Coach Mike Brown said Friday that Robinson did not suffer the injury in a game or in Thursday’s practice.
Thursday was the Knicks’ first practice since Game 4 of the conference finals.
When asked when or how it happened, the Knicks said they were not getting into specifics. They also did not say when Robinson had surgery on the pinky.
Mitchell Robinson hopes to be ready for Game 1. Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Brown was noncommittal about Robinson’s availability for Game 1 of the Finals on Wednesday.
“For me, I’m always going with whoever is available today,” Brown said Friday. “And he didn’t practice today. So we’re getting whoever we need ready to go. … I don’t want to know, just let me know if he can play and when he can play. Just like we normally would, we’re getting everyone else ready to go.”
Regardless, the hope is that Robinson, after a “minor procedure,” will be able to play, according to league sources.
“Mitch is very important to us,” OG Anunoby said Friday. “Amazing player. It’s unfortunate what happened, but I’m sure — just take it day by day now.”
It’s been a roller-coaster postseason for Robinson. His brutal free-throw shooting — he is 13-for-43 (30.2 percent) from the line in the playoffs — has allowed opponents to utilize Hack-a-Mitch and force the Knicks to take him off the court.
Mitchell Robinson after Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. NBAE via Getty Images
He is only averaging 14.2 minutes per game in the postseason, down from 19.6 minutes per game in the regular season. He had not made as big an impact this as most expected entering the playoffs.
Before Game 3 of the conference finals against the Cavaliers, Robinson posted on Snapchat that his “mental health is not the best right now” and that he had a “very upsetting experience,” though he did not detail what happened. That post came a few days after Robinson said he had changed his phone number and planned to delete all of his social media accounts ahead of a “new chapter in my life.”
“I’m deleting all apps for a little while,” Robinson wrote, “until I can get back to myself.”
Robinson missed Game 2 of the second round against the 76ers for what was listed on the injury report as an illness.
He is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
The last time the Knicks were in the NBA Finals, New Yorkers were hailing cabs without apps, blasting Lauryn Hill on CD players, and nervously checking their Netscape dial-up connection.
The Twin Towers still dominated the skyline, Rudy Giuliani ran City Hall, and “The Sopranos” had just introduced America to Tony Soprano’s panic attacks.
These days, TikTok is where young people socialize, communicate and shape pop culture, oat milk lattes can run more than $9, and Madison Square Garden itself has undergone a billion-dollar glow-up.
From politics to pop culture to the Manhattan skyline itself, here’s how wildly different life in 1999 NYC looks and feels 27 years later.
Gone but not forgotten: Manhattan’s skyline
The Lower Manhattan skyline has been forever transformed since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks tragically brought down the Twin Towers.
A skyline reborn after tragedy: Here’s a look at the Twin Towers in 1999 (left) and the current Freedom Tower at One World Trade Center in 2026 (right). David Lefranc
In their place now stands One World Trade Center — better known as the Freedom Tower — which rose between 2006 and 2014 as the centerpiece of the rebuilt skyline.
Two eras of City Hall: Giuliani’s Gotham in 1999 vs. Mamdani’s 2026 Big Apple
Back in 1999, tough-on-crime Republican Rudy Giuliani led New York City from City Hall during the height of his mayoral tenure, which began in 1994.
From former mayor Rudy Giuliani in 1999 (L) to progressive leader Zohran Mamdani in 2026 (R), New York City’s political landscape has shifted dramatically over the past 27 years. David Lefranc
Fast-forward to 2026, and the Big Apple is now run by Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, who took office in January of this year. Talk about New York City’s political landscape shifting dramatically over the past 27 years.
MSG makeover: The Knicks’ home base went ultra-modern after 2010s rebuild
Madison Square Garden, home of the Knicks, looks dramatically different today than it did during the team’s 1999 Finals run.
Madison Square Garden has had a massive makeover within the last 27 years. David Lefranc
Between 2011 and 2013, the arena underwent a nearly $1 billion renovation, transforming it into a sleek, high-tech sports and entertainment hub.
Today, fans scan mobile tickets on their phones, a far cry from the paper stubs and printed tickets of the late 90s.
Political power shift: The White House then and now during Knicks championship runs
During the Knicks’ last trip to the NBA Finals in 1999, Democratic President Bill Clinton occupied the White House.
The Knicks last reached the Finals in 1999 under President Bill Clinton (left), and today, as they return in 2026, the nation is led by President Donald Trump (right). David Lefranc
Now, as the team heads back to the Finals in 2026, Republican President Donald Trump is leading the country for the second time.
Grammy glory in 1999 vs. 2026: Lauryn Hill and Bad Bunny define two eras of music
At the Grammy Awards in February 1999, Lauryn Hill won the coveted Album of the Year award for “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”
Lauryn Hill (left) won Album of the Year at the 1999 Grammy Awards with her neo-soul record, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” In 2026, Bad Bunny (right) won the same award for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” David Lefranc
In 2026, Bad Bunny sparked a global reggaeton movement after winning the very same award for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.”
A Shakespearean comedy vs. action thriller: The Oscars’ Best Picture across two different Hollywood eras
At the 1999 Oscars, “Shakespeare in Love” took home the coveted Best Picture award, with a cast including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes and Judi Dench, and direction by John Madden.
