NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL on Monday suspended Ottawa forward Ridly Greig for two regular-season games for roughing during the Senators’ final playoff game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Greig was banned for sucker punching Carolina defenseman Sean Walker in the second period of Ottawa’s 4-2 loss on April 25.
Walker was engaged with a Senators player during an on-ice melee, and the video replay showed Greig delivering two separate shots to Walker, including a gloved uppercut punch that dropped Walker to his knees. Greig was not penalized on the play.
The victory gave the Hurricanes a sweep in the best-of-seven, first-round series.
Greig will serve the suspension at the start of next season.
On Monday, manager Aaron Boone spoke about the decision, saying he spoke to Volpe before the announcement was made.
“We want him to have the best chance to be successful, and we have to acknowledge, first how well (Jose Caballero) has played,” Boone said. “He’s been a key factor in us getting off to a really good start this year on both sides of the ball, on the basepaths. So, it’s really as simple as that. It doesn’t change how we feel about Anthony or the kind of player we think he is and will be. But in this moment of time, we felt like this was absolutely the right thing to do, and a lot of that has to do with…. We have a lot of really good players right now competing for real roles and real spots. I think that competition ultimately is going to be a great thing for us.
“So right now, I think this is the right choice for us, I think it’s the right thing to do even for Anthony, and hopefully this gives him even more time to accumulate those everyday reps, and we’ll keep evaluating.”
Caballero has a .711 OPS this season, while playing a strong defensive shortstop as well.
According to Boone, Volpe will stay at shortstop for now, though he wouldn’t rule out future conversations about moving Volpe around the infield.
That means that top prospect George Lombard Jr. will “bounce around” a bit, with Boone noting that Lombard already has experience playing second and third base.
Boone was asked about what he’ll remember most about Sterling.
“One of a kind. An amazing career, an amazing life,” Boone said. “The soundtrack for so many New Yorkers and Yankees fans over the years.
“Like so many Yankees fans, any time there’s a big moment or a big game, man, I couldn’t wait to get home and ‘I wanna hear how John called this.’ And just such a nice man.”
In fact, Boone is such a fan that he’s started mimicking Sterling’s iconic call after every Yankees win.
“When we win, I still do this, and my coaches look at me like I’m nuts. I don’t even know if they know what I’m doing,” he said. “As soon as that final out is made and I get up to shake players hands, I go ‘Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeeeee Yankees win!’ and I’m shaking all my coaches’ hands, so I get goosebumps thinking about that.”
In Holland's exit interview on Friday, he revealed that he has a list of "five to eight" coaches of multiple degrees of experience, suggesting he's looking at all the options.
Now, here are three coaches who have either been lightly tested in the NHL, or haven't been a head coach in the league yet - in no particular order. In fact, all these listed coaches are currently leading a team in the AHL.
Andrew Lord, Ontario Reign
When a franchise goes through the process of a coaching change, it's fairly standard for the organization to take a look at who is running the affiliate club in the American League.
In this case, for the Kings, that's Andrew Lord, head coach of the Ontario Reign. Lord has been leading the Reign to a great season thus far in the minors.
This is Lord's first season with Ontario, and he currently has his team in the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs. The Reign earned a first-round bye, thanks to finishing first in the Pacific Division.
They also finished the regular season fourth in the AHL with 99 points, the best campaign in franchise history since the Manchester Monarchs became the Ontario Reign.
This impressive season is all in the hands of coach Lord.
Manny Malhotra is the head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. He's led the team for two seasons now and has really impressed in his first campaign.
In 2024-25, he guided Abbotsford to a Calder Cup championship, which is the first time Vancouver's American League affiliate won a championship since the Springfield Indians in 1991.
This year hasn't gone nearly as well for Abbotsford, which finished fourth-last in the AHL, but that's largely because the NHL club brought up some of the key players who helped the Calder Cup-winning team last season.
Malhotra has been a name that has floated around the NHL community as a coach who could soon get an opportunity behind an NHL bench, but as the leader of the coaching staff.
He's been behind an NHL bench before, as an assistant coach for the Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs from 2017-18 to 2023-24.
Pascal Vincent (James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports)
Pascal Vincent, Laval Rocket
Unlike the other two names on this list, Pascal Vincent has experience as a head coach in the NHL.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were forced to pivot from their original hire for the 2023-24 season, Mike Babcock, and Vincent was tapped to fill in after serving as an associate coach for the organization.
He finished that season with a 27-43-12 record with a weak Blue Jackets team. Since then, he's moved on to be a head coach again in the AHL, a role he's spent multiple seasons in with the Manitoba Moose from 2016-17 to 2020-21.
