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Lakers should let Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander try to beat them

The Lakers made it clear from the beginning of their second-round playoff series against the Thunder what they would be willing to live with.

What they weren’t willing to live with: Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander going 1-on-1.

Which led to automatic double teams in the first two games of the series in Oklahoma City, getting the ball out of Gilgeous-Alexander’s hands and forcing the other Thunder players to beat them. 

The Lakers’ Marcus Smart (left) could help the team by guarding the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 1-on-1. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The problem for the Lakers: The Thunder’s “others” did beat them. 

And even in Game 3, with the Lakers being less aggressive with their defensive coverages against Gilgeous-Alexander on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, it was still the non-Gilgeous-Alexander Thunder players who stepped up in the Thunder’s 23-point win.

Chet Holmgren, the Thunder’s leading scorer for the series, was a difference-maker. Second-year guard Ajay Mitchell continued his breakout season, recording playoff career highs of 24 points and 10 assists in the Game 3 victory. Instead of Jared McCain, as in the first two games, Isaiah Joe provided the scoring punch off the bench for the Thunder, and Cason Wallace continued his stellar two-way play.  

The Lakers have dared everyone on the Thunder except Gilgeous-Alexander to beat them.

Which is why it’s time for the Lakers to challenge Gilgeous-Alexander to beat them. 

And Gilgeous-Alexander is perfectly capable of doing so. 

The reigning MVP, who’ll likely win the award again this season, is arguably the NBA’s best player.

Smart, the Lakers’ best defender, is up for the challenge of guarding SGA 1-on-1.

But it’s time for the Lakers to live with more of Gilgeous-Alexander being the driving force behind the Thunder’s success. Through three games, it’s become clear the rest of the team is more than good enough to beat the Lakers, even with 2025 All-NBA honoree Jalen Williams sidelined. 

“You’ve seen them over the years: They have a lot of bodies, and they got a lot of guys that can do multiple things on the floor,” LeBron James said. “It helps to have that depth.”

What would it look like for the Lakers to challenge Gilgeous-Alexander to beat them?

It starts with allowing Marcus Smart, who’s been the Lakers’ best defender this season and best defensive matchup against Gilgeous-Alexander, to guard Gilgeous-Alexander without help.

Smart is up to the task. 

Toward the end of the third quarter of Game 3, with the Lakers trailing 87-79, Smart pressed up on Gilgeous-Alexander’s isolation near half court before backing up and putting his left hand up to signal to his teammates that he had Gilgeous-Alexander. 

But rookie forward Adou Thiero showed gap help one pass away. Gilgeous-Alexander passed to Wallace (whom Thiero was guarding), and Wallace drove into the paint to put the Lakers in rotation during a possession that ended with a Joe catch-and-shoot 3-pointer that put the Thunder up by 11.

The Lakers trailed by double digits the rest of the game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) is shooting 39% outside of the paint in the second-round playoff series. Anadolu via Getty Images

Let Smart see if he can stay in front of Gilgeous-Alexander and test his jumper. Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting 11-of-28 (39%) outside of the paint in the series.  

Gilgeous-Alexander will get the best of Smart. That’s what league MVPs do. There isn’t one player who can stop Gilgeous-Alexander. Smart wouldn’t be expected to shut down Gilgeous-Alexander.

But Smart has the best chance of disrupting Gilgeous-Alexander 1-on-1. He’ll get the best of Gilgeous-Alexander, too.

And having less aggressive defensive coverages will lessen the likelihood of the Thunder getting 100-plus points from the non-Gilgeous-Alexander players on the roster.

This doesn’t mean the Lakers should completely go away from what worked.

Their flooding — man-to-man defense with zone principles in which a team loads up the strong side on wing isos — was effective in the first half of Game 3. It kept Gilgeous-Alexander out of the paint, the No. 1 priority. 

But Gilgeous-Alexander was more comfortable in the second half against a worn-down Lakers defense that showed fatigue from being put in rotation while also trying to score on OKC’s league-best defense. 

