LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 25: Shohei Ohtani #17 and Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate a run scored in to take the lead 4-3 after a double hit by teammate Freddie Freeman #5 during the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 25, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every day, Pinstripe Alley offers updates on what the Yankees’ top American League opponents are up to through the Rivalry Roundup. The AL East is well-trodden ground there, but with the end of the month upon us, we’re going to take a peek around MLB as a whole and check in with each of the other five divisions. Who’s surprising? Who’s underwhelming? Who’s simply mediocre at the moment? Read on and find out.
Unlike the mediocrity that seems to be overtaking large chunks of the American League, the National League features a much higher quantity of good baseball teams up to this point in the season. The Braves in the East have the best record in baseball, and the Dodgers are the Dodgers, but they find themselves in a division that’s anything but a cakewalk.
The NL West has obviously produced very good teams over the last handful of years, but the division has a tendency to be a bit top-heavy. While the top line is still quite good, there are multiple clubs in the West with high aspirations for October, and with good reason.
Top Position Player: Andy Pages (2.7 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Shohei Ohtani (1.9 fWAR)
Once again adding big-ticket players over the offseason, the Dodgers are unsurprisingly one of baseball’s best teams again. They are not, however, game-breakingly dominant. They still feature a roster that boasts several of the game’s very best players, and will almost certainly be the World Series favorites throughout the season, but they are also not without their flaws, though neither is anyone else.
The offense continues to be led by Shohei Ohtani (despite a “diminished” 150 wRC+), Freddie Freeman, and a resurgent Max Muncy. At the top of the fWAR leaderboard, however, is Andy Pages, who is proving that last year was no fluke, and perhaps even a preview to even greater production. Their greatest strength has long been incredible depth, and with multiple All-Star level catchers and nine different hitters producing above league average, the same rings true in 2026. While their pitching has been impressive, durability has often been their Achilles Heel, which will certainly be something to monitor later in the season. Nevertheless, FanGraphs has them as the significant favorite in all of baseball to win their division, clinch a bye, and win the World Series.
Top Position Player: Xander Boagaerts (1.1 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Mason Miller (1.5 fWAR)
Five games back of the Dodgers, the Padres have played some good baseball on the whole in 2026. That being said, they aren’t doing it in a way that was expected or even desired. The lineup regulars have been middling at best, with only Gavin Sheets and Ty France putting up good numbers in significant playing time. Most concerningly, Manny Machado is in the midst of his worst offensive season to this point, and Fernando Tatis Jr. has one home run in 241 plate appearances.
Yet somehow, the Dads are making it happen, proud owners of the top Wild Card spot in the NL as things stand. While Michael King has led the charge for their rotation, they are certainly helped by the continued otherworldly performance of Mason Miller, who has a 0.46 FIP and is striking out more than half of the batters he faces, making himself an unlikely Cy Young candidate.
Top Position Player: Corbin Carroll (2.6 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Michael Soroka (1.5 fWAR)
Once again, the D-Backs are also fully in on the conversation and hold a share of a playoff spot as well. After some roster shifting at last year’s deadline and over the offseason, they are proving to be a formidable club once again. The stars are doing their job, as Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte continue to be some of the league’s best players, while the offense has enjoyed a rejuvenated newcomer in Nolan Arenado, who’s posting his best wRC+ (130) since 2022.
On the pitching side, while Zac Gallen has been highly disappointing, veterans Eduardo Rodriguez and shockingly, Michael Soroka have delivered plenty on the mound. Appearing healthy, the 28-year-old is doing plenty to keep his club above water, and only has one dud to show for in his 11 starts this season. FanGraphs has Arizona’s postseason odds just above 40 percent, a good bit above that of the Padres.
Top Position Player: Luis Arraez (2.3 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Landen Roupp (1.6 fWAR)
Seemingly always involved, the Giants are where the NL West drops off a cliff. Already 15 games back in the division, 2026 has not gone to plan, despite some nice surprises. Luis Arraez has played well as a newbie by the Bay, while Casey Schmitt’s 12 homers and 145 wRC+ have been a major boost. The infield, however, has suffered difficult starts from both Matt Chapman and Willy Adames. Logan Webb has also been a disappointment by his standards, contributing to the major hole the club has found themselves in as we head to June.
Top Position Player: Mickey Moniak (1.4 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Antonio Senzatela (0.7 fWAR)
The Rockies. Still kind of doing their thing, though admittedly a good bit better than the historic lows they saw last season. That being said — still not good! At least Mickey Moniak’s career year has been a fun story, and they have a handful of interesting hitters, including former Yankee prospect TJ Rumfield. Someday they’ll figure things out (right?).
The Chicago Blackhawks lost Jack Pridham. He wasn’t going to sign with them, so they traded his rights to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He didn’t see much of a path to success in the Chicago organization, so he had other ideas.
After the trade was made, it became known that he was going to go to Denver, where he would find tremendous success with a truly elite NCAA program. There, he will attempt to translate his skills to a much tougher system against better opponents, which should better prepare him for the pro game.
It’s a tough loss for the Blackhawks, but they got a third-round pick for him, which is what they paid to select him in the 2024 NHL Draft. It also isn’t going to make or break the organization going forward. Their pipeline will be just fine.
As far as forwards go, they already have Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, and Frank Nazar at the NHL level. All of them are under 22 years old and are only going to get better. They also have high-quality depth players in the form of youth with Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, and Sacha Boisvert.
In the pipeline, Roman Kantserov, Vaclav Nestrasil, Marek Vanacker, and AJ Spellacy were all ahead of Pridham on the ranking chart. Guys like Nathan Behm, John Mustard, and Mason West are also in the mix. With all of those players around, Pridham didn’t see a true path to the NHL, and that’s fair.
If the Blackhawks can turn half of those players mentioned into legitimate NHL contributors, the future will remain very bright. Right now, their farm is superior in the league for a reason. Building through the draft has been their philosophy, and sometimes losing players like Pridham comes with that mentality.
Time To Acquire NHL Talent Using Prospects
The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot of great prospects. Clearly, they aren't all going to make it to the NHL on a full-time basis. There isn't enough room.
The prospects mentioned are aware of that reality, hence Jack Pridham's decision not to sign. If they see a path to more success elsewhere, they will take it.
This is a reason for the Blackhawks to start acquiring more NHL-ready talent. They have been a bottom-five team for a handful of years now, and it's time to come out of that.
With all of the youth in the lineup already, they must start experiencing late-season games that are meaningful. Trading prospects for players who will contribute right away will help the front office avoid players deciding to leave, as Pridham did.
Sure, they recouped a third-round pick this time, but they might not be as fortunate next time. Over the summer, especially around the draft and free agency, there will be opportunities for Kyle Davidson to improve the team. Some of these prospects are assets in that quest.
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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired the rights to forward prospect Jack Pridham in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
The 20-year-old Pridham was selected by Chicago in the third round of the 2024 draft. He was eligible to re-enter the draft if he didn't sign an entry-level contract with an NHL team or commit to a college by 5 p.m. EDT on Monday.
Tampa Bay said Pridham had committed to play NCAA hockey next season, and the school was “expected to be announced in the coming days.”
The Blackhawks received a third-round selection in the 2027 draft in the deal with the Lightning.
Pridham had 46 goals and 44 assists in 65 games this season with Kitchener in the Ontario Hockey League. He also helped the Rangers win the OHL championship and Memorial Cup.
Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Gerrit Cole look like themselves again, we heap more praise on Jacob Misiorowski and Cristopher Sánchez, Mariners fans show appropriate levels of petty, and we add to the list of weird baseball injuries.
As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.
Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, June 1
1) Atlanta Braves
Last week: 1
Consider this: The Braves have been the best team in baseball this season despite Ronald Acuña Jr. not being his usual self at the plate while also missing time due to injury. Well, “La Bestia” has awoken.
Acuña had just two home runs through his first 42 games this season. He’s hit five in his last four games.
2) Los Angeles Dodgers
Last week: 2
The Dodgers are rolling right now, with 14 wins in their last 17 games. Perhaps the best sign? Progress from Roki Sasaki. He’s allowed just four earned runs with a 19/2 K/BB ratio in 17 3/ innings over his last three starts.
3) Milwaukee Brewers ⬆️
Last week: 4
For as impressive as Cristopher Sánchez was in the month of May, you could argue that Jacob Misiorowski was better. He allowed just one run in 38 1/3 innings while compiling a 57/6 K/BB ratio. Opposing batters hit just .109 against The Miz in May, compared to .181 for Sánchez.
4) Tampa Bay Rays ⬇️
Last week: 3
The Rays hit their first real rough patch in recent days, but Shane McClanahan continues to be a rock in this rotation. He fired five innings of one-run ball for the win against the Angels on Sunday and holds a sterling 2.45 ERA across 11 starts.
5) New York Yankees ⬆️
Last week: 6
I said in last week’s column that it would be nice to see more strikeouts from Gerrit Cole, so of course he went out there and struck out 10 batters last Wednesday against the Royals. It’s easy to dream about a postseason rotating led by Cole, Max Fried, and Cam Schlittler, but there’s a long way to go.
I can’t move on from the Yankees without mentioning their 13-run third inning against the A’s on Sunday. The offensive eruption fell just one run shy of the highest-scoring inning in franchise history. And they did it all without hitting a home run. Perhaps equally strange, they were held hitless in every other inning.
6) Cleveland Guardians ⬆️
Last week: 7
In a week where the Guardians dropped four out of six, it was announced that Travis Kelce is a new minority owner. The legendary tight end grew up a Cleveland fan and even considered a career in baseball, so it’s a surely a bucket list item to be involved with his hometown team. Patrick Mahomes is undoubtedly happy for his friend, but of course he took the opportunity to roast him.
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) May 27, 2026
7) San Diego Padres ⬇️
Last week: 5
The Padres have lost six out of their last seven games, but hey, Fernando Tatís Jr. finally hit his first home run of the season Saturday. It was a no-doubter, too, as he launched it 451 feet.
That had to feel good. Tatís had gone 240 plate appearances without a home run dating back to last season.
8) Seattle Mariners ⬆️
Last week: 17
Now that's a leap. With six straight wins, the Mariners are back where we thought they’d be. Over .500 and in first place in the AL West.
Remember the piggyback drama with Luis Castillo last week? Well, Bryce Miller and Castillo did an excellent job in Sunday’s series finale against the Diamondbacks, setting up Victor Robles’ walk-off RBI single.
Side note: I respect pettiness. And the reaction from Seattle fans to the Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly the Seattle SuperSonics) losing Game 7 to the Spurs was just priceless.
The Mariners have hit four home runs, and they just showed the Thunder losing on the big screen.
Us dads might not know where anything is, and we might forget to pack the sunscreen, but if there’s a foul ball in the vicinity and we just happen to be holding our kid, that’s not going to stop us from fulfilling our destiny.
10) Chicago White Sox ⬆️
Last week: 14
That’s right, the White Sox have bumped the Cubs out of the top 10. I didn’t plan it this way, but it’s a cool symbolic moment. It took the White Sox until July 5 last year to reach 30 wins, so whether they can maintain this level of performance or not, there’s progress being made. It’s just a shame that Munetaka Murakami will miss several weeks due to a hamstring injury.
11) Chicago Cubs ⬇️
Last week: 10
The Cubs finally got back in the win column last week, but they finished the month of May at 13-16. Shota Imanaga exemplifies the struggles, as he gave up 10 home runs with a 5.80 ERA over six starts in May.
12) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬆️
Last week: 13
Coming off a sweep of the Twins, the Pirates have won six out of eight. They’ll have to get by for a little while without star rookie Konnor Griffin, but Ryan O’Hearn had two hits (including a homer) in his return from the IL on Sunday. Jared Jones is also back after undergoing surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow last May.
13) Philadelphia Phillies ⬇️
Last week: 11
While the offense continues to struggle, Cristopher Sánchez keeps chasing history. The southpaw broke the Phillies’ franchise record with 44 2/3 scoreless innings. It’s the seventh-longest such streak in MLB history, with Orel Hershiser (59 IP) still sitting on top. He’ll try to keep climbing on Wednesday against the Padres.
14) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬇️
Last week: 9
The Diamondbacks fall out of the top 10 after being swept by the Mariners. Folks in the r/baseball community were critical of their inclusion last week given that they got hot while playing teams like the Rockies and the Giants. There’s some validity to that criticism. Up next is a major test against the Dodgers.
15) Cincinnati Reds ⬇️
Last week: 12
Troubling sight for the Reds on Sunday, as Elly De La Cruz was forced to leave due to right hamstring tightness. He landed on the 10-day IL on Monday. Not an ideal start to June after the Reds went 10-17 in May.
16) Washington Nationals ⬇️
Last week: 15
Behind a potent offense, the Nationals went 16-12 in May. It's easy to forget that they actually went 15-12 last May. This is still a flawed team, but their success feels more real this time.
17) Toronto Blue Jays ⬆️
Last week: 19
In a bizarre scene, Blue Jays outfielder Jesús Sánchez was forced to exit Sunday’s game against the Orioles after he was hit in the right wrist on a ball thrown by a kid from the stands.
It was apparently a miscommunication, with no ill will on the part of the kid. And fortunately it doesn’t appear as though Sánchez is seriously injured. With the way things have gone with the Blue Jays this year, it’s about time they caught a break on that front.
18) Texas Rangers ⬆️
Last week: 21
The Rangers have hovered around the .500 mark through much of the first two months. Is this the week they finally make a push? After taking care of business against the Royals over the weekend, they get the Cardinals on the road to begin the week before returning home to face the Guardians. One encouraging note is that Wyatt Langford is back playing rehab games after dealing with a nagging forearm injury.
19) Baltimore Orioles ⬆️
Last week: 22
The vibes are improving in Baltimore. Including a five-run comeback against the Blue Jays in the ninth inning on Saturday (see below), the Orioles went 7-3 during their 10-game homestand. Now they’ll head on the road to face the Red Sox and the Blue Jays.
The A’s can’t wait to hit the road. They lost five out of six on their recent homestand and are now 11-17 at Sutter Health Park this season. The difference, not surprisingly, is stark. The A’s have a 5.73 ERA (29th in MLB) at home compared to a 3.39 ERA (fourth-lowest) on the road.
21) Houston Astros ⬆️
Last week: 23
After a brutal April, the Astros went 15-14 in May and have won seven out of their last 10. Cam Smith has swung the bat better in recent days (hitting .300 over his last 11 games), but he’s also contributing with the glove.
