The Pittsburgh Penguins have plenty of promising prospects in their system. One of them is goaltender Sergei Murashov, as he has the potential to blossom into a very good NHL goaltender.
Murashov played in first five NHL games this season with Pittsburgh, where he had a 1-1-2 record, an .897 save percentage, and a 2.56 goals-against average. This included him recording a 21-save shutout against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 16.
Murashov was excellent down in the AHL this regular-season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 38 games with the AHL club, he had a 24-9-4 record, a .919 save percentage, a 2.20 goals-against average, and four shutouts. He also has a .920 save percentage in three playoff games this spring.
With how well Murashov has been performing at the AHL level, there is no question that he is a prime breakout candidate to watch next season. There is a very good chance that the 22-year-old goaltender will get more opportunities at the NHL level with Pittsburgh next season, and he certainly has the potential to take advantage of it.
It will be interesting to see if Murashov can hit a new level for the Penguins next season. When looking at how well he continues to play, it is hard to bet against him.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 07: J.C. Escarra #25 and Camilo Doval #75 of the New York Yankees celebrate after beating the Texas Rangers 9-2 at Yankee Stadium on May 07, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a minor blip on Wednesday night, the Yankees got back to their winning ways, bruising their way past the Rangers en route to a series win. I’m sure Wednesday’s limp offensive effort, which bled into a slow start to the game on Thursday, had some fans worried that the offense was about to head into a slump, but no matter. The Yankees crushed the Ranger bullpen, easing their way to a 9-2 win before heading to Milwaukee.
Ahead of the series with the Brewers, Jeremy previews the three games in Milwaukee. Also, Sam reviews Thursday’s American League action, and Nick profiles Art López, an outfielder who played for the Yankees in 1965 and turns 89 today. Later, Kento continues his history on the Yankees’ journey at first base between Mark Teixeira and Ben Rice, Jonathan praises the work of Tim Hill (and the Yankees for finding him), and Madison delivers the answers to this week’s mailbag.
Today’s Matchup
New York Yankees at Milwaukee Brewers
Time: 7:40 p.m. EST
Video: YES Network, Brewers.tv
Venue: American Family Field, Milwaukee, MI
Questions/Prompts:
1. Well, what do you expect from Spencer Jones now that he’s been thrust onto the major league roster?
2. Will the Knicks put the Sixers in a 3-0 hole tonight?
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 07: James Harden #1 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers look on during the second quarter of a game against the Detroit Pistons in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 07, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers dug an early hole, climbed their way out, made it a close game in the fourth, and then let go of the rope in the final minutes. This culminated in a 107-97 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
The Cavs now head home having to win four of the next five games to keep their season alive.
James Harden’s poor performance is going to get the headlines, and understandably so.
He couldn’t get his shot to fall, going 3-13 from the field for just 10 points. Turnovers weren’t the big issue in Game 2, but this was the fourth time this postseason he’s had more giveaways (four) than field goals.
This game illustrated how Harden isn’t the player he was in his prime anymore. He’s able to beat mismatches if you give him one, but he’s not breaking guys down off the dribble like we’ve seen him do for a decade and a half. At least not against the best defense in the conference in the postseason with the floor as clogged as it is.
Harden very much looked his age as he was trying to create an opening against Tobias Harris late, but ended up turning the ball over instead after over-dribbling. It was an ugly, disastrous possession that was inexcusable from a star player.
However, at this point in his career, to call Harden a star is more reliant on who he has been, instead of who he currently is. This wasn’t someone who choked down the stretch, but someone incapable of physically doing what he needed to. He shouldn’t have been put in that position in the first place. This isn’t his team.
Harden’s defense only made matters worse. The Pistons hunted him out on switches and attacked him whenever they had an opportunity to do so. And they got clean looks at the rim when they did. This all resulted in the Cavs losing the minutes he played by 15.
For as bad as Harden was, to pin this all on him is disingenuous. He’s supposed to elevate this core, not be the one saving it. This team was never going to work if Evan Mobley was going to score just nine points, the role players were going to shoot this poorly from three, and Mitchell was going to fall short in the clutch.
It’s the entire team’s failing, not just the 36-year-old brought in midway through the season to help save what was a sinking ship. The cracks that caused the panic trade are bringing the group down, particularly in crunch time.
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Late-game offense once again hurt the Cavs. Cleveland had a three-point deficit with five minutes left to play. From there, Detroit outscored them 13-6. The offense went cold. They couldn’t get anything going to the basket and suffered as a result.
This has been a common occurrence throughout the postseason.
Cleveland is now 1-4 in games that are within five points in the final five minutes. They’ve lost the 18 postseason clutch minutes they’ve played by 19.
It’s easy to see why. The pace grinds to a halt late. The offense becomes isolation-heavy for the guards. The defense cheats off the non-shooters. This makes little to no room for the guards to operate, so they end up settling for bad shots that they don’t hit enough of to keep the offense afloat.
Missing open looks, particularly late, hurt. Cleveland went 0-11 from three in the fourth and was just 7-32 overall. Their 21.9% three-point percentage was their third-worst on the season.
Conversely, the Pistons had their seventh-best shooting game this year as they hit half of their triples.
This shooting split allowed the Pistons to win this game even though the Cavs won the turnover and second-chance points battles.
More than either of those things, Mitchell and Mobley combined to go 3-11 from the field for 10 points in the fourth quarter, sealing the Cavs’ fate.
Mitchell got downhill much better than he has at any point this postseason. He drove into the paint, going 9-13 there, and found ways to get to the line. However, Mitchell still didn’t attempt a shot in the restricted area, which is where he’s typically done the most damage throughout his career.
