PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 18: Collin Sexton #2 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball while defended by Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first quarter of the game at Moda Center on October 18, 2024 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are expected to make an aggressive run at signing combo guard Anfernee Simons or Collin Sexton in free agency, according to a report by Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. In his latest mock draft, Siegel included plenty of other trade and free agent rumors. He predicted the Dubs would selected Arizona combo guard Brayden Burries with the 11th overall pick, citing the team’s desire to add a rookie who can contribute immediately and help solidify the backcourt. If the Warriors target a wing or big with the pick (either through the draft or trade), however, Siegel noted that Golden State is making waves that they will add a legit combo guard this offseason.
“Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton are two early names league sources have described as key Warriors targets as unrestricted free agents this summer utilizing the mid-level exception,” Siegel writes. “The Dubs intend to add an impactful guard who can play on or off the ball alongside Steph Curry.”
It’s easy to see how either Simons or Sexton would fit with the Warriors. Both players are excellent scorers who can also space the floor as shooters. They could lead Golden State’s offensive attack when Curry is out and seemingly fit in well alongside him as well. It’s a role that Jordan Poole excelled in with the team, especially in the 2022 championship run, and one that the team has been unable to fill since.
Despite the offensive fit, dedicated what would likely be the full mid-level exception to either Simons or Sexton would mark a significant shift in roster-building strategy from the Warriors. Simons and Sexton are both smaller guards who struggle mightily on the defensive end. Besides Poole and Chris Paul (who was acquired in a contract dump trade for Poole), the Dubs have avoided dedicated much cap space to offense-first guards like that.
Of course, the Warriors have made it clear that they need to change things up after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign. The team’s lack of offensive firepower around Curry was embarrassing and is likely leading to the shift in strategy.
Sexton has averaged 18.3 points per game in his career and recorded 15.4 points, 3.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.1 turnovers on 48.5%/40.1%/85.5% shooting in 23.7 minutes per game this past season in 68 games between the Hornets and Bulls. The 27-year old has never appeared in an NBA postseason game.
Simons was also traded to the Bulls at the deadline earlier this year by a contender. He finished the season averaging 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 turnovers on 44.0%/38.5%/89.6% shooting in 24.9 minutes per game across 55 contests.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 22: Nathan Lukes #38 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates his run from a Ernie Clement #22 single, to tie the game 3-3 with the Los Angeles Angels, during the seventh inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 22, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Per Wilner:
Lukes isn’t having a great season, slashing .250/.286/.327 (a 73 wRC+) in 56 PA before he went down with a hamstring injury. To be fair, though, he was hampered by some strange issues with vertigo in the first three weeks of that time. In 21 PA since seeing a specialist to work out a treatment plan for that issue, he had notched 10 hits including four doubles. Hopefully that means that the Lukes we’ll see is closer to the guy who was a solidly league average hitter in 2025.
Davis Schneider takes the fall to make room. It’s been a rough start for him, with a .127/.295/.211 line through 89 PA. He’s not barreling the ball up as often as he usually does, accounting for the collapse in his power production, and while he still works an absolute ton of walks it hasn’t been enough to overcome a nearly 35% strikeout rate. He’s shown no signs of breaking out of his slump, either, with May numbers worse than what he posted in March and April. Hopefully some everyday time in Buffalo gets him straightened out. It’s worth remembering that he’s been prone to horrific slumps for his entire career, and has always bounced back eventually to post solid overall production, so there’s every reason to hope he can get right.
I’m not sure I agree with Wilner that Lenyn Sosa would have been the alternative. It’s true that he’s somehow been even worse, with a 29 wRC+ on the season and 25 since he became a Blue Jay, but he’s out of options and this front office is loathe to give a guy up for nothing if they have any belief in him left at all. I can’t say I have any faith in a guy who’s below replacement level through four and a quarter MLB seasons, but the Jays just acquired him and I’m not surprised that 76 horrendous PA aren’t enough for them to give up on whatever they think they see there.
In other minor news, it’s the first roof open night of the year:
And Today In Injuries: Dylan Cease told John Schneider he expects to make his next start before going in for an MRI on the sore leg that knocked him out of yesterday’s game. He also apparently told Vladimir Guerrero jr. that he thought it was just a cramp. I’ll believe it when I see it, and obviously everything is up in the air pending the results of the MRI, but it still seems like they probably avoided a major injury here.