“Shakespeare in Love” won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1999 (left), while 2026 saw “One Battle After Another” take the crown (right). David Lefranc
In 2026, the same top honor went to “One Battle After Another,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Teyana Taylor, and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
Billboard Chart Toppers: J.Lo in ’99, Drake in ’26
On June 25, 1999, during the Knicks’ last time in the NBA Finals, Jennifer Lopez topped the Billboard Hot 100 with her groovy pop bop, “If You Had My Love.”
Jennifer Lopez had the hit song of the summer of 1999, while Drake is dominating the charts with his hip-hop single, “Janice STFU.” David Lefranc
It’s now May 2026, and the No. 1 song in the country is Drake’s catchy rap track, “Janice STFU.”
From 1999’s ‘Rock Style’ to 2026’s ‘Costume Art’: Two different Met Gala themes
Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney (left) at the 1999 “Rock Style” Met Gala, with Kim Kardashian (right) at this year’s “Costume Art”-themed Met Gala. David Lefranc
The 1999 Met Gala theme was “Rock Style,” tied to the Costume Institute’s exhibition celebrating the influence of rock-and-roll. Guests like Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney leaned into the moment with DIY “Rock Royalty” tees.
This year, the Met Gala embraced the theme “Costume Art,” with the dress code “Fashion Is Art.”
Kim Kardashian turned heads in a bespoke metallic tangerine and bronze fiberglass breastplate and bodysuit, created by Allen Jones and design duo Whitaker Malem.
Furby fever vs. prehistoric dinos: Toy trends across two eras
At the turn of the millennium, Tiger Electronics’ Furbies, interactive, owl-like robotic toys, were the must-have craze of 1999, dominating kids’ wish lists during the Knicks’ late-90s NBA surge.
Sneak a peek in the trending toy box through time — Furbies were all the rage in ’99, and now, kids are all about T. rex mania in ’26. David Lefranc
Now, as the NBA team continues its 2026 postseason run, the hottest toy at the moment is Spin Master’s Primal Hatch T. Rex — a “Jurassic World”–style interactive dinosaur that hatches from an egg and is captivating kids in a very different toy era.
Prestige TV: From 1999 mobsters to 2026 modern medicine
In 1999, HBO’s “The Sopranos” was the defining television event of its time — a critically acclaimed crime drama starring James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco and Edie Falco, created by David Chase.
James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano (left) ruled HBO — and north Jersey — in 1999, while “The Pitt” (right, with Noah Wyle) is a big hit on the longtime streamer. David Lefranc
Now in 2026, another HBO Max series is dominating the cultural conversation: “The Pitt,” a buzzy medical drama starring Noah Wyle, Katherine LaNasa and Taylor Dearden, created by showrunner R. Scott Gemmill.
Twenty-seven years later: So much of NYC has changed — except love for the Knicks
While the “Urban Jungle” has certainly transformed in many ways since 1999, one thing has remained the same here in New York City — the residents’ undying love for the NBA’s New York Knicks. Aristide Economopoulos for NY Post
From flip phones to FaceTime, CD wallets to streaming playlists, dial-up modems to instant everything — the Knicks’ return to the NBA Finals is also a reminder of just how much life in NYC has been rewired.
The city that once waited for Web pages to load now refreshes culture in real time, faster than ever. And yet, some things feel familiar. The Garden is still rocking. Die-hard celeb fans are still courtside.
Spike Lee proves to be a die-hard Knicks fan, often showing his support courtside in MSG. NBAE via Getty ImagesBen Stiller (center) is one of the Knicks’ most recognizable celeb devotees, often spotted at MSG, reacting to playoff highs on social media and even coordinating his Met Gala looks with the team’s colors. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
And when the Knicks win, the city still moves as one — louder, prouder, and now infinitely more online.
Twenty-seven years later, the Big Apple’s skyline has changed, the soundtrack has changed, and the technology has changed — but New York’s obsession with the Knicks?
After being swept out of the playoffs by the Knicks, the Sixers parted ways with Morey on May 12. Bob Myers, president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, led the search for the next front office leader. He wanted a versatile executive.
“I’m a big believer in character and leadership and I’m looking for a person that embodies those things,” Myers said at a May 14 press conference. “But there’s many characteristics under that which I believe qualify in making a modern GM a success.
“There’s front-facing responsibilities. There’s responsibilities in managing star players. There’s responsibilities in managing up to ownership. There’s contract negotiations, there’s the draft process, there’s evaluating analytics, there’s (working with) the medical staff.
“You go down the line and these jobs have an enormity to them. So I’m looking to find someone that can check as many of these boxes as possible, but also (someone) that can raise their hands and say, ‘Actually, I’m not good in this space. I’m going to need some support.’”
Sixers assistant general manager Jameer Nelson, Phoenix Mercury GM Nick U’Ren and and Timberwolves GM Matt Lloyd were other reported candidatesfor the position.ESPN reported that Gansey and U’Ren “were the finalists for the 76ers’ president job and both had separate final-stage meetings with team ownership this week on the east coast before the decision to hire Gansey was made on Friday.”
With the reported news that Mike Gansey is becoming 76ers' president of basketball operations, I asked @LaSalle_MBB coach Darris Nichols about Gansey:
"Gansey is one of my favorite teammates," Nichols, who played two seasons with Gansey at WVU, said via text. "Everyone in the… pic.twitter.com/cgpKa6RM4H
Cleveland’s front office has been willing to pull the trigger on major trades in recent years, including deals to add Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. The Cavs ultimately were eliminated a round later than the Sixers this season, falling to the Knicks in an Eastern Conference Finals sweep.