In the past two seasons, he's been the coach of the Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens. Vincent guided the Rocket to win the North Division this season, and they are in the second round of the playoffs.
Last season was even more impressive for Vincent and the Rocket as they topped the AHL for the 2024-25 regular season and made it to the Eastern Conference finals.
It could be time for Vincent to get a real chance at being a head coach in the NHL.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets smiles during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game Five on April 29, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
This past week’s question asked Rockets fans about Kevin Durant. Following a tumultuous season in which KD played well on the court, was a vibe-killing disaster off of it, and a no-show come NBA Playoffs time, we asked our readers if they wanted the Rockets to trade him in the offseason. Not what they thought the Rockets would do. What they WANT the Rockets to do.
Here’s the results:
As you can see, a full 65 percent of Rockets fans want KD gone. You can count me in that 65. Sadly, it doesn’t appear that we will get our wish. In today’s ESPN article about the Rockets, Ramona Shelbourne reported that KD was a grumpy gus all season in the locker room, saying:
“Durant was predictably brilliant on the court throughout the 2025-26 season, averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists while playing in 78 games, but team sources said his “moodiness” took some getting used to and wore on the team’s young players throughout the campaign, a dynamic that was exacerbated without VanVleet and Adams as buffers.“
However, despite the burner incident playing a role in Houston’s chemistry issues this season, the Rockets fully intend to have KD back in the fold next season, calling Durant part of their core. The article also mentions that the locker room is supposedly fine now after some meetings, but I don’t think anyone who’s watched the Rockets recently doesn’t think the chemistry and comraderie was better without him. Were the Rockets a better team overall without him? That’s a different convo. Can they reach the next level by trading him for assets and being a little patient? I think that’s also a serious convo that needs to be had.
Anyway, it seems we’re not getting our wish, but if there’s one thing that I’ve learned in 25 years of writing about the NBA is to expect the unexpected.
Thanks for voting. We’ll be back soon with more Reacts.
TORONTO, ON- MARCH 29 - Right fielder Addison Barger #47 of the Toronto Blue Jays as the Toronto Blue Jays play the Athletics at Rogers Centre in Toronto. March 29, 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
There is a whole mess of injury news this afternoon:
George Springer hit some pitches and says he ‘feels great’. He isn’t starting today, but he’ll be available off the bench and should start tomorrow. That’s gotta be the best possible result after he got hit on the broken toe just two days ago.
Addison Barger will play with the Bisons tomorrow and likely Wednesday and then should be back with the Jays on the weekend.
Alejandro Kirk will start swinging a bat later this week, which surprised me. I figured it wouldn’t be for a bit yet. But if he can do it, that’s great. I guess it is all on how much pain he can handle.
Max Scherzer is ‘feeling better’. I don’t know what that means. I don’t know if he’ll be back right away.
Yimi Garcia will start a rehab assignment later this week. It shouldn’t take to long for him to be ready to job the Jays after that.
José Berríos will meet up with the Jays in Tampa. And then they will talk about the next step. They don’t have to activate him from the IL if he’s not ready and if he isn’t throwing well….I don’t see putting him on the roster.
Today’s lineup is similar to yesterday’s, minus Sosa and Heineman, and Varsho is DH today. He was having some better at bats yesterday. Hopefully that will continue.
Today’s Lineups
BLUE JAYS
RAYS
Yohendrick Pinango – LF
Chandler Simpson – LF
Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
Junior Caminero – 3B
Vladimir Guerrero – 1B
Ryan Vilade – RF
Jesus Sanchez – RF
Yandy Diaz – DH
Ernie Clement – 2B
Jonathan Aranda – 1B
Daulton Varsho – DH
Jonny DeLuca – CF
Myles Straw – CF
Ben Williamson – 2B
Andres Gimenez – SS
Nick Fortes – C
Brandon Valenzuela – C
Taylor Walls – SS
Eric Lauer – LHP
Nick Martinez – RHP
SB has a new system for polls, so I’m trying it out after having a failure with a poll last week.
Start with this: There's no replacing Tarik Skubal.
The Detroit Tigers are well aware that there's no readymade replacement for the reigning two-time Cy Young Award winner. But that doesn't mean they have to cash in their chances at winning their first American League pennant since 2012 – or their first World Series title since 1984.
Detroit suffered a significant blow when manager A.J. Hinch revealed Skubal will undergo elbow surgery to remove loose bodies from his throwing arm, a procedure that will sideline him into the second half – and probably right up to the Aug. 3 trading deadline, when the club will assess its spot in the standings and decide whether to add or subtract from its roster.
