TORONTO - APRIL 4: Toronto Blue Jays player stand for the National Anthem before the game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on April 4, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Time for a sweep.
Two games under .500 and tied to for the last Wild Card spot. It seems strange to have a playoff spot while being under .500, but I’ll take it.
Nathan Lukes is playing for Dunedin today, so he should be back soon.
George Springer is hitting again, six game hitting streak .320/.370/.760 with 3 home runs and 2 doubles. Sanchez is hitting too, .441/.474/.676 in his last 13 games. It is good to see. Now if Vlad and Okamoto could get things going, life would be great.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 20: Kyle Hurt #63 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on May 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers have asked a lot of their relievers over the last two weeks, and so far they’ve been up to the task. The bullpen covered the last four innings of Saturday’s win in Milwaukee without giving up a run, and have now pitched 36 scoreless innings in a row, breaking the modern franchise record.
The previous longest scoreless streak in the modern era (since 1901) by Dodgers relievers came from April 17-27, 1998, when the bullpen pitched 33 innings in a row without allowing a run. Frank Lankford allowed the runs directly before and after that streak, and contributed four scoreless frames during. Darren Dreifort (7 1/3 innings) and Brad Clontz (7 innings) were the heavy lifters during the 1998 streak, which also included Antonio Osuna, Mark Guthrie, Scott Radinsky, and Jim Bruske, a beautiful concoction of remembering some guys.
Seven total relievers pitched in the 1998 scoreless streak. In the 2026 streak, a dozen different pitchers have put up zeroes, part of heavy roster turnover the last two weeks as the Dodgers covered for losing Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Jack Dreyer.
May 12 was the last time the Dodgers bullpen allowed a run, when the San Francisco Giants scored once in the seventh inning. Edgardo Henriquez and Dreyer finished out that game with scoreless frames, followed by 10 games in a row through Saturday without the bullpen allowing another run.
I would argue that the Dodgers bullpen scoreless streak is even longer, at 38 innings, because of the May 15 win over the Angels in Anaheim. They used a bullpen game in that series opener, filling in for a scheduled Snell start, and Will Klein began that game with two scoreless innings, which technically counts as a start, but in my eyes he’s a reliever who just happened to pitch at the start of the contest.
The Dodgers are 8-2 in the last 10 games while their bullpen has been spotless. Here’s the breakdown of all the contributors to the 36 38-inning scoreless streak, including Klein’s “start” on May 15:
Reliever
G
IP
H
BB
SO
xERA
Henriquez
5
5 1/3
1
1
6
0.51
Hurt
5
5
4
3
4
3.43
Vesia
5
4 2/3
1
2
8
0.82
Scott
4
4 1/3
2
1
7
2.69
Klein*
3
4
1
0
4
2.55
Treinen
4
3 2/3
1
2
3
2.43
Barnes
2
2
1
1
1
3.85
Mills
2
2
0
3
1
4.37
Dreyer
2
2
1
1
4
0.49
Gervase
1
2
1
1
0
8.52
Hernández
2
2
0
0
1
1.51
McDermott
1
1
1
0
1
1.91
Totals
36
38
14
15
40
2.21
*includes Will Klein’s 2-inning “start” of bullpen game on May 15
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 23: Travis Kelce (R) of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts as Singer Taylor Swift (L) looks on during the fourth quarter in Game Three between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are whispers out there…
…they say it’s virtually the same to go 3-0 and clinch a Finals berth.
Sit tight and rest. Mad times are coming.
Mike Brown was asked if he feels like the Knicks' path through the playoffs so far has been a little bit on the easier side:
On getting back to Karl-Anthony Towns as the offensive hub in Game 3:
“KAT, he was our hub offensively: seven assists, zero turnovers. He was really good for us offensively and defensively with three steals, but his ability to fire back in the pick-and-roll situation was really good.”
On Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby imposing their will:
“I told (Bridges) and OG, because I don’t call a ton of play-calls, you guys got to find different ways to impose your will on the game. They’re both doing a phenomenal job of imposing their will on the game.”
On OG Anunoby’s performance:
“OG was fantastic. He had some timely buckets for us, play after play after play.”
On Mikal Bridges’ defensive feel:
“What makes him special on that end of the floor is that he’s a big long guard so he doesn’t have to always get all the way up in you to defend. He’s got a great feel, extremely smart. Mikal got to his spots all night. He hit big shot after big shot and on top of that, he had six rebounds and then trying to defend James, a Hall of Famer, without fouling him. Just a really good ballgame from Mikal.”
On what changed with Mikal Bridges:
“Just his aggression. But I also have to help him by putting him in position to be able to make plays, to make plays for himself, make plays for his teammates, but he just started to impose his will on the game a little bit more while I also tried to make sure I called his number every once in a while, make sure he stays in the flow, because he has a tough assignment every day defensively. He gets out and runs, he slips pick-and-rolls and re-spaces. And so I have to make sure that I continue to involve him offensively to let him know that, hey, we know you can do this for us, so go do it.”
On Landry Shamet’s impact in Game 3:
“Landry was huge. And then on the other end of the floor, he’s gotta match up with a guy like Donovan Mitchell, who is a tough cover for anybody. You’re not gonna stop him but you gotta work your tail off. Landry’s trying to work.”
On the team staying locked in amid the season-long adjustments he brought to New York:
“You know what? They’ve been fantastic trying to pay attention to all the details that we’ve been throwing at them. And we’ve thrown a lot of adjustments offensively and defensively at them throughout the course of these playoffs. And to still see them locked in and try to be focused on the details at hand, again, that just speaks volumes of my coaching staff and the way that they’re presenting and changing and all that stuff. But more so about these players and their want to go try to get a ring.”
On whether or not the Knicks have had an easy path through the Eastern Conference bracket:
“No. Not at all. This is hard. We’re playing good teams.”
On the value of having a deep bench during the season:
“They both always used to say, ‘it’s not about now, it’s about the postseason.’”
On Dolan and Rose deserving their flowers:
“Mr. Dolan and Leon Rose, they’re just as big a part of this thing as I am or Jalen is or anybody else is, for sure.”
Jalen Brunson was asked if he wants to ask the NYPD to re-consider their decision to cancel the watch party outside Madison Square Garden:
“You don’t look ahead. You deal with what’s in front of you.”
On Knicks fans invading Cleveland:
“Knicks fans travel. They’re going to be heard no matter what building we’re in.”
On staying focused despite fan excitement:
“I mean, they’re probably excited. Rightfully so, but we have a job to do and we have things that we need to focus on. That’s on them being them, but we have to be locked in to do what we do.”
On the team chemistry during the playoff run:
“We genuinely like playing together. We created a chemistry that’s been great. It’s been a lot of fun.”