Regarding Vlad, the same story notes that x-rays on his elbow were negative. He came out of the game because he couldn’t feel his hand, but apparently experienced the same feeling after a similar HBP last year and played the next day. He’s not in tonight’s lineup, but hopefully it won’t be more than a day or two.
It’s hard to believe that a city that proudly bills itself as “Hockeytown” hasn’t seen NHL playoff hockey in 10 straight years. With the Buffalo Sabres finally ending their drought this spring, the Detroit Red Wings now stand alone as the team with the NHL’s longest active playoff drought.
With a stretch like that, changes are inevitable.
Veteran reporter Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now posted on social media this week that the only unrestricted free agent the Red Wings are probably interested in re-signing is Patrick Kane.
If that’s the case, it could mean the end of the line in Detroit for a crowded 35-and-over group that includes former Ottawa Senators David Perron, Cam Talbot, and Travis Hamonic.
When Perron signed with Ottawa in 2024, he was coming off a strong season in Detroit that saw him post 47 points in 76 games. But after two fairly average seasons with the Senators, both impacted by injuries and family matters, Ottawa dealt him back to the Red Wings at the trade deadline for a fourth-round pick.
According to most Detroit observers, Perron wasn't quite the same player who left the Wings in 2024. In his 16 games after the trade, he managed just three goals and no assists. Perron turns 38 on Thursday, and it will be interesting to see whether another NHL opportunity comes about or if the sun has set on an excellent career.
Talbot’s Ottawa tenure lasted just one season in 2022–23. Former Senators GM Pierre Dorion acquired the veteran goalie from Minnesota in exchange for Filip Gustavsson in an effort to add experience between the pipes. Talbot was one and done in Ottawa and the Sens allowed him to walk into free agency.
After leaving the Sens, Talbot signed with the Los Angeles Kings and posted respectable numbers there, including a .913 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average. But in 34 games with Detroit this season, his numbers slipped to an .883 save percentage and a 3.10 goals-against average.
Talbot is currently representing Canada's men's national ice hockey team at the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland, likely hoping to showcase himself for one more NHL opportunity. He’ll turn 39 this fall.
Finally, it will come as no surprise to most Senators fans that Detroit appears ready to move on from Travis Hamonic. It looked like he'd reached the end last summer before the Wings made a late call and signed him to a one-year deal in mid-August. He played in just 26 games this season.
In all, Perron played 1239 NHL games, Hamonic played 926, and Talbot played 567. So whenever these three former Senators hang up their blades, whether it's now or later, all three will be able to look back on long NHL careers they can be extremely proud of.
The Edmonton Oilers signed another European free agent on Monday, bringing in Finnish forward Aku Raty on a one-year, two-way deal worth an AVV of $850,000. Low risk. Maybe something, maybe nothing.
But the Oilers keep doing this now, because well, they have to.
Raty joins a growing list of European free-agent swings by Edmonton. This is a strategy that’s become one of the organization’s primary methods of adding young talent. And the reason is pretty straightforward: they don’t really have draft picks anymore.
That’s the cost of claiming they're only concerned about right now, not five years from now. Picks get moved out for immediate help, prospects get dealt because the window is open now, and nobody in Edmonton is interested in hearing about patience.
But there’s a difference between sacrificing the future and eventually running out of ways to replenish the present.
That’s where these European signings are coming from.
Raty is a 24-year-old, right-shot, coming off a strong season with Kärpät in Finland’s Liiga, where he led the club with 57 points in the 2025-26 season and tied him for seventh in the entire league.
Before returning to Finland, he also spent two years in the AHL, putting up 69 points across 120 games between Tucson and Rockford. There’s enough skill there to justify the bet, especially on a contract with almost no downside.
And to be fair, Edmonton isn’t alone here. Teams across the league are mining Europe more aggressively because mature players in pro leagues can sometimes step into NHL depth roles faster than draft picks. You’re getting older prospects, who are more developed physically, often with pro experience already built in.
But this is a method to compensate for the loss of drafting, not a way of replacing it.