Six straight losses for the Twins, who continue to have rotation issues. Minnesota lost Bailey Ober due to right elbow inflammation over the weekend and also designated Simeon Woods-Richardson for assignment after he posted a 7.74 ERA through 12 appearances (10 starts) to begin the year.
23) Boston Red Sox ⬆️
Last week: 24
It’s been a tough start to the season for Jarren Duran, but he’s finally seeing results. He’s hitting .347 with six homers and 14 RBI over his last 11 games. He’s improved his season OPS by nearly 150 points during the hot stretch.
24) New York Mets ⬆️
Last week: 26
The Mets were swept by the Marlins last weekend while scoring just two runs across three games. This past weekend, they turned the tables by plating 25 runs in a three-game sweep of Miami. Baseball!
25) Miami Marlins ⬇️
Last week: 20
Add this one to the annals of weird baseball injuries. Eury Pérez threw four scoreless innings against the Blue Jays last Wednesday before he was forced to exit the game after injuring himself while stretching the dugout. It turns out that he suffered a high-grade strain of his right gracilis, which is one of the muscles in the inner thigh area.
26) San Francisco Giants ⬆️
Last week: 27
Where did this come from? A fixture near the bottom of the league in runs scored through two months, the Giants knocked around the Rockies for 19 runs on Sunday as Jung Hoo Lee had a five-hit day. He’s 11-for-15 (.733) since coming off the injured list.
27) Kansas City Royals ⬇️
Last week: 25
The losses are piling up. KC has dropped six straight and 16 out of their last 19. Maikel Garcia left Saturday’s game with a hamstring issue and there’s a chance he could end up on the injured list.
28) Detroit Tigers
Last week: 28
If you lose 21 out of 25 games, you deserve to find yourself here. Yes, the rotation has been hit hard by injuries, but the Tigers were last in the majors with 81 runs scored in May.
29) Los Angeles Angels
Last week: 29
If you are going to get ejected, make sure it’s for something as ridiculous as a National Anthem stand-off.
Before you get on your soapbox, just realize that Brent Suter was unlikely to pitch anyway after he threw 25 pitches the night before. Just embrace the pure silliness that can only happen in baseball.
30) Colorado Rockies
Last week: 30
As Paul DePodesta attempts to figure out how to win in Colorado, one of the big responsibilities will be setting the foundation at the minor league level. That’s why it’s disappointing to hear that last year’s first-round pick, Ethan Holliday, is done for the season after surgery to address a stress fracture in his left foot. The 19-year-old hit .262 with nine home runs and a .952 OPS over 33 games with Class A Fresno this season.
The Seattle Mariners will look to stay hot as they welcome the New York Mets for the start of a three-game series on Monday night.
Seattle should have its way with New York’s pitching tonight, which is why I’m taking the home team to win in my Mets vs. Mariners predictions.
Let’s dig into tonight’s matchup as I explore my free MLB picks for Monday, June 1.
Who will win Mets vs Mariners today: Mariners moneyline (-130)
Seattle Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.78 ERA) has dropped his WHIP to 1.01 this season behind his fastball. It’s one of the best pitches any starter is throwing this year, with Baseball Savant rating it in the 100th percentile for Fastball Run Value.
The New York Mets are giving Austin Warren his first start tonight, with Sean Manaea (0-1, 5.56 ERA) likely picking up the bulk of the innings. The Mets are 2-10 in Manaea’s appearances this year. This is a mismatch on the mound, and I like the Mariners to win at anything better than -150.
COVERS INTEL: The Mets are hitting four-seam fastballs and sinkers – pitches that make up more than 60% of Hancock’s arsenal – for line drives just 21% of the time against righties, the fifth-worst percentage in the majors this year.
Mets vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (+105)
The Mariners have been effective against lefties this year, with 20% of all balls they’ve hit off of southpaws being pulled in the air. They should find success against Manaea, who has an average fastball velocity of just over 90 MPH, which will let those Seattle bats get around on him.
The Mets should provide something towards the total, as they’ve averaged 7.25 runs per game during their four-game winning streak. Even if Juan Soto and company can’t generate more than a couple of runs, the Mariners might get there themselves. I’m taking the Over at even money or better.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 10-14 -4.48 units
Over/Under bets: 7-15, -8.53 units
Mets vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Mets +122 | Mariners -135
Run line: Mets +1.5 (-200) | Mariners -1.5 (+174)
Over/Under: Over 7 (-115) | Under 7 (-105)
Mets vs Mariners trend
The Mariners are 3-1 straight up in Hancock’s last four starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Mariners.
How to watch Mets vs Mariners and game info
Location
Stadium, City, State/Province
Date
Monday, June 1, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
Mariners.TV, SportsNet New York
Mets starting pitcher
Austin Warren (1-1, 1.40 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.78 ERA)
Mets vs Mariners latest injuries
Mets vs Mariners weather
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.
Apr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) against the Golden State Warriors during the first half in the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Phoenix Suns have numerous decisions ahead of them this upcoming offseason, including multiple restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players with trade value. The following series will examine those decisions as our writing team presents both a point and a counterpoint for each.
We’ve arrived at the final player to discuss in our “How to Fix the Suns” saga. You know him well, as he’s played 11 seasons for the Phoenix Suns. And I’m here to tell you why the Suns should let him play his 12th in Phoenix.
Devin Booker is easily the team’s most valuable asset, both financially and organizationally. And there is a reason for that. Last season, he once again showcased why he is an All-Star, and had he played the qualifying number of games, he may have added another All-NBA team selection to his resume.
The likelihood of him being moved? I’d place it in the “slim to none” category, especially considering what Suns’ owner Mat Ishbia stated in his end-of-season presser.
“I’ll ride into a fire with Devin Booker and I’ll do it proudly,” Isbia emphatically stated. “Devin Booker is not getting traded. Devin Booker is our franchise player.”
Suns owner Mat Ishbia: “I’ll ride into a fire with Devin Booker, and I’ll do it proudly… Devin Booker is not getting traded. Devin Booker is our franchise player. We’re going to win a championship here with Devin Booker. I’m excited to do it and be next to him when we do that.” pic.twitter.com/CtyNXnLehp
Perhaps that should be it. That’s the entire article. Ishbia said we ain’t doing it, the end. But where’s the fun in that?
I’ll start by acknowledging that, while I truly appreciate who and what Devin Booker is as a player and a person, no one in inexpendable. Such is life. You might think you’re hot shit, but guess what? The building will still be standing whenever you leave. There’s your life lesson for you.
So it’s valuable to have this thought exercise. It allows us to ponder big picture scenarios, understand the broader picture, and respond to those who believe that parting ways with Devin Booker is something to be explored.
Yes, Book has his shortcomings. In 11 seasons with Phoenix, the team has truly been a viable championship contender in two of them. Preseason expectations may lead you to tack on another two seasons, although we all know how the Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal era played out. Still, for those who believe moving off of Devin Booker is the right call, I’m here to make the case that you’re wrong.
Trading Booker now creates more problems than it solves
Last year was a pleasantly surprising season. We exited the year feeling a sense of confidence in the overall direction of the franchise, and although the Suns have their dead-cap issues and limited draft capital, it finally felt like we had fewer problems than your average NBA team.