On OG Anunoby’s Game 3 performance:
“OG’s playing great. Most importantly, he’s locked-in and he’s doing the things that we know that he’s capable of.”
On the Knicks’ work ethic:
“We have a bunch of individuals in that locker room who work really hard, and they’re very psychotic about their work and the things they do, and that they’re ready physically and mentally.”
On Landry Shamet’s role within the Knicks:
“Big time…True professional…Whatever is asked of him, he shows up, and he does it.”
On the Knicks’ ability to adjust to different game plans:
“I think it’s an advantage for us, learning how to play differently. There are going to be times where one game plan is going to be different than the next. Being able to learn on the fly and adjust on the fly is something that we need to continue to get better at, but I think we’ve been doing a great job with it.”
On the canceled watch party outside MSG:
“That’s a tough one… I’ll come back to you on that one.”
Josh Hart is asked if the Knicks winning 10 straight playoff games feels surreal:
"Nah. We don't think about it that way. We're 1-0 today. Monday, we're 0-0. We're far from our goal." pic.twitter.com/JxOdVifrjE
“We just came out with energy. We knew we had to with it being their first home game with their backs against the wall, their fans were going to be making noise and cheering and supporting them from the start. So we came out aggressive and set the tone, and we just continued to play with that pace throughout the night.”
On Landry Shamet’s Game 3 performance:
“Big shots, amazing defense… he’s a heck of a player.”
On maintaining the right mindset heading into Game 4 with a 3-0 lead:
“We set a tone from the jump. And we never let up. We knew we needed to. We went 1-0 today. Monday, it’ll be 0-0 all over again.”
On expectations around Mikal Bridges:
“The expectations don’t matter. That’s for y’all to talk about. That’s something that, I mean, nothing he can do about it. He didn’t call Leon [Rose] and say, ‘Yo, this is the trade package,’ you know what I mean? He got put into this situation and he hit the ground running. We wouldn’t be here without him. Last year, you can look — how many games has he won for us in terms of getting stops down the stretch, steals, blocks, big shots. He’s won games in every single way for us, and that’s why we want him, that’s why he’s here. The expectations and all that is just background noise.”
On Bridges’ winning mindset:
“He’s all about winning. Everything else doesn’t matter for him. I think that’s why he’s playing well right now. Because he’s not focused on shots, touches, those kinds of things. He’s focused on how can I help this team win? I’m not surprised. Because that’s the player he is. I’ve seen him since he was 17. That’s the kind of person that he is.”
"He's getting the best from us as well as, I think we are getting the best from him."
Karl-Anthony Towns talks about the job Mike Brown has done with the Knicks this season: pic.twitter.com/yKrwp0otO3
“We won all these games in a row as a team. We’ve had this winning streak as a team. We’ve found these ways to get these great wins, even down 22 in Game 1, we came back as a team. As long as we stay together, we stay unified, we feel, we always have felt, the sky is the limit for us.”
On maintaining desperation despite a 3-0 lead:
“It’s the mindset on this team that the next game, we are 0-0. We have to come out with the same desperation as Game 1. Come with that energy and intensity and passion. And on top of that, lean on each other. That’s what got us here. We won all these games in a row as a team. We’ve had this winning streak as a team. We found ways to get these great wins as a team. Down [22] in the first game, we came back as a team. As long as we stay together and stay unified, we feel — we always have felt — the sky’s the limit for us.”
On keeping a 0-0 mentality in the series:
“You have to keep your mind on the task at hand. The game is over and we found a way to win, but you have to have the same desperation like it’s a 0-0 series, just Game 1.”
On adjusting within Game 3:
“We do a great job of adjusting as the game goes along. I have to always be able to adapt to what the game needs from me to win the game. In the first half, it needed me to be a scorer, very aggressive, get to the basket, shoot the ball well and get points. Second half, they adjusted and we adjusted and I had to adjust. The adjustment was more being the hub, making the right passes, getting my teammates involved. … I continue to just feel out the game. The game will tell me what to do.”
On adjusting to Mike Brown this season:
“He’s had to learn us and had to adjust to us and then, on the flip side, we’ve had to do the same as well. I think now we’re at a point where we’re both working seamlessly. We understand each other’s language. And he’s getting the best from us as well as I think we are getting the best from him. And that speaks to a season. Especially a first season with a new coach and a new system and a new philosophy. …Obviously, the players are doing an amazing job. Coming together, showing the unity that was made special last year, with the coaching staff being receptive to the players. Adjusting to us and finding ways to get the most out of us.”
On the team’s offensive flexibility:
“That’s the blessing of our group. We have multiple ways and systems that we can utilize to help us get the win. I’ve been happy because we’ve continued to win.”
On sacrificing to impact winning:
“I’ve always said I’m willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes to impact winning and help this team win. That’s the blessing of our group. We have multiple ways and systems that we can utilize to help us get the win. I’ve been happy because we’ve continued to win. There’s nothing to be sad about.”
On confidence in Mikal Bridges:
“We never worried about Mikal. We know what he can do. There was never a worry in our locker room about Mikal or anything like that. We know when we need Mikal, he’ll show up just like he did last year in Boston for two big steals. He does a lot of things that don’t end up on the stat sheet that he doesn’t get credit for. Right now, the stat sheet is giving him credit for it, but we always know the impact that he has on our team.”
On OG Anunoby’s All-Defense recognition:
“He’s one of the best defenders in the world and he got robbed of (first-team All Defense)!”
"Just come out with desperation like it's still 0-0"
OG Anunoby talks about the Knicks' mindset going into Game 4 with a 3-0 series lead: pic.twitter.com/b9DKosYZT8
“Just come out with desperation like it’s still 0-0”
On his health improving throughout the series:
“Each day I started feeling better and better. We have a great medical staff. Getting stronger each day. Great team, great coaches. It’s been very collaborative.”
"I just think taking possession by possession and having that 0-0 mentality and playing desperate. I think that's kind of what we brought from Villanova."
Mikal Bridges was asked if there's any similarities between what the Knicks are doing now and what Villanova did: pic.twitter.com/FLgkh314Bj
“Just a team. Team defense. Team effort. Our scouting, our coaches, and everybody being on a string. I think it’s just a habit of guarding him for eight-plus years now. So just learning and grow each time you guard him. So just learning … It’s a lot of reps. A lot of time. And I’m grateful he was in the West when I was in the West, so I got to line up against him a lot of times.”
On pushing through early playoff struggles:
“It was tough because you want to be great at whatever you want to do. A lot of toughness comes from the mental part. I think I’ve been raised the right way, been coached by a lot of the great coaches who talk a lot about mental toughness. And sometimes you got to thrive in it even if you’re struggling. The more you thrive, the better it’s going to be for you.”