Regardless of how exactly Gansey proceeds, there’s no question the Sixers will aim to continue to draft well, find bargain role players and develop their in-house youngsters. With Gansey’s background in scouting and as both a D-League and NBA general manager, Myers decided he was the right fit.
One of the biggest question marks headed into the NBA’s offseason looks to have been answered before the Finals are even set.
According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler, who is set to be a restricted free agent this summer, is expected to re-sign and stay in Utah.
REPORT: Walker Kessler is expected to re-sign with the Jazz on a $25-$30M per year deal, per @TimBontemps.
“Given that neither Jackson nor fellow big man Lauri Markkanen is a full-time center, Kessler remains an important player in Utah's path back to contention in the Western… pic.twitter.com/TnFrSmmVGG
“The consensus is that Kessler is signing a new deal with the Jazz in the range of $25 million to $30 million a year,” Bontemps wrote.
Bontemps didn’t write any other details about the contract, just the estimated range and that he is expected to re-sign.
Assuming that Kessler does re-sign, the Jazz’s starting front court now seems to be locked in place, with Kessler at the five, Jaren Jackson Jr. at the four and seven-footer Lauri Markkanen at the three. Locking in Kessler helps to offset Jackson’s rebounding abilities — or lack thereof — and they are now one of the best shot blocking duos in the league.
In only five games in the 2025-26 season, Kessler averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. He also shot 70.3 % from the field and shot 6 of 8 from deep — albeit in only a five games, but the 3-point shooting is really enticing if legitimate.
Now that the Kessler contract saga seems to be solved, the next task for the Jazz will be to select a game-changer at the No. 2 draft pick, where most pundits believe that Utah will take Darryn Peterson from Kansas.
Brendan Lemieux, who followed his father into the NHL, wrote on Instagram. "I love you dad. My son's favorite person is going to watch from above for a while. We will see you." He added a heart emoji.
Claudia Lemieux Bishop, Claude's daughter, posted with a broken heart emoji, "No words to express the level of devastation we feel. I love you forever daddy. Forever your only girl."
Brendan and Claude were taken in the second round of the NHL draft. Though he didn't match Claude's scoring numbers, Brendan was a gritty player, like his father.
The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are headed to a final Game 7 matchup to determine which team will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
Oddsmakers believe that team will be the Thunder. NBA bettors are split.
The Thunder are -3.5 home favorites for Game 7 and are still favored to win the NBA Finals, despite being one game away from elimination.
Key Takeaways
The Thunder were favored by 4.5 or more points in three prior games as favorites.
BetMGM users are showing more support for the Thunder on the spread and more for the Spurs on the moneyline.
The Knicks, the only team to qualify for the Finals, still trail the Thunder in Finals odds.
Everyone knows the two best words in sports: Game Seven.
The Thunder and Spurs’ instant-classic series will see them head to Oklahoma City for one final time. BetMGM lists the Thunder as 3.5-point favorites and -165 (62.3% implied chance) on the moneyline, while the Spurs are +135 (42.6% chance).
Home teams were favored in every game in this series, although the Thunder’s 3.5-point advantage is the smallest of their four home games in the series.
Game 1: Thunder -6.5
Game 2: Thunder -6.5
Game 5: Thunder -4.5
Game 7: Thunder -3.5
BetMGM users can’t seem to agree on which team they’re backing in Saturday’s series finale. Currently, 59% of bets and 70% of the handle in the spread market are on Thunder -3.5, but 70% of tickets and 65% of the money in the moneyline market are on the Spurs, according to insights shared with Covers.
Neither the spread nor moneyline values have shifted since odds were first published after Game 6. The projected points total has increased one point from 211.5 to 212.5, with 69% of wagers and 72% of the pot favoring the over.
Who are bettors supporting in Spurs-Thunder?
While the Thunder are favored to win the Western Conference championship-decider, the Spurs can claim they have been the superior team in the series. They are +18 in aggregate score (678-660) and recorded wins of 27 and 21 points, while the Thunder’s largest win came by 15 points.
Betting trends have been nearly identical thus far. Both teams are 2-1 against the spread and on the moneyline at home and as favorites, and 1-2 on the road and as underdogs.
Series odds fluctuated dramatically based on the outcome of each game. The Spurs’ statement double-overtime victory on the road in Game 1 caused their price to shorten from +225 at opening to -105 heading into Game 2, although they have only lengthened since then. Their current +135 series value is as close as they’ve been.
The Thunder, -275 opening favorites, were only -115 after Game 1. They ballooned to -450 before Games 4 and 6 and sit at -160 entering the final matchup.
Although a dominant 74% of series bets are for the Spurs to win, an even larger 76% of the money is on the Thunder to advance.
The five most bet player props at BetMGM throughout the series, based on tickets, are:
Luguentz Dort under 5.5 points
Julian Champagnie under 5.5 rebounds
De’Aaron Fox under 4.5 rebounds
Jared McCain under 2.5 three-pointers
Chet Holmgren under 14.5 points
NBA Finals odds update
Team
BetMGM
DraftKings
FanDuel
Oklahoma City Thunder
+125
+125
+125
New York Knicks
+200
+200
+210
San Antonio Spurs
+240
+245
+230
BetMGM’s NBA Finals odds have the Thunder ahead at +125 (44.4% chance). The Knicks — the only team that has reached the championship round — are second at +200 (33.3% chance). The Spurs round out the bottom at +240 (29.4% chance).