At 18-17, the Tigers are in a five-team dogfight in the AL Central, one that figures to come down to Detroit, Cleveland and perhaps Kansas City. And with nine AL teams within four games of the .500 mark, the wild card spot should be even more of a taffy pull.
The Tigers certainly suffered a setback, but all is not lost. A look at the ramifications of Skubal's injury and how they may bounce back:
Pitching chaos is a given in Detroit, even with Tarik Skubal
Kind of appropriate that on the day Skubal's surgery was announced, Hinch anointed reliever Tyler Holton the starting pitcher for their May 4 game against visiting Boston.
"Second bullpen game in a row," Hinch noted.
And so it begins.
"Pitching chaos" has been a way of life in Detroit since the end of the 2024 season, when the Tigers rode Skubal and a menagerie of mound men to a startling late-season rally for a wild card spot and a playoff sweep of Houston before losing a stirring five-game ALDS to Cleveland.
In the years since, the Tigers have done their level best to avoid that scenario, re-signing Jack Flaherty, coaxing future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander back to the D and investing $115 million in lefty Framber Valdez.
But just when it looked like they were out ... the openers are back in.
So it goes when 10 pitchers are on the injured list, including bona fide starters Verlander, 2025 All-Star Casey Mize, Tommy John-rehabbing youngster Jackson Jobe and now Skubal. Yet Hinch is really, really good at orchestrating the pitching strategy, even if they may not know who's starting the next game until everyone shows up the following day.
So bring on the Holtons and Brant Hurters and Brenan Hanifees and Ty Maddens. Detroit, this is your pitching staff. Hey, it's worked before.
Framber Valdez must be a rock for Tigers without Tarik Skubal
The dude has pitched the Astros to a World Series title, is almost a lock for 180 to 200 innings a year and is hard to drive from a game. Now Valdez, signed to be a future anchor once Skubal leaves via free agency, must be their rock, immediately.
So far, Valdez has been, well, fine.
He's completed at least six innings in five of his seven starts, and uncoincidentally, the Tigers are 5-2 when he takes the mound. A .714 winning percentage will win a lot of divisions.
Valdez is not a threat to throw a no-hitter every time out like Skubal is. Yet he almost always keeps you in games, and that's a bargain these days at $115 million. If he can maintain, the Tigers should be fine.
Jack Flaherty must find the strike zone
With a 5.90 ERA through seven starts, Jack Flaherty knows he must be better. Says he's losing sleep over his performance. And realizes that a 17.7% walk rate and a 46.3% hard-hit percentage is a lethal combination.
Jack Flaherty: "I'm losing sleep over it every single day trying to figure out what goes on in that little bit right there, where we end up walking three guys in a row."
Here's more from Flaherty, who opened up about his struggles after Friday's 5-4 loss to the Rangers: pic.twitter.com/drkJvBOYZu
Look at it like this: The Tigers are right at .500, and Flaherty couldn't be much worse. With the bullpen arms stretched thin thanks to the above chaos, Flaherty will have to give them more than four innings pitched, his average outing thus far.
Detroit's wounded arms claw back from IL
GM Scott Harris knew he was signing a 43-year-old when he brought Justin Verlander back to Detroit. Thirty starts was probably never going to be reality.
And the club has nursed Verlander along in his return from hip inflammation, which sidelined him in April. Yet Verlander hasn't graduated beyond numerous bullpen sessions, with vague plans beyond that after Hinch acknowledged the recovery was going "slower than I think he or we anticipated."
Meanwhile, Casey Mize, second only to Skubal in his effectiveness this season, hit the IL last week with a right adductor strain. A vexing injury, and a discouraging prognosis after Mize initially said his groin tightness didn't seem too serious.
The Tigers have to get Mize's recovery right the first time, regardless of the length of his absence. Even if it's tough to shelve a 2.90 ERA.
Tarik Skubal returns with a vengeance after attacking recovery
Let's not forget: Skubal is a beast.
The man with the nastiest fastball-changeup combo in the majors will surely attack his rehab and recovery with ferocity. And while the Tigers, like almost any organization in this era, will keep it vague on the prognosis and timeline, the two to three months that this surgery typically takes away will be a ticking clock for both the patient, the ballclub and fans.
No, Skubal won't be able to speedrun his return. But if he at least hits the early part of the timeline and can work back up to something resembling full strength by mid-August, the Tigers will be well-armed for the stretch run and potentially the playoffs.
