The Kansas City Royals just wrapped a pivotal series against the Cleveland Guardians, and there is plenty to unpack, from a wave of pitching injuries to the emergence of some intriguing names from within the organization.
Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco open with the injury news reshaping the Royals’ rotation outlook. Cole Reagins, Noah Cameron, and Carlos Estevez are all dealing with health concerns, and the guys break down what each absence means for roster construction and how the front office might respond, whether through internal call-ups, bullpen games, or a move at the trade deadline. Minor league starters Ryan Ramsey and Stephen Kolek are squarely in the conversation, and both get a thorough evaluation.
The bullpen remains a strength, and the debut of reliever Eric Cerantola is one of the episode’s highlights. Jacob and Jeremy dig into his strikeout profile, pitch extension, and how his release point and tunneling could make him a legitimate weapon. Meanwhile, Lucas Erceg’s recent outings get a fresh look, and the hosts draw a fascinating comparison to Mason Miller, who is quietly putting together one of the most dominant relief seasons in the league.
In the outfield, Isaac Collins, Kyle Isbel, and Lane Thomas are all part of a broader conversation about how Kansas City’s depth is evolving. Prospect Kendry Chourio’s workload management and timeline for a potential promotion also get attention, as does David Shields’ continued development in the system.
The episode rounds out with a look ahead to the upcoming series against the Detroit Tigers, a breakdown of the Royals’ bullpen metrics since April, and a nod to Bobby Witt Jr.’s MLB The Show takeover.
SAN DIEGO — Padres catcher Luis Campusano was placed on the 10-day injured list with a broken left toe, and 28-year-old Rodolfo Durán was called up to make his major league debut.
San Diego also transferred right-hander Joe Musgrove to the 60-day injured list as his return from Tommy John surgery continues to go slower than hoped.
Campusano fouled a ball off his foot. The veteran backup catcher had been off to an impressive start this season, batting .288 with a .958 OPS in his tandem with Freddy Fermin.
“Just got a little fracture in his big toe,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “It’s one of those things that he could potentially play through, depending on pain tolerance and all that. ... I think it’ll be good to be able to get past it in the IL stint instead of trying to play through something.”
The injury allows Durán to reach the majors for the first time after a minor league career that began in 2015. The Dominican catcher started out in the Phillies organization and spent time in the minors with the Yankees and Royals before signing with the Padres in January 2025.
Durán is batting .238 with a .785 OPS in 23 games for Triple-A El Paso this season. He was in the Padres’ lineup batting ninth and catching right-hander Michael King for San Diego’s homestand opener against St. Louis.
“This is a pretty cool call-up for him and all of us,” Stammen said of Durán. “We really loved what we saw from him in spring training this year and what he did last year in Triple-A. I expected him to be a great catcher. He’s got a great arm, but his bat has come alive the last two years. We definitely see him as a big league catcher.”
Musgrove hasn’t pitched since the NL playoffs in October 2024. He only made one appearance in spring training, and he still hasn’t started throwing again.
“He’s just focused on getting healthy, doing whatever he needs to do on a daily basis,” Stammen said.
Well, where have we seen a talented but dazed Husker team take on a “mid” Iowa team before? It’s a nightmare we’ve seen time and time agains in seemingly every sport. After having a lot of “luck” metrics go their way for the entire season, the Huskers seemingly had every break go against them in Columbus last week. So far, a return home has righted the ship in a big way after some struggles away from home. Will the final few (regular season, fingers crossed) home games give them their mojo back? (Shout out, Mojo Hagge!)
Iowa has piled up wins by beating up on the weak sisters of the poor, with the 222nd ranked non-conference schedule. They are not as good as their overall record (which still isn’t great) might make you think. In conference, they’ve been swept by the 2 California teams, and lost to Michigan State. They’ve beaten bottom feeders Maryland, Indiana and Penn State, but have also won series against Minnesota and most recently Illinois.
