May 7, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber (12) is congratulated by first baseman Bryce Harper (3) after hitting a home run against the Athletics at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
This might be the easiest top three we have had in a while. Guess that is what happens when the team is playing good baseball – you have players performing well!
Three up
Bryce Harper – I usually don’t mess around with leaderboards on the bigger numbers until Memorial Day. I’ll use them for searching for specific things that are more granular in nature, or if I’m looking for something that fits my very specific purpose in life. So today, I changed things up and brought up the Fangraphs leaderboards for hitters. Most of the time, filtering by wRC+ shows you the best hitters in the game currently and you’d expect to see the same names. Judge, Ohtani, Yordan – these are the names that are familiar at the top. Twelfth in the game right now? Bryce Harper, holding a 159 wRC+ on the year. His season has been outstanding thus far, this week a particular example (.429/.520/1.048 in 25 PA). Sometimes, we just forget how good Harper really is.
Kyle Schwarber – Want to know who’s eleventh on said leaderboard? One Kyle Schwarber, two points ahead of Harper with a 161 wRC+. He’s on his patented heater, smashing five home runs this week, which is truly what happens when this offense is clicking. Overall, the offense hit 14 home runs on the week altogether. Not too shabby.
Brandon Marsh – It’s hard to leave off a guy who hit .519/.533/.593 on the week, so Marsh gets the third nod here. Sure, we’d rather a lot of those hits be of the extra base variety, but thinking back to when they were doing nothing at the plate during their losing streak, singles are great too.
(bonus!) Cristopher Sanchez – I mean, you can’t leave a guy off a top three that had two starts in which he didn’t allow a run over 15 innings in a week, or over 20+ innings in his last three starts. Sanchez is locked back in at the moment.
Three down
Andrew Painter – Here’s a question: if the team had a viable option in Lehigh Valley that they believed could come to the majors and make a few starts effectively, without overtaxing the bullpen each time that turn in the rotation came around, do you think they’d give Painter a quick timeout in the minors? He was dreadful against the Athletics, which we still should contextualize as just one start, but it showcased some of the concerns that are surrounding the young starter. It’s still very early to worry about anything LONG long term, but this wasn’t a good week for him.
Jesus Luzardo – Luzardo had zero idea where the strike zone was for much of his Friday night start. It was reminiscent of his midseason hiccup last year, which is a shame because he had three really good starts in a row. Of course, the usual undercurrent of pitch tipping was there, but he just kind of stunk Friday.
backup catching – When J.T. Realmuto got hurt, one might not have expected the backup catchers to bring all of the value Realmuto brings to the team, but maybe some kind of semblance of offensive aptitude. Yet this week is a stark reminder: when Realmuto gets hurt and has to miss any chunks of time, the Phillies are in real trouble behind the plate. At least Garrett Stubbs can contribute on the mound…
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Xavier Neyens #9 of the Houston Astros in the field during the third inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (18-21) lost 5-4 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning on a Perez 3 run home run. Sugar Land got another run in the third inning on an Alexander RBI double. Weiss got the start and was solid allowing 1 run over 4.2 innings. The bullpen struggled a bit allowing 2 runs in the 6th and then 2 more runs in the 8th as the Isotopes took the lead. The offense was unable to respond as Sugar Land fell 5-4.
Ryan Weiss, RHP: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Joey Mancini, RHP: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Tom Cosgrove, LHP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (15-18) lost 11-5 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board in the first inning scoring 2 runs on a Whitaker 2 run single. They picked up 2 more runs in the 4th on a Lytle RBI single and Hernandez RBI double. Dombroski got the start and went 4.2 innings allowing 4 runs. The Hooks retook the lead in the 6th scoring a run on a wild pitch. The Cardinals took the lead in the 7th scoring 5 runs and then got 2 more runs in the 8th.
A+: Asheville Tourists (8-25) lost 17-4 (BOX SCORE)
The Emperors scored 2 in the first inning but Asheville responded with 2 runs on a Brutcher 2 run home run. DeVos, who got the start, continued to struggle allowing 11 runs over 3.1 innings. Steinbaugh allowed another 4 runs as Rome extended their lead. The offense got one in the 3rd on a Schiavone solo home run and another in the 7th on a Schiavone bases loaded walk. Rome added a few more and the offense was quiet the rest of the way as Asheville fell 17-4.
Eurys Martich, RHP: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (13-20) won 7-6 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers jumped out to a big lead scoring 5 runs in the first inning on a Neyens RBI single, Sierra RBI single and Flores 3 run home run. Smith got the start but struggled allowing 5 runs over 4.2 innings. The Woodpeckers retook the lead with a Sierra RBI single. They picked up another run in the 7th on a Cauro groundout. Carrera was solid in relief allowing just one unearned run in the 9th as he held on for the save.
A day after scoring 13 runs the day before, the Toledo Mud Hens had just six hits in an 8-1 loss, ending the series with the Memphis Redbirds tied at three games apiece.
Max Anderson and Andrew Navigato each had two hits, Ben Malgeri drove in the only Mud Hens run of the day and Tomas Nido scored that run after reaching on a double in the eighth. Toledo had baserunners in each of the first three innings, but there was no follow-up to any of those moments.
Carlos Pena was strong in his seventh start of the year, but he only went three innings after going two on Wednesday. The pitching situation in Detroit means Toledo has to figure things out on the fly, so bullpen games are happening in Triple-A, too.
Pena didn’t miss a ton of bats in this one, but he’s not giving up hard contact either. The result is outs and an ERA down to 0.90 over 29 1/3 innings this year. He only gave up two hits today and didn’t allow any runs.
Tyler Mattison was first out of the bullpen, and he was even better than Pena. Two innings, one hit, one walk and five strikeouts. He landed five first-pitch strikes in eight tries and had a whiff rate of 44% (7/16) today.
The sixth inning is when the trouble started. Yoniel Curet was wild as wild can be, hitting two batters and walking a pair. The second hit-by-pitch scored the first run of the game and got him yanked. That’s really as bad as it can get.
Eric Silva cleaned up Curet’s mess the best he could, but a second run still scored on a groundout. Silva got through the seventh, walking a batter in each inning, but everything else was fine until the eighth came around. Silva gave up a leadoff double, threw a wild pitch and allowed a third run to score on a single from our old friend Bligh Madris. A two-run homer from Ramon Mendoza made it 5-0 and got Silva pulled.
Matt Seelinger took over and walked the first batter he faced, but a strikeout and double play ended the inning without any more damage. Jack Little got the ninth and gave up three more runs. Rough day for the pitching staff, besides Pena and Mattison.
Anderson: 2-4
Navigato: 2-3, 2 2B (4), K
Pena: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K
Mattison: 2.0 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 5 K
Coming Up Next: The Mudhens are in Omaha next week, starting at 7:35 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Erie couldn’t get back in the win column on Sunday, dropping the Mother’s Day game against the Harrisburg Senators, 5-3. Still, it’s a 4-2 week for the SeaWolves.
Erie scored first thanks to an error and two singles. Thayron Liranzo got the RBI. That was all the scoring for the SeaWolves until the eighth, though.
From earlier…Thayron Liranzo rips and RBI single to right center to score John Peck. pic.twitter.com/OOBtIcv9pO
As most Sundays go in the minors, the SeaWolves pieced together a bullpen game on the mound, throwing five pitchers, with none going more than two innings.
Luke Taggart got the start and went 1-2-3 in the first. Duque Hebbert was next. He worked around a two-out base hit and a walk in the second, but he had no such luck in the third. Cayden Wallace tripled in Elijah Nunez, who reached on a one-out walk, Sam Peterson drove in Wallace with a sac fly, and back-to-back homers from Kervin Pichardo and Caleb Lomavita made it 4-1.
John Stankiewicz came in to get out of the third, but he gave up another run with a pair of singles and a wild pitch. The fourth went better for him, retiring the side after allowing a leadoff single.
Wandisson Charles got the fifth and sixth. He faced the minimum despite giving up a leadoff single in the latter frame. A double-play cleaned things up nicely.
Moises Rodriguez got the final two innings for Erie. He gave up a hit in each inning, but his three strikeouts were enough to make us forget about that. Nice work from the backend duo today.
