Game 1 of their second-round series didn’t go how the Montreal Canadiens hoped, as they lost the first game by a score of 3-2, despite only allowing 16 shots on net. Those who didn’t see the game and only checked the scoreline would be forgiven for thinking that Jakub Dobes had an off night, but that wasn’t the case.
The truth of the matter is, there wasn’t much the Czech goalie could have done on any of those goals. The first goal came on a three-on-one, and he certainly wasn’t to blame for that play. The second goal came on the power play after the Habs had broken the Buffalo Sabres' play, but the puck still got to Zach Benson’s stick, who easily found Ryan McLeod by the side of the net for an easy goal.
In the second frame, the Sabres scored early after fourth liner Jordan Greenway found himself with a golden opportunity when Alex Carrier failed to close him down and effectively screened his goaltender, just like Mike Matheson and Tyler Kozak, who were tangled in front of the net. Dobes couldn’t see a thing as the puck literally went through Carrier. If you’re going to take your goalie’s line of sight away, you need to block that puck. The final goal came on the power play from a great shot by Bowen Byram after Mike Matheson attempted to clear the puck through the middle of the ice.
Despite surrendering four goals on just 16 shots, Dobes battled all night to get a visual on the puck, and he wasn’t panicking. There’s a reason why Martin St-Louis didn’t replace him with Jacob Fowler. It wasn’t the time to do that; pulling him would only have messed with his confidence. Since claiming the number one job, Dobes hasn’t faltered, and the coach not pulling him was his way of showing him that he is their top guy and that he’s behind him. Asked about Dobes after the game, the coach said:
If you look at the first two goals, those are two goals he can’t do anything about. Dobes competed as he always does.
- St-Louis on Dobes
That’s a fair assessment. The goaltender was one of the most combative players for the Canadiens on Wednesday night, even if the scoreline suggests otherwise.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 04: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs defends Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 04, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They predicted a firm Los Angeles Lakers loss to the Houston Rockets in the First Round of this year’s NBA playoffs. Without two of their three best players (Austin Reaves, out with an oblique injury and Luka Doncic, out with a hamstring strain), they had no chance against the talented young Rockets, most media members in an ESPN survey said.
Actually, 15 of 16 believed that Houston would win comfortably.
— Mette L. Robertson (@M_Robertson100) May 6, 2026
And you can’t really blame them. Statistically, their chances of winning was 14 percent, according to Polymarket. That equates to “no chance”, according to Legion Hoops.
JUST IN: The Rockets have an 86% chance to eliminate the Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs
But the Lakers still won the series – and pretty convincingly at that – getting up 3-0, which is basically unbeatable historically.
That begs the question of how much attention we should give numbers and stats, especially in the playoffs.
Here’s why.
Numbers are great at calculating how to get the most efficient shots, finding weak points and so much more. But they can’t stand alone. They can’t tell you about chemistry and they can’t predict the big moments of a playoff series. In order to get a full picture of a player, a team, a series, you have to look up from the stats sheet.
Momentum, the intangibles in between possessions, rivalries, chemistry between certain players, trust in each other – and the opposite – overall team connection, leadership, mental toughness – no one can measure these things.
But it is, however, right here that the real story of a game takes place. The story of winning – or losing – of personalities and the biggest moments.
Most things worth experiencing are not quantifiable. It is in between all the numbers we track that the greatness of basketball is found.
Right there, when numbers just won’t cut it anymore, we have only emotions left. In those cracks and in between our logic and reasoning, basketball forces us to feel. The good, the bad, the sad, the disappointment, and the elation.
All of those feelings which we often are afraid to feel in our normal lives, because it would mean we lose control. But when we watch basketball, all of these feelings are acceptable, even applauded. And in that, basketball becomes a vent for all of our big feelings, which most people spend so much energy bottling up to get through the day.
According to a Freudian psychoanalytic perspective on fandom, sports provide a rare, socially acceptable place for behavior that would otherwise be unacceptable. Fans can be loud, boo and scream, and be hostile towards the opponent. That leaves a place to get the aggressive, primal urges of the id (from Freud’s theory) out in a way that’s acceptable by our social norms and the superego, in which our moralistic nature resides. The id’s raw energy is channeled into a civilized activity that we like to call fandom. Sports help us get an emotional release for pent-up tension. And basically, that’s why it feels so important – and gratifying – to be a sports fan.
That leads us to the future of the NBA, and a pretty good representation of the next generation generally, it seems: Victor Wembanyama from another playoff contender, the San Antonio Spurs. Just last week, Wemby talked about how he isn’t interested in trying to hide his emotions or consider it a weakness, which has been the predominant culture in the sports world, and generally, up until now. But that may be about to change.
“I refuse to carry the burden of having to hide my emotions,” he said in an answer to a question about whether being emotional is weakness.
Wemby is unapologetic about not trying to hide his emotions 💪❤️
If sports, fandom and basketball help us cope with life, find balance and release pent-up feelings of the past, that is a powerful conclusion and a meaningful purpose.
This piece started as a reminder to look up from the stats sheet – and perhaps your phone, as well – and how basketball is less about numbers and more about moments and all that comes in between. But as it turns out, it’s a lot about feelings, too.
