Giants-Nationals Series Preview: Computer Bad vs. Computer Good

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 06: Nasim Nuñez #26, CJ Abrams #5, Daylen Lile #4 and James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals talk in the dugout prior to the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

44 games have passed since these two teams last faced off and it has been interesting to see one team basically takeoff and become a surprise and another team perform to their worst possible projection. If you had sent that sentence back to March, you’d say that it was the Giants who were the surprise. Instead, it’s the Nats.

They’re 23-21 since the Giants took 2 out of 3 from them in Washington while the Giants have gone 18-26. The Nats’ pitching hasn’t been the story of their season-long success (#5 in MLB in hitting), but since they faced the Giants, they have a 4.11 ERA (14th) and 4.46 FIP compared to a 4.65 ERA (25th) and 4.45 FIP for the Giants. That might explain the entire season, even with the Giants’ terrible lineup performance for most of the year factored in.

Of course, over the past month (since May 8th), something very interesting has happened. The Giants have been the best lineup in baseball (.277/.331/.480 — 126 wRC+). The Nats have stayed right there with them at #4 (.246/.322/.447 — 115 wRC+), but let’s stick with the Giants. The Giants haven’t remade themselves so much as they’ve done better at what they’ve wanted to do. Their 6.5% walk rate as a team is close to what it’s been all year, along with the 19.9% strikeout rate. The .277 team batting average leads the sport by a wide margin (Pittsburgh is #2 at .262). It would appear that Buster Posey is successfully recreating the championship era (the Giants from 2010-2016: .258/.320/.392 — 7.8 BB%, 18.3 K%) where the lineup is concerned.

Should we talk about the pitching?

This is a stark battle between old school “Computers Bad” and new school “Computers Good and/or Necessary” where the Nationals have seemed to have done what Farhan Zaidi did when he took over the team: quickly maximize the talent through technology while the Giants are sort of stubbornly sticking to “throw talent into the deep end and see if it can swim.” An organization that celebrated the removal of computers from the clubhouse. To be clear, the Giants do use computers and other technologies, but seem to want to limit it to a tool rather than as the centerpiece of scouting and development. Has that sea change/course correction worked out in the past 18 months? The results suggest no. Then again, it’s not like the “computer is supreme” model of the prior front office showed remarkable success (except for that one year).

The tough road trip that saw them do okay — and possibly become a more cohesive unit — might’ve planted the seeds for a more competitive summer, but the Giants also showed that they are deficient enough to be simply a bad team for the next 4 months rather than one of the worst teams ever fielded.

And, yes, it’s because of the pitching.

The Giants have a team ERA of 5.09 over the past month (27th in MLB). They have been the third-least valuable staff in the sport over that same span (+0.2 fWAR) behind just the Cubs (-0.4) and Reds (-0.8). In other words, the Giants haven’t been able to time solid pitching with an offensive streak that has gotten most of the roster back to their career averages or season projections.

The Nats, meanwhile, have been the sixth-worst over this same span and just good enough to not totally work against their lineup. On the other hand, we’ve seen the Giants’ lineup get healthy via some blowouts. There hasn’t been an equal distribution of runs over this span.

Now they return home with some confidence. Maybe that will help the Giants’ bats some more and maybe Oracle Park will be just what the beleaguered pitching staff needs to not be so terrible.

But if you had gone into the season thinking that a new front office would’ve figured out the situation for the Nationals faster than the Hall of Fame brain of Buster Posey and Zack Minasian, you would’ve been labeled a heretic.


Series overview

Who: San Francisco Giants (27-39) vs. Washington Nationals (33-33)
Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California
When: Monday & Tuesday at 6:45pm PT, Wednesday at 12:45pm PT
National broadcasts: None.

Projected starters
Monday: Miles Mikolas (RHP 1-5, 6.39 ERA) vs. Logan Webb (RHP 3-4, 4.25 ERA)
Tuesday: Andrew Alvarez (LHP 1-0, 3.54 ERA) vs. Adrian Houser (RHP 2-5, 5.49 ERA)
Wednesday: Foster Griffin (LHP 7-2, 3.63 ERA) vs. Robbie Ray (LHP 4-6, 4.12 ERA)


Players to watch

Nationals

CJ Abrams & James Wood: The two best position players on the Nats have effectively carried the team this season, including the past month (148 wRC+ and 173, respectively)

Foster Griffin: He’s wound up being the best of the “returned from overseas” pitchers to sign back with US clubs this season. The 30-year old lefty is a soft-tosser, averaging 87.8 mph with his primary pitch — a cutter — and 91.3 mph with his four-seamer. He also has a sweeper, a sinker a changeup, curveball, and split finger. A real kitchen sinker. Ordinarily, that would probably mean the Giants lose 9-0, but I think Jung Hoo Lee and Luis Arraez are setup to do well against him and I’m curious to watch Matt Chapman and Willy Adames face off against him, too. Some real wild cards: Eldridge and Devers, who could go either way against such an arsenal.

Curtis Mead: The 25-year old utility hitter has a bright red Statcast page and along with being a boon to my fantasy team, he’s been a key fill-in for Washington. Over the past month (22 games, 86 PA0 he’s slashed .278/.395/.542 with 13 walks and 17 strikeouts bracketing 4 doubles and 5 homers.

Giants

Rafael Devers: He’s sort of been forgotten in this Giants’ offensive outburst, and het he’s an important part of it. His 136 wRC+ over the last month is fourth-best amongst the regulars after Jung Hoo Lee (179), Willy Adames (161), and Bryce Eldridge (142). He’s hit for a bit more power at home on the season (.453 slug vs. .395 on the road), but the home/road split is where his season-long problem really shows up: 4 walks against 35 strikeouts. That’s nearly a 9:1 strikeouts to walk ratio. On the road, it’s 15 walks against 52 K (~3.5:1). The Nats’ 7.8 K/9 is 26th in MLB. Will Devers be able to make hard contact in the series?

Willy Adames: He’s slashing an abysmal .195/.288/.305 (.592 OPS) in 146 career PA against the Nationals. It’s his third-worst performance against a team he’s had at least 100 plate appearances against, behind the Phillies (.553) and Marlins (.537). But over the past month he’s hitting .302/.354/5.86 with 8 homers and 23 RBI. This feels like an immovable object versus the unstoppable force situation, but which is which where Adames is concerned?

Dylan Smith: He’s not not the closer now, given Tony Vitello’s determination that the bullpen shouldn’t have defined roles; but, on the other hand, the Giants did throw their ostensible closer Keaton Winn back-to-back days and 2.2 innings, so, he’s almost certainly unavailable for at least game 1 of this series.


Tony Vitello watch

It’s been a minute since he’s made a movie reference. Will he make one this weekend? People are returning to the theaters, not just because of mainstream fare like that Star Wars movie or Masters of the Universe, but also because of stuff like Obsession and Backrooms. Will he make a reference at all? If so, to something more current — or, something that he would’ve seen in a hotel room on a road trip back in the mid-aughts?


Prediction time

I had such a good time negatively predicting what would happen to the Giants against the Cubs that it feels right to keep those bad times rolling in this section. The Nationals are a remarkable 21-13 on the road this season with a +31 run differential. They took 2 out of 3 in Atlanta late last month followed by 2 out of 3 in Cleveland, and this 6-game road trip they’re on right now has already seen them take 2 out of 3 from the Diamondbacks in Arizona.