Both of the SeaWolves’ extra-base hits came in the eighth. John Peck led off with a double, and Andrew Jenkins homered him in. That cut the four-run deficit in half, but it was too little, too late.
Andrew Jenkins crushes a 2-run homer 385 feet to left…and nearly takes out the cashier in the Rally Galley in the process. pic.twitter.com/KlN65PstW4
West Michigan lost game No. 14 in a row on Sunday, 8-4, against the Dayton Dragons, capping off another sweep.
If you’re wondering, at least three minor league teams have lost more games in a row in recent memory. The Rocket City Trash Pandas had 16 last year, the Altoona Curve lost 15 in a row in 2024 and the Rochester Red Wings went 0-19 in 2022.
The silver lining is that Bryce Rainer had an incredible night at the plate. He walked four times — seeing 30 pitches over those plate appearances — and hit his second home run in the first inning. Rainer has struggled a bit since coming off an injury, but this is the guy every prospect junkie knows him to be. He’s made some adjustments to his posture, standing a little more upright now with higher hands, although it’s still a pretty busy load. That should open up the pull field more for him, as it did with this blast.
Bryce Rainer crushes a 2-run homer to right center to give West Michigan the lead. Left his bat at 112 MPH according to @ThatDanHastypic.twitter.com/FWNjjulPLs
The 2-0 lead didn’t last long, though, as Dayton scored a run in the second and third innings off Gabriel Reyes. It was a bit of a mixed bag for Reyes today. Seven hits and two walks aren’t good, but six strikeouts and only allowing the two runs are.
West Michigan responded in the fourth with a run. Rainer walked to open the frame and was eventually driven in by Juan Hernandez. Reyes came back out in the fifth with a lead, but he couldn’t get through the inning to qualify for the potential win. Seth Chavez took over with two on and one out and got a double play ball right away.
Juan Hernández singles to the right side and Bryce Rainer (BB) comes around to score and give West Michigan a 3-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/b0XVS7cYDY
Chavez wasn’t as good in the sixth. A leadoff double is always a bad omen. Dayton put up a crooked number, scoring three runs on as many singles. West Michigan manager Rene Rivera got tossed after the third one for arguing balls and strikes. It was a horrible call on 0-2, and Rivera took a mound visit to yell at the umpire a bit. He was ejected before he even got to the mound, so he got his money’s worth.
Ethan Sloan took over with the score at 5-3 in favor of Dayton. He was nearly perfect through 1 2/3 innings, allowing one baserunner on a fielding error. CJ Weins relieved Sloan in the eighth and gave up a two-run home run to double the deficit.
West Michigan scored in the bottom half of the eighth on a bases-loaded walk, but Dayton got the run right back in the ninth with a solo homer. Maybe they’ll figure out a way to win next week…
Rainer: 1-1, HR (2), 2 R, 2 RBI, 4 BB
Reyes: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps are on the road next week against the Great Lakes Loons, starting Tuesday at 11:05 a.m. ET.
The Lakeland Flying Tigers took Sunday’s game against the St. Lucie Mets, 8-3, to secure a 4-2 series win.
Carson Rucker got the scoring going in the second, hitting a solo shot to right-center field. It could have been a bigger inning with Javier Osorio singling and Edian Espinal reaching on an error, but Osorio was caught stealing third base. Espinal made up for it in the fourth with the first of two RBI singles. He drove in Rucker, who walked to open the inning.
Meanwhile, Charlie Christensen was dealing for four innings. He gave up just three hits and didn’t allow a runner to reach third. He looked like he had more in the tank, too, with three strikeouts in his final frame.
Andrew Pogue took over for Christensen in the fifth and worked around a two-out single. A leadoff walk in the sixth came back to bite him. A deep single brought the runner around, but the defense made sure to get Randy Guzman trying to stretch out a double.
St. Lucie briefly tied the game up in the seventh on a Chase Meggers single. Another base hit from Simon Juan almost gave the Mets the lead, thanks to a throwing error, but Meggers was tagged out at home on a good throw from Anibal Salas.
Sergio Tapia gave Lakeland the lead back immediately on a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the seventh.
Sergio Tapia unloads on the first pitch he sees in the 7th and it goes for a solo home run to left to give the Flying Tigers a 3-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/3eqjSExFam
Rucker walked later in the inning with the bases loaded to make it 4-2. Osorio singled in two more runs to double that lead, and Espinal hit his own two-run single to make it 8-2. (Well, that escalated quickly.)
Jatnk Diaz came in for the eighth with the idea of closing things out, but he allowed too many baserunners to get the job done. Diaz walked four batters and gave up two hits over 1 1/3 innings. He left the game after St. Lucie scored a run in the ninth, and Eliseo Mota struck out both batters he faced to end the game.
Rucker: 1-2, HR (2), 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K
Christensen: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Coming Up Next: Lakeland is on the road next week in Clearwater, starting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Feb 23, 2026; Peoria, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn (28) takes a lead off third base in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers will enjoy what feels like their 20th off day on Monday in Milwaukee before hosting the San Diego Padres for three games beginning Tuesday evening. The Crew, coming off a big three-game sweep of the Yankees, is sitting at 22-16 on the season, tied with the Cardinals for second place in the NL Central. The Padres, coming off a 2-2 series split with the Cardinals, are 24-16 this season and find themselves tied atop the NL West with the Dodgers.
After getting Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn back last week, the Brewers are still waiting on Christian Yelich to rejoin the lineup. It seems possible — if not likely — that Yelich could be ready for this series. The team also lost outfielder Brandon Lockridge on a nasty slide that injured his right knee on Friday night, an injury that is likely to keep him out for at least a few weeks/a month, though it seems he avoided the worst-case scenario as initial X-rays came back negative. For the pitching staff, Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester, and lefty relievers Angel Zerpa, Rob Zastryzny, and Jared Koenig are all out. Woodruff is set to resume throwing this week, meaning he could be back in the next week or two, while Priester’s return is TBD after dealing with shoulder soreness during his rehab assignment. Zerpa is out for the season as he’ll undergo Tommy John surgery today, and Zastryzny and Koenig are both targeting late May/early June returns.
The Padres IL is a balanced mix of pitchers and position players. On the pitching front, San Diego is without Jhony Brito (midseason), Joe Musgrove (second half), Nick Pivetta (midseason), Bryan Hoeing (out for season), and Yu Darvish (out for season) with serious injuries. Germán Márquez is also out until at least June with a forearm injury. On the offensive side, the team is without Jake Cronenworth, who is in concussion protocol, and catcher Luis Campusano, who went on the IL last week with a big toe fracture, keeping him out until at least late May.
Brice Turang leads Milwaukee’s offense through the first month-plus of the season, as he has six homers, eight doubles, and is hitting .298/.422/.511 overall. William Contreras and Chourio round out the heart of the lineup, while Jake Bauers and Gary Sánchez have also been key contributors, especially on the power front. The returning Vaughn is another major boost to the lineup, and Tyler Black, Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, David Hamilton, Blake Perkins, Luis Rengifo, and Joey Ortiz round things out. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .240/.333/.353 (.686 OPS ranks tied for 24th), with 26 homers (tied for last), 195 runs (eighth), and 40 steals (tied for fourth).
The leaders of San Diego’s offense are probably not who you’d think. Xander Bogaerts leads the team with seven homers, and Manny Machado is right behind him with six (though he’s hitting just .191/.294/.353 on the season). Ty France has had quite a bit of success, albeit in a small sample size, as he’s only played in 23 games, while Jackson Merrill, Gavin Sheets, and Ramón Laureano have also been key pieces offensively. Fernando Tatis Jr. has no homers, though he has driven in 15, scored 14 runs, and has 10 steals through 39 games. Freddy Fermin, Miguel Andujar, Rodolfo Durán, Sung-Mun Song, Nick Castellanos, and Bryce Johnson round out the active roster. As a team, the Padres are hitting .223/.297/.370 (.667 OPS ranks tied for 27th), with 39 homers (20th), 170 runs (tied for 19th), and 40 steals (tied for fourth).
