For just the third time this season, the Yankees are an underdog. Despite having a record eight and a half games better than the Mets, the Yankees have earned it after losing six of the last eight games.
A loss Sunday will mean the Bronx Bombers have lost their last three series, topping their season total entering this stretch.
The Mets have won four of five and have a lopsided advantage in the starting pitching matchup. My Yankees vs. Mets predictions and MLB picks have the Mets getting the win on May 17.
Who will win Yankees vs Mets today: Mets moneyline (-108)
The New York Mets seek their fourth series win in the last five.They’re allowing 3.1 runs a game over that stretch, down from 4.2and scoring nearly a run more. The New York Yankees hit below .200 over the last week with an ERA nearly half a run over their season average.
The Yankees shuffled their rotation, pushing Ryan Weathers to Monday and starting rookie Elmer Rodriguez, still in search of his first MLB win.
He’s walking nearly a batter an inning, trouble against a Juan Soto-led patient Mets lineup. The Mets counter with All-Star Freddy Peralta, who has a 3.10 ERA.
COVERS INTEL:Peralta is avoiding solid contact this season. His barrel rate allowed is less than half of last year’s and in MLB’s top 17%. His exit velocity allowed is in MLB’s top quartile and his best in four years.
Yankees vs Mets Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (+100)
The Mets offense still ranks at the bottom of MLB in OPS and OPS+ and third from the bottom in runs scored, but they’ve picked up the pace.The Mets have boosted their scoring by 0.7 runs a game in the last two weeks (from 3.7 to 4.4)and have scored five or more three times in the last five games.
The Yankees are the mirror image. They still lead the AL in scoring but have managed three runs or fewer in seven of the last 10. And the Bronx Bombers’ pitching hasn’t been good enough to gut out those low-scoring games.
The Yankees haven’t won a game scoring less than four runs since April 28. They’ve lost their last seven such games and are 3-12 in them on the year.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 12-18 -5.26 units
Over/Under bets: 18-16 +0.49 units
Yankees vs Mets odds
Moneyline: Yankees +104 | Mets -108
Run line: Yankees -1.5 (+163) | Mets +1.5 (-170)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-113) | Under 8.5 (+108)
Yankees vs Mets trend
The New York Yankees have hit the Game Total Under in 14 of their last 22 away games (+6.15 Units / 25% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Mets.
How to watch Yankees vs Mets and game info
Location
Citi Field, Flushing, NY
Date
Sunday, May 17, 2026
First pitch
1:40 p.m. ET
TV
YES, SNY
Yankees starting pitcher
Ryan Weathers (2-2, 3.00 ERA)
Mets starting pitcher
Freddy Peralta (3-3, 3.10 ERA)
Yankees vs Mets latest injuries
Yankees vs Mets 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.
There are a number of changes to the Braves’ lineup as they face their first right-handed pitcher of the Red Sox series in Sunday’s finale.
Most notably, the Braves are giving their top two shortstop options in Mauricio Dubon and Ha-Seong Kim the day off, starting Jorge Mateo at short and seventh in the lineup.
Dubon has started 43 of the team’s first 46 games at a variety of positions, becoming a regular outfielder with Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuña Jr. battling injuries early this season. Kim returned Tuesday from the finger injury which forced him to start the season on the injured list, but is 1-for-17 (.059) in his first five games of the season.
It bears mentioning given how liberally Walt Weiss has used his bench that it’s entirely possible one or both is utilized in a key at-bat or as a defensive replacement on Sunday.
Additionally, Dominic Smith is the designated hitter and hitting sixth, Mike Yastrzemski (who has five RBIs this week after he had six in his first 38 games) is in right field and hitting eighth. Jose Azocar moves to left field to replace Dubon and will hit ninth after his two-double performance in Saturday’s 3-2 loss.
No Braves hitter has faced Red Sox starter Brayan Bello (2-4, 6.46 ERA) more than nine times. Austin Riley has faced him the most and is 5-for-9 (.556) against him with an RBI. Drake Baldwin (2-for-3) and Dubon (3-for-5, three doubles) have also had success against Bello in limited sample sizes. Ozzie Albies is just 1-for-7 (.143) against Bello but has the Braves’ only homer and four RBIs.
Overall, Braves hitters are 18-for-58 (.310) against Bello with six doubles, seven RBIs and 11 strikeouts against four walks.
The Red Sox are running back a similar lineup for Sunday’s series finale. Mickey Gasper is DHing once more after doing so Friday but still hitting second, with Carlos Narvaez replacing him behind the plate and hitting eighth. Nick Sogard also replaces Caleb Durbin at third base, keeping his ninth spot in the Boston lineup.
No Red Sox hitter has faced Braves starter Grant Holmes (2-1, 4.35 ERA) more than six times. Jarren Duran is 1-for-6 (.167) but has the team’s lone homer off the righty. Saturday’s hero Willson Contreras is the only Boston hitter with multiple hits off Holmes (2-for-5).
Overall, members of the Red Sox lineup are a combined 4-for-29 (.138) against Holmes with three RBIs, 10 strikeouts and three walks.
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 28: Jalen Brunson #11 and the New York Knicks huddle before the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 28, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Nothing better than a Game 7, amirite?
Actually, there’s something even better about today’s matchup, as the Knicks aren’t involved and will be just enjoying the bloodbath from afar!
Here’s the latest from Tarrytown as New York patiently waits to know its ECF foe.
On supporting Mikal Bridges amid benching questions:
“I was just telling the truth. He can play, he’s been in this situation before, we’ve had success with him. So I was just basically answering the questions regarding him. He’s earned the right to be there. He’s earned the right to do a lot of different things. And I was just reiterating it. He’s definitely an important piece of what we’re trying to do.”
On adapting offensive schemes during the playoffs:
“It’s a little complicated from the standpoint that we came in with what we wanted to do offensively. Then we had to scale it to a certain degree because it didn’t fit everybody. Then you fast-forward to the playoffs and you bring some of it back and you bring some new. We are not just adding stuff we did in the preseason. We added some new stuff that is similar to what we are doing, but it fits better with the personnel. Usually if you have a veteran team, especially at this time of year, they lock in a little bit better.