Barring being swept by Nebraska and then Purdue, Iowa should be in the group that that plays in Omaha for the right to play in the final tournament against the top 4 seeds. I wouldn’t get too attached to that “sweep” thought though. Things rarely go as planned when the Hawkeyes come to town.
Game 1: RHP Carson Jasa (8-2, 3.68 ERA) vs. RHP Tyler Guerin (2-2, 6.80 ERA)
Game 2: RHP Ty Horn (2-2, 4.06 ERA) vs. RHP Maddux Frese (4-2, 2.56 ERA)
Game 3: RHP Gavin Blachowicz (4-2, 3.08 ERA) vs. TBD
Coach Bolt and Co. have found their Friday night starter in Carson Jasa. They were protecting him in a way earlier in the year, putting him in a slightly less stressful day in Saturday, usually battling a less superior pitcher on the other team. Now he is “The Man”, and despite picking up the loss, he pitched very well. One ball just trickling out of Case Sanderson’s glove on a tough play was maybe the difference in the game. Going more than 6 innings has to be a goal going forward.
Welcome back to the rotation Ty Horn. He has rediscovered that little bit extra of his fastball that he was without for his last few Friday starts. That along with the confidence/attitude readjustment, and the giving his all on every pitch instead of worrying about going through an order a third time unlocked the Ty we saw at the end of 2025. Bolt said with only one mid week game left, Ty affecting multiple games a week wouldn’t be as important, so made the decision to replace the suddenly struggling Katskee easier.
Bolt also said he thought Gavin Blachowicz just fit better on Sundays when deciding where to place Horn. Blachowicz suffered from a couple bad breaks, especially the 3 RBI triple that Drew Grego just couldn’t quite get ahold of. Even-so, Blachowicz has been the most even keeled starter, even without his best stuff, so expect Championship Sundays to get back on track.
Iowa has been searching for a starting rotation all season. They’ve finally arrived back where they started on Friday nights with Tyler Guerin. The 6’6” righty had a bad start to the season, then regrouped mostly in the bullpen before starting the past 3 weekends. He doesn’t go long, rarely getting to 70 pitches, and is very prone to walking pitchers. Iowa has a lot of relievers it trusts, so the leash isn’t long for its starters.
Maddux Frese has been a revelation over then last month for the Hawkeyes. Not only is he pitching effective, allowing 2 runs or less in 4 of his last 5 starts, but he is going deep into games, with quality starts in each of those 4 games as well. He’s not a big strikeout guy, in fact he gets most of his outs via fly balls. That can be an adventure, depending on the wind at Haymarket Park. Logan Runde has been the third pitcher for the team over the entire year, but has struggled of late, so the team is considering a couple other options, depending on how the series goes for Sunday.
Scouting Report
This weekend will be a battle between the top 2 hitting teams in the conference. Last week Nebraska was #1 and Iowa was #2, but as you can imagine after Columbus, the two have flipped. It’s a rare Iowa team in that the offense carries the pitching staff. Probably been 2019 since that happened.
The best hitter on the Hawkeyes is easily in the mix of top 5 batters in the conference depending on the criteria. That is second baseman Gable Mitchell, who thankfully is finally a senior. He has taken the conference lead in hits and batting average away from Mac Moyer after last week. He has 75 hits, and is batting .393. At 5’9, 185 lbs, he’s not a big home run threat with 5 on the year, but can pile up doubles, with 14 on the year, and a B1G leading 4 triples as well. He will run on occasion, stealing 11 of 15 bases.
Caleb Wolf is almost a Mitchell clone. The diminutive first baseman is the same size as Mitchell and second on the team in batting average at .370. Wolf also has 12 doubles and 3 home runs.
In fact, the whole team has a similar stat line of piling up singles and doubles, and not really worrying about home run power. The team leader in home runs has only 6, and that is short stop and usual leadoff man Kooper Schulte. Schulte also leads the team with 17 doubles on the season while batting .286.