Aaron Ashby leads Milwaukee’s bullpen with 19 appearances, spanning 26 innings with a 2.08 ERA, a perfect 7-0 record, and 41 strikeouts. Grant Anderson and DL Hall have been the other fairly reliable arms, while Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill have also been solid pieces, even if their ERAs may not show it. Jake Woodford has been a key low-leverage piece for Milwaukee, with Shane Drohan and Brian Fitzpatrick rounding things out. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.43 team ERA (fourth), including a 3.44 starter ERA (sixth) and a 3.42 bullpen ERA (eighth). They’ve struck out 366 batters (fifth) over 338 1/3 innings.
Mason Miller leads the Padres’ pitching staff in virtually every category. Across a team-high 18 appearances, he’s a perfect 12-for-12 in save chances with just two runs allowed (0.96 ERA) and 38 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings. Adrian Morejon, the only other reliever with 18 appearances, has a less-than-sterling 5.57 ERA, while Wandy Peralta (3.00 ERA over 18 IP), Bradgley Rodriguez (1.83 ERA over 19 2/3 IP), and Jason Adam (1.50 ERA over 12 IP) are the other key pieces. Ron Marinaccio (4.37 ERA over 22 2/3 IP), Jeremiah Estrada (3.97 ERA over 11 1/3 IP), and Yuki Matsui (2 2/3 scoreless innings in one appearance since IL stint) round out the bullpen for San Diego. As a staff, the Padres have a 4.07 team ERA (15th), including a 4.55 starter ERA (23rd) and a 3.50 bullpen ERA (ninth). They’ve struck out 350 batters (12th) over 358 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Tuesday, May 12 @ 6:40 p.m.: RHP Brandon Sproat (0-2, 5.87 ERA, 6.00 FIP) vs. RHP Matt Waldron (1-1, 7.71 ERA, 5.43 FIP)
Entering his 10th career start (12th career appearance) in his second season, Sproat is still seeking his first major league win as he’s 0-4 with a 5.44 ERA thus far in his young career. The 25-year-old righty had a solid outing against the Cardinals in his last appearance, going four scoreless innings, allowing three walks, a hit, and a hit batter to go with five strikeouts on 76 pitches. This marks Sproat’s first career appearance against San Diego.
Waldron, 29, is in his fourth MLB season, all with the Padres. After making 27 appearances (26 starts) in 2024, he’s had a 7.71 ERA over five appearances (four starts) in 2025 and 2026. Waldron tossed five innings after an opener in his last appearance against the Giants, picking up the win, allowing just one run on two hits (including a solo homer) and striking out seven on just 67 pitches. Waldron has never pitched against the Brewers.
Wednesday, May 13 @ 6:40 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (3-2, 2.45 ERA, 2.63 FIP) vs. RHP Michael King (3-2, 2.76 ERA, 3.87 FIP)
Misiorowski, 24, is also in his second major league season, though he’s had quite a bit more success compared to Sproat. Over 23 career appearances (22 starts), Miz has a 3.60 ERA, 3.22 FIP, and 157 strikeouts over just 110 innings, including an MLB-leading 70 strikeouts over 44 innings this year. He’s coming off back-to-back wins against the Nationals and Yankees, totaling 11 1/3 scoreless innings with two hits and four walks allowed, striking out 19, including 11 against the mighty New York lineup. This marks Misiorowski’s first career appearance against San Diego.
King, 31 later this month, is in his eighth MLB season and third with the Padres after spending the first five with the Yankees. The former 12th-round pick has made eight starts this season, with a 2.76 ERA, 3.87 FIP, and 45 strikeouts across 45 2/3 innings. He took a no-decision against the Cardinals in his last outing, going six innings with one run allowed on two walks and a hit (a solo homer), striking out six in a 2-1 loss. King has made three career starts against Milwaukee, including a pair while with the Padres. He’s 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA and 27 strikeouts across 18 2/3 innings in those games.
Thursday, May 14 @ 12:40 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (3-1, 2.41 ERA, 3.28 FIP) vs. RHP Griffin Canning (0-1, 6.75 ERA, 3.56 FIP)
Harrison, 24, has had a great start to his Milwaukee tenure after being acquired this offseason from the Red Sox. Over seven starts this year, he has a 2.41 ERA, 3.28 FIP, and 41 strikeouts across 33 2/3 innings, allowing two runs or fewer in all seven outings. He took a no-decision in an abbreviated start on Saturday night against the Yankees, going just four innings with two runs allowed on four hits and four walks, striking out six. Harrison has made three career starts against San Diego, all during his time with the Giants. He’s totaled 16 innings, with a 1-1 record, a 7.31 ERA, and 13 strikeouts against the Padres.
Canning, who turns 30 on Monday, is in his seventh MLB season and first as a Padre after agreeing to a one-year, $2.5 million deal. After missing the second half of last season and the beginning of this year due to left Achilles surgery, Canning was activated earlier this month and has made two starts this season. After going five innings and allowing one run on three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in his season debut against the White Sox, he got hit hard for six runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out five in a loss against the Cardinals in his last outing. The longtime Angel made his only career appearance against Milwaukee while with Los Angeles, taking the loss in a 2024 start where he went five innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks to go with four strikeouts.
How to Watch & Listen
Tuesday, May 12: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Wednesday, May 13: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Thursday, May 14: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
The Padres have been a consistent threat over the last several years, making the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. This should be a fun midweek battle, but I’ll take the Crew to win two of three to wrap up the homestand.
The Philadelphia Flyers' playoff run came to an end with their Game 4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. While the Flyers got swept in the second round, they still have a very bright future.
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft will provide them with the chance to add another promising prospect to their system, too, as they still have their first-round pick. But who could the Flyers pick?
The Athletic's Corey Pronman recently released his latest 2026 NHL mock draft. For the Flyers, Pronman predicted that they would select right winger Casey Mutryn with the 21st overall pick.
If the Flyers selected Mutryn with their first-round pick, they would be bringing in another big winger who plays a heavy game. The 6-foot-3 forward has the potential to become a good NHL player and could be a nice addition to the Flyers' prospect pool because of it.
In 62 games this season with the United States National Development Team, Mutryn recorded 18 goals, 28 assists, 46 points, and 89 penalty minutes. Overall, the Norwell, Massachusetts native had a strong season and demonstrated plenty of promise in the process.
While the Flyers have plenty of depth on the wing, the idea of adding Mutryn to their prospect pool is still interesting. Time will tell if he ends up being their first-round pick this year from here.
Thanks to everyone who asked questions for today’s off-day mailbag! I especially appreciate the slightly unhinged ones.
Speaking of which, since I do not have an answer to the question of why God hates the Mets (though after a few months here, I must admit I can’t dispute the premise), I figured I would focus on some slightly less existential ones for now. Here’s what I’ve got…
“As Gary and Keith discussed, why not bring up [A.J.] Ewing and [Nick Morabito]? At least that gives me a look at a possible future. What good are retreads Slater and Ibanez?” – @FAN5577
I think the main concern with bringing up either of those guys is rushing them: Morabito has only been in Triple-A since Opening Day, and Ewing only has 12 games there (though he is hitting .326 with an .827 OPS, so he seems to have adjusted quickly). Their numbers are good, yes. But as we saw with Carson Benge early in the year, the jump from Triple-A pitching to major league pitching is substantial and requires time for adjustment.
The risk in calling up Ewing and/or Morabito would be that they are called upon to help a struggling team, find themselves unable to do so, and need to be sent back down with less confidence as the big-league team continues to flounder. Now, of course, they could also adjust quickly. They could thrive. But having watched the Nationals and Orioles thrust young players into key roles out of need over the last few years – or even watched the way the Red Sox have struggled counting on young guys to make leaps for them this year -- I can say that relying on young players to fix things is a risk to the franchise in the present and the future.
Still, to your point, calling up one or both of those guys at least ensures that more at-bats on this struggling Mets team will go to players who are likely to be part of good Mets teams to come. Austin Slater, Andy Ibañez, Vidal Brujan and whoever else they funnel into these spots are not the answer now or in the future. They are Band-Aids. And I think one can argue they should be ripped off in favor of more substantial roster interventions.
But more substantial roster intervention would require a shift in posture from David Stearns and his front office, who, to this point, have preached patience with a historically expensive roster. If they suddenly decide that the Mets’ slow start means they should prioritize the future over success this year, then yes, calling those players up makes sense. But it does not seem the front office is there yet. And if it gets to the point of surrender, calling up young players will be the least significant move it will probably make between now and the trade deadline.