When the defense tightened up late, Mitchell wasn’t able to generate or hit clean looks. He wasn’t able to get to the rim, couldn’t create enough space for off-the-dribble threes, and didn’t find ways to set up teammates like a top-tier guard should. This resulted in him settling and missing bad looks while not doing much for his teammates either on or off-ball.
Mobley didn’t help out. He had a few forceful finishes in the paint, but overall wasn’t the impactful player he needed to be. This included struggling to clean the glass in lineups he was playing without Jarrett Allen. Nine points and just one rebound in a road playoff game isn’t close to enough from someone with his skill set.
The Cavs now have a 4-13 postseason road record in the Mitchell era. The same issues that plagued them late in games against the New York Knicks three years ago are still there. The coach, supporting cast, and even the starting point guard have changed. The issues haven’t. That blame falls on the core group that’s been there through it all.
Yes, you can point fingers at Harden if you want to. One more playoff failure on his resume doesn’t change much. However, this isn’t entirely on him. Or at the very least, this isn’t an issue he created.
Harden was brought in to help this group get over the hump. To stabilize lineups without Mitchell, to draw extra attention, and to provide supplemental on-ball creation. Not to put the team on his back or figure out the late-game offense on his own.
The Cavs have time to right the ship. They’re down 0-2 against a good Pistons team that has presented several defensive problems. At the same time, the Cavs haven’t come close to playing their best game and still had chances to win both road games late.
Things look bleak right now. Fighting back from a 0-2 hole is never ideal, but this isn’t over, at least not yet. However, if things are going to change, it has to come from the All-NBA players in their prime. Not from the guy who was one yesteryear.
Lakers guard Marcus Smart, center, bends over as he catches his breath on the court while injured Luka Doncic, left rear, and Austin Reaves sit on the bench during Game 2 on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (Nate Billings / Associated Press)
They have long since proven themselves as an endlessly efforting Laker team that never believes they’re beaten.
They’re beaten.
With the sort of resounding resilience that had earlier carried them to playoff wins without their two leading scorers, these Lakers have shown they desperately do not want this season to be over.
It’s over.
The Oklahoma City Thunder overcame another valiant Lakers charge Thursday night to win their second game in two tries in the Western Conference semifinals at Paycom Center.
The Lakers played hard, played tough, played the Thunder from baseline to baseline, played strong enough to fly home with pride.
The 125-107 Thunder victory gives the defending champions a two-games-to-none lead in a series that is scheduled for as many as seven games.
It’s not lasting anywhere near that long.
It’s over right here, right now, the Lakers having absorbed consecutive 18-point smackdowns by a team whose reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has barely shown up.
The Lakers may steal a game back at Crypto.com Arena this weekend, but that would be the only one, it being unthinkable that this mismatch will last more than five games.
“You’re starting to see some trends here,” said Laker coach JJ Redick.
The main trend is that the Thunder just have better players, and more of them, witness a game-changing third quarter Thursday in which they outscored the Lakers 36-22 despite the foul-plagued Gilgeous-Alexander playing less than two minutes.
Ten different Thunder players scored or rebounded in that quarter. The Lakers had as many turnovers as baskets — seven! — while surrendering 11 points off those mistakes and blowing a one-point halftime lead forever.
Have you even heard of Ajay Mitchell? You have now. He scored 20. How many casual NBA fans knew that Jared McCain played for Oklahoma City? They know now. He scored 18 while missing pnly one of five three-point attempts.
“We just got blitzed,” said Redick, and this shorthanded team has proven they simply don’t have enough blockers to slow that blitz.
Overall the Lakers committed 21 more turnovers, giving up 26 points off the mistakes while paying dearly for every errant dribble or misfired pass against the swarming Thunder defenders.
Austin Reaves bounced back from his disastrous Game 1 with 31 points and LeBron James was LeBron with 23 points and Rui Hachimura continued his scorching shooting with 16.
But it wasn’t close enough. It wasn’t close to being close enough, and please, stop whining that the referees failed to call enough fouls on the aggressive Thunder. Their opponents always whine about that, and Reaves even stayed on the court after Thursday’s final buzzer to vent to the referees about that, but just … don’t.
The Lakers only shot five fewer free throws, and Gilgeous-Alexander was hit with his third foul shortly after halftime, and, again, they lost by three touchdowns.
“We didn’t lose because of the refs … Oklahoma City outplayed us,” said Redick.
Still, Redick responded to the fact that, while Gilgeous-Alexander has shot 12 free throws this series, James has shot only five.
“The smaller guys, because they can be theatric, they typically draw more fouls and the bigger players that are built like LeBron, it's hard for them,” said Redick. ”He gets clobbered. He got clobbered again tonight a bunch. And that's not like a new thing. That's not specific to this crew or this series, he gets fouled a lot and it doesn't happen. The guy gets hit on the head more than any player I've seen on drives, and rarely gets called.”
They once said the same thing about Shaquille O’Neal, and he won three consecutive championships here so, no, let’s pass on the rhetoric and accept the reality.
This season is over, and the sooner Lakers fans accept the inevitability while applauding the effort.
This series actually ended on the day off between Games 1 and 2, with the injured Luka Doncic formally acknowledging that doctors have told him recovery from his strained left hamstring would take eight weeks. And he’s only been out five weeks.
Do the math. He’s not coming back in this series, nor should he. His long-term health isn’t worth risking to save a completely lost cause.
“It’s a tough one for me because I came back from injuries before too soon, and it wasn’t the best result,” Doncic said Wednesday.
Without him against Oklahoma City, it was always going to be the worst result, and so it has been.
