NEW YORK, NY - MAY 16: Will Warren #29 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 16, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees got out of town at a good time. Aaron Judge’s walk-off home run salvaged the tail-end of a lackluster (not to mention rainy) homestand for the Bombers, who will spend their Memorial Day in a much warmer neck of the woods. The forecast calls for sunny skies with game-time temperature somewhere in the low-80s at a ballpark where the Yanks have generally had success in prior seasons: Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. The Royals, who the Yankees swept in a three-game set last month, enter this series at 22-31. However, their starter in tonight’s opener is a familiar and pesky foe.
Michael Wacha has faced the Yankees 13 times in his MLB career, posting a 3.12 ERA across 69.1 innings, posting 70 strikeouts against only 22 walks. He took a turn in the rotation in that April series, completing six quality innings with two earned runs on three hits, striking out six and walking three. The Yankees still won the game 4-2, but the veteran righty has demonstrated a knack at blunting the Bombers. He’s having a terrific start to his season overall, posting a 2.70 ERA through his first ten starts.
Will Warren, though, was not to be outdone. When he faced the Royals on April 18th, he took their lunch money. In seven full innings, he struck out 11 batters to tie his career-high without allowing a single walk, with two runs allowed on five hits in a 13-4 blowout victory. Warren’s progress has slowed a tad this month, but with a 3.01 FIP entering action, he is still doing enough to win ballgames more often than not. And hey, he has a 6-1 record to prove it. No matter how obsolete wins are as a stat, pitchers still value them; and you can’t totally bumble your way into winning six games before the end of May.
Warren and the Royals offense are evidently a good match for the Yankees’ purposes; though in all fairness Kansas City has had little success against AL pitching across the board. The encouraging strides they took to make it to the Bronx for a playoff series two years ago have slowed substantially. Bobby Witt Jr. remains a can’t-miss star, but the supporting cast has been quite unimpressive. There’s still a gaggle of younger hitters who are trying to prove themselves, such as Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen; they’re both a little above-average, trying to offset the lack of production from guys like Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino.
Put another way, the slumping Yankee offense needn’t move heaven and earth to succeed in this series. It wouldn’t hurt, though.
The lineup will start like yesterday’s, with Trent Grisham in the leadoff spot ahead of Aaron Judge and Ben Rice. Cody Bellinger will clean up ahead of Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. The bottom third of the lineup will see Anthony Volpe inserted at shortstop, with J.C. Escarra taking the day behind the dish and José Caballero shifting to the hot corner.
Seeing as today is Memorial Day, this game will be broadcast on national TV! ESPN has the rights to this one, and it’ll start at a strange 3:40 pm time slot. But hey, that’s what holidays are for.
How to watch
Location: Kauffman Stadium — Kansas City, MO
First pitch: 3:40 pm ET
TV broadcast: ESPN
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | 96.5 The Fan, Royals Radio Network (KC)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 14: Nolan McLean #26 of the New York Mets pitches against the Detroit Tigers during their game at Citi Field on May 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 16: The sneakers worn by Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 16, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Juan Soto missed Sunday's series finale against the Miami Marlins due to an illness and will remain out on Monday.
"He developed a fever again last night, still weak," Mendoza said. "We just got to wait the next few hours, how he develops, and hopefully there's some type of availability there. Who knows, we got to wait."
With Soto out of the lineup, MJ Melendez served as the DH on Sunday and Carson Benge will slide into that role Monday afternoon.
Mendoza had said Sunday that there was "kind of like a flu going around" the clubhouse, as it appears to still be affecting Soto.
Lindor starting baseball activities
On the bright side, Mendoza noted that Francisco Lindor has started doing baseball activities as he works his way back from a calf injury that has sidelined him since April 22.
"He started running and doing baseball activities. Now hitting in the cages. He's going to take ground balls," Mendoza said. "So now, we got to that phase where there's baseball involved."
The manager made it clear there is still not a timetable for Lindor's anticipated return, but he is progressing.
"I think we just go day-by-day, week-by-week. The good thing is he's already in that phase where he's doing baseball. But again, it's hard to put a timetable. He's still got to check a lot of boxes."
Additionally, Mendoza gave a positive update on catcher Francisco Alvarez, who underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee on May 14.