“The moral of the story is it’s the playoffs. So guys do things come playoff time, especially if they are veterans, that they may not do in the regular season or they may take for granted during the regular season. Maybe a little bit of that is mixed in. I don’t know. Maybe our group is locked in. They’ve been open all year to a lot of different things I’ve thrown at them. They are grasping or holding on to this tight, which has given us a chance to have some success.”
On his revelation about pairing Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson:
“I came to a little bit of a revelation with those guys. We feel it’s a little easier to play with them — not just defensively, but offensively, too.”
On how the playoffs force adjustments in real time:
“The playoffs — they make you think and adjust, and they make you do it in real-time because if you don’t, your season can end. You have some time in-between to mess around with things.”
On the importance of point-of-attack defense and team coverages:
“We have to make sure that at the point of attack, there’s ball pressure with a little bit of physicality, but without fouling, without sending a guy to the free-throw line. And then knowing it’s not just the guy that’s at the point of attack, but it’s all five guys guarding the basketball. And whenever the ball moves, all five guys have to move with it. And then lastly, mixing up your coverages but being able to understand the different coverages and being able to go back and forth between them pretty seamlessly.”
On uncertainty about whether the nine-day break is an advantage:
“I’ve been in both situations, playing while a team’s waiting and I’ve been waiting while a team’s playing. You can say a lot theoretically. You can say they’re going to be tired, but you can also say they have a competitive edge because they’ve been going at it for seven games and we’ve been off. You keep trying to do different things during the course of the downtime to keep them sharp, keep them focused and try to keep their competitive edge up as much as you can.”
On recalling LeBron James taking over during the 2009 playoffs:
“I was like, ‘There’s no way in hell I’m going in that huddle to tell him anything right now the way he’s cooking, I’m just gonna let him cook. I’m not saying anything to him.’ And he went out there and he just — he was amazing. That was the best seat in the house to watch.”
On building chemistry with Mitchell Robinson in the frontcourt:
“I think it’s been great to have more time with [Robinson] and to be able to understand ways to help him succeed on the court. That comes with just chemistry, time on the court, playing with each other. Throughout the year we’ve had those moments, and in the last year where we were able to build that chemistry — and it’s paid dividends when we were on the court together this playoffs. So it’s great where you could see that improvement actually happening and see the fruits of our labor.”
On not carrying over regular-season success into the postseason mindset:
“I’m super honored to say this is my third straight consecutive conference finals but in the last two conference finals, it’s been teams we’ve had a lot of success against in the regular season and found ourselves losing in the conference finals. You cannot see anything as an opportunity — ‘Oh, well the regular season said we had success, so it should translate in the postseason.’ It doesn’t work like that.”
On the value of strong perimeter defense for the bigs:
“Point of attack is important, it’s the most important thing. To have our wings and our guards playing defense at the perimeter at a high level, it makes my job easier but also makes our team better. Shout-out to them.”
On his recovery and readiness for the Eastern Conference finals:
“Getting better each day. Feel good today.”
On the current hamstring strain compared to his 2025 injury:
“It was weird. I stepped, I felt something a little bit. Tried to dunk… It wasn’t like the previous ones, for sure. So it was better than before. I never think about the past. Just dealing with it in the moment. It didn’t feel as bad as it had in the past when it happened.”
On staying ready while waiting for the other series to conclude:
“I think everyone’s excited for the games to start, so just letting the other series play out. So if it was tomorrow—just be ready whenever it is.”
"I've spent half my life with the Knick organization…I have not worked a day in my life the last 40 years…I cant wait for the game"
–– Walt Clyde Frazier is awarded Doctorate of Humane Letters, honoris causa, at Long Island University's Centennial Commencement in Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/heykNGsGbi
On OG Anunoby’s progress during the hamstring rehab period:
“He’s been back. He looks good to me. So, I think maybe the crowd, maybe the fans and media worried a little bit more, but I know how OG works and how his body is. I think he’ll be alright.”
On the impact of the Towns-Robinson pairing:
“[Their] rebounding for sure, and then KAT being able to roll and he can space, and Mitch just being an impactful lob threat just spaces the floor. And if you leave KAT open, I don’t think he misses if he’s wide-open. [The duo] just builds a lot for us.”
On embracing Brown’s trust amid lineup questions:
“It’s always great when your coach has got trust in you. Yeah, that’s great. And teammates staying with it, keeping me confident, as well. I think we all know the end goal is just trying to win games and do whatever it takes to win. Even in my mistakes, just try to do whatever it takes and know that I just gotta bounce back and learn from them.”
On staying present and improving each game:
“Just continue to play. I think that’s really what it is. You can’t look at the past. You learn from it, but just be present and do what you gotta do to get better. I think that’s really it. Just learn from each game and try to get better every single game. And that’s really it. I always try to play to help [the team] win and just keep trying to get better. That’s been the outcome.”
On the pros and cons of the extended break:
“I know you’re eager to go out there and play, but I think it’s just good to rest, get the body right and just keep working on your craft and working on what we have to do. So, obviously there’s positives, negatives in this situation, but I just try to look at the positives.”
On defensive responsibility in big matchups:
“It starts with defense. I think that’s the biggest key. Just do what my coaches ask and play hard, knowing the scout [report]. Just me personally, just trying to do the right things and then always knowing I got four guys behind me. Such a team defense that we’re [playing] and everybody just knowing what we’re supposed to be doing and playing on a string.”
BREAKING: A trader has place $10,000 on Alex Caruso NOT winning Finals MVP.
On the Knicks’ offensive flexibility heading into the conference finals:
“I think in terms of offensively, we can play fast. We can play slow. We can play through JB. We can play through [Mikal]. We can play through KAT. OG has been amazing. So we’re able to do that. Defensively, we’ve been able to put guys on really anybody. We had obviously KAT, Mitch [Robinson], Ariel [Hukporti], OG to guard [Philadelphia’s Joel] Embiid. When you have those kind of guys able to do that and then you’re able to throw multiple guys at a [Tyrese] Maxey, a [Paul George], it just allows your team to kind of play the game how that particular game is needed to be played. Then the other team makes adjustments and you’re able to adjust to that.”
