ATLANTA, GA - MAY 17: The ball cap and glove of Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves sits on the dugout steps during the MLB game between the Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves on May 17, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Well that was less than fun.
Braves lost 12-0 on Monday against the Marlins. It was the worst loss of the season for the Braves on a rare night where they simply had no answers. While these games happen to all teams at least a few times a year, there is an opportunity for the Braves to bounce back to make sure they make the most of another week of games against the NL East.
Thankfully, the Braves will get a big boost starting today with the return of Ronald Acuna Jr. from the IL. He was activated on Monday, as Kyle Farmer went to the IL. The Braves offense has not been as potent over the past few weeks, so getting their best offensive talent back should help production get back to consistent levels.
J.T. Ginn took a walk-off homer into the ninth inning for the A's but still lost the game.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Athletics starter J.T. Ginn took a no-hitter and a one-run lead into the ninth inning Monday night.
Six pitches later, he walked off the mound with a heartbreaking loss.
Adam Frazier lined a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth and Zach Neto followed with a two-run homer that gave the Los Angeles Angels a 2-1 victory, snapping a six-game skid while stunning Ginn and the A’s.
“Obviously, a tough game,” Ginn said. “Just keep your head up and keep moving forward. It’s just the nature of the game that we play. I attack the zone and I live with that.”
J.T. Ginn reacts after allowing a hit during the A’s game May 18. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Frazier lined an 0-2 pitch over shortstop for a clean single, giving Los Angeles just its third baserunner. Neto then drove a 2-0 sinker to center field for his eighth home run of the season.
“Just a crazy game to play,” Ginn said. “I fell behind 2-0, threw a good sinker, and he was waiting on it and put a good swing on it. So, tip your cap to him.”
Zach Neto celebrates after hitting a walk-off homer during the Angels’ May 18 game. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Ginn (2-2) was trying for the first no-hitter in the majors since Shota Imanaga combined with two Chicago Cubs relievers for a 12-0 win over Pittsburgh on Sept. 4, 2024. The previous pitcher to throw a complete-game no-hitter was Blake Snell for the San Francisco Giants against Cincinnati on Aug. 2, 2024.
Ginn threw a career-high 105 pitches, 64 for strikes. He struck out 10, walked one and hit Neto with a pitch in the sixth.
The right-hander from Mississippi, who turns 27 on Wednesday, struck out the side in the seventh and finished the inning with his 10th strikeout — setting a career high.
“J.T. dominated all night. For him to walk off the mound with a loss there, it hurts, obviously,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “He pitched probably the best game he’s pitched in his big league career, and to have an opportunity to get a no-hitter, and two hits later you walk off with a loss, it’s tough. I had full confidence in him going out there in that inning at 100 pitches and trying to get it done. It just didn’t work out.”
Pinch-hitter Lawrence Butler put the A’s ahead 1-0 with an RBI single in the top of the ninth. Angels reliever Chase Silseth got slugger Nick Kurtz to ground into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.
J.T. Ginn throws a pitch during the A’s game May 18. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It was the 30th career start for Ginn, who made his major league debut in August 2024.
“He did such a phenomenal job all night keeping guys off balance. His stuff was nasty. Just kind of rolling, you know, and then it’s gut-wrenching stuff in the ninth for it to end that way. It definitely sucks right now,” Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers said. “Baseball will humble you in all sorts of ways. … It’s going to be hard to flush this one.”
The Angels haven’t been no-hit since Sept. 11, 1999 — the longest active streak in the majors.
The Yankees' first meeting with the Toronto Blue Jays since this past October's ALDS loss saw New York dig deep, especially after a 2-of-3 Subway Series with the Mets.
"We've got a lot of grownups in that room, and I trust they know how to handle the highs and the lows in a lot of these individual cases," Aaron Boone said of his team's 7-6 win Monday at Yankee Stadium.
"It's big-time," said Bednar, whose ninth inning Monday against the Blue Jays (21-26) saw him work into trouble with a walk and RBI double before bearing down for the final three outs over the following four at-bats, capped by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 4-6-3 double play. "Ultimately, that's what everyone wants in this room -- trust the guys in here -- and I have the ultimate trust in them. For them to feel that about me is big-time."