"Alvarez, I mean this guy is unbelievable. He's already hitting, he's already doing catching," Mendoza said. "We were talking about eight weeks, I'm not sure about that now, this guy is built different... There's a lot of positive from him too."
Knocking on the door
Mendoza was optimistic on Saturday about Jared Young being ready to return during the team's six-game homestand and it sounds like Tuesday may be the day.
Veteran reliever A.J. Minter also appears to be in a similar situation and could be activated Tuesday or Wednesday.
"Jared Young, there's a good chance that he'll be active tomorrow. He's going to go through a workout today," Mendoza said. "Same thing with A.J. Minter. He's going to go through his throwing progression today. Hopefully either tomorrow or the next day."
Mendoza added that he sees Minter has a "big part of our bullpen" once he returns.
Young has been on the IL since April 13 due to a torn meniscus in his left knee, while Minter last pitched in the majors on April 26, 2025 as he missed the remainder of the season following surgery for a torn left lat muscle.
Upcoming rehab assignments
Kodai Senga, who threw 58 pitches into the fourth inning on Friday in his first rehab appearance for St. Lucie, is expected to pitch again on Thursday. Mendoza said they are unsure if that rehab appearance will be in Double-A or Triple-A, but the right-hander will get another start before they determine the next steps.
"Senga's throwing a bullpen today and the goal is for him to make another rehab outing on Thursday. Whether that's Double-A or Triple-A, that's TBD, we're monitoring weather and all that. That's the plan for him."
Meanwhile, Jorge Polanco could also play in a rehab game later this week as he recovers from Achilles bursitis.
"Polanco, another good day yesterday, he got some at-bats in Port St. Lucie," Mendoza said. "He's go gonna through a full workout today. Hopefully, he starts a rehab assignment at some point this week."
When Polanco returns, Mendoza said they will likely use him as DH instead of inserting him back at first base.
"The way we see it is gonna be a lot of DH, to be honest with you," Mendoza said. "Hopefully we can get him a game or two at first base, but try to keep him off his feet as much as possible. He'll play some first base once he starts going through his rehab assignment, but probably looking more like DH and try to keep his bat in the lineup as much as possible."
Adam Silver's anti-tanking quest — a dramatic reaction to this year's unique situation with an especially deep draft — comes to a head this week when the NBA owners are scheduled to meet and vote on that latest lottery reform proposal.
That proposal is a modified version of the "3-2-1" proposal put forward last month (named after the number of ping-pong balls a team could get). A number of league front offices have serious concerns about what this will mean in terms of trading draft picks and for the value of picks already traded. This new proposal dramatically flattens the odds of the lottery and expands it to 16 teams — that changes the value of picks that could be traded or picks that already have been. From Mike Vorkunov at The Athletic.
Team executives have predicted that first-round picks would be harder to trade under the new rules, as the 3-2-1 format gives teams higher up in the standings a better chance to land not just a high draft choice but the No. 1 pick...
Earlier this month at the draft combine, some team executives bemoaned that these changes are coming after those picks have been dealt. A majority of the league would be impacted by these after-the-fact changes. In 2027, 14 teams have already traded away control of their first-round picks. In 2028 and 2029 each, only 12 teams control their own first-round picks without any encumbrances, swaps or as part of elaborate waterfall conveyances.
The NBA offseason loves the attention that offseason blockbuster trades generate, but making first-round picks less likely to be traded means it’s harder to put together a deal for someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The value of all those already traded picks and swaps changes under this new "3-2-1" system, which is the latest, further flattening the odds that seems to be the league's only solution to tanking.
As a reminder, here is how the new system would break down:
• Three teams with the worst records: They fall into a poorly-named "relegation zone" and be penalized for their poor performance by only getting two lottery balls, giving them a a 5.4% chance at the No. 1 pick, and they could fall all the way to 12th in the lottery. • Teams with the 4-10 worst records: They get three lottery balls and an 8.1% chance at the No. 1 pick. • Teams that finish as the No. 9 and 10 seeds in each conference will each get two lottery balls and a 5.4% chance at the No. 1 pick. (If this had been in place this season, Golden State, the LA Clippers, Miami and Charlotte would have had the same odds at getting the No. 1 pick as Washington, Utah and Sacramento.) • Teams that lose the 7-8 play-in for each conference get one lottery ball, and with it a 2.7% chance of landing the No. 1 pick (this season that would have been Orlando and Phoenix).