On standing by his comments about Philadelphia as a sports town:
“You can’t be a sports town if another team’s fan base takes over your arena.”
— Walt Perrin Sees the Future (@KnickedupFan) May 16, 2026
Miles McBride
On the importance of perimeter defense in the Eastern Conference finals:
“It’s huge. Obviously, every round gets tougher. Different opponents, different challenges, so having a great point-of-attack [defense] on the perimeter is super important. And then trusting our guys at the rim to make plays or rotations. But it’s about energy and effort and just the whole team locking in.”
On comparing the Towns-Robinson duo to the Towns-Gobert one in Minny:
“I think this [duo] is better. Mitch is mobile. He could guard pretty much one through five. KAT is just — he got better now. That was early in his career. So now he’s better, and it works out nice.”
On how Towns and Robinson complement each other:
“[That lineup] is important. [Towns and Robinson] complement each other really well. Obviously KAT is not a traditional big — [well] now he is, in this league. He can shoot 3s, post-up and pass, and Mitch covers up defensively for him. So it’s complementing each other at a high level, and I’m glad it’s clicking at the right time.”
This Julius Randle crashout is HILARIOUS in every way 😂 😂😂
For a franchise that looked dangerously close to wasting another year of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar’s prime, Chris MacFarland rebuilt a Stanley Cup favorite in real time.
There really shouldn’t be much debate about the NHL’s General Manager of the Year award.
The job description for a modern NHL general manager is brutally complicated. You have to protect the future without sacrificing the present. You have to manage personalities, injuries, contracts, cap math, timing, and pressure from a market expecting championships every spring. Most executives spend years trying to thread that needle.
MacFarland spent the last 18 months doing it aggressively — and nearly every gamble paid massive dividends.
The Rantanen Decision That Changed Everything
The move everyone will remember first is the one that could have detonated the locker room if it failed: trading Mikko Rantanen.
Superstars like Rantanen are not supposed to leave contenders in the middle of a championship window. They especially are not supposed to be moved when the fanbase already believes the roster has flaws elsewhere. But MacFarland looked at the bigger picture and saw something uncomfortable: Colorado had become too top-heavy, too vulnerable, and too expensive to sustain in its existing form.
Complicating that reality was the fact that Rantanen wanted $14 million on his next deal.
It made the pivot unavoidable.
Martin Necas arrived and immediately unlocked another level offensively. Jack Drury became the type of dependable, hard-minute center playoff teams desperately need in May. The cap flexibility created by moving Rantanen opened the door for additional reinforcements that transformed Colorado from dangerous into overwhelming.
That’s the part people miss when they isolate the trade itself.
The Rantanen move wasn’t a one-for-one hockey trade. It was the first domino in a complete roster reconstruction.
Building Depth In The Shadows Of Stars
Suddenly the Avalanche could afford Brock Nelson. They could take swings on veteran depth. They could add Brett Kulak to stabilize the blue line. They could bring in Nicolas Roy and Nazem Kadri to harden the bottom-six and insulate the stars.
Now Colorado rolls four lines with almost no weakness.
That matters in the playoffs, where series stop being about talent and start becoming about survival.
Against Minnesota, the Avalanche were missing pieces almost nightly. Josh Manson was banged up. Sam Malinski missed time. Artturi Lehkonen wasn’t available. Cale Makar was clearly fighting through something physically by the end of the series.
Colorado kept winning anyway.
The Avalanche are no longer built like a top-heavy track team trying to outscore problems. They look layered, punishing, and adaptable. They can beat opponents with speed one night and grind them down the next. Few teams in hockey can absorb injuries to key contributors and still look deeper than the opponent. Colorado can.
The Goaltending Fix That Reshaped The Identity
And none of it matters without fixing the crease.
That may ultimately become MacFarland’s defining achievement.
Early in the season, Colorado’s goaltending situation looked catastrophic. The Avalanche were hemorrhaging goals and wasting elite performances from Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen because they simply could not get saves when games tightened. Georgiev, in particular, was about as stable as an Avenged Sevenfold song, which, for the record, isn’t very stable. Cup contenders don’t survive long with unstable goaltending, and MacFarland knew it.
So he acted before the season slipped away.
Scott Wedgewood came in first. Mackenzie Blackwood followed shortly after. Suddenly, the Avalanche went from one of the NHL’s shakiest teams in net to one of its most reliable.
“The Lumberyard” became one of the best stories in hockey.
Not only did the tandem stabilize Colorado, they did it at a bargain price compared to the rest of the league. While other contenders committed enormous money to goaltending, the Avalanche found elite production without crippling their cap structure. That flexibility became critical later when the deadline arrived.
And unlike some executives who empty the future for one desperate run, MacFarland somehow managed to strengthen both timelines simultaneously.
Necas is signed long-term.
Malinski is already locked into a manageable contract after emerging as one of the breakout defensemen in the league.
Parker Kelly turned into a 21-goal player on a contract that now looks like highway robbery.
Wedgewood’s extension could become one of the best-value deals in hockey if his play holds.
Even the Brent Burns signing — a low-risk veteran addition many initially viewed as a depth move — became enormous once injuries started piling up on the back end.
A Contender Built To Survive Anything
That’s what separates a good GM year from an elite one.
Anybody can make flashy moves. The hard part is building connective tissue throughout the lineup so the roster survives adversity when spring hockey becomes chaotic. Colorado finally has that again.
And the timing of all this matters.
Twelve months ago, there were real questions surrounding the Avalanche. Gabriel Landeskog’s future remained uncertain. Valeri Nichushkin’s situation cast a shadow over the organization. The goaltending was unstable. The supporting cast around MacKinnon and Makar no longer looked championship caliber.
The core still gave Colorado a chance.
MacFarland gave them support.
Now the Avalanche enter the Western Conference Final looking like the most complete team left standing.
