Now that the Philadelphia Flyers are out of the Stanley Cup playoffs and don't have any draft picks hinging on other teams' positioning in the standings, there is a lot less for Flyers fans to pay attention to until the offseason starts.
That is, unless you want to cheer on some old friends on their path to the Stanley Cup.
Around the NHL, many former Flyers, some recent and others not so recent, are representing the organization for new clubs.
We can safely assume that no Flyers fan really wants to see Cutter Gauthier succeed with the Anaheim Ducks, but center Ryan Poehling was a pleasant surprise as a depth forward during his two seasons in Philadelphia.
Those Ducks are down 3-2 in the series to the Vegas Golden Knights, who are led by ex-Flyers head coach John Tortorella and a surging Carter Hart.
Also out there in the West is former Flyers forward Bobby Brink, who traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for David Jiricek at the NHL trade deadline.
He, alongside Cal Petersen and Nicolas Aube-Kubel, are on the ride as depth pieces for the Wild; Brink hasn't played for Minnesota since the first round, recording one assist in four games.
They aren't looking so hot right now, trailing the Colorado Avalanche three games to one in that series.
Of course, closer to Philadelphia in the East, the Hurricanes have Nick Deslauriers, who was traded by the Flyers heading into the NHL trade deadline, former Flyers defenders Shayne Gostisbehere and Sean Walker, South Jersey native Eric Robinson, as well as former Flyers great Rod Brind'Amour as head coach.
They await the winner of the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens matchup, which features goalie Alex Lyon, local product Mattias Samuelsson, and former Flyers defender Luke Schenn.
Those two are tied at 2-2, so it will be some time still before Deslauriers, Brind'Amour, and the band of ex-Flyers get back on the ice for a playoff game.
The caveat, obviously, is that the Hurricanes knocked the Flyers out. It is in the eye of the beholder that they deserve to either succeed or fail.
Is the enemy of the enemy Hurricanes your friend this year?
Max Fried is having a nice campaign for the New York Yankees, compiling a 4-2 record and 2.91 ERA while striking out 48 hitters in 58.2 innings of work. While his K rate isn't as high as usual, the lefty is still getting his fair share of swings and misses.
Fried will face the Baltimore Orioles tonight, and he also struck out six O's hitters earlier this month in 5.1 innings.
Fried has cashed the Over in punchouts in two of his last four appearances, and he finished with five Ks in the other two starts -- just below tonight's total.
The Orioles struggle at times to put the baseball in play, ranking 26th in the big leagues in strikeouts. Fried also has 35 Ks in 41.1 road innings as the Bronx Bombers visit Baltimore here.
Time: 6: p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, Amazon Prime
Randy Arozarena Over 1.5 total bases (+150)
Randy Arozarena is tearing the cover off the baseball right now. The Seattle Mariners outfielder is hitting .522 over the last seven days, and he's already notched six hits in this series against the Houston Astros ahead of the series finale tonight.
Arozarena has cashed the Over in total bases in three of his last five contests, and the Cuban was a perfect 4-for-4 on Tuesday.
Tonight's matchup plays in his favor, too. Arozarena will face Lance McCullers Jr, and he's 7-for-17 lifetime against him with a home run. McCullers Jr owns a horrible 7.41 ERA, and he's given up nine earned runs across his last two starts.
Arozarena is hitting everything, and McCullers Jr has had no luck against the slugger. He'll have another banner performance.
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SCHN, Mariners.TV
Jacob Misiorowski Under 1.5 earned runs (-133)
The Milwaukee Brewers' rotation has been led by youngster Jacob Misiorowski, who sports a 2.45 ERA through eight starts, holding opponents to a .162 average.
The right-hander is coming off a dominant outing against the New York Yankees, tossing six scoreless frames last Friday while allowing just two hits to a solid lineup.
In fact, he's put together back-to-back scoreless appearances, and Misiorowski has cashed the Under in three of his previous four starts. The Brew Crew face the San Diego Padres at home tonight, where the hard-throwing right-hander owns a 2.54 ERA.
The Padres have been very underwhelming offensively, ranking 15th in runs and towards the bottom of the Majors in numerous other offensive categories. Misiorowski will deal.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Brewers.TV, Padres.TV
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 25-44, +4.23 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The New York Mets will look to make it two in a row at home as they host the Detroit Tigers at Citi Field on Wednesday night.
New York broke out offensively on Tuesday, and I’m picking it to win again in my Tigers vs. Mets predictions below.
Read on for my free MLB picks for Wednesday, May 13.
Who will win Tigers vs Mets today: Mets moneyline (-110)
Framber Valdez exits a disastrous start that saw him allow 10 runs in three innings. He’s running into a New York Mets team that broke out offensively with the help of prospect A.J. Ewing, who had a triple and three walks in his MLB debut last night.
Mets SP Christian Scott has allowed just three earned runs on six hits over 9 2/3 innings in his last two starts. He’s struck out 14 batters in that span, which should cause fits for a Detroit Tigers lineup averaging 2.71 runs over its last seven games.
COVERS INTEL: Christian Scott is holding opponents to a .172 expected batting average and a 4.2% barrel rate so far this season.
Tigers vs Mets Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+105)
New York showed energy and life that was desperately missing from its offense last night, whether that was from Ewing’s debut or not. The Mets singlehandedly carried the Over, and I think this lineup can generate offense off Valdez as well given his recent struggles.