Letting Smart take Gilgeous-Alexander 1-on-1 more often should reduce the burden for everyone else. This could help the Lakers’ offense, which has averaged 45 points in the second half (the Thunder have averaged 63 second-half points) after averaging 56.7 points in the first half (the Thunder have averaged 58.3 first-half points). 

If Gilgeous-Alexander has Austin Reaves or Luke Kennard guarding him after a switch or crossmatch? Flood and show gap help. 

Switch less, allowing Smart to stay on Gilgeous-Alexander more and keep the defense’s backline bigger for rim protection and defensive rebounding. Be more aggressive with the defensive coverages on Mitchell. 

And dare Gilgeous-Alexander to beat you.

It’s the last option that hasn’t been tested.

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SunsRank: The Cornerstones

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 22: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

We’ve arrived at the final stop on our journey to understanding how the community at large ranks each player of the Phoenix Suns roster relative to the term “best.”

Typically, I don’t like to use words like greatest, best, or worst. They sound decisive. In sports, they usually create more confusion than clarity. They rely on subjective criteria. What counts as “best”? Stats, leadership, longevity, impact, or performance in clutch moments? Everyone weighs those differently. One fan leans on availability, another leans on impact or advanced metrics. Without clear criteria, it becomes opinion dressed up as analysis.

I throw all that out of the door when I look at the SunsRank conversation. Because I want the subjectivity. I like reading how people ended up where they did. Speaking of which, here’s where we are through the first 15 players that you’ve been asked to SunsRank:

#Community SunsRankWriters SunsRank
4Collin GillespieCollin Gillespie
5Grayson AllenMark Williams
6Jordan GoodwinGrayson Allen
7Mark WilliamsJordan Goodwin
8Oso IghodaroOso Ighodaro
9Rasheer FlemingRoyce O’Neale
10Khaman MaluachRasheer Fleming
11Royce O’NealeRyan Dunn
12Ryan DunnKhaman Maluach
13Jamaree BouyeaHaywood Higsmith
14Haywood HighsmithJamaree Bouyea
15Koby BreaAmir Coffey
16Amir CoffeyIsaiah Livers
17Isaiah LiversKoby Brea
18CJ HuntleyCJ Huntley

I knew there would be a difference of opinion in the Pillars tier, and we sure received it. Outside of Oso for 8th, the percentages were all over the board. That’s what made that tier so intriguing, because it truly personified the SunsRank conundrum. You likely ranked on attributes you deemed most important, and thus the variance occurred.

Consensus brought us to where we are, but not everyone saw it the same way. While the majority believed Mark Williams was the 7th best player on the Suns, we still had 20% vote him 4th. Jordan Goodwin recevied 18% of his votes for 4th. It’s a reminder that, while we all watch this team and this sport, we see it differently.

And now, on to the final tier, the Cornerstones. These are the players the franchise rests on, the names etched into the season’s story before the first tip. They set the tone, and if the Suns succeed, it’s because these players delivered.

Devin Booker

On the surface, when you look at the total points and percentages, it feels like a down year for Devin Booker. Then you look around him and see how many players had career years, and you can point directly to the gravity he creates as part of the reason why.

Was he great late in games toward the end of the season? No. Absolutely not. That’s what makes evaluating him this year feel different. Not difficult, different. It feels like some of the edge wasn’t there.

GPMINPPGRPGAPGSTLFG%3PT%FT%OFFRTGDEFRTG+/- (TOTAL)
6433.526.13.96.00.845.6%33.0%87.3%115.9112.0+201

Dillon Brooks

If you want to talk about edge, Dillon Brooks brought it in abundance. He delivered one of the more surprising seasons I can remember in recent years. We all had expectations for what he could be as a member of the Phoenix Suns, still, I don’t think many of us expected the scoring production he provided.

That’s why he lands in the Cornerstone tier.