Devin Booker may have his limitations as a player, and the Phoenix Suns may ultimately be limited by whatever ceiling exists with him leading the way. But for an organization searching for continuity and stability, keeping Booker is paramount for moving the ball forward. Blowing things up now only leads to more losing, less competitive basketball, and a franchise climbing onto the hamster wheel every rebuilding team hopes to escape, chasing lottery picks and waiting for one to change everything.
Phoenix spent last offseason retooling. There’s a foundation here. In my opinion, you stay on the path you’re on. That doesn’t mean you can’t pivot in a year or two. But right now, with this mix of youth and veterans, continuity and stability are the two most valuable things the Suns have. The moment you move off Booker this offseason, you’re sacrificing both.
For those who think now is the time to blow it up, stockpile draft picks, and bring in younger pieces alongside veterans whose contracts match Booker’s money, I simply don’t agree with that path. There are plenty of teams around the NBA trying to find stars, praying that their latest lottery pick is the answer. Praying isn’t a strategy. Having an organization that knows how to properly function is. That is what Phoenix is attempting to build.
Sure, Booker isn’t a superstar, but he is undeniably a star. And he raises your floor every time he’s on the court. All you have to do is look back at this past season to remember what the offense looked like when he wasn’t available. Point Book may not be the long-term answer, but his presence still brings a level of steadiness to an offense that understandably struggled whenever he was out. The team carried a 115.9 offensive rating and were +201 when Booker was on the court this season, and were -81 with a 110.0 rating when he was off.
That’s why, to me, this isn’t really about blind loyalty or refusing to acknowledge Booker’s limitations. It’s about timing and understanding where the Phoenix Suns actually are as an organization. They finally have some traction. They finally have a direction that feels intentional. Devin Booker is still a major part of that. Right now, moving off Booker feels less like progress and more like hitting reset before you truly know what you’ve built.
The Suns still need Booker to bridge what comes next
Phoenix finds itself in a weird spot in franchise history. They’re good. And maybe next season, with continued youth development and more stability around Devin Booker, they can become better than good. Great, perhaps? At the same time, this era feels like a bridge. A strange middle ground between the team that made the Finals and the team that fumbled its way out of that era.
Now it’s about the next steps.
Part of correcting the course is getting to 2030, when Booker’s salary comes off the books and some of the dead cap money clears as well. To get there, the Suns need to navigate the next few seasons the right way. And having Booker here gives them a real chance to do that, because having Booker here means Phoenix is going to win basketball games.
And winning matters.
When you have an influx of young players and you’re trying to teach them how to win, having Devin Booker in the building is important. His presence has value. Because if you blow it up, chances are you start losing. And when losing becomes part of the culture, players can grow comfortable with it, and climbing out of that hole becomes incredibly difficult.
Ask the Brooklyn Nets this year. Ask the Suns from a decade ago. Losing culture isn’t something to embrace. It isn’t something to chase. And I believe moving off Booker this offseason would put Phoenix right back on that path.
Phoenix finally has a roster with some direction, some continuity, and a young core learning what winning basketball is supposed to look like. Booker helps reinforce all of that every time he steps on the floor. Maybe a year from now, the conversation changes and the organization decides a different path makes more sense. Currently, the Suns need stability more than they need a reset, and Devin Booker still gives them the clearest path toward building something worth sustaining.
Devin Booker means more to Phoenix than basketball
Then there’s the loyalty factor. Sure, the NBA is a business. Fans don’t always care about loyalty, and players don’t always care about loyalty. That conversation goes both ways. In Booker’s case, it feels different.
A player entering his 12th season in Phoenix is rare. If Booker suits up with Phoenix next season, he’ll become one of only three players in franchise history to play that many seasons for the Suns. The others are Kevin Johnson, who played 12 years in Phoenix, and Alvan Adams, who spent all 13 seasons of his career here.
There’s something meaningful in that. There’s beauty in that loyalty. There’s a sense of pride in it. And for a fan base that’s dealt with plenty of mercenaries in recent years, it’s nice having somebody who never felt like one. Booker stayed. He embraced the state. He embraced the community. He’s grown with the franchise and helped carry it through some ugly years and some unforgettable ones.
Those things matter to me. And quite honestly, I’m not ready to let go of that yet.
That’s the part that can’t be fully measured when we talk about contracts, timelines, and long-term roster building. Devin Booker became bigger than a stat line in Phoenix a long time ago. He became part of the identity of the franchise itself. Through the losing seasons, through the Finals run, through every reset and every expectation that followed, Booker remained the constant.
The player, the franchise, and the city still feel connected.
This man could have left years ago for various reasons, and no one would have blamed him. He decided to stick it out with the franchise and state that embraced him as an 18 year old kid out of college! Loyalty, love, and respect matters! Some things are bigger than basketball! 💯 https://t.co/cRZhreK9YY
And the primary reason I don’t want to move off Devin Booker at this point is simple. Now is not the time.
I keep coming back to that word, continuity. The Suns need another season with their primary pieces in place to see what they are, who they are, and whether what they’ve built actually works. Not strictly the players either. The coaching schemes. The culture. The foundation they started laying this past season.
Because if it’s repeatable, now you have options.
And with this new regime focused on development across the board, it’s also an opportunity for Booker to continue showing exactly who and what he is within that structure. If Phoenix falls short of expectations, then this time next summer the conversation becomes very different. And when that time comes, we can have it. At this point, I don’t think it’s time.
I know there are some of you out there who believe Booker’s value will never be higher than it is right now. I disagree. I actually think there’s a case for his value increasing next season, when he has three years left on his deal, with two of those on the supermax. There’s less long-term money attached. There’s a cleaner runway. And if there’s an organization out there struggling to find direction, a team like the Detroit Pistons, for example, Booker suddenly becomes the type of player you convince yourself can change everything.
And to get that player, you pay a premium.
Granted, the NBA’s anti-tanking rules have changed the math a bit. Teams are probably not going to throw five first-round picks into deals the way they once did. Those picks carry more value now because flat lottery odds have made every one of them feel more like a lottery ticket. That reality exists whether you trade Booker now or next summer.
Across the league, draft picks are more valuable, and teams are going to be more selective with how they move them. That’s why I believe Phoenix can accomplish both things next season. You can evaluate whether the system works. You can evaluate whether Booker works within it. You can gather another year of development, another year of chemistry, another year of data.
And if things don’t break the way you hoped they would, you can still move off Booker next summer at fair market value. That option is still there. It doesn’t have to happen now.
The Suns spent all of last season trying to establish structure, identity, and a healthier long-term direction. Walking away from Booker before you’ve truly given that process another year to breathe feels premature. Let the group play. Let the system evolve. Let the organization gather one more season of information. If the answers aren’t there a year from now, the option to make a major move still exists. Right now, patience feels like the smarter play.
Yeah, Ishbia says we aren’t moving Booker. And I agree with that statement, for now. This team has earned the right to see what next year brings. They’ve earned the right to prove whether or not health, development, and continuity can progress their standing in the league. ‘
This is Devin Booker’s team. This is Devin Booker’s town. Until it’s not.
Shohei Ohtani (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
In this series, every win against the Dodgers adds to my happiness. Despite my optimism, great joy would follow splitting this four-game series. Looking at the pitching matchups, the Diamondbacks have better winning chances in three of the four games. My prediction is the series is a split. In any case, don’t underestimate the underdog Diamondbacks.