Hopeless but hearty, the Lakers forged ahead Thursday, and still clung to a one-point lead midway through the third quarter when the rickety wheels came completely off.
James lost the ball twice. Marcus Smart, who missed nine of 13 shots, threw up a brick. Deandre Ayton, who missed seven of eight shots, had a couple of bad misses. And McCain, the Thunder's backup guard, was unstoppable, sinking two big treys in the quarter as Oklahoma City rolled to a 13-point lead entering the final period.
The Lakers momentarily came roaring back in the fourth quarter behind a James layup and three-pointer, going on a 7-0 run to pull within four points midway through the quarter. But Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace hit three-pointers while Smart was fumbling the ball and James and Hachimura were missing shots, while Oklahoma City’s 8-0 run gave them another 13-point lead that was never again challenged.
Afterward, James spoke with as much optimism as he could muster.
“We played well in spurts … we had a good game plan,” he said. “We tried to execute it as close to 48 minutes as possible, but it just didn't get done.”
Against the world champions, spurts don’t get it done, and less than 48 minutes doesn’t get it done.
The Lakers have occasionally been tantalizingly close, but there’s a clear absence here of any cigar, and no chance of one walking through that door.
It was fun while it lasted, and it lasted longer than most would have imagined.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 29: Connor Dewar #19 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his first period goal against the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG PAINTS Arena on January 29, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
The Penguins re-signed forward Connor Dewar to a two-year deal and defenseman Ilya Solovyov to a one-year contract, the team announced on Thursday. [PensBurgh]
Hooks has compiled a list of players he is revisiting now that the 2025-26 is in the rearview mirror. These players’ futures remain something of an uncertainty, including Owen Pickering, Ville Koivunen, Tommy Novak, Arturs Silovs, and Tristan Broz. Each showed flashes of potential this season, but questions about consistency and NHL readiness remain heading into next year. [PensBurgh]
How well did the Penguins do in their attempt to get younger during the 2025-26 season? Without committing to a full rebuild, Kyle Dubas and Dan Muse integrated 14 players age 24 or younger while still leaning heavily on veterans. There were promising contributors like Ben Kindel and Egor Chinakhov, while also some concerning developments regarding the aforementioned Pickering and the since-departed Samuel Poulin. [PensBurgh]
Defenseman Connor Clifton and forward Tommy Novak have been selected for Team USA’s roster ahead of the upcoming IIHF World Championship tournament. [Trib Live]
Forward prospect Bill Zonnon signed an amateur tryout agreement with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the remainder of this season. [Trib Live]
Rickard Rakell thinks the Penguins are capable of winning a championship, still believing in the team’s veteran core and improved stretches of play as reasons for optimism. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Buffalo Sabres blueliner Rasmus Dahlin, Colordo Avalanche superstar Cale Makar, and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski were named finalists for the Norris Trophy. [TSN]
Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill revealed that Mikko Rantanen played through a torn MCL suffered while representing Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, which limited his effectiveness for the remainder of the season. [Sportsnet]
PHOENIX — Pittsburgh PiratesCy Young winner Paul Skenes kept talking, but without the slightest hesitation, leaned over, rapping his knuckle against the adjoining locker, knocking on wood.
It’s an uncomfortable subject, one that terrifies every pitcher, but it’s a cold, cruel reality in the baseball world.
Pitchers get hurt. They require surgeries.
Seasons are ruined. Careers are shortened.
“I’ve never really had to deal with stuff like that," Skenes tells USA TODAY Sports. “It’s not something I like to think about."
Skubal, his Team USA teammate in the World Baseball Classic, underwent elbow surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday to clean out bone chips, which is expected to sideline him about two months.
“I mean, it’s unfortunate," Skenes tells USA TODAY Sports. “I don’t know, I’ve never really had to deal with stuff like that. But he has.
“I’ve seen his routine now, up close and personal in the WBC. He has a really good routine. He’s going to come back, and he’s going to be really good."
Skubal’s surgery comes just two weeks after Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz underwent elbow surgery to remove five “loose bodies’ in his elbow. Diaz pitched for Team Puerto Rico in the WBC.
“I’ve heard that a lot of pitchers probably have it,’’ Skenes says, “but who knows?"
It’s no secret that as much as MLB embraces the WBC, and players love participating, there are risks. Maybe it’s just a cruel coincidence, but the landscape is littered with pitchers who have been injured besides Skubal and Diaz, and others who have struggled in the early going.
– Chicago Cubs closer Daniel Palencia, who closed out the WBC championship game for Venezuela, went on the injured list in April with a strained oblique.
– Cubs starter Matthew Boyd went on the IL with a biceps strain in April, and then sustained a freak knee injury to his meniscus Wednesday playing with his kids.
– San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb, who is battling left knee discomfort, is 2-4 with a 5.06 ERA.
– Michael Lorenzen, who pitched for Italy, is 2-3 with a 6.09 ERA with the Colorado Rockies.
– Taijuan Walker, who pitched for Mexico, went 1-4 with a 9.13 ERA before being released by the Philadelphia Phillies.
There are others who pitched in the WBC who are doing quite well, including Ranger Suarez of the Boston Red Sox (2-2, 2.77 ERA). Then there are Skenes and Arizona Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez (3-0, 2.50), who are absolutely thriving, and looking like they could be teammates in July at the All-Star Game.
Rodriguez, who pitched in the WBC championship game for Venezuela in their victory over USA, is having the finest season of his career, with scouts believing they have never seen him pitch better in his 11-year career.
“I feel great," Rodriguez said. “The WCB didn’t affect me at all. It’s just like being in a spring training. You’re a little more into it, but it feels like it. I throw as hard as I can in spring training, anyways, so I don’t feel that much of a difference."