It's on Hinch and club president Scott Harris to ensure they're well-positioned when that time comes.
The incident happened in the second period of Game 4 when Senators forward Warren Foegele was engaged with Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker. Greig first hit Walker with an overhand punch.
Then when Foegele had Walker in a headlock. Greig hit him in the head with a "forceful gloved upper cut," NHL Player Safety said in its suspension video.
The suspension will be served next season because the Senators were eliminated from the playoffs after the 4-2 loss on Saturday, April 25.
Both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons have notable frontcourts, but the Cavaliers’ big men were inconsistent in the first round against the Magic.
This Cavaliers vs. Pistons same-game parlay expects Detroit to win on the glass in Game 1 on Tuesday, May 5.
Our best Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP for Game 1
SGP leg #1: Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 Rebounds (+100)
Jarrett Allen starred on the glass twice in the first round, but that was twice in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ seven-game series win. Which is to say, he fell short of this very modest prop five times against the relatively undersized Raptors.
That kind of rate will age even worse against the Detroit Pistons. They thrive on the offensive glass, No. 3 in the NBA in offensive rebounding rate since the All-Star Break, the kind of strength that gets overlooked during the regular season and by casual fans but can be a massive postseason difference-maker.
SGP leg #2: Jalen Duren Over 9.5 Rebounds (-145)
Jalen Duren leads that offensive rebounding focus. He pulled in at least four offensive boards in five of Detroit’s seven games against the Magic. In each of the final three games of that series, Duren snagged at least five offensive rebounds.
This is Duren’s most reliable skill, and even if he is not scoring, every offensive rebound he finds creates another scoring chance for the Pistons.
SGP leg #3: Pistons Moneyline (-150)
Homecourt advantage plus what could be a distinct rebounding edge should be all the logic needed to trust Detroit in this series opener, particularly given how well Cade Cunningham was playing as the first round ended.
Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Cavaliers vs Pistons predictions for Game 1.
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As you know, tonight’s game time was moved up because there is a chance of rain this evening. Here’s the local radar for you to keep handy.
Monday notes…
STREAKING, PART 1: The Cubs have won 11 straight games at home. It is their 19th double-digit home winning streak of the Modern Era, which began in 1901, and their 15th at Wrigley Field, their home since 1916. This is their first such streak since they won 14 in a row, May 18-June 22, 2008. A 13-game streak in 2001 and a 10-game streak in 1998 are their only others of the kind since 1970. Their record is 18 straight, Sept. 4-22, 1935, during a surge that lifted them to the pennant. The 2008 streak was one of five of 14 games. The 2001 streak was the only one of 13. They also had a lone streak of 12, in 1927, and of 11, in 1910, for a total now of 11 streaks of at least 11 in a row. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
STREAKING, PART 2: The 1910 streak was the only one that ended after 11 games, with a 3-1 loss to the Cardinals in Game 2 of a Memorial Day doubleheader. The Cubs extended the 2001 streak to 12 by beating the Twins, 11-4. They hit five home runs, two of them by Sammy Sosa, who drove in five runs. The 12th win in 2012 was a 4-3 walk-off over the White Sox. Aramis Ramirez homered on the second pitch of the ninth inning. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
FIFTEEN AND THREE: The Cubs are 15-3 in their last 18 games, their best 18-game record since they also were 15-3 from Sept. 12-30, 2017. They were 15-3 in nine spans, many overlapping, in 2016, and in four spans in 2015. The last time they were better was 16-2, from July 27-Aug. 15, 2015. Their previous 16-2 stretch was May 19-June 9, 2001. The Cubs were 18-0 in four overlapping spans in 1935 and 17-1 in 23 spans, many overlapping, in 1906, 1932 and 1935. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY:The Cubs swept a doubleheader from the Dodgers at Wrigley Field by scores of 7-1 and 4-3. These were scheduled seven-inning games; the nightcap went to extras and the Cubs walked it off on a David Bote single in the ninth. It happened five years ago today, Tuesday, May 4, 2021.
Edward Cabrera has been pretty consistent throughout this season. His K rate has been down a bit from last year, but he’s still been getting outs, most of the time, and keeping the ball in the yard (just three home runs allowed in 35.1 innings).
The last time he faced the Reds was April 22, 2025 in Miami. He allowed three runs in five innings with no walks and seven strikeouts. Again, that’s pretty much what he’s done with the Cubs so far. Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer have homered off him.
Chase Petty is being recalled to take Brandon Williamson’s spot in the Reds rotation. Williamson has shoulder issues.