BetMGM has not published look-ahead lines for potential series matchups between the Knicks and Thunder and the Knicks and Spurs. DraftKings, however, had the Thunder (-265) and Spurs (-225) both favored in hypothetical Finals matchups.
The St. Louis Cardinals are coming off a frustrating sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers and left some of us feeling like the magic could be gone. It is a tough time to happen as the Cardinals are in the middle of a long stretch of games against the NL Central with the Chicago Cubs coming to town this evening.
Of course, the Cubs have been going through trying times of their own ever since Chicagoland MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong decided to partake in some fan banter. After having two separate winning streaks of at least 10 games, the Cubs continued their streaky season with a more fun to watch 10-game losing streak. As good as it was to see, I am personally glad they were able to take the last two games in Pittsburgh because Chicago is not a team that is bad enough to lose 14 in a row.
Since most of our focus has been on the Cardinals season and when Pete Crow-Armstrong messes up, I decided to have some Cubs content guys on the podcast to break the team down a little further. Paul “Crawly” Dzien from Fly the W podcast and Jared Wyllys from CHGO joined to talk about the roller coaster of a season that has seen the Cubs go on two separate 10-game winning streaks before just ending a 10-game losing streak. Even with the ups and downs, neither of them are overly scared about this series or the Cardinals in general.
Previewing the Cubs and Cardinals series with a rivalry flashback
Midway through the pod, I tried baiting the guys into saying they were worried about the Cardinals getting their Devil Magic back from the Brewers, but neither Jim nor I could get them to admit it. Jared and Crawly are more focused on their team and their own roster holes instead of the Cardinals or even the Brewers. Since that did not work to get their blood boiling, we wrapped up the show by sharing our favorite and most annoying moments from the best rivalry in baseball. Make sure you tune into those and drop your memories in the comments!
There may be some slight changes in the podcast posting schedule in the near future and I will update you all as those come. I appreciate all the love and support so far, please keep liking, subscribing, and sharing the show. It really does help when you guys click those buttons, so send it along to a Cubs fan in your life and lets get this rivalry heated again! Thanks as always!
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 24: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Boston Celtics during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 108-100. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kelly Oubre Jr. had yet another season of showing up consistently when the Sixers’ competitiveness was often all over the place.
In 31.5 minutes per game through the regular season, he averaged 14.1 points on a career-high 58 true shooting percentage, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals. Oubre’s well and truly proven his strengths over his tenure with the Sixers now. The athleticism — paired with his consistent energy — has been such a welcome addition. He can effectively defend forwards and a range of guards with his size, lateral quickness and physicality, being able to take on pretty tough assignments at either position.
And despite not always taking the best shots himself, he did improve his shot diet with a higher frequency of threes this season (up from 32.7 percent of his total field goal attempts in 2024-25 to 43.9 percent this year). He provides quality cutting, finishing, transition play, and enough downhill scoring as a driver to complement the team’s stars in a variety of ways. He just had his best three-point shooting year yet, making a career-high 36 percent of his 4.8 attempts per game. That increased three-point volume did mean his attempts at the rim dropped somewhat, yet he still made a highly accurate 68.9 percent of his attempts within three feet. With his confidence, explosiveness, size and finishing, Oubre is still a threat attacking downhill.
Shooting slumps in a small sample can obviously happen any time, and unfortunately for Oubre it struck in this year’s playoffs. Oubre had space to fire from three but only hit 25.6 percent (10-of-39) of his attempts in the postseason. That’ll always be the swing factor that turns Oubre from being a starter-level piece of this team to someone who’d you’d maybe rather play 25-30 minutes off the bench.
Now, as Oubre gets into another summer of training, he wants to continue building on the shooting work he did last offseason. The plan is to take what he believes led him to some improvement and go a step further. He wants to introduce even more game-like situations in training to polish his shooting as much as possible, and continue working on his IQ, making reads, and seeing how plays can develop before they happen.
“Every year that I’ve come into this league, I’ve learned something, and I’ve grown in some areas,” Oubre summarised when speaking to reporters after the season ended. “So I want to continue that trend.”
Beyond his training focuses, the future is uncertain right now for Oubre. He’s set to hit free agency now that his great value two-year, $16.3 million contract is up. Keeping him for something close to that would be ideal for the Sixers’ wing depth.
When speaking at the end of the season, there was plenty for Oubre to reflect on. He certainly sounded interested in staying, but he’s unsure what to expect from free agency.
“I haven’t really been able to decompress, but I would say we took a step forward from the efforts that we put out last year,” Oubre said when looking back at how the season ended. “I think that we were able to build some form of camaraderie, some form of brotherhood throughout our trials and tribulations this year. And that’s all you can kind of ask for.
“And I would say I can’t really give it a grade, but I had fun. I enjoyed all my teammates. Everybody’s an amazing human being and a brother to me. And it just stings to go out like this, but at the end of the day, man, we made sure that we kept tight huddles throughout it all, because we’re all in this together.”
“I love my guys,” Oubre said to cap off his reflection of the team.
He also expressed how much he feels he learned this season.