“Is there anything to point to in spring training or otherwise that might help explain why the team is so impacted by significant injuries so early this year? Or is it just bad luck?” – Fir Douglass on BlueSky
I think the Mets are so impacted by injuries because they built their roster around a few players who have a history of injury. Period. End of story. Stearns took a risk this winter: As part of his roster remodel, he bet that the Mets could keep Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. healthier than any of their previous teams ever had. Even with careful handling in spring training and beyond, they couldn’t. Robert’s back has not yet allowed him to do baseball activities. Polanco’s bursitis lingers, flaring up seemingly whenever he threatens to make progress, and is not the kind of injury that will simply go away.
Apr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) reacts after popping out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Juan Soto, I think, is pure bad luck. He has so little history of injury and returned so quickly that his calf issue seems to be a blip. As for Francisco Lindor, I think the Mets might have to confront a new reality there: Between the back issue at the end of last season, his elbow cleanup in October, the hamate bone break in spring training, and now the calf injury, the 32-year-old is no longer as invincible as the guy who has played at least 158 games in six of his 12 seasons (and all 60 during the Covid campaign).
Ronny Mauricio, Mike Tauchman,and Jared Young seem to fall more in the bad luck category. But if it weren’t for the injuries to the players they were needed to replace, their injuries would not be substantial enough to derail the Mets like the others.
No one can predict injuries. Every player expects to be healthy. But I think it is the job of the front office to make sure their team is not counting on players to be healthier than they have ever been, and the Mets look like victims of their own optimism so far.
“How can Cohen justify leaving Stearns in his role? He created this mess of a roster. He can’t be trusted to fix it, can he?” -- @Big_John1906
Everything I have heard about Steve Cohen’s stance during the last few weeks is that it is largely one of patience. Stearns would not have told MLB.com he is not firing Carlos Mendoza had Cohen not ok’ed the message. And Cohen does not have a history of dramatic reactivity.
That being said, Cohen knew what he was doing when he told reporters in spring training that he is annoyed that his team has not won regularly during his tenure. He was not bloviating when he said the Mets “have to make the playoffs.” With a roster as expensive as his, that standard seems more than fair.
All of which is to say, I think Cohen gives Stearns a chance to fix this between now and the end of the season. If they miss the playoffs, I do not think he will get more chances beyond that.
“If you were Stearns, what would you do in this situation?” – Brian Bardin on BlueSky
I have thought about this a lot, and I am aware there are always things we don’t know about why some moves have been made and not others. For example, while I have heard the Mets are in contact with teams about potentially moving a pitcher for help, I do not know exactly what offers they have had or considered, so exactly what kind of roster shakeup is available to them is not entirely clear to me.
Still, the first thing I would do is go to Cohen and say, do you want me to try to save this season at any cost, or do you want me to operate with an eye toward the future. If he says the former, I would take advantage of my financial flexibility and pursue a major trade for a big contract that might bring in a new veteran presence and might also bring in some kind of bullpen help or starting depth if I shouldered enough of the money.
There are several veterans around the sport who look uncomfortable with their current teams. Rafael Devers looks hapless with the frustrated San Francisco Giants. Trevor Story is struggling, even as he is vocally frustrated with Red Sox management: Could the Mets pair a deal for him and his contract while grabbing an outfielder from Boston’s longstanding logjam? The Orioles could use some infield depth, and while the Mets might not have it to offer, perhaps some kind of mutual shakeup is possible there. If that sounds like throwing good money after bad, it might be. But if the whole season is going to be bad money anyway, might as well see if a fresh start for a player with a strong track record can help revive him and the Mets at once.
Mostly, I would hunt for a first baseman who can hit for power. There are plenty of them around and securing one would not eliminate Polanco’s usefulness when and if he is healthy. Polanco, famously, has never been a full-time first baseman anyway. Bumping him into more of a utility role deepens the team immediately.
Absent options there, I would make clear that a $400 million-dollar roster is not a place to experiment, but rather a place where every spot is earned.
New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) reacts during the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
For example: Sean Manaea is neither starter nor effective short reliever. The Mets do not need a long reliever, since they have Tobias Myers. Keeping Manaea on the roster means working around him when the only thing the Mets should be worried about is winning games.
Besides, it does not seem fair to Manaea, who simply does not look right. When he is right, his velocity is better and his stuff is sharper. Whatever he and the team insist about his health, he has been off since spring training, throwing in the high 80s. I would see if the loose bodies he decided not to get surgically removed are still affecting that elbow, and I would suggest he remove them. He is not helpful in the bullpen as is, and the Mets need as many effective relievers as they can get. And his best chance at an effective future is likely a total physical reset.
I would also be decisive about Kodai Senga’s future. The veteran right-hander threw a bullpen this week, which means he is starting to build his way back from the lumbar spine inflammation that landed him on the injured list after several bad outings. But rosters paid nearly $400 million should not be proving grounds, and Senga has not proven he is an asset. Perhaps he could use a fresh start elsewhere. Perhaps he and the Mets have both needed one for quite some time.
Speaking of which, I would also stop patching holes with veterans trying to reestablish themselves. Tommy Pham,Slater, and the rest have been solid players throughout their careers. But they are not hitting well now, and the Mets do not have enough at-bats to give them to allow them to figure things out while playing in games the Mets must win to save their season. I would call up whichever prospects (Morabito, Ewing, Ryan Clifford) I think are most ready and let them prove they cannot handle it until injured veterans come back. The playing time they need is available in the big leagues now. I think I would let them take it.
And finally, I would tell the entire lineup, top to bottom, to take more pitches. I know the Mets are built around aggressive hitters. But that aggressiveness has not yielded good results. They are not stringing enough hits together to create consistent offense, so they need to find ways to get men on base. No more first-pitch outs from the bottom of the order down a run. If the Mets are built around hitters who cannot work the count and succeed offensively, they need to be built around different hitters. Seeing pitches does not have to come at the expense of making contact, and seeing pitches is the most proven recipe for success this sport has ever had.
Oklahoma City looks to close out their series with the Lakers tonight in Los Angeles. They lead LeBron James and co. three games to none. Each game has remained relatively close through three quarters only to see the Thunder roll in the fourth quarter and win by double digits. Their depth, pace, and defensive pressure have overwhelmed Los Angeles at every turn, and their dominance has been consistent both in Oklahoma City and in Game 3 in SoCal.
The Lakers have repeatedly doubled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and dared the rest of the Thunder to knock down shots. They have slowed down SGA, but the aforementioned depth has made plays. Chet Holmgren scored 19 points and pulled down 9 rebounds, Cason Wallace had 16 off the bench in 25 minutes, and Isaiah Joe was 4-6 from deep in the 131-108 win Saturday.
Down 0–3, the Lakers face a deficit no team in NBA history has ever overcome, and their performances so far haven’t suggested a breakthrough is imminent. LeBron James and Austin Reaves have carried or attempted to carry the offense, but turnovers, inconsistent shooting, and the absence of Luka Dončić (hamstring) have left Los Angeles overwhelmed.
The Lakers’ path to extending the series requires near-perfect execution: controlling tempo, limiting turnovers, and finding reliable scoring beyond James. Rui Hachimura’s strong Game 3 performance—21 points and five made three’s—offers a glimmer of hope, but Los Angeles will need multiple players to exceed expectations to stay alive. Their defense must also find answers for Oklahoma City’s balanced attack, which has punished every coverage adjustment so far.