And yes, physically, he feels perfectly fine.
“I know there have been some injuries,’’ Rodriguez says, “but injuries are going to happen no matter what.’’
Skenes, who gave up five earned runs and couldn’t get out of the first inning in his season debut, drawing concerns about a WBC hangover, says he feels perfectly fine, too. He’s picking up right where he left off in last year’s Cy Young season, with a 5-2 record and 2.36 ERA.
“I think we did a really good job in the build-up,’’ Skenes said. “A really good job in spring training. We kind of used the early season as king of a build-up. And I think we’re still doing that.
“So, I’m feeling good. I think we’re in a good spot."
INGLEWOOD, CA - 1971: Jerry West #44 of the Los Angeles Lakers takes the jump shot during an NBA game against the New York Knicks circa 1971 at the Forum in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Martin Mills/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before he became one the best two GMs in NBA history (along with Red Auerbach), Jerry West had a brilliant career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
He was a lean 6-4 guard who punished his body constantly by driving to the lane against massive defenders. Do a search on his injuries sometime. His ankles and feet were constant victims, and there are photos of him playing with a mask over his broken nose.
He was really tough.
But his calling card was a beautiful jump shot. This video breaks his shot down in various ways, but the most interesting thing to us is his release.
Today, most players extend their hand/wrist through the shot. You see photos of players with the ball on the way to the basket and what you usually see is the follow-through. A great example of this is Michael Jordan’s game-winning shot against Georgetown in 1982. He has an immaculate follow-through (scroll down just a bit).
What you’ll notice in this video of West is that he doesn’t really have a follow-through. He flicks his shot. His goal is to release as quickly as possible, and it works.
We’ve noticed in a lot of older videos that the players from the 1960s and 1970s tend to do this as well, so you have to think that at one point, shooting was taught this way.
Whatever. It worked brilliantly for West, who remains an archetype of an offensive artist.
This weekend, all but one team will pass the 40-game mark, a very unofficial but nonetheless meaningful checkpoint that signals the season is already – gulp – one quarter complete. And it’s officially OK to start buying what you’re seeing.
Oh, that’s not a hard and fast rule. Fans can believe the New York Mets won’t lose 99 games, and Fernando Tatis Jr. won’t finish with zero home runs, and they’ll probably be correct.
But for many trends, the cement has set even if it’s not totally dry. With that, we take a look at six paces that are defining the season – and would certainly look startling come the end of September:
61: Home runs for Munetaka Murakami
OK, this one might be tough to maintain. That doesn’t diminish what the 6-foot-2, 213-pound Murakami has done in his first season in the world’s premier league.
Sure, the worrywarts were right: Murakami is striking out 34.4% of the time, his 55 punchouts leading the AL. His whopping 43.9% whiff rate is near the very bottom of the majors. Yet he’s clearly running into enough balls, and his expected slug (.568) practically mirrors reality (.565).
Additionally, his .369 on-base percentage was only slightly dented by the move to MLB, as he posted a .379 OBP his last full season in Japan. An elite 22% chase rate certainly helps that, allowing him three shots to unleash his “A” swing against pitches in the zone.
His two-year, $34 million deal is possibly the White Sox’s finest free agent investment ever. In concert with slugging middle infielder Colson Montgomery and emerging ace Davis Martin, Murakami has helped the 17-20 Sox push memories of 121 losses seem much longer than two years ago.
110: Wins for the Cubs, Braves and Yankees
OK, so these teams probably won't maintain their .684 winning percentage, right?
Well, you probably didn't figure that the Cubs would win (at least) 15 games in a row at Wrigley Field, either. Heck, a streak that long hasn't happened since 1935, but Chicago is now a stunning 18-5 at the Friendly Confines after a raucous four-game sweep of the Reds, who went from second to last place in a hurry.
Now, however, the Cubs will have to carry on without lefty Matthew Boyd, who tore meniscus in his knee. Then again, they lost ace Cade Horton for the season and lefty Justin Steele suffered a setback on the rehab trail and still, the club is 26-12, tied with Atlanta and the Yankees for the best record in baseball.
Once again, Shota Imanaga is off to a fantastic start, with 11- and 10-strikeout games already. Yet April and May are by far the two best months of his career (2.28 ERA, 3.83 the rest of the time). Put it this way: If Imanaga can sustain, the Cubs may just run off with their first full-season division title since 2017.
.500: Winning percentage for AL Central, West champions
Yep, we have at least a remote shot at baseball history: First time a team “won” a division without a winning record.
Folks might remember 1994 for the lost World Series or the historic statistical seasons washed away, but perhaps the real tragedy was sweating whether the Texas Rangers (52-62 and in first place when the plug was pulled on the season) could win the AL West with a .456 winning percentage.
In subsequent seasons, the 2005 San Diego Padres (82-80) and 2007 St. Louis Cardinals (83-79) captured ignominious “championships” in the six-team format, with the Cards Jeff Weaver-ing their way to a World Series title.
Now, we have perhaps the most parity-laden year in recent memory, with 18 of 30 teams within three games of the .500 mark. The flat distribution of wins is most pronounced in the AL’s Central and West, with Cleveland and the Athletics “leading” their divisions at 20-19 and 18-19, respectively.
What gives?
Well, we’re firmly out of the tanking era, teams like the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies have cleaned up their acts and exited their historically awful periods and even clubs trying not to win (hello, St. Louis) are finding surprise success.
Additionally, the schedule – which seems to get weirder every year – has kept many division combatants away from each other. Four AL Central teams have just six or seven games against division foes, while the Tigers, say, have already played 21 interleague games.