With the win, the Yankees (29-19) are three games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East but 7.5 ahead of the third-place Blue Jays.
"Any in-division games are important, even though early in the season -- they all count," said Cody Bellinger, whose two-run home run in the seventh inning tied the game before Jazz Chisholm Jr. did the same two batters later and gave the Yankees a 7-5 lead. "They had a tremendous year last year, they got us last year and this year they're a good team again. We tried to come out first time against them and it was a battle, back and forth, and it was just a fun game to be a part of."
New York's chance for revenge continues with Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. start, the second of a four-game series in the Bronx.
"Especially losing to them in the playoffs, we've got to have a different mindset when it comes to them," Chisholm said. "Every time we see them, it's like, we have that feeling -- at least I do, for sure. I know a couple other guys in the clubhouse have that feeling of, like, 'We owe you something. We're going to show you what we've got.'"
OG Anunoby drives to the basket during the Knicks' May 6 playoff game.
The Knicks look set to be at full strength to start the Eastern Conference finals.
OG Anunoby (hamstring) practiced in full again with the Knicks on Monday and is listed as probable for the opening game against the Cavaliers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Though it is unclear whether the Knicks can sustain the momentum of their seven-game winning streak after a lengthy layoff, the team has already benefited from the rest and rehab of the roster’s most impactful two-way player.
Anunoby, who hasn’t played since getting injured in the final minutes of Game 2 of the second-round series against the 76ers, will be 13 days removed from his most recent game action when he steps on the court for Game 1 against Cleveland.
Two years ago, Anunoby’s hamstring injury during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals derailed the season — a 2-0 series lead for the Knicks turned into a seven-game defeat to the Pacers, with a hobbled Anunoby briefly returning for the series-ending loss — but the 28-year-old said this weekend that the current issue wasn’t as alarming.
OG Anunoby drives to the basket during the Knicks’ May 6 playoff game. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“It wasn’t like the previous ones, for sure,” Anunoby said. “So, it was better than before. … I never think about the past. Just dealing with it in the moment. It didn’t feel as bad as it had in the past when it happened, so just knowing that, just trying to improve it day by day.”
Anunoby has arguably been the Knicks’ best all-around player in the postseason, averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and a team-best 1.9 steals, while shooting 61.9 percent from the field, including a team-high 53.8 percent on 3-pointers.
Mike Brown has been here before.
Brown — who has won four championships as an assistant — is entering the Eastern Conference finals as a head coach for the third time in his career.
His first two trips (2007, 2009) came with Cleveland, where his son, Cameron, spent much of his childhood, then played football and coached at local Case Western Reserve University.
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“I had a great time there … but my youngest son really likes Cleveland,” said Brown, whose son is now an assistant with the 49ers. “The only thing that brought back memories was he said he might come back to Cleveland for a game. He hasn’t been any place else, but he might come to Cleveland for a game.”
In Brown’s most recent trip leading a team to the conference finals, the LeBron James-led Cavaliers swept the first two rounds.
After an eight-day layoff, Cleveland faced Orlando, which upset the Cavaliers despite coming off a seven-game series against the defending champion Celtics.
“You always try to lean on stuff that you’ve done in the past,” said Brown, who enters another matchup with a similar rest disparity. “But in the same breath, this team is different. It’s a different time. You lean on your past experiences. You lean on players. You lean on the coaches around you.”
It’s still New York or nowhere for Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson.
He may be a temporary enemy of the Empire State during the Eastern Conference finals, but Madison Square Garden will always be a special place to the native of Northport, Long Island.
“I’m a New Yorker,” Atkinson said after the Cavaliers trounced the Pistons 125-94 in Game 7 to win the second-round series.
“Going back to the Garden, worked for the Knicks — know everybody there. My whole family’s there basically. That’s special.”
After all, the 2025 Coach of the Year’s local roots and great relationship with former Knicks assistant coach Phil Weber gave Atkinson an unforgettable spot in team lore more than a decade ago.
“Phil Weber actually lived literally around the corner from us,” Michael Atkinson, Kenny’s oldest of seven highly athletic brothers, told The Post.
“Phil knew Kenny. Phil’s a super personable guy.”
Atkinson played for more than a decade overseas as a point guard — he first dropped jaws at St. Anthony’s High School and later with the 1988 Richmond Spiders, who reached the Sweet 16 — and broke into the NBA as Rockets director of player development in 2007.