Iowa likes to run, stealing the second most bases in the Big Ten to Minnesota at 85. Outfielder Kellen Strohmeyer leads the team, going 17 for 17 on the season.
Iowa has numerous arms they turn to during a weekend, with 7 pitchers having over 12 appearances out of the pen on the season so far. Their most trusted arm is do everything reliever Kyle Alivo. He is tied for the team lead with 3 saves, and has thrown 38 innings in mostly relief. That includes a big time outing in his last appearance, going for 5 innings with 8 strikeouts Saturday against Illinois.
Freshman lefty Brolan Frost leads the pen with a 2.94 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. He has made 15 appearances, for 18.1 innings. He’s been used a lot more recently, throwing an inning in one game against Illinois and then coming in for a single left handed batter in another. Expect to see something similar this weekend.
Grad transfer Joe Husak leads the team in appearances with 19 on the season. He has a 5.19 ERA and has struck out 23 batters in 26 innings of work. He should be in multiple games against Nebraska if the score is close.
As always, Iowa is an elite defense. They are currently #1 in the B1G and #3 in the country with a 98.5 fielding percentage.
Series History
Iowa leads the all time series 29-26 against Nebraska. In their last meeting, the Hawkeyes won 2 out of 3 in Iowa City last season.
On Deck
Jeter Worthley has been hit by 18 pitches this season, tied for 9th most in a season in Husker history. He is 2 behind Riley Silva’s 2025 season for 8th.
Drew Grego has 38 RBIs on the season, 4th most by a Husker freshman in history. He’s 3 away from Daniel Bruce and 10 behind Alex Gordon.
With one more hit, Dylan Carey will tie Paul Meyers for 7th all time in hits. He is also only 2 behind Michael Pritchard for 6th place.
Catching a foul ball at an MLB game is a core memory moment, but it can be just as memorable to blow it as spectacularly as this fan did on Thursday afternoon.
This Cleveland Guardians fan didn’t catch the foul ball and spilled his drink all over the woman next to him — and her nachos 😭
Extending for the bare one-handed catch, this man not only managed to flub the catch, but he spilled his beer all over the woman sitting next to him, notably drenching the ballpark nachos in the process. I’m not going to throw too much shade at the attempted catch, because a jumping one-hander at full extension is rough. I’m not sure many people would have made that grab.
However, I will slam this man for not having situational awareness of his concessions situation. I looked up the prices of food and drink at Progressive Field in Cleveland, and he’s drinking the 25 oz stadium beer, which is $12 for a domestic. I’ll go with the low-end and assume he’s not drinking craft. The loaded nachos, they’re $15. I appears there may also be hot dogs on the tray, but I won’t count there only because there appears to be some roughness to the foil — meaning they may have already been eaten.
If we zoom in on the beer right as he’s about the make the catch we can clearly see how much the man had already consumed, thanks to sunlight shining through the translucent cup.
Therefore, he lost two-thirds of his beer and ruined the nachos trying to make the catch for a financial loss of $23 on the attempt. The embarrassment from flubbing this catch on live TV, well, that’s worth a lot more in emotional damage.
It's another busy day across the Major Leagues tonight, with a total of 15 games on the schedule.
My MLB player props will feature Dylan Cease, Andy Pages, and Max Fried who I expect to help keep the Yankees rolling in dominant form as their other star arms work their way back to full health.
Dylan Cease has been a strikeout machine this season for the Toronto Blue Jays. He's racked up 56 Ks in just 38.1 innings of work. The right-hander currently ranks fourth in the Majors in punchouts. Cease has cashed the Over just once in his last three outings, but it was against the exact team he'll face tonight — the Los Angeles Angels.
When Cease took the hill against L.A. a couple of weeks back, he struck out 12 Angels across only five innings of work. The veteran has 42 Ks in only 98 at-bats against the Halos lineup in his career, and L.A. ranks dead last in the bigs in strikeouts with nearly 10 per game.
Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SN1
Max Fried Under 1.5 earned runs (+125)
With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon injured, it's been vital for Max Fried to be dominant this season for the New York Yankees, and he hasn't disappointed. The lefty owns a 4-1 record and 2.39 ERA across eight appearances. He's hit the Under in earned runs allowed in two of his last three starts.
While Fried did surrender three earned in his most recent outing, the southpaw had back-to-back scoreless starts prior. He's also been practically un-hittable on the road, compiling a 0.76 ERA in five starts, and the Yankees visit the Milwaukee Brewers this evening.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: YES
Andy Pages Over 0.5 singles (-110)
Andy Pages has been a breakout star for the Los Angeles Dodgers this year. He's fifth in the Majors with a .336 average, and the Cuban is also second with 33 RBI. Pages has 46 hits as well, which is top-five. Of those 46 knocks, 30 have been singles, and he's easily cashed the Over in six of his last eight contests.
Pages was 3-for-5 with three homers on Wednesday, and 3-for-4 the night before that with three base knocks. While he's 0-for-2 lifetime against Chris Sale, he's batting .333 against left-handed pitchers. Sale doesn't give up a lot of homers or extra-base hits, but Pages is hot, and I expect him to at least smack one base hit.
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet LA, BravesVision
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 17-32, -1.39 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony was put on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right wrist before the start of a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.
Anthony, 21, hurt his wrist during his first at-bat of a game at Detroit. He flew back to Boston to see the team’s hand specialist, Dr. Matthew Leibman.
Interim manager Chad Tracy said there wasn’t enough progression for Anthony to avoid going on the IL.
“Still sore,” Tracy said. “I think it’s more of a case of ‘How are we willing to play short-handed?’ We’ve already done it for two days.”
Wearing a brace on his hand, Anthony said that he hasn’t picked up a bat. He’s optimistic that he won’t be sidelined beyond the 10 days.
“Obviously not where I want to be, but just got to keep getting better every day. The hand is tricky and I’ve never dealt with a hand issue before. Getting the news that it’s nothing serious is the best news we’ve could have gotten,” Anthony said. “When the IL stint is over, I plan to be in that game the next day and off the IL.”
Signed last year as a rookie to an eight-year, $130 million contract, Anthony has started slowly at the plate this season. He’s hitting .229 with one home run in 130 plate appearances.
“Just got to get better as fast as I can,” Anthony said.
It’s Anthony’s second IL stint in as many seasons. Last year, he missed most of September and Boston’s wild-card playoff series against the New York Yankees after suffering an oblique strain.
The Red Sox brought up Mickey Gasper from Triple-A Worcester to take Anthony’s spot on the roster.
Top NBA draft prospect Darryn Peterson believes he knows the reason for the severe cramping issues that caused him problems as a freshman at Kansas this past season.
Peterson said ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft lottery and the start of the NBA Draft Scouting Combine in Chicago next week that a new round of a bloodwork and other tests following the college basketball season led doctors to determine high doses of creatine he was using caused the condition.
Peterson told ESPN in an interview published Friday, May 8 that he'd never taken the supplement used to increase muscle mass and enhance athletic performance before getting to college. "But after the season I took two weeks off and they did tests which showed my baseline level was already high," he explained. "So, they said when I dosed, it must've made the levels unsafe."
Peterson then revealed to reporters at the Big 12 Tournament he endured a scary incident in September in which he went into a full-body cramp after Kansas coach Bill Self's preseason boot camp. Peterson wound up being taken to the hospital in an ambulance and said he worried it could happen again throughout the season.
"I made it to the training room and just started begging them to call 911," he told ESPN. "They were trying to get a vein to get me the IV, get me back hydrated. But I was cramping so hard they couldn't get a vein. I thought I was going to die on the training table that day."