The Tigers will have their chances to score, too. Scott has yet to go more than five innings in a game this year, and the Mets bullpen is thin, with long relief options like Sean Manaea (6.56 ERA) and closer Devin Williams (5.68 ERA) struggling.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 7-13, -6.58 units
Over/Under bets: 7-11, -4.53 units
Tigers vs Mets odds
Moneyline: Tigers -110 | Mets -110
Run line: Tigers +1.5 | Mets -1.5
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Tigers vs Mets trend
Detroit is 1-6 straight up in its last seven games overall. Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Mets.
How to watch Tigers vs Mets and game info
Location
Citi Field, Queens, NY
Date
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
DSN, SNY
Tigers starting pitcher
Framber Valdez (2-2, 4.57 ERA)
Mets starting pitcher
Christian Scott (0-0, 3.27 ERA)
Tigers vs Mets latest injuries
Tigers vs Mets weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 30: Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers runs down the court during the game against the Phoenix Suns on January 30, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Alright, we suffered enough. We spent the past few editions looking at unrestricted free agents at the point guard, shooting guard, and small forward positions. There wasn’t much meat on the bone there, especially when you factor in how the Phoenix Suns roster is currently constructed, where the deficiencies are, and where the opportunities actually exist.
In case you missed any of those breakdowns and want to circle back through the unrestricted free agent pool, here you go.
Now we get to the fun part. The power forward position.
This list carries some genuinely interesting names. It’s also one of the larger position groups and an area of real need for Phoenix. There’s no denying this team lacked size last season. In true Suns fashion, they leaned heavily into perimeter play and three point shooting. I understand the philosophy. Basketball is still won and lost in the paint.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the power forwards.
Player
Age
YOE
Prev Team
Prev AAV
Type
LeBron James
41.3
22
LAL
$50,677,999
UFA / Bird
Kristaps Porzingis
30.8
9
GSW
$30,000,000
UFA / Bird
Tobias Harris
33.8
14
DET
$26,000,000
UFA / Early Bird
John Collins
28.6
8
LAC
$25,000,000
UFA / Bird
Harrison Barnes
33.9
13
SAS
$18,000,000
UFA / Bird
Rui Hachimura
28.2
6
LAL
$17,000,000
UFA / Bird
Kelly Olynyk
35
12
SAS
$13,125,000
UFA / Bird
Maxi Kleber
34.2
8
LAL
$11,000,000
UFA / Bird
Dean Wade
29.4
6
CLE
$6,166,667
UFA / Bird
Guerschon Yabusele
30.3
3
CHI
$5,637,500
UFA / Non-Bird
Kevin Love
37.7
17
UTA
$4,000,000
UFA / Bird
Larry Nance Jr.
33.3
10
CLE
$3,634,153
UFA / Non-Bird
Jeff Green
39.7
18
HOU
$3,634,153
UFA / Bird
Marvin Bagley III
27.1
7
DAL
$3,080,921
UFA / Non-Bird
Anthony Gill
33.5
5
WAS
$2,667,947
UFA / Bird
Jock Landale
30.5
4
ATL
$2,461,463
UFA / Non-Bird
Precious Achiuwa
26.6
5
SAC
$2,453,285
UFA / Non-Bird
Olivier-Maxence Prosper
23.8
2
MEM
$1,512,846
UFA / Early Bird
Kyle Anderson
32.6
11
MIN
$898,095
UFA / Non-Bird
Jeremy Sochan
22.9
3
NYK
$806,628
UFA / Non-Bird
I’ll start by saying I believe the proper move for the Phoenix Suns next season is starting Rasheer Fleming at power forward. Yes, he’s young. He’s also not that young. He was a three-year starter in college and will be 22years old when the season begins. If you want to develop players, you have to give them opportunities. He has the size, the length, and the three-point shooting ability to be impactful on both ends of the floor.
Starting with that premise, I look at the list above through the lens of depth. Who could the Suns realistically bring in as a backup power forward if the roster spot exists? I don’t expect massive turnover this offseason. Most NBA teams turn over around 40% of the roster year to year. Phoenix is leaning into continuity and development, which should lower that number significantly. 40% would mean 6 players changing out. My guess is it’ll maybe two. Amir Coffey potentially not returning and whatever happens with Mark Williams. That’s probably the extent of it.
So you pick your spots carefully.
I’d be interested in taking a flier on Marvin Bagley III in Phoenix. Veteran minimum type player. Still relatively young at 27. He could provide some energy and scoring punch off the bench when needed.
You could also look at Jeremy Sochan, who everyone convinced themselves was the buyout savior that would change the season for the Suns. I said it then and I’ll say it now, he’s basically a Ryan Dunn archetype. Still, if you’re looking for a player who fits the mold and fills a pure depth role, I wouldn’t hate it.
Dean Wade has gotten a lot of attention lately after being linked to Phoenix. I could absolutely see the fit if the Suns move off Royce O’Neale. You could probably bring Wade in on a similar contract, and he essentially becomes your Royce replacement off the bench, only three inches taller. He’s not some elite defender, still, he can hit the three and takes up space.
So what do you think? When you look at this list, who stands out to you?
BOSTON, MA - MAY 12: A general view of the video board during an ABS challenge in the fourth inning during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Were you excited about the ABS challenge system at the start of the season? Did you think Craig Breslow’s “pitching and defense team” would be taking advantage of a new tool to help them reach the playoffs again? Well, so far challenges aren’t really a Red Sox thing. Whether this was an Alex Cora decision to more or less ignore the new powers of gamesmanship, or whether the Sox simply don’t have a collection of players who are comfortable tapping their helmets is unknown, but the results speak for themselves.