GPMINPPGRPGAPGSTLFG%3PT%FT%OFFRTGDEFRTG+/- (TOTAL)
5630.420.23.61.81.043.5%34.4%84.2%113.7114.8-49

Jalen Green

The young player with all the upside, the kind of upside that could genuinely alter the trajectory of the Phoenix Suns if everything clicks. Jalen Green gave us an incomplete season, and that’s disappointing considering he entered with a reputation for being available and durable.

The status still exists. The talent still exists. The question becomes whether the lack of availability changes how you rank him overall.

GPMINPPGRPGAPGSTLFG%3PT%FT%OFFRTGDEFRTG+/- (TOTAL)
3225.917.83.62.81.142.2%31.3%74.7%114.2113.5+33

And now, your final SunsRank votes of the spring.

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NBA Draft Lottery and Playoff Sunday discussion

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 06: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after a basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 06, 2026 in San Antonio, 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 Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Happy Mother’s Day! Here are four events to keep you busy today.

  • 2026 NBA Draft Lottery — 3 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC (WJLA-TV)
  • Washington Mystics vs. New York Liberty — 3 p.m. ET on Monumental Sports Network
  • New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers Game 4 — 3:30 PM ET on ABC (WJLA-TV)); Knicks lead series 3–0
  • San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves Game 4 — 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Peacock; Spurs lead series 2–1

Let’s hope the Washington Wizards come out ahead in the lottery. And enjoy the basketball!

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Astros vs. Reds Game Thread: Game 41, 5/10/2026

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 25: Kai-Wei Teng #17 of the Houston Astros pitches against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning at Daikin Park on April 25, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (16-24) and Cincinnati Reds (21-19) play the final game of a three-game series this afternoon at Great American Ball Park with first pitch scheduled for 12:40 p.m. CT.

RHP Kai-Wei Teng (1-2, 2.35 ERA) will be on the mound for the Astros, opposite LHP Andrew Abbott (1-2, 5.13 ERA) and the Reds.

ABOUT TENG: RHP Kai-Wei Teng makes his second start of the season today after spending a majority of the season in the Astros bullpen.

In his 13 relief appearances, he’s gone 1-1 with 1.80 ERA (4ER/20IP).

Tough To Hit: Teng has posted a .183 opponent batting average, allowing 15 hits in his 23.0 IP.

Last App: Allowed one hit and struck out two in two scoreless innings on May 4 vs. LAD.

Last Start: Allowed two runs on five hits with two strikeouts in three innings on April 28 at BAL.

Fun Facts: With his first Major League win on Aug. 8, 2025 vs. WAS, Teng became the 8th Taiwanese-born pitcher in MLB history to earn a victory. Teng is also the second Taiwanese-born player to play for the Astros, joining RHP Chien Jen-Lo (2013).

VS. THE REDS: The Astros have faced the Reds 859 times in their history, their most games played against any other Major League franchise, going 404-454-1 in the all-time series.

The Astros went 2-1 against the Reds in 2025 at Daikin Park. On Friday night, the Astros secured the first win at Great American Ball Park since Sept. 9, 2012.

NO. 600: IF Isaac Paredes played in his 600th career game on Friday night at CIN. He became the 14th Mexican-born player to reach this milestone, joining players like IF Vinny Castilla, IF Hector Torres and C Alex Treviño.

THE ORDER: The Astros have used 40 different batting orders in their 40 games so far this season. Only LF Yordan Alvarez has started every game in the same spot in the lineup (second).

YESTERDAY’S WAIVER CLAIM: The Astros claimed OF Rhylan Thomas off waivers from the Seattle Mariners and optioned him to Triple A Sugar Land. To make room for Thomas on the 40-man roster, the Astros transferred RHP Hunter Brown to the 60-day IL.

ON THE MEND: LHP Josh Hader allowed one hit and struck out two in one scoreless inning last night in a rehab appearance with Triple A Sugar Land. He has tossed two scoreless innings in his two rehab appearances this season.

TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1992 – Jeff Bagwell homers in the pinch in the top of the 8th to tie the Astros with the Pirates, 4-4. Two innings later, Bagwell hits the game-winner, a two-run shot in the top of the 11th. This marked the first time in club history for a player to homer twice in a game after entering as a pinch-hitter.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Sunday, May 10, 12:40 p.m. CT

Location: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH

TV: Space City Home Network

Streaming: SCHN+

Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

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Game 41: Reds vs. Astros (1:40 PM ET) – Abbott vs. Teng

Cincinnati Reds right fielder Will Benson (30) scores in the fifth inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros , Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati. | Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Reds, believe it or not, have a chance to win a series on Sunday in Great American Ball Park. After stumbling their way through one of the more painful losing streaks in recent memory, they finally found their way back into the win column on Saturday, and on Sundy they’ll send a 2025 All Star to the mound to help them wrap things.

Of course, it’s been a far different 2026 for lefty Andrew Abbott than 2025. Still, he’s potentially begun to maybe perhaps round back into form, and he’ll take his talents up against a Houston club that has posted a collective 111 wRC+ against southpaws so far this season. Gulp!

The Reds, meanwhile, are finally shuffling up their lineup a bit. Will Benson has posted a 1.042 OPS over his last 9 games and will slot in atop the order today, with Spencer Steer – who owns an .843 OPS over his last 125 PA dating back to April 3rd – is moving up to the #2 spot in the order.

First pitch is set for 1:40 PM ET. Lineups for both clubs are listed below.

Today’s Lineups

ASTROSREDS
Jose Altuve – 2BWill Benson – RF
Yordan Alvarez – DHSpencer Steer – 1B
Isaac Paredes – 3BElly De La Cruz – SS
Christian Walker – 1BSal Stewart – DH
Cam Smith – RFJJ Bleday – LF
Brice Matthews – CFTyler Stephenson – C
Zach Cole – LFBlake Dunn – CF
Nick Allen – SSMatt McLain – 2B
Cesar Salazar – CKe’Bryan Hayes – 3B
Cody Bolton – RHPAndrew Abbott – LHP
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Yankees' Luis Gil placed on injured list with shoulder inflammation

Yankees right-hander Luis Gil was placed on the injured list Saturday with shoulder inflammation and isn’t expected to throw for three weeks.

Gil had been with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after he was optioned by New York following four major league starts this season where he struggled and pitched to a 6.05 ERA.

After his demotion in late April, Gil did not appear in a game for the RailRiders. He did make one start for them at the beginning of the season after not making the Opening Day roster and allowed three runs in 4.2 innings, while walking four and striking out six.

The AL Rookie of the Year in 2024, Gil hasn’t been able to sustain the success he had a few years ago and has been injured a few times. The 27-year-old began last season on the 60-day IL with a right lat strain before returning in August.

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Addison Barger Out Of Lineup With Elbow Soreness

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 1: Ernie Clement #22, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 and Addison Barger #47 of the Toronto Blue Jays miss a ball in foul territory in the seventh inning of their MLB game against Colorado Rockies at Rogers Centre on April 1, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images

You know……

Baseball isn’t always a good thing. It didn’t even twig on me that Addison Barger’s 100+ mph throw from right field may not have been the smartest move from a fellow just off the IL. And it should have. There should have been a big flashing warning sign. There should have been an alert on my phone, with that scary noise that Rogers uses when they are ‘testing the system’.

We were in South Korea for a day on our holiday and the warning alert went off a few times. Our guide said ‘oh that happens all the time, they use the alert for anything’. Meanwhile, I was thinking that North Korea had decided to attack at that moment. There is nothing like sitting on a bus in a faraway land and hearing everyone’s cell phone start screeching.

Sending Yohendrick Piñango is starting to look like a dumber idea.

Anyway, the revised lineup has Ernie Clement leading off (because what you want from a lead off man is an allergy to taking a base on balls).