To put it another way, the Nationals have lost just two series on the road all season (at Philadelphia, March 30-April 1, at Miami, May 8-10). They’re 8-2-1 overall. Meanwhile, the Giants are just 12-16 at home (-29 run diff.) No reason to think they’ll lose this series against the Giants, but it’s worth noting that the Giants are 5-4 in home series and the record really only looks bad because they went 1-6 against the Yankees and Mets to start the season. They’re 11-10 since.

In case I’m unclear, my prediction is that the Nationals will win the series.

Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Trade Partners/Targets, Pacific Division

As the calendar flips from May to June, and the NHL Stanley Cup final has begun, the majority of significant transactions between now and the start of the 2026-27 season will likely take place over the course of the next four to six weeks. 

The Anaheim Ducks find themselves in unfamiliar waters after what could be seen as their first successful season in nearly a decade. They enter the offseason with a projected $38.7 million in cap space, two core RFAs (Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier) to sign to big extensions, two secondary RFAs (Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger) on whom tough decisions will have to be made, and one to three areas on the roster potentially in need of upgrades. 

Anaheim Ducks Offseason Rumor Roundup: 6/6/26

Anaheim Ducks a Tantalizing Potential Destination for Red Wings Center Dylan Larkin

Anaheim could now be seen as a desirable destination for players on the move. Even after RFAs are inked to new deals, the Ducks will still have considerable cap space to add quality players to their roster who could help them now and moving into a bright future. 

After feasibly identifying three areas in need of an upgrade on the Ducks’ depth chart (right shot defense, second-line center, top-nine winger), now seems like a good time to identify paths in which general manager Pat Verbeek could go about adding to his group and numerous organizations’ situations they could target around the league. 

I’ve decided to break this up by division, so we’ll take a look at some teams in the Pacific Division, the Ducks’ own, and the one some would claim to be the NHL’s “pillow fight” division.

Disclaimer: This exercise is purely speculative. Some players mentioned have been previously reported to be in trade discussions, while others haven’t. This is intended to provide ideas on the type of players the Ducks could target this offseason.

(Alphabetical Order)

Calgary Flames

From the outside, the Flames appear to be one of the few NHL teams who are actually rebuilding and acquiring talent in the form of picks and prospects. Since the calendar flipped from 2025 to 2026, the Flames have parted ways with veterans Rasmus Andersson, MacKenzie Weegar, and Nazem Kadri, and they could be in the business of parting with more to reset their window and build a contending core. 

The Flames enter the 2026 offseason with $22.7 million in cap space, eight picks in the first three rounds of the 2026 draft (including two first-round picks), and a whopping 18 picks in the first three rounds of the next three drafts (six first-round picks). 

The three names that jump off the depth chart page who could fetch quality returns for Calgary and fit Anaheim’s roster are tenacious two-way forwards Blake Coleman (34) and Joel Farabee (26), as well as do-it-all offensive middle-six center Morgan Frost (27). 

Coleman is a two-time cup winner who, even in his later years, can still find the back of the net, is one of the more difficult players to play against in the NHL, and has one year remaining on his contract ($4.9 million AAV, 10-team NTC). Farabee provides a similar skillset to Coleman, just eight years younger, and has two years remaining on his contract ($5 million AAV). 

Frost has established himself as a 40-45 point center and can, in theory, provide secondary scoring as a stopgap second-line until a younger player like Mason McTavish or Roger McQueen seizes the role, and after which, Frost could thrive as a third-line center. Frost has one year remaining on his contract ($4.375 million, 8-team NTC).

Verbeek made his first deal with Calgary at the 2026 trade deadline, sending Ryan Strome to the Flames in exchange for a seventh-round pick. Could the Ducks’ GM revisit that relationship this summer?

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks were the NHL’s worst team in the NHL in 2025-26 by a country mile, finishing with just 58 points in the standings (14 points behind the 31st-place Chicago Blackhawks). They’ll have a completely new hockey operations department and coaching staff heading into the 2026-27 season, with new co-presidents of hockey operations Henrik and Daniel Sedin, general manager Ryan Johnson, and head coach Manny Malhotra. 

The front office has made virtually the entire roster available on the trade market, and they enter the offseason with a projected $22 million in cap space to complement two first-round picks in the upcoming entry draft. 

With five years left on his deal ($5.5 million, full NMC), Jake DeBrusk (29) seems like the most obvious forward to potentially find a new home for the 2026-27 season. Elias Pettersson (27) and Brock Boeser (29) are another pair of contracts the Canucks would likely be looking to move on from, but pose a much more difficult hurdle. 

In desperate need of a change of scenery, Pettersson still has six years remaining on his sizable contract ($11.6 million AAV, full NMC). Even with retention, of which one doubts Vancouver’s willingness to retain close to the 50% maximum, the uncertainty around his ability to regain his potency will likely leave many teams (especially ones projected to flirt with the cap ceiling at some point, like Anaheim) extremely wary. 

Boeser has a more manageable cap hit ($7.25 million, full NMC) with his remaining six years, but his high-watermark, 40-goal season in 2023-24 seems too distant a memory. 

The prize on the Canucks roster, should he be made available, is right-shot defenseman Filip Hronek (28). Hronek is an all-situations defender who could potentially become the coveted long-term, top-pair partner alongside Jackson Lacombe and in front of fellow Czech netminder, Lukas Dostal, should the Ducks look to pursue him. He’s under contract for six more seasons at a cap hit that projects to become more reasonable by the day ($7.25 million, full NMC).

With Vancouver’s recent shift in front office and coaching leadership, they’ll likely want to start building their vision as soon as possible. In that scenario, Anaheim presents as good a potential trade partner as any.

Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas is in the midst of their third Stanley Cup Final series in the brief, nine-year history of the franchise and are currently up 2-1 on the Carolina Hurricanes. Like with most “win-now” teams, they’ll have some decisions to make come the offseason on who within the depth chart to retain and who to move on from. 

Traditionally, Vegas has had no hesitation when it comes to moving on from top players if they feel it’s what’s right for the club in order to win in the immediate future. They enter the 2026 offseason with a projected $4.6 million in cap space, and that will likely increase by $8.8 million if/when Alex Pietrangelo is placed on LTIR.

Vegas only has nine forwards and five defensemen on their roster for 2026-27, with top four defenseman Rasmus Andersson set to become a UFA on July 1 and breakout forward Pavel Dorofeyev to become an RFA. 

Should either hit a market, Anaheim may be interested in adding one, but if Vegas intends to keep one or both, the Knights may need to move off a contract or two on their current roster. 

Three players who look to be obvious options that Vegas may be inclined to move are centers William Karlsson (33) and Tomas Hertl (32), along with goaltender Adin Hill (30). Hill makes little to no sense for Anaheim, but the centers could garner some interest and slot in well in the Ducks’ middle six. 

Karlsson has become the exact player Anaheim has needed since the Ducks traded him to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2015, and though he’ll be 34 by the end of next season, he can still provide an extremely positive 200-foot, middle-six presence at the center position. He has one year remaining on his contract ($5.9 million, 10-team NTC).

Hertl had his struggles this season for the Knights, but has increasingly found his footing as Vegas has advanced further into the playoffs. He hasn’t been tasked with killing penalties as he had with the San Jose Sharks franchise, but he still possesses that skillset. He has four years remaining on his contract ($6.75 milion, three-team trade list).

By many accounts, Vegas has become one of the NHL’s true villain organizations, and they seem perfectly happy with that narrative. Is there a trade to be made between second-round opponents in the Pacific Division as one (Vegas) attempts to remain at the top for as long as possible and one (Anaheim) looks to reach that pinnacle in the next handful of years?

Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Trade Partners/Targets, Metropolitan Division

Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Trade Partners/Targets, Central Division

Offseason Preview: Anaheim Ducks Trade Partners/Targets, Atlantic Division

Mike Brown’s adjustments have been a godsend for the Knicks

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 03: Head coach Mike Brown of the New York Knicks looks on during the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 03, 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Intense playoff basketball calls for heightened scrutiny on the margins.

Every rotation matters. The margins are small enough that each small schematic shift can not only swing games, but also define entire seasons.

For that reason, coaching stands out this time of year. The good coaches are usually the ones who make it to this stage, and a team rarely makes a deep playoff run without coaching playing a big part in the team’s execution.

In Mike Brown’s case, no head coach has been watched closer throughout this entire postseason than him. The Knicks controversially fired their most successful head coach in 20 years after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years last June, and went on a highly publicized coaching search that saw them be “turned down” by five teams in their pursuit.

When they ended up with Brown, it was viewed as a desperation hire that was way down the Knicks’ list. Why fire Thibodeau if you didn’t have a plan, right?

After mixed results in the regular season and a 1-2 series deficit in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks, the sharks were circling on not just the core, but the coach. Could he be one-and-done? How would he respond?

Well, after Game 3 in Atlanta, he made a key adjustment. The same way he made a big adjustment to end the three-week stretch from hell in January.

And then, he adjusted again.

And again.

And again.

Across this postseason, one in which the Knicks have carried a 13-game winning streak to being a pair of wins from ending their 53-year title drought, Coach Brown has been integral in making a multitude of adjustments, both mid-game and mid-series, to slow down and throttle everyone in the Knicks’ path.

Let’s start with Game 3, where the shellshocked Knicks were left picking up the pieces after being punched in the mouth twice by CJ McCollum’s heroics. The house of cards was collapsing. If they didn’t immediately bounce back with multiple victories, the Grim Reaper himself would be sitting courtside at Madison Square Garden to tear down this core.

So they went to work. Three massive adjustments were made on both ends of the court to give the Hawks a different look.

They switched from a Brunson-centric offense to a KAT-centric offense, putting the ball in the big man’s hands up high and making him the facilitator. From there, he’d have options. They’d run a back screen with Brunson and Anunoby that, most of the time, would generate an open cut to the rim by Anunoby or a clean look from three by Brunson. That switch alone kicked the half-court offense up a notch.

He abandoned the full bench lineups that had gotten crushed in the first three games. For all but a few minutes of the last 13 games (notably in the third quarter of Game 2 on Friday), there has been either Brunson or Towns on the court for every single minute outside of garbage time.

But the other adjustment also neutered McCollum’s impact. Instead of playing him 1-on-1, they hedged against Atlanta’s lack of creation and shooting depth by blitzing him to get the ball out of his hands. Predictably, when guys like Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels had the ball, the Hawks’ offense cratered.

By blitzing McCollum, his efficiency nosedived. He went from averaging 27 points on 51/39 splits across the first three games to 11.3 points on 39/10 splits in the final three. The Knicks won the final three games by a combined 96 points and made those two one-point defeats feel like a pity party.

The gameplan of blitzing the ball handler was also applied to their second-round series against the Sixers, forcing the ball out of Tyrese Maxey’s hands or forcing him into bad decisions. With a hobbled Joel Embiid not able to take command of the offense, it allowed the Knicks to put the clamps on Philadelphia’s offense.

There was also the offensive gameplan of abusing Embiid in the pick-and-roll, which they did to an almost mortifying degree. It was abuse out there.

There weren’t many opportunities for adjustments in a relatively uncompetitive series, but this was where Mike Brown really started to lean on Landry Shamet off the bench. When the team fell behind 20-8 in Game 3, behind fiery play by Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, he rode bench lineups that overwhelmed the Sixers, which was especially important as Towns dealt with foul trouble.

Moving into the Cleveland series, the same plan of blitzing the ball handler was falling apart… fast. The shooting depth that the Cavs had on display was hurting them throughout Game 1. A once close game had spiraled to a near 20-point hole late in the third that ultimately ended up at 22.

In the moment of facing the most adversity since Game 3 against the Hawks, there were three more big adjustments to be made.

The first was to start playing 1-on-1. Late in the third, they stopped showing two to James Harden, who had rebounded after a miserable first half to be the best facilitator on the floor. It immediately slowed down their offense.

The second was to optimize spacing with the five-out offense. Josh Hart was badly struggling, so Brown replaced him with Shamet and rode him the rest of the way as Cleveland was unable to use ghost coverage to load up on Brunson.

And that brings us back to Brunson, who began hunting the switch onto Harden before frying him into oblivion, single-handedly making this a ballgame before clutch threes by Shamet and Mikal Bridges took it home.

That massive 22-point comeback fundamentally broke the Cavaliers. After renewed confidence in Hart resulted in a playoff career-high 26 points in Game 2, it was abundantly clear that the Knicks were at a different level, steamrolling their way to a clean sweep to formally vindicate the decision to hire Mike Brown and reach the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years.

There hasn’t been anything too noticeable in terms of adjustments thus far in the Finals against San Antonio. The opening plans of Towns sticking with Wemby and playing with physicality, and going back to a Brunson-centric offense to take advantage of their desire to deny him at all costs have mostly worked to this point, but there will likely come a time where a big adjustment has to be made, whether in the rotation or in the scheme.

But based on how this postseason has gone, you have to like where the Knicks stand in that regard.

Canucks Nikita Tolopilo Reveals How Much He Was Offered To Leave North American & Play In The KHL

Nikita Tolopilo has developed into an intriguing goaltending option for the Vancouver Canucks. The 26-year-old played 21 games in 2025-26 and posted a 6-11-2 record. Tolopilo is in the final year of his contract with Vancouver and will need waivers this year to play in the AHL

While speaking on the Раскатка and Betera podcast, Tolopilo discussed a potential move to the KHL after the 2023-24 season. He had initially played in the KHL during the 2020-21 season before moving to the HockeyAllsvenskan in 2021-22. Using a Russian-to-English translation service, here is what Tolopilo said about his decision to stay in North America. 

"In my first year, when I just played in the AHL, how long was that, two years ago? They threw out the bait," said Tolopilo in his interview. "But I immediately said no. Although at that time, compared to the salary in the AHL, they offered me several times more. But then what's the point of all the work I did to sign a contract with Vancouver, and then a year later, give it all up and leave?"

Tolopilo then answered how much the KHL offered him by saying, "35-40 (million Russian Rubles) at that time. But I still don't think about that. The goal and objective is to play in the NHL full-time." 35-40 million Russian Rubles is approximately $669,408.25-$765,038.00 CDN.

The Canucks have some significant decisions to make with their goaltenders next year. Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen are signed to multi-year deals, while, as mentioned, Tolopilo would need to be sent down via waivers to the Abbotsford Canucks. NHL teams can carry three goaltenders on their roster, but that usually means one rarely sees game action and is used mostly as a practice goalie.  

Apr 7, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) in the net against the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Apr 7, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) in the net against the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs update: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ben Brown, Jacob Webb

The Cubs came home this past week hoping to make up for their 3-4 road trip.

They did not. In fact, they were even worse in the Friendly Confines, which were decidedly unfriendly against West Coast visitors, the Athletics and Giants, and the Cubs won just two of the games — and they had to come from behind and walk off both those wins.