Kenny Atkinson addresses reporters during a May 17 press conference. NBAE via Getty Images
Michael said his brother’s work in the Lone Star State quickly impressed Weber, who knew it was time to get Atkinson back home.
“He ended up recommending Kenny to Mike D’Antoni, and Mike D’Antoni hired Kenny with the Knicks,” said Michael, a former Sachem hoops coach who Rick Pitino pulled to Kentucky.
Atkinson spent four years at MSG, from 2008 to 2012, where “he had the guys towards the end of the roster” to look after, his big bro said.
“One of those guys happened to be Jeremy Lin, and so Kenny worked with Jeremy Lin on a daily basis,” Michael added.
“Jeremy Lin even gives Kenny a lot of credit for being ready when his number was called.”
The Atkinson clan was bleeding blue and orange long before Linsanity — or the Knicks’ 1973 title, for that matter.
“We were Knicks fans forever,” Michael said.
The brothers were also just as intense with one another as Walt Frazier’s group was with the rest of the association.
Kenny Atkinson coaches during an October 2016 preseason game for the Nets. NBAE via Getty Images
“Everybody was competitive, everybody had their own level of confidence,” said Michael, the eldest at 71.
There was something about Kenny, the second youngest who is now 58, that stood out well before he became the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020 and won an NBA Championship with the Warriors as an assistant in 2022.
Mainly, it was discipline and work ethic passed down by their Marine officer father Neil, and Pauline, a no-nonsense mom who once chased Kenny with a Wiffle ball bat when he was a 6-year-old.
“When you have eight kids — eight boys — you better have discipline,” Michael said.
Kenny Atkinson, second from left in the front row, is pictured with his brothers. Courtesy of Brian Atkinson
“He just took, and I think you saw it [during Game 7], that level of focus and intensity just to another level.”
It was a driving reason Kenny was the only sibling pulled from Northport public schools for St. Anthony’s, a program led at the time by the late Gus Alfieri, a local basketball legend and St. John’s Hall of Famer.
A middle-school-aged Alan Hahn, who would go on to play for the Friars and LIU before becoming a Knicks analyst with MSG Network, still remembers being starstruck when he saw Atkinson play as a helper at a Long Island basketball camp in the 1980s.
“The first player that drew my attention and made me go, ‘Wow,’ was Kenny,” Hahn said.
Kenny Atkinson, fourth from left, is pictured with his brothers and parents. Courtesy of Brian Atkinson
“It was a counselors and coaches game at lunchtime. He’s such a competitor, dominated the scrimmages, and I was just drawn to him ever since. … He was my first basketball idol.”
Atkinson was all about paying it forward, and that passion was palpable in any instruction he gave to up-and-coming Long Islanders.
Both Michael and Hahn said Kenny’s basketball “lectures” were anything but academic.
“The guy was dripping with sweat when he was done,” Hahn said.
“When he was a player development guy, he was just as drenched in sweat as the player he was warming up for the game.”
Long Island is proud of the homegrown hoops guru’s success — but locals will just have a funny way of showing it in the next few days.
“Of course I will be rooting for the Knicks,” St. Anthony’s alumni affairs director Denise Creighton wrote on Facebook, “but CONGRATULATIONS to Friar Alum Kenny Atkinson and the Cavs on their defeat of the Pistons.”
May 18, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Athletics right fielder Lawrence Butler (4) hits an RBI single against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Athletics and Los Angeles Angels matched up in the first game of this four-game series between these two longtime division rivals.
Few would have thought that this game featuring two teams with struggling pitching staffs would turn out to be a pitching duel, yet that is what happened. Both starting pitchers performed well, especially the A’s starter J.T. Ginn, who took a no-hit bid into the ninth inning. Unfortunately for the A’s, it was the Angels, particularly their shortstop Zach Neto, who got the last laugh, winning this series-opener 2-1 courtesy of Neto’s walk-off blast.
A’s leadoff hitter, right fielder Carlos Cortes, opened the game by working a walk against Angels’ starting pitcher Walbert Ureña. His team left him stranded, as the right-hander proceeded to retire the following three hitters and complete a scoreless first inning. Ginn matched Ureña’s opening frame, working a scoreless bottom of the first. .