“The game of basketball has reinvented itself to me through different lenses and different eyes throughout my tenure here. And I’m forever appreciative for the opportunity to play for the city. And obviously I don’t like how I ended. So I always say, I like to finish what I start. And this is a bit sour for me, but at the end of the day, man, it’s already written. God already has it written up upstairs, and it’s just gonna follow through. So I hope I did myself a good service by being more efficient, slowing down, and just playing better overall basketball. And just continue to grow as a human being and as a player.”
Given Oubre’s been in the league 11 years, played on five different teams, and has already earned over $80 million in that time, it’s only fair that Oubre is thinking a lot about his family in all this as well. When asked about what he’s hoping for in a free agency situation and what his priority is, he made it clear how much his family and stability will factor into his decision.
“Somewhere where I’m loved, just somewhere where my family can be comfortable,” he said when describing what he’s after. “I have a family now. So it’s not like I’m thinking for myself and being able to do spontaneous stuff, right? So I just want my kids to have some somewhere that they can call home. I’m gonna go out there, I’m gonna grind with my hard hat on and go to work. But what I do is for my family, and I just want them to be stable somewhere and to not have to worry about anything when it comes to their lives, being uprooted and figuring out things on the fly.”
Staying in Philadelphia would certainly tick the stability box for Oubre and his family. It would give him stability from a career standpoint as well. To continue in a role where he’s finding increased success as an important factor on the team.
Even if the Sixers want to try saving a little on Oubre’s annual salary, perhaps offering him a longer term contract — let’s say three years — is the way to give him the stability he seeks and keep the team’s salary cap and possible apron issues in check.
Oubre may not be able to repeat the increased three-point success he had in 2025-26, but he has improved his composure on offense. That plus his drive game, versatile defense, work on the glass, and athletic energy all around makes him a player worth keeping. If the Sixers can sell Oubre on the value of stability, staying with a team he loves, and (potentially) a contract with more years in free agency over a shorter more expensive deal elsewhere, perhaps this partnership can continue working for both sides.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 26: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals watches a two-run homer during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on May 26, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nats were unable to pull off the sweep in Cleveland, dropping the game Thursday 3-2, but in 2026 Nationals fashion, they went down swinging, scoring one in the 9th and getting the tying run to second base. The club heads home now after an exciting road trip in which they went 4-2, beating two division-leading ballclubs in two series. There to greet the Nats at home is a Padres team in a playoff spot, but who have 4 games in a row.
The Padres have played good baseball this season, but if you were to just look at how their stars were playing, you probably wouldn’t believe so. The 2 best regulars in the Padres lineup this season have been Gavin Sheets and Miguel Andujar, as Jackson Merrill has regressed once again in his junior campaign, Father Time is catching up to Manny Machado, and Fernando Tatis Jr has amazingly gone 54 games into the season without homering, leaving him and Nasim Nunez as the only two qualified hitters to not have homered yet.
Pitching has kept the Padres alive while their stars falter, specifically the bullpen, as their team’s relief ERA of 3.07 ranks 2nd in baseball, behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mason Miller leads the charge with his sub-1 ERA, but others such as Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam, Wandy Peralta, and more have stepped up and played their part as well.
Game One – Friday 6:45 PM EST
SDP: RHP Lucas Giolito (2-0, 2.70 ERA)
WSH: RHP Paxton Schultz (0-2, 5.30 ERA)
After going through the winter and Spring Training unsigned, Giolito finally found a home with the Padres back in April on a one-year deal. After taking a few weeks to ramp up, he’s been effective so far in his 2 starts for them, throwing 5 scoreless innings against the Athletics in his last start.
Paxton Schultz will open up tonight’s ballgame for the Nats, before handing things off to Andrew Alvarez for the bulk of the innings work. Outside of a 6-run barrage from the Mets, Schultz has been effective in May for the Nats, allowing 1 run in the other 8 1/3 innings of work, and tonight he will make his first opener appearance of the year.
Game Two- Saturday 4:05 PM EST
SDP: RHP Michael King (4-3, 2.76 ERA)
WSH: TBD (Probable: LHP Foster Griffin)
King has been the ace the Padres need this season, posting a dazzling 2.76 ERA in 11 starts. He got roughed up for 4 runs in 3 2/3 innings last time out versus the Athletics, so hopefully the Nats can do the same to him Saturday night.
The Nats have yet to announce their Saturday starter, but it will be Foster Griffin’s turn in the rotation. After back-to-back rough starts, Griffin refound his form in Atlanta, throwing 6 scoreless innings and earning the victory.
Game Three – Sunday 1:35 PM EST
SDP: RHP Griffin Canning (0-3, 7.54 ERA)
WSH: TBD (Probable: RHP Zack Littell, or an opener followed by Littell)
Griffin Canning gets the ball for the Padres on Sunday, and while the ERA may look rough, it mainly stems from 2 of his 5 starts so far this year going very poorly, allowing 6 runs in both. In his last 2 starts, Canning has allowed 3 runs each, so hopefully the Nats get to face the worse version of Canning on Sunday.
No Nats starter has been announced for Sunday’s ballgame either, but it will be Zack Littell’s turn in the rotation, meaning it will likely either be him or an opener followed by him. Littell had his best appearance of the year last time out and one of the biggest by a Nat all season, throwing 7 innings of one-run ball in Cleveland in a blowout, allowing an exhausted bullpen to take the day off.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 22: Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on May 22, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Heading into the 2026 campaign, we all knew who Austin Wells was as a hitter. His wRC+ ranged between 94 and 107 every season from 2023 to 2025, and he developed 20-homer power last year with a .436 slugging percentage. He racked up 3.5 fWAR in 2024 and earned a 3.0 mark last campaign.