Today’s Lineups

ANGELSBLUE JAYS
Zach Neto – SSErnie Clement – 2B
Mike Trout – DHDaulton Varsho – CF
Vaughn Grissom – 3BVladimir Guerrero – DH
Jorge Soler – RFKazuma Okamoto – 3B
Jo Adell – LFJesus Sanchez – RF
Nolan Schanuel – 1BLenyn Sosa – 1B
Oswald Peraza – 2BAndres Gimenez – SS
Sebastian Rivero – CMyles Straw – LF
Bryce Teodosio – CFTyler Heineman – C
Jose Soriano – RHPEric Lauer – LHP
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Colorado Rockies game no. 41 thread: Tomoyuki Sugano vs Cristopher Sánchez

May 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (11) delivers a pitch in the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Colorado Rockies had a rough week last week. Heck, it’s been a rough month of May so far. The Rockies have won just two games. However, now is a good a time as any to turn things around, right?

After an extra-innings brawl on Friday, the Rockies dropped game two against the Philadelphia Phillies last night in a game that ended up not being particularly close. However, they still have the chance to walk away with a series win and potentially some momentum before heading across Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh.

Tomoyuki Sugano 菅野 智之 will make the start for the Rockies as he looks to continue a string of solid starts. Sugano has an ERA of 3.41 through his first seven starts in a Rockies uniform. He has allowed more than one earned run just three times, and more than two just twice.

His line against the New York Mets his last time out is deceptive. Sugano allowed four earned runs, but all four of those came in his sixth inning of work—and after he left the game. Sugano had actually been pitching a no-hitter after the first five innings and his only baserunner came via a walk in the top of the third.

Dominant lefty Cristopher Sánchez will toe the rubber for the Phillies. Sánchez has an ERA of just 2.42 coming into today’s contest and is off to a solid start following a truly excellent 2025 campaign. Last season he finished second in Cy Young voting with a 2.50 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 32 starts.

Sánchez’s last time out against the Sacramento Athletics was his best start of the season so far. He pitched eight shutout innings with ten strikeouts and had just five combined baserunners.

In five career starts against the Rockies over 27 innings, Sánchez has a 3.00 ERA with 31 strikeouts. This season he is using a three-pitch mix consisting of a mid-90s sinker, a slider, and his excellent changeup.

To top it all off, today is Mother’s Day, and here is a message to the moms from your Colorado Rockies:

First Pitch: 11:35 AM MDT

TV: Rockies TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

Phillies SB Nation site:The Good Phight

Lineups:

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Chicago Cubs vs. Texas Rangers preview, Sunday 5/10, 1:35 CT

Sunday notes…

  • STACKING WINS: The Cubs have won eight and lost four of their previous series. They are 3-3 in rubber games of three-game series, including 2-2 on the road.
  • HOLIDAY WINS: The Cubs are 54-72-2 on Mother’s Day since it became an official holiday in 1914. Their .430 winning percentage in those games is exactly one percentage point above their .429 (24-32) on Easter, which is their lowest on any holiday or special day since 1876 or when a holiday became official: .564: Fourth of July (126-97-3). .540: Opening Day (80-69-2). .520: Closing Day (77-71-2). .511: Memorial Day (113-108). .505: Friday the 13th (52-51). .462: Father’s Day (61-71-1). .445: Labor Day (95-119-4). .430: Mother’s Day (54-72-2). .429: Easter (24-32). On all of those days combined, their percentage is .508 (712-690-14). The 1,416 games are 6.3 percent of games the Cubs have played since 1876, about one of every 16. In all other games since 1876, their percentage is .514.
  • STREAKING: Despite Saturday’s loss, the Cubs are 20-4 since April 14. That’s still the best record in MLB since that date (Braves and Rays, 17-6, are next).
  • TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Hector Cruz hit a two-out, game-tying home run in the ninth inning in Atlanta. The teams played five more innings before rain came and ended play after the 14th with the score tied 5-5. The tie was supposed to be made up as part of a doubleheader July 21, but because of the players’ strike that year, the makeup game was cancelled. The Cubs/Braves tie game happened 45 years ago today, Sunday, May 10, 1981.

Cubs lineup:

Rangers lineup:

Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Jacob deGrom, RHP

Jameson Taillon’s numbers are decent enough, not too far out of line from his career norms — 4.24 ERA, 1.192 WHIP.