First-round picks aren’t distant futures anymore. Not in today’s NHL. More and more often, players are NHL-ready within a year or two, especially if they’re taken high enough. The Oilers have spent years moving those opportunities away.
And that’s where the criticism around general manager Stan Bowman and the organization starts to set in. Edmonton isn’t just thin on long-term assets five years from now. They’re thin on young, cheap impact players right now.
A first-rounder from two drafts ago might already be pushing for NHL minutes. A pick from last year could already be developing in Bakersfield. Instead, Edmonton keeps searching for value externally because internally, there aren’t enough prospects coming.
Now, to be fair again, this is also the reality of competing for a Cup in the McDavid era. Nobody complains about traded picks when a team is making deep playoff runs. Fans wanted aggressive management, and aggressive management usually means futures leaving town.
But there’s a balancing act every contender eventually faces. You can’t just keep spending future picks without finding alternative ways to replace them. That’s why these European signings matter more than they normally would.
The Oilers need them to work.
Not necessarily as stars, but as contributors. Third-line forwards. Penalty killers. Cheap middle-six options. Guys who can outperform their contracts because Edmonton desperately needs value around its expensive core.
That’s the gamble with Raty. At 24, he’s old enough that you probably know what kind of player he is physically, but young enough that there may still be another level offensively. Maybe he becomes NHL depth. Maybe he turns into a useful bottom-six forward with some secondary scoring. Maybe he’s just organizational depth.
But the Oilers are taking these swings because they have fewer traditional ways to find players now.
And that’s the larger conversation here. Is this smart adaptation by a team fully committed to winning now? Or is it the consequence of pushing too many chips into the middle for too long?
The Oilers aren’t rebuilding. They shouldn’t be rebuilding. As long as McDavid and Draisaitl are here, the priority should be maximizing the chance to win. But eventually, those aggressive moves create holes elsewhere in the organization, and those holes need to be filled somehow.
Stephen A. Smith didn't mince words while responding to Kenny Atkinson's remarks that the Cavaliers -- down 0-3 in the Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks -- were analytically winning the series.
Stephen A. Smith didn’t mince words while responding to Kenny Atkinson’s remarks that the Cavaliers — down 0-3 in the Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks — were analytically winning the series.
During Monday’s installment of “First Take” on ESPN, Smith said the second-year Cavs coach could have a pink slip waiting for him if Cleveland gets swept in Game 4 on Monday night at Rocket Arena.
“That moment right there, that is why Kenny Atkinson deserves to be an assistant coach,” Smith said. “Now obviously I’m being facetious… For any coach to have that come out of their mouth, it’s egregious.
"That moment right there is why Kenny Atkinson deserves to be an assistant coach."@stephenasmith responds to Atkinson's comments about the Cavs "analytically" winning 2 games against the Knicks pic.twitter.com/O90KF7lTXH
“… Numbers do matter, they play a significant role… let’s stop acting like this is new… what’s new is the focus that has been placed on it in terms of justification for hiring certain dudes to run your franchise.
“… People like him give you the impression that as long as the numbers say something, they’re good. You are down three to nothing in a conference finals. You walked in four games away from a championship appearance and now you’re on the verge of getting swept and what comes out of your mouth [is that].
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts in the second quarter against the New York Knicks during game 3 of the eastern conference finals against the Knicks at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on May 23, 2026. Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
“That’s the certain kind of stuff… there are some [owners] out there that would have the pink slip ready for him the second they lose tonight just because of stuff like that. You can’t say that, you just can’t.”
Atkinson’s take made waves across social media.
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith discussed Kenny Atkinson’s job security on Monday’s “First Take” as the Cavaliers are down 0-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 4 is Monday night in Cleveland. X/First Take
“I think analytically, we’ve won two out of three in the expected score,” Atkinson told reporters in a press conference Sunday.
“I don’t know if you guys follow that, the expected score. And I know you’re looking confused.”
“Analytically… we’ve won 2/3 games on the expected (score),- Cavs HC Kenny Atkinson.
His team is up against it after he led the Cavaliers to a franchise-best 64-18 regular-season record and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last year — which earned him NBA Coach of the Year for the 2024-25 season.
In their last four games this postseason, all five of the Knicks’ starters have scored in double digits, a team playoff record.