A’s Waste First Scoring Chance
In the top of the third, the A’s strung together a two-out rally. Cortes walked for the second time in two at-bats and then catcher Shea Langeliers hit an infield single, the A’s first hit of the game. Alas, first baseman Nick Kurtz popped out to end the inning as the Athletics left two runners on base.
A’s Leave them Loaded
In the fourth inning, the A’s once again generated a two-out rally. Center fielder Henry Bolte hit an infield single and then second baseman Jeff McNeil reached on Neto’s fielding error. Ureña hit A’s third baseman Zack Gelof to load the bases. The Angels starter escaped the jam unscathed by getting A’s shortstop Darell Hernaiz to groundout to third.
Angels Defense Saves a Run
With two outs in the fifth, Kurtz extended his on-base streak to 41 consecutive games with a double down the right field line. Angels’ right fielder Jo Adell made a sliding catch to rob A’s designated hitter Brent Rooker of an RBI single and keep the game scoreless.
Pitching Duel
While the A’s offense struggled to get going, Ginn retired the Angels in order through four innings, totaling five strikeouts and four groundouts on just 39 pitches. The Angels got their first baserunner in the fifth via a walk, but Ginn stranded him at second.
Meanwhile, Ureña completed six scoreless innings, continuing his success since joining the Angels’ rotation. He allowed four hits and two walks while striking out four. Right-handed reliever Sam Bachman entered out of the Angels bullpen in the seventh. He continued to keep the visitors off the board over the next two innings, only allowing Cortes’ one-out single in the seventh. Through eight innings, the Athletics managed five hits and went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine men on base.
Ginn sailed through eight hitless innings, striking out a career-high 10 batters. However, his offense had yet to give him any run support in this pitching-dominated affair.
In the top of the ninth, the A’s bats woke up. Gelof singled with one out against Angels right-handed reliever Ryan Zeferjahn. He stole second base to put himself in scoring position. Pinch-hitter Lawrence Butler singled to center, scoring Gelof to finally break the deadlock and give the A’s the lead. That was arguably Butler’s biggest hit of the season to date.
Zeferjahn proceeded to walk Cortes and Langeliers to load the bases with one out for Kurtz. Fellow right-handed reliever Chase Silseth replaced Zeferjahn and did his job by getting Kurtz to hit into an inning-ending double play. That was a crucial opportunity to add insurance, but for a change, Kurtz failed to come through.
Adam Frazier led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, breaking up Ginn’s no-hit attempt.
For some reason, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay did not pull his starter from the game despite the fact that Ginn had thrown over 100 pitches and just suffered the deflating blow of losing his no-hitter attempt. That decision predictably backfired as Neto hit a two-run walk-off home run, delivering a 2-1 victory for the hosts that snapped their six-game losing streak.
Mark Kotsay praises J.T. Ginn's outing and details the decision to leave him in after giving up a hit pic.twitter.com/sJpYZbdSOF
In a span of a few pitches, the A’s went from thinking they were about to celebrate their pitcher’s no-hitter to sadly walking off of the field losers of a third straight game. This dramatic defeat that put the team’s record under .500 is the kind that can result in a season-derailing tailspin. As a result, it is imperative that the Athletics reset and bounce back tomorrow or else this losing streak could stretch much further like what happened in May of last year.
Tomorrow will be the lefty vs. lefty matchup this series as Jacob Lopez will take on Reid Detmers. Lopez (3-2, 5.80 ERA) has struggled this season for the A’s, although he is coming off back-t0-back quality starts. In his last outing against the St. Louis Cardinals, the southpaw allowed two runs on four hits over five innings. He will be opposed by Detmers, who is 1-4 with a 4.20 ERA through nine starts this year. Lopez will likely not pitch as well as Ginn did tonight, but the A’s simply need him to keep them in the game and give them a shot to win.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 18: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 18, 2026 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. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The noise inside Paycom Center was deafening long before tipoff. Thunder fans arrived expecting the defending NBA champions to make another statement. Oklahoma City had spent the season looking untouchable, rolling through the Western Conference behind back-to-back MVP guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the league’s deepest roster. Across the floor stood a young San Antonio Spurs squad that many believed was simply happy to be ‘ahead of schedule’.