Sure, for some, it’s about money mostly, but for fans, players and people around the teams, who put so much time and effort into this sport, it comes down to feelings.
Like someone used to say all the time (it was me), basketball is all about feelings. And maybe I was right. One thing I know, though, is that numbers can’t predict heart – so look up, or you might miss it.
The Los Angeles Lakers will try to rebound from their Game 1 loss and even their Western Conference semifinals series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder won the opener 108-90. Oklahoma City is heavily favored with a 15.5-point spread with an over/under of 209.5. The Lakers will again be without Luka Dončić, who has not yet been cleared for contact.
How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder -935 (86.6%) / Los Angeles Lakers +616 (13.4%)
Over/Under: 209.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1:Thunder 108, Lakers 90 Game 2: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Thursday May 7, 9:30 ET, Prime Video) Game 3: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 9, 8:30 ET, ABC) Game 4: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Monday May 11, 10:30 ET, Prime Video) Game 5: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Wednesday May 13)* Game 6: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 16)* Game 7: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Monday May 18)*
Apr 24, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches against the Cleveland Guardians at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images | Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
The Jays don’t play today, so I figured we’d do the open thread today.
There isn’t all that much for Jays news, as we wait to hear who leaves to make room for Addison Barger. It will be interesting, I’m not sure who I’d pick. Since Barger is a left-handed batter, a lefty batter would generally be the choice, as we do have a lot of left-handed batters on the roster. But some of them are going to have to learn to hit lefties.
Yohendrick Pinango had a couple of poor at bats against a lefty yesterday. Left-handed batters don’t see a lot of left-handed pitchers on their way up to the majors. Hitting pitches moving away from you isn’t all that easy. Of course, when Nathan Lukes comes back, it will be that much more of a question.
Speaking of Yohendrick, it is his 24th birthday today. Happy Birthday, young man. Enjoy it.
In the world of aging, Max Scherzer is seeking medical advise about his ‘battle with forearm tendinitis’ that isn’t improving. I hope his doctor is older than 40, because it will be easy for him. “You are getting older, things are going to hurt.” I’m sorry, things just hurt more. It isn’t all that bad really, just aches and pains last longer.
Ask anyone in their 50s or 60s, things hurt. I’ve had a pain in my knee for about a year. It ranges from slight pain to limping bad. It’s life.
It is part of why not many guys play profession baseball in the 40s.
Anyway, use the thread to discuss anything you want to.
Jaron Williams called time and made his way from behind the plate to the pitcher's mound. Williams overheard the opposing team talking about his pitcher, Aaron Reese.
"He's only pitching with one hand. What can he really do?"
Placing the ball in Reese's left hand, the catcher told him what he had heard. Reese didn't respond. He struck out 10 and walked away with a win.
The only words Williams had for the opposing team at the conclusion of the game was, "That's what my pitcher can do."
This happened a couple of years ago at a summer-league game, but Reese has spent his baseball life hearing variations of the same question – what can a pitcher with one fully-functional arm really do?
At Carver-Montgomery High School, that question has stopped being about limitation and started being about production. He's become a legitimate pitcher competing without adjustments from his coaching staff. What began as a curiosity to outsiders has become, for Aaron, simply baseball.
His junior season ended last month with a win in the area tournament. He struck out eight.
'What we do with two hands, he can do better with one'
Reese was born 13 pounds at birth. He got stuck in the birth canal because he was so big, doctors had to forcefully pull him out. When they did, it dislocated a nerve from his spinal cord, causing Erb's palsy.
"At that time, we didn't care. My baby was alive," Deirdre Reese told the Montgomery Advertiser.
Since then, Aaron has undergone several surgeries and been through therapy. Doctors say he will never have full use of his right arm.
That didn't keep him from developing a love for baseball.
He followed his brother, Kendall Reese, everywhere on a baseball field. Aaron's presence eventually promoted him to batboy. But batboy wasn't enough for Aaron. Sometimes, while sitting on Kendall's lap in the dugout, Aaron moved his hands in all sorts of directions around his torso and head — attempting to give signs to the team.
"He brought extra energy to the dugout," Kendall said.
Kendall knew it was time to get to work with Aaron. He couldn't waste a love for the game because of a nerve condition.
A patient brother and a painstaking process
It started with a tennis ball.
Kendall tossed Aaron a ball over and over in the field that surrounds their house in the country. At first, it wasn't about throwing or velocity, just learning how to secure the ball cleanly with his left hand. Then came the glove, and Kendall transitioned to another basic skill: getting the ball out the glove.
Aaron caught the ball in his glove, threw his glove down on the ground, picked up the ball that rolled out when it hit the ground and made the throw.
"When I first saw that, I was kind of shocked because I was like, his mind is actually working because I was thinking that he was going to try attempt to grab the ball with his other hand," Kendall said.
As surprised as he was, Kendall knew that transition wasn't going to cut it during a game.
Instead, Aaron learned to catch the ball in his glove, tuck it into his right armpit, collected the ball and make the throw.
It wasn't easy.