The 3-2-1 proposal also grants Commissioner Adam Silver dramatically expanded, unchecked authority to punish teams he perceives as tanking. Again from The Athletic.
"He would be able to fine a team up to $10 million, force them to forfeit or transfer draft picks, reduce lottery odds, change draft positions or suspend team officials, according to league sources."
The NBA owners, so scared of the perception of tanking — even though fans of teams in places like Utah and Washington were good with it for this season to chase the talent they need to win — that they are expected to pass it.
This new system moves the NBA another step away from the very point of having a draft in the first place — to get the worst teams the best incoming players to help balance the talent around the league. For small or mid-market teams, the NBA Draft remains the best — and for some, the only — way to acquire the talent needed to win. Those teams also could trade draft picks to help bring in winning talent, but now those picks' values have changed, and trading them may no longer make sense.
In the league's attempt to refine the system over the past decades, they've moved away from that core idea of helping the struggling teams, and now teams that lose because they just don't have the needed talent are likely to be bad longer. And if the NBA is concerned about fan bases tuning out, having them struggle for years on end with little hope of getting quality players is a good way to do it.
Toledo won the final game of the series against Indianapolis on Sunday, 8-4, to tie things at three games apiece.
It was a good day for the offense, with Max Clark doubling and homering. Jace Jung did the same, and Max Anderson also doubled. Clark got the scoring started in the first inning with a solo shot to right field. It was a no-doubter into the second deck.
Meanwhile, Dylan File put together his best start of the season. File only allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out four through five innings. He drew 10 whiffs on 40 swings and touched 96.6 with his fastball. He used six distinct pitches, according to Baseball Savant’s data, and was effective with each of them.
File retired the lineup in order his first time through, but leadoff man Ronny Simon got to him for a double in the fourth. Billy Cook singled in Simon two batters later, but those were the only baserunners File gave up on the day.
Beau Brieske took over in the sixth and erased a leadoff single with a double play, but he walked the next batter and gave up a game-tying home run after that. Woo-Suk Go was much more efficient in the seventh, working around a one-out walk, and that’s when the offense came back to life.
Is a double-double in baseball a thing?? bc if not, the Max's just invented it pic.twitter.com/deQz7iJa6y
Clark and Anderson hit back-to-back doubles with one out, and Eduardo Valencia stole the RBI train going with a single. Jung capped off the five-run frame with a two-run homer.
Go came back out for the eighth and struck out the side, and Yoniel Curet closed things out in the ninth. Curet gave up a run, but he still got the job done.
Clark: 2-4, 2B (13), HR (2), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Anderson: 2-4, 2B (3), R, RBI, BB
Jung: 2-4, 2B (10), HR (6), 2 R, 2 RBI, K
File: 5.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a rare Monday game to open the home series against Columbus, starting at 11:05 a.m. ET.
Erie dropped the series against Altoona 4-3 on Sunday with an 8-6 loss.
A brutal 6-run third inning all but doomed the SeaWolves. Sean Hunley was cruising until a one-out walk and catcher’s interference put two men on base. A double started the bleeding, and it was hard to stop from there. Hunley exited the game after hitting the next batter, but Yosber Sanchez didn’t fare much better.
Sanchez gave up a pair of RBI singles to the first batters he faced, and a bases-clearing double made it 6-0 before the end of the inning.
Erie answered with two runs in the top of the fourth, courtesy of Andrew Jenkins, who tripled in John Peck (reached on error) and Justice Bigbie (walk).
Lael Lockhart kept Altoona at bay for three innings of no-hit work. Unfortunately, Erie didn’t do anything significant offensively during that period.
The SeaWolves added another two runs in the seventh. Jenkins started off a string of four straight singles, followed by Peyton Graham, E.J. Exposito and Bennet Lee, who got the RBI. Brett Callahan drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly.
Lockhart left the game after that, and his replacement, Tyler Owens, immediately got into trouble with a one-out double. A disengagement violation moved the runner over to third, and an RBI single made it a three-run game, whic his significant because Erie wasn’t done scoring.
