 2024 championship team, himself, Donovan Clingan, Spencer and Castle were all playing in the Rising Stars Game.

“That shows a lot about UConn as a whole. The level of work we put in day in and day out translates to the next level.” Newton said. The fifth starter, Alex Karaban, is on his way as a prospect in this upcoming draft.

The two-time national champion has proved he is capable of making an NBA roster, averaging 25.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on 48% from the field. His scoring ranks 3rd among the G League behind Jahmir Young and 2-time G-League MVP Mac McClung, as he earned All-NBA G League first team honors.

Newton was called up for the final game of the season for the Rockets, where he put up 12 points in 12 minutes, knocking down a pair of three-pointers.

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Precedent Says Now is Flyers' Time to Trade for Shane Wright

Over the last several years, the Philadelphia Flyers have developed a penchant for making opportunistic buy-low trades, especially for players who were formerly high draft picks.

As they head into the offseason in desperate need of more talent at center and an upgrade on defense, it's time for them to explore this habit once again.

On Thursday morning, The Athletic released its latest NHL trade board as we approach the beginning of June, and it's chock-full of interesting options for the Flyers.

For this article, though, I wanted to focus on Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright, who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Wright, 22, ranks 11th on the new trade board and fourth amongst centers, behind only Vincent Trocheck, Mason McTavish, and Elias Pettersson.

Wright's the youngest of the bunch and coming off the most disappointing season; he scored just 12 goals, 15 assists, and 27 points in 74 games for the Kraken after having 44 points in 79 games last season.

Now entering a contract year, it's now or never for Wright in Seattle, and the Kraken, at this point, aren't obligated to give him that opportunity.

The Burlington, Ontario, native can and will be replaced by prospects Berkly Catton and Jake O'Brien at center behind Matty Beniers, and the Kraken have long been looking for winger upgrades to complement those players.

Of course, it goes almost without saying by now that the Flyers have loads of wingers to trade in a deal that makes sense for them, and this might be one of those deals.

Shane Wright showed flashes of developing into a productive offensive player in the 2024-25 season. (Evolving-Hockey)
Shane Wright showed flashes of developing into a productive offensive player in the 2024-25 season. (Evolving-Hockey)

Wright's trade value has never been lower, and that should be music to the Flyers' ears.

In the recent past, the Flyers have shown a demonstrable level of patience when it comes to finding the right trade for them while maintaining interest in the players they want.

This was the case with David Jiricek before he was traded to the Minnesota Wild, and discussions around Trevor Zegras took place over an extended period of time before the deal was finally done last summer.

The Flyers also picked up Owen Tippett, a former No. 10 overall draft pick, in 2022 in the Claude Giroux trade.

That precedent tells us that now is the Flyers' time to trade for Shane Wright.

It has been suggested in the past that the Flyers were not especially interested in Wright, but again, the opportunity is presenting itself to Philadelphia at a great discount.

Wright had 44 points as a 21-year-old in his first full NHL season a year ago, and on the Flyers, he would be playing alongside much more talented wingers, such as Tippett, Matvei Michkov, Porter Martone, and Travis Konecny.

It helps, too, that Wright is a right-shot center, one of the reasons the Flyers went out of their way to claim Luke Glendening off waivers a few months back.

Wright, unlike someone such as Jett Luchanko, is already a qualifiable, established NHL center, and with one year on his contract, the Flyers won't be tying themselves to a gaudy undertaking if things don't work out.

For a player who was once widely regarded as 2022's No. 1 overall prospect, this is a chance worth taking for the Flyers.