Separation may occur once the division games pile up. Then again, there’s no obvious punching bag anywhere in the majors, with only the Rockies and San Francisco Giants barely on track for 100 losses.
1.214: OPS for Ben Rice
Yordan Alvarez, in the conversation as the greatest hitter of his era, is having arguably the finest season of his career. Yet Alvarez, and Aaron Judge, and Matt Olson and the resurgent Mike Trout are all looking up at a part-time catcher drafted in the 12th round by the New York Yankees.
Ben Rice is not just off to a powerful start, as his major league-best OPS suggests, he’s nearly in the Triple Crown conversation at the moment, leading the AL with a .343 average, second with 27 RBIs and 12 homers trailing only Judge and Murakami.
This thing is real: Rice ranks in at least the 97th percentile in a half-dozen measurables, and his batting average on balls in play is a normal .269. Sustainable?
Well, Rice is currently day-to-day with a bone bruise on his hand, slowing his roll just a bit as the second quarter nears tipoff. But plenty is already in the bank both for he and the Yankees, now 26-12 after largely bringing back last year’s roster.
Projecting another big step forward for the 27-year-old Rice was clearly a prudent part of their grand plan.
3.61: Walks per game
Weird one, we know. Yet no stat probably better exemplifies the effect the automated ball strike system has had on the game.
That walk rate (per team) is the highest since a 3.75 mark in 2000 (right in the teeth of the steroid era) and third-highest since 1956. And why’s that?
Well, the ABS challenge system has empowered batters to be more selective around borderline calls, and provided a real-time check on umpires who might be more inclined to give pitchers the edge.
In short: The strike zone is smaller.
Has that made it easier to hit? Alas, not really. The leaguewide .242 batting average is the worst since the mound was lowered after the 1968 season, and down 2.5% since 2023, when hitter-friendly rules (a shift ban, bigger bases) were enacted and the league batted a collective .248.
So is life getting easier for pitchers? Um…
8: Complete games
Yeah, that’s the pace. For the entire league. This is not a misprint.
So far, only Miami’s Sandy Alcantara and Seattle’s George Kirby have managed to go the distance, Kirby’s the eight-inning variety in a losing effort. While that seems like nothing new – nobody faces the order three times through, velocity and relievers are king, blah, blah, blah – this drop is still precipitous.
Just last season, pitchers threw 29 complete games, one more than the previous all-time low set in 2024. Starters aren’t working dramatically less than 2025 – averaging 5.1 innings per start, compared to 5.2 a year ago.
Still, it’s instructive to think how dramatic the drop has been over the past decade: Starters averaged 5.8 innings in 2015 and threw 104 complete games that season. Nowadays, the opener is still prevalent as both a strategy and survival mechanism – 21 of 30 teams have used a reliever to start the game so far – and traditional pitching roles continue to get blurred.
Will a 72% drop in complete games hold throughout the season? Perhaps. Pitchers are all stretched out and can get deeper into games than in March and April, but warmer weather also helps the hitters.
Just don’t be surprised when $35 million becomes the baseline salary for the handful of sentient starters on the free agent market.
BRONX, NY - MAY 07: Left fielder Jasson Dominguez #24 of the New York Yankees runs into the wall making a catch during a game between the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 7, 2025 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
SNY | John Flanigan: Yankees outfielder Jasson Domínguez suffered a low-grade AC sprain in his left shoulder after crashing against the wall while making an impressive defensive play on Thursday. He tested negative for a concussion, but the shoulder injury sent him to the 10-day injured list anyway; they’ll continue to monitor for concussion symptoms as well.
It was a scary scene as Domínguez stayed face down for several moments before the training staff arrived. It’s a tough break for him, as he had rightfully earned a promotion to the majors with a 138 wRC+ in Triple-A Scranton. He leaves behind a 71 wRC+ in eight games with the Bombers and is expected “in a few weeks,” but the Yankees can’t offer a timetable at this juncture.
New York Post | Andrew Crane: To take the Martian spot, the Yankees will call up young outfielder Spencer Jones in advance of this weekend’s series in Milwaukee. The slugger, who ranks sixth in MLB Pipeline’s organizational prospects list, currently leads Triple-A with 41 RBI and has 11 home runs and a 143 wRC+ in Scranton. Jones’ role is still unclear, but he will need to prove he can limit the strikeouts at the highest level to secure consistent playing time. Still, it’s a huge day for him and his family.
New York Yankees on SI | Devon Platana: Lost in all the hoopla was the fact that Brendan Beck, the Yankees’ 21st prospect according to MLB Pipeline, made his MLB debut with the team on Thursday. He pitched as a bulk reliever after opener Paul Blackburn and allowed two runs in three innings, with a couple of hits, three walks, and one strikeouts. “A dream come true to come up here and do it at Yankee Stadium,” he said after the game. Good for Beck, who was sporting a 5.11 ERA in Triple-A.
SNY | Ben Pawlak: Reliever Kervin Castro will be called up to the active roster today, replacing Beck to give the Bombers a fresh arm. He has a 3.14 ERA in 14.1 frames in Scranton. The 27-year-old, who was a candidate to make the team out of camp, last appeared in the majors in 2022 with the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants. Expect him to return to the minors by Sunday at the latest, when Carlos Rodón returns to the rotation.
FanGraphs | Jay Jaffe: John Sterling was a national treasure. Respected by the entire broadcasting industry and nearly universally loved by New York fans, his voice brought joy to multiple generations of Yankees supporters. Jaffe had some beautiful words for him just a few days after his passing. “Dressed in a suit and tie even though listeners couldn’t see him, prone to dropping a reference to a midcentury Broadway musical while celebrating a Yankees home run, and delivering his lines with a booming baritone capable of reaching the cheap seats, Sterling brought a unique and dramatic flair to the job,” he said, and that last sentence sums up his style to perfection.
Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (43-27-12, in the Metropolitan Division)
Philadelphia; Saturday, 6 p.m. EDT
LINE: Hurricanes -188, Flyers +156; over/under is 5.5
NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Hurricanes lead series 3-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Thursday for the eighth time this season. The Hurricanes won 4-1 in the last meeting.
Philadelphia is 43-27-12 overall and 16-13-6 against the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers are 38-7-4 in games they score three or more goals.
Carolina has a 53-22-7 record overall and a 23-4-2 record in Metropolitan Division games. The Hurricanes have a 29-6-3 record in games they have fewer penalties than their opponent.
TOP PERFORMERS: Travis Konecny has scored 27 goals with 41 assists for the Flyers. Bobby Brink has four assists over the last 10 games.
Nikolaj Ehlers has 26 goals and 45 assists for the Hurricanes. Jackson Blake has two goals and seven assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Flyers: 5-4-1, averaging 2.3 goals, 3.7 assists, 7.3 penalties and 19.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game.
Hurricanes: 9-0-1, averaging 2.9 goals, 5.7 assists, 6.3 penalties and 14.8 penalty minutes while giving up 1.2 goals per game.
INJURIES: Flyers: Owen Tippett: day to day (undisclosed), Noah Cates: out (lower body), Rodrigo Abols: out (ankle), Nikita Grebenkin: out (upper body).
Hurricanes: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
May 7, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts towards an referee John Goble (10) after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half during game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The Lakers came into their series against the Thunder aware that fouls and officiating would be a talking point. Before the series even started, head coach JJ Redick made sarcastic comments about how little OKC fouls.
There was no laughing at the final whistle of Thursday’s Game 2 loss, though. Following a night when LA felt they were repeatedly on the wrong end of whistles — or weren’t even receiving them in some cases — they let their frustrations be known, both on and off the court.
After the final buzzer, multiple Lakers circled around official John Goble for an animated conversation.
Austin Reaves spends some time after the final whistle talking to the officials.pic.twitter.com/bEkQD4skAd
Once in the back, they continued sounding off, led by Redick himself
“I sarcastically said the other day they were the most disruptive team without fouling,” Redick said. “I mean, they have a few guys that foul on every possession and all the good defenses do. [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] gets like, I don’t even know, a touch foul, I guess, on a drive. There was a stretch where, four straight possessions, our guys got absolutely clobbered.”
“They’re hard enough to play. You’ve got to be able to just call it if they foul. And they do foul.”
The Lakers did well to manage their frustrations, not allowing it to boil over into their play. It was a notable accomplishment given how heated many of them were, none more so than Reaves. Following a sequence that ended with a Cason Wallace 3-pointer that forced a Lakers timeout, Reaves had to be pulled away from Goble.
"THAT'S SOME BULLSH*T TO TALK TO ME LIKE THAT….. P*SSY"
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 8, 2026
Following the game, Reaves explained that his anger stemmed from a sequence preceding that in which he felt like Goble disrespected him.
“When we were doing the whole tip ball, they were switching spots,” Reaves said. “I wanted to get on the other side because they had a guy on the other side. We were just trying to keep an advantage. He turned around and just yelled in my face.
“I just thought it was disrespectful…But at the end of the day, we’re grown men and I just didn’t feel like he needed to yell in my face like that. I told him that. I wasn’t disrespectful. I told him if I did that to him first, I would have got a tech. I felt the only reason I didn’t get a tech was he knew he was in the wrong.”
Here's the sequence where the official turns and yells at Reaves, as he said.
He moves to the other side of Cason Wallace to be in a defensive position. The official turns and says something to him, which you can see Austin recoil in surprise a bit. https://t.co/ZHB1DvKhlxpic.twitter.com/6qjqGD6fDZ
Another subject of frustration centered on LeBron and the fouls not being called. Through two games this series, he’s shot just five free throws.
“LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I’ve ever seen,” Redick said. “I’ve been with him two years now. The smaller guys, because they can be theatric, they typically draw more fouls. The bigger players that are built like LeBron, it’s hard for them. But he gets clobbered and he got clobbered again tonight a bunch.
“That’s not a new thing that’s specific to this crew or this series. He gets fouled a lot and it doesn’t happen. The guy gets hit on the head more than any player I’ve seen on drives and it rarely gets called.”
On Thursday, there were several questionable calls that left the Lakers upset. Early in the game, LeBron finished a layup through contact from Jaylin Williams that knocked him to the ground and left him limping briefly, but no foul was called.
In the second half, LeBron looked to have drawn a foul on a shot and converted the off-balance jumper for, again, what looked to be a clear and-one. Instead, the officials waved off the basket, calling the foul on the floor.
While LeBron was ready to speak his mind, LeBron took the complete opposite approach, refusing to say a word about the officiating after the game.
Q: JJ Redick was irate about the officials, how was that a factor in the runs OKC put together? LeBron James: “We’re down 2-0.” Q: Redick said you get the worst whistle of any superstar he’s seen, why do you think that is? LeBron: “I don’t know” pic.twitter.com/QyPwxUd9Td
It all culminated in the frustrations boiling over at the final buzzer and in the press conferences. Still, as frustrated as the team was, Redick was clear that was not the reason they lost.
“We didn’t lose because of the refs,” Redick said. “That’s never the case. You don’t lose because of refs. You lose because the other team outplays you and Oklahoma City outplayed us.”