On bringing a Villanova mentality to the Knicks:
“I just think taking possession by possession and having that 0-0 mentality and playing desperate. I think that’s kind of what we brought from Villanova.”
On his teammates keeping him confident:
“I’m so close with a lot of guys on this team. Just them just being there and knowing that I want to play better and especially to help the team win. They want that too.”
Miles McBride
On adapting within a playoff series:
“I think you have to just take it game by game. [Teams] are going to make adjustments, and you have to have to stay solid to who you are as a team and a foundation. But when your opponent makes an adjustment, you have to adjust and adapt and figure it out. So I feel like that’s why we get paid what we get paid. So we have to adapt in the moment.”
"We won tonight and we got one more tomorrow to put a team away. We know they're going to give us their best punch. This is the hardest game of the year."
“The ball goes in, I’m thinking about guarding an All-Star on the other end, my assignment defensively, or what we’re doing defensively.”
On the challenge of closing out the Cavs in Game 4:
“We won tonight, and we got one more tomorrow to put a team away. We know they’re going to give us their best punch. This is the hardest game of the year. Sending a team home is the hardest thing to do, especially at this point – there’s no time to sit and celebrate, it’s onto the next one, and how do we go get a win?”
On Mikal Bridges’ versatility:
“In a way, it’s a blessing (that he’s played in different teams with different roles). You’ve been asked to do so many different things in your career. Some nights, Mikal only gets five shots up, but he’s got to guard the best player, run around and keep him under 13 points or something. Each night is something different.”
On the Knicks’ locker room vibes:
“That’s our group, 1 through 15, everybody wants to see each other do well, genuinely. It’s not some locker room banter bullshit, it’s very real with this group. We cheer each other on. It’s a beautiful thing. And that’s what we have.”
Ahead of Game 3 tonight, Knicks’ C Mitchell Robinson (@23savage____) put this message out.
“I’m deleting all apps for a little while until I can get back to myself. I had a very upsetting experience a few days ago. I’m not gonna go into detail about it, just gonna focus on the playoffs and myself. I know some of you have called and texted and it popped up green. That’s because I got a new [phone] number. My mental health is not the best right now but I am fighting to get back on track while playing on the biggest stage in the world in the Eastern Conference finals.”
Kenny Atkinson is asked where the Cavs are at mentally after going down 3-0:
"After Game 2, we were in a good place. This is a tough one. No one is hanging their heads…you never know what can happen." pic.twitter.com/JYGpVXCAn7
“After Game 2, we were in a good place. This is a tough one. No one is hanging their heads…you never know what can happen.”
On possible rotation changes for Game 4:
“Do we extend our rotation? That’s something we could do. Gotta look at it…”
On the Knicks’ being rested while the Cavs are not:
“Listen, there’s no big mystery. Our guys have played 50 percent more minutes than them. If I’m the opposing coach, I’m like, ‘Man, get these guys, run these guys, wear them out, be super physical.’ It’s a good strategy. But we were not sharp in transition. We weren’t sprinting back like we should tonight.”
On leading the Knicks in “expected” shooting:
“I think we won the expected (shooting percentage) all three games. But, you know, there is expected and there’s real.”
On the Knicks’ physicality in Game 3:
“Their physicality was much higher than ours…credit to them. They were into the ball, very handsy, the whole grab-and-hold thing, which is part of it… We struggled to play through that physicality tonight.”
On the Knicks’ momentum in the series:
“They’re playing great basketball. We haven’t been able to stop their momentum. We had one chance in that first game to stop it, but we haven’t been able to halt their momentum.”
On being outplayed in Game 3:
“They were the much better team. They’re on a hell of a run.”
James Harden Postgame After Game 3 Loss vs Knicks:
“[0:00] We could never really get a grip on the game…more times than not they [Knicks] just played a little bit faster & made some shots—[0:20, Little Rest] No excuses but in reality, definitely. You can see it. A lot of open… pic.twitter.com/rUk3rtLvZN
“We’re still confident. Our confidence is never going away. We’re more than capable… Make some shots, and the series turns around.”
On the Knicks dictating pace through the series:
“They played a little bit faster. We never could really get a grip on the game. We had times where we played well both ends of the ball, but just more times than not, they just played a little bit faster, and they made some shots.”
On the balance between offense and defense:
“When you’re not making shots, you put more pressure on your defense. So you’re going to be on defense much more. Then you got to take the basketball out of the rim… Basketball is obviously both sides of the ball. But if we can make some shots, it gives our defense a chance to get back in and set up half-court. So, it’s a balance of both of those things, but they’re a great offensive team. They got a stretch big and they obviously [got Jalen] Brunson handling the ball, so they’re a difficult matchup, but it just makes it more difficult when you’re not making shots. Then you got to keep relying on your defense, which they are good team, so they’re going to score.”
"Get the next one, that's all we can do – backs against the wall"
Evan Mobley after the Cavs go down 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Knicks: pic.twitter.com/9JFnKKz3AP
“Get the next one, that’s all we can do—backs against the wall.”
On fatigue in the Eastern Conference Finals:
“There’s definitely a toll there, but we’re in the Eastern Conference Finals, so there’s no excuses right now. There’s no excuse there.”
Donovan Mitchell on hearing "Let's Go Knicks" chants in Cleveland:
"I'm from New York, this doesn't shock me. They do it in every arena. That's how Knicks fans are. I was one back in the day." pic.twitter.com/7UJxC6uVj7
“Let’s start with making some shots, getting some stops, and making some free throws.”
On fatigue being self-inflicted:
“We did it to ourselves.”
On not feeling overmatched by the Knicks:
“I don’t feel like we are overmatched. I hate to harp on it, but we were up 22 (in the fourth quarter of Game 1). So it’s on us. It’s on everyone in that locker room. We know that, we feel that, and we have an opportunity to get Game 4 and go from there.”
On the Game 1 loss impacting the whole outcome of the series:
“Don’t lose Game 1 after being up 22. Changes the entire dynamic of the series. We’re not sitting there and reflecting on that (yet). But if I were to say one thing, it would be that. But hey, it happened, and now we have to find a way to get back from 3-0.”
On hearing Knicks chants in Cleveland:
“I mean, I’m from New York. This doesn’t shock me. They do it in every arena. It’s like Cowboys fans, just who they are. I don’t think it’s a Cleveland thing. Wasn’t just us. You look at Philly… It’s what Knicks fans are. I was one back in the day. So, that had nothing to do with what we got going. Cleveland’s best fans in the world. I stand on that. So, that doesn’t affect that. That doesn’t label who Cleveland is. I have nothing but love for the fans in Cleveland, and we didn’t get it done for our home crowd tonight. And we didn’t get it done, which enables the Knick fans to go off like they did. If we get it done, then they’re silent, right? So, we didn’t do our part. When we ran out, they were loud, and Cleveland fans were behind us, but we didn’t do our part, and that’s the result.”