Let’s compare the teams, ignoring that the Dodgers have an advantage in depth of players.
Offense.This season through 29 May, the Dodgers had more runs scored per game (5.30 vs 4.66).
Runners Left On Base. In games through 29 May, the Diamondbacks had the third lowest runners left on base of 6.38 per game. The Dodgers were average with 6.89 runners left on base per game.
Defense. In games through 29 May, the Dodgers defense was better than the Diamondbacks defense. (19 vs 11 outs above average (OAA), and 34 vs 11 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS).
Bullpens. In May, the Dodgers bullpen had an amazing streak of scoreless innings per this SB Nation article. Their bullpen allowed zero runs in 11 games played from 13-24 May (36.0 innings pitched). The streak stopped abruptly. In the following four games, their bullpen allowed 7 earned runs in 11 innings pitched.
For the entire season, the Diamondbacks had more shutdown performances by the bullpen (58 vs 39). Very slight edge to the Diamondbacks.
Starting Pitcher Matchups. In May, the Diamondbacks had 17 quality starts (so far). This is the key that is allowing the Diamondbacks offense to drive the Diamondbacks towards the playoffs. For this series, three of the four matchups are advantage Diamondbacks.
Dodger Player to Watch
Shohei Ohtani, future Hall of Famer. Although he won a silver sligger award four times, this season he may fall short of winning (but with batting well above average). His pitching is a career best. He is in contention for his first Cy Young award. In this series, Diamondbacks fans at Chase will likely see him pitch!
“Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani tossed six hitless innings on Wednesday against the Rockies. He also chipped in a leadoff home run for good measure. Ohtani lowered his ERA to 0.82. As ESPN points out, it’s the ninth-lowest ERA heading into June among pitchers who have thrown at least 50 innings since 1913….” — Charlie Wright, MLBTR
Diamondbacks Player to Watch
On 26 May, Lovullo said yes to a question about whether Pavin Smith would likely return in the Dodgers series. I’m confident that when he rejoins the team, he will show consistent excellent performance.
Pitching Matchups.
Monday, 6:40 PM MST, Korean Heritage Celebration. Eduardo Rodriguez will face Emmet Sheehan. In March/April, Rodriguez had the better ERA (3.03 vs 4.78 ERA). In May, Rodriguez compared even better (1.60 vs 4.62 ERA). In May, Sheehan improved his ratio of strikeouts to walks from 3.11 to 6,20, but his ERA was little changed.
This matchup is advantage Diamondbacks.
Tuesday, 6:40 PM MST, Lou Gehrig Day. Michael Soroka will face Eric Lauer. In March/April, Soroka had the better ERA (4.70 vs 6.00 ERA). In May, Soroka compared even better (1.78 vs 5.87 ERA).
This matchup is advantage Diamondbacks.
Wednesday, 6:40 PM MST, Japanese Heritage Celebration. Zac Gallen will face Shohei Ohtani. The contrast between these two pitchers is stark. While Gallen is currently the fourth or fifth best pitcher in the Diamondbacks rotation, Ohtani is competing for the Cy Young award. Nevertheless, this season Gallen had two quality starts. This game could be a third quality start, and the Diamondbacks would have winning chances.
This matchup is advantage Dodgers.
Thursday, 6:40 PM MST, Mexican Heritage Night. Ryne Nelson will face Justin Wobleski. In March/April, Wobleski had the better ERA (1.50 vs 7.71 ERA). In May (prior to his start on 30 May), Nelson turned it around, showing he is now the better pitcher (2.36 vs 4.13 ERA). My gut is telling me that Nelson is the better pitcher.
The Golden Knights have the playoffs' top scorers in Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel and two 10-goal scorers in Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden. Mark Stone is back from an injury. The Hurricanes have the hottest line in the playoffs with Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake. The Sebastian Aho line hasn't broken through yet in the playoffs. If it does, this is a different series, but for now, it hasn't.
Edge: Golden Knights
Defense
The Golden Knights push teams to the outside and block shots. The Hurricanes make it difficult to get out of the zone. Carolina's Jaccob Slavin is one of the best shutdown defensemen in the league. K'Andre Miller was a solid offseason addition who has a league-best +14 plus-minus. Sean Walker is at +13. Hurricanes defensemen have better puck possession numbers than the Golden Knights do. Vegas gets better offensive numbers from the blue line. Shea Theodore (four goals, 11 points) is the top-scoring defenseman in the series, but he also averages 4.12 giveaways per 60 minutes.
Edge: Hurricanes
Goaltending
Carolina's Frederik Andersen gave up eight goals in the two losses in the season series, but Andersen is a changed goalie since the playoffs began. His regular season goals-against average was 3.05 and now it's 1.44. Vegas' Carter Hart, who faces more shots, is at 2.22. Moneypuck.com lists Andersen's goals saved above expected at 11.5, compared with Hart's 7.7. Andersen is motivated to win for his late agent Claude Lemieux, the four-time Stanley Cup winner who died on May 28.
Edge: Hurricanes
Coaching
Vegas' John Tortorella won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, but he hasn't been back to the final since. Rod Brind'Amour hasn't won a Cup as a coach but did as captain of the Hurricanes in 2006. Tortorella gets kudos for turning around the team after it fired coach Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the season and for sweeping the powerhouse Avalanche in a series involving two comebacks. Brind'Amour gets kudos for his video session after Carolina lost Game 1 to the Canadiens. The Hurricanes emerged in the next game as a different-looking team and dominated Montreal territorially for four games in a row to close out the series.
Edge: Hurricanes
Special teams
The Golden Knights' power play clicks at 23.9%, compared with the Hurricanes' 12.5%. But Carolina have a better penalty kill (92.5%) than the Golden Knights' (87.5%).
The Knicks are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, facing the same San Antonio Spurs franchise that defeated them in five games 27 years ago.
The Spurs, winners of 62 games during the regular season, own homecourt advantage in the series.
Head coach Mike Brown knows the Knicks will need to come out strong in Wednesday night's Game 1 in order to not let the home crowd become a factor.
“[We need to be] aware that we’re going into an environment where the opposing team is going to generate a lot of energy,” Brown said. “Our crowd is one of the best, if not the best in the league, and the energy that we get from playing here at Madison Square Garden is unbelievable. There are probably other buildings where, in their players’ minds, they give them that same energy.
"So, knowing that it’s going to be hostile, we don’t have the energy of the crowd to help us get over the hump. So we have to come out, not coming out jumping on them, but we have to come out with a purpose, not just physically but mentally as well, so that we don’t fall behind big, because the crowd will really feed into that.”
The Knicks’ most recent meeting with the Spurs came in mid-December, as the Knicks won the NBA Cup with a 124-113 victory over San Antonio.
And while the two teams split the two regular season matchups outside of the NBA Cup, Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t putting much stock into any of those past meetings.
“The Finals are won by a team, and I think both of our teams are different than what you saw at the [NBA] Cup,” Towns said. “Even though we were blessed to be able to win it, we’re not the same team that we were at the Cup, nor are they the same team that they were at the Cup.”
Towns, of course, grew up in New Jersey as a Knicks fan. Now he’s part of a Knicks team that is on the cusp of winning the franchise’s first title since 1973.
“It’s been an honor to be part of this team, part of this organization that’s bringing the word hope back to the city,” Towns said. “To have the Knicks be where we’re at right now and to be so respected in the city…. The greatest currency you can earn in New York City isn’t money, it’s respect. And to have the respect of the fans in the city, we’re rich beyond belief here in the city.”