Still, on a night with 45 fouls, a half-dozen reviews and a lot of questionable decisions, it’s understandable the Lakers walked away from this game feeling aggrieved.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 06: Carter Bryant #11 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball past Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 06, 2026 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. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a 133-95 rout of the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game Two, the San Antonio Spurs will head to Minneapolis looking to steal a game and regain home-court advantage. Much like they did in round one of the playoffs, the Spurs head into Game Three with a bit of uncertainty.
The Timberwolves are undefeated at home in the playoffs this season. Their games in Minnesota legitimately swung their first-round series with the Denver Nuggets. While the Spurs dominated Game Two, things could swing the other way on the road.
San Antonio will come into Game Three with a fully healthy roster. The Wolves are still dealing with injuries to key players on their roster. Ayo Dosumnu is questionable, now with a heel injury rather than the calf injury that kept him out of Game One. Anthony Edwards remains questionable, despite playing in the first two games. Those injuries haven’t held the Wolves back from making this a competitive series so far.
Game Two should fill the Spurs with confidence. But as Victor Wembanyama told reporters after the game, “when you win, you’re never as good as you think you are.” They’ll have to prove that Game Two wasn’t just a flash in the pan, but a sign of a team learning how to win this series.
Timberwolves Injuries: Donte DiVincenzo – Out (achilles), Ayo Dosunmu – Questionable (heel), Anthony Edwards – Questionable (knee)
What to watch for:
Stephon Castle’s fouls
Castle had five fouls in 24 minutes on Wednesday night. He was dangerously close to fouling out for the third straight game. It makes sense why Castle is racking up the fouls. He’s consistently guarding the Wolves’ best perimeter defender or banging inside with Julius Randle. He’s being forced to fight around screens and battle with the Wolves for 50/50 balls. He’s been the driving physical force for the Spurs in this series. They need him to maintain that level of physicality while keeping the foul count low.
Three-point shooting
Not to simplify the game, but sometimes winning does come down to making shots. The Spurs were abysmal from three in Game One’s loss, shooting 28% from deep. In Game Two’s blowout, San Antonio shot 41% from three. The contrast in the offense in those two games was stark. When the Spurs are hitting shots, it opens up lanes for their drivers to get to the basket. They got their best looks from three when they pushed the ball up the floor to get easy shots early in the shot clock. The Wolves will certainly try to slow the game down a bit in Game Three. San Antonio should continue to push the pace to create those easy looks that will open up their offense.
Guard play
San Antonio’s most significant advantage in this series has been its guards. If De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Castle are playing at their best, the Wolves don’t have the guard play to keep up with them. With Edwards clearly playing through an injury and Mike Conley past his prime, the Wolves have had difficulty getting to the basket. The Spurs outscored Minnesota 58-36 in the paint in Game Two.
Mitch Johnson’s strategy has been to blitz the Wolves’ ball-handlers, sending two defenders at the ball, forcing them to pass and oftentimes, turn it over. Minnesota had 22 turnovers in Game Two. Expect the Spurs to keep pressuring Minnesota’s ball-handlers in hopes of replicating this result in Game Three.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 07: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives around Cason Wallace #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 07, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the things that separates good teams from great teams is depth.
Look back to the 2020 Lakers. They had 10 realistic options they could turn to in the playoffs and all had moments. They could pull in an Alex Caruso for a Game 6 to seal the series, a move that made them go small one series after leaning on JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard.
It’s a trait the great teams have. Not just depth, but reliable depth. Guys who can not only step onto the court when needed, but produce at a high level. This Thunder team has that in abundance.
Through two games, the Lakers have done a fantastic job on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But that has led to Ajay Mitchell, Chet Holmgren and Jared McCain all stepping up. The Thunder come at you wave after wave after wave.
Eventually, the dam bursts for good teams. The Lakers have seen second-half runs in Games 1 and 2 turn close games into blowouts. At a certain point, LA is running out of steam because they don’t have the necessary depth and when that moment comes, OKC buries a backbreaking three to cap off a big run.
In about 85% of the two games in Oklahoma City, the Lakers have played the Thunder relatively even. That 15%, though, is a gap that LA might not be able to close.
So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
This wasn’t quite the same performance he had in Game 1, but it was still great. The ball wasn’t in his hands as much, a result of Austin Reaves returning back to form. But he was still efficient and had big baskets.
His early pins on fastbreaks led to a couple of layups. He hit back-to-back baskets in the four to close the lead to five. Unfortunately, there weren’t many others in purple and gold at his level.
Not enough has been made about Rui has a playoff riser. With Thursday’s 4-7 shooting from range, he now has 12 straight games overall shooting at least 50% from range. He is up to 10 straight postseason games shooting at least 50% from three, dating back to the Wolves series last season.
What’s important is not just that he’s making threes, but he’s taking them. He’s in an absolute groove and is freely firing away.
This was not a great Ayton game. It started off alright, though most of his contributions came in the form of good screen setting and things that don’t show up in the box score.
However, that only goes so far and the box-score production has to come at some point. As the game progressed, things got worse with a bad turnover in the fourth and then a poor closeout on Chet that led to free throws. He came out after that play and didn’t return for the final 6:47.
The Lakers aren’t going to have a chance to win if Ayton isn’t great.
It turns out that three bad games after a month out with injury do not define a player. This is who Reaves has been. And this is who the Lakers need Reaves to be this series.
There were a couple of moments, particularly early, where Reaves was a bit out of control and either turned the ball over or forced up a bad shot. But he really found a groove late in the first quarter and was everything the Lakers needed.
He was picking apart the Thunder defense and either finishing in the mid-range or at the rim or finding open shooters.