Jarrett Allen Postgame After Game 3 Loss vs Knicks:
“[0:00] I think they [Knicks] just hit first in the first quarter. They made the first impact in the game then had the energy & effort from there—[0:10, Fatigue & A Lot of Games] It’s been wearing on us for awhile but like you… pic.twitter.com/gvhoLMxSMw
“We just have to realize that they’re gonna come—they’re gonna come deep.”
On the Cavs’ defense suffering when shots don’t fall:
“When you don’t hit shots, your defense suffers. That’s just how a player’s mentality is. We can’t let that happen, though. We have to understand that we’re going to hit shots, eventually.”
The NYPD has canceled watch parties outside Madison Square Garden due to 'rowdiness' from Knicks fans, per the New York Post.
As many as 6,000 fans have congregated around the parties, with six arrests being made during Game 2. pic.twitter.com/TDKuuBrFVD
“We have seen progressively more problematic issues at the watch parties outside MSG — there were six arrests [Thursday] night alone. The NYPD will not support more watch parties outside the stadium, but we will continue to review requests to support parties at alternate sites like Summer Stage.”
On crowd behavior and safety concerns:
“The crowds are very rough, with people jumping police barriers and throwing things into the crowd, including glass bottles. The crowds blocked vehicle traffic on 34th and 33rd Streets and 7th Avenue. Additionally, people climbed on top of subway entrances and there was drinking in the street. This is not about having enough of the unruly fans — this is about keeping people safe.”
Nah man they made a commercial for the ‘Unethical Hoops’ operation board game 🤣
While Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen was a big part of the reason why Rob Brind’Amour’s men swept their first two series, he has been having difficulties against the Montreal Canadiens in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Final.
On Saturday night, the Canadiens had only 12 shots on goal through 60 minutes, yet they managed to beat Andersen twice to force overtime. Before the start of round three, the netminder had a .950 save percentage in the Cane’s eight wins. In two games against the Canadiens, however, he has struggled. In Game 1, he gave up five goals on 21 shots for a .762 SV. In Game 2, he surrendered two goals on just 12 shots for a .833 SV.
Clearly, he’s not doing as well as he was in the first two rounds, and the Canadiens have to capitalize on that. It won’t be easy to do if the Habs don’t shoot more often. Martin St-Louis’ men tend to go for quality over quantity when it comes to shots, but they may want to reconsider in this series.
The more shots they put on net, the better their odds of beating Andersen, who’s clearly doubting himself. On at least three occasions on Saturday night, the Canes’ netminder checked behind himself after making a save, clearly wondering if the puck got past him.
Granted, taking a lot of shots against Carolina is easier said than done, but that’s an adjustment Martin St-Louis and his coaching staff have got to make in this series. Making the most of Andersen’s shaky play will be key if the Canadiens are to get through to the Stanley Cup Final.
Despite Andersen having two difficult games to start the series, it would be surprising to see Rod Brind’Amour go with his backup for Game 3, but if the trend continues, he may just do so, and the Canadiens have to strike fast.
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - APRIL 18, 2026: Zach Messinger #29 of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders pitches during the third inning of the first game of a doubleheader against the Syracuse Mets at NBT Bank Stadium on April 18, 2026 in Syracuse, NY. (Photo by Leah King/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
It was a rough start to the season for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders relief pitcher Zach Messinger. In five appearances in April covering 12.1 innings, the 26-year-old right-hander allowed 13 runs (11 earned) on 15 hits with nine walks and 11 strikeouts. His earned-run average was 7.07.
Since then, Messinger has turned things around. In his last six appearances dating back to April 28th, he has not allowed a run and just one hit in 13 innings with five walks and 11 strikeouts. He has lowered his ERA to 3.67.
“As the year goes on, there’s ups and there’s downs. I just hit a lower point early on,” Messinger said. “I’ve put in a lot of work with our analysts and our pitching coaches on things we can tighten up. I think we’ve done a really good job of that. It’s also me staying within myself, understanding it’s only April, it’s only May. Nothing really too crazy to push the issue on. Just the ebbs and flows of the season. But it’s been good to put a few good ones together.”
During the rough stretch, there wasn’t anything physically wrong with Messinger. Nothing wrong mechanically, his velocity was good. Some of it was bad luck. Most of it, Messinger feels, was a difference in game-planning and focus points.
“Typically in my career, that’s something I’ve leaned pretty heavy on,” he said. “I feel like I’m a pretty cerebral guy and I enjoy the game-planning aspect of going through a lineup and how you’re going to attack them. I got a little bit away from myself from doing that. So getting back to who I was and trusting my stuff. I’ve worked really hard to get where I’m at, worked really hard to get my stuff where it’s at. It was a little bit of seeing is believing. Now it’s starting to come together.”
The turning point came April 23rd in a home game at PNC Field against Rochester. Messinger came on in the top of the ninth inning with the RailRiders leading, 4-2, and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks, enabling the Red Wings to take a 5-4 lead. The RailRiders tied it in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Messinger pitched three-up, three-down innings in the 10th and 11th with two strikeouts and the RailRiders won it in the bottom of the 11th on a RBI single by Jasson Domínguez.
“Putting together two really good innings and ending up winning that game,” said Messinger, who is 3-0 with one save this season. “That’s just good mentally, confidence-wise, too, to be able to have that one in the back pocket. So leaning on that and kind of doing a deep dive into some usage stuff – fastballs less, sliders more – looking back on what’s given me success over the course of my career as a starter or a reliever.”
Selected by the Yankees out of the University of Virginia in the 13th round of the 2021 MLB Draft (393rd overall), Messinger has worked his way up through the organization, primarily as a starter.
He began last season in Triple-A with the RailRiders and his first seven appearances were starts. Then, in mid-May, he transitioned to a reliever and worked out of the bullpen. On August 28th, he was sent down to Double-A Somerset and finished the season there. In 33 combined games (28 RailRiders, 5 Somerset), he was 4-4 with three saves, one hold, a 5.55 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 73 innings.
Messinger doesn’t have a preference as a starter or a reliever. He believes he is capable in whatever role he is needed.
“Last year I did some starting at the beginning of the year, then had some ninth-inning appearances,” he said. “So far I’ve done a decent amount of long relief, but I’ve also had some later, high-leverage innings in the eighth and ninth this year.
“I think the best thing I can give the Yankees is me showing I’m adaptable. If you need 45 pitches out of me, I’m going to be there. If you need me to come in late innings and kind of put out a fire with guys on base, I’m adaptable. I’ll be ready in any situation.”