The Knicks have steamrolled through their first three playoff series, making things look easy in series wins over Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Cleveland.
In sweeping the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks haven’t played since last Monday. But as Landry Shamet explained, the Knicks are no strangers to having longer gaps in their playoff schedule.
“Our focus is on going on the road and winning Game 1, and that’s been the same. This isn’t our first long break that we’ve had,” said the veteran guard. “So, it’s more of the same and focusing on the details and gameplan and not getting too crazy or outside the box. The reality is we’re here for a reason and we don’t need to reinvent the wheel entirely. Staying with our principles and focusing on the little things and building up to go try to win Game 1.”
Addresses media for first time since losing friends in car accident
Former world champion to return to ring in tune-up for Tyson Fury bout
Anthony Joshua has stressed that rather than coming to terms with his own grief after the car accident in which two of his closest friends died last December, his primary focus has been on helping their parents. As he prepares to resume his career next month, Joshua said: “I’m just there for their parents. Number one is being a good soldier for them. Gotta look after the boys’ parents.”
Asked if he had felt compelled to bury his pain since he was injured in the accident in Nigeria which took the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, Joshua said: “Everyone’s different. Me, I have to put my emotions to the side because I focus on the parents. My emotions can come at a later stage. I really look at the parents and I understand it must be most difficult for them. So I don’t make it about me, I make it about them. I make it about the mums and the dads of the two boys.”
With the NHL Draft returning at the end of June, the Detroit Red Wings will be approaching proceedings a little differently than most. Having dealt their first-round selection at the trade deadline, Detroit will not have a pick on day one and will instead turn their full attention to the second round, where their first selection of the draft comes at 47th overall.
It is not a bad position to be in. The second round regularly produces meaningful NHL contributors, and there figures to be no shortage of intriguing options available when Detroit's card goes in.
One name worth watching closely is Markus Ruck, an 18-year-old forward from Osoyoos, British Columbia, who just wrapped up one of the more eye-catching individual seasons in recent Western Hockey League memory.
Playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers this past season, Ruck posted 21 goals and a staggering 87 assists for 108 points in 68 games. Both his assist total and his point total led the entire WHL, with his 87 helpers coming 21 clear of the next closest player in the league.
His 108 points also topped the league by four, with the player directly behind him being his own twin brother, Liam Ruck, in what made for an extraordinary family footnote to the WHL's individual scoring race. Markus carries some question marks at the pro level, primarily around his 168-pound frame, which raises durability and physicality concerns as he steps up in competition.
At six feet tall, there is a reasonable projection that he fills out over time, but NHL teams will weigh that risk when deciding how early to commit. His offensive skillset, however, is difficult to argue with. Elite playmaking ability at this volume and consistency does not come around often.
The draft boards reflect the uncertainty around his ceiling like TSN's Craig Button, who has Ruck ranked as high as 16th overall, while McKeen's Hockey places him 54th, producing a consolidated ranking on Elite Prospects of 45th, which sits almost precisely where Detroit will be selecting. If Ruck slides even slightly on draft day, the Red Wings could find themselves with a straightforward decision.
As for Liam, he carries a consolidated ranking of 34th and is generally considered the hotter commodity on draft boards, with Button placing him as high as tenth overall.
Getting to Liam at 47 would likely not happen and would require Detroit to trade up, making him a more complicated target. But the possibility of landing one half of a brother tandem that dominated the WHL's scoring charts this season is a scenario worth monitoring.
However the board falls, Detroit enters day two of the draft with meaningful ammunition and no shortage of options. The Red Wings have worked hard to build one of the deeper prospect pipelines in the league, and whoever they select at 47th overall figures to add to what is already a very promising foundation.
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WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 31: Daylen Lile #4, Jacob Young #30, and James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals celebrate after winning a game against the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park on May 31, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nationals continue to stay hot as the calendar flips to June, having just finished a month where they went 6-2-1 in their 9 series’. Holding 2nd place in the National League East, this month offers Washington a chance to maintain their place in contention and potentially force the front office’s hand and buy before the late July trade deadline. As they look to keep fighting for a playoff spot, they have a chance for revenge against the 26-34 Miami Marlins, who took a 3-game series against them in early May.
It’s certainly a good time for the Nats to face Miami, who enters the series on a 5-game losing streak, capped off by getting swept by the New York Mets. The Marlins have had their stretches, but remain entrenched in mediocrity at the bottom of the division, However, two of their best arms are set to throw this series, giving Washington a legitimate test.
Game 1 – Monday 6:45 PM EST
WSH: RHP Cade Cavalli (3-3, 3.62 ERA)
MIA: RHP Sandy Alcantara (3-4, 4.66 ERA)
Cavalli hasn’t been a worldbeater this season, but he’s steadied out as of late and has continued to be a reliable option in the rotation. His most recent outing, 6.0 innings of 1-run ball with 7 strikeouts against the Cleveland Guardians, again showed that the 25-year-old has an arsenal capabale of handling MLB lineups on a consistent basis. He’s done fine job of preventing opponents from putting together crooked innings, and he looks to continue that trend on Monday.
May was a month to forget for Alcantara, giving up 6 runs or more in 3 of his 5 appearances, including getting ripped by Toronto for a season high 8 runs on May 26th. He’s striking guys out at a lower rate than usual, and his offspeed pitches have been getting torched on the regular. The Nats’ offense has been firing on all cylinders, easily swinging this game in their favor.
Game 2 – Tuesday 6:45 PM EST
WSH: RHP Miles Mikolas (1-4, 5.72 ERA)
MIA: TBD
This has certainly been an interesting narrative shift for Mikolas, who has seen much improved results since the beginning of May. He’s bounced between starting and entering after an opener, but what hasn’t changed is how impressive he’s been across the last calendar month. His abysmal 8.46 ERA in April was flipped on its head in May, and he takes on Miami after posting just a 2.74 ERA over his last 5 times through the rotation.
No pitcher has been announced yet for Miami, as they continue to work through a handful of injuries and roster moves within the rotation.
Game 3 – Wednesday 1:05 PM EST
WSH: LHP Andrew Alvarez (1-0, 4.02 ERA)
MIA: RHP Max Meyer (5-0, 2.97)
The 26-year-old’s 6th appearance in 2026 is set to be his 1st start. San Diego gave him troubles the last time he toed the rubber, and needs to attack hitters instead of restricting himself to the corners. In what’s set up to be a bullpen game for Washington, they look to Alvarez to take care of the top of the Marlins’ lineup in the series finale.
The clear alpha of the Miami staff, Meyer has finally broken out into the pitcher they envisioned when selecting him 3rd overall in 2020. His 5-pitch mix has kept hitters at bay, and his secondaries continue to generate some of the best results across the league. Winning at least one of the first two games will be crucial for the Nats, with Game 3 looking like their weakest matchup on paper.
Mar 1, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) defends New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
When I first started writing for Pounding the Rock ahead of the 2016-17 season, the Spurs were plenty relevant. The had arguably a top 2 player in the league in Kawhi Leonard, their first ever big free agent signing (LaMarcus Aldridge) was entering his second season with the club, and they were seen as top title contenders alongside the soon-to-be dynasty of the Golden State Warriors. As a result, there was plenty being written about the Spurs from across the media landscape, which meant there was plenty to cover. So we regularly published posts with links so our readers could find content that they had missed.