Sheesh. Let’s hope that improves, and soon.

Here’s who was hot and not for the Cubs over the past week.

Three up

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s recent hitting is at MVP level

PCA is on a career-high 12-game hitting streak and once again looking like the hitter he was the first half of 2025. That got him an All-Star nod. Maybe he’ll get another, if he keeps this up.

For the week: .440/.481/.920 (11-for-25) with four home runs, six RBI and two stolen bases. It’s a testament to how bad the Cubs offense has been that PCA got on base nearly half the time and the only runs he scored were on the home runs.

For his 12-game hitting streak: .392/.456/.745 (20-for-51) with three doubles, five home runs, nine RBI and nine runs scored.

He’s got a pretty good chance at being named National League Player of the Week.

Here’s his walkoff hit against the A’s on Thursday [VIDEO].

Ben Brown has been magnificent

Brown pitched just once this past week, 5.1 shutout innings against the Giants on Saturday, allowing just one hit and striking out five.

Since joining the rotation: 1.44 ERA, 1.89 FIP, 0.766 WHIP in six starts and 31.1 innings. And, of course, he has allowed just one home run this year — to the very first batter he faced, Jacob Young of the Nats on Opening Day. Since then: 219 batters faced, no homers.

Here are his five strikeouts on Saturday [VIDEO].

Jacob Webb has become perhaps the most trustworthy Cubs reliever

After Webb’s first four outings of 2026, in which he allowed multiple runs in two of them, he had a 7 .36 ERA.

Since then: 1.46 ERA, 1.85 FIP, 1.094 WHIP, 31 strikeouts in 24.2 innings. He’s allowed runs in just five of his last 24 outings and none in his last 11.

Webb has certainly arrived near the top of Craig Counsell’s Circle of Trust.

Three down

Where have you gone, Alex Bregman?

Bregman was 2-for-24 during the homestand and 0-for-12 against the Giants, striking out three times and hitting into a rally-killing double play on Sunday (though the second out of that DP wasn’t his fault, it was Kevin Alcántara straying too far off third base).

To his credit, Bregman did not make excuses and said he’s been “awful”:

That’s really just it. Bregman is 32. That should be an age at which he can still be productive. There are 96 games remaining in the season. It’s time for him to start hitting again. Hopefully, beginning Tuesday in Colorado.

Edward Cabrera, yikes

Cabrera returned from his minimum 15-day stay on the injured list and was just terrible, serving up three home runs to the Giants in their Friday afternoon blowout win.

I’ll spare you the carnage. His next start will be Thursday in Denver.

Please try to keep the ball in Coors Field, Edward.

Dansby Swanson’s offense has also vanished

Swanson was 2-for-14 during the homestand with four strikeouts before Craig Counsell gave him the last two games off from starting. Pretty sure Counsell intended for Swanson to not play at all those days, but he was pressed into service as a pinch-runner in the 10th inning Saturday and wound up scoring the winning run.

Over the first three years of his Cubs contract, Swanson batted .243/.313/.408 with 62 home runs in 455 games. That’s not great, but it’s perfectly acceptable with his elite defense.

The defense is still elite, but he’s got to do better than a .606 OPS, which is over 100 points lower than his career mark. Perhaps the two days off and Coors Field can jumpstart his offense.

Jacoby Brissett plans to attend mandatory minicamp… now what?

The Arizona Cardinals reported starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett has missed all of voluntary workouts, but apparently will be at the teams mandatory minicamp per reports.

That seemed to always be the trajectory of this situation, and we have not heard anything in regards to a new contract, so this also may be an instance where he shows up and is “holding in” while being there but not really participating.

This has been a hilarious situation where both sides seem right and wrong.

If Jacoby is the starter, it’s reasonable to bump him up in pay and guarantees, but he’s also 2-15 as a starter in his last two chances to start for two different organizations, the Cardinals seemed to be looking to move on all offseason and even drafted Carson Beck.

Meanwhile, if the Cardinals are telling Beck he’s the starter, what is the wait? Just get the guy in so you at least have the quarterback in the building.

Yet, if they’re looking at him as a starter only in name for the beginning of the season, then they’re playing this correctly. Guarantee him a little bit, maybe even give him a bump in pay, but overall they don’t owe him anything if they have an idea of moving to Carson Beck.

In fact, Jess Root talked about this:

Jacoby Brissett through 7 seasons

  • 76 career games, 48 career starts, 18-30 record
  • 10,350 passing yards, 48 TD passes, 23 INTs

Garnder Minshew through 7 seasons

  • 63 career games, 47 career starts, 17-30 record
  • 11,987 passing yards, 68 TD passes, 35 INT

Either way, if he is at mandatory camp, no one is going to be too worried about any of this anymore… until he’s not participating.

Mets vs Cardinals: 5 things to watch and series predictions | June 9-11

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Cardinals play a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.


5 things to watch

Francisco ... that's fun to say

The Mets' goal forFrancisco Alvarez, as relayed by manager Carlos Mendoza this past Friday, has been for Alvarez to return during this homestand.

And with Alvarez not experiencing any health hiccups over the weekend while rehabbing with Triple-A Syracuse, it seems likely he'll be activated before or during the series against the Cards.

Alvarez's return will give New York a player who had a 101 OPS+ (a tick above league average) before tearing his meniscus on a swing on May 12.

The initial timeline the club gave about Alvarez projected a six-to-eight week recovery, so him making it back in just about four weeks would be a relative miracle. But it shouldn't come as a surprise since Alvarez has often beaten estimated timelines.

Once Alvarez is back, it's unlikely he'll be asked to catch regularly from the jump. But he will also be an option at DH, giving the Mets another way to go when Alvarez isn't behind the plate. 

The top three should be rested and ready

With Clay Holmes out, Kodai Senga struggling on his rehab assignment, David Peterson in the bullpen, and Jonah Tong back in the minors, the Mets have been working opener/bulk reliever games in when needed -- including on Sunday against the Padres, when Huascar Brazoban opened ahead of Sean Manaea.

For this series, though, the Mets should be able to roll with their three regular starting pitchers: Freddy Peralta, Christian Scott, and Nolan McLean.

That's because New York was off last Thursday and this Monday, allowing for Peralta to pitch on an extra day of rest on Tuesday, followed by Scott and McLean the next two days (with both of them on regular rest).

If the Mets do go that route, they'll have to get creative for one of their weekend matchups against the Braves -- either going with a bullpen game or calling someone up from the minors to start/serve as the bulk reliever.

The Bo Bichette turnaround seems to be here

I wrote last week that something felt different about Bichette's performance in the Mets' series-salvaging win over the Mariners.  In that game, Bichette went 4-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored, and delivered a sacrifice fly in his other plate appearance.

New York Mets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) celebrates with left fielder MJ Melendez (1) after defeating the San Diego Padres at Petco Park
New York Mets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) celebrates with left fielder MJ Melendez (1) after defeating the San Diego Padres at Petco Park / David Frerker - Imagn mages

Bichette carried his momentum into New York's series against the Padres in San Diego, going 5-for-13 with two doubles.

He is hitting .293/.341/.480 with three homers in 19 games since May 18.

Bichette's OPS+ for the season is up to just 75, so he still has a long way to go when it comes to climbing out of the rough start he had. But things are pointing up for him. 

The Cardinals are overperforming

The Cards, despite starting the season in a rebuilding phase, enter this series with a 35-28 record and in possession of the first Wild Card in the National League.