He has regressed offensively this year, though, struggling to the tune of a .176/.288/.275 line, just four homers in 153 plate appearances, a 62 wRC+, and 0.4 fWAR, mostly fueled by his still steady defensive contributions. Wells has been particularly bad in May, slashing an unfathomable .148/.212/.197 with an 18 (!) wRC+. He has a 7.6 percent walk rate and a horrible 37.9 percent strikeout rate this month, with a .049 isolated power and just one extra-base hit, a home run.
Of course, everything starts at the plate. That elevated strikeout rate makes it virtually impossible for a hitter to succeed, let alone someone who hasn’t really been showing home-run power. In May, Wells has a 14 percent swinging strike rate (SwStr%), higher than his 12.5 percent mark for his career. In addition to the whiffs, his contact rate has plummeted to 71.2 percent this month, down from 74.9 percent in his MLB tenure.
If we examine his season numbers as a whole, not just May, it does seem that he is being too passive at times. He is sporting a career-high 14.8 percent called strike rate, and a career-low 46.9 percent swing percentage. He is also swinging at pitches inside the zone at a 67.3 percent rate, much lower than his career mark of 72 percent and last year’s 71.5 percent.
On top of that, even though his chase percentage is actually marginally better this year than last, he has had some ugly swings out of the zone that often result in strikeouts. It’s like he gives up on at-bats at times, or is not fully focused:
As you can see in the videos above, down-and-away breaking balls are murdering Wells, who has looked helpless with two strikes on the count. This is probably why he has been so vulnerable against lefties, with a horrible -3 wRC+ this season against them as opposed to a 97 mark versus righties. Basically, if you are a southpaw, or a right-hander with a good changeup or splitter with arm-side movement, you have the upper hand against Wells.
Of course, there’s also the luck factor, which can’t be completely ignored. Wells’ .046 gap between his .259 wOBA and his .305 xwOBA is the 13th largest in the entire league among qualified hitters. This doesn’t mean he has been good, but that’s not the case, but his numbers should be a bit better based on his quality (and quantity) of contact.
It’s not like it’s all been bad with Wells. His 13.7 percent walk rate ranks in the 88th percentile among MLB hitters, and he ranks in the 90th percentile in Fielding Run Value, per Statcast. He remains a phenomenal framer and a good defensive catcher, not to mention a patient hitter willing to walk. However, he needs to hit if he’s going to remain the Yankees’ starting catcher in 2026 and beyond. It’s that simple.
The Yankees can surely tolerate a wRC+ between 85 and 95 if it means a catcher makes the difference behind the dish, which is the case with Wells. A 62 mark, however, is hard to stomach. Unless the Yankees are willing to start using Ben Rice at catcher more often, which hasn’t happened at all this year, or give more playing time to J.C. Escarra, they have no choice but to stick with Wells through his offensive struggles.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 26: Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) celebrates with Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll (7) after hitting a 2 run home run during a MLB game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants on May 26, 2026 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Trinity Machan/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Mariners finally put together a complete series with every part of the roster firing on all cylinders. That it came against the division leading Athletics and led to a sweep, launching the M’s into first place in the AL West makes it all the sweeter. The team still isn’t above .500 yet — it’s a weird year in the West — but they’ve got momentum on their side and are staring down at all their rivals once again.
The Diamondbacks entered this season in a weird place. They haven’t been able to build off of their surprise World Series appearance back in 2023 despite investing a bunch of money into their roster the last few years. The issue is that Corbin Burnes and a bunch of their best relievers got injured and the rest of the pitching staff wasn’t deep enough to cover for those absences. That led to a pretty dramatic sell off last summer, though all of the team’s core pieces were left intact. That’s the reason why they’ve been so competitive this year — it really helps when your two superstars carry the offense through the first few months of the season. Those injured pitchers should be returning sometime around midseason which means the team is actually in a good place right now to take advantage of those reinforcements in the summer.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
Ketel Marte
2B
S
227
15.0%
7.0%
0.200
124
Corbin Carroll
RF
L
222
22.5%
13.5%
0.261
162
Geraldo Perdomo
SS
S
220
13.2%
14.5%
0.112
94
Nolan Arenado
3B
R
194
18.0%
9.3%
0.188
127
Ryan Waldschmidt
CF
R
70
30.0%
8.6%
0.111
121
Ildemaro Vargas
1B
S
199
10.6%
3.5%
0.181
126
Gabriel Moreno
C
R
121
20.7%
8.3%
0.150
100
Adrian Del Castillo
DH
L
124
30.6%
7.3%
0.140
62
Tommy Troy (MiLB)
LF
R
205
24.4%
12.7%
0.142
109
The Diamondbacks have a well-rounded lineup anchored by two superstars. Ketel Marte has been one of the hottest hitters on the planet the past few weeks; since May 9, he’s collected 29 hits in just 17 games, raising his season wRC+ up to 124. He had really struggled to start the season so this hot streak seems like his results correcting themselves to where his peripherals said he should be. Over that same period, Corbin Carroll has collected 22 hits, though that’s a pretty normal output since he’s been excellent throughout the season. Geraldo Perdomo enjoyed a huge breakout last year, though he’s struggled in his follow up season. He’s still got a fantastic approach at the plate, but the power that fueled his breakout has all but disappeared.