Petty was the Twins’ No. 1 pick (22nd overall) in 2021 and came to the Reds the following year in the Sonny Gray trade. He made three appearances (two starts) for the Reds last year and the results were not good: 19.20 ERA, 3.667 WHIP, 14 hits and eight walks in six innings, with three home runs allowed. At Triple-A Louisville this year he has a 4.38 ERA and 1.338 WHIP in six starts covering 24.2 innings. His walk rate is still pretty high (11 walks in Triple-A this year). As you can see from the 2025 chart below, he throws hard but doesn’t always know where the ball is going.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
The Montreal Canadiens picked up a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7. With this, the Canadiens have moved on to the second round and will be facing off against the surging Buffalo Sabres.
Game 7 was certainly far from a perfect win for the Canadiens, as the Habs finished the contest with only nine shots. Yet, despite not generating many chances, the Canadiens still pulled away with the victory.
The Canadiens can thank Jakub Dobes for that.
Dobes was excellent for the Canadiens in Game 7, as he stopped 28 out of 29 Lightning shots he faced. With this, Dobes finished Game 7 with a .966 save percentage.
Dobes' heroics ended up making him the recipient of a funny prank by fellow Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault.
Following an interview on TNT, Dobes received a shaving cream pie to the face from Montembeault. TNT was able to capture the aftermath of the prank, which was great.
Jakub Dobeš talked to the panel after his AMAZING Game 7 performance 👏🔥
"I feel like every game I played this year was kind of like a Game 7... I was playing for my life" 😤
Montembeault has not played this postseason, but he has been a great teammate. For example, during Game 6, Montembeault was seen waving his towel like the Habs fans.
Sam Montembeault with the towel wave while watching the Habs playoff game
Now, Dobes will be looking to lead the Canadiens past the Sabres in the second round. If he does, Montembeault may have no choice but to prank him again.
May 3, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies hats and gloves sit on the bench against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images | Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: A detailed view of the "Cobra" patch honoring the late former Pirate Dave Parker worn on the jersey of Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the ninth inning of a major league baseball game at Oracle Park on July 28, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Lovullo is an idiot.
“Why don’t the diamondbacks dfa lovulululu. He’s an idiot.”
Such a thoughtful phrase might have come from a nowadays philosopher. Something like Kant, but reflectioning on baseball instead of economics. But, no, it was Zekedos2 on mlbtraderumors.com, commenting on the article that Aramis García was DFAd by the Diamondbacks after reinstating Gabriel Moreno.
The Diamondbacks are gifted with a terrific bullpen, one of the best in the league. Their 19th ranked 0.3 fWAR does not do right to the potential, nor does their .263 BABIP. This bullpen is World Series level.
The 0.4 fWAR of the rotation is not a true reflection of how great the starting pitching actually is. Their 30th ranked position is a fluke. These starting pitchers are way better than you might think. The .311 BABIP says so.
The offence isn’t mediocre like their 3.5 fWAR might indicate. This is an elite hitting squad. We only need our first basemen to get back from their injuries to reach our full potential and hit our way to the play-offs.
Unbelievable that we got swept by the Cubs. This team is so much better than their 16-17 record indicates. What? We were 16-14 before getting our butt kicked in Wrigleyville? I laugh at your 16-14. The White Sox beat us. The Dodgers swept us. We lost a game against every NL East opponent. We should have been at 22-11 now, leading the league comfortably.
Unfortunately Zekedos2 hides his geniality behind a nick, but just like with Banksy, all geniuses will eventually get revealed.
Who is not a genius? Lovullo. Handed a terrific roster, Lovullo is a complete idiot.
Pirates are no idiots.
Jack Sparrow looked like an idiot and certainly behaved like one, but wasn’t a idiot, though the rum might disagree with that statement. The Pittsburgh Pirates are a bit like the Pirates of the Caribbean. After watching the second installment of the series, you have seen them all: the entire Pirates of the Caribbean franchise becomes a drag. That’s how a Pittsburgh Pirates’ fan must feel: since 2017 the Pirates of the NL Central end 4 or 5 in each season, no matter how their season (movie went). Maybe this year is their best movie of the entire franchise since 2017, but the result is still the same: they are last in their division.
The crew, though, looks better than in previous seasons, because the directors actually tried to make work this off-season of putting some decent acting on the set.
Padre Ryan O’Hearn signed a two-year $29MM contract as free agent.
Slugger Marcell Ozuna joined the team on a one year $12MM contract.
Reliever Gregory Soto signed for $7.75MM and one season.
Brandon Lowe was acquired in a 3-team trade from the Tampa Bay Rays, with one year left on his contract.