Should the Thunder close out the series tonight – and they are heavy favorites to do so - they know they’ll have more than likely a week off as Minnesota and San Antonio are knotted up at two games apiece in the other West semifinal.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Thunder vs. Lakers
Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
Time: 10:30PM EST
Site: crypto.com Arena
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
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Game Odds: Thunder vs. Lakers
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder (-520), Los Angeles Lakers (+390)
Spread: Thunder -10.5
Total: 214.5 points
This game opened Thunder -9.5 with the Game Total set at 211.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Thunder vs. Lakers
Oklahoma City Thunder
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG Luguentz Dort
C Isaiah Hartenstein
SG Ajay Mitchell
PF Chet Holmgren
Los Angeles Lakers
PG Marcus Smart
SG Austin Reaves
C Deandre Ayton
PF Rui Hachimura
SF LeBron James
Injury Report: Thunder vs. Lakers
Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalen Williams (hamstring) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Thomas Sorber (knee) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Doncic (hamstring) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Thunder vs. Lakers
The Lakers are 30-15 at home this season
The Thunder are 33-10 on the road this season
The Lakers are 49-41-1 ATS this season
OKC is 44-44-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 49 of the Thunder’s 89 games this season (49-40)
The OVER has cashed in 46 of the Lakers’ 91 games this season (46-45)
Chet Holmgren is averaging 21.3 points and 10 rebounds per game in this series
Ajay Mitchell is averaging 20.7 points and 6.7 assists per game in this series
Cason Wallace has seen his point totals increase from 5 to 12 to 16 in this series
Austin Reaves has turned the ball over 14 times in this series
LeBron James is averaging 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in this series
Luke Kennard is 7-13 from 3-point range in this series including 4-6 in Game 3
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Thunder and Lakers’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Thunder -10.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 214.5
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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Samuel Girard #49 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against 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
There were a lot of things that contributed to the Pittsburgh Penguins strong 2025-26 performance and their return to the playoffs, and one of the biggest was the number of players that exceeded individual expectations. In some cases, it was not just a case of exceeding expectations, but having career years.
When that happens across an entire roster you do not have many bounce-back candidates for the following season.
There are, however, still a handful of players that the Penguins will be hoping for a bounce-back performance from during the 2026-27 season. So let’s take a look at a few of them and how likely it will be for them to perform better on an individual level.
Most-likely bounce-back: Sam Girard
Girard’s brief time with the Penguins has produced some mixed results, and I would say the majority of those results have been on the disappointing side. He initially struggled after coming over from the Colorado Avalanche in the trade for Brett Kulak. His work alongside Kris Letang produced some ugly moments in both the regular season and playoffs. Early on, he looked like a player that was doing more thinking on the ice than playing. Sometimes he seemed more interested in just spinning around with the puck than making a decision with it.
But for all of the negatives there were still some flashes of strong play (both with and without Letang) and some games where he truly did shine. It was not all bad.
I have seen enough defenseman come through Pittsburgh, initially struggle while trying to fit in with a new team and system, have people get down on them, only to have them bounce back with a fresh start in the next season and play at a really high level.
Sergei Gonchar had some rocky moments early on and then became a pivotal part of a Stanley Cup winning team.
Paul Martin was viewed as a liability with an albatross contract after one year before playing like the rock-solid, two-way defender he was in New Jersey.
Erik Karlsson was completely written off by many until he bounced back this season.
Is Girard going to be Gonchar or Karlsson next season? No. Because even at his peak he was never that type of player. But given his talent and track record as an NHL player (which is very good!) I do not think it is a stretch to believe he can come back next season and be a productive, top-four defenseman. It would be a welcome addition if he does.
Possible bounce-back: Arturs Silovs
Recency bias might tell us there is nothing for him to bounce back from because of how he played in the playoffs when he got his opportunity. And he was fantastic in those three games, giving the Penguins a fighting chance and nearly pushing them to a Game 7 out of a 3-0 series hole.
But his season overall wasn’t great.
His .887 save percentage ranked 44th out of the 59 goalies that appeared in at least 25 games.
His minus-8.3 goals saved above average ranked 79th out of 98 goalies that played in at least one game.
His minus-11.9 goals saved above expected ranked 89th of 98 goalies.
Objectively speaking, he was not great. His rebound control needs work, his puck-handling needs work and sometimes he has a tendency to just let in some absolutely ugly goals.
Even with that being the case, he is still only 25 years old and has shown flashes of being a good goalie at both the AHL and NHL levels, especially in big-game moments. Goalie performance is also completely unpredictable at times and it wouldn’t be a shocking development to see him come back next season and put together a strong season in a platoon role with Sergei Murashov.
You need to bounce-back: Ville Koivunen
There were some reasonably high expectations for Koivunen going into the 2025-26 season, and he started off with a prominent role on the NHL roster. He did not always take advantage of it, finishing the season with just two goals and seven assists in 39 games.
The AHL numbers since coming over in the Jake Guentzel trade have been consistently excellent.
The talent and vision are not in question.
The underlying numbers when he is on the ice are consistently solid, and he always seems to find himself in good positions with open looks.
But none of it has translated over to NHL production just yet, and those open looks too often turn into harmless possessions with blocked shots, deflected shots or shots that just do not find their way into the net.
He is going to be 23 years old at the start of next season and with 94 points in 97 games over the past two years he is going to have nothing left to prove in the AHL. It is time for him to take the next step and start to show something at the highest level. If he doesn’t, he officially goes from NHL prospect to NHL suspect.
Not likely to bounce-back: Ryan Graves
Kyle Dubas’ first year running the Penguins produced more strikeouts than home runs. The only strikeout from that offseason that has not either 1) bounced back, or 2) been jettisoned somewhere else is Ryan Graves. And unless it is part of another salary dump from another team, or unless he gives up an asset to get rid of him (which he should not do) the Penguins are going to still have Graves playing somewhere in the organization. Most likely in the AHL.
He is going to be 31 next season. He has had three seasons here under two different head coaches. It is just not in the cards here for him to be anything more than an organizational depth defenseman with a high price tag. Sometimes when you swing big, you miss. They missed with Graves. It happens more often than not in free agency.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils have hired Braden Birch as an assistant general manager, the first front-office addition by Sunny Mehta since taking over as the team's head of hockey operations.
“His blend of on-ice experience, management background, and intellect will serve him well in his new role," Mehta said. "Braden will work to bolster all areas of our operation, and I look forward to him joining our existing front office, where his personality and work ethic will fit in excellently.”
The Devils, as expected, did not renew the contracts of executives Dan MacKinnon and Chuck Fletcher as Mehta remakes the organization. They had reported to longtime GM Tom Fitzgerald, who parted ways with the Devils in early April.
Birch spent more than a decade with the Panthers, much of it as director of hockey operations and most recently overseeing salary cap management.
“I am really excited to take this next step in my professional career,” said Birch, who turns 37 just before the NHL season begins in late September. "I want to thank Bill Zito, the Viola family, and the entire Florida Panthers organization for 12 amazing years, and the ability to help a front office achieve the ultimate goal of Stanley Cup championships.
"I also greatly appreciate them giving me the opportunity to grow my professional career in New Jersey. I look forward to working with Sunny and his group on returning the Devils to the levels of success that we believe they can achieve.”
Zito called Birch a great person who will be missed by the Panthers and wished him the best.
“When you have success like we had the past few seasons, individuals are going to get opportunities to advance and it’s only a good thing for everyone,” Zito said.
May 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) during the first quarter of game three in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Steal a road game, steal the series. That is what both the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers must be thinking as they enter Game four with Detroit up 2-1. That means Cleveland will be looking to protect its homecourt advantage, where it is unbeaten these playoffs, while Detroit attempts to take full control with a win in enemy territory. All three games in this series have featured one team seemingly to roundly outplay the other before the opponent somehow storms back to take a late lead that they can’t quite maintain. Will that trend continue tonight?
Much attention was paid to Cade Cunningham’s three consecutive turnovers, which allowed the Cavs to pull away in the fourth quarter of a tied game. Fair enough. Cade giveth great performances, and Cade taketh away in a critical moment. The bigger issue, to my mind, is Detroit’s biggest problem in these playoffs — its big men.
Jalen Duren is straight up having a bad playoffs, and it’s now stretched to 10 games. It’s not just that opponents are taking away his opportunities, though they are doing that. It is that Duren is fumbling away the opportunities he does get, sometimes literally.
This season for Duren has been all about an elevated level of skill and assuredness that he added to his prolific strength as a big man. He was no longer strictly a rim-running big; he was a center who had a dangerous face-up game, who could make the right decision in the short roll, and who could combine burst with a new level of touch and finesse that made him a lethal scorer within eight feet.
Duren shot 67.3% on 10.6 attempts within eight feet in the regular season. That trailed only Giannis Antetokounmpo for players with at least eight such shots per game. Duren was a monster. In the playoffs, Duren’s attempts have been whittled to just over seven per game, and his field goal percentage has plummeted to just 50%. Of the 17 players in the playoffs who have averaged that many shots within eight feet, only Paolo Banchero and Jamal Murray shoot worse than Duren. The 22-year-old big man has also seen his free throws and rebounds tick lower while his turnovers have increased.