"Whenever I felt anything like that come on, my initial thought was that it might get to that again," Peterson added. "And I can't let that happen and be embarrassed and have that on TV and all that. ... My biggest thing was I'm going to keep trying because we don't know what's wrong and we can't say something's wrong. So, I'm going to go out there and when it happens, I'm going to ask to come out. I don't know if that was a right or wrong move."
Peterson noted he hasn't had any cramping problems since identifying creatine as the root cause of the issues. He has been training for the draft in Los Angeles and was among the more than 70 players invited to attend the NBA Draft Scouting Combine beginning Monday.
Darryn Peterson stats
Peterson averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds over 24 games with Kansas during the 2025-26 season.
The 2026 NBA playoffs action continues this Sunday night on NBC and Peacock when the San Antonio Spurs go head-to-head with the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Live coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds, such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
“Let’s go baby! The most deserving incredible man. I love you!” O’Connor wrote on her Instagram Story, including the MLB breaking news post and a fire flame emoji and a blue heart.
The Post’s Jon Heyman was the first to report the news Thursday.
Spencer Jones’ girlfriend, Ava O’Connor shared a sweet message responding to the 6-foot-7 outfielder getting called up by the Yankees after Jasson Domínguez was injured. Instagram/Ava O'Connor
Jones, the Yankees’ No. 6 prospect on MLB Pipeline, has 11 homers and a Triple-A leading 41 RBIs to start the season.
The 24-year-old slugger will get his chance at the majors after he struggled with strikeouts in the minors this season, tallying 46 through his first 33 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones and his girlfriend, Ava O’Connor in September 2025 while he was in Triple-A. Instagram/Ava O'Connor
Jones was called up after Domínguezcrashed into the outfield wall while making a catch during the first inning of the 9-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday.
An MRI revealed a sprain in the AC joint in his left shoulder, sending him to the injured list.
Ava O’Connor celebrated boyfriend Spencer Jones’ Yankees promotion. Instagram/Ava O'ConnorNew York Yankees center fielder Spencer Jones #78, at bat in the 2nd inning in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida on February 23, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Yankees manager Aaron Boone cited consistent at-bats recently when asked about Jones after Thursday’s game.
“Feel like the last three, four weeks, been having a lot of consistent at-bats,” Boone said. “The power’s been there. Less swing and miss. … The signs have been encouraging.”
Jones will suit up Friday for the start of the Yankees’ three-game series against the Brewers in Milwaukee.
Who will win Cubs vs Rangers today: Cubs moneyline (-133 at Polymarket)
The Chicago Cubs are arguably the hottest team in baseball right now, having wonnine straight games. They just swept the Cincinnati Reds, scoring 18 runs in the series.
The Cubbies' offense is firing on all cylinders, ranking in the top five in most categories. Most notably, they're second in runs with 5.5 per game.
Chicago will face Kumar Rocker tonight, who has a 4.71 ERA. He's pitched better at home, but Rocker has been poor lately. Although the righty has never faced the Cubs, the hosts are raking at the moment, and he tends to leave a lot of pitches in the zone.
Also, Ben Brown is on the bump for Chicago, and although this is his first start, he has a 2.10 ERA across 12 relief appearances. Chicago's bullpen also has a 3.90 ERA, and they will likely eat up innings here after Brown is the opener.
COVERS INTEL: Opponents are hitting .278 against Rocker, and he's given up seven earned runs across his last two starts.
Cubs vs Rangers Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 runs (-110)
The Cubbies are rolling, and they've cashed the Over in two of their last three games. I expect them to do damage to Rocker. They have also hit the Over in two of their previous three contests, although both of those games were losses.
Rocker is prone to hard contact, while the Cubbies' bullpen can be vulnerable at times. Globe Life is hitter-friendly when the roof is closed, too.
That being said, I believe most of the offense in the series opener will come from the Cubbies, who cannot be stopped right now.