Boston has called for just 28 batter challenges through May 12th, the second lowers total in baseball. The Miami Marlins are at 28 and the San Diego Padres sit at just 26. Meanwhile the Minnesota Twins (56), Los Angeles Angels (49), Baltimore Orioles (48), and Cleveland Guardians (48) lead the pack with the most challenges by their hitters. Granted, these are not the most successful teams at challenges. That would be the Athletics, Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals, and Houston Astros. Each has won between 56% and 60% of their hitter challenges. And of the high-challenge teams, only the Guardians are above .500 on the year. Boston hitters have won 46% of their challenges, same as the Yankees who have challenged 46 times. The two teams are tied for the 14th highest winning rate by their hitters. Although 19 teams have won at least 45% of their challenges. And 21 teams have won 44%.
The disparity begins to show when you look at the individual hitters.
Ceddanne Rafaela is the leader of the Boston offense in helmet tapping. For better or worse he’s been one of the bright spots in the offense. And he’s challenged 7 times. Winning just 2. He shares that rate of success with Steven Kwan, Willy Adames, and Jonathan Aranda. Only Gunnar Henderson, with just 1 win, is worse among those with at least 7 challenge attempts.
If you look at Rafaela’s feel of the strike zone, it’s all over the map. The two blue circles were overturned. The 5 black circles were confirmed. Even here there’s some tough luck on the two in the corner on the lower left and the biter on the right that is essentially on the line of the strike zone. But that circle well inside the box? You might remember it from Sunday. It was called and obviously confirmed as a strike. It probably looked low.
It’s tough. The catcher lifts the ball really quick and it looks like his glove moved a long way as he does it.
Obviously some of this is going to be ingrained in a player. Some is going to be teachable. For the Red Sox, a team needing an offensive boost, maybe it’s time to figure out a more unified strategy. We know Roman and Masa know the zone. We know Willson is a veteran and a former catcher. He may know some tricks to gain a tiny edge here and there. But if the Sox could get back another pitch or two per week, it might be nice. I’m not advocating wasting challenges but if the game is ending and you have both remaining in the 9th inning maybe a little live practice…
In the summer of 2024, in his first offseason as GM of the Senators, Steve Staios put a large stamp on his hockey club.
Staios pulled off a deal to solve goaltending, getting Linus Ullmark, the goalie who had won the Vezina Trophy the season before. He also added winning experience, signing three veteran forwards – Michael Amadio, Nick Cousins, and David Perron – who all brought Stanley Cup-winning pedigree into the room.
But one of his other goals that summer was to rebalance the blue line. With Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, and Jakob Chychrun, the Sens were top-heavy on the left side with a few too many offensive defensemen and not enough physical, defense-first defenders.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss the Sens need for a solid backup goalie.
So Staios traded Chychrun to Washington for Jensen and a third-round pick. Jensen wasn't overly physical, but he did play the shutdown role well, and for a good chunk of last season, he and Chabot were perfect for each other. He was the yin to Chabot's yang.
But Jensen's time in Ottawa has been unravelled by last May's hip resurfacing surgery, and in a contract year, his post-surgery performance didn't leave management with an overwhelming desire to re-sign him. It's quite likely that he'll be allowed to walk into free agency this summer.
Now, with Jordan Spence becoming a full-timer, and Carter Yakemchuk getting close, the blue line scale is more out of balance than ever.
To varying degrees, each player brings some good things to the table. But the group still clearly needs another shutdown D who, ideally, embraces the physical side of the game even more than Jensen did.
Enter Rasmus Ristolainen. Could he be that missing piece?
TSN insider Darren Dreger reported on his podcast two weeks ago that the Senators and Philadelphia Flyers were engaged in serious trade discussions involving Ristolainen ahead of the March trade deadline.
“I know that Steve Staios was fairly far down the road in negotiations in acquiring Ristolainen at the trade deadline,” Dreger said. “But you know, Philadelphia knew what they had. I don't think they believed or were convinced that they were going to be as good as they were late in the season.
“So that's a pretty clear indication of what Staios and Ottawa were trying to acquire, like a proven defenseman.”
Ristolainen is exactly the kind of big, physical defenseman, willing to play that heavy game that Staios likes, and suddenly, the Senators' D-pairings would start to make a lot more sense.
However, while Ristolainen would rebalance things, it's fair to wonder how much tread is left on those tires.
Like Jensen, the defender whose role he would effectively be taking over for, staying healthy is a concern. Once he became a regular in the league, the former first-rounder played seven years of mostly injury-free hockey for the Buffalo Sabres.
However, in the past three seasons in Philly, the 31-year-old has been injury-prone with seasonal totals of 31, 63 and 44 games played. Ristolainen's biggest issue was a pair of triceps tendon ruptures.
The good news is he feels like that's all behind him and looks forward to a full summer ot training.
"Yes, thank God," Ristolainen told the media this week in his year-end availability. "It's the first normal, somewhat normal, off-season in four years, so I'm kind of excited about that, not needing to worry about rehabbing."
Even if he's healthy, he won't come cheap. He's in the final year of his contract at $5.1 million per season, and will soon be looking for more in unrestricted free agency in 2027.
And of course, the cost to the Senators goes beyond money. There's the little matter of compensation for the Flyers. He played heavy top four minutes this spring in the first playoff experience of his career, so the Flyers will want something meaningful in compensation.
GM Daniel Briere admitted that the "media circus" resulted in a lot of calls about Ristolainen, and while he listened respectfully to everyone, no one offered enough to make it worth his while.
"We weren't looking to dump him," Briere said at his deadline day availability. "Where do you find six-foot-four, physical, top-four right-shot defensemen? There's not a lot. And we saw it on the market. And yes, when that (media reports) came out, I did get a lot of calls. And we took them seriously.
"But at the end of the day, it just did not make sense, value-wise."