He would fumble with the glove and lose precious seconds getting the throw off. Kendall clocked him at 6 or 7 seconds to make a throw.
When Aaron first started pitching, he wouldn't put his glove on because he wanted get rid of the ball faster. In one game, he fielded a ball with his bare hand. His finger swelled up from taking the brunt force of the ball, forcing him to be pulled.
The frustration built. Sometimes, it was too much.
Tears in his eyes, Aaron wanted to give up. But the desire to play baseball burned too brightly.
Kendall decided to slow things down and make training baseball simple and fun with the introduction of the three-inning game. The game was a one-on-one showdown between Aaron and Kendall, with the objective of hitting the ball and making it all the way back to home before the other brother could tag the batter out.
As the big brother, Kendall wasn't going to show any mercy. But he started to notice that when he'd hit the ball at Aaron, he attempted to try and catch it. Over time, Aaron started to beat Kendall.
Kendall noticed Aaron smiling and laughing more. So, they started again.
This time, they worked on Aaron taking the glove on and off with the ball already inside. Soon, Kendall was timing his transfer to throw at 2 or 3 seconds.
"I could never make the switch as fast he could, even with two hands," Kendall said.
Fielding the ball, tucking the glove in the armpit and grabbing the ball now only takes Aaron 1.3 seconds. After two years of countless reps in the backyard and in the mirror, it's a seamless transition.
Now parents of opposing players seek Dierdre Reese out after games.
"They tell me that their players or sons can't give them any more excuses," Deirdre said. "They tell me that watching Aaron is an inspiration because it is a rarity to ever do what he does."
'I'm just a pitcher. Nothing else'
Aaron stands tall on the mound, his eyes focused on the catcher. He cradles his glove upright in his right arm with his left hand fiddling with the ball inside his glove to find the right fastball grip.
He kicks his right leg up, puffs his cheeks full of air, pulls his right arm into his chest like he's hugging his glove and rears his left arm towards home plate. As his left leg swings around to touch the ground in front of him, Aaron is sliding his left arm in his glove.
"I would put him up against anyone," Carver coach Quawon Baldwin said.
When Baldwin was coaching at Park Crossing and he'd face Aaron on the mound, he didn't ever see a pitcher with a disadvantage. He encouraged his players to give their maximum effort because that's what they were going to need to beat him.
Now that he is Aaron's coach, he doesn't give the lefty pitcher any special treatment.
During his junior season, Aaron's fastball was consistently clocking at 82 mph and could reach upwards to 87 when he was really feeling letting it fly.
"He wants to feel normal. So, with that being said, I push him as hard as the rest of the team," Baldwin said.
Said Aaron, "I love baseball, it's just something I've always done, and I'm in a mindset that I'm just a pitcher. Nothing else."
Aaron has two dreams, One large and one small.
The grander of the dreams is to be enshrined in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, but before he gets to that point, he needs to reach the smaller dream first.
That dream is of playing college baseball at the Division I level. It's a dream that is slowly unfolding with showcase invitations finding their way into his mailbox. Schools like Alabama, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and Jacksonville State want to see Aaron on the mound for themselves.
There haven't been any formal offers extended, but when Baldwin takes his seniors on visits during the offseason, coaches make sure to check in on Aaron.
Aaron has heard the question for years. What can he really do?
At Carver, it's no longer a question that defines him. The answer has stopped being theoretical, it's become routine.
Jaeden Day covers high school sports, Alabama State football and Auburn recruiting for the Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today. You can find him on X at dayjaeden12, or reach him at JDay@montgome.gannett.com.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 09: Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics celebrates scoring a three-point-basket with Luka Garza #52 and Hugo Gonzalez #28 in the second half against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on November 09, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — For 82 games, the Celtics’ depth — particularly at the wing position — was one of its biggest strengths.
“We just have 15, 16 guys that can impact winning,” Joe Mazzulla said before the playoffs. “At any point in time, people can help us win.”
When Mazzulla made that comment, it resonated. We’d seen it all year, after all.
Jordan Walsh started 25 games and showed flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball, demonstrating an ability to shut down some of the best scorers in the league.
Baylor Scheierman started 20 games and emerged as the perfect complementary role player who had a penchant for winning plays.
At just 19 years old, Hugo Gonzalez started three games, but made his mark in plenty more, drawing charges, diving for loose balls, and becoming one of the league’s top plus-minus guys.
Even Ron Harper Jr., who began the season on an Exhibit-10 contract, got three starts and helped swing several games, outplaying Kevin Durant on the second night of a back-to-back in Houston.
Depth, however you wanted to look at it, was an undeniably positive storyline. All four backup wings came into the season unproven, and all four finished it with big-time performances under their belt and undeniable potential.
But, while that player development was part of what made the 2025-2026 regular season special, the Celtics couldn’t sufficiently leverage it when it mattered most.
Walsh played the most substantial backup wing role, in large part due to his ability to guard Tyrese Maxey, but he played just 5 minutes in Game 7. Gonzalez didn’t play rotational minutes until Game 7, and though he helped key a critical first-half run, all in all, he played just 19 postseason minutes.