Though Marcell Ozuna still has not found his groove yet in Steel City, the influx of hitting talent into that batting lineup has done the Pirates well. Last year the Pittsburgh offence was 28th in the league, according to their fWAR, with their 117 homeruns being the lowest total in the entire league, 31 less than division rival St. Louis Cardinals. Now? That same fWAR and WRC+ puts them in the top 10 of the MLB. Except for the catching (Henry Davis / Joey Bart) and designated hitter (Marcell Ozuna), the entire Pittsburgh lineup has a 100+ OPS+, with Brandon Lowe (141 OPS+), Bryan Reynolds (136 OPS+), Ryan O’Hearn (141 OPS+) and Oneil Cruz (126 OPS+) posing the biggest threads. Nick Gonzales and Konnor Griffin have been on a hot streak the past two weeks.
The Pittsburgh hitters are coming off an especially successful weekend bashing of the Reds: 27 runs in 3 games. That halted a 5-game losing streak, despite scoring 18 runs over those.
Pitching wise, their 5 saves are almost league lowest, leaving only the Angels and the Mets behind them. A team that scores many, does not need to save many. That is true, but closer Dennis Santana is not the trustworthy sailor he was last year, with way more walks and less strikeouts, when compared to 2025. The two blown saves are the proof of that, though the latest one, giving up 4 runs against Cardinals on April 27, was just the second time he gave up a run or more this season.
Their starting pitching is top of the league: xERA, xFIP, FIP and fWAR all puts the Pirates in the top 5 of the MLB. Obviously, ace Paul Skenes is a big reason for that, but the Pirates are also enjoying great starts from Brandon Ashcraft and Mitch Keller as well. Carmen Mlodzinski and Bubba Chandler round out a starting rotation with all ERAs below 5.00.
Last year the Diamondbacks lost their season series against Pirates (4-2), the year before was the other way around. Arizona has an all-time 104-77 record against Pittsburgh.
Matchups.
Game #1 Tue 05/05 6:40 PM MST, Eduardo Rodríguez (ARI) vs Bubba Chandler (PIT).
If there is one matchup that provides the Diamondbacks the biggest chance to win a game in this series, it is the one on the first night.
It were 3 games of fun with E-Rod, until the WBC magic was over and E-Rod turned into E-Rotten again. Baltimore might have been a fluke, but the struggles continued against the White Sox and Brewers. With the Pirates, the Venezuelan certainly won’t face an easier lineup than those of recent weeks.
Bubba Chandler is the weakest link in the Pirates’ rotation at the moment, strugging heavily with his command. He has huge troubles getting the batters out and has been walking them at a 6.2 BB/9 rate. It’s a tough blow for one of the biggest Pirates prospects after a good start of his career last year. Especially left-handed batting has been feasting on his pitching, which sounds like a great opportunity for the Diamondbacks to win this first game.
Both starting pitchers have never faced their opponent for their (current) team.
Game #2 Wed 05/06 6:40 PM MST, Michael Soroka (ARI) vs Paul Skenes (PIT).
If Soroka wants to bounce back after a horrible performance against Milwaukee, he will have to return to his former best of the beginning of the season if he wishes to beat Paul Skenes.
Skenes was terrible in his opening day start, getting just two batters out against the Mets, giving up 5 runs. After that he looked pretty much like the ace he is until he encountered a bump in the road against St. Louis in his most recent pitching performance, where he gave up 5 runs in 5 innings, though he struck out 9.
Last season Skenes pitched twice against the Diamondbacks and, obviously, won both matchups. 20 snakes have been killed by this Pirate in 18 innings of work. Ouch!
Game #3 Thu 05/07 12:40 PM MST, Zac Gallen (ARI) vs Mitch Keller (PIT).
After a tiny scare against the Padres, Zac Gallen returned to the mound against the Chicago Cubs and…well, he returned to the mound. Maybe he is able to regain a bit of his former himself against the Pirates. Gallen faced the Pirates twice last season and, like you might expect, he lost both games, giving up 10 runs over 11 innings.
2026 is Keller’s 8th season as a Pirate. He has a been a very reliable and durable pitcher for the Pirates since the 2022 season, a bit like Merrill Kelly, but with less spectacular results. However, this season he has been performing like an ace for the Pirates. BABIP says he will regress, most likely to the low 4.00 ERA pitching we are used of him, so why won’t we start with that regression to the mean this Thursday. Keller didn’t face the Diamondbacks last season and has 4 no-decisions in the 5 times he pitched against Arizona. The sole win was at Chase Field in 2022 and the other two times he took the ball in Arizona he completed 7 innings in both games, allowing 0 and 2 runs. We better be warned.