And keep in mind that was Briere's take on things on March 6th, when the Flyers were six points and four teams out of the final wild card spot. The GM of a team with that standing couldn't be faulted for thinking that his team isn't close and may need to think about shipping out veterans.
Now, after Ristolainen helped the club go on a furious run to make the playoffs and get to the second round, Briere is probably feeling differently about the player's availability.
That probably won't stop Staios from calling this summer. But with the Flyers now relevant again after missing the playoffs for five years in a row, the price tag probably hasn't come down, and will probably now include a demand for assets that can help the Flyers now.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
The reeling Los Angeles Dodgers take a four-game losing streak into Wednesday night’s home game against the San Francisco Giants.
Superstar Shohei Ohtani takes the mound, and there’s no better pitcher to turn the tide.
My Giants vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks for Wednesday, May 13, see Shohei leading his team back in the win column with a low-scoring victory.
Who will win Giants vs Dodgers tonight: Dodgers moneyline (-238)
Losing streak or not, the Los Angeles Dodgers are still the superior team and will have a starting pitching advantage with Shohei Ohtani (0.97 ERA) on the bump.
He’s on a shortlist for the NL Cy Young, ranking in the 90th percentile or better in xERA, xBA, whiff rate, and barrel rate.
While Robbie Ray’s 2.76 ERA looks nice, it’s undercut by his predictive metrics (4.15 xERA, 4.52 FIP).
His mortality shows on the road (4.15 ERA), and the bullpen behind him has a league-worst 5.63 SIERA over the last 15 days.
COVERS INTEL:Shohei Ohtani’s 114 Stuff+ ranks seventh among starting pitchers. He uses these lethal offerings to generate strikeouts (29%) and groundballs (53.8%) — the two most favorable outcomes for a pitcher.
Giants vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 8 (-110)
Low-scoring games tend to follow when these two hurlers take the mound. San Francisco is 2-6 O/U in Ray’s eight starts, while L.A. is 1-5 O/U in Ohtani’s last six.
The Boys in Blue have been slumping at the dish, plating three or fewer runs in 10 of their last 13 games. With Ohtani out of the lineup, they’re missing their best hitter.
The San Francisco Giants have bad numbers against right-handed pitchers (89 wRC+ and .296 wOBA) and will face the most effective one to date in 2026.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 11-12, -4.84 units
Over/Under bets: 16-8, +7.64 units
Giants vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: San Francisco +206 | Los Angeles -229
Run line: San Francisco +1.5 (-103) | Los Angeles -1.5 (-107)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+124) | Under 8.5 (-137)
Giants vs Dodgers trend
The Giants have hit the Under in four of their last five road games. Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Giants vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
MLB Network
Giants starting pitcher
Robbie Ray (3-4, 2.76 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Shohei Ohtani (2-2, 0.97 ERA)
Giants vs Dodgers latest injuries
Giants vs Dodgers weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
May 2, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela (59) runs the bases on his three run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the eighth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
When the Jays are playing the way they are, I find it hard to come up with things to write about. Or perhaps I’m just depressed about the state of the team.
At the quarter mark of the season, the surprise player (well, surprise in a good way) has to be Brandon Valenzuela. He’s only played in 24 games (and five of those he didn’t start). He’s had 69 plate appearances, and a batting average of .226, 4 home runs and an OPS +103.
Defensively, he’s thrown out 35.0% of the guys who have tried to steal off him. There are 3 errors, but no one is perfect.
Jays pitchers have a 3.77 ERA against him and a 4.52 ERA against Tyler Heineman. It is a small sample size, so there is likely some noise, but it appears the pitchers like throwing to him.
By bWAR, he’s tied for the best among Jays batters. Obviously, this is all a very small sample, and there is little in his history that suggests he’d be more than a glove-first backup catcher.
If he continues like this, the Jays will have to keep him as the backup to Alejandro Kirk when the time comes.
At the opposite end of the bWAR scale (and surprise scale), we have Tyler Heineman, at -0.9. Tyler was terrific last year, 1.9 bWAR in 61 games. But that was very much an outlier in his career. Other than 2025, his bWAR ranged from +0.3 to -0.1 (pretty normal for a backup catcher).
What’s going on this year?
He’s hitting .158/.200/.158 in 63 PA (again, a very small sample size). And it does seem like he’s lost confidence at the plate.
Defensively, he’s thrown out 20% of base stealers (league average 23.5 %), so considering the sample size, right around average (last year he threw out 30.2% of base stealers). And, as noted above, our pitchers haven’t fared as well throwing to him.
Tyler is out of options, though I don’t know if anybody would pick him up off waivers. Valenzuela has 3 option years left.
Alejandro Kirk is still weeks away from rejoining the Jays, so lots can happen between now and then, but Valenzuela is looking a lot like the backup catcher Heineman was last year.
SAN ANTONIO, TX. - MAY 2026: San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts after dunking the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter of Game 5 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs, NBA Western Conference Semifinals, Game 5. NBA Playoffs. (Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images
I’ve spent most of this current playoff run trying to reacclimate to this environment. I should be used to this, right? I’m a veteran Spurs fan. This is a franchise that made the playoffs for 22 consecutive years. They didn’t just make the playoffs, they made deep runs. Battles. Marathons. Titles. Heartbreak. We have, collectively, been through it all. I should be used to this. I should have a handle on it.
So why does it feel like I’m falling apart at the seams?