Chicago is averaging 5.57 runs per game in May, and they've also hit the Over in five of their seven games this month. Texas has also given up 24 runs across its last four games alone.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 9-11, -5.45 units
Over/Under bets: 12-8, +2.35 units
Cubs vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Cubs -136 | Rangers +116
Run line: Cubs -1.5 (+120) | Rangers +1.5 (-140)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 runs (-110) | Under 8.5 runs (-110)
Cubs vs Rangers trend
The Chicago Cubs have hit the Moneyline in 20 of their last 24 games (+16.75 Units / 52% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Rangers.
How to watch Cubs vs Rangers and game info
Location
Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
Date
Friday, May 8, 2026
First pitch
8:05 p.m. ET
TV
CW33, Marquee
Cubs starting pitcher
Edward Cabrera (3-0, 3.27 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcher
Jack Leiter (1-3, 5.45 ERA)
Cubs vs Rangers latest injuries
Cubs vs Rangers weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Coverage of the 2026 NBA playoffs continues this Saturday afternoon on NBC and Peacock when Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons take on Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Live coverage begins at 2:00 PM ET with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
Don't miss Sunday night's San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves Game 4 action at 7:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Game Preview:
The Pistons lead the series 2-0 after defeating the Cavaliers 111-101 on Tuesday and 107-97 on Thursday night. Cunningham had 25 points and 10 assists, while Tobias Harris finished with 21 points and 7 rebounds.
"We never lost composure, we just stayed poised, stuck to our principles, stuck to our system, and just turned up the energy a little bit," said Cunningham after the win.
Cleveland guard James Harden finished with just 10 points, shooting 3-for-13 from the field.
"We won the possession game, we just didn't make shots. We had plenty of chances," said Harden after the loss.
"They came out super aggressive, of course, but it’s the playoffs. Obviously, we haven’t figured that one out. Still back to the drawing board," said Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
Boston, MA - May 2: Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid reacts after making a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers played in the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
After two losses at Madison Square Garden, the Sixers return home for the first time in over a week facing another two-game deficit in a best-of-seven series against one of their rivals. This time it’s a 2-0 hole against the New York Knicks, a series deficit Philly has never been able to dig out of in a best-of-seven in its history. But don’t let that feel like the Sixers are climbing Mount Everest as they attempt to pick themselves up off the mat.
In case you needed a reminder, Philadelphia’s comeback against Boston in the first round was the first series victory from a 3-1 deficit in franchise history. It was the first time since 1982 that the Sixers eliminated the Celtics in the postseason, having lost seven consecutive series to Boston previously. The Celtics had been 32-0 in best-of-seven series when holding a 3-1 cushion. Whether you needed to read those facts or not, they were worth repeating. The Sixers just had their greatest playoff moment in a quarter century and that ought to earn some positive equity in the minds of its fans.
There are no moral victories in the playoffs, but Wednesday night’s effort in Game 2 should have Sixers fans feeling optimistic that they can fight back against the Knicks. Down Joel Embiid on the road, Philly went toe-to-toe with New York, a team that appears to be firing on all cylinders, for 40-45 minutes of regulation. The Sixers simply ran out of gas down the stretch and the Knicks escaped with a 108-102 victory.
There wasn’t much to nitpick in Game 1 as the Sixers just got steamrolled in a quick turnaround after last Saturday’s Game 7 in Boston in the first round. But by now, we’ve all heard the most common complaints about the Game 2 loss. Some say it was a Daryl Morey loss as the President of Basketball Operations opted to subtract instead of add three months ago at the trade deadline and Philly had a thinner bench as a result in a game it was already without Embiid. Others have pointed the finger at Tyrese Maxey. There’s reason to be upset with Maxey after he had a relatively pedestrian stat line by his standards and if he’s going to be the face of the franchise after Embiid, he’ll have to be better than he was in Game 2. On a lesser note, Nick Nurse not playing Dominick Barlow enough when Barlow clearly looked like the best option at center on a night sans Embiid has also been brought up.