New York is on a 10-game win streak in the 2026 playoffs, including a perfect 5-0 in its last five playoff road games.
The Knicks could complete a series sweep on the road tonight.
DENVER, CO - May 19: Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker (80) pitches in the second inning during a game between the Texas Rangers and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for May 25, 2026 against the Houston Astros: starting pitchers are Kumar Rocker for the Rangers and Tatsuya Imai for the Astros.
The Rangers return home and will try to break a three game losing streak. Josh Jung is still sitting due to his shoulder issue.
The lineup:
Pederson — 1B
Osuna — LF
Nimmo — DH
Duran — 3B
Carter — CF
Foscue — 2B
McCutchen — RF
Jansen — C
Helman — SS
6:05 p.m. Central start time. The Rangers are -125 favorites.
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The New York Knicks are just one win away from punching their ticket to the NBA Finals and have the opportunity to do so tonight in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Knicks took a commanding 3-0 series lead and extended their postseason win streak to 10 games in the process in Saturday night’s Game 3.
“No matter what is at stake, it’s a chance for us to come together, be better than we were the game before, continue to learn,” Jalen Brunson said ahead of tonight’s game. “And try to be the best team we can be.”
The Knicks set the Game 3 tone immediately by exploding for 37 points in the first quarter, and while Cleveland briefly fought back to tie it at 50–all in the second, New York countered with a 10–1 run to reclaim a lead they would never give up again. Brunson led the Knicks with 30 points and 6 assists, while Mikal Bridges delivered 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting.
NBA Eastern Conference Finals: what to know
What: New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, Game 4
When: May 25, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Rocket Arena (Cleveland, Ohio)
Channel: ESPN
Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
In the event that the Cavaliers win tonight’s matchup, Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday in NYC. If the Knicks win, the Cavs’ season is over and the Knicks will advance into the NBA Finals with a start date of June 3.
Knicks vs. Cavaliers start time:
Game 4 of the Knicks vs. Cavaliers playoff series is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET tonight, May 25.
How to watch Knicks vs. Cavaliers for free:
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the Knicks game for free.
DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ESPN (plus every other channel you’ll need for the rest of the NBA postseason). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $44.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.
TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE
If you aren’t ready to commit to a full-on subscription and just want to tune into today’s game, you can try a Sling TV Orange Day Pass. Priced at $4.99, you’ll get 24 hours of access to all Sling TV Orange has to offer, including ESPN. Sling also offers weekend and week-long passes for its Orange plan, which offer between three and seven days of access.
Knicks Merch Shop
SOAR wireless speaker and bottle opener
Customizable jersey
Hydrapeak 30-ounce stainless steel tumbler
ZHATS adjustable cap
Pro Standard double knit full zip hoodie
Ultra Game team crew socks (3-pack)
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
The New York Knicks are on one of the best postseason runs we have ever seen. The Western Conference Finals are understandably drawing more attention, but do not overlook what New York is doing, led by none other than Jalen Brunson.
These Jalen Brunson picks trust the Knicks star to lead the way to complete a sweep in Game 4 on Monday, May 25.
Jalen Brunson best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points (-110 at bet365)
Jalen Brunson is the New York Knicks’ clear leader, and he has utterly dominated this Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In Games 1 and 3, Brunson scored 38 and 30 points, respectively. In his seeming letdown in Game 2, the diminutive point guard dished out 14 assists.
The Cavaliers' defense focused on Brunson in Game 2, holding him to 7-for-16 from the field. However, he solved that riddle in Game 3, going 10-for-19 from the field and getting to the free-throw line 12 times.
By no means is Brunson a shoddy playmaker, but he is a bucket-getter first. With the chance to secure a berth in the NBA Finals, expect Brunson’s true nature to show itself plenty tonight.
Furthermore, every Brunson bucket should have a deflating effect on the Cavs. Exploiting James Harden’s and, to a lesser extent, Donovan Mitchell’s defense will only push that backcourt duo closer to the offseason and the beach.
Jalen Brunson same-game parlay
Brunson’s deep shot has not shown up for him in this series. Going 2 of 17 (11.8%) from beyond the arc through three games may look like a small sample size, but it is too egregious to be dismissed so easily.