Arizona has also promoted their two top prospects recently; Ryan Waldschmidt has taken over in center field after the team designated Alek Thomas for assignment and Tommy Troy is covering for the injured Lourdes Gurriel Jr. On the other end of the age spectrum, Nolan Arenado has played well in his first season in Arizona, producing his best offensive output since 2022, and Ildemaro Vargas is enjoying a breakout season at the ripe age of 34.
Zac Gallen suffered through the worst season of his career last year, his final year of team control before hitting the open market as a free agent. It could not have been worse timing. With a qualifying offer attached to him, he received very little interest from other teams and wound up re-signing with Arizona in February. Things haven’t been any better this year. Even at his peak, Gallen survived not through overpowering stuff but with a deep repertoire, command, and deception. Without much margin for error to begin with, it certainly seems like all those tricks have failed him the past two years.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Ryne Nelson
60
19.3%
7.5%
11.2%
30.4%
4.65
4.82
Bryan Woo
63.2
23.0%
5.5%
6.6%
33.3%
3.82
3.19
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
56.4%
59.1%
96.3
109
97
89
0.351
Sinker
9.4%
0.9%
95.5
82
Cutter
3.0%
14.6%
92.8
92
Curveball
2.1%
15.4%
80.5
100
Slider
29.0%
10.0%
88.4
109
98
118
0.290
Ryne Nelson possesses a phenomenal fastball. He throws it with nearly perfect backspin and it has a ton of carry at the top of the zone as a result. When batters aren’t swinging underneath it, they’re popping it up or hitting lazy fly balls. Unfortunately, one plus pitch is about all he has. His secondary pitches are average at best and he relies far too heavily on his heater to get outs. His slider has shown a little bit of promise, though he just doesn’t use it enough to help him earn strikeouts. His other problem is that he doesn’t really have a pitch to keep left-handed batters at bay; he dabbled with a changeup in the past but it didn’t stick. Now he’s using a cutter to try and keep batters off his four-seamer, but they’re just crushing the cutter when they see it instead.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Merrill Kelly
48
15.0%
9.7%
11.6%
32.9%
5.25
5.19
Bryce Miller
16
22.6%
3.2%
11.8%
44.4%
2.25
3.32
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
19.1%
31.1%
91.8
88
64
65
0.462
Sinker
14.4%
4.3%
92.3
88
Cutter
15.0%
15.1%
91.0
87
73
51
0.398
Changeup
13.4%
34.9%
88.2
82
102
49
0.450
Curveball
8.1%
12.8%
82.0
89
Slider
30.0%
1.8%
86.3
97
122
154
0.256
After being traded to the Rangers at the trade deadline last summer, Merrill Kelly came right back and re-signed with the Diamondbacks this offseason. A nerve issue in his back sidelined him this spring and he was forced to ramp up on a delayed timeline. He wound up missing the first three weeks of the season. He had trouble with his command and feel once he was back on the mound, which is a big problem because his command and feel are essentially the only way he’s been able to be successful throughout his career. He doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but knows how to use his deep repertoire to keep batters off balance when he can hit his spots. His best pitch is a hard changeup that dives off the table and a slider that is getting a lot more use this year.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Mariners
28-29
0.491
+24
L-L-W-W-W
Athletics
27-29
0.482
0.5
-25
L-W-L-L-L
Astros
26-32
0.448
2.5
-37
W-W-L-W-W
Rangers
25-31
0.446
2.5
-5
L-L-W-L-L
Angels
22-35
0.386
6.0
-56
W-W-W-L-W
After failing their test against the Mariners, the Athletics now host the Yankees for three games this weekend. The Astros took three of four from the Rangers this week and swapped places with them in the standings. Despite their early season struggles, Houston is now only 2.5 games back in the division thanks to a 7-3 record over their last 10 games. The Astros host the Brewers this weekend while the Rangers host the Royals.
May 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
They don’t hand out MVP awards for the NLDS. But I believe the most valuable player in the Phillies’ playoff series against the Dodgers in 2025 was Roki Sasaki.
After dominating in the Japanese Pacific League in 2024, the Phillies pursued the young pitcher. But the appeal of playing on the west coast with countryman Shohei Ohtani was too much for Sasaki to pass up, and he joined the Dodgers. Adding insult to injury, the Phillies actually helped facilitate the signing.
Roki Sasaki will receive a $6.5M signing bonus from the Dodgers. LAD had $5.14M of bonus pool, but processed a trade with the Phillies for OF prospect Dylan Campbell to add (presumably $1.5M) enough to seal the deal. https://t.co/RiDUWN8n7Q
He was regarded as the top prospect in baseball before the season began, but injuries limited him to just eight starts. However, he rejoined the team in September, and was moved to the bullpen where he pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
Heading into the playoffs, the bullpen was regarded as the Dodgers’ only potential weakness, but the addition of a hard-throwing fresh pitcher helped cover up that flaw nicely. He closed out the first two games of the series, and then in the pivotal game four, he pitched three perfect innings, setting up the Dodgers’ 11th inning victory.
Roki Sasaki is unbelievable.
He just flew through the 8th and 9th innings against the heart of the Phillies order.