One of Messinger’s best friends in the organization is RailRiders teammate Brendan Beck. The two were drafted together in the same year. They are roommates on the road, so he had a front-row view for when Beck was called up to the Yankees on May 7th to make his Major League debut.
“I was right there watching everything that was going on in the Yankees game and there with him when he had to jump in the car and rush to the Bronx,” Messinger said. “Knowing that guy’s journey, there’s nothing you can take away from that guy that he hasn’t earned. Going through surgeries and setbacks, he’s an absolute grinder. It was so cool to see, he’s really earned it. They don’t hand out big-league debuts just for guys because it’s a cool story, coming back from injuries. You’ve got to go out there and put up the success on the field and he’s been able to do that at every level he’s been at. He’s been able to do it since college. He just needed the opportunity and let his body hold up a little bit. It’s been really awesome to see him do that these last couple weeks.”
If and when Messinger gets that phone call, he said he will be ready.
“I’ve put in a lot of work, especially the past few offseasons, to build my repertoire and my mentality for the game, especially as a reliever,” he said. “I think I’ve put myself in a good position to where if the team upstairs needs me, I’ll be ready. That’s kind of the whole goal, right? I stuck my toe in the water last year and got the taste of Triple-A as a starter and a reliever. I know how to get through a lineup and I’ve seen guys go up to the big leagues and succeed. I’ve talked to them and I feel like I’m good mentally and physically to where if the opportunity comes and the Yankees need me, I’ll be there.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 20: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives around Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter in Game Two of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 20, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fraternizing with the Enemy, my series-long conversation with Cray Allred of the Daily Thunder, continues with the Spurs down 1-2 heading into a Sunday night matchup with a ton on the line.
J.R.
After running out to a 15 point lead, the Spurs were outscored by 30 points in about 45 minutes. After the game there were a multitude of ideas tumbling through my head, and when I woke up I found that the tangle of thoughts had been kindly organized into several discrete easily numerated actions. So I decided to make a list.
J.R. Wilco’s Realistic Dos and Don’ts
Do
Prioritize Fox/Harper/Castle in PNRs with Wemby
Feed Wemby when he’s close to the hole
Stay on the ground on SGA fakes
Get the ball to Wemby on the move
Don’t
Leave guys alone on the three point line (unless you are Wemby, and it better not be Caruso)
Turn the ball over so much
Just stand around at the three point line
Forget what got you here
I call this list realistic because I’ve only chosen things that the team has already demonstrated that it can do against the Thunder. What do you think of the list and what is your reaction to Game 3?
Cray
That’s a pretty good list. I’m riding pretty high after that win, but I know that there are several of those correctable items that San Antonio coukd very well fix. After Game 2, I was prepared for an energy and momentum swing to boost the Spurs at home. It clearly did for those first five minutes, but I couldn’t believe it evaporated before the second quarter was finished.
I would guess a mixture of exhaustion, inexperience, and personnel are to blame for the Spurs falling apart after that 15-0 burst. Fox and Harper could get healthier. San Antonio can get Wemby moving to his most effective. And the home crowd+postseason desperation could put the wind back in their sails.
What I am less sure of: whether more disciplined defense on Shai will actually slow him down. As he did in the first two rounds, he’s mastering the most aggressive and attentive defensive looks as the series goes on. San Antonio might lay off more and foul less, but that doesn’t mean he won’t punish them with more buckets. Give SGA an inch and he’ll take a mile, whether that’s room for his jumper, illegal limbs in his airspace, or freedom for his teammates.
Do you think the rest of the series will be dictated more by the bench play, or more by Shai and Wemby?
J.R.
Sounds like you’re saying, “Exhaustion, inexperience and personnel issues: ladies and gentlemen, it’s your 2025-2026 San Antonio Spurs!” and I’m not even all that sure I can disagree — assuming that those personnel issues are referring to injuries. Amazing what taking on the defending champs can do to a team, isn’t it?
And I’m sure you are riding high, I know I was during that 15-0 run. Isn’t it something how when a run extends like that it’s hard to imagine your team ever missing again, or the opponent ever making. And vice versa. It’s the same between games too. Right now, even a single win seems improbable, but that’s considering that only what has happened will happen. Since we don’t know what’s being cooked up, we’re left with supposition which leaves things murky. One thing is clear though, there’s no denying that adjustments are required.
As to your question, there are two options. Either San Antonio finds a way to make Wemby’s minutes so productive that they can weather any run OKC makes when he rests (see above list), or the bench finds a way to hang with the Thunder in the non-Vic minutes. The odds may be stacked against both of those, but I’d say the first is the most likely.
What we’ve seen all year is Wembanyama experiencing obstacles before shifting tactics or adjusting mindset or coordinating with teammates, and then going on an epic run that rewrites history books and looks inevitable in hindsight. It’s happened in the micro (during the second half of games to come back from huge deficits) and in the macro (during the post-All Star Break when the team went 37-3 when Wemby played).
Here’s my question: how much of OKC’s bench play do you think is sustainable through an entire series?
Cray
You teed up my favorite wonky Thunder question, which has been my hobby horse (or dead horse, maybe) all year: whether the role players can hold up throughout the most crucial postseason stretches. OKC has really underperformed on offense in both their 2024 & 2025 runs, particularly from behind the arc. Until now, they’ve been very good in the regular season, and very human during the playoffs–succeding despite shooting variability rather than because of it. This season has been their least reliant on three-point shooting as a contender, and I’ve wondered if they were leaning into the two-pointer by design or necessity this time around.
My working theory: Shai’s midrange brilliance, and their stated premium placed on absolute shot quality over the three-pointer as the best option, has moved their floor and ceiling higher on offense. In past playoffs, the opposing defense could funnel more and more shots to Lu Dort and Josh Giddey. With the development of Jaylin Williams and the addition of Jared McCain, the Prince of OKC’s Disney Process, the range of players capable of getting hot when the ball is forced out of Shai’s hands has expanded significantly. So far, at least. I know that the Thunder role players will maintain elite effort and defense. For the first time in forever, I believe they will maintain their shooting.
I can feel the Spurs fans getting bored, so I’ll move on. Now that we know Ajay Mitchell (out) and Jalen Williams (questionable, but very doubtful in my opinion) won’t be around for at least another game, OKC’s bench and starters are blending together. The reserves won’t be scoring 70+ points again, but they’ll at least keep the scoring advantage against the struggling Kornet and Keldon club.
And to rejoin your other point: Wemby’s capacity to rewrite NBA history and basketball physics is the true x factor from here on out in my view. If I were you, I would love seeing Wemby and Mitch Johnson dismissing free throw & fouling gripes after these losses to focus instead on what they can do better to get back to winning. NBC showed Wemby warming up with trainers pulling and grabbing him in the post–that’s the right stuff.