Harper Jr. played 21 minutes across the first six games, got an unexpected Game 7 start, and then went on to only record 4 minutes in that game, despite tallying two quick steals.
Throughout the series, fans clamored for more minutes for each of their favorite back-ups: more Scheierman minutes, Walsh in the starting lineup, any sign of life from Gonzalez.
Before Game 7, I posted a thread on X asking fans what they would change; most of the 500+ respondents urged for more minutes from one of the team’s young wings.
The reality, however, is that playoff rotations usually tighten up. By late March, Jayson Tatum was back playing (very effective) heavy minutes, and Sam Hauser had established himself as the team’s fifth starter.
Mazzulla’s rotation conundrum was not made easier by the fact that none of the young guys on the roster separated themselves from one another — while different players stepped up in different moments, there was no clear hierarchy going into the playoffs.
“It was an unusual roster in that we had a lot of unproven young players that had really not contributed at a meaningful level yet in their careers, and [they] really showed themselves capable of that,” Brad Stevens said at his end-of-season press conference. “Oftentimes, as a coach and as a staff, it’s a lot easier if some do and some don’t, because then there’s a clear demarcation line. But that’s a good problem to have.”
In this series, however, the Celtics didn’t really benefit from the fact that there was no set rotation the way they did all season. In the decisive Game 7, Gonzalez, Scheierman, Harper, and Walsh all went scoreless on 10 combined field goal attempts. None of the four players was able to develop an offensive rhythm against Philadelphia.
It’s easy to say that Mazzulla should have played Scheierman, given that he broke through as an all-around player shortly after the trade deadline. But one could also make the case that Gonzalez, who probably brings the most to the table from an athleticism standpoint, should have seen opportunities before Game 7.
But the reality is that there is limited on-court time, and it’s hard to blame Mazzulla for those decisions, considering there was no clear pecking order among the backups going into the playoffs.
Stevens emphasized that it is not the front office’s job to make rotational decisions: “The role questions, and when people play, and how many people play, that’s what a coach has to do — and it’s really hard when, again, there’s not a clear separation.”
At his end-of-year press conference, Stevens was specifically asked about Gonzalez’s growth and, in turn, he praised his rookie season. The 2025 No. 28 pick averaged 14.6 minutes across 74 games, shot 36.2% from three, and was one of the NBA’s plus-minus leaders.
“Hugo had a great rookie year, and is, I think, a critical part of us moving forward because his athleticism can meet the moment in the big games,” he said. “That’s a real thing. You can see it. You know it. His strength is off the charts. He’s probably the strongest — he’s one of the strongest guys on our team right now, pound-for-pound, as a 20-year-old. So, he’s got a bright future.”
Still, Stevens explained that Gonzalez hadn’t done enough during the season to clearly demand postseason minutes.
“That said, he didn’t separate himself from those other guys,” he said. “And so, as a front-office person, I can’t sit here and say that one person should have been playing over another, should have been playing over another. There wasn’t enough separation.”
It’d be hard to argue with that.
Gonzalez had great moments, but he also made rookie mistakes, couldn’t create as much offensively, and didn’t space the floor as well as someone like Hauser, who has been on the Celtics for five seasons and was in the rotation for the 2024 title run.
Now that the 3-1 series lead has been blown, it’s easy to play Monday Morning Quarterback and say this guy should have played, or this guy should have played, but the real challenge lies in the fact that all four wings — who had taken turns being so important during the regular season — came into the playoffs on relatively equal footing.
Mazzulla, for his part, denied that making those rotational decisions was difficult.
“It wasn’t,” Mazzulla said. “I think too many times, pushing the right button gets linked to a positive result. At the end of the day, it’s about pushing the right button [toward the] process of putting us in a position to win. And that’s always the goal. And the locker room, whoever is out there puts us in position to win.”
That’s Mazzulla’s perspective, and it’s obviously a valid one. Still, watching the Celtics-76ers series unfold, it became increasingly clear that the team’s regular-season depth and rotational unpredictability were no longer the asset it was in the regular season.
In Game 7, only five players scored — three of the team’s starters (Harper Jr., Luka Garza, and Scheierman) went scoreless. Walsh was effective in slowing down Maxey in stretches, but none of the other bench guys consistently left their imprint on the game.
That’s, in part, the result of a roster that hadn’t been there before. Nearly half of the rotation — Neemias Queta, Walsh, Gonzalez, Scheierman, Harper Jr., and Garza — had never before logged postseason action.
“There’s positives in that, because these are experiences that will then add up for these guys to take advantage of in the future,” he said. “But when you’re in the midst of it, and you have a chance, you wish you would still be playing.”
Gonzalez ($2.9 million), Garza ($2.8 million), and Scheierman ($2.7 million) are all under contract next season. Harper Jr. ($2.6 million) and Walsh ($2.4 million) have team options. It seems unlikely that all five guys will be back in green next season — and if they are, it seems even likely that, with another year under their belt, there will be a pecking order established earlier in the season.
During the 2024 title run, Mazzulla didn’t have to make these decisions. Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford were all going to see significant minutes. Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser were on the edges of the rotation. Everyone who played had been there before, and the guys who didn’t hadn’t meaningfully contributed throughout the year.