While they have been a nice story, what they're doing feels unsustainable for a few reasons.

For one, their run differential (-2) suggests that they'll be regressing to the mean at some point. Of the 12 teams currently in playoff position, the Cardinals and Phillies are the only ones with a negative run differential.

Second, St. Louis' rotation will likely not be a strength as the season rolls on. 

Michael McGreevey (2.99 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) is having a very nice year, but Matthew Liberatore (4.48 ERA, 1.50 WHIP), Dustin May (4.59 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), Kyle Leahy (4.42 ERA, 1.57 WHIP), and Andre Pallante (3.96 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) all profile as back-end starters. 

Jordan Walker's breakout

Acter a solid rookie season followed by two poor years, Walker is a legitimate MVP candidate this season.

The 24-year-old is slashing .303/.362/.560 with 16 homers, 14 doubles, and 47 RBI over the first 62 games. 

Walker still strikes out a lot and chases at a high rate, but most of his other metrics this year have been eye-popping.

He is in the 85th percentile or better when it comes to xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard hit percentage, and bat speed (he is in the 100th percentile there). 

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

A.J. Ewing

Ewing has been elite in center field and is holding his own at the plate -- currently on a five-game hitting streak. 

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Christian Scott

Scott fired 5.2 scoreless innings against the Padres his last time out. 

Which Cardinals player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

JJ Wetherholt

Wetherholt has cooled off after a blazing start, but is one of the best young hitters in the game.

Arizona Diamondbacks sign Max Kepler, and we have questions

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 06: Max Kepler #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs after hitting a triple during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 06, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Arizona GM Mike Hazen hasn’t been shy about discussing what the team us looking to add as baseball heads towards the trade deadline. While the team does currently occupy a wild-card spot, there are clear areas for improvement. Speaking on MLB Network Radio over the weekend, he said “I probably need a little more thump in the lineup, probably a little more power, probably need to get a little more left-handed.” It makes sense. The D-backs currently sit 28th in the majors by OPS against right-handed pitching, at just .665. [They’re 4th vs LHP, at .771] So, on that basis, signing left-handed Kepler makes sense. Except there are a few things about the signing which don’t immediately make sense.

1. Kepler isn’t very good.

Over his career, the numbers are decent enough. A career 101 OPS+, and better than that against right-handed pitching (.770 OPS there, against .653 facing lefties). But he’s now thirty-three years old, and the past couple of seasons have shown father time to be catching up with him. In 2024-25, over 232 games for the Phillies and Twins, his OPS+ dropped to 89. In 715 PA there against RHP, his OPS was .689, hardly much better than the Diamondbacks are already posting. A lot of his success there is now well in the past, unless you think he’ll experience an Arenado-like resurrection in the desert.

However, it’s worth noting a couple of points. The team OPS vs. RHP may be .661, but that is significantly boosted by the success of Corbin Carroll (.813 OPS there) and Nolan Arenado (.791). The bar to improve the team is therefore considerably lower than .661. You would be looking to Kepler to replace the likes of Adrian Del Castillo (.638), Ryan Waldschmidt (.622) and Jorge Barrosa (.431), all of whom should be firmly ushered away from the plate with a rightie on the mound. Kepler is an improvement over the play we’ve got out of their spots this year – and especially over the last month. He doesn’t strike out much and has a little more oomph than most options we currently have.

2. The roster crunch

Even before Kepler was signed, eyes were being cast forward to the upcoming returns of Carlos Santana, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Jordan Lawlar. All of them are now on their rehab assignments: Santana and Lawlar with the Aces, while Gurriel begins his in the Arizona Complex League today. Who will they replace on the current roster? The addition of Kepler would make the situation even more congested, especially in the outfield. LuJames Groover and Del Castillo are likely on thin ice, and may well be optioned back down in the coming week, when Santana and Lawlar are ready. But neither of them play the outfield.

It is possible Kepler is just being signed as a depth piece. In term of credible outfielders in Reno right now, it’s basically Kristian Robinson, and that’s it. The “rehab assignment” in Reno will give Arizona a chance to see what he can do. If he looks like he can play a role with the big-league club, he’ll be brought up to the D-backs. If not, he’ll be released, will likely get picked up elsewhere (because even teams that have no postseason chances still have to fill out a lineup card), and the Diamondbacks will barely be on the hook for anything. There isn’t that much difference to a minor-league deal, the likes of which get signed all the time. Last June saw the team sign Anthony Gose and Seth Brown as depth.

There is another possibility, and while I’d say it’s probably unlikely, is worth mentioning. This could be the first piece in a larger puzzle. Despite recent results, the biggest weakness on this team remains the rotation, with three current starters at an ERA+ of 90 or worse. There is a top-five (probably top-two) pitcher who is going to be on the market, in Tarik Skubal, plus potential other options such as Sandy Alcantara. Any package to get one of these pitchers likely starts with an MLB ready prospect. For the Diamondbacks, the area of greatest strength is outfielders. Kepler is a low-risk signing who can provide coverage there if a trade works out, and be easily jettisoned if one does not.

3. The PED problem

It has been interesting to see how the team’s attitude towards PEDs has changed and softened over the years. The team certainly hasn’t been immune from this problem. Matt Williams was named in the Mitchell Report as using HGH and steroids while on the roster. There was also the federal raid in 2006 on the house of reliever Jason Grimsley. Various minor league players have also failed drug tests, perhaps most notable Jose Herrera, who was suspended for 50 games after failing a drugs test in 2018. But the only Arizona major-leaguer I can think of to have failed a drug test was Domingo Leyba in spring 2020.

Going back, there have been rumblings that the Diamondbacks have traded away or let go players who have been linked to PED use. [And, no, I shall not be naming names] This previous position against signing proven users was driven by ownership. In 2013, Nick Piecoro wrote, “Their hardline stance appears to be spearheaded by Ken Kendrick, the club’s managing general partner and a longtime critic of PED users. When Jason Grimsley’s house was raided in 2006, Kendrick made sure the Diamondbacks immediately cut ties with the reliever — and even tried to have his contract voided. Team sources say Kendrick continues to discourage the acquisition of players, or even the hiring of coaches, who have ties to PEDs.”

This did not stop the team trading for Starling Marte, who had served an 80-game suspension in 2017. He was signed three years later, but only played 33 games for Arizona before being traded to Miami. Said Kendrick at the time, “When his incident occurred several years ago, he stood up and was totally remorseful for what he had done, realized it was wrong. I’m a believer also in second chances in life… That’s something I’m sure he wished weren’t on his record, but I don’t think he should have been excluded from being considered and ultimately we made the trade and we’re very hopeful he’ll go and perform.”

And now, here we are, signing someone on an active suspension for PED use. I haven’t been able to confirm any statement being made by Kepler in regard to the suspension, so the “stood up and was totally remorseful” escape clause doesn’t appear to be in effect here. I’m not going to lie: I personally – and this is just Jim here, opinion vary among SnakePitters – find it disappointing for the team apparently to be compromising a laudable moral stance, for a fringe upgrade. If Kepler makes the team, I’m going to find it hard to cheer for him. Minor league PEDs are one thing: I understand it’s a dogfight down there. But when you’ve already reached the show, the very pinnacle of the sport? Yeah, I find that unacceptable.

It’s also worth noting that, if the Diamondbacks reach the post-season, Kepler will still be ineligible. Though if we need him on the playoff roster, that’s probably a bigger problem. But if Kepler has been called up and is contributing enough during the regular season, we will then be without his services for the games that matter most. We’ll see what unfolds. Meanwhile, have a poll!