Most notably, Brunson took only four 3-pointers in Game 3 while scoring 30 points. He knows where his success comes against the Cavaliers, inside the arc.
Brunson has shot 60% or better from inside the arc in every game of this series. Emphasizing that will only help his scoring.
And if Brunson is scoring, then this game should get away from Cleveland. In a rout, doubt Brunson to play enough to record seven assists.
Look at each of the last two rounds: New York won so handily in each clinching game, Brunson did not play even 29 minutes in either game. Fading his assists prop is actually a bet on the Knicks.
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 24: Luis García Jr. #2, Curtis Mead #45, and CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals celebrate after a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning at Truist Park on May 24, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nationals have won 3 of their last 4 series and have taken over 2nd place in the National League East as we enter the end of May. After coming excruciatingly close to sweeping the Atlanta Braves, they now finish their quick road trip with a 3-game set against the Cleveland Guardians.
Cleveland has been dominating the middling American League Central, sitting 9.0 games over .500. They’ve gone 8-1 over their last 9 contests, and their pitching staff has been absolutely on point. Opposing offenses haven’t been able to string together anything of substance, and their offense has continually done just enough to close out a victory.
Game 1 – Monday 6:10 PM EST
WSH: RHP Zack Littell (3-4, 5.83 ERA)
CLE: RHP Tanner Bibee (0-6, 3.75 ERA)
Littell will look to finish his month of May on a high note, after posting an impressive 2.55 ERA in his last 4 starts. His season-long mark has dropped over 2 full points since the start of the month, and he’s looked much more like the steady veteran the Nationals signed in the offseason. Chasing whiffs hasn’t been his pathway to success, with just 7 strikeouts in 17.2 innings in May, but limiting hard contact has fueled a healthy stretch of productive outings. PJ Poulin will actually open this one, but Littell will get the bulk of the action
Don’t let the record fool you, Bibee has been a more-than-serviceable pitcher through 11 appearances. While he has racked up a few more Ks, he’s another contact-first arm who seems to never get shelled. He’s coming off the best start of the season to date, throwing 8.0 innings of 1-run ball against the Detroit Tigers on May 20th, allowing just 4 hits and 1 walk in the process.
Game 2 – Tuesday 6:10 PM EST
WSH: RHP Cade Cavalli (2-3, 3.86 ERA)
CLE: LHP Joey Cantillo (4-1, 3.05 ERA)
Similar to Bibee, the best Cavalli has looked all year came the last time he was on the mound. He ripped through the New York Mets’ lineup on May 21st, cruising through 7.0 innings with just 2 runs surrendered and 9 total strikeouts. The stuff continues to come in waves for the righthander, and it’s impossible not to continue to believe in the ceiling he has. He’s still looking for his first scoreless outing of the season, and a weaker Cleveland lineup could give him the chance to do just that if he can replicate the success of his arsenal last time around the rotation.
Cantillo was a reliable swing starter for the Guardians in 2025, and he’s taken it to the next level in 2026. He’s parlayed a 2.70 ERA in April with a 3.16 ERA in May, allowing 1 or fewer runs in 3 of his 5 starts this month. When he’s been beat, teams have capitalized on the few hits he tends to give up, making timely hitting of utmost importance for the Washington lineup in Game 2.
Game 3 – Wednesday 1:10 PM EST
WSH: RHP Miles Mikolas (1-3, 6.17 ERA)
CLE: RHP Gavin Williams (7-3, 3.25)
I don’t think anyone is fully gung-ho on Mikolas quite yet, but the redemption arc has certainly been exciting to watch. The ERA remains above the 6.00 mark, but it had sat around the 8.00 range for a handful of starts earlier in the year. He’s been attacking hitters with well-timed sequencing of his pitches, and his command has looked far better with just 3 walks this month. He doesn’t quite inspire confidence, but if the results can continue to come, the Nats’ rotation would benefit in a major way.
Aside from a rough run where he gave up 5 or more runs in 3 of 4 starts, hitters haven’t figured out Williams on a consistent basis. He delivered one of the best starts of any pitcher against Philadelphia a couple of days ago, outdueling Cy Young candidate Cristopher Sanchez with 8.0 shutout innings and 11 strikeouts. Unlike their other arms, when hitters make contact against him, it’s usually around the barrel. His Average Opposing Exit Velocity, Barrel%, and Hard-Hit% are all under the 10th percentile, something the Nats will need to capitalize on.