No problem, you might think, Detroit’s deepest position was at the center spot, and Isaiah Stewart was a whispered defensive player of the year candidate before a suspension and injury took him out of contention late in the season.
Stewart has been a bit of a disaster in these playoffs. There has been no definitive indication of any health concerns, but something simply doesn’t look right. In the regular season, Stewart’s impact was felt up and down the floor. His absence in last year’s postseason matchup against the Knicks is often cited as one that swung the series.
Well, Stewart is available in these playoffs, but he isn’t making any impact. He’s been limited to just under 14 minutes per game, but that is masking just how little he is accomplishing on the floor. On a per 36-minute basis, Stewart’s scoring has plummeted from over 15 to around 10, his three-point shot has almost completely disappeared, down by 66%. Detroit’s defense has been stout throughout the playoffs, and is a mighty 94.1 when Stewart is on the floor. The issue is that offense, already a middle-of-the-road offense in these playoffs, falls off a cliff with Stew on the floor. It goes from a modest 110.2 to a 93.7. Looking at Stewart’s on-off splits, the team is 20 points per 100 possessions better on offense with him off the floor compared to on the floor. That’s not all on Stewart, of course, but it’s been a black hole of a position for the Pistons, and it’s so bad not even Stew’s defense can make up for it.
It was no surprise to many Pistons fans that when the Pistons finally made their run to take the lead in game 3, it was with Paul Reed on the floor. He scored 11 points in just over nine minutes of action and breathed some actual life into a very stagnant offense.
JB Bickerstaff has to figure out this big man conundrum, and he’s got to be willing to ask some hard questions and come to some hard conclusions. The Cavs, with both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, were always going to present some challenges for the Pistons bigs, but I think we can definitely say whatever the team is doing is not working. Maybe it’s more Paul Reed; maybe that means resting Isaiah Stewart. Maybe it means whoever starts the game isn’t necessarily finishing the game, and instead riding whatever is the closest resemblance to a hot hand.
It feels like if Detroit can get a good to great game from a big, they are almost defacto going to win that game, and if they win that game, they will be on the doorstep of winning the series and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals (with its own matchup issues for bigs against the mighty New York Knicks).
If you’re a golfer, odds are you’d do just about anything if you had the chance to tee it up with Tiger Woods—especially in the mid-2000s during the peak of Tiger Woods’ career. That was the situation former MLB player Jeff Francoeur found himself in before a spring training game while on the Atlanta Braves.
Francoeur, a huge golfer, was just 22 years old and about to play his first full season with the Atlanta Braves. So asking his manager if he could play hooky to go play golf would’ve been a bold move. Luckily, he had an even bigger golfer on his team—John Smoltz, who was legendary for his golf escapades en route to a Hall of Fame Career, was buddies with Tiger Woods and heard about the offer Francoeur had to play with Tiger.
Smoltz put in a good word with legendary Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox, and well, we have to just let Francoeur tell the story because he does a great job. Have a listen to Francoeur’s chat on a recent episode of Tim Kirkjian’s podcast with his son, Jeff.
How hilarious is that? Imagine your manager having your back that hard? Then after the game, reporters probably asked Cox about Francoeur’s sudden injury in the first inning, and Cox double-downed on it and called his infielder “day to day” with a “high ankle sprain.”
The extra cherry on the top of the story? This was 2006, when Francoeur played in all 162 games, making him only the fourth Braves player in franchise history to do so. The media must’ve been impressed by Francoeur’s iron-man-like streak, especially how he recovered so quickly from that spring training injury.
We still have a few more follow-up questions as golf sickos ... who else was in the group with Francoeur and Woods? How did Tiger play that day? We'll have to get Francoeur on our podcast, The Loop, soon so we can dive deeper into this hilarious story.
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES - MAY 10: Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers falls during Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, United States. (Photo by Nathan Morris/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Would you believe the aftermath of a sweep is one week without the Knicks?
On why he trusted Miles McBride in OG Anunoby’s absence:
“Deuce, he’s not afraid. He gives us the ability to make shots from range and or the ability to go get a shot. He gives us another ball handler. He’s a really good defender, and he’s versatile. When he’s on the floor with Jalen, analytically, they’re pretty good together. But he just brings a lot to the table for us on both ends of the floor, last thing offensively he’s got to be guarded because he can makes shots.”
On McBride’s mental toughness during the series:
“He’s just tough-minded. In order to have success in anything you do in life you need to have a short memory, and he definitely has a short memory.”
On how McBride’s shooting performance elevated the team in Game 4:
“Obviously, all of our guys, starting with Jalen [Brunson] and KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns], were really good, but Deuce — he was unbelievable. His ability to stretch the floor and create space for others is second to none. He’s got a confidence about him and in himself that just makes us take another level on both ends of the floor.”
On where McBride’s resilience comes from:
“It’s Mother’s Day. It comes from his mom. Get that correct. It comes from his mom. [Deuce is] just tough. He’s tough. He’s a football player, you know? In order to have a chance in life and at anything you do, you have to have a short memory, and he definitely has a short memory.”
On embracing criticism while making bold adjustments:
“We made a lot of moves throughout the course of the year and throughout the course of the playoffs, and you just keep trying to do what’s best for the team. I don’t care what team I’m with. When you’re talking about being in the NBA, even if you do stuff right, you’re going to get criticized. So you just embrace whatever’s out there and you keep trying to do what’s best for the team. And at the end of the day, if it doesn’t work out, the one thing I know I can do is I can go look in the mirror and say, ‘Hey, I tried to do the best I could for this group, regardless of anything else.’ I try to do the best I could, and that’s what keeps me going.”
On gaining appreciation for the Knicks’ traveling fan base:
“I obviously didn’t know how well they traveled and stuff like that, because I was out of coaching, so I watched [them] once in a while. I watched ESPN and all of that stuff during basketball time. And they showed videos of fans after first-round wins climbing light poles. So I’m like, wow. You love it. You love seeing stuff like that. But I got a lot of respect for them. And the more you’re around, the more you appreciate and understand why they are like that. But more than anything else, they’re knowledgeable. It’s a knowledgeable group, a knowledgeable fan base, and you respect that just as much as their passion shows.”
On the timing of the next game after a sweep:
“I wouldn’t want to play [Monday] or Tuesday. Maybe Wednesday?”
"I definitely knew the Knicks had crazy fans…but for them to travel the way they've traveled, be as loud & always have our backs…I've never seen anything like [this arena takeover] honestly. It really does give us energy"
On meeting the expectations placed on him in a starting role:
“This is what I expect to do. I feel like that’s why the coaching staff trusts me in the lineup, my teammates trust me out there, and just I trust my work.”
On his mindset when stepping into bigger minutes:
“I just want to win and do what I can to help this team win.”
On the significance of being part of a record-setting playoff performance:
“It’s definitely special. I didn’t even know honestly. To have anything like that on your name is a legacy you want.”
On capitalizing when the Sixers left him open:
“They left me open. This is what I expect to do. That’s why the coaching staff trusts me, my teammates trust me. And I trust my work.”
On seeing Knicks fans hand out posters of Mitchell Robinson’s dunk on Embiid:
“Man, Mitch did his thing right here, so shout-out to the fans.”
On how the team’s mentality shifted after an earlier loss in the series:
“I feel like our mindset shifted. We know we’re the better team (but) we can’t just come out there and expect to win, because they’re talented too. So I feel like our mindset just shifted totally to ‘take the game’ instead of (waiting for) them to give us the game.”
On the internal standard the team is holding itself to:
“People on the outside always have their expectations, but internally we have our own. Our expectations are a championship, nothing less. So, this series is done, enjoy it. Obviously we’re happy, can’t take it for granted but we have a lot more to go.”
"This year we just have another year with each other, it's just us being very locked into the moment and understanding there's a lot more work to do"
Karl-Anthony Towns was asked about the mindset switch from advancing to the ECF last season vs. this season: pic.twitter.com/5WwEnUvT5x
On the team’s maturity heading into another Eastern Conference Finals:
“This year we just have another year with each other, it’s just us being very locked into the moment and understanding there’s a lot more work to do.”