Minnesota Timberwolves give nod to past with new logo, uniforms

The Minnesota Timberwolves are returning to their roots next NBA season with a new logo, new uniforms and a new court.

The team revealed their wholesale updates on Sunday, June 7, including some subtle nods to the design elements present in the team's 1989 debut.

"This franchise means something different to every generation of fans," Timberwolves CEO Matt Caldwell said in a news release. "We wanted this new look to reflect the pieces of Timberwolves basketball fans have always connected with, while also feeling true to the team and culture surrounding this franchise today."

Fittingly, Timberwolves icon Kevin Garnett (1995-2007, 2015-16) helped model the new unis. 

The most obvious change is a return to the franchise’s original blue, green and white color palette.

While the "Wolves" part of the team nickname is prominent on the updated jerseys and on the new on-court logo at Target Center, the team is also paying homage to the "timber" portion as well − with a ribbon of pine trees lining the sleeves of the uniform and waistband of the shorts.

The original Minnesota Timberwolves logo from their inaugural season of 1989-90, as worn by the team during a throwback game against the New Orleans Pelicans in 2023.

And finally, the franchise offers an updated look for the beloved Old Shep mascot, with a brighter, more colorful wolf logo.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Timberwolves unveil new uniforms, logo for 2026-27 NBA season

The one adjustment that could swing the series back to San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Before this NBA finals series against the New York Knicks even started, there was one little thing that had been gnawing at the back the of my mind, and that was what has made the Knicks successful against the Spurs in the regular season did not align well with a strategy that had gotten the Spurs to the Finals in the first place: double teaming the star and making the role players beat you.

It worked well against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round for a few reasons, one being that Anthony Edwards can at times be a reluctant passer and try to be the hero by himself, but more than anything it was because his best target, Donte DiVincenzo, was out with a ruptured Achilles. The results were a little more mixed against the Oklahoma City Thunder in large part because Alex Caruso decided to go nuclear from beyond the arc for a few games. (If he could have done that in college, maybe Texas A&M’s greatest achievement in men’s basketball would be something beyond a handful of Sweet 16 appearances.)

However, what brought the Spurs back from a 3-2 deficit in the Western Conference Finals was their ability to adjust. Specifically, they switched things up from “stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at all costs” to “stay at home on role players and make him beat us by himself”. The result was a big Game 7 performance from him, but it was for naught as he didn’t have enough help, allowing the Spurs to pull away as the game wore on.

That brings us to the Knicks. Coming into the series, I had this aching feeling the Spurs would at least start with the same approach: stop Jalen Brunson and make everyone else beat you. They’ve mostly achieved the first part (outside of crunch time) with Brunson shooting under 34%, but the problem is unlike their previous opponents, the Knicks have the shooters to punish you for leaving them open, and so far, they have done just that.

In the regular season, seven of the Knicks’ top nine rotation players hit greater than 36.8% from three on 3.5 or more attempts per game. The two that didn’t — Mohamed Diawara and Tyler Kolek — haven’t even played in this series. So that means the Knicks often have five above-average shooters on the floor at once. The only three Knicks getting minutes who aren’t on that list are Mitchell Robinson, whom you still have to stay home on down low, and of course Spurs fans know what killers Jose Alvarado and hometown kid Jordan Clarkson can be off then bench if they get hot.

The Knicks haven’t been at their best from three so far in this series (which is concerning as the series shifts to their home court), but they have been hitting them in timely fashion, and just like I have imagines implanted in my brain of Mikal Bridges nailing five open threes in their regular season blowout win over the Spurs in Madison Square Garden, I saw similar instances in Game 2 in particular, where a Spurs defender left his man open in the corner for a split second to double-team or swipe at Brunson, only for him to immediately find the open shooter before the defender could recover. And as Mike Breen would put it, bang.

I don’t know if this is the strategy the coaches have chosen up to this point or if the players are having momentary but costly lapses. Regardless of the reason, both parties need to make the adjustment back to staying at home on shooters, especially in that left hard corner. Just take a look at the Knicks shot chart in this series:

If this doesn’t scream “keep letting Brunson work in the midrange but stop leaving corner shooters open”, then I don’t know what does. (In case you’re wondering, the Spurs are also green in the left corner but on a smaller sample size of 4-9, otherwise they’re red everywhere except inside the restricted area, where they are a similar 35-55. You can check out all the stats and charts here.)

Of course, there are plenty more things the Spurs could do better besides defend one particular shot. They actually led in the final two minutes of both games before proceeding to blow it in crunch time, Game 2 in particularly painful fashion (but it still doesn’t beat Game 6 of 2013 — I don’t think anything ever could), so better decision making with the game on the line is paramount. Leaving a combined 12 points on the court via missed free throws (seven in game 2) is another thing they can go back and kick themselves over. (Speaking of which, blowing two games in which they had an optimal whistle is also costly, because how long will that last?)

Things happen in-game that no one can predict or control. What can be controlled is strategy and game plan, and the Spurs staff and players have shown throughout these playoffs that they can learn and adjust. They made the exact same adjustment of staying home on shooters and guarding the opposing star one-on-one last series, and hopefully the plan heading into Game 3 is to do that again. Brunson may be more capable of going nuclear than SGA — he has scored 60 points on the Spurs before — but guess what? The Spurs won that game.

There is nothing fun about being down 0-2, knowing you could just as easily be 1-1 or even 2-0, and facing the gauntlet of needing to win 4 of 5 games, including two on the road, to win a series — never mind a championship in an era when the Finals are a lot more difficult to reach than they were during the Spurs’ dynasty days (which is insane). However, if there is a silver lining, it’s that all pressure is on the Knicks now, and the Spurs can play free and make adjustments without fear of consequence. They’ve shown they can do it before, and now it’s time to do it again.

As much as everything seems stacked against the Spurs at this point, FanDuel Sportsbook only has them a 1.5 point underdog in Game 3. That’s how tight this series has been and should continue to be, coming down to minute details and split second decisions. However, with the correct adjustments and mindset, maybe the Spurs can force the pendulum to swing back their favor.

Did Luke Kennard play his way into Lakers’ future plans?

Los Angeles, CA - April 18: Luke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a three point basket against the Houston Rockets in the first half of a Western Conference first-round NBA playoff basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Welcome to our annual Lakers season in review series, where we’ll look back at each player on the team’s roster this season and evaluate if they should be part of the future of the franchise. Today, we take a look at Luke Kennard.

When Luke Kennard arrived in Los Angeles via mid-season trade with the Atlanta Hawks, he didn’t have big shoes to fill in replacing Gabe Vincent, who was underwhelmingly bad throughout his time as a Laker.

So when Kennard contributed to the table right off the bat, it was a welcome sight. The 29-year-old guard from Duke University aided the Lakers’ need for 3-point shooting and spacing, which you can never have too much of around Luka Dončić and LeBron James.

So, by that alone, acquiring Kennard was a fantastic move by Rob Pelinka that also paid dividends in the playoffs. The only caveat, however, was that the veteran was on an expiring contract when they acquired him, so even today, there’s no certainty as to whether or not he’ll be back on the purple and gold next season.

How did he play?

It’s hard to complain about Kennard’s short stint, especially since he won a handful of games for them. He also had that memorable game-winner in March against the Magic that kept the team’s win streak going. He’s an excellent fit on this team and his average of nine points per game on 44.8% 3-point shooting perfectly depicts that.