The problem is home runs — 11 of them in 40.1 innings. Believe it or not, that’s not leading the league. Zack Littell of the Nationals has allowed 13 homers in 32.1 innings this year, yikes.

So, basically, if Jamo can keep the ball in the yard, he should do well enough. Last year against the Rangers, April 8, 2025 at Wrigley Field, he allowed three runs in six innings, with only one HR. That would work.

At age 38, Jacob deGrom is still pitching well, striking out lots of hitters and not issuing walks. He’s not the dominant force he was several years ago with the Mets, but still a perfectly good MLB starter.

deGrom has not faced the Cubs since 2022 and thus most current Cubs have not seen him much. One who has is Dansby Swanson (7-for-34, but with three doubles and two home runs). Ian Happ has also homered off deGrom.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Rangers site Lone Star Ball. If you do go there to interact with Rangers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

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.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Game Thread #38: Milwaukee Brewers (21-16) vs. New York Yankees (26-14)

May 3, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Logan Henderson (43) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! The Brewers, of course, have some history on this holiday, and they’ll look to keep that rolling today.

By winning on Friday and Saturday, the Brewers have already clinched a big series victory against the New York Yankees. But they might as well get greedy, right? This afternoon, Milwaukee will go for the sweep, and to do so they’ll send Logan Henderson to the mound to face New York’s Carlos Rodón.

Milwaukee pitchers have been able to keep the mighty Yankee bats quiet so far during this series, quite a feat given that the Yankees lead the American League in runs scored. But behind a stellar outing from Jacob Misiorowski on Friday and effective (if not perfect) outings from Kyle Harrison, Chad Patrick, DL Hall, and Aaron Ashby on Saturday, the Brewers have outscored the Yankees 10-3 in two games.

Henderson will look to keep that going with his third big-league start of the season, and second since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville last week. Henderson was fantastic against the Nationals last Sunday: in six innings, he allowed only three hits, didn’t walk anyone, and struck out eight. Washington, though, managed two runs against Henderson, and the Brewers offense couldn’t muster much, and Henderson took a hard-luck loss in a 3-2 Nationals victory.

Rodón, who was an All-Star in 2025 and finished sixth in American League Cy Young voting, will be making his season debut after surgery in October to remove a bone spur from his pitching elbow. Rodón, who is 33, has been recovering deliberately; he made three rehab starts in the Yankees’ system, culminating with 6 1/3 innings on 85 pitches for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday. Last year, Rodón set career highs with 33 starts and 195 1/3 innings, and allowed just 6.1 hits per nine, which led the American League. He pitched to a 3.09 ERA and earned 4.6 bWAR, which was by far his best season since joining the Yankees in 2023. Rodón’s All-Star selection last year was the third of his career, after he made the game in back-to-back years in 2021 (with the White Sox) and 2022 (with the Giants). The Brewers, who of course struggle with lefties, will hope he’s still got some rust to shake off.

To counter the left-handed Rodón, the Brewers will start Gary Sánchez (at catcher, with William Contreras as the DH), and they’ve also got Blake Perkins starting in right field, giving Sal Frelick (and not Garrett Mitchell) the afternoon off. I know lefties have been a problem for the Brewers this season, but boy does it sure look nice to see Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn back in there.

No “getaway day” lineup as far as the Yankees are concerned: their big hitters are all in the lineup, with just a couple of positional shuffles (Aaron Judge will serve as the designated hitter, Ben Rice is back at first base), the re-insertion of Ryan McMahon into the starting lineup, and a start for backup catcher J.C. Escarra.

First pitch this afternoon is at 1:10 p.m. on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.

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Injured Flyers Duo Never Came Close to Return for NHL Playoffs

The Philadelphia Flyers were forced to deal with some substantial injuries throughout their Stanley Cup playoff run, and they were never particularly close to getting back some reinforcements, either.

On Saturday night, after the Flyers' 3-2 Game 4 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, we learned that players like Owen Tippett and Christian Dvorak were playing through debilitating injuries: a separated shoulder and sports hernia, respectively.