Thayron Liranzo led off the eighth with a single, and Altoona’s pitching staff walked the next three batters to bring him across. Exposito drove in another run with a sacrifice fly, which would have been the tying run if not for Owens’ troubles. Either way, Lee grounded into a double play after that, so the comeback was dead anyway.
Johan Simon got the eighth. He hit the first two batters he faced and gave up an RBI single before getting yanked. Moises Rodriguez got cleanup duty.
Liranzo: 1-5, R, 3 K
Jenkins: 2-3, 3B (2), R, 2 RBI, BB
Callahan: 2-4, RBI
Lockhart: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: Erie is at home next week against the Chesapeake Baysox, starting Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. ET.
South Bend Cubs 5, West Michigan Whitecaps 4 (box)
West Michigan finished its series against South Bend with a 5-4 loss, the fifth-straight defeat for the 14-31 Whitecaps.
This was a weird one for West Michigan. The Whitecaps only had one hit and two baserunners through six innings and four hits on the day, but a four-run seventh inning gave them a brief lead.
Jackson Strong had two of those base knocks, including an RBI single in that eventful seventh inning. Samuel Gil drove in the second run, and Strong scored the tying run on a ball thrown into center field by the catcher. Luke Shliger got the go-ahead, pinch-hit RBI with a base hit into left field, and everyone was happy for a bit.
Let’s rewind, though, because it’s a miracle West Michigan wasn’t trailing by a lot more at that point. Gabriel Reyes walked SEVEN batters in his 4 1/3 innings of work, and somehow only two of them scored. A pair of double plays and two clutch bases-loaded flyouts got Reyes there, but there’s still no excuse for seven free passes.
Reyes gave up a pair of runs in the first inning after a leadoff error from Cristian Santana at third and (you guessed it) a walk set him for a rough opening frame. South Bend didn’t score its third run until the fifth, when Carlos Lequerica took over with a runner on base. A two-out double brought that one around.
Okay, back to that brief lead in the seventh. Ethan Sloan relieved Lequerica in the top of the seventh and worked around a leadoff base hit and one-out walk, but the long inning didn’t do him any favors. A pair of one-out singles set up a two-run single, and just like that the Whitecaps are losing again…
West Michigan blew all of its energy in the seventh, so a quick eighth inning kept the momentum on South Bend’s side. Bryce Rainer struck out for a third time on the day with Ricardo Hurtado on base to send the game to the ninth.
CJ Weins worked around a leadoff single in the top of the ninth, but there was no magic in the bottom half of the inning. West Michigan went down 1-2-3 to take the loss. Womp womp.
Rainer: 0-4, 3 K
Shliger: 1-1, RBI
Reyes: 4.1 IP, H, 3 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 2 K
Coming Up Next: West Michigan is in Lansing next week, starting Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. ET.
What was supposed to be 14 innings of baseball down in Lakeland ended up being just five, which is probably a good thing since the Flying Tigers were getting no-hit. Despite the 2-1 loss on Sunday, Lakeland still won the series 3-2, with the rest of the doubleheader cancelled due to wet grounds.
Even though Lakeland had no hits through the five innings played in this game, the Flying Tigers led for a bit. An error, hit-by-pitch and walk loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, and a wild pitch brought Jesus Pinto home for a 1-0 lead.
Caleb Leys got the start, but he only went three innings. Three hits and no runs is a good day, but three walks led to a high-ish pitch count of 68. Jose Guzman took over in the fourth and immediately gave up runs. The inning went: leadoff double, single, popout, three-run homer.
Preston Howey got the fifth. He retired all four batters he faced, and then the rain came. Oh, well.
Leys: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K
Coming Up Next: Lakeland is in Palm Beach next week, starting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET. I’ll be at some of the games for some live coverage, so stay tuned!
Phil Neville is no longer in charge of the Portland Timbers after they announced they had “mutually parted ways” with their head coach.
“In my nearly two decades of owning and operating the Portland Timbers, there are very few people I have enjoyed working with more than Phil Neville,” said Timbers owner Merritt Paulson. “Phil has outstanding leadership qualities and a boundless sense of positivity even in the face of adversity. I cannot thank Phil enough for his tireless dedication to this club and the Portland community, which he and his family truly embraced.”