That didn’t happen organically. It didn’t happen because Colorado simply stayed healthy or waited for internal growth. It happened because the front office identified weaknesses honestly and attacked them relentlessly.
That’s why the GM of the Year conversation is a no-brainer.
Chris MacFarland rebuilt a Stanley Cup contender while the window was already open — and somehow made it look calculated instead of desperate.
In recent years, baseball fans have come to accept the phrase “Because baseball” to describe certain games. Generally, it involves a situation where you look at the matchup on paper and assume that Team A will dominate Team B because of a very favorable matchup. But then Team B wins. And we say, because baseball. It’s a short phrase that tries to explain how sometimes everything looks one way but happens the other. Those games occur, of course, in all sports. If you’ve ever won your NFL Survivor pool, it was because of a game that could have been described as because football. Or your NCAA pool. That guy who is sweating a Mountain West game at 2 a.m. and knows a little something about every team in the tournament lost his champion in the round of 32 when some school that no one has ever heard of just beat the reigning ACC champion on a late three. Because basketball.
If we allow for because baseball to explain things, then there is also a world where it has a total opposite. This is the opposite quadrant on an X,Y graph. In this quadrant, we have Team A that’s been struggling a bit. They are on the road, though as close to home as they can be and still be considered a “road” team. Their starting pitcher is prone to the long ball. Team B on the other hand, they are at home and are surging. They are playing with a ton of confidence. Their starting pitcher. Is he an Ace? Or is he just on a heater? Too soon to tell, but even a good pitcher on a heater is a handful. Team B also thrives on the long ball. This is a bad matchup for Team A.
This was not the matchup you were looking for. Move along, now. It sure would be nice to come off of this road trip with four wins in nine games. So shake the Etch-a-Sketch, forget this one happened and move along. This has been a tough trip. You certainly hoped to win at least five on this trip. But it’s really going to be sick if you only get three. So sleep tight and bounce back. Let’s keep little brother down a little longer. They can try to do their little Phoenix rising thing on someone’s else’s dance floor.
This trip, at times, has exposed that the Cubs pitching staff has been leeched of so much depth that pitching is not anywhere near a strength, even with a stellar defense behind them. None of us are surprised by that, either. It looks like some more relievers will surface soon. Jordan Wicks is getting healthy, but has never established himself at the major league level. But, at least it’s another live arm. Ben Brown has emerged and is a reason for some optimism. He is also a reminder not to flush Wicks. I’ve said this many times and in many contexts. The road to the top is never guaranteed and it’s not necessarily a straight line. Both Wicks and Brown were once highly thought of prospects. Brown is now rebuilding some of his in front of our eyes. Maybe Wicks can be a piece.
This team is going to need more than what they’ve got. It’s going to be interesting to watch this front office wrestle with addressing that. This team in no way looks like it is one or two pieces away from a sure World Series team, much less champion. But it does look like a team that could get hot and could be dangerous and maybe if things fall just right they have a shot. The kind of trade(s) that would significantly boost this team’s chances tend to hurt in terms of prospect capital. This organization has a ton of depth, but their top talent doesn’t exactly leave other talent evaluators drooling.
But that’s still at least a few weeks and probably more than a month away. So this team has to roll with what it’s got and it has to find ways to win games. More often than not, that’s going to rest on the shoulders of the offense. So this team has to get right and soon. Why not Sunday?
Three Positives:
Miguel Amaya had a single and a solo homer.
Pete Crow-Armstrong had a walk and a late two-run homer.
Alex Bregman had a single and a double.
Game 46, May 16: White Sox 8, Cubs 3 (29-17)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Alex Bregman (.035). 2-4, 2B
Hero: Miguel Amaya (.012). 2-4, HR, RBI, R
Sidekick: Ethan Roberts (.002). 2 IP, 6 BF, BB, 3 K
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Jameson Taillon (-.311). 5 IP, 8 H, BB, 8 ER, 2K (L 2-3)
Goat: Ian Happ (-.079). 0-4
Kid: Seiya Suzuki (-.035). 0-4
WPA Play of the Game: Miguel Vargas homered with two on and no outs in the bottom of the first for the first three runs of the game. (.172)
*Cubs Play of the Game: With a runner on first and one out in the seventh, the Cubs down six, Alex Bregman doubled. (.024)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 45 Winner: Carson Kelly received 108 of 173 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Michael Busch/Shōta Imanaga +13
Michael Conforto +12
Alex Bregman +6.5
Ben Brown/Ian Happ +5.5
Caleb Thielbar -6
Phil Maton -7
Matt Shaw -10
Dansby Swanson -11
Seiya Suzuki -18
Current Win Pace: 102.1 wins
Up Next: The third and final game of the series Sunday afternoon. Colin Rea (4-2, 4.68, 42.1 IP) starts for the seventh time this year. He’s coming off of a rough start in Atlanta, allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk in just 4.1 innings. Significantly better both at home and at night, so hopefully the Cubs offense gets things going quickly in this one.
33-year-old Erick Fedde has been a mixed bag so far this year. He’s 0-4 but has a 3.77 ERA in 43 innings across eight starts. He also didn’t win across his final nine appearances last year, but eight of those were relief outings. It’s been a long time since he’s won, let’s keep it that way. Last time out, he faced the Royals and allowed two runs on six hits over five innings but didn’t get a decision. The former first round pick of the Nationals from 2014 (18th overall) out of UNLV has been better during the day and much better at home.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 12: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Seattle Mariners reacts with Josh Naylor #12 after his slide home to score during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on April 12, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Randy Arozarena isn’t all that streaky, but he is on a streak right now.
Arozarena has been the Mariners best hitter this year. His 148 wRC+ is best among the qualified hitters on the team, and his 1.8 fWAR makes him a top 25 player in the majors. He’s more than half-way to his 2.9 fWAR from last year, in about a quarter of the games. It’s looking like a career year.
But one thing I’ve often said about Arozarena is that he’s streaky. Last year, for instance, Arozarena posted a 136 wRC+ in the first half — also pacing for a career year — before posting a 97 wRC+ in the second half. That’s just Randy, I thought, like this is just Randy now.