The Dodgers hoped that he would rejoin the team’s rotation in 2026 and build upon that performance, but he’s been far from dominant this season. He’s got a 4.93 ERA, mostly due to high walk totals.
He’s scheduled to face the Phillies on Saturday night. Can the Phillies get some modicum of revenge, or will he once again dominate their lineup?
Trivia
Last week’s answer: Aside from Citizens Bank Park and American Family Field, the park that Rhys Hoskins has homered in the most is New York’s Citi Field. (I’m not 100% sure, but I’m pretty sure he was the last Phillie to actually hit a home run there.) MG77 was correct!
This week’s question: Who was the only Phillie to record a hit against Roki Sasaki in the 2025 NLDS?
Additional thought about the series
It’s extremely frustrating that the Dodgers can get subpar performances from star hitters Mookie Betts and Kyle Tucker and still be comfortably in first place. Because it’s the Dodgers, they just have Andy Pages step up and lead the National League in WAR.
Andy Pages season pace:
37 home runs⁰144 RBI⁰20 stolen bases⁰329 total bases⁰34 defensive runs saved⁰10.7 bWAR | 8.1 fWAR
— Paul Hembekides (Hembo) (@PaulHembo) May 28, 2026
And then there’s Shohei Ohtani. He’s having a good season, but it’s been a drop off from his numbers the past three years. (If he was on the Phillies, his .882 OPS might make some wonder if he was no longer elite.) The Phillies have done a good job keeping him in check in past matchups, and had the NLDS gone differently, his 1-18 performance in that series would have been the big story.)
His pitching may be receiving more attention than his hitting this season, since he has a 0.82 ERA. Some have said he’s been the best pitcher in baseball this season, but let’s not get carried away. Cristopher Sanchez has pitched 44.2 consecutive scoreless innings while Ohtani has pitched just 55 innings total.
They won’t face Ohtani on the mound this weekend, but they will presumably see him at the plate. Oddly, despite the Phillies’ overall success against Ohtani, Friday night’s starter Zack Wheeler hasn’t been able to get him out. Ohtani has reached base in five out his six plate appearances against Wheeler. So maybe it’s a good thing that Wheeler missed the playoffs last year? (Narrator: It was not a good thing.)
DENVER, CO - May 1: Atlanta Braves pitcher Anthony Molina (61) pitches in the sixth inning during a game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 1, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Despite garnering 14% of the vote in our alternative Player of the Game poll after the Braves were shut out in Boston, Carlos Carrasco has been designated for assignment for the third time this season. If the last two go-arounds are anything to go by, the minor league contract is piping-hot off the printer and his locker in Gwinnett is untouched, awaiting his return.
In all seriousness, his four innings of relief after Bryce Elder’s struggles on Wednesday were a gift that saved many of the arms in the bullpen. This is huge for our big three of Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez, and Raisel Iglesias, who will be especially well-rested ahead of this three-game set in Cincinnati since they weren’t needed in yesterday’s blowout.
In his place, the Braves have recalled a fresh arm in righty Anthony Molina, who will join the club for his second stint this season. His lone outing came in Colorado, where he pitched two perfect innings (with one walk allowed) before being optioned back down to Triple-A.
The #Braves today recalled RHP Anthony Molina to Atlanta and designated RHP Carlos Carrasco for assignment.
Head to NBC and Peacock this Saturday night to watch Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs go head-to-head with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. Live coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on Peacock before transitioning to NBC and Peacock at 7:30 p.m. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder Game Preview:
With their backs against the wall on home court, Wembanyama and the Spurs were able to force Game 7. San Antonio never trailed in Thursday night's 118-91 win. Wembanyama had 28 points and 10 rebounds. Dylan Harper scored 18 points and 6 rebounds off the bench, and Stephon Castle finished with 17 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds.
“All of our focus and attention was on the defensive end,” Castle said. “I don't think scoring against them has been a problem for us. … So when we're focused on defense and we're getting stops and being able to get out of the run and get easy looks, it makes the game pretty simple for us.”
Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 15 points in the loss.
“Anything can happen in a Game 7,” said the two-time reigning MVP. “You have to go out there and be the better basketball team or your season is done.”
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
The England head coach has five key challenges to address in the buildup to next week’s first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s
For all that the series was obviously a failure, England were competitive for periods of most of the Ashes Tests. But McCullum has repeatedly conceded that in the key moments when matches tend to be decided his side have a habit of stumbling. The question is why, and on Friday he made the telling admission: “I thought some of our guys were more ready for the pressure that was coming in Australia than they [actually] were.” So he has had to reconsider how to best prepare for such intangibles. England were widely condemned for a lackadaisical buildup to the first Ashes Test but McCullum implied that his players’ problem was not down to poor preparation, but actually to poor, or insufficient, coaching. Given that the removal of pressure has always been at the very heart of his coaching philosophy, this is essentially an admission of failure. “That’s always been one of our things, to try and take pressure away from the guys,” he said. “[But] it’s going to land with some guys before it’s going to land with others, and our job is to make sure it lands with everyone a little quicker than maybe it has done.” McCullum is now clear that for his players to overcome pressure he does not just have to create good vibes, but also put in hard work. “It’s making sure we’re a little bit more drilled down on some of those tactics so the guys have got absolute clarity in those pressure moments, so that we can hopefully be able to handle those better than we have in the bigger series so far,” he said.
Kurt Helin