If I thought Fox and Harper were really right, I’d pick SAS to easily even it up in Game 4. With the short rest and big minutes still necessary for the shortened Spurs rotation, I’m bracing for another game going down to the wire. I gotta stick with my pre-series pick of Thunder in 5 as long as it has legs, but I’m prepared to be wrong.
What’s your pick? And has it changed from what you thought before the series?
J.R.
As soon as you ask me for my prediction, I immediately think back to the 2012 Spurs versus Thunder Western Conference Finals when I traveled to Oklahoma City to stay with my sister’s family and cover the games. I was but a naïve editor-in-chief then, (only having taken over PtR in 2012) and had no idea of the heartbreak that was in store for me. San Antonio had won the first two games at home and there was no hint whatsoever of what was about to befall the Spurs.
They were dominated. For four straight games Oklahoma City showed that they were the superior team. They were more physical and they scored more easily than San Antonio. After being up 2-0, there was rarely a moment in the next four games where I felt comfortable that the Spurs had been able to figure out the new status quo of the series.
I spent those four games trusting that Popovich would “figure it out.” After the series and over the next summer I realized that you can’t figure out a way to play differently than you have all season. There are wrinkles you can put in place and adjustments that can be made but playing style is something you prepare through the course of the season, and can’t be changed on the fly.
These are the thoughts that I was thinking before the series when I realized that I simply couldn’t imagine San Antonio playing differently than they had when they won three games against a mostly-healthy Thunder team. But now that it’s obvious that the status quo of the series is not the same as it was in December, my prediction is entirely based on Game 4.
Usually, it is the odd-numbered games that define a playoff series in the NBA, but I’m gonna know everything I need to know about the rest of the series in the first 12 minutes of Sunday night‘s game. If the Spurs have a different way to: a) handle the physicality, b) contain SGA without allowing role players to go off, and c) consistently create offense, then I believe the series can go to seven games and be up for grabs.
But if OKC has a sizable lead going into the second quarter, then I would expect the series to be over in five or six games. Forcing San Antonio to take the next step of their development over the off-season and the next couple years, just as the 2012 San Antonio Spurs had to.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 13: Mitch Keller #23 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning during the game against the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park on May 13, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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This photo taken on Sept. 21, 2025 shows an elephant with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background at Amboseli National Park in Kajiado County, Kenya. Located at the border between Kenya and Tanzania and at the foot of Africa's highest peak Mount Kilimanjaro, the park is known for its unique scenery and is one of the best places in Kenya to see various wild animals. (Photo by Li Yahui/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Hickory was rained out.
Hub City played a pair.
In Game One, Ismael Agreda allowed seven runs in four innings, walking 4 and striking out 7. Case Matter made his 2026 full season debut, throwing a scoreless inning.
Rafe Perich homered. Maxton Martin, Paxton Kling and Gleider Figuereo each singled.
In Game Two, Kling and Perich each had a hit and a walk. Chandler Pollard had a hit.
Frisco starter Leandro Lopez struck out seven in 4.2 IP, but allowed four runs on 10 hits and a walk, including a home run. Josh Sborz walked two in a scoreless inning.
Dylan Dreiling had a hit. Arturo Disla was 3 for 5. Cody Freeman had a hit.
For Round Rock, Robbie Ahlstrom threw 1.1 scoreless innings, striking out one. Michel Otanez struck out three in two scoreless innings. Gavin Collyer struck out two and walked one in a scoreless inning. Emiliano Teodo threw a scoreless inning.
Izack Tiger, making his way back from Tommy John surgery, threw a scoreless inning for the ACL Rangers, striking out one and walking one. Josh Owens walked two and struck out two in 0.2 IP.
Jay McQueen was 3 for 4 with a walk and a homer. Rashawn Pinder had a pair of homers.
Target: John Klingberg - Defense - 34 Years Old - 12 Years of Experience
Klingberg was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 5th round of the 2010 NHL Draft. After his time in Dallas, he signed with Anaheim in 2022. Since then, he's been with a different club every season. He went from the Ducks to the Wild in a trade on March 3, 2023. He then signed in Toronto in 2023, Edmonton in 2024, and then last season with San Jose.
In a recent article for The Athletic, Aaron Portzline argued that the Blue Jackets should try to bring in Alex Tuch if he hits the free-agent market this summer and if they end up losing Mason Marchment or Boone Jenner.
This year's free agent class has some interesting potential options for the Blue Jackets to consider. One specific pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) who stands out as an interesting potential target for the Blue Jackets is San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro.
Much like Coyle, he could probably get a few more bucks and term in Columbus, should he want to stay. But does he want to stay? He seemed to thrive in Columbus after having a not-so-good time in Seattle. At media day after the season, though, Marchment sounded noncommittal and said he would let his agent and Waddell get something done if something came up.
Target: Teddy Blueger - Center - 31 Years Old - 8 Years of Experience
Teddy Blueger was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2nd round of the 2012 NHL Draft. After spending five years in Pittsburgh, he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on March 1, 2023, to help them with their Stanley Cup run. That summer, he signed with Vancouver, where he scored 23 goals in three seasons.
The Athletic's Aaron Portzline reported today, and THN Columbus confirmed, that Cleveland Monsters goalie Ivan Fedotov has left Cleveland and has returned to his home country of Russia.
The reason for his return is due to an undisclosed injury. He is currently not listed on the roster.
Hockey 24/7's Frank Seravalli released his latest trade board for the 2026 NHL off-season. Two Columbus Blue Jackets were featured on it, as forward Kent Johnson and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins made the cut.
Target: Bobby McMann - Center - 30 Years Old - 4 Years of Experience
Bobby McCann went undrafted and made his NHL debut during the 2023-24 season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. McMann played four years at Colgate University before signing as a free agent with Toronto on April 29, 2022. He was traded to the Seattle Kraken on March 6, 2026.
2025-26 Stats With Muskegon Lumberjacks and Boston University: He had 17 points in 13 games with Muskegon, and 7 points in 18 games as a freshman at BU.
THN Ranking: 8th - Kennedy, 4th - Ferrari
NHL Central Scouting: Ranked 7th among North American Skaters
2025-26 Stats With Tappara: He had 3 points in 29 games. For U20 Tappara, he had 13 points in 15 games.
THN Ranking: 24th - Kennedy, 25th - Ferrari
NHL Central Scouting: Ranked 6th among International Skaters.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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A record third quarter at Engie Stadium was akin to a flawless training session for the Giants while the signs are there that all is not well at the Lions
Few AFL coaches go the full Krakatoa quite like Adam Kingsley. The Giants uploaded footage of him going off his rocker at the main break of the Sydney derby last year, a game where they’d been largely uncompetitive in the opening half. Sunday’s first half against Brisbane didn’t warrant that kind of outburst. They’d been playing well against the reigning premiers, a team that always seems to bring out the best in them. But they need a follow up documentary on what was said at half-time, or what changed. They unleashed the kind of artillery barrage we rarely see in the modern game, and the kind we never see against the team that has won the past two premierships.