The last few days, in the wake of what happened in Game 4, have not been fun. The elbow heard round the world felt like it rippled through every aspect of my day-to-day. Everyone had an opinion on it. Takes were flying everywhere. You have people coming out of the woodwork breaking down footage from various elbows thrown by various nefarious characters throughout history, gleefully speculating on the potential ramifications for our boy. Even once the actual judgment was rendered, the conversation around what happened to Vic felt like something that threatened to envelope this entire playoff run. Was this the breaking point for this young Spurs team? Were the lights finally getting too bright? Was Wemby becoming a villain?
I wanted to defend Victor. People needed to know that the Wolves were baiting him. Not just that, but physically they were practically trying to hurt him. Arm pulls. Elbows to the back. Shots to the face. You name it, and Vic had been on the receiving end of it. Hell, he got a taste of the whole menu on the exact play where it all boiled over. The Wolves were provoking him. The refs were either biased or incompetent. The media was too quick to judge. No one else has ever been treated as unfairly as this. Man, I just wanted to shout it to the heavens. I wanted to shout loud enough so someone, anyone could hear me. I know I’m biased and I know it doesn’t matter, but I felt this real, visceral yearning to be understood and have someone outside my own circle of Spurs voices tell me, “we hear you. We get it.”
That’s obviously a little bit insane.
The rational person in me understands the shades of grey and that the noise is just that. Noise. It doesn’t have any bearing or effect on anything unless I let it. Problem is, the intensity of the playoffs has this way of fooling around with the “rational” knobs on my dashboard.
I don’t remember it being like this. I don’t remember sweating the small stuff when Tim and D-Rob went 6 games in the second round with the Lakers back in 03. I was simply bummed about the losses and psyched about the wins. I mean, they went 6 games in every series that year, including the Finals. It was just a part of the trip.
Seriously, I go back and think about all those playoff runs and, more than anything, I remember it being fun. I looked forward to it all season. We had watch parties and the games were on national television and it felt like, for once, the whole world was locked in on what the Spurs were doing. It was everything I loved about sports and it was all happening in my backyard. We were watching our cool older brothers go out there and take on all comers. We were watching Coach Pop, our grumpy old dad with a heart of gold, gradually solidify himself as a basketball genius who seemed to have all the answers. I don’t think I ever worried for a single second about the Spurs back then. Even when they lost, I knew they’d be back. They always were.
I’m a bundle of nerves these days. What gives? I should be older and wiser. Experienced. Savvy. I should be the one preaching patience and calm because, after all, I’ve been there before. Instead I’m out here ready to go to war with First Take’s Nick Wright because he has the audacity to say “It’s unacceptable to elbow people in the face.” I don’t care if he’s right, I don’t like his tone!
I could blame social media. I could blame the league. I could blame society. Shoot, I could probably download an astrology app and start blaming the cosmos if I really put my mind to it. But, deep down, I think I’m starting to understand that I’m the problem. It’s me. Hi.
I’m no longer watching these games through the childlike, optimistic lens of someone who has only known success. It’s not necessarily that the Spurs won all the time, but they were good all the time. I didn’t need to worry because they had it figured out. It’s certainly possible that like, maybe they didn’t at the time! Who can say? But when I looked out on the floor and saw Tim Duncan and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, I felt like they had it under control.
When I look out there now, all I see are the boys. They are supremely talented and they are extremely tall, but they are kids. There’s no getting around it. I see it when Steph starts getting a little frustrated with the contact. I see it when Dylan Harper makes what can only be described as an “oooohhhhhh, you’re in trooooouuubbbllllleeeee” face any time literally anything happens. I see it when Vic is posturing. Acting tougher than he is because he thinks he has to. I see it all, every night, and it doesn’t make me want to go to battle with them. No, it makes me want to give them a cup of tea and listen to their hopes and dreams.
It makes me want to die any time a shot doesn’t go in. It makes me fly into a rage when they don’t get a call. It makes me want to fight people who don’t understand them like I do. It makes me want to defend them to the death, even when they do something wrong.
I just…I worry about them. You know? I get it. It’s an overly emotional, parasocial relationship that is 1000% me projecting my own stuff onto a group of young men who are, quite literally, just doing their jobs. That’s fine. If that’s what you want your relationship with sports to be then, yea, that’s fine. Healthy, even.
But I love these guys. I want them to do well and I want them to do great things, not for me, but for themselves. For the city. For the fans. I want kids who are out there looking up to guys like Vic and Steph and Dylan to feel that same sense of inevitability and pride that I did back in the day. It’s the most pure gift that sports has to offer and when it hits right, it’s like magic. That’s what’s at stake in these games and it feels a whole lot more important than whether or not the Spurs win or lose.
Heading into Game 5, I was a mess. The Spurs? They were not. They came out and handled their business. They were measured in their response to the Wolves’ physicality. The game plan was solid and it was executed perfectly. No one took the ample amount of rage bait offered and no one backed down when the Wolves inevitably mounted their comeback. It was, dare I say, mature. It looked like a group of guys who had it under control.
I’m not going to stop worrying about them and I’m not going to stop irrationally defending them. I’m not going to stop being nervous whenever they miss a shot and I’m not going to stop thinking they’re perfect little basketball angels who can do no wrong. I’m a bundle of nerves and I am irrationally confident in my convictions. I am the all-seeing, all-knowing duality that is a middle-aged man just trying to get by. I know this and I’m at, relative, peace with it.
I’m a mess and I can’t help it. But the kids are alright. Even when they lose, the kids are alright.
They always have been.