On how McBride’s early barrage set the tone in Game 4:
“He was fantastic. The start of the game really was the Deuce McBride show. He went out there and hit some really big shots that gave us momentum. We talked about how we wanted to start fast and we’ve talked about starts, and Deuce allowed us to do that. Shout out to Deuce. That’s one of the best games I’ve ever seen Deuce play, especially in the moment.”
On adjusting the team’s approach after the first-round struggles:
“Shout out to our team. We found a way to, in a way, stabilize our season and do what was needed to adjust to Atlanta. And [we] found ourselves in a better position. It’s a shout-out to the coaching staff for realizing adjustments that needed to be made and also [a] shout-out to me personally that they trusted me.”
On the difficulty of closing out a series and ending another team’s season:
“It’s great when you see a team having that kind of focus and discipline and execution. I’ve always said that the toughest games are to end someone’s season and to see us taking that to a series, it’s great. It’s great for us to see. But now we’ve got to reset. We’ve got to readjust. Get our minds back right and enjoy this time with our family and get back to business.”
On staying grounded despite outside criticism during the season:
“It was a rollercoaster for sure. I think outside the Knicks organization, things looked worse than what they were. From the outside looking in. But inside the building, we were working every single day to be the best team we can be. That’s all we were focusing on. There were times when there were positives and negatives, ups and downs. But that’s what our goals were. And that’s still our goal. Be the best we can be. Continue to learn. Continue to get better. The journey shows you who you are.”
On what lies ahead despite the sweep:
“We have a lot of work to do.”
"Roller coaster for sure…
Outside the NY Knicks organization
Things looked worse…
Inside the building…
We were working every day to be the best team we could be…
“We’re focused. We’re staying poised, staying composed. Just focusing on the little things. One day at a time, one game at a time. Not looking ahead at all, staying in the moment.”
On whether it matters who they face next in the conference finals:
“One game at a time. One game at a time. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
On hearing Knicks fans take over opposing arenas:
“It’s one of the coolest things in the world hearing Knicks fans take over opposing arenas.”
On how team chemistry has developed over time:
“I think the more we’ve played together as a team, the more we’ve grown. And we’ve continued to get better. It’s a chemistry thing. It’s a feel thing. It’s how things get better. Things get better over time.”
On reflecting on his growing legacy in New York:
“I think that’s a question I would love to answer when I retire. This place means a lot to me. We’re still writing our story. I’ll answer that another time.”
“I used to think Philly was a sports town. I don’t know if it is anymore. Everybody was begging for Philly (fans) not to sell their tickets. It never felt like a road game.”
On keeping emotions in check after advancing to the ECF:
“No relief, no jubilation. Just another step in the process. The way we beat Boston last year, the comebacks and all that, it was — I don’t wanna say it was celebratory — but it hit a little bit differently. Here, it’s business as normal, and we gotta make sure we’re locked in and focused.”
On the ball movement that fueled the Knicks’ historic shooting night:
“Guys were sacrificing good shots for better shots, and when you do that, the ball has energy and we have to knock down shots. So playing a style like that is fun.”
On rediscovering his three-point touch in Game 4:
“My right hand remembered that the goal was to make 3s. So happy to have her back.”
On how the Sixers’ arena atmosphere felt during the takeover:
“It was like a branch of MSG here today.”
On the importance of recovering during the playoff break ahead:
“We’re a little banged up. We need to get some treatment, get some rest, recover a little. And be ready to go.”
On how he plans to spend the downtime before the next series:
On Jalen Brunson’s long-term impact on the franchise:
“He’s definitely proved himself. I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he’s done for this team for, what, the last five years? S—, they don’t give him his credit.”
Kenny "Gets real again next round for Knicks…Cade such big guard…Cavs possibly most explosive backcourt NBA. This round…cakewalk … Shaq "They'll breeze thru whoever next if they play like this … Chuck "Had cakewalk…Whoever next v difficult … Shaq "Knicks going to Finals" pic.twitter.com/y31zkDBi9K
“We ran into a hot New York team. They’re getting momentum. And they’re playing better and better as these games are coming. And they came out hot. They threw haymakers early and they kept throwing them.”
On the Knicks being simply superior to the Sixers:
“I mean, they were just better. I’m proud of this group. I feel like we play hard, we tried, as we have done all season, and at times it’s OK to say that the other team was just better. Tonight, they made every shot, they made every single play, we didn’t make shots. We just got to get better from top to bottom. Ownership, front office, players, coaches … everybody just got to get better.”
On the organization-wide need for improvement after the sweep:
“So, we just gotta get better, from top to bottom. Ownership, players, coaches, everybody just has to get better.”
On taking personal responsibility for the team’s shortcomings:
“Frankly, they were just better than us. So, we have to look at each other, and that starts with me. I wasn’t around for much of the season for a lot of things. So, moving forward, I have an understanding of what it takes to make sure that I get to play. I think we will be better next year. But, for now, I’m disappointed we didn’t get a chance for a championship. So, everyone has to look at themselves, starting with me.”
"It actually really sucks
It just sucks bruh
It just sucks man
Yeah It just sucks…
It felt louder here than it did for them in the Garden…
On the frustration of Knicks fans taking over Philadelphia’s arena:
“It absolutely sucks, if I’m being honest. It just sucks. That’s really all I can say about it, man. It’s hard. It’s definitely difficult. It’s only one way to put a stop to it and it’s, we have to go out there and win these games. Just being completely honest, we were better when we played them in the Garden this entire season. I know we lost Game 2 and 1, but Game 2 was better. The regular season was better. I was telling them, it felt louder here for them than it did in the Garden. We got to put a stop to it as a team. Winning these games, that’s gonna make our fans louder than theirs or whatever. I don’t know how to keep them out. I don’t know the logistics of it, but it does suck. I can’t even lie. It definitely does suck.”
On Joel Embiid battling through injuries during the series:
“I commend him man, he worked his ass off to get out there and play. He certainly was trending upward toward the end of the Boston series…obviously, he gets the hip, ankle, injury that took him out a game, and I don’t think he ever got back to where he was trending.”
Chad ochocinco calls out Shannon Sharpe and Joe Johnson for doubting the New York Knicks all postseason and now what are y’all going to say after they swept the sixers pic.twitter.com/WIDBskPyJA
— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@Thechat101) May 11, 2026
Coverage of the 2026 NBA playoffs continues tonight on NBC and Peacock when Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons take on Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Live coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Game Preview:
The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 116-109 on Saturday, cutting Detroit's series lead to 2-1. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 35 points and 10 rebounds. James Harden added 19 points and 7 assists.
Cade Cunningham finished with a 27-point triple-double (10 rebounds, 10 assists) but committed eight of Detroit's 15 turnovers.
“That’s too many turnovers for us as a group. Sixteen is too many,” said Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff after the game. “Give up 27 points off those turnovers … our defense is so stingy if we get you in the half court. We’ve just got to make sure we get shots on goal so we can set our defense and make people have to work through it.”
The Pistons are looking to reach their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2008, while the Cavaliers look to reach their first Conference Finals since 2018.
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.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 18: Drew Millas #14 of the Washington Nationals throws the ball to second base against the San Francisco Giants at Nationals Park on April 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Heading into the offseason, Nats fans knew that one of the biggest needs on the team was behind the plate. Paul Toboni knew too, with the Jose A Ferrer for Harry Ford trade being his first major move. However, Ford did not make the team and is struggling in AAA. Meanwhile, neither Keibert Ruiz nor Drew Millas are hitting their weight in the big leagues.
The only positive development we have seen behind the plate is the fact that Keibert Ruiz has become competent defensively. That is actually a big win for the organization, and something I thought was impossible. With the help of Bobby Wilson, Ruiz now has a +2 fielding run value.
The big problem for Ruiz this year has been the bat. Outside of a monster game against the Twins, the bat has shown no signs of life. He is hitting .205 with a .224 on base percentage. The crazy part is that Ruiz is pretty easily the best option behind the plate right now.