What also stood out about Kennard’s game during his time as a Laker was that he’s more than just a shooter. His ability to cut to the rim, handle the ball and move without it are some of his best qualities, not to mention his high basketball IQ, which is such an asset alongside James and Dončić. It didn’t take long for him to not only become an essential piece in head coach JJ Redick’s rotation.

Kennard will always be remembered for his performance in Game 1 against the Rockets when he put up 27 points on 5-5 shooting from three and 9-13 from the field. As the playoffs went on and the opponents’ defensive pressure intensified, he had his fair share of struggles.

Ultimately, Kennard’s time as a Laker was productive and he was a depiction of the type of role player that works well around the team’s superstars.

What is the contract situation moving forward?

Since the Lakers acquired Kennard while he was on an expiring deal, he’s set for free agency this offseason. Ideally, it would be nice to retain him for the right price.

Should he be back?

If the deal is right, then absolutely yes. Kennard is the type of player who is going to win the Lakers games, especially in the regular season. He got a feel of what it’s like to play alongside Dončić and James and bringing him back would do wonders for the team’s continuity. Re-signing Kennard addresses the Lakers’ 3-point shooting needs and adds a boost offensively.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

BetMGM Ladder Bettor Wagers Another $450K on Knicks as Finals Shifts to NY

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BetMGM’s ladder bettor - who already won nearly $325,000 in the first two games of the NBA Finals - has $450,000 riding on the Knicks in Game 3 as New York looks to take a stranglehold of the series.

Key Takeaways

  • The bettor is backing the Knicks from +4.5 to -2.5 in Game 3.

  • One of the user’s few losses came at the hands of the Spurs in the Western Conference finals.

  • BetMGM bettors are split between supporting the Knicks and Spurs in Game 3

The Knicks find themselves up 2-0 over the San Antonio Spurs ahead of the series’ Monday transition to Madison Square Garden. They were +4.5 and +6.5 underdogs in Games 1 and 2 but are 2.5-point favorites ahead of tipoff.

BetMGM’s ladder bettor backed New York in the first two contests and isn’t changing their tune now. The anonymous high-roller dropped six new five- or six-figure wagers on the Knicks, with values ranging from +4.5 (-225) to -2.5 (-105).

The bets are as follows:

  • $200,000 on Knicks +4.5 (-225)
  • $125,000 on Knicks +3.5 (-200)
  • $50,000 on Knicks +2.5 (-175)
  • $35,000 on Knicks +1.5 (-155)
  • $20,000 on Knicks -1.5 (-120)
  • $20,000 on Knicks -2.5 (-105)

BetMGM confirmed the wagers were accepted, meaning the user has now risked $1.05 million on the Knicks through just three games of the Finals.

Knicks have history on their side

No team has ever recovered to win the NBA Finals after dropping the first two games of the series at home. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are up against it, although the 7-foot-4 Frenchman isn’t feeling the pressure. 

Which team is public backing?

The Spurs are effectively playing for survival, seeing as no team has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit in any round.

One of the bettor’s few disappointing nights in these playoffs occurred in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals when they lost $350,000 backing the Oklahoma City Thunder; Wembanyama dropped 33 points in the Spurs' dominant 21-point victory that leveled the series.

While the Knicks may have begun the series as +185 underdogs, they are now anything but overlooked. Sixty-eight percent of bets and 82% of the Game 3 handle in the spread market are on the Knicks to cover the 2.5-point line. 

That said, 59% of bets and 54% of the moneyline handle are still on the Spurs. The Knicks are also only -140 favorites in NBA championship odds, meaning they have a 58.3% implied chance - far from as dominant as the NBA’s precedent of no team ever overcoming home losses in Games 1 and 2.

“Before the NBA Finals began, the Spurs were the biggest remaining liability on the futures market,” said BetMGM senior trading manager Christian Cipollini. “The sportsbook was initially hoping for a Knicks win, but that has flipped after bettors jumped on New York following their first two wins. Now the series going seven games and the Spurs winning is the best outcome.”

Three of the most bet Spurs versus Knicks Game 3 player props involve players from the visiting Spurs. The full top five list includes:

  • Dylan Harper Over 21.5 total points, rebounds, and assists (-135)
  • Stephon Castle Over 11.5 total assists and rebounds (+105)
  • Dylan Harper Over 13.5 points (-105)
  • Josh Hart Over 12.5 total assists and rebounds (-135)
  • Miles McBride Under 6.5 points (-140)

Finals MVP odds

The NBA Finals MVP odds market has seen a ton of movement throughout the playoffs and the first two games of the championship series. Jalen Brunson is the new leader, having shortened from +2,800 at the beginning of the playoffs to his current value of +110.

Karl-Anthony Towns is second in odds, down from +15,000 to +165. Wembanyama leads all Spurs players at +375, down from +600.

A whopping 20.1% of wagers and 63.1% of the money is on Brunson to win the award. Towns has 17.5% of bets and 10.7% of the pot, while Wembanyama has 12.1% of tickets and 9.9% of the handle.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Spurs vs Knicks Expert Picks & Game 3 Best Bets

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The NBA Finals swing to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 tonight, with the New York Knicks holding a commanding 2-0 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs.

Our NBA experts have you covered with a trio of NBA picks for you to get in before tip-off at 8:30 p.m. on June 8.

Spurs vs Knicks Expert Picks Tonight

PickOdds
Jon Metler Jon Metler: Jalen Brunson Over 25.5 points-125
Jason Logan Jason Logan: De'Aaron Fox Over 5.5 assists-135
Joe Osborne Joe Osborne: Knicks -2.5-105

Odds courtesy of bet365.

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Jon Metler's expert pick: Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points

Price: -112 at bet365

There was one takeaway from Game 2 that seemed to be universally shared by the broadcast crew and anyone watching: While playoff basketball is naturally more physical, the officials let the game get a little too far out of hand.

I expect that to be a point of emphasis heading into Game 3, and if the whistle tightens up even slightly, Jalen Brunson stands to benefit more than anyone. A few extra trips to the free-throw line could be all it takes for this prop to cash.

What stands out most to me, though, is the volume. Despite constant hand-checking and limited freedom of movement, Brunson still attempted 25 shots in Game 2.

Through two games, he has already put up 56 field-goal attempts, an elite workload that’s difficult to overlook. This handicap is far more about opportunity than efficiency. With Brunson continuing to dominate the offense, I price the Over 26.5 points closer to -155.

Jason Logan's expert pick: De'Aaron Fox Over 5.5 assists

Price: -135 at bet365

De’Aaron Fox has topped out at five assists in the first two games of the NBA Finals, despite sitting second on the San Antonio Spurs in total potential assists at 22. We’re seeing more pairings of him and Dylan Harper, with Fox taking a back seat in scoring when San Antonio goes small. 

The Spurs need to jump-start their transition attack and play a quicker pace, so we’ll see Fox running the point more with Harper and Stephon Castle playing off the ball as the team banks on his steady veteran hand in what will be an insane MSG. 

He’s shown success getting inside on the New York Knicks defense and dropping the ball into Victor Wembanyama at the rim or kicking to spot-up shooters. 

Most Game 3 projections lean toward six assists from Fox, with a ceiling at 6.2 dimes.

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Knicks -2.5

Price: -105 at bet365

I’m sticking with the Knicks in Game 3. Their historic playoff run has now reached 13 consecutive victories, and they continue to find ways to separate themselves when games are hanging in the balance.