Their semi-final clash in 2024 was one of the more remarkable games of the modern era. This one didn’t have any of the wild swings, just half an hour of one-way, downhill, all-out attack, like one of those country footy games where a bunch of former AFL players feast on a team of 45-year-old farmers. With very little resistance, they strolled into goal in the first 20 seconds. They then unleashed the kind of football we saw from the Giants in 2016 and 2017 – long, sweeping waves emanating from half back. It resembled a flawless training session.
On this day 44 years ago, LaMarr Hoyt improved his record to 9-0, his Comiskey Park winning streak to 16 games and his overall winning streak to 14. | (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
1917 Reb Russell threw a 12-inning shutout against the Senators, giving up 11 hits, striking out six, and walking none. Russell was helped by Ray Schalk gunning down all four of Washington’s attempts to steal second base.
Oh, and at the plate, Russell also went 2-for-4 with a triple.
1929 In one of the greatest pitching performances in baseball history, White Sox starter Ted Lyons threw all 21 innings of a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to the Tigers. He allowed 24 hits in the game and faced an astounding 85 hitters. His opponent that day, George Uhle, pitched 20 innings and faced 79 batters himself.
The 85 batters faced is the most-ever in White Sox history, and ranks sixth all-time in baseball history; the 21 innings pitched is the most in White Sox history, and is tied for seventh all-time.
The 21-inning game is tied for the third-longest in White Sox history.
1939 The first night game in White Sox history came in Philadelphia, and ended in a 4-1 Chicago win. The Athletics held a 1-0 lead until the top of the eighth, when the White Sox ruined the hopes of 18,721 A’s fans by rallying for three runs on five singles and a ground out. Eddie Smith went the distance in his first nighttime assignment.
1946 White Sox manager Jimmy Dykes was fired, replaced by … Ted Lyons. Dykes is atop the White Sox leaderboard in several manager categories:
Longest tenure: 12 years, 13 days
Most games: 1,839
Most wins: 899
Most losses: 940
Most managerial WAR: 34.4
Most managerial WAR per season: 3.0
With Lyons moving to manager, White Sox pitching legend Red Faber joined the team as a coach.
Dykes also was involved in a footnote that could have changed White Sox and baseball history.
In March 1938, the White Sox played a benefit exhibition against the Pasadena Sox, a group of young players from that California city. Holding forth on the local team was a 19-year-old Black youth who made several brilliant plays. Acknowledging the color line in place in the major leagues at the time, Dykes said, “Geez, if that kid was white, I’d sign him right now.”
In March 1942, Dykesallowed the phenom and another black baseball player, Nate Moreland, to try out for the White Sox. He sent them away without an offer. Perhaps he allowed the tryouts only to deflect integration criticism, since no major league team had yet expressed any positive attitude toward integration. In any event, nothing came of it. How history might have changed if he had been able to offer a contract to that phenom … a lad named Jackie Robinson!
(The White Sox also nearly had a third crack at Robinson, as Frank Lane had arranged a trade for the Dodgers star in the mid-1950. The Cincinnati Reds made a waiver claim, nixing the deal.)
1961 For the first time since the 1950 season, the White Sox dropped into last place in the American League (although just briefly), after they lost a doubleheader in Baltimore, 5-3 and 6-4. The plight of the Sox actually caused some Chicago aldermen in a city council session to publicly ask what was going on.
The Sox rebounded, though, to end the year in fourth place, with 86 wins.
1967 White Sox first baseman Tommy McCraw had his career day. In a game at Minnesota, McCraw slammed three home runs (all off of future White Sox pitcher Jim Kaat) and knocked in eight as the Sox pounded the Twins, 14-1. On the day he went 3-for-6, with three runs. The eight RBIs tied a franchise record.
1981 With a 10-2 win at California, the White Sox completed a three-game sweep compiling 45 hits and 34 runs (in victories of 9-5, 15-4, 10-2). The big blow came in the second inning, when Ron LeFlore hit a Little League grand slam by singling in three runs with the bases full, with an error by Brian Downing in left field allowing LeFlore to score and put the White Sox up, 5-0. Both LeFlore and Mike Squires had three hits apiece in the win.
It was a fourth straight win and seven victories in eight games. Chicago would win three of four games to come, making the run a full 10 wins in 12 games. For the road trip that included Toronto, California and Oakland, the White Sox won seven of nine.
The sweep pushed the White Sox to 21-15 and firmly in second place. With the season disrupted by the players’ strike with the club better than .500 all season, 1981 goes down as a great what-if in White Sox history.
1982 LaMarr Hoyt improved to 9-0 on the season with a 3-1 win over Kansas City. Hoyt went the distance, and in the process ran his overall Comiskey Park record to 16-0 and his personal winning streak in all games to 14. An RBI single from Greg Luzinski and a two-run safety from Tom Paciorek in the sixth inning provided all the scoring Hoyt needed for the win.
The victory moved the White Sox to 27-13 and back up by a half-game in the AL West, but sadly would be their final day in sole possession of first during the 1982 season.
1983 The 1983 season turned around completely on this evening, as the White Sox destroyed Boston and pitcher Doug Bird, 12-4. Bird, who hadn’t lost a game in two years, was roughed up as the Sox blasted five home runs on the night. Greg Luzinski hit one of them, his fifth shot in five games.
It was the start of the drive that led, four months later, to 99 wins and the Western Division championship.
2011 White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin wrote his name in the franchise record book when he hit three home runs in a game against the Rangers. Quentinhit them before and after a rain/high wind delay of almost three hours, which caused the game to end at 1:27 a.m. local time. He went 3-for-5 on the night, with five RBIs in the 8-6 win.
MacKinnon is a high-volume shooter who will spray from all over the offensive zone, whereas Landeskog takes more of a quality over quantity approach at the net-front.
Somebody needs to get those scoring threats the puck, and that is a job Martin Necas has done admirably all playoffs — he leads the team in assists and primary assists.
I'm backing him to add to his total in Game 3, and see value in doing so up to -125.
Game 3 Prop #2: Shea Theodore Over 1.5 shots (-150)
Shea Theodore has attempted shots at a consistently healthy rate during the playoffs, recording at least four in 10 of his last 11 games — including the first two of this series.
He has a remarkably strong track record when taking four or more shot attempts. Theodore has cleared 1.5 shots on goal in 74% of his games hitting that benchmark, and 84% on home soil.
He generates a lot of his volume from the right point, and the Avalanche ranked 24th in defending that shooting zone this season. I'm backing Theodore to take advantage and would bet to -170.