Ruiz has been in a 50/50 timeshare with Drew Millas this year. While Ruiz has been far from great, he has been better than Millas and deserves more playing time. It just feels like Millas makes at least one massive mistake in every game he plays. Yesterday it was his awful challenge. Millas challenged a pitch 3 inches off the zone, wasting the Nats last challenge. Later in that at bat, there was a pitch in the zone that was called a ball, but Millas could not challenge.
Millas has been a complete liability on both sides of the ball this season. In his brief call ups in the past, Millas showed promise on both sides, but has been exposed as a regular big leaguer. His plate discipline and blocking have completely cratered this season. As we saw yesterday, his baseball IQ is also shaky.
This would be a perfect time for the Nats to call up Harry Ford if he were performing. However, Ford has had a disastrous start to the season. After having a good season in AAA last year, the 23 year old catcher looks to have regressed a lot. He is hitting just .192 with a .572 OPS, and that number has risen a lot lately.
His strikeout rate is up nearly 10% and he is not hitting the ball as hard. It has been a real disaster for a guy who was supposed to come in and be the catcher of the present and future. The only thing that has remained a constant is his ability to draw walks and not chase. He needs his hit and power tools to get closer to big league average though.
If you want to be optimistic about Ford, he has been better in May. He has gotten on base in his last six games, and hit his first home run of the season the other day. Ford has a .778 OPS in the month of May, but that number has mainly been driven by walks.
It has been a brutal start, but with the way Millas is playing, Ford should only be a couple more good series away from a call up. Eventually we need to see what Ford has to offer. The Nats traded a good reliever for him, so we want to see a return on investment.
However, with the way Ford has started the season, it would be irresponsible to call him the nailed on catcher of the future. Scouts already had some questions about him before the season, and those concerns have only grown now. Besides his plate discipline, Ford does not have a standout trait. Hopefully his numbers last year were not just a product of the hitter friendly PCL.
If the Nats wanted to spend some money on a catcher, this offseason could be a good time to do it. I was really impressed with what I saw from Ryan Jeffers of the Twins when they were in town. Jeffers has been a solid starting catcher for a number of years, but is having a career year this season. He is also just 28 years old. Carson Kelly and Tyler Stephenson are also going to be on the market.
While the Nats are already paying Keibert Ruiz, we all know he is not the catcher of the future. With his improved defense, he could stick around the roster as a backup, but his bat has not been there for three seasons now.
Another catcher on the Nats books with big league experience is Riley Adams. He had been the backup the past few seasons, but the new regime picked Drew Millas over him. I think Adams is better, but he has not played since April 26th, so he must be dealing with an injury.
When the Nats picked up Harry Ford, I hoped that would be the answer to their catching woes. The early returns on that have not been positive. It is also clear that neither Keibert Ruiz or Drew Millas are the guy going forward. Beyond that, there is not a whole lot to love. Caleb Lomavita is tracking like a backup catcher, and Sir Jamison Jones has had moments, but remains a massive project.
Paul Toboni and the Nats are going to have to keep taking dart throws at catchers until they find an answer. Hopefully we can find one soon because I miss having a good catcher on this roster.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 08: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals bats during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium on May 08, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
About seven or eight years ago, there was an established adage/joke among baseball fans, and it went something like this: the MLB season doesn’t officially start until Mike Trout leads the league in Wins Above Replacement. At the time, Trout was the undisputed best player in the league, and eventually other players’ hot starts would fade—leaving Trout standing alone at the top of the leaderboard.
It’s 2026 now, so maybe it’s time to give it a good ol’ update. Let’s say, oh, something along the lines of: the MLB season doesn’t officially start untilBobby Witt Jr. leads the league in Wins Above Replacement. In any case, the season has officially started, because if you go look at the Fangraphs and Baseball-Reference version of WAR, you’ll find that Witt has indeed accrued more WAR than any other American League player.
Over on Bluesky, Kevin O’Brien of Royals Keep posted Witt’s season batting percentiles and wondered if this could be the year that Witt wins the MVP. Yes, it’s just May, but again, Witt is already leading the league in WAR. Is it his to lose? Is it finally his time?
But something Kevin said in the post also stuck with me: “[Witt] doesn’t have the home runs (yet),” Kevin wrote. And while it’s very clear that Witt is an excellent and extremely valuable baseball player, I think that idea deserves a little more exploration as it pertains to Witt’s MVP chances.
There have been arguments about MVP forever, with some of them semantic and some of them philosophical. It’s the “most valuable player” award, but are we talking overall value or value to the team? To what extent do we reward individual accomplishment or positional difficulty? Do past MVPs factor into it? What about pitchers? Are there certain kinds of player who are rewarded more often?
These are all interesting arguments, but the reality is that the Baseball Writers’ Association of America—the MVP voters—essentially consider the MVP to be a “best player” award, and they generally only award a pitcher if that player is clearly the best player. But there are some other things at play, too, and I have a chart to illustrate them: the position player winners of the AL and NL MVP award dating back a dozen years, with 2020 and Shohei Ohtani’s awards thrown out for obvious reasons.
Player
Year
AVG
wRC+
HR
fWAR rank
bWAR rank
Aaron Judge
2025
.331
204
53
1
1
Aaron Judge
2024
.322
220
58
1
1
Ronald Acuna Jr.
2023
.337
171
41
1
2
Aaron Judge
2022
.311
206
62
1
1
Paul Goldschmidt
2022
.317
175
35
3
2
Bryce Harper
2021
.309
170
35
3
9
Cody Bellinger
2019
.305
161
47
1
1
Mike Trout
2019
.291
177
45
2
3
Christian Yelich
2018
.326
167
36
1
1
Mookie Betts
2018
.346
185
32
1
1
Giancarlo Stanton
2017
.281
158
59
2
1
Jose Altuve
2017
.346
160
24
2
1
Kris Bryant
2016
.292
148
39
1
1
Mike Trout
2016
.315
170
29
1
1
Bryce Harper
2015
.330
197
42
1
1
Josh Donaldson
2015
.297
154
41
2
2
Mike Trout
2014
.287
167
36
1
1
AVERAGE
.314
176
42
1.5
1.8
First, the best way to get an MVP award is by being the best player, but the thing about that is that there are other great players also trying to be the best player. Kris Bryant’s 2016 is a prime example here: a 7.5 fWAR season is, in the context of other MVPs, just ok. But no one else in the NL was as good, and so that 7.5 fWAR cleared. Witt, on the other hand, has had to content with Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh the last two years, both of whom put together historically great campaigns. Just no fighting that.
Second, MVP award winners clear a gigantic offensive bar. The average position player MVP winner since 2014 has had a batting average of .314 and has swatted 42 home runs en route to a wRC+ of 176. That’s the average hitter. In Witt’s best season (so far) in 2024, he was double-digit home runs away and seven points of wRC+ away from both figures.
Third, there is simply a bias towards offense in MVP award voting. Most votes go how the WAR total goes, with nearly all winners on this list ranking as the top or second-best WAR in both Fangraphs and Baseball-Reference versions. There were only three players who won
MVP and ranked below second place in either fWAR or bWAR: Mike Trout in 2019, Bryce Harper in 2021, and Paul Goldschmidt in 2022. In all three situations, the voters prioritized bat over glove, overlooking WAR to do so. In 2019, it was Alex Bregman and Marcus Semien who lost out. In 2021, it was Trea Turner and Fernando Tatis Jr. who lost out. And in 2022, it was Nolan Arenado and Manny Machado who lost out.
Witt’s game particularly vulnerable to the biases of MVP voters. Witt is a very good hitter who also happens to be the best defensive player in baseball and also one of the deadliest basestealers in the league. But Witt is not going to hit 50 home runs. He’s not going to walk at a 15% clip. He’s probably never going to hit a 169 wRC+ again. There’s a reason that none of the platinum glove winners have ever won an MVP; Arenado came the closest, but again, even though he accrued more WAR than Paul Goldschmidt, voters thought Goldschmidt’s offense was more important than Arenado’s defense.
So, is it Witt’s year to win MVP? I doubt it. That’s not because I don’t think Witt is good; on the contrary, I think Witt is clearly the best player in baseball because how he can impact the game every second he’s on the field. I’m just jaded about the process and about what voters value. I hope it is Witt’s year to win MVP, because he certainly deserves it for how good he’s been over the last two plus seasons.
Kurt Helin