Takeaways:
Keldon Johnson, have yourself a day. More than any other Spurs player right now, it just makes my heart grow three sizes when KJ gets his stuff rolling and is able to influence the game. He wants it so bad and he cares so much. He’s the heartbeat of this team and when things aren’t going his way, it’s almost like it has an outsized effect on everyone around him. It’s not as simple as missing out on a few extra points off the bench. Your biggest cheerleader goes missing as well. On the flip side, when he gets it going it can make a single contested layup in the lane feel like a quick 10-0 run in and of itself. He’ll swag over to the crowd and bellow and everyone around him gets about 10% more hype. I love it. I love him. I’m not nervous at all about the mood and collective psyche of this team riding on whether or not his jumper is falling, why do you ask?
61-61 in the third quarter felt really bad. Like, the moment it happened, I was having a bad time. In hindsight, especially considering the response, it doesn’t feel like all that big of a deal that they crawled back into it. It’ll be one of those things that’s lost to history, but I’m marking it here for posterity: as it was happening, it felt like the world was ending. Dating back to the end of the second quarter, the Spurs had, according to my notes, missed 100 straight shots. Edwards was starting to feel it and I just…yea, we don’t have to talk about it anymore. It was a bad time.
Dylan Harper being listed as questionable for Game 5 (knee) almost had me listed as questionable for watching Game 5 (diarrhea). I really did not want to go into this game without him because, hey, turns out he’s maybe the third-best player in this series? It’s insane. I mean, all due respect to literally everyone, but what are we even watching with this kid anymore? It’s breathtaking every time he touches the ball. The control he has, the way he can move and operate in so little space, feels like a magic trick. His finishes at the rim are electric. His defense is insane. I honestly almost don’t ever want to talk about it because I’m afraid my eyes are playing tricks on me. Did we mess around and draft Kobe Bryant to pair alongside Vic? How is his real life?
Do you really think you should be offering to fight various media personalities for their Wembanyama takes?
If the takes are particularly bad then, yea, I mean, I think I’m honor bound. Duty bound. They need to answer for their sins in the octagon.
What even was the take that got you riled up?
Oh who even knows. There were a lot of bad actors out there trying to cash in on the moment. Hard to keep track. As you can imagine, no one has accepted my offer to settle things via the sacred art of hand-to-hand combat so, clearly, they lack the courage of their convictions and will have to live out their days knowing deep in their soul that cowardice is eating away at the very foundations of their being like a virus.
Are you sure they aren’t just being professional and not getting into fistfights about sports?
New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried (54) throws during the first inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, May 8, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
After that skid in Milwaukee, the Yankees have the chance to get right back on the horse today with a series win over Baltimore. First pitch time has been moved up from 6:35pm to 1:05pm this afternoon with fears of some nasty weather tonight, but we’re all hoping for some nasty pitching from Max Fried in the meantime.
Just like last season, Fried is putting together an excellent campaign without a whole lot of fanfare — in 2026’s case at least partially because of how damn good Cam Schlittler has been. Still, Fried comfortably sits top 10 in baseball in multiple stats including xERA and home run rate, and if it weren’t for some standout performances last night would be top ten in FIP as well, with him currently ranked 11th in the stat. He did get touched up over the weekend against the Brewers for five earned runs across six innings, so a bounceback start would be welcome.
Kyle Bradish goes for the O’s, and while he’s struggled to get much going this year, he’s handled the Yankees well in his career. This will be his ninth start against the Bombers, managing a 3.92 ERA against them in his previous eight. That said, a ghastly 12-percent walk rate should have the Yankees focusing on one part of the zone, and willing to take until Bradish goes there.
Spencer Jones finds himself back in the lineup today, in right field while Aaron Judge DHs. J.C. Escarra catches on the day game after the night game, but the biggest change is perhaps Anthony Volpe getting his first start since being recalled from Triple-A. The former top prospect sat out last night’s win but will bat eighth and man shortstop at Camden Yards today.
How to watch
Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards — Baltimore, MD
First pitch: 1:05 pm ET
TV broadcast: Amazon Prime Video, MASN
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), 98 Rock 97.9 FM, WBAL 1090 AM (BA. L) n
It’s rebound day after a couple of donuts last night, and Aaron Judge drawing walks instead of swinging for the fences is a tough way to lose a home run ticket. Having several fly-ball pitchers working in windy conditions today creates plenty to like across the MLB player prop market.
Lefty vs. lefty isn't always a good place to look for a dinger, but it is today with Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz stepping in against Jose Quintana.
Add him to the card featuring Hunter Goodman and Brady House, and we've got a home run stew going.
These are my favorite MLB home run predictions for Wednesday, May 13.
UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Hunter Goodman
+405
Brady House
+620
Oneil Cruz
+425
💲Today's HR parlay
+15650
Home run pick: Hunter Goodman (+405)
I love this game for runs. We’ve got double-digit winds blowing out, two fly-ball starters, and a pair of beat-up bullpens. Hunter Goodman has the best home run upside in this matchup and has already taken Mitch Keller deep in a small three-at-bat sample.
Goodman leads the Colorado Rockies in swing speed and BlastContact% over the last two weeks while also posting the second-best IdealAttackAngle%. I like him in this spot more than Mickey Moniak at the shorter price.
Keller hasn’t allowed many home runs, but he’s been a bit fortunate and isn’t a true ground-ball pitcher. He’ll also eventually hand things off to a bullpen carrying a 6.82 ERA over the last two weeks. Goodman, a lucky pitcher, a bad bullpen, and strong winds are all checking boxes for our MLB picks today.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Rockies.TV
Home run pick: Brady House (+620)
Brady House might not be a household name yet, but he’s hitting in the middle of the Washington Nationals lineup from the right side and gets a strong matchup today against lefty Nick Lodolo, who was roughed up in his first start back last week while continuing to see his fly-ball rate climb.