Defenseman Cam York purportedly played through a broken rib, and Noah Cates went down for the count early in Round 2 with a foot injury.

In the wake of injuries to Tippett and Cates, the Flyers could have used another winger and center, but reinforcements never arrived.

Bottom-six duo Nikita Grebenkin and Rodrigo Abols, who have been out since March 21 and Jan. 17, respectively, weren't able to get close to a return in time for the Flyers.

Abols, 30, had resumed skating just prior to the Flyers' Game 4 loss to the Hurricanes, albeit in a non-contact jersey.

Grebenkin, 23, has been sidelined with an upper-body injury that originally came with a seven-to-10 day evaluation timeline.

A source familiar with their situations told The Hockey News that the Flyers would have needed to play a long Eastern Conference Final, or even reach the Stanley Cup Final outright, for Grebenkin and Abols to become considerations to return to the team and play.

Since the Hurricanes won't begin the Eastern Conference Final until Thursday, at the earliest, this would have meant another two or three weeks of rehab, recovery, and conditioning for the two injured forwards.

Key Flyers Forwards Reportedly Played Through Significant InjuriesKey Flyers Forwards Reportedly Played Through Significant InjuriesTwo Philadelphia Flyers forwards played in the playoffs with injuries that will make your skin crawl.

Grebenkin finished his first full season in the NHL with four goals, 10 assists, and 14 points in 55 games, primarily featuring on the fourth line with an occasional opportunity to play higher in the lineup here and there.

The eclectic Russian forward is a pending restricted free agent, and the Flyers will have a decision to make on his future with their glut of wingers.

As for Abols, he'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and it remains to be seen as to whether or not the Flyers want to bring the Latvian back for a third season for depth or set their sights higher elsewhere.

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How it happened last time … and some lessons

NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 23: (L-R) Lewis Katz and Rod Thorn attend the New Jersey Nets end of season game at the Prudential Center on April 23, 2012 in Newark City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Finn Wentworth isn’t a well-known Nets executive. He was franchise president back in 2000 and was chosen by the team to witness the draft that year in a back room at the NBA TV headquarters in Secaucus, N.J. where the ping pong balls were drawn. The New Jersey Nets had a 4.4% chance in the Lottery that May 20 after finishing seventh. Moreover, the Draft was not very good. In fact, it may well have been the worst draft in NBA history (until maybe 2004.)

There was only one obvious top pick, Kenyon Martin of Cincinnati and he had broken his leg at the end of the season! When the careers of the picks were tallied up, Martin was one of three players eventually selected to an All-Star team and he was only selected once. Mike Miller of Florida, taken at No. 5, was Rookie of the Year and the player with overall best career, an All-Star and All-NBA selection, Michael Redd of Ohio State who was taken all the way down at No. 43. A lesson to be learned there!

So hopes were not high. “Ours was the worst draft,” Wentworth told Brian Lewis recently. But the oddsmakers were wrong and the Nets secured a building block. The franchise-changer would come the next off-season when Rod Thorn traded Stephan Marbury for Jason Kidd.

When the winning combination for the Nets came up — 6-8-9-14 — Wentworth was the first to know things had finally changed in the Meadowlands.

“I had the sheets in front of me, and when he pulled out those balls, I checked them off, and I just yelled ‘bingo,’ because I thought it was kind of a fun exercise just to show how it works,” Wentworth said. “Then he goes, ‘Finn Wentworth and the New Jersey Nets have the No. 1 pick in the 2000 draft.’”

Immediately, the told Lewis, representatives from other teams approached him about possible trades … before he had left the room!

“I was like, ‘No, we’re good, we’re good,’” Wentworth recalled. “We’re just going to keep this thing.”