What started out as a good week for the Yankees turned into a tossup, as they opened with two straight wins against the Blue Jays before dropping the next two to split the series and then opened their second meeting with the Rays in embarrassing fashion blowing the lead late. They got rained out on Saturday prompting another chance to force a split and they took it, but not before going through eight scoreless innings of play that had everyone wondering where the offense was. Thankfully, Aaron Judge took it upon himself to end it, crushing a two-run walk-off homer to finally get one on Tampa Bay.
The Yankees did get some undeniably good news this week, getting Gerrit Cole and José Caballero back from the IL on Friday. Cole jumped back into the rotation and proved that he didn’t need one more tuneup, tossing six innings of shutout ball before the inevitable bullpen blowup. Can they rely on Cole to be the ace of old right away, and will they need him to be with the way the offense has been frozen over of late? Will Judge’s blast end up kicking him out of his stupor at the plate? If you have questions like these, or anything else on your mind, send ‘em in for a chance to be featured in our Yankees mailbag.
Answers will run on Friday afternoon. All questions received by the night of May 28th will be considered. You can leave your submissions in the comment section below or by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
KANSAS CITY – For the first time this season, Anthony Volpe and José Caballero were in the same lineup on Monday afternoon.
Volpe started at shortstop while Caballero slid over to third base as the Yankees faced Royals right-hander Michael Wacha, who has reverse splits, at Kauffman Stadium.
Caballero had started all 41 of his games this season at shortstop before moving off the position Monday. Aaron Boone wanted to get an extra righty bat in the lineup against Wacha, who has been tougher on left-handed hitters, which meant Ryan McMahon was relegated to the bench.
Anthony Volpe is starting at shortstop for the Yankees against the Royals. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“I just wanted to at least have a little bit more of a righty presence today against Wacha, who’s historically tougher on lefties,” Boone said before the game. “We can’t avoid having some lefties in there, obviously, and I like the ones we have in there. But felt like getting another righty bat in there and the athleticism and defense and everything. Felt like today was a good day to have him in the lineup as well.”
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Volpe had been out of the lineup in Caballero’s first two games back from the injured list before getting back in on Monday, at his regular position. The Yankees plan to have Volpe work out at second base before games he is not starting, though there is no indication he is close to being an option there.
Caballero, meanwhile, could get a start in the outfield during this series against the Royals, which would give Volpe another day in the lineup.
Jose Caballero is moving to third base with Volpe starting at shortstop. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“Whenever I’m in there [the lineup], I’m happy,” Caballero said Monday.
Caballero, who has plenty of history playing other positions, indicated he would only need some pregame work on the days he plays other positions to feel ready there again.
“Between the lines, I feel comfortable,” he said. “I like to be in the lineup, that’s all.”
US player Marcelo Balboa is fouled by Brazilian Mazinho (R) during their World Cup match at Stanford stadium in San Francisco on July 4, 1994. Brazil win the Round of 16 match 1-0. The 15th FIFA World Cup took place in 1994. The United States hosted the event, which was held at nine locations nationwide from June 17 to July 17, 1994. Despite soccer's relative lack of popularity in the host country, the United States was selected, and the competition was the most profitable in World Cup history. (Photo by Mike FIALA / AFP) (Photo by MIKE FIALA/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
MLB vs FIFA.
To write a preview when you have not even one day between the previous series and the upcoming one, on a weekday, definitely adds to the time pressure. Luckily for me, the opponent for the next series is the San Francisco Giants. We saw them just a couple of days ago. That, in general, is no fun for a series preview, even less for a weekday series, but it definitely gives me a bit of stress relief: we saw them a couple of days ago, so there is no news there, and no one is going to read this preview anyhow, given the opponent and the weekday schedule.
So, with your approval, I will keep this series preview short.
I was a bit surprised to see that San Francisco will host some soccer World Cup matches this summer, but it makes all sense, of course, because it is a major city.