By the end of Monday night, the Spurs had changed the conversation entirely.
Behind a legendary performance from Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs outlasted the Thunder 122-115 in double overtime to steal Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals and home-court advantage along with it.
For nearly three hours, the game swung wildly between chaos and brilliance. Every time Oklahoma City appeared ready to seize control, the Spurs answered. And every time the crowd erupted, Wembanyama quieted it.
The 7-foot-4 superstar delivered the type of playoff performance that instantly becomes part of franchise history: 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks while playing nearly 49 exhausting minutes. He scored inside, stretched the floor from deep and protected the rim as if he were everywhere at once.
And when San Antonio needed him most, he became unstoppable. Late in the first overtime, with the Thunder threatening to finally pull away, Wembanyama buried a massive three-pointer that resembled Stephen Curry, stunning the arena into silence. It was the kind of shot championship players make: fearless, timely and crushing for the opponent on the other side.
“He has a rare desire to step into every moment that’s in front of him. He has some rare God given ability,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of his star player after the game.
But this wasn’t a one-man effort.
Without De’Aaron Fox, who missed the game with an ankle injury, the Spurs needed someone else to embrace the moment. Rookie guard Dylan Harper not only started, but he answered the call. Making his first playoff start, Harper attacked Oklahoma City’s defense without hesitation. He finished with 24 points, including a clutch layup in the second overtime that gave San Antonio control for good. Each basket seemed to chip away at the Thunder’s confidence while strengthening the Spurs’ belief that they belonged on this stage.
“I thought he was phenomenal, I thought he was even better defensively.. That young man is everything that everybody is seeing right now,” Johnson said of the rookie guard.
The Thunder refused to go quietly.
Alex Caruso had the best game of his career, finishing with 31 points. Gilgeous-Alexander controlled the pace throughout the night, weaving through pesky Spurs defenders and repeatedly creating offense when Oklahoma City desperately needed it.
Jalen Williams returned from injury and scored 26 points as the Thunder clawed back from multiple deficits and forced overtime in front of a crowd desperate to see the defending champs survive. Instead, San Antonio looked stronger as the night grew longer.
By the second overtime, Oklahoma City appeared drained. The Spurs looked fearless. Stephon Castle, despite a franchise record 11 turnovers, made key defensive plays and helped steady the offense late. Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie knocked down timely shots. Wembanyama dominated the glass and controlled the paint as San Antonio slowly suffocated the Thunder down the stretch.
When the final buzzer sounded, the Spurs walked off the floor with more than a playoff win.
They walked away with belief.
“As a team, we’re ready to go up against anybody in any environment,” Wembanyama said. “Even though we still have a lot to learn, our effort should go against anybody. Tonight we were relintless.”
This postseason was supposed to be about growth. About experience. About proving the future had finally arrived in San Antonio. Now, after taking down the defending champions on their home floor in Game 1, the Spurs suddenly look like a team capable of winning far more than respect.
Game 2 is Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.
And after Monday’s unforgettable marathon, the pressure has shifted squarely onto the Thunder.
Game Notes
De’Aaron Fox’s injury news came down before tipoff, a shock to many. While Dylan Harper had a solid night, Fox’s presence was missed. At times, the Spurs got into their stuff too late or rushed things, which resulted in a turnover. The Spurs are hoping Fox can heal up quick for Game 2.
Stephon Castle’s 11 turnovers almost made me throw my remote into my TV.
Solid defense from Mitch Johnson as he threw the zone and doubles at SGA, something he’s rarely seen in these playoffs.
Carter Bryant’s impact was incredible, swarming on defense and getting the in the passing lanes. He’ll be needed for the rest of this series.
I’ve learned not to tempt the baseball gods by starting on the recap too early. The only time I did so far this season, was the game against the Orioles, where the D-backs led 7-2 in the middle of the sixth inning. It… did not end well. But I did feel tonight, with Arizona ahead by ten runs after five innings, that I could safely boot up the laptop on this one. It was not former Diamondback Robbie Ray’s night. He had only allowed more than six ER once in his career: he gave up seven in just his fourth MLB appearance, back in 2014. It was his worst Game Score too, at 11. But tonight? The D-backs plundered him for 10 runs, 9 earned on 11 hits and 2 walks in just 4.2 innings. The resulting Game Score? 2.