This is certainly not the worst-case scenario. Yet, it's a reality that Tarik Skubal – and the Detroit Tigers – always had to be prepared to accept.
Skubal and the Tigers entered into an uneasy limbo this season, Skubal knowing he'd be just six months from a payday approaching $500 million by not entertaining long-term extension talks – and the Tigers potentially left holding the bag if they didn't trade him.
Both sides assumed risk, and each will take a hit. Skubal's recovery will determine how big that will be.
For the Tigers? This significantly dents their chances in this all-in year, the last season they'll employ the back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner before he plays the rich and desperate against each other this winter and wins Major League Baseball's equivalent of Powerball.
For Skubal? Well, this is not Tommy John surgery heading into a walk year, nor a concerning shoulder or rotator cuff malady and certainly not something career-threatening such as certain strains of thoracic outlet syndrome.
Yet, he will be sidelined into the second half, his dreams of a third consecutive Cy Young Award dashed. He will take into his walk year not a major league-leading strikeout total but rather a concerning number like 15 or 17 in the "Games Started" column.
Not exactly what suitors want to see when doling out the largest contract in history to a free agent starting pitcher.
Suddenly, Skubal and the Tigers will have to imagine life without him on the mound until, say, Aug. 1. That would leave him roughly 10 to 12 starts down the stretch to both reestablish his market – and push the Tigers back into the playoffs.
That latter part has been more complicated than Detroit imagined.
The Tigers are 18-17, in large part because they've lost 14 of 20 away from Comerica Park, and also because they've lost a fair amount of pitching to the IL already. From All-Star Casey Mize to serviceable Reese Olson to ancient Justin Verlander, the infirmary is bursting with starters already.
That said, almost any team can conjure an injury sob story. Despite the startling contributions from rookie Kevin McGonigle – on his way to Rookie of the Year honors and an All-Star nod with his .315 average and .884 OPS – the Tigers have played unevenly thus far.
And find themselves in a surprisingly thick AL Central race.
All five teams are within three games of each other – even the 15-20 Minnesota Twins, who are aiming to contest a 162-game season minus a bullpen. Nearing the end of the first quarter, it's a division where separation seems elusive.
In that vein, the Tigers should consider themselves fortunate that owner Christopher Illitch loosened the purse strings and OK'd a $115 million investment in Framber Valdez, who has been his typically steady self, aveaging nearly six innings a start with a 3.35 ERA.
Nope, not Skubal numbers. But enough to keep Detroit afloat.
And as Skubal joins Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene and Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz on the recovery road from surgery to remove loose bodies, that's as good as Detroit can hope for right now. Nor can they rely on significant help from within (the top starters in their minor league system are at least a year away) or the trade market (not when roughly 25 teams are loosely contending in this year of parity).
So it's Framber and Jack, and Tarik, please hurry back.
Mize should eventually rejoin the fray, though adductor strains can be testy. Keider Montero will have to continue throwing the ball well, though his track record suggests he be additive value from a sixth starter role than a guy you're relying on.
And who are we kidding? None of them are Skubal, who in his first seven starts saw dips in his strikeouts per nine innings (from 11.1 to 9.3) and adjusted ERA (187 to 161). It's likely his elbow's been barking for a minute, before it became publicly known after he left his most recent start.
And now it's surgery, rehab, build back up, get back on the mound - and see exactly where the Tigers are in the standings. Shoot, if the bottom falls out, Skubal himself could be on the trade market, though dealing for him by the Aug. 3 deadline may purely be a buyer beware situation if he hasn't returned yet.
What a bummer, for all involved.
Skubal and the Tigers both knew this was a potential outcome. You also can't fault them for going all-in, in their own ways.
Now, a pitcher's pot of gold and a city's championship hopes must be put on hold, dampening what was to be a glorious summer in the D.
Openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton took apart the Lucknow Super Giants attack as Mumbai Indians powered to a six-wicket win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive in the IPL on Monday.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 3: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 3, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA Playoffs are a fickle beast, and that remains especially true for the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Three of the four first round series went the distance, which saw the pre-playoff favorite Boston Celtics be eliminated after blowing a 3-1 lead to the Sixers. The number one seed Detroit Pistons staged a 3-1 comeback of their own, highlighted by a 24-point comeback win in game six in Orlando. The Cavaliers toppled the Raptors in seven games, which saw the home team win all seven contests. And last, but certainly not least, the Knicks closed out the Hawks in game six, which was an all-time beat down.