There have even been questions about Embiid’s toughness and some have quickly resorted back to the common critiques of Embiid that we hear this time of year. Sixers fans, it’s time to move forward with confidence. Friday night will be the first time the team plays a game at home since completing the 3-1 comeback against Boston. Regardless of how many Knicks fans are in the building, Friday offers a chance for the Sixers fanbase to throw its full support behind a team that has undoubtedly earned it. Don’t let such a great moment from less than a week ago be erased from your memory so quickly. Don’t allow yourself to think that the Sixers only won the series against the Celtics because Boston’s three-point field goals weren’t dropping and Jayson Tatum didn’t play in Game 7.
I get it. It’s easy to think more about the extensive history of postseason disappointments that this franchise has provided us with than a good week-long stretch of basketball against the Celtics. But everyone owes it to the Sixers to get behind them and attempt to will them back into this series with New York. They certainly showed ample grit and fight in Game 2 and we should expect them to bring that same energy for the rest of the series.
Of course, the availability of Embiid looms large. We’ll see if New York wing OG Anunoby suits up on Friday night after suffering a hamstring injury in Game 2. Both Embiid and Anunoby were on their respective rosters two years ago when these two teams met one round earlier in the playoffs. Philadelphia lost the first two games in New York in that series as well. Embiid dropped 50 points in Game 3. The Sixers would go on to extend that series to a Game 6 at home, one that they ended up losing by three points, and the game was tied until Josh Hart buried a triple with 25 seconds remaining for the Knicks.
A strong argument can be made that both the Sixers and Knicks are better teams now than they were two years ago. But the point we’re getting at is, the Sixers were very close to forcing a decisive seventh game back at Madison Square Garden in 2024 after trailing 2-0 and 3-1 in that series. They haven’t bowed out of the playoffs in embarrassing fashion since the Mother’s Day 2023 blowout loss in Boston.
So save me your “same old Sixers” takes and go support your team on Friday night on their home floor. Maybe have a little bit of faith that they can win a basketball game after seeing what they did in the first round. Should they get it done on Friday, a series can’t be any closer than 2-1 after three games. They’d be one home win in Game 4 away from making it a best-of-three at that point. The series isn’t over so don’t act like it is. If you didn’t learn that after watching the Celtics series, you never will.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 03: Greg Weissert #57 of the Boston Red Sox walks to the dugout after pitching during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on May 03, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We learned after the game on Thursday that Jake Bennett has been sent down to Triple-A. Jack Anderson, who allowed three runs in 8 1/3 innings in his first stint in the majors, will be the corresponding promotion.
Other moves are likely on the horizon. Justin Slaten seemingly threw his final rehab outing for Worcester on Wednesday night, a scoreless inning. I had expected Slaten to be recalled today, with Bennett going down since Sonny Gray’s return brings the Red Sox back to a full rotation. It’s possible that Anderson is only here for one day and will swap with Slaten over the weekend.
It’s also possible that a second, or even a third move is coming. Greg Weissert and Ryan Watson simply haven’t gotten it done thus far out of the pen. Weissert, despite blowing numerous wins for starters a year ago, finished the season with a 2.82 ERA in 72 appearances. This year has been a different story, allowing four home runs in 14 2/3 innings, and Weissert is now sporting a 5.52 ERA.
Ryan Watson, despite having the Rule-5 tag, probably isn’t safe either. His 6.46 ERA in 15 appearances (23 2/3 innings) is equally concerning, and his K-BB% is just 7.2%.
Slaten’s return is imminent, along with the fact that Tommy Kahnle exercised his “assignment clause” last week. If another team offers Kahnle a major league deal, the Red Sox will either have to promote him or let him go. Kahnle has a 2.38 ERA at Worcester and 11 seasons of big league experience. His ERA in the big leagues from 2019-2025 is 3.33.
I could see a full-line change coming soon, with Anderson, Slaten, and Kahnle in and Bennett, Watson, and Weissert out. Of course, if this happened, Weissert would need to be DFA’d, and Watson would be returned to the Giants by the Rule Five rules.