My memories of the 1994 World Cup, that was organised in the USA, is limited to watching a weird shirt of Germany, seeing a country like Bolivia play, first time I saw the US soccer team and Alexi Lalas and getting up in the middle of the night to see The Netherlands struggle in their group, for example against Saudi Arabia. It wasn’t the best of performances of the Dutch, but the quarter finals against Brazil were a terrific match, with an, in The Netherlands, legendary commentary when we scored the equalizer after being down 2-0, but we lost anyhow. I still hate Bebeto and his swinging arms. Brazil had eliminated a fiery fighting US the round before. I am sure you join me in my everlasting hatred.
San Francisco got to see Brazil in 1994 four times, because they were the group head and had their fixed seat in the group phase in San Francisco. I did not remember that. This year, though, I am inclined to say that the Bay Area has not been spoiled with matches: Paraguay (twice), Qatar, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, Algeria, Australia and Jordan (twice) will play a match at the 49ers stadium. Cheapest tickets can be bought from 200$ and up. Holy crap, that is a lot of money for watching some second/third category teams.
I am sure most people in San Francisco prefer to see Major League Baseball and why not the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After being tarred and feathered on their way out of Arizona, the San Francisco Giants received the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox are surprisingly playing around .500 this season and was therefore not a guaranteed redemption effort for the struggling Giants, but they came out on top.
On Friday evening the Giants had a catastrophic 4th inning and were then down 9-0, losing the match eventually with 9-4. On Saturday a 5th inning grand slam from Harrison Bader propelled the Giants to a 10-3 win. On Sunday it was Rafael Devers doing the same in the 5th inning and he launched the Giants to another win, 8-5.
Those 22 runs in 3 games might do wonders for that struggling offence. It certainly has boosted their confidence, so the Arizona pitching corps better be warned.
Matchups.
Game #1 Mon 05/25 2:05 PM MST, Merrill Kelly (ARI) vs Landen Roupp (SFG).
Oh, in the end I do feel time pressure on me because why on earth are they playing the Monday game at 2PM????
Said Imstillhungry95 in his preview: Loupp has had a pretty decent season thus far. Through his first six starts in April, he only gave up more than three runs once. It was a seven run beat down against the Mets in his second start of the season. He had settled down fairly well, though, until the end of the month. Since the calendar has turned to May, he’s pitched three times, and he’s given up four runs twice. This could be a situation of catching a pitcher at the right time.
Well, Roupp went strong against the Diamondbacks and pitched 6 innings, giving up just 1 run. Unfortunately for him, so did Ryne Nelson go strong in that game and it came down to moments. In this case it was Ketel Marte who decided that Arizona was going to win.
Merrill went strong as well in his game against the Giants, giving up 3 runs in 6 innings, but enough for the win, and the sweep.
Game #2 Tue 05/26 6:45 PM MST, Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) vs Tyler Mahle (SFG).
Said Imstillhungry95 in his preview: That’s a stat line for Mahle that looks like it would fit right in with the Diamondbacks pitching staff. It’s been very much a coin flip for Mahle and the Giants as to what sort of performance he is going to put up. He’s started nine times. Three times, he has held his opponent scoreless. Once he gave up two runs. The other five starts? He’s given up five runs or more. Combine this with an offense that sporadically likes to beat up on pitchers, this could be a very beneficial matchup for the Diamondbacks.
Well, Mahle definitely tried but he gave up 6 runs in 5 innings in that matchup against Merrill Kelly, and was tagged with a loss. Said Tyler Mahle after the game: “It’s a bad one, I mean, five innings, six runs is never considered a good start. I don’t think anything was off, just made some bad pitches in some key situations and they capitalized on it. I’ve not given us a chance to win every day [I start]. So that really doesn’t help our record at all.”
Except for a couple of hiccups, E-Rod has been very good so far this season (knocking on every piece of wood I can find at my home). His latest performance was 7 strong innings at Coors Field, allowing 4 hits and a walk, without any damage. As a Diamondback, Eduardo Rodriguez has faced the Giants 4 times and got 1 win. That was last season, in September. 14 runs in 20 innings isn’t a great overall performance against San Francisco since wearing Sedona Red, so time to make a statement.
Game #3 Mon 05/27 12:45 PM MST, Michael Soroka (ARI) vs Trevor McDonald (SFG).