I tried to measure that hot-and-cold tendency. I found every batter with at least 2,000 plate appearances since 2021. I found their rolling wOBA and xwOBA over each 100 plate appearance stretch. I then found the standard deviation and coefficient of variation for each player — basically, how much does their performance change relative to their personal average.
Arozarena… showed nothing. He is almost exactly the median player by these measures, meaning he was neither particularly streaky nor particularly non-streaky. His performance is about as normal as it gets. I tried different plate appearance thresholds and different spans of years- nothing. Arozarena has been remarkably consistent in his unremarkable consistency. I guess this was just something I made up in my head.
For instance, here’s one of the 10 least consistent hitters since 2024, Jorge Polanco, presented in 100-PA increments:
You can see Polanco’s line begins at the end of his first 100 plate appearances with the Mariners, where he hovered near average. Then he slumped, got hot, and slumped again… only to come out in 2025 and post one of the best months in team history, before slumping and finishing the year on fire… and now he has a 54 wRC+ with the Mets and an achilles injury.
Here’s Randy, on the other hand:
And yeah, that looks more consistent. He starts very low, with the unfortunately-timed slump to begin 2024. But then he figures it out, gets hot after joining the Mariners, and lands firmly above average through April 2025. He slumped briefly last May before riding a long hot streak, then returned to average through the end of the season. So, yes, he has been streaky, but all hitters are streaky.
Of course, this is all just pretense to direct your attention to where the lines end on the plot above: The present. We can see by wOBA, Arozarena has performed well most of the year. But we can also see that his xwOBA is much lower. In fact, Arozarena’s .379 wOBA and .327 xwOBA represent one of the five largest gaps of 2026.
The whole profile is different this year. His 41.1% hard hit rate is much less than his career-best rate of 50.6% from 2025. His barrel rate is also more than halved. Most of his contact is now aimed at the ground, spiking his ground ball rate from 42.6% to 54.0% (one of the largest changes in the league). His line is largely the result of sneaking soft grounders through the infield and a .393 BABIP. Maybe Arozarena isn’t a streaky player historically, but this particular streak I expect to reverse course sometime in the near future.
That said, it’s not all bad. Arozarena is still finding better launch angles overall this year. His 35.5% sweet spot rate is a career best. That’s because, by turning toward the ground, he’s all but eliminated pop ups. It’s good to hit the ball in the air because that’s how you hit homers. But aiming too high is an auto-out, whereas even weak grounders come with a minimum .200 batting average. Arozarena is now hitting a lot of high grounders and flares that are good for singles. He’s making a lot less perfect contact, but his imperfect contact has improved dramatically. His xwOBA on non-barrels has leapt 30 points this year (.319), one of the 20-best marks in the majors.
I also think the contact is getting better overall. Arozarena was perhaps the lone example of a guy who’d actually lost bat speed in the early season — he lost so much bat speed that he brought the team average down with him. His bat speed is now back to normal, and his hard hit rate is up to 45% in May from 37% in April.
Arozarena also is swinging more, chasing more, and just overall being a lot more aggressive early in counts. And his swing is a little different, too. He’s both getting out in front of pitches, and also angling his bat more to the opposite field. He’s also really excited about fastballs up this year for some reason:
I’m really not sure what to make of it. Sometimes with these things I know what I’m going to say and where I’m going to land. Sometimes I find that along the way. But yeah, no, this is just bizarre more than anything.
Randy in 2026 looks like a fundamentally different hitter. I’ve always thought of him as kind of a wanna-be three true outcome guy — working counts, letting the ball travel, swinging hard and up. And now, for whatever reason, he’s become more of a slasher, swinging early and often and at anything close. His strikeout rate is down, and his walk rate is unchanged, which is good. But the lesser contact quality is concerning, and I don’t see him getting to 20 homers this year without some changes. He’s given himself over to the whims of BABIP, and we’ll see how far that takes him.
Still, the great irony here is that Arozarena’s xwOBA is .327 — identical to his mark last year (and .005 off the year before). So while I’m skeptical of his status as a top 25 hitter, he’s probably still in the top 50, and certainly in the top 100.
I guess that’s where my misplaced notion of his streakiness comes from. You just never really know what you’re gonna get with Arozarena. One day he’s a slugger. The next he’s slapping the ball the other way. One day he goes diving into the wall in left for an out. The next he’s walking toward the gap with runners on base. Consistently surprising. Surprisingly consistent. That’s just Randy.
Gilgeous-Alexander is just the fifth player to pull off the feat at age 27 or younger.
Here’s a look at all the repeat MVP winners in NBA history:
Bill Russell (1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63)
The first repeat MVP winner was actually a three-peat. Russell’s three straight MVPs came in the midst of the Boston Celtics‘ eight straight NBA titles. He was 27 to 29 years old during this span, averaging 17.5 points, 23.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game over the three seasons (232 games).
Wilt Chamberlain (1965-66, 1966-67, 1967-68)
Soon after Russell’s three-peat, Chamberlain matched his feat over his ages 29, 30 and 31 seasons for the Philadelphia 76ers. He posted absurd statistics over these three years, averaging 27.3 points, 24.2 rebounds and 7.2 assists over 242 contests (at 46.5 minutes per game!). The Sixers won the title in 1967 but lost to Russell’s Celtics in 1966 and 1968.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1975-76, 1976-77)
Abdul-Jabbar’s first two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, when he was 28 and 29, both ended with MVPs. After winning a title with the Milwaukee Bucks, Abdul-Jabbar continued to elevate his game with the Lakers — although more championships wouldn’t come until the 1980s. He averaged 27.0 points, 15.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.7 blocks during this run.
Moses Malone (1981-82, 1982-83)
The only player to be on two different teams for his repeat MVPs, Malone won it as a Houston Rocket and then as a 76er. At ages 27 and 28, Malone averaged 27.8 points and 15.0 rebounds. His numbers dropped by almost seven points per game in his second MVP season, but the Sixers were the league’s best team and swept the Lakers in the Finals.