What would you do with the ‘pen over the next few days? Discuss in the comments, and be good to each other.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Joseph Sullivan #19 of the Houston Astros bats during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (17-19) lost 10-3 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the 3rd inning on an Alexander 2 run double. Gordon got the start but struggled allowing 7 runs, 6 earned, over 4.2 innings. The offense got one back in the 6th but the Isotopes would get 3 more in the 9th and put the game out of reach as Sugar Land fell 10-3.
Note: Nelson is hitting .302 in Triple-A this season.
The Hooks got on the board in the 4th inning scoring 2 runs on a wild pitch and Whitaker RBI single. Mayer got the start and went 4.2 innings allowing 4 runs, though only one was earned, while striking out 6 batters. The Hooks got a run back in the 6th on a Holy RBI single but that was it as they dropped game one 4-3.
The Hooks got on the board in the first inning scoring 2 runs on a Sullivan 2 run home run. Hicks started for the Hooks and pitched well allowing 2 runs over 6 innings while striking out 6. The offense scored 2 runs in the top of the 7th on a Hernandez sac fly and Holy RBI single. Chirinos tossed a scoreless 7th inning to close out the 4-2 win.
Hertzler started game one but only went 1 innings allowing 4 runs while striking out 3. The offense got on the board in the first on a Nunez solo HR. After the Emperors got two runs in the top of the 2nd, the offense responded with two of their own on a Call solo HR and Walker solo HR. The offense got another run in the 4th on a Walker RBI single and one more in the 5th on a Schiavone solo home run. The Emperors added one more run and the Asheville offense was quiet the rest of the way as they fell 7-5 in game one.
Asheville jumped out to a nice lead in the first scoring 3 runs on a Nunez 2 run home run and Call RBI double. They got 2 more in the 3rd on Brutcher and Powell RBI singles. Santos got the start and went 3.2 innings allowing 3 runs. Asheville picked up another run in the 4th on a Thomas RBI double. Ogando allowed 2 runs in relief but Wohlegemuth tossed a scoreless inning to close out the 6-5 win.
Yeriel Santos, RHP: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
Joan Ogando, RHP: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K (WIN)
Nate Wohlgemuth, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (SAVE)
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (12-18) won 3-2 (BOX SCORE)
Perez started for the Woodpeckers and pitched well allowing 2 run over 6 innings while striking out 6. The offense got on the board in the 4th scoring 3 runs on a Ramirez RBI double and Newman 2 run home run. Weber relieved Perez and tossed a scoreless 7th inning. The game went into a rain delay but was called after 7 innings with the Woodpeckers winning 3-2.
Note: Ochoa is hitting .400 over his last 13 games.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers will donate 500 tickets for each remaining home second-round playoff game to area community groups in their latest attempt to keep more of their own fans in the building and avoid a New York takeover.
The Sixers’ previous strategy to ward off Knicks fans in this playoff series was to try through Ticketmaster to geographically restrict sales to fans in the greater Philadelphia area.
The Sixers said 250 frontline medical personnel from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine and 250 local educators selected by Learn Fresh, Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia, the Philadelphia school district and Camden, New Jersey, school district would attend Game 3 on Friday night.
The 76ers will host 500 moms and children selected by Uplift Center for Grieving Children, Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, La Liga del Barrio and Apologues for Sunday's Game 4.
The Knicks lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.
When the teams met two years ago in the first round, Knicks fans swarmed Philadelphia, and Sixers All-Star center Joel Embiid pleaded with fans ahead of this series not to let it happen again.
“Last time we played the Knicks it felt like this was Madison Square Garden East. So we’re going to need the support,” Embiid said. “Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys. The atmosphere we’ve had the last couple games in Philly, especially the last one pushing it to Game 7, I mean, we need all of it.”
Dylan Cease
Max Fried
Andy Pages
Kurt Helin
COVERS INTEL: Opponents are hitting 