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs hits a buzzer beater three point shot during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 24, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The stakes were high for the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four. At risk of going down 3-1, the Spurs needed to respond to a disappointing loss in Game Three. They followed up the loss with a blowout 103-83 win to tie the Western Conference Finals at 2-2.
It was one of the Spurs’ best defensive performances of the playoffs. They held the Oklahoma City Thunder to 33% shooting from the field and 18% shooting from three. They forced 20 turnovers in the win. Victor Wembanyama spearheaded the win with a dominant two-way performance. He will lead our player grades for Game Four.
As a quick reminder, player grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “B” grade represents the average performance for an individual. If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.
San Antonio needed a herculean effort from Wembanyama, and they got one. He came out swinging, contesting shots around the rim and scoring at the basket over tough defense. Wemby did everything to try to get his offense going, even throwing the ball off the backboard to himself multiple times in an attempt to create an easier shot.
His biggest moment came right before halftime, when he waved off multiple San Antonio guards to heave a half-court buzzer beater. Was this shot purely luck or a manifestation of his basketball greatness? I’ll leave that up to you. Either way, it was another dominant performance in a memorable playoff run.
Fox is a tough grade. On one hand, he isn’t shooting the ball well enough. His scoring impact has been significantly limited since his ankle injury. On the other hand, Fox has been doing everything else he needs to do to help the Spurs win. He’s competed defensively, even in tough matchups like when he’s switched onto Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In Game Four, he had 10 rebounds and 5 assists without any turnovers. San Antonio will need his scoring to come around eventually. Until then, having the veteran guard chip in everywhere else on the court will be enough to help them win.
Castle was excellent in the pick-and-roll in Game Four. He was patient, didn’t force it, and made some great reads. He threw lobs to Wembanyama and finished at the rim. He hit a tough contested three-pointer as the Spurs made their run. He didn’t have the type of offensive game that would blow you away, but he played a smart, controlled game. He did a much better job guarding Gilgeous-Alexander. He was disciplined and fought through every screen to keep up with him in the half-court.
It feels like Castle’s performance from here on out will be a major factor that decides the series. With the Spurs being +162 underdogs in Game Five on FanDuel, Castle will need to once again play well on both ends to upset the Thunder.
Champagnie isn’t hitting shots right now, which is a huge problem for the Spurs’ offense. Even open looks aren’t falling at the moment. He was much better defensively in Game Four, but his impact on that end doesn’t make up for his lack of offense on the other end. This series is going to get even tighter from here. Wasting good possessions by missing wide-open threes could sink the Spurs in the long run.
Vasell has arguably been one of the Spurs’ best players in this series. He continues to hit timely shots, and his defense has been incredible. His block on Jared McCain under the basket was one of the best defensive plays of the game. Vassell is locked in on both ends and has established himself as an important piece for the Spurs’ championship hopes.
Harper was great defensively in Game Four. It wasn’t a loud performance by any means, but when he was tasked with guarding Gilgeous-Alexander, he held his own. He made some great contests on shooters as well. His motor was running on high on that end, despite struggling through an injury. Speaking of that injury, Harper continued to struggle getting into the paint, as he clearly has lost some power in his lower half. Hopefully, more rest will get him ready for Game Five.
Johnson brought energy off the bench, but tried to do way too much offensively. He got tunnel vision and made some bad mistakes on his drives. Johnson could afford to let some things come to him within the offensive flow. Right now, what he is doing isn’t working.
The nuns have blessed Kornet, and perhaps the Spurs for the rest of the series. Call it divine intervention or just improved play from Kornet. He was solid protecting the paint when Wembanyama needed a rest. He did a lot of good work tapping the ball to other players on the boards to create extra opportunities. It’s still hard for the Spurs to stay afloat when he is in the game, but perhaps Game Four was a sign of a turnaround for San Antonio’s backup big man.
Barnes didn’t hit shots off the bench, but he brought a lot of energy and toughness to the game. He hustled after every offensive rebound and got to the free-throw line by playing physical offense. In the Game Three player grades post, we talked about Barnes needing a spot in the rotation. He may have earned himself more minutes moving forward.