New York was the better team in crunch time in the opening two games of the series, while San Antonio’s young core is showing its age. Now the series shifts to Madison Square Garden, where the atmosphere should only amplify the Knicks’ edge.


More Spurs vs Knicks Game 3 picks


Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Padres vs Reds Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for June 8

The San Diego Padres 33-31) and Cincinnati Reds (31-33) meet at Petco Park for a three-game series. Both squads come in on the colder side of the win and loss column.

San Diego is coming off a series loss to the Mets and are 1-7 in the last eight games and 1-11 in the previous 12. The Padres are in the midst of their worst slump of the year. In the past 12 contests, San Diego is hitting an MLB-worst .188 and .172 in the last six.

Cincinnati is currently riding its second-longest losing streak of the season at four. The Reds have been outscored 26-13 in that span. In the past week, the Reds' pitching staff has a 5.02 ERA (T-22nd) and the second-worst WHIP (1.67).

Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Reds at Padres

  • Date: Monday, June 8, 2026
  • Time: 9:40 PM EST
  • Site: Petco Park 
  • City: San Diego, CA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV / ESPN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Reds at the Padres

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: San Diego Padres (-136), Cincinnati Reds (+113)
  • Spread: Padres -1.5 (+157), Reds +1.5 (-191)
  • Total: 8.0

Probable starting pitchers for Reds at Padres

  • Monday's pitching matchup (June 8): Andrew Abbott vs. Walker Buehler
  • Padres: Walker Buehler

2026 stats: 57.2 IP, 3-3, 4.53 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 49 Ks, 20 BB

  • Reds: Andrew Abbott

2026 Stats: 68.2 IP, 4-3, 4.06 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 47 Ks, 31 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • The Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. is hitting .273 with 65 hits and 78 total bases over 238 at-bats
  • The Padres’ Manny Machado is hitting .169 with 38 hits and 60 strikeouts over 209 at-bats
  • The Reds’ Elly De La Cruz is hitting .280 with 65 hits and 118 total bases over 232 at-bats
  • The Reds’ Tyler Stephenson is hitting .203 with 32 hits and 47 strikeouts over 158 at-bats

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Reds at Padres

  • San Diego is 35-29 ATS, ranking eighth-best
  • Cincinnati is 34-30 ATS
  • San Diego is 37-26-1 to the Under, ranking first
  • Cincinnati is 39-24-1 to the Over, ranking second-best
  • San Diego is 19-16 ATS at home
  • Cincinnati is 19-13 ATS on the road, ranking sixth-best

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Reds

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Padres and the Reds:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Reds on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Reds at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.0

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NBA Finals Game 3 Thread

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks looks to pass the ball against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter in Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 05, 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Tonight is one of the biggest nights in the history of Madison Square Garden.

That may sound like hyperbole. After all, we’re talking about “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” a building that has hosted Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, and just about every major cultural event imaginable over the last half-century. And yet tonight somehow feels different.

The New York Knicks return home holding a 2-0 lead over the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals. Two road games. Two victories. Two punches landed directly on the jaw of a Spurs team that entered the series believing it was destined to become the NBA’s next great dynasty.

Now the Knicks stand two wins away from ending a championship drought that has lasted 53 years. Entire generations of New Yorkers have lived their entire lives without witnessing a Knicks championship. Some of the loudest fans who will be inside Madison Square Garden tonight weren’t even alive the last time New York reached this stage.

That’s why the atmosphere surrounding Game 3 feels less like a basketball game and more like a city-wide event. As someone sitting just across the river from Manhattan, I can tell you firsthand that the energy is impossible to ignore. You hear it everywhere. The Knicks have completely consumed the sports conversation throughout the New York metropolitan area.

They’re no longer just a basketball team. They’ve become a movement.

We’ve seen the ticket prices reach absurd levels. We’ve watched celebrities scramble for seats. There will be a sitting president in attendance NBA Finals game for the first time. Whether you love that fact or hate it (and let’s be honest, I think we know how most people reading this blog feel), it speaks to the scale of what is happening.

Knicks Mania has officially crossed over from sports story into cultural phenomenon.

And right in the middle of it all stands Karl-Anthony Towns. Our guy. The same player who spent nearly a decade carrying the weight of the Timberwolves franchise. The same player who endured coaching changes, roster overhauls, and endless criticism. Now he’s two wins away from becoming an NBA champion. If you’re a Wolves fan and that doesn’t stir something inside you, I don’t know what to tell you.

And so here we are.

Game 3. Madison Square Garden. A 2-0 Knicks lead. The biggest home game New York has hosted in decades.

What could possibly go wrong?

Well, if you’ve watched enough basketball, you already know the answer. Plenty.

Because as impressive as New York has been through the first two games, anybody ready to start engraving the trophy is getting way ahead of themselves. The Knicks absolutely can win this championship. In fact, after taking the first two games in San Antonio, they’re now the clear favorites.

But favorites aren’t champions. Not yet.

And the biggest reason remains standing seven-foot-whatever-he-is in a Spurs jersey: Victor Wembanyama.

For two games, the Spurs superstar has looked surprisingly mortal. That’s not to say he’s been bad, but he hasn’t looked like the unstoppable force that dismantled the Timberwolves. He hasn’t looked like the player who survived a seven-game war with Oklahoma City and emerged as the face of the Western Conference.

He’s looked uncomfortable and out of rhythm. The man nicknamed “the alien” has looked very much human.

History suggests that won’t last. The Wolves learned that lesson the hard way. In Minnesota’s second-round series against San Antonio, Wembanyama had stretches where he looked vulnerable. Then he adjusted and reminded everyone why he’s already being discussed alongside the best players in basketball despite still being at the beginning of his career.

That’s what makes Game 3 so fascinating. The Knicks are playing with house money. The Spurs are playing with desperation. This isn’t LeBron’s 2007 Cavaliers stumbling into the Finals ahead of schedule and simply being happy to participate. This Spurs team earned its place. They survived the Western Conference gauntlet. They knocked off Oklahoma City. They beat the Wolves. They have every reason to believe they’re still capable of winning this series.

Young teams may lack experience, but they don’t lack pride. That’s why tonight feels less like an opportunity for New York to celebrate and more like a test. Can they withstand the inevitable punch that’s coming? Wembanyama knows what’s at stake. The Spurs know what’s at stake. No team wants to fall behind 3-0 in the Finals because basketball history tells us exactly what happens next.

Nothing.

San Antonio is going to come out swinging, and the Knicks have to match that intensity. They have to let Madison Square Garden become the sixth man and ride the energy. Karl-Anthony Towns has to continue doing what he’s done throughout this playoff run. Play smart, physical basketball, avoid foul trouble, and make Wembanyama work.

While Wembanyama may be the future of the league, Towns is chasing something that has eluded him his entire career: validation. As someone who watched virtually every chapter of Towns’ Minnesota journey, I genuinely hope he gets there.

Tonight isn’t the finish line. Not even close. But it might be the most important non-elimination game of his life. Win tonight and the Larry O’Brien Trophy is practically within arm’s reach. Lose tonight and suddenly all the pressure shifts back.

That’s what makes this game so compelling. Everything feels enormous. Everything feels consequential. And if the first two games are any indication, we’re in for another unforgettable night.

The Garden is ready.

The city is ready.

Karl-Anthony Towns is two wins away from the promised land.

Now we’ll find out if the next step is the easiest one yet, or the hardest one of all.

Go get it, KAT.