A lot of that, to put it plainly, is just roster construction.
“As I look back, we didn’t have a team that was as experienced or as, certainly, as ready for that moment as you know we’ve had in the past,” Stevens said.
At the same time, in hindsight, it’s clear that one of the Celtics’ biggest regular-season strengths became a challenge when it came to the postseason. The 2025-2026 season was formative for so many players — that’s part of why Jaylen Brown has dubbed it his favorite-ever season.
But when it mattered most, that depth became a challenge.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to even their second-round NBA playoff series against the Detroit Pistons in Game 2. The Pistons fought off the Cavs for a 111-101 victory in Game 1. Detroit is favored by 3.5 points in Game 2 with an over/under of 215.5.
How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons
Moneyline: Detroit Pistons -160 (59.1%) / Cleveland Cavaliers +135 (40.9%)
Over/Under: 215.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1:Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101 Game 2: Cleveland at Detroit (Thursday May 7, 7 p.m. ET, Prime Video) Game 3: Detroit at Cleveland (Saturday May 9, 3 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 4: Detroit at Cleveland (Monday May 11, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 5: Cleveland at Detroit (Wednesday May 13)* Game 6: Detroit at Cleveland (Friday May 15)* Game 7: Cleveland at Detroit (Sunday May 17)*
The Buffalo Sabres did not repeat the same mistakes they displayed in the opener of their first-round series against Boston late last month, struggling to find their energy until late in the third period, before scoring four goals in the final 10 minutes. The Sabres were energetic from the drop of the puck, put the Montreal Canadiens on their heels for the entire game, took an early 2-0 lead and remained in control in a 4-2 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final on Wednesday.
Josh Doan, Ryan McLeod, Jordan Greenway, and Bowen Byram scored for Buffalo, Zach Benson had assists on both first-period markers. Alex Lyon made 26 saves in his fourth win of the postseason.
"I think we wanted to emphasize on getting to their D early and trying to force turnovers, (Zach Benson) does an unbelievable job of that throughout every game," Doan said after the game. "(It was a) great start by him and it got the building on their feet."
Another trait from the first round that Buffalo did not repeat was their struggles with the man advantage. Although their top unit was still ineffective after going 1 for 24 against Boston, the Sabres second unit cashed in twice on three opportunities.
"It was one of those nights where we had to get more pucks back in retrievals. We were losing too many battles and too many easy one and dones," Doan said. "One series is over, off to the next, and we have two in this series already. So it's going well."
The pace of the series and the difference between the tight checking Bruins and the Canadiens seemed to be to Buffalo’s benefit in Game 1. Montreal never seemed to gather their equilibrium at any point during the game, even after Nick Suzuki cut the margin in half at the end of the first. The most glaring difference from their series victory over Tampa Bay was the mere mortality of Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes, who had a .923 save percentage and 2.03 GAA in seven games against the Lightning.
In Game 1, the Habs netminder allowed four goals on just 16 shots. Montreal’s top line of Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slavkovsky did combine for a power play marker, but did not have much of an impact at five-on-five, which might prompt Montreal coach Martin St. Louis to shake up his lines for Game 2 on Friday.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff indicated after the game that team captain Rasmus Dahlin, who was injured blocking a shot late in the third period, was fine after the game.
Just over six months after he was appointed at Ibrox, is Danny Rohl already on the proverbial shoogly peg?
The German revived Rangers and led them back into the title race after the calamitous tenure of Russell Martin, but his team have collapsed at the business end of the season.
Losses in both post-split games so far - at home to Motherwell and away to leaders Hearts - have effectively consigned Rangers to a second trophyless season on the bounce and turned up the heat on Rohl.
While some supporters will remain fully behind the 37-year-old, he may fall victim to the "dripping tap of negativity" that comes with life as an Old Firm manager.
"I think there's a stick or twist scenario for Rangers if this season pans out the way it's beginning to look at the moment," said Stephen McGowan, football writer with The Herald, on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"Ultimately, the Rangers manager is judged by how many trophies he wins and on that score, it looks like Danny Rohl is going to fall short.
"In a rational football environment, probably he wouldn't come under anything like this amount of pressure, but this is not a rational environment, it's Glasgow.
"He did do exceptionally well to get him back in the race, but there are big questions over Danny Rohl now, these are dangerous times for him."
Rangers led 1-0 at Tynecastle on Monday night but one of the main talking points post-match was Rohl's inability to cope with Derek McInnes' tactical tweaks.
McGowan added: "I think there have been questions from supporters over his starting XI, over his ability to change things when tactics start to go against him.
"So, regardless of whether he deserves it or not, I think whenever a manager loses the faith in the support of supporters, at clubs like Celtic and Rangers, it's really hard to turn off the negative dripping tap, and I think that's where Danny Rohl is now."
Former Hearts manager Robbie Neilson reckons Rohl will remain in situ until the start of next season, but he will be immediately under fire should he fail to start fast.
"I think they've got to give him time and a bit of support, and also better recruitment over the course of the summer," Neilson said.