Bryant got an earful from Mitch Johnson after making a few too many mistakes late in the game. He hasn’t been able to defend without fouling and is forcing things offensively. It’s hard to play him right now with the stakes being so high. It’s hard not to feel bad for Bryant, who is genuinely trying to make a positive impact with his energy and athleticism. Right now, it’s just not being channeled in a way that will lead to winning playoff games.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 08: Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals exits the game after being injured during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Royals will shut down starting pitcher Cole Ragans for a few days after he experienced discomfort with his elbow in his rehab start for Omaha. Manager Matt Quatraro addressed the setback with the media today, telling them, “He did not recover well from his start, so he’s gonna be shut down for a couple days.”
Matt Quatraro says pitcher Cole Ragans (left elbow) did not bounce back well from his recent rehab start over the weekend:
“He did not recover well from his start, so he’s gonna be shut down for a couple days.” pic.twitter.com/Ia1GlANVPy
— Kansas City Royals on KCSN (@royals_kcsn) May 25, 2026
Quatraro said that Ragans experienced the same elbow symptoms he experienced in his last MLB start. The team will shut him down from throwing and reevaluate after a few days.
Ragans started on Saturday for the Storm Chasers and made 68 pitches over 4.1 innings, giving up just one run on a solo home run with a walk and three strikeouts. He last pitched for the Royals on May 6 when he went just three innings against the Guardians.
Ragans had struggled this year with a 4.84 ERA in eight starts, with 45 strikeouts in 35.1 innings. His walk rate has spiked signficantly, to 5.9 per-nine-innings this season. Injuries have plagued him during his career – he has twice undergone Tommy John surgery and he missed three months last year with a rotator cuff injury.
There is no evidence he actually will be building rockets, although apparently his aerospace skills do translate to basketball.
The scientist, Rohan Ramadas, has been hired to serve as an assistant general manager under Lakers president and general manager Rob Pelinka.
Ramadas worked last as vice president of strategy and operations for the New Orleans Pelicans.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he spent 12 years with The Aerospace Corporation.
ESPN quoted a Pelicans source as saying of Ramadas, "He's a literal rocket scientist."
In September 2024, Ramadas joined the Pelicans as Senior Director of Analytics and Innovation, according to his LinkedIn profile, which indicates he was promoted to the strategy and operations position a year ago.
With the Pelicans, Ramadas implemented AI and coded models to aid the front office, according to ESPN, which reported he will be focused on similar responsibilities for the Lakers that he had with the Pelicans.
The Lakers are expected to hire another assistant general manager, with the staff expanding a year after Mark Walter, majority owner of the Dodgers, bought the Lakers for $10 billion. And maybe it really does take a rocket scientist for the franchise to win its first NBA title since 2020 and 18th overall.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 11: An overall view of the arena court before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers during Round Two Game Four on May 11, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers look to have made their first of two assistant general manager hires.
On Monday morning, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Lakers had hired Rohan Ramadas. Previously, Ramadas served as the Pelicans’ vice president of strategy and operations.
The Los Angeles Lakers are hiring former New Orleans Pelicans vice president of strategy and operations Rohan Ramadas as an assistant general manager under president Rob Pelinka, sources tell me and @mcten. The Lakers have interviewed candidates to bolster their front office.
Dave McMenamin of ESPN provided a bit more insight into Ramadas’ past prior to even joining the Pelicans in an article on Monday as well.
After graduating from the University of Southern California, Ramadas spent more than a decade with the Aerospace Corporation before his first opportunity in the NBA with New Orleans.
“He’s a literal rocket scientist,” a Pelicans source told ESPN.
While working for the Pelicans, Ramadas implemented AI and coded models to aid the front office, the source told ESPN.
Pelinka gave some insight into the roles of two general managers during his exit interview. One position was going to be focused on “pro scouting, draft scouting, player development,” while the other was going to be “cap, analytics and data.” Given the little we know about Ramadas from McMenamin’s article and his previous job title, this definitely looks to be the latter of the two roles.
While it shouldn’t be surprising given his roles, there isn’t a lot out there about Ramadas during his time with the Pelicans. All that’s really been reported or released is that he was elevated to the role of Senior Director of Analytics and Innovation with New Orleans in 2024.
Ramadas enters his eighth season with New Orleans, his first full-time season after spending seven years as an analytics consultant. Prior to working with the Pelicans, Ramadas was a draft analyst with the Miami Heat in 2016-17. Ramadas has spent the past twelve years supporting the Aerospace Corporation, U.S. Space Force, and NASA as a rocket guidance, navigation, control, and mission design engineer. A native of Cupertino, CA, Ramadas holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in astronautical engineering from the University of Southern California.