In the years since, as the Spurs fell down the standings and out of the average sports fan’s mind, there wasn’t as much being written beyond the occasional monument0us event (like, you know, drafting Victor Wembanyama). But now, with the Spurs back in the NBA Finals, they’re in the brightest of spotlights, so it’s time to dust off ye ol’ Links post to provide you with even more reading than what we produce ourselves as you wait for Wednesday evening to arrive.
A look back at the Western Conference Finals
Obviously, we have covered the Spurs’ amazing victory over the Thunder pretty extensively, but if you want some other perspectives, check out the following links:
Jeff Zillgitt of NBA.com provides four takeaways from Game 7, from how the Spurs took down the defending champions to where the Thunder go from here.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater discusses how Victor Wembanyama led the “ahead of schedule” Spurs back to the Finals.
San Antonio Express News’ Tom Orsborn looks at Julian Champagnie’s improbable journey to the Finals, from being cut by the Philadelphia 76ers to make room for Mac McClung — entirely so he could be in the dunk contest — to starter who hit big shot after big shot to help take down the defending champions. (Subscription required.)
Finals Previews
Check out what national pundits are saying in series previews and how they think it will go.
ESPN staffers look back at the Spurs and Knicks three regular season games and what to watch for in the Finals.
The Athletic’s Spurs and Knicks contributors — Jared Weiss and James Edwards III, respectively — team up to provide the lowdown on the Finals. (Subscription required.)
CBS’s Jack Maloney looks at the three biggest questions that will decide the Finals.
We love you, Jeremy, but hush up! Former Spur Jeremy Sochan, who has the unique of experience of having played for both the Spurs and Knicks this season and with Wemby for almost three seasons, provides some insight on how to beat his former teammate.
Finals Courts are back!
Hey look! After receiving much criticism during last year’s finals — where there were initially no trophy or Finals logos or any indication what you watching before the NBA tried tiny, glitchy, digital logos — the Larry O’Brien Trophy is back front and center for the Spurs and Knicks courts. (I kind of feel bad for the Thunder and Pacers, to be honest. You could watch their highlights from last year and think it was a regular season game.)
Are your eyes tired of reading and you just want to watch or listen to something? Check out Thinking Basketball’s latest video on Dylan Harper and his unique abilities that can’t be taught.
And here’s an excerpt from Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe on how the Spurs took over the Western Conference and their eagerness for next year to get here so we can run it back with the Thunder.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 29: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after hitting a walk off RBI double during the tenth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at T-Mobile Park on May 29, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every day, Pinstripe Alley offers updates on what the Yankees’ top American League opponents are up to through the Rivalry Roundup. The AL East is well-trodden ground there, but with the end of the month upon us, we’re going to take a peek around MLB as a whole and check in with each of the other five divisions. Who’s surprising? Who’s underwhelming? Who’s simply mediocre at the moment? Read on and find out.
First Place: Seattle Mariners (31-29)
Top Position Player: Randy Arozarena (2.1 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Bryan Woo (1.5 fWAR)
The top spot in the American League West has been a bit of a merry-go-round this season, with the reigning division champs, the Seattle Mariners, emerging as the team on top at the end of the month. Despite a disappointing start to the season from Cal Raleigh, plus injuries to Raleigh and Brendan Donovan, Seattle boasts one of the more prolific offenses in the American League, thanks to strong performances from Randy Arozarena (147 wRC+) and Luke Raley (155 wRC+), plus a strong month of May from Julio Rodríguez (.278/.316/.583 slash line with nine home runs). And yet, this offense still has another level it can reach, as they’ve gotten little production out of first base due to Josh Naylor’s lackluster production (98 wRC+, though he’s heated up since his frigid start), and southpaw-killer Rob Refsnyder has just a .115/.197/.262 slash line against lefties this season.
On the mound, the Mariners boast one of the few rotations in the American League that can challenge the Yankees in terms of depth. Bryan Woo (1.5 fWAR), George Kirby (1.3 fWAR), Emerson Hancock (1.1 fWAR), and Logan Gilbert (0.9 fWAR) each rank within the top 21 of AL starters in fWAR, a number matched only by the aforementioned Bombers. Only Luis Castillo, the pitcher with the longest track record, has struggled. Overall, the bullpen has been solid, although Andrés Muñoz has been uncharacteristically prone to meltdowns.
Second Place: The Athletics (28-31)
Top Position Player: Shea Langeliers (2.3 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Jackson Perkins (0.7 fWAR)
Hovering within two to three games of .500 on each side, the Athletics have spent much of the season at or near the top of a weak American League West. While they have had some big series wins, however, their success in the division to date has less to do with the Athletics themselves, and more to do with how flawed their division has been. The offense has been slightly below league average, despite fantastic performances from Shea Langeliers (147 wRC+), Nick Kurtz (152 wRC+), and Carlos Cortes (165 wRC+), because outside of this trio, the A’s lack a true offensive threat. Brent Rooker has been a real disappointment, accruing -0.3 fWAR with a 71 wRC+ out of the DH spot.
On the flip side, the pitching staff has been slightly better than league average. Jeffrey Springs and J.T. Ginn have been solid (as were Aaron Civale and Luis Severino before they hit the shelf), while the bullpen has seen their roles shuffle (Hogan Harris, Joel Kuhnel, and Mark Leiter Jr. all have four saves, highlighting the team’s search for a consistent closer at the back end). Although they have solid pieces, however, they lack a true ace or a dominant bullpen arm — possibly the result of playing in a minor-league ballpark.
Third Place: Texas Rangers (28-31)
Top Position Player: Josh Jung (1.5 fWAR) Top Pitcher: MacKenzie Gore (1.2 fWAR)
Heading into the season, the narrative around the Texas Rangers was that they would go as far as their pitching staff would take them, and in my heart, I still believe that to be the case. But as it currently stands, the offense has been their (mild) calling card. Thanks to a large number of platoons — the FanGraphs Depth Chart lists them as running four righty/lefty platoons, they have managed a 104 wRC+, good for fourth in the American League. Josh Jung, Brandon Nimmo, Joc Pederson, and Ezequiel Durán each have wRC+ of 129 and above. Should the struggling Corey Seager (80 wRC+) begin to find his stroke whenever he returns from the lower back inflammation that has kept him on the shelf since mid-May, this lineup may finally become truly dangerous.
The starting rotation, on the other hand, has been…less than stellar. Nathan Eovaldi (3.93 ERA) and Jacob deGrom (3.77 ERA) have been inconsistent, sometimes turning the clock back and dominating opposing lineups, at other times looking like their 36- and 38-year-old selves. Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, meanwhile, have yet to live up to the lofty expectations that their status as top draft picks placed upon them. A dominant bullpen, led by Jacob Latz, Tyler Alexander, and Jakob Junis, has held their pitching staff afloat, and allowed them to have a perfectly league average 100 ERA+.
Fourth Place: Houston Astros (27-34)
Top Position Player: Yordan Álvarez (2.7 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Peter Lambert (0.8 fWAR)
What happens when you put together one of the league’s best offenses with the league’s worst pitching staff? You get the Houston Astros, a team that in most divisions would already be in dire straits, but who (unfortunately for Yankees fans) exist in a division that cannot get out of its own way, and are thus still right in the thick of the division race.