"I would be very surprised if he's not there come the start of the season, how long he gets will be dictated by the results at start of the season."
KANSAS CITY, MO - JUNE 26: Empty stands prior to the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays on June 26th, 2025 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Very recently, I wrote an article here talking about the opportunity presented to the Yankees in 2026, competing for the top spot in an American League that lacked standout clubs. Some of their potential biggest adversaries were dealing with more than their fair share of issues in the Blue Jays and Mariners. Since then, the Yankees have continued to establish themselves as the best team in the AL, and at the moment their closest opponent is a largely anonymous Rays club that—while just a half-game behind New York at 24-12—no one is entirely sure what their ceiling might be. Now, we’ll address how this particular outlook affects other teams besides the Yankees.
A significant number of teams that fought at the top last season are off to forgettable starts in both leagues. The Phillies and Blue Jays could’ve very easily won the championship last season, for instance. The difference between these two is that although there are powerhouses in their respective divisions, they face battles of different levels trying to play their way back into playoff contention. While we can make all the remarks about it still being early, the Junior Circuit is setting up in a pool of mediocrity, incapable of punishing a team’s slow start.
This is the jumbled mess as of the morning of May 7th. The Yankees and Rays are, in fact, literally the only teams with winning records.
The Astros and Angels are tied for the worst record in the AL, and they’re three games back of the last Wild Card spot. Do you want to guess how many National League clubs have at worst an equal gap between them and that last Wild Card spot? The answer is six. The hapless Mets are already 5.5 games out, with only the Giants and Rockies holding uglier records.
It’s fitting that the aforementioned Astros would occupy that particular spot at the moment because they are the perfect example of a team that has managed to waste potential but at the same time isn’t that far away from entering playoff contention—particularly when you look at their offensive production, boasting a team OPS+ of 113 (though now they’ll have to get by without Carlos Correa). Hunter Brown is working his way back from a shoulder injury, and Tatsuya Imai will return soon. If both of these pitchers perform at their highest level, this could be a totally different Houston team, and you just don’t need a whole lot to go your way before hovering in contender status.
The best record from all 10 combined AL Central and AL West teams is … .500. The Guardians and A’s lead their divisions with middling marks, and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who is very optimistic about either pulling away for a 90+ win season. The A’s in particular would probably be delighted to merely finish .500, and they appear unlikely to deviate too far from there.
Houston is a good example of what might happen, and the Royals are an interesting example of what’s currently happening. Here is a team that looked like the worst in baseball for the better part of April—dropping eight in a row at one point—but they’re already back in the thick of things following a five-game winning streak, a game and a half behind Cleveland. The rebuilding Twins are not expected to be competitive but with a few wins here and there, they could almost accidentally end up in the mix too. And remember when the Red Sox looked to be in complete disarray after firing Alex Cora? They woke up that morning tied with KC for the league’s worst record at 9-17; the underwhelming play of much of the Junior Circuit could very well allow them to remain in the Wild Card mix after winning 7 of their last 11 games.
Obviously, this early in the year, a five-game winning streak will dramatically affect the outlook of basically any team, but this seems to be the likely scenario moving forward in the AL. One or two teams might take the opportunity to stand out and secure a solid place as a contender, while nearly the whole pack could manage to stay within striking distance of a Wild Card spot. That could very well affect the Trade Deadline, as teams on the fence are wary of missing out on a chance to sneak into this postseason. The 2024 Tigers and 2025 Diamondbacks at least represent recent models of teams that sold parts but competed for playoff spots in the second half anyway.
If you’re looking for a way to highlight just how much this Yankees team stands out from the rest of the AL right now—as the team’s records don’t do it justice—the Yankees have a run differential of +74, more than double the amount of all other teams with a positive run differential combined. The next single highest is the Rays at +15. That’s the sound of opportunity knocking; we’ll see if New York can take advantage as the summer approaches and begins.
The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays clash at Fenway, with both teams coming off series sweeps. Boston’s moves two weeks ago have paid off, while the Rays have been good all season long.
While Boston is improved and playing at home, that’s not enough to justify making the Sox the favorite.
My Rays vs. Red Sox predictions and MLB picks call for a Tampa win as the road dog on Thursday, May 7.
Who will win Rays vs Red Sox today: Rays moneyline (+101)
The Tampa Bay Rays are coming off back-to-back sweeps of the Giants and Blue Jays.
The Rays have won 12 of 13 and have allowed three runs or less in all 13 games, a franchise record and the longest such stretch in MLB in four years.
The Boston Red Sox are 6-4 since changing managers, but it's come against a soft portion of the schedule.
Rookie Boston starter Jake Bennett threw first-pitch strikes to 12 of the 19 batters he faced in his debut, but the Rays’ experienced lineup excels when behind in the count. They have a 121 OPS+ after a first-pitch strike and 128 when down in the count.
COVERS INTEL: Tampa’s bullpen extended its scoreless streak to 17 1/3 innings and has allowed just one run over the last 32 2/3.
Rays vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (+100)
In addition to the hottest bullpen in baseball, Tampa has the third-best starting rotation. That’s masked a Rays offense that has scored five runs twice — and never topped that number — in the last 10 games.