Game 3 Prop #3: Noah Hanifin Over 1.5 blocked shots (-150)
Noah Hanifin has mostly paired with Rasmus Andersson since the latter was acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights. They've largely been used in a defensive role, starting plenty of shifts in their own zone.
Hanifin's blocked shot output has spiked in kind. He has blocked multiple shots in 61% of his home games since the trade, a far cry from the 30% prior.
Hanifin recorded at least two blocks in 13 of his last 19 in Vegas and seven of his past nine. I like him to fill the shooting lanes against a desperate Avalanche team, and would bet it up to -170.
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Game recognized game between LeBron James, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.
The Lakers star and Cavaliers icon shouted out the power couple on Instagram as they sat courtside for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals between Cleveland and the Knicks at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Saturday night.
Kelce was wearing the LeBron 7 MVP colorway from his signature Nike line, which was certainly an added reason to shout out the couple.
James, who played 11 seasons in Cleveland, posted a photo of the Chiefs tight end and the 14-time Grammy winner in their seats to his Instagram Stories with a caption that included a salute and crown emoji.
Kelce, an Ohio native who played his college ball at Cincinnati, went viral for more than his presence at the game after chugging a beer that hyped up the crowd and left Swfit having to put her hand to her face to hide her laughter.
LeBron James NBAE via Getty Images
It didn’t help the home team as the Knicks, whose offense has impressed James, never trailed in the game, leaving Kelce looking broken and slumped in his seat in the fourth quarter. The four-time NBA champion gave up his “crown” to Kelce as the most famous athlete in Northeast Ohio in 2023 during the height of the buzz around Swift and Kelce.
James, who is currently a free agent, was on the team the last time the Cavaliers were in the Eastern Conference finals during the 2017-18 season before they eventually lost to the Warriors in their fourth-straight trip to the Finals.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer did deliver the franchise its only NBA championship when he and Kyrie Irving helped rally Cleveland from a 3-1 deficit to beat Golden State in seven games in 2016. A return to Cleveland to likely end his career can never be ruled out.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce sit courtside during the first quarter of Game 3. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Kelce also knows a thing or two about rings, having won three Super Bowls with the Chiefs, who he returned to on a one-year contract this offseason after retirement rumors had swirled around him following the last two campaigns. Kansas City is hopeful to have quarterback Patrick Mahomes back for Week 1 after he suffered a torn ACL against the Chargers in December.
His most important ring, however, was given to Swift when the couple got engaged in August and the two are expected to get married in New York City on July 3.
Lance Stephenson might have found his next career move.
The former Indiana Pacer entered the cage on Saturday night for an MMA scrap against fellow NBA alum Michael Beasley — and it was Stephenson who decidedly came out on top.
Just one round into the pair’s fight at Brand Risk 14, a promotion run by influencer Adin Ross, Stephenson choked out his basketball rival and former Lakers teammate and got him to tap out.
Lance Stephenson got Michael Beasley to tap out in the first round of their MMA fight Kick/Adin Ross
Lance Stephenson just submitted Michael Beasley in the first round
Moments before, the two traded punches before Beasley attempted a guillotine choke on Stephenson.
However, Stephenson managed to wriggle free and get his opponent into a rear-naked choke, which Beasley was unable to break free of.
Following the fight, Beasley seemed surprised that he had gotten choked, but said he’d be willing to box Stephenson in the future.
Stephenson agreed to that deal and Beasley, whom he played against in the BIG3, jokingly threw a punch in his direction. The two also squared off in a much-hyped one-on-one game for $100,000 that Beasley won last year.
The fight card also featured a bout between Johnny Manziel and social media influencer Bob Menery, who the former NFL quarterback defeated by TKO in the first round.
Stephenson looked pleased following his quick win in the fight. Kick/Adin Ross
Stephenson and Beasley both enjoyed lengthy careers in the NBA, including the 2018-19 season together with Lakers.
Stephenson, now 35, was drafted by Indiana in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft and starred for Indiana before moving on to other stops around the league, including Charlotte, New Orleans and Memphis.
Beasley, 37, arrived as the second overall pick in 2008, and is best known for his productive stints in Miami and Minnesota.
Stephenson and Beasley last played in the 2021-22 and 2018-19 NBA seasons, respectively.
Apr 5, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Martin Perez (33) during the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images | Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
Another Sunday, another rubber match for the Atlanta Braves.
For the third straight weekend — and the fourth out of the last five — the series will be on the line in the deciding game Sunday when the Braves host the Washington Nationals at 4:10 p.m. EDT.
Given, rubber matches have been no problem for the Braves through the first two months of the season. They’ve won seven of their eight deciding games of series and still haven’t lost a series at home, a perfect 8-0-0.
Martín Pérez (2-2, 2.85 ERA) will be called upon to continue that run in this series finale. He’s making a second consecutive start without a relief appearance in between for the first time since April 28 and May 6.
While Pérez’s role has been a bit wonky, he’s handling it exceptionally well. He allowed a season-high-tying four runs Tuesday at Miami — three of them coming in the first inning — but still grinded out five innings and set a new career high of 10 strikeouts — no small feat for a 15-year veteran.
In 10 appearances (six starts) this season, Pérez has a career-best 2.85 ERA and a career-best 1.000 WHIP. When you look at his Statcast profile, there’s no one area that jumps out in terms of his effectiveness. But he just keeps providing strong-enough spot starts or relief appearances.
Pérez doesn’t have a particularly strong history against the Nationals. He’s 1-2 with a 6.20 ERA in six appearances (four starts), striking out 20, walking seven and allowing six homers. He faced them out of the bullpen back on April 22, allowing two solo homers in three innings of work of the Braves’ 8-6 win.
He’ll be facing off against Washington’s Foster Griffin (5-2, 4.02) in a battle of left-handers. Griffin is back in the United States this season after spending the last three in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants. He returned to the majors on a one-year deal with Washington.
That return has gone well through the first few months. He’s one of just three Nationals pitchers to make 10-plus starts and his ERA is 16 hundredths behind Cade Cavalli for the best among starters on the team.
However, he’s come back down to earth a bit in the last few starts after a very strong start to the season. He’s allowed 14 runs over 9 1/3 innings in his last two starts (five in five innings vs. the Mets on May 19 and nine in 4 1/3 against Cincinnati on May 14). He allowed two home runs in each of those starts and has allowed 10 in as many starts this season.
That’s potentially music to the ears of a Braves lineup still looking for his first homer of the series and which has scraped across just two total runs in regulation of the first two games against Washington this weekend.
Griffin made his first career start against the Braves back on April 21, allowing three runs over six innings and earning the win in Washington’s 11-4 win.
Martin Necas 