Larry Bird (1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86)
The most recent three-peat MVP, Bird accomplished this from age 27 to 29 by averaging 26.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists and missing just five games. The Celtics made the Finals in all three of these seasons, winning it during the first and third year but losing to the Lakers in between.
Magic Johnson (1988-89, 1989-90)
With Abdul-Jabbar in his final season in 1988-89, Johnson took full control and began his run of consecutive MVPs. He was already a five-time champion and three-time Finals MVP, but Johnson put a stamp on his legendary career with this achievement at ages 29 and 30. He averaged 22.4 points, 12.1 assists and 7.1 rebounds during the two seasons.
Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1991-92)
Immediately after Johnson’s back-to-back, Jordan did the same thing. MJ averaged 30.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists during his age 28 and 29 seasons, leading the Chicago Bulls to championships both years. He was the first player to win regular season and Finals MVP in consecutive years, a list that SGA is looking to join in 2026.
Tim Duncan (2001-02, 2002-03)
The most dominant two-year stretch of Duncan’s career, at ages 25-26, culminated in his second NBA title for the San Antonio Spurs. He missed just one game in two seasons, averaging 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 blocks. While these were the only two MVPs for Duncan, he went on to win three more Finals before retiring in 2016.
Steve Nash (2004-05, 2005-06)
Nash is the oldest player to accomplish this feat, doing so at age 31 and 32 for the Phoenix Suns. He averaged 17.2 points, 11.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds over that span as the “seven seconds or less” Suns helped popularize up-tempo basketball. Phoenix lost in the Western Conference Finals in both seasons.
LeBron James (2008-09, 2009-10 and 2011-12, 2012-13)
The only player to go back-to-back twice, James did so for two different franchises. First with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 24- and 25-year-old James averaged 29.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.9 assists but couldn’t get over the hump in the postseason. He then joined the Miami Heat in 2011, finishing third in MVP before going back-to-back with consecutive Finals MVPs at ages 27 and 28 (joining Jordan as the only player to do so).
Stephen Curry (2014-15, 2015-16)
Few players were more of a spectacle during their MVP runs than Curry, who was (and still is) a threat to shoot it from anywhere. His first MVP coincided with his first Finals win at age 27, then the Golden State Warriors won a record 73 games during his 28-year-old MVP season before losing in the Finals to James’ Cavaliers. Curry averaged 26.9 points, 7.2 assists and 4.8 rebounds on 45% shooting from deep during this stretch.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (2018-19, 2019-20)
The Greek Freak burst onto the scene with consecutive MVPs at age 24 and 25. He averaged 28.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists over the two years while also winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. The Bucks were upset in the playoffs in both of these seasons, but they did win the title in 2021 with Antetokounmpo taking home Finals MVP.
Nikola Jokic (2020-21, 2021-22)
Antetokounmpo’s run was immediately followed by Jokic, who went back-to-back at age 26 and 27. Like Antetokounmpo, Jokic’s Denver Nuggets didn’t win a championship until the year after his MVP run. Jokic did add a third MVP in 2024, though, and he was a finalist in 2023, 2025 and 2026 in what’s been a dominant run. During his consecutive MVP seasons, the Joker averaged 26.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2024-25, 2025-26)
His run has been well-documented, but Gilgeous-Alexander still has a chance to make this run more impressive if OKC can win another title. He could join Jordan and James as the only back-to-back MVP and Finals MVP winners, and he would be the youngest to do so at age 27. Over these last two seasons, he has averaged 32.0 points, 6.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds.
For baseball drama and storylines, it doesn’t get much better than the Subway Series, so the rubber match between the New York Yankees and New York Mets naturally headlines today’s slate.
My MLB player props target that matchup with a wager on Cody Bellinger, and I also see Kevin Gausman dealing in Detroit to ease the pressure on the Toronto Blue Jays.
Read on for my Top 3 MLB prop picks for the May 17 action.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Cody Bellinger
Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
-110
Kevin Gausman
Over 5.5 strikeouts
-112
Mookie Betts
Over 1.5 total bases
+105
Cody Bellinger Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-110)
Cody Bellinger has come alive this month after a slow April, and that’s helping to fuel a New York Yankees offense that’s in the Top 5 in runs and OBP. He’s posted a .304 batting average in May, to go with a 1.010 OPS.
Bellinger chipped in with an RBI double in the Bronx Bombers’ win on Friday night, and I like this matchup against New York Mets starter Freddy Peralta.
Though Peralta has been steady so far this year, Bellinger has had the upper hand in their head-to-head duels, with a career 6-for-14 record against the Mets righty, including a double, a homer and three RBIs.
Time: 1:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: YES,SNY
Kevin Gausman Over 5.5 strikeouts (-112)
The Toronto Blue Jays are fighting to stay afloat after a barrage of injuries, and that makes every Kevin Gausman start even more valuable.
The veteran’s strikeout tallies have tailed off after racking up 21 Ks across his first two outings of 2026, but this O/U number feels too low and I’m jumping on the Over against a Detroit Tigers lineup that he’s dominated over the years.
Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson and Zach McKinstry are a combined 6-for-36 against Gausman, while striking out 11 times. The Toronto ace has a 3.16 career ERA against Detroit, and I’m counting on a bounce-back effort here after a rocky start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.
Time: 1:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DSN, Sportsnet
Mookie Betts Over 1.5 total bases (+105)
After the Los Angeles Dodgers exploded for 15 runs yesterday against the cross-city Angels, I’m buying into a key piece of that offense tonight. Mookie Betts served up a homer and a single in last night’s rout, and that’s the surest sign yet that his oblique strain is behind him.
It was Betts’ second dinger of the week, and I like these odds for 2+ bases here, especially with Angels starter Grayson Rodriguez just returning from the 15-day IL.
Though Betts has struggled to post elite numbers this year, there’s been no dip in his exit velocity and he’s done his best work against righties on the road. Look for that trend to continue tonight.