This was a lot of Marcus Smart. Too much, in fact.
There’s been plenty of discussion about Reaves needing to catch the moving train and get up to speed with the team. There hasn’t been as much discussion about the adjustment the team has to make to Reaves, though.
Specifically when it comes to Smart, the Lakers needed him to be a creator for himself and others against the Rockets. They could live with the bad possessions — to an extent — because they had no other option.
But now that Reaves is back, that’s not what they need out of him. He hasn’t adjusted to that, though. The result on Thursday was too many possessions where he’s trying to create something out of nothing when Austin and LeBron are on the floor.
We’re also to the point that there’s nothing more Smart can say about turnovers and taking blame. We’re seven games into this postseason and years into Smart’s career. The lazy entry passes that get stolen by the Thunder are just flat out unacceptable.
It was nice to see Kennard be more aggressive with his shot, which the Lakers need from him. If he could adopt Rui’s mindset of firing away when he has an inch of space, we might be cooking.
We’re oscillating between Hayes being unplayable and average. Game 2, he was unplayable.
Perhaps it’s the nerves or trying too hard, but there were multiple occasions on Thursday where he was jumping around on the perimeter when Thunder players weren’t even shot faking, leading to either open lanes or open threes.
Mix in some bad turnovers and illegal screens and the Lakers had to try to finish the game going small, which absolutely did not work.
This is probably the game that is the point of no return for LaRavia. Against Houston, there was just enough positive to warrant him playing. It was also a series that was already a rock fight and he could play that style. In fact, Game 6 was probably his best game of the postseason.
But more is needed against the Thunder and he is absolutely not stepping up. I was willing to give him some benefit of the doubt on the foul of Jaylin Williams’ three because it looked to be pretty clearly a kick out. But he then immediately followed that with a foul on Holmgren underneath the basket.
I wouldn’t be surprised if those were his final minutes of the series.
Grade: F
Adou Thiero
6 minutes, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +3
Realistically, Thiero didn’t really get enough minutes for a grade. But I did want to exclude him from the garbage time group because he actually did play meaningful minutes.
He didn’t really have an opportunity to do anything good or bad. But given the state of the rest of the bench, he should get more run in Game 3.
Grade: B
Dalton Knecht, Bronny James, Nick Smith Jr.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Bronny James got minutes in Game 3. Perhaps Nick Smith Jr. as well, though the Lakers seemed to find some solutions offensively. Still, a shake up isn’t the worst thing down 2-0 in the series.
JJ Redick
The Lakers went back to the drawing board offensively and found all the answers. They broke the 100-point barrier for the first time in five games. And they still were able to limit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as well.
Specifically, that second quarter was perhaps the best quarter the team has played this postseason, especially given the opposition.
Again, for 85% of this series, the Lakers have more or less matched the Thunder. That this is even competitive for that much is a testament to the coaching staff. They’ve had two great gameplans.
It just seems to be becoming clearer and clearer that the team doesn’t have the horses that OKC does in this series.
Grade: A-
Thursday’s DNPs: Maxi Kleber
Thursday’s inactives: Jarred Vanderbilt, Luka Dončić
Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, first in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Thunder -8.5; over/under is 211.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Thunder lead series 2-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference second round with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Thunder won the last matchup 125-107 on Friday, led by 22 points from Chet Holmgren. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 31.
The Lakers are 33-19 in conference matchups. Los Angeles averages 116.3 points and has outscored opponents by 1.7 points per game.
The Thunder have gone 41-11 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City is eighth in the Western Conference with 25.8 assists per game led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 6.6.
The Lakers average 11.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 fewer makes per game than the Thunder allow (14.3). The Thunder are shooting 48.4% from the field, 0.1% higher than the 48.3% the Lakers' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: LeBron James is averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura is averaging 16.4 points over the past 10 games.
Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring 31.1 points per game with 4.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists for the Thunder. Holmgren is averaging 16.0 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting 61.1% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 6-4, averaging 103.6 points, 40.4 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 8.9 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.5 points per game.
Thunder: 8-2, averaging 118.5 points, 42.4 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 10.2 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.8 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Luka Doncic: out (hamstring), Jarred Vanderbilt: day to day (finger).
Thunder: Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Detroit Pistons (60-22, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference)
Cleveland; Saturday, 3 p.m. EDT
LINE: Cavaliers -4.5; over/under is 212.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Pistons lead series 2-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Pistons visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference second round with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Pistons won the last meeting 107-97 on Thursday, led by 25 points from Cade Cunningham. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31.
The Cavaliers are 33-19 in Eastern Conference games. Cleveland has a 2-5 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Pistons are 12-4 against the rest of their division. Detroit is fourth in the league scoring 18.0 fast break points per game led by Cunningham averaging 3.7.
The Cavaliers make 48.2% of their shots from the field this season, which is 3.9 percentage points higher than the Pistons have allowed to their opponents (44.3%). The Pistons average 117.8 points per game, 2.4 more than the 115.4 the Cavaliers allow to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mitchell is scoring 27.9 points per game with 4.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists for the Cavaliers. James Harden is averaging 17.6 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 42.3% over the past 10 games.
Cunningham is averaging 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 9.9 assists for the Pistons. Tobias Harris is averaging 21.6 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 5-5, averaging 111.1 points, 44.3 rebounds, 22.4 assists, 8.0 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.6 points per game.
Pistons: 7-3, averaging 106.8 points, 46.4 rebounds, 22.8 assists, 8.6 steals and 8.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.3 points.
INJURIES: Cavaliers: Sam Merrill: day to day (hamstring).
Pistons: Kevin Huerter: day to day (adductor).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