Tampa starts converted reliever Griffin Jax, who hasn’t made it out of the third inning in his two starts this year but also hasn’t allowed a run in them.
Boston has hit better since the coaching staff turnover, but they’ve done so by posting a .340 BABIP, which may be an indication that it’s a random fluctuation more than a sustainable change in approach.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 10-12, -1.52 units
Over/Under bets: 13-13, -0.76 units
Rays vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: Rays -105 | Red Sox -115
Run line: Rays -1.5 (+155) | Red Sox +1.5 (-189)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-118) | Under 8.5 (-102)
Rays vs Red Sox trend
The Boston Red Sox have hit the Game Total Under in 31 of their last 50 games at home (+13.20 Units / 24% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Rays vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Thursday, May 7, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Rays starting pitcher
Griffin Jax (1-2, 5.14 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Jake Bennett (1-0, 1.80 ERA)
Rays vs Red Sox latest injuries
Rays vs Red Sox 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 St. Louis Cardinals, ranked second in the NL Central with a 21-15 record, face the San Diego Padres, who are second in the NL West with a 22-14 record. The San Diego Padres are favored with a -165 moneyline compared to the St. Louis Cardinals' +135. Starting pitchers are Matthew Liberatore for St. Louis, with a 4.50 ERA, and Michael King for San Diego, with a 2.95 ERA.
How to watch St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres
The Tampa Bay Rays, ranked second in the AL East with a 24-12 record, face the Boston Red Sox, who are tied for fourth in the AL East with a 16-21 record. The Boston Red Sox are favored with a -120 moneyline compared to the Tampa Bay Rays' +100. Starting pitchers are Griffin Jax for Tampa Bay, with a 5.14 ERA, and Jake Bennett for Boston, with a 1.80 ERA.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Connor Dewar #19 of the Pittsburgh Penguins fights Jacob Bernard-Docker #25 of the Detroit Red Wings at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 31, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Penguins announced a pair of contract extensions on Thursday. Connor Dewar and Ilya Solovyov are impending free agents no longer with the news both have signed with Pittsburgh.
Dewey doubles down ✍️
The Penguins have signed forward Connor Dewar to a two-year contract extension.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Connor Dewar and defenseman Ilya Solovyov to contract extensions, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas.
Dewar’s two-year contract extension runs through the 2027-28 campaign and his contract carries an average annual value of $2.25 million. Solovyov’s one-year contract extension runs through the 2026-27 season and carries an average annual value of $850,000.
Dewar, 26, had a career year with the Penguins in 2025-26, recording career highs across the board in goals (14), assists (16), points (30) and plus/minus (+16). His career-best plus-16 led all Penguins forwards and ranked third overall on the team. Dewar also added two goals in six playoff games, the first Stanley Cup Playoff goals of his career.
The 5-foot-10, 187-pound forward led all Penguins this season in total shorthanded time on ice (209:23) and on a per-game basis (2:41), helping the Penguins to the league’s sixth best penalty kill in 2025-26 at 81.4%. Dewar was also one of six players to score a shorthanded goal for Pittsburgh. No Penguins forward recorded more hits this season than Dewar’s 144, which also ranked third overall on the team.
Dewar has played five seasons in the NHL, split between Pittsburgh, Toronto and Minnesota from 2021-26. In 316 career games, he has registered 37 goals, 46 assists and 83 points.
Prior to his professional career, Dewar spent four seasons in the Western Hockey League from 2015-19 with the Everett Silvertips.
A native of The Pas, Manitoba, Dewar was originally drafted by Minnesota in the third round (92nd overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft.
Solovyov, 25, played in 30 NHL games in 2025-26 split between Colorado and Pittsburgh. He tallied three points (1G-2A) in 16 games with the Avalanche and had five assists in 14 games with the Penguins. His games played (30), goal (1), assist (7) and point (8) totals were all career highs. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound defenseman also made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in 2026, skating in three games for Pittsburgh.
The Mogilev, Belarus native has played parts of two seasons in the NHL, tallying 12 points (1G-11A) in 45 career regular-season games. In the AHL, he has skated in 232 career games split between the Calgary Wranglers and Colorado Eagles, recording 69 points (18G-51A). Solovyov has four points (2G-2A) in 22 career games in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Dewar’s contract matches the cap hit ($2.25 million) for that of Blake Lizotte, who received a three-year extension earlier in the year. It’s a tidy raise off the $1.1 million that Dewar played under in 2025-26 season following a career-best season of scoring 14 goals and 30 points. Dewar also was one of the best players on the team in the playoffs, scoring two goals in the six games.
Solovyov will be back for depth and potentially to push for a regular lineup spot on the blueline next season. The defender showed an ability to play on either the left or right side and offers some size and puck moving ability for the team.
The Penguins still have more impending unrestricted free agents, including forward Evgeni Malkin, Anthony Mantha, Noel Acciari. Malkin’s camp was expected to reach out this week to the Penguins about when a meeting could be setup to discuss the star forward’s future.