Second baseman Jose Altuve has finally begun to look his age, and Carlos Correa is out for the season with an ankle injury suffered during batting practice, but the Houston offense has not missed a beat. Yordan Álvarez looks truly healthy for the first time in years, and looks to be one of the early frontrunners for the American League MVP with a 187 wRC+ and an AL-leading 20 home runs. Between Yordan, first baseman Christian Walker, and a returned-to-health Jeremy Peña, the Astros offense will not be the thing holding this team back.
On the other hand, though, the pitching staff has largely been a disappointment, the combined no-hitter notwithstanding. Thanks to injuries to ace Hunter Brown as well as Ronel Blanco, Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., Brandon Walter, and Hayden Wesneski, Houston has been forced to use 12 different starting pitchers this season. Spencer Arrighetti has been electric, and Tatsuya Imai may (emphasis: may) be starting to settle in after a disastrous transition to America, but the depth has been challenged. The bullpen hasn’t been any better, either, with Yankee reject Enyel De Los Santos one of their best relievers, somehow. The only light at the end of the tunnel is that Josh Hader should finally be activated for his season debut on Tuesday, following biceps tendinitis.
The Astros being the Astros, though, they have somehow managed to crawl out of the cellar, and string together enough wins in May to make contention in the division at least plausible.
Last Place: Los Angeles Angels (23-37)
Top Position Player: Mike Trout (2.1 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Reid Detmers (1.9 fWAR)
After years of absolute disasters, the Angels have recaptured their mid-to-late 2010s form, which is to say, they’ve been a disaster, but at least Mike Trout has looked good — and more importantly, remained healthy.
Anaheim’s favorite fish has looked vintage so far this season, posting a .241/.412/.498 slash line with 14 home runs and five stolen bases in his return to center field. Unfortunately for him, help has been rather lacking, as offseason acquisition Josh Lowe was optioned to Triple-A, Jo Adell is proving that last year’s 37-homer campaign was an aberration, and Jorge Soler looks every bit the 34-year-old unable to play the field. Besides Trout, in fact, the only two players contributing offensively on a consistent basis have been shortstop Zack Neto (121 wRC+) and second baseman Oswald Peraza (122 wRC+).
On the mound, the Angels have been, well, just like the offense. After his dominant start to the season, José Soriano has crashed down to earth, posting a 5.34 ERA in the month of May, thanks in part to two awful performances against the White Sox and Dodgers, respectively. Behind him, Walbert Ureña has been in the midst of a breakout, having allowed two runs or fewer in all six of his May starts. Reid Detmers, however, is a reliever cosplaying as a starter, Jack Kochanowicz leads the league in walks, and Yusei Kikuchi wasn’t exactly good before going on the IL. The bullpen hasn’t been any better, with only Chase Silseth and Sam Bachman the only thing resesmbling high-leverage arms.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 30: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks speaks during a press conference after game six of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on April 30, 2026 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. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The wait between the Conference Finals and the NBA Finals can feel like forever. As Knicks fans count down the hours until Game One against the Spurs, here are a few practical tips for maintaining your sanity until the ball finally goes up in San Antonio.
1. Mood Swings Are Normal
While waiting for the start of the Finals, you may experience:
Euphoria
Anxiety
Irrational confidence
Existential dread
These feelings are normal. Do not make major life decisions during this time, and for God’s sake, try not to impregnate anyone or buy a pet. Or impregnate a pet. Pro tip: avoid pictures of Victor Wembanyama standing next to average-sized NBA players. That could cause some unpleasant flutters.
2. Approach Podcasts with Caution
On today’s podcast from The Athletic, all three panelists picked the Spurs to win. I am continually impressed by how underappreciated the Knicks remain, no matter what they do. A historic run through the playoffs? Fuhgeddaboutit! Irrelevant!
If New York wins the Larry O’Brien Trophy, we already know what will happen. The public will find a way to qualify it. Something like: “The Knicks got lucky, catching Wemby before he fully metamorphosed into a World Destroyer.”
New York can blame itself, I suppose. It’s something like the crazy ex-girlfriend who reappears looking healthy and claiming to be on her meds. You want to believe her stability will last, but you can’t forget how many times she trashed your stuff. A narrative that has proven true so often is hard to shake, and the Knicks were terrible for so many years that we can’t blame people for not trusting that they’re for real. Being one of the biggest markets in the league didn’t help, either. It kept the spotlight on them when they deserved to be hidden in the shadows. Well not anymore, pal! Recommendation: Stick to Knicks Film School or Locked On Knicks and skip those other dolts.
3. Strange Symptoms May Occur
Maybe you find yourself checking for updates on Mitch’s pinky every 15 minutes. Or you lurk a little too menacingly behind a guy in a Spurs jersey on the sidewalk. Or you start considering a subscription to Cleaning the Glass because you want to sound extra informed at the Game One viewing party.
Relax. Let the crazy wash over you and pass. If you start a fight with a Spurs fan, you might miss a game or two due to incarceration. And you can totally live without paying to know Stephon Castle’s shot quality from 12-15 feet. Feel free to jump ahead to Number 6 below.
4. Your Relationships May Change
This is the schedule:
Game 1: Wednesday, June 3 — Knicks at Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET Game 2: Friday, June 5 — Knicks at Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET Game 3: Monday, June 8 — Spurs at Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET Game 4: Wednesday, June 10 — Spurs at Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET Game 5 (if necessary): Saturday, June 13 — Knicks at Spurs Game 6 (if necessary): Tuesday, June 16 — Spurs at Knicks Game 7 (if necessary): Friday, June 19 — Knicks at Spurs
Explain to your family that you love them, but these are sacred time slots. If they are unable to accept that you will be unavailable during those hours, well . . . we are your family, too. We understand you more than they ever can. Cut us, and do we not bleed orange and blue? Besides, I’m sure we have an extra cot for you here at P&T headquarters. Just let me clear it with the wife.
5. Prepare for the Unpredictable
The Finals are much like a scheduled C-section. You know when they’ll arrive. You know they’ll change your life. You know roughly how long they’ll last. Yet somehow, despite months of preparation, you have absolutely no idea what will happen once the cutting starts.
Sleep may prove challenging during this time. You may discover previously unknown superstitions. Remember that these behaviors are normal and no amount of nervous doomscrolling can prepare you for the emotional roller coaster of a Knicks Finals game. Pro tip: Pack an emotional-support beverage. (But don’t drink if you’re actually pregnant, you degenerate. Sheesh.)
6. Savor this Moment
You are breathing rare air. Oh, we caught a teasing whiff of it last season, but now we’re sucking it all into our lungs, and it’s even more amazing than advertised. This is what those Golden State kids were talking about. This is Finals air—not that hot, exhaust-scented B.S. air I was spewing back in 2016, when I was Ubering and trying to convince passengers that Langston Galloway was one to watch.
Breathe in, hold it as long as you can, and enjoy it, family. It took a long time to get here and the future is not promised. Smile to yourself and be cool, knowing that on Wednesday, your New York Knicks will play in the NBA Finals. At last.
COVERS INTEL: The Mets are hitting four-seam fastballs and sinkers – pitches that make up more than 60% of Hancock’s arsenal – for line drives just 21% of the time against righties, the fifth-worst percentage in the majors this year.