However much or little is known about Ramadas, his hiring is another sign of the makeover the front office is going to undergo this summer. Importantly, it’s an outside voice coming in, which is a rarity in this front office.
It’s a sign of what is to come with the Lakers and should lead to excitement about the future.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jesus Sanchez has been hitting the ball well, and with Janson Junk on the mound for the Miami Marlins, the matchup should favor the slugger to keep his bat hot tonight.
Read on to see why in my Marlins vs. Blue Jays predictions and MLB picks on Monday, May 25.
Marlins vs Blue Jays predictions
Marlins vs Blue Jays best bet: Jesus Sanchez Over 0.5 hits (-145)
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jesus Sanchez has been red-hot, eclipsing his hits total in 10 of his last 12 games, posting a .433 batting average in this stretch.
With a little extra motivation, taking on a Miami Marlins team that traded him last season, I expect him to keep his hot streak alive, especially with Janson Junk on the mound.
Junk has struggled mightily over his last three starts, giving up 19 runs on 25 hits. This can be chalked up to a pedestrian fastball that ranks in the 45th percentile in velocity, as well as a putrid 18.7% whiff rate that ranks in the ninth percentile.
The righty regularly gets squared up, and Sanchez is batting just under .300 against right-handers.
Trey Yesavage has gone Over tonight’s 5.5 strikeout total in four straight starts, averaging 6.5 per. I expect him to do it again against a team with a 33% strikeout rate against the splitter, Yesavage’s put-away pitch.
Overall, the Jays will win by multiple runs. There’s a lot of juice in the Jays’ moneyline, but the run line still has value as they’ve covered it in four of their last five victories.
Additionally, the pitching matchup should allow Toronto to keep Miami at bay while putting up offense against Junk.
Marlins vs Blue Jays SGP
Jesus Sanchez Over 0.5 hits
Trey Yesavage Over 5.5 strikeouts
Blue Jays -1.5
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Marlins vs Blue Jays home run pick: Daulton Varsho (+450)
The Jays offense has picked up recently, but we’re still waiting on consistent power, so we’ll make this a half-unit wager.
Junk has surrendered six home runs over his last four starts and gives up fairly hard contact to lefties, who have 17 extra-base hits off him for a .888 opponents' OPS.
The lefty in the Jays lineup I’m banking on to homer tonight is Daulton Varsho, who owns a 59% hard-hit rate against the four-seamer, which Junk throws most often to lefties.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 24-27, +1.55 units
SGPs: 10-41, -0.6 units
HR picks: 8-41, +1.65 units
Marlins vs Blue Jays odds
Moneyline: Miami +140 | Toronto -160
Run line: Miami +1.5 (-150) | Toronto -1.5 (+130)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-110) | Under 7.5 (-110)
Marlins vs Blue Jays trend
The Toronto Blue Jays have covered the 1st Five Innings (F5) Run Line in 9 of their last 10 games (+7.90 Units / 68% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Marlins vs. Blue Jays.
How to watch Marlins vs Blue Jays and game info
Location
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
Date
Monday, May 25, 2026
First pitch
7:07 p.m. ET
TV
Marlins.TV, Sportsnet 1
Marlins starting pitcher
Janson Junk (2-5, 5.07 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Trey Yesavage (2-1, 1.07 ERA)
Marlins vs Blue Jays latest injuries
Marlins vs Blue Jays weather
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 14: Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers waits for a pitch in the third inning during a game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on May 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With mirroring campaigns on either side of the spectrum, the Dodgers and Rockies meet at Dodger Stadium on Memorial Day. The home side aims to carry on the momentum from an outstanding road trip that saw them win seven of nine, taking two of three from the Brewers and Padres, and sweeping the Angels.
While as a team the Dodgers thrived away from home, Emmet Sheehan didn’t have the best of times in his game, even if the Dodgers ended up beating San Diego 5-4. All four of the Padres’ runs came against Sheehan courtesy of a couple of long balls as their lineup made him grind, though it was his shortest outing since his 2026 debut, when Sheehan failed to complete four innings against the Diamondbacks.