What could the semifinals bring? Our brightest betting minds here at Mavs Moneyball have some disagreement about what the future might hold.
(Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Series moneyline: Detroit -120, Cavs +102
David’s pick: Cavaliers over Pistons 4-2
I do not think either of these teams are real. Detroit looked really bad after going down 3-1 to a Magic team that had no identity. But the Pistons won 60 games for a reason and ultimately did not fall victim to the same fate the Mavericks did 19 years ago. Donovan Mitchell has been a career loser in the playoffs and James Harden’s choking is well documented. Fortunately for them, experience will win out here and the Pistons’ dream season will fall short of their ultimate goal.
Series props:
Cavaliers to win (+105)
Series to go 6 games (+200)
Detroit to win game one/Cleveland to win series (+320)
The Cavaliers will bring Donovan Mitchell to the conference finals for the first time. James Harden will have a chance to go back to the NBA Finals. They will finish it in six games after Detroit runs out of shooting. I think the Pistons will come out and keep their momentum alive in game one, but will not win another game until game 5.
Tyler’s pick: Pistons over Cavs 4-1
The Pistons were just down 3-1 to the Orlando Magic, so you might be wondering why exactly I think they lay the hammer here. It’s simple for me: Detroit is going to physically beat Cleveland into submission. Jalen Duren was pretty brutal against Orlando, but in game seven he finally found some form. Instead of the physical front line of Orlando, he and his Pistons will face off with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who are not exactly known for their power game. Detroit is going to get the series they want here. It’ll be ugly, physical basketball with final scores rarely exceeding 100. If that is indeed the case, this will be over quickly.
Series props:
Pistons -1.5 series spread (+155)
Detroit to be leading 3-0 after game three (+490)
Jalen Duren to lead series in rebounds (-115)
There’s not much to be added here, I really like the Pistons to get the job done early. And as noted above, I don’t think Jalen Duren’s struggles against a very physical Orlando front line will carry over against the Cavs, who are a different team that plays a different brand of basketball. I would venture to guess that Duren has a great series here on the glass.
(3) Knicks vs (7) Sixers
(Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Series moneyline: Knicks -270, Sixers +220
David’s pick: Sixers over Knicks 4-3
This is going to be a fantastic series if Joel Embiid plays all of it. Even if he misses a game or two, there will be fireworks. Both teams will struggle to defend the other, and the bad blood runs through the veins of every player. It is not hyperbole to say that this is a legacy-defining series for Embiid. He just defeated his Celtics demons and now faces the easiest path to the NBA Finals that he has had in his career. On the flip side, Jalen Brunson is still looking to get over the hump as the number one guy. Every guy in this series has something to prove. The deciding factor will be who has the better player, and that honor goes to Joel Embiid and the Sixers. Philadelphia wins game seven in a close game.
Series props:
Sixers to come back from a 2 game deficit (+1000)
Sixers to win (+220)
Over 5.5 games (-150)
I think the Knicks hold serve at home and go up 2-0. After the extended rest, the Sixers get right and ultimately win four out of five. The over on 5.5 seems free, this has seven game classic written all over it.
Tyler’s pick: Knicks over Sixers 4-3
I’ve gone back and forth on this a couple of times. The Knicks are the kings of engaging in nonsense, while the Sixers are not immune to that themselves. This series will feature small guards everywhere, the rekindling of a feud between Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns. The coaching angle here is interesting as well, as I give a pretty strong edge to the Sixers staff.
So with that, why exactly am I taking the Knicks? I think the role players for New York are going to do circles around what Philly has outside of Maxey and Embiid. The Knicks have great main role players in Hart, Bridges and Robinson, and even then the fringe guys like Shamet, McBride and Alvarado can all do something well. When you look at the other side, Philly will basically run six or seven guys, with Quentin Grimes and Andre Drummond being the only real guys who get minutes. Because the Knicks will run a couple guys deeper, they should have a massive advantage on rest and having their legs.
Series props:
Sixers +1.5 series spread (-120)
Knicks game one + series win (-105)
Josh Hart to lead series in rebounds (+500)
There are tons of trends about teams who just won a game seven facing a team who didn’t play seven games in a game one. Spoiler alert: the rested team does really well! I expect a resounding Knicks game one win, but that will not change my opinion on the series. As far as Hart goes, I wonder if Towns and Embiid cancel each other out in this series on the glass. They could be too busy fighting amongst themselves, which in turn would get KAT into foul trouble. Enter Josh Hart, who averaged over 10 rebounds per game against the Sixers last postseason.