The fun had only begun. The results were brought to the TV studio and deputy commissioner Russ Granik read them out, much to the never-ending delight of co-owner Lewis Katz…

“That was the worst draft in NBA history, arguably. And we got the only guy who became a star. We got the only guy who really should’ve been [a top pick],” he said, ticking off the names of prospects once revered but now footnotes. “It was [Martin] and Stromile Swift and Darius Miles, guys that most people unless you’re a basketball-aholic wouldn’t recognize.” Another lesson learned, perhaps?

The ramifications were instant. On June 7, three weeks before the Draft, Thorn was hired away from the NBA head office where he was Commissioner David Stern’s No. 2.

“If we don’t have the No. 1 pick, I’m not sure if Rod’s coming,” said Wentworth who recruited Thorn in the back of co-owner Ray Chambers corporate jet. “Rod comes [in], and they were saying Stromile Swift and Darius Miles. As hard as it is for a lot of people to think, but they thought Darius Miles was going to be the next Penny Hardaway, and Stromile Swift was going to be the next [Karl] Malone from Utah.

“But, of course, Rod looked right through it, and said Kenyon’s the guy. And then on the Kidd deal, some people were nervous trading Stephon Marbury away at a young age. And inside the organization, they didn’t want it to be the next Dr. J … [but] Rod saw it clearly for what it could be. And he was right.”

What’s Wentworth’s take on the situation today? He likes their chances, he told Lewis. He even offered some advice, based on his experience in the Draft Room when he was surrounded by the lottery losers.

“Ours was the worst draft,” Wentworth said. “This is arguably the best draft in the modern era…

“Depending on who you believe is the No. 1 player — the kid from BYU or Duke or Peterson from Kansas — if you’re saying that’s my guy and you believe the [top team] might want someone else, but you’re not sure about the guy in between, if you’re No. 3, I’d offer draft picks, move up and take my guy,” Wentworth said. “This is one of those drafts where it’s very, very deep. You have three or four guys that are A-pluses, and you have a bunch of As.

“… If [the Wizards] are looking at finally rebuilding and getting up to the next level, it’s going to take more than one player in this draft. So keep an eye out for that. … If [Brooklyn] gets the No. 1 pick, it’s not an issue. But if you get the No. 3 pick for example, or if they ended up No. 4. They have something we did not have, which is the amount of capital, equity that they could use to buy up.”

Indeed, an NBA insider told ND that he thinks that with all their assets, all those picks — 13 firsts, 22 seconds and two first round swaps — the Nets could move up two spots.

“The only reason you bank firsts like that is to be able to strike opportunistically,” he said. “Now [moving up] in this Draft and they will have to find a dance partner but say they land in the dreaded fifth spot. They have enough draft capital to get them to the third.”

All of that, of course, can wait till Joe Tsai starts shaking hands. A lot, hopefully.

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Where to watch Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens Game 3 NHL playoffs: Live stream, start time, odds, TV channel for Sunday, May 10

The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens meet in Game 3 of their second-round playoff series. The series is tied 1-1 after the Canadiens won 5-1 in Game 2. The Canadiens are favored by 1.5 goals in Game 3.

  • Date: Sunday, May 10

  • Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

  • Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, QC

  • TV Channels: ESPN, Spor, CBC, TVAS

  • Live Stream:ESPN+ | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • Spread: Montreal Canadiens -1.5

  • Moneyline: Montreal Canadiens -123 (52.8%) / Buffalo Sabres +103 (47.2%)

  • Over/Under: 5.5

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Where to watch Vegas Golden Knights vs. Anaheim Ducks Game 4 NHL playoffs: Live stream, start time, odds, TV channel for Sunday, May 10

The Anaheim Ducks are looking to even their second-round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4. Vegas took a 2-1 lead in the series with a 6-2 victory in Game 3. Vegas is favored by 1.5 goals. The over/under is set at 6.5.

  • Date: Sunday, May 10

  • Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

  • Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA

  • TV Channels: ESPN, Spor, SN36, TVAS

  • Live Stream:ESPN+ | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • Spread: Anaheim Ducks +1.5

  • Moneyline: Anaheim Ducks -101 (48.1%) / Vegas Golden Knights -118 (51.9%)

  • Over/Under: 6.5