Time: 4:07 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNLA, KCOP-FOX11+
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.
Jack Flaherty’s strikeout total is set too high today against the Toronto Blue Jays, and I plan to take full advantage.
Read on to see why with my Blue Jays vs. Tigers predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, May 17.
Blue Jays vs Tigers predictions
Blue Jays vs Tigers best bet: Jack Flaherty Under 4.5 strikeouts (+115)
Collecting five strikeouts against the Toronto Blue Jays is a big ask of any pitcher, let alone a struggling one like Jack Flaherty.
The Detroit Tigers have lost four straight starts of Flaherty’s, and he’s seen his ERA balloon from 3.47 to 5.74 in that span.
His strikeout numbers are down in that stretch as well, recording four or fewer in three of those outings.
To suggest he’ll surpass this number against the Jays, who own a league-low 18.2% K-rate, feels rich to me.
Additionally, Flaherty owns a lowly 7% chase rate this season.
COVERS INTEL: Flaherty owns a 5.21 xERA in 2026, and has completed five innings just once in his last five starts.
Blue Jays vs Tigers same-game parlay (SGP)
Yohendrick Pinango continues to rack up the hits. He owns a .364 batting average, while recording a hit in 11 of his 15 career outings.
For the final leg of my SGP, I’ll take the Jays on the moneyline. They own the advantage on the mound with Kevin Gausman facing Flaherty, who hasn’t won a game all season and has seen his Tigers drop five straight contests he’s started.
Blue Jays vs Tigers SGP
Jack Flaherty Under 4.5 strikeouts
Yohendrick Pinango Over 0.5 hits
Jays moneyline
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Get the best Jays ML odds at BET99 — every game.
Blue Jays vs Tigers home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+405)
Despite Flaherty allowing four home runs in his last four starts, I’m making this a half unit wager this afternoon.
The Jays haven’t been hitting many home runs lately. However, Kazuma Okamoto still remains the best bet to launch one.
Okamoto has a team-high 10 home runs this year, while ranking in the 95th percentile in hard hit rate.
The Jays slugger owns a .295 AVG and a .590 SLG against the four-seam fastball, which is Flaherty’s most used pitch against right-handed batters.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 19-25, -2.60 units
SGPs: 8-36, -2.20 units
HR picks: 8-36, +5.15 units
Blue Jays vs Tigers odds
Moneyline: Toronto -130 | Detroit +110
Run line: Toronto -1.5 | Detroit +1.5
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Blue Jays vs Tigers trend
The Blue Jays have hit the Under in 5 of their last 6 away games (+5.00 Units / 75% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Tigers.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Tigers and game info
Location
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Date
Sunday, May 17, 2026
First pitch
1:40 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet, Detroit SportsNet
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Kevin Gausman (2-3, 3.86 ERA)
Tigers starting pitcher
Jack Flaherty (0-4, 5.74 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Tigers latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Tigers 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.
The Oklahoma City Thunder guard will be named NBA MVP for the second straight year on Sunday after another dominant season. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news, with an official announcement coming Sunday night.
The 27-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander is the 14th player to win consecutive MVP awards, joining recent stars Nikola Jokic (2020-22), Giannis Antetokounmpo (2018-20) and Stephen Curry (2014-16) to do so over the past decade-plus.
In the 2025-26 season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists over 68 games. He was named Clutch Player of the Year for the first time in his career and made his fourth All-Star Game.
Other finalists for MVP included Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite the other worthy challengers, Gilgeous-Alexander set himself apart to repeat as the award winner. He was the first guard in NBA history to average at least 30 points with over 55% shooting in a season. He also extended his record streak of scoring at least 20 points to 140 games, joining Wilt Chamberlain (1961-62, 1963-64) and Elgin Baylor (1961-62) as the only players to score 20 or more in every game of a season.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise to stardom has come as the Thunder have emerged as the league’s most dominant team. He led the franchise to its first title in Oklahoma City last season while being named NBA Finals MVP, and the Thunder are still aiming to repeat this year. The team is a perfect 8-0 in the playoffs so far with Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 29.1 points and 7.1 assists per game.
It’s been an extended break for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder after their second-round sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Western Conference Finals against Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs begins Monday.
The Oklahoma City Thunder guard will be named NBA MVP for the second straight year on Sunday after another dominant season. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news, with an official announcement coming Sunday night.
The 27-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander is the 14th player to win consecutive MVP awards, joining recent stars Nikola Jokic (2020-22), Giannis Antetokounmpo (2018-20) and Stephen Curry (2014-16) to do so over the past decade-plus.
In the 2025-26 season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists over 68 games. He was named Clutch Player of the Year for the first time in his career and made his fourth All-Star Game.
Other finalists for MVP included Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite the other worthy challengers, Gilgeous-Alexander set himself apart to repeat as the award winner. He was the first guard in NBA history to average at least 30 points with over 55% shooting in a season. He also extended his record streak of scoring at least 20 points to 140 games, joining Wilt Chamberlain (1961-62, 1963-64) and Elgin Baylor (1961-62) as the only players to score 20 or more in every game of a season.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise to stardom has come as the Thunder have emerged as the league’s most dominant team. He led the franchise to its first title in Oklahoma City last season while being named NBA Finals MVP, and the Thunder are still aiming to repeat this year. The team is a perfect 8-0 in the playoffs so far with Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 29.1 points and 7.1 assists per game.
It’s been an extended break for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder after their second-round sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Western Conference Finals against Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs begins Monday.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 15: Gavin Sheets #30 of the San Diego Padres high fives teammates in the dug out after scoring during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 15, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Gavin Sheets and Nick Castellanos hit homers off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert and the San Diego Padres earned a 7-4 win at T-Mobile Park on Saturday night. Sheets opened the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the second inning to put the Padres up 1-0. With San Diego leading 2-0, Castellanos hit with a three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 5-0. That was all the run support Walker Buehler would need. The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits over five innings of work. Buehler walked two and struck out six. Rodolfo Duran tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh inning with a two-run homerun, which was also his first hit in MLB. San Diego will look to complete the sweep of Seattle today at 4:20 p.m.