If Lodolo can’t keep the ball on the ground, it could be a short outing with 14-mph winds blowing out to center field. Returning from the blister that sidelined him, Lodolo surrendered two home runs while recording just 16 outs last week and threw only 78 pitches.
That could mean plenty of innings for a Cincinnati Reds bullpen that owns the worst ERA in baseball over the last two weeks at 8.77, along with a league-worst 2.10 HR/9.
House went yard yesterday and has four extra-base hits over his last six games with great BlastCon% numbers.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Nationals.TV, Reds.TV
Home run pick: Oneil Cruz (+425)
I’m getting a great price on one of the best home run hitters in the game with Oneil Cruz facing fellow lefty Jose Quintana, which is likely why this number is sitting north of +400. Cruz has crushed left-handed pitching this season with a .985 OPS and four home runs.
Quintana has actually allowed more damage to left-handed hitters this year, and with his short leash at roughly 81 pitches per start, a weak Rockies bullpen is likely going to be asked to keep the ball in the park with 13-mph winds blowing out to center field. I’ll take the lefty-on-lefty discount.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Rockies.TV
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 13-69, -1.94 units
Today’s HR parlay
Hunter Goodman
Bet Now +15650
Brady House
Oneil Cruz
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BRONX, NY - MAY 02: Kyle Bradish #38 of the Baltimore Orioles warms up prior to the game against the New York Yankees on May 2, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After a four-game sweep in the Bronx last week, I was in no hurry to see the Orioles face the Yankees again. This time it’s gone better, although far from great. In Game 1, the O’s snatched a late win, with Coby Mayo going yard after his team had been no-hit for six innings. But in Game 2, Trevor Rogers looked homer-prone, and the team fell, 6-2.
The Orioles rotation is certainly struggling of late. Their 5.19 ERA is third-worst in the game. Now it’s Max Fried and Kyle Bradish in the rubber match, two pitchers whom you’d once squint and call aces. Bradish, because he had an out-of-nowhere 2023 campaign, finishing fourth in the Cy Young voting. Fried, because he’s often treated as just ace-adjacent—on the other hand, he’s certainly got ace-type numbers today.
Bradish (1-5, 4.83 ERA) could use a bounceback. He hasn’t given up fewer than three runs in any of his last three starts. Overall, this season has shown Bradish trying to shake off some post-Tommy John rust. At the time same time, he’s showing some signs of being back to normal. His last time out, against the Athletics, he gave up three runs but did go long, however.
Whether Max Fried (4-2, 2.91 ERA) is an ace or not, he’s certainly pitching like one right now. His BaseballSavant page is a sea of red (that’s good): pitching run value, expected ERA, fastball run value, offspeed run value. His curveball has been his greatest weapon this year, but he leans on his cutter more. Last week, Baltimore got their runners aboard (six hits, three walks), but only pushed across three earned runs over 5.1 innings. On May 8, he allowed five runs to the Brewers. So maybe the “ace” is going through a rough patch. And maybe the O’s can take advantage.
CHICAGO — The person who now controls the direction the 2026 NBA Draft will take began to go through his memory while inside Wintrust Arena on Tuesday, May 12.
Washington Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins remembers initially hearing about A.J. Dybantsa for the first time when Dybantsa was only 14 years old. They are both from Massachusetts and Dawkins, a former Division-III player, kept hearing about the basketball prospect who would be the next big thing from his area.
Dawkins said he initially saw Cameron Boozer when Boozer was only 15 years old at the NBPA Top 100 camp. Team USA practices, national high school showcases and Nike's EYBL events had Darryn Peterson on the Wizards' radar by the time he was 16.
"We knew we wanted to go on an intentional rebuild," Dawkins explained from the NBA Draft Scouting Combine in Chicago, two days after the Wizards received the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery, "so we loaded up on the grassroots spaces, and made sure we were in those gyms watching these guys so you could best predict how deep the talent would be. ... I think pound-for-pound it's one of the best drafts I've seen in a long time."
The anticipation for this 2026 draft class, and the belief that next year's draft class would not be nearly as good, led to historic levels of tanking this past season. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said as much when he announced there would be drastic changes to the draft lottery system on the horizon during the All-Star break.
But now that the 2026 draft process is in motion – with this week's scouting combine followed by a month of prospect workouts at team facilities – the perception of this class has gotten more complicated before the Wizards officially go on the clock.
There is no clear cut No. 1 pick yet like last year when the Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg. Dawkins noted Tuesday the Wizards have "a lot of players we have to spend some time on."
There is also a growing trend created by the explosion of NIL money in college basketball, as players projected to be late first-round picks and international prospects increasingly choose to remain in college longer due to the equivalent salaries of a rookie-scale contract and a star player at a Power Four conference school.
"The top 15 is off the charts," said ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg of the 2026 draft class, "but I think what's happened is the bottom of the first round, because guys are coming back (to college) because of pay for play, whether guys don't think they're mature enough yet, or guys that are going to be towards the end of the first round, with next year's draft not being as strong at the top, they can basically double their money."
There is nonetheless a sense that multiple future stars could be produced from this draft. In addition to Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson at the top of draft boards, there's a wealth of quality guards expected to be sifted through among teams with picks in the 5-10 range.
Dawkins referred to the class as "really deep in the top 10."
"It'll overwhelm you with depth," said former NBA player and LIFT Sports management agent Mike Miller, whose clients this year include projected first-round picks like guards Labaron Philon (Alabama) and Ebuka Okorie (Stanford) and forward Jayden Quaintance (Kentucky). "You're going to get players the whole first round who are going to be all-stars."