Sheehan will face one of the more harmless offenses away from home in the big leagues, a nice segue to touch on the stark difference between what the Dodgers’ lineup has produced away from Dodger Stadium and at home. As the visiting club, the Dodgers have a 128 wRC+, while 28 of the other 30 teams sit at 115 or below. Playing in front of their fans, the Dodgers rank a respectable but unimpressive 11th in wRC+ (107).
Facing the Rockies, the Dodgers have the ideal opponent to juice those home stats—Tyler Gordon will be the starter for Colorado, having allowed a two-homer game to Dalton Rushing the last time he faced the NL West leaders and reigning champs.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 18: Nick Lodolo #40 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, May 18, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s been an unfortunate yet somewhat predictable start to Nick Lodolo’s 2026 season since he missed over a month while dealing with blister issues. It forced him to tweak the way he approaches batters, looking at times to avoid throwing his slider too much and risking a recurrence of the problem. He also, obviously, missed a lot of time he’d otherwise have been building up to his best at the start of what was viewed as a crucial season for him, especially with Hunter Greene on the sidelines for months.
So far, he’s yielded 12 earned runs in just 15 IP across a trio of starts, though at times in his start on May 18th against the Phillies he looked a bit more like his old self. Still, he’s been plagued with the exact same problem as the entirety of the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff as a whole this year, as he’s walked an uncharacteristic 9 batters against just 11 Ks in that time.
For the record, he was fanning hitters at a 9.0 K/9 just last year with a stellar 1.8 BB/9. The Reds, quite frankly. aren’t going to go anywhere in 2026 if he can’t rediscover something close to that form.
He’ll get another shot to find it on Monday in New York as the Reds begin a series against the sputtering New York Mets. The Reds will do so with a rested staff, too, having had Thursday, Friday, and Sunday off thanks to scheduling and some weather postponements.
The Mets, meanwhile, will roll out burgeoning ace Nolan McLean, who has looked mostly brilliant through his first 58.0 IP of the season.
First pitch in the series opener is set for 4:10 PM ET.
Here’s how the Reds will line up for the opener, with Blake Dunn continuing to get run at leadoff and in CF, Eugenio Suarez in the lineup at DH, and hopefully a big pile of runs baked into it:
The New York Knicks have continued their dominance in the Eastern Conference Finals, jumping out to a 3-0 series lead.
I expect New York to rely on a Brunson/KAT combo to finish off Cleveland in Game 4, and my best Knicks vs. Cavaliers parlay for tonight's matchup leans directly into that tandem.
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Under Tom Thibodeau, it always felt like the New York Knicks would mess around in potential closeout games and let teams back into a series.
That hasn’t been their identity under Mike Brown during these NBA Playoffs.
The Knicks closed out the Atlanta Hawks by 51 points and the Philadelphia 76ers by 30 points in elimination games — considering the Cleveland Cavaliers' backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden can’t consistently defend, there’s nothing tactically that suggests Cleveland won’t suffer the same fate as the Hawks and Sixers.
SGP leg no. 2: Karl-Anthony Towns 20+ points
The Cavs are in full desperation mode, trailing 3-0 and constantly searching for defensive answers. So far, nothing has worked. Jalen Brunson has either exploded as a scorer or carved them up as a playmaker, including a 14-assist performance earlier in the series. That’s why I think Karl-Anthony Towns is positioned to benefit most from Cleveland’s likely adjustments in Game 4. The Cavaliers can’t aggressively help off the wings in the Brunson-Towns two-man game, as OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have consistently punished rotating defenses with catch-and-shoot opportunities created by Brunson. That should push Cleveland toward a more aggressive drop coverage with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, forcing them to concede more open perimeter looks to Towns.
SGP leg no. 3: Jalen Brunson 7+ assists
The Brunson assist prop in the SGP is meant to work directly in tandem with the KAT points prop because I think we’ll see a higher-than-usual number of potential assists from Brunson to Towns. I believe the Cavaliers will use their bigs in a deep drop coverage to slow down Brunson, while limiting the amount of help coming from the wings. If that’s the case, it will be on Brunson to find Towns as an open shooter, and I'd be shocked if Towns clears 20-plus points without multiple baskets coming directly off passes from Brunson.
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COVERS INTEL: Sanchez ranks in the 