Rodolfo Duran recorded his first MLB hit and did it in style with a two-run home run. He almost added a second home run – int the same game – but Julio Rodriguez robbed him of that feat.
Manny Machado is never one to get too worried about results, so it is no surprise he is confident his slow start will turn around.
David Morgan was sent to the minors to work on his command issues that suddenly popped up this season. To this point the struggles have continued, which will keep him on the farm until he can make the necessary improvements.
Mason Miller is one of, if not the most, dominant pitchers in MLB. He is a precious commodity for the Padres, and they are trying to get the most out of him while at the same time protecting him to ensure he is healthy and effective for the entire season.
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) has won his second consecutive NBA MVP award.
SGA is MVP. Again.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won the NBA MVP award for the second consecutive year, according to ESPN, beating out finalists Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs and three-time award winner Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets.
Gilgeous-Alexander, 27, is the 14th different player in NBA history to win consecutive MVP awards.
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) has won his second consecutive NBA MVP award. NBAE via Getty Images
The Canadian guard averaged 31.1 points, 6.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 68 games during the 2025-26 regular season, shooting 55.3 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from 3-point range while earning his fourth straight All-Star nod. His scoring average was second only to Lakers star Luka Doncic, who averaged 33.5 points across 64 games.
He has led the Thunder to two straight sweeps over the Suns and Lakers to reach the Western Conference finals as they look to repeat as NBA champions.
In his eight appearance in these playoffs, the reigning NBA Finals MVP is averaging 29.1 points, 7.1 assists and 3 rebounds.
The other players to win consecutive MVP awards are Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jokic.
The top-seeded Thunder will host Wembanyama and the No. 2-seeded Spurs in Game 1 on Monday.
Sunderland and Bournemouth were the big winners on a day of twists and turns in the race for Europe
Bradley Lowery, the Sunderland mascot whose battle with neuroblastoma helped raise than more £1m before his death in 2017, would have been 15 today. There will be a minute’s applause at Hill Dickinson Stadium after 15 minutes of today’s game, and two fans – one of each club – have cycled to the ground from the Stadium of Light to raise funds for the Bradley Lowery Foundation. Hats off to them.
Two more goals have been scored in a thrilling end-of-a-season game at Old Trafford, and Bruno Fernandes has equalled a major Premier League record. Clickity click click click!
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 06: Alex Freeland #76 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on May 06, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
All four Dodgers minor league affiliates won on Saturday.
Player of the day
Alex Freeland homered for a second straight day, and liked it so much he did it twice on Saturday. After Friday’s homer was hit from the right side, Freeland on Saturday homered twice while batting left-handed, and also singled.
The Comets scored in five consecutive innings in a second straight rout of the Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies).
In addition to Freeland’s two home runs, Jack Suwinski helped break the game open with a three-run homer in the fifth inning. Suwinski has 19 extra-base hits (nine home runs, 10 doubles) in his last 23 games.
Shortstop Noah Miller also had three hits. Catcher Eliézer Alfonzo doubled, singled, and drove in two, giving him six hits over his last two games.
For the second consecutive day, Oklahoma City activated one of the Ryan brothers to start. On Friday it was River Ryan who pitched four innings in his first start in five weeks. Saturday was Ryder Ryan returning to the rotation after missing over three weeks with a back injury. He pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and just one single allowed.
Kiké Hernández played all nine innings in center field on Saturday and was had two walks in his five plate appearances.
Double-A Tulsa
The Drillers hit four home runs, erasing an early 4-0 deficit to beat the Springfield Cardinals.
Josue De Paula has exactly one hit in all five games of this series, including a home run on Saturday. Zyhir Hope homered, as did Jake Gelof. Kyle Nevin also homered and reached base four times with three hits and a walk.
Starter Adam Serwinowski allowed four runs on a grand slam in the third inning, but gave up nothing else through five innings. Serwinowski struck out a season-high nine and walked only one.
High-A Great Lakes
The Loons trailed 5-1 after six innings, then scored once in the seventh and five runs in the eighth to stun the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers). The fateful eighth for Great Lakes included four singles, a triple by right fielder Samuel Muñoz, two walks, and a run-scoring wild pitch.
Mike Sirota and Jose Izarra each had two hits, including run-scoring singles for both in the eighth inning.
Alex Makarewich recorded six outs in a scoreless outing that stretched from the seventh into the ninth, then left-hander Matt Lanzendorfer entered with one on and the tying run at the plate and struck out his only two batters faced, the first professional save for the 2025 15th-round draft pick.
Left-hander Justin Chambers tied a career high with five strikeouts in his 2 1/3 innings, his longest outing of the season. Chambers allowed a run on two hits and also walked two. Free passes have been a problem for the 20-year-old, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in January 2024 for left-hander Bryan Hudson. Chambers has 15 walks and 7.82 ERA in 10 1/3 innings this season to go with his 19 strikeouts, but he’s been better of late. In his first seven appearances this season, Chambers had a 26.3-percent walk rate and more walks (10) than strikeouts (seven). But in his five games since the left-hander has a 17.2-percent walk rate with five walks and 12 strikeouts.
Class-A Ontario
Chase Harlan had four hits in the Tower Buzzers’ win over the San Jose Giants, including a double, three singles, and a walk.
Emil Morales homered, while middle infielders Mairo Martinus and Joendry Vargas each had three hits.
Arizona Complex League
Peter Heubeck, who started 16 games last year for Double-A Tulsa before getting injured in July, made his 2026 season debut on Saturday in the rookie league at Camelback Ranch. The 23-year-old struck out all three batters he faced in a one-inning start, the first game back for the 2021 third-round draft pick.
Transaction
Triple-A: Ryder Ryan was activated off the injured list.
COVERS INTEL:Peralta is avoiding solid contact this season. His barrel rate allowed is less than half of last year’s and in MLB’s top 17%. His exit velocity allowed is in MLB’s top quartile and his best in four years.
Cody Bellinger
Kevin Gausman
Mookie Betts