Unfortunately the Diamondbacks couldn’t get Soroka a win despite going 6 strong innings, allowing just 1 run. That was already the third time where you’d say the Canadian should have gotten a win. Soroka has seen the Giants just 3 times in his career as a starting pitcher, the last time last year, when he gave up 3 runs in 6 innings and got the loss, as a Washington National.
Trevor McDonald was called up to the major leagues about a month ago after Logan Webb hit the IL. Webb is on his way back though and the biggest question is whether McDonald will stick in the rotation. He did well against Padres, Dodgers and Athletics, but his first non-West coast team knocked him around pretty hard: the White Sox scored 4 runs on him, after hitting two batters and issueing a walk, an anormality for a pitcher who can be proud of his command and control. McDonald was off and not helped by some defensive errors and Borucki allowing two inherited runners to score. Unless Webb makes a surprisingly fast comeback to the majors, it could be McDonald’s final outing in the rotation at the moment, though he has pitched better than his ERA might show.
Max Domi #11 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Ottawa Senators on April 15, 2026.
Max Domi’s offseason took a turn for the worse.
The Maple Leafs announced the forward is out indefinitely following complications from offseason surgery.
Domi, who scored 12 goals and 36 points for Toronto in 80 games, played through an injury all season long, the team revealed.
Max Domi #11 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Ottawa Senators on April 15, 2026. NHLI via Getty Images
“Domi will continue working with the club’s medical staff and will be re-evaluated at the start of training camp,” the Maple Leafs said in a statement.
The 31-year-old — son of famed NFL pugilist Tie Domi — has two seasons left on a four-year, $15 million deal he signed in 2024.
His status adds more questions to what’s been an offseason full of them for the Maple Leafs after a disappointing 32-36-14 finish that saw them miss the postseason for the first time since 2015-16.
That result saw the franchise move on from general manager Brad Treliving, with his successor John Chayka firing coach Craig Berube following his second season behind the bench.
Chayka’s hiring comes with questions about his past jobs — the Coyotes made him the youngest GM in NHL history at the age of 26 in 2016, beginning a tenure plagued by mixed trade success, a suspension for pursuing other jobs while under contract and hosting prospect for illegal draft workouts.
His shot at redemption in Toronto comes alongside franchise icon Mats Sundin, who was hired as a senior executive adviser.
One bit of good news for the Maple Leafs is that Chayka, Sundin and Co. were handed an early win in the lottery and getting the first-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, which is set to take place on June 26.
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 24: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers makes a move to the basket during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 24, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been nearly 16 months since the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the two sides could find themselves making another deal this offseason.
ESPN contributor Zach Kram suggests the trade that would send center Daniel Gafford to the Lakers for Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, and the No. 25 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
“This deal should be a no-brainer for the Lakers, as they’d address their glaring hole at the center position — which would still exist even if Deandre Ayton exercised his option for next season — with a player who’s a proven fit next to Doncic. Gafford would certainly help the Lakers more next season than any rookie they could draft with the No. 25 pick,” Kram wrote.
“On the other side, Dallas lost a 2028 pick swap when it acquired Gafford at the 2024 trade deadline, but it could recoup some of that value and add another young player here. The Mavericks also would clear future cap space, with Gafford signed for more money and years (through the 2028-29 season) than Vanderbilt.”
Gafford took a step back this season with the Mavericks, averaging 9.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. That was slightly below his 12.3 points per game during the 2024-25 campaign. Gafford’s 3-year extension is about to go into effect, and the Mavs will have to pay him $54 million over the next three seasons, with Dereck Lively II also on the roster.
This is a big season coming up for Lively in terms of whether he will be a long-term part of the Mavs, so the team needs to get the best look on what he can do as long as he is healthy.
With all of the change surrounding the Mavs at the moment, moving on from Gafford could be in the cards as the team looks to get younger around Cooper Flagg.
MM community, what do you make of the trade suggestion? Chime off in the comments section below.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 24: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres is tagged out at home by Jonah Heim #15 of the Athletics during the fifth inning at Petco Park on May 24, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Philadelphia Phillies (26-27) at San Diego Padres (31-21), May 25, 2026, 3:40 p.m. PST
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