The Wizards planned for that when they embarked on their lengthy rebuild under Dawkins and team president Michael Winger. Because nobody has tanked quite like the Wizards in recent years. They had a combined record of 50-196 the last three seasons. They also were among the teams with the best odds to get the No. 1 pick in 2025 and wound up at No. 6.
After years of preparing for this moment, Dawkins said he likes the uncertainty all of a sudden, too. So long as he's in control of it.
"The best part about getting No. 1 in any year's draft is you have the power of choice," Dawkins said. "This year there's a lot of top candidates and we know we're choosing from a very talented bunch."
Spanish rider prevails in Potenza on chaotic fifth stage
Eulálio denied but takes the maglia rosa from Ciccone
Portugal’s Afonso Eulálio seized the overall lead in the Giro d’Italia despite having victory snatched away by Spain’s Igor Arrieta in the final metres of a rain-drenched stage five on Wednesday.
The Bahrain Victorious rider joined Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) at the front near the summit of the Montagna Grande di Viggiano climb and when Arrieta took a wrong turn he looked certain to take the win. But Arrieta, banging his handlebars in anger, had other ideas and reeled in Eulálio along the finishing straight to win his first Grand Tour stage.
TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs fired coach Craig Berube on Wednesday after he guided the team to a last-place finish in the Atlantic Division this season.
The move ended Berube’s two-year run with the Maple Leafs. He helped the club to a 108-point campaign in his first season as coach, but Toronto struggled mightily in 2025-26.
“Craig is a tremendous coach and an even better person,” general manager John Chayka said in a statement. “This decision is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig.”
Chayka, who resigned as Coyotes GM right before the bubble playoffs in 2020 and was suspended in 2021 for pursuing opportunities with other clubs, was hired earlier this month.
Craig Berube was fired as Maple Leafs coach on Wednesday. Getty Images
He succeeded Brad Treliving, who was fired in March.
Toronto won the NHL draft lottery last week. The Maple Leafs are expected to pick either Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg with the first overall pick on June 26 at the NHL draft in Buffalo.
Berube went 84-62-18 with Toronto, but the Maple Leafs were just 32-36-14 this season. The drop in points — from 108 to 78 — was the team’s largest year-over-year points decline.
The Maple Leafs headed into the season with high hopes despite the loss of star winger Mitch Marner.
Toronto added a trio of forwards — Matias Maccelli, Dakota Joshua and Nicolas Roy — in hopes of replacing those minutes by committee on a team thought to be still poised for Stanley Cup contention.
The Maple Leafs, however, never really got out of second gear. Along with a string of key injuries and absences, the club largely looked out of sorts from puck drop.
Despite a roster still anchored by star forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander, the Maple Leafs’ power play was a huge issue.
Defensive deficiencies also caused glaring problems for a club that finished with the second-worst goals-against mark and was outshot a league-worst 66 times.
New Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka. Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
“They played with more passion than we did,” Berube told reporters in December after a 4-0 road loss to the Washington Capitals. “That’s what it boils down to. It looked to me like they had way more urgency in their game, more passion in their game. That’s the difference.”
Asked to explain how that could be the case, he replied: “Ask those guys, not me.”
The exchange was just one example of clear disconnect.
A three-time Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goal-scorer, Matthews found the back of the net just 27 times before suffering a season-ending knee injury on a hit from Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas in March.
Toronto’s players didn’t do much in the immediate aftermath, which led to stinging rebukes from Berube — a former NHL enforcer with the seventh-most penalty minutes in league history — media members and fans as the locker room culture was called into question.
Berube, 60, was hired in May 2024 after Treliving let Sheldon Keefe go following 4 1/2 seasons in charge.
Toronto won a playoff round for just the second time in the NHL’s salary-cap era during his first campaign. The Maple Leafs beat the Ottawa Senators before falling to Florida in a series accented by 6-1 losses on home ice in Games 5 and 7. The Panthers would go on to win their second straight Stanley Cup.
The Maple Leafs had embraced Berube’s straightforward, no-nonsense, north-south approach in 2024-25 after Keefe was unable to get the same talented group over its playoff hump but didn’t come close to duplicating that success a second time.
Berube’s coaching journey began with the Philadelphia Flyers organization after retiring as a player. He worked his way up the ladder, moving from the AHL to the NHL as an assistant in 2006-07.
He took over as Flyers head coach early in 2013-14 and lasted another season before getting fired.
Berube then led the St. Louis Blues’ AHL affiliate after a year on the sidelines. He became an NHL associate coach in 2017-18 and was promoted to the top job with St. Louis in November 2018.
Berube rallied the group, which at one point sat last in the overall standings, to make the playoffs before it went on a magical run that culminated with the franchise’s only Cup victory.
Berube lost in the first round each of the next three seasons and missed out entirely in 2022-23. The Blues fired him just 28 games into the subsequent campaign.
Berube lasted two seasons with the team. AP
When Berube was hired by the Maple Leafs, Treliving said he had plenty of conversations with people who worked with, worked under and played alongside the former tough guy.
“They talked about how they would go through a wall for him,” Treliving said. “There was the connection he had with his players, the accountability he had with his players, and the bond he was able to build with staff.”
Flyers Captains Go To Bat For Matvei MichkovSean Couturier, Travis Konecny, and Travis Sanheim all went out of their way to stand up for Philadelphia Flyers teammate Matvei Michkov after a difficult season for the youngster.
Flyers, Owen Tippett Share Gruesome Injury Update; Surgery Not Needed YetOwen Tippett reveals the devastating injuries he suffered playing for the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Max Fried
Randy Arozarena
Jacob Misiorowski
COVERS INTEL: Christian Scott is holding opponents to a 
Hunter Goodman 
Brady House
Oneil Cruz