Ho hum, anyone see anything interesting on Wednesday night? With all due respect to the 2016 Cubs, this team is becoming the most “must watch” Cub team of my lifetime. That ‘16 team was a rampaging juggernaut. But that was like sitting down and watching Michelangelo bang out a work of art. You expected them to win and they didn’t disappoint all too often. This year’s team had no such expectations and with a crazy run of injuries, basically all to the pitching staff, there remains a feeling that it could end at any time.
There were points during both Monday and Tuesday’s late wins where I thought if the Cubs could get the line moving, they were in good shape. Wednesday? Obviously, it was easy to feel pretty confident all night long. Everything was going right until a disastrous top of the ninth inning where the bullpen imploded. A 4-2 lead instead became a 6-4 deficit on a rare tag up and score from second play.
I definitely thought the sands had finally all run down on the hourglass and one was going to get away. The Cubs had a 94.2 percent chance of winning after a scoreless Reds eighth. It was 92.9 percent after the Cubs were held scoreless in the bottom of the inning. Spencer Steer’s homer dropped the odds down to 84.1 percent. But that inning just kept going. After that two run sacrifice fly, the Cub chances dropped all of the way to 8 percent. When Michael Busch struck out leading off the Cub ninth, it dropped to 4.3 percent. Wow.
Carson Kelly had a nice plate appearance and then singled. That gave the Cubs 10.3 percent. That set the table for Pete Crow-Armstrong. His two-run homer tied the game. That moved the odds all of the way up to 57.8 percent. What a wild ride. This team just doesn’t quit. They battle and they are playing with an immense amount of confidence. The Cub offense put up 10 hits, drew four walks and was hit by a pitch.
Fourteen straight home wins (tied for second most in team history and most since they won 14 straight in 2008). Seven straight wins (longest since, last month). 18 wins in 21 games. Three walk-offs against the same team for the first time since 1943. Three straight walk-offs for the first time since 2009. Ian Happ has a 27-game on-base streak, the longest since Bryan LaHair in 2012. Yeah, let’s run past that one.
This is such an amazing stretch of baseball. The Cubs have gone from last to first. But not only first, they now lead the Cardinals by 3.5 games in the Central and after that, the Brewers, Reds and Pirates are five back. The Cubs are just a half game back of the Braves for the best record in the NL.
So many achievements. So many accomplishments. Seemingly, every single day. What a wild and crazy ride.
Go Cubs.
Three Positives:
Pete Crow-Armstrong had a pair of hits, was hit by a pitch, drove in two and scored one. That homer was the play of the game. The OPS continues to creep up and is now at .702. He’s just under league average at wRC+ 98.
Ian Happ would have had the top spot if this had been a ho hum 4-2 win. He had three hits, one a homer (as he continues to climb the All-Time homers as a Cub list). He drove in two, scored two and stole a base. One of the all-time most underappreciated Cub players has an .890 OPS and a wRC+ of 149. And he still grades out as a plus fielder in left.
Jacob Webb inherited two runners in the sixth, didn’t allow them to score and recorded five outs on five batters faced. Special mention to Trent Thornton recording three outs while facing two batters in the tenth.
Game 37, May 6: Cubs 7, Reds 6 (25-12)
WPA GRAPH
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Pete Crow-Armstrong (.471). 2-3, HR, HBP, 2 RBI, R
This is the fourth highest WPA score of the season by a Cub.
Hero: Michael Busch (.350). 1-3, BB, RBI, R
Sidekick: Trent Thornton (.339). IP, 2 BF (W 1-0)
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Hoby Milner (-.505). IP, 6 BF, H, BB, ER, K
This is the second lowest WPA score of the season by a Cub
Goat: Corbin Martin (-.367). 0 IP, 3 BF, 3 H, 3 ER
Kid: Nico Hoerner (-.132). 0-5, R, DP
WPA Play of the Game: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s one-out, two-run, game-tying homer in the ninth. (.475)
*Reds Play of the Game. JJ Bleday’s RBI-single with one out and the bases loaded in the ninth to cut the deficit to one. (.262)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 36 Winner: Michael Busch (232 of 250 votes)
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
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 Conforto +10
Michael Bsuch +9
Nico Hoerner +8.5
Pete Crow-Armstrong/Caleb Thielbar/Phil Maton -6
Matt Shaw -9
Seiya Suzuki -14
Current Win Pace: 109.46
Up Next: The Cubs will attempt to sweep the Reds in a four-game series on Thursday afternoon at Wrigley. Amazingly, the Cubs already have a four-game home sweep this season. Shōta Imanaga (3-2, 2.40, 41.1 IP) will make his eighth start of the season. Last time out, he threw seven scoreless against the Diamondbacks, picking up a win. The Reds will start 24-year-old righty Rhett Lowder (3-2, 5.09, 35.1). This is the eighth start of the season and 14th start of Lowder’s career. He was the seventh overall pick by the Reds in the 2023 draft. Last time out, he allowed eight runs in just 1.1 IP in a start at Pittsburgh.
This would be an excellent day for the offense to have one of those double digit scoring games.
Let’s get number 15 in a row at home for the first time in a very long time.
COVERS INTEL: Tampa’s bullpen extended its 