This was an absolute palate-cleanser for the recently struggling offense. Giving a pitcher who came in with a 3.04 ERA, a career-worst outing, is something I hope the “Why do we always make scrubs look like Cy Young winners?” crew remember. Things tonight started early, and extremely quickly. And by quickly, I mean after a 1-2-3 inning by Zac Gallen in the top of the first, six pitches into the bottom half, Arizona had a 4-0 lead. Ketel Marte singled on an 0-1 pitch, Corbin Carroll singled on his first offering, and Geraldo Perdomo reached after he grounded the first pitch off the glove of the Giants’ third-baseman. That set the table for Nolan Arenado, whose ownership of Robbie Ray was close to Goldy/Timmeh levels: 53 career PA and a 1.244 OPS. That increased after this:
It was only the second time in franchise history that our fourth batter of the game had hit a grand-slam. The previous occurrence had been on April 28, 2011 against the Cubs at Wrigley. From the SnakePit recap: “Chris Young led off the bottom with a double, and suddenly, Dempster couldn’t find the strike zone with the help of a native guide. Kelly Johnson drew a walk, and after a LOUD foul ball into the cheap seats, Justin Upton was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for cleanup hitter Stephen Drew. [He] took [Ryan] Dempster to the bank, depositing a fastball into the outfield seats for his first career Grand Slam.” That did take more pitches: nineteen, so more than three times the number to reach tonight’s lickety-split slam.
Okay, having spent over four hundred words and not even reached the first D-back out, I’d better gallop on through the rest of the game. It seemed initially like Gallen might be a little shaky, allowing San Francisco get on the board in the second, then another run in the third. But Arizona had no trouble responding on each occasion. They scored one in the second on a Marte sacrifice fly, then added two more in the third. That came courtesy of a rare Tim Tawa start, who singled home both runs. But the game was ended as a meaningful contest by the D-backs getting a five-run fifth. Gabriel Moreno had a two-run homer, Ryan Waldschmidt and Marte added RBI knocks, and Arenado drove in our twelfth and final run on another of the Giants’ three errors.
Thereafter, it became a bit reminiscent of a spring training game. We pulled Carroll, Arenado and it looked like we were perhaps going to end replacing Moreno with James McCann. I say that, because the last-named did potentially make this a bit of a Pyrrhic victory [to re-purpose one of last year’s popular recap titles]. After a half-inning spent playing 1B McCann, trying to leg out an infield hit, appeared to tweak something in his leg. While he did get the hit, bringing him back over the Uecker Line, he had to be lifted from the game immediately. Adrian Del Castillo took over for him on the basepaths, and Moreno stayed in the game. No word on McCann as yet.
Gallen got through six innings with no more damage, allowing four hits and a walk with five strikeouts, for his first quality start since April 1. At 81 pitches, he could perhaps have gone deeper. But the bullpen probably needed the work. Ryan Thompson, Brandyn Garcia and Jonathan Loaisiga each tossed scoreless innings to close out the Diamondbacks’ first double-digit margin of victory since the 10-0 win over the White Sox last June 23. However, let’s not get too carried away with ourselves. The Giants do have the second-worst record in the league, and we should be shutting down their offense. Their 167 runs is twenty-five fewer than any other NL team.
But tonight was one for the Arizona offense: 16 hits in total, tying a season high every starter notching one by the end of the fifth. Waldschmidt had three hits, a walk and two stolen bases, while there were two-hit games for Marte, Carroll, Ildemaro Vargas and Moreno. The win pulls the Diamondbacks back up to .500, and with nine more games against these woeful Giants and Rockies (3-1 so far) before we face anybody else, I’m hopeful the team will be able to take advantage of this stretch of the schedule and get well above even by the time we start seeing other franchises.
Click here for details, at Fangraphs.com Colonel Kurtz: Nolan Arenado, +14%
Seriously, that’s it. Nobody else bar Arenado came in at better than plus seven percent, and nobody at all reached even negative one percent, so I’m not going to call anyone out. It was, I’d say, probably the best-played game by the Diamondbacks all season. Fine pitching (the quality of the opposition notwithstanding), great hitting and solid defense. Hard to ask for much more. I’ll give comment of the night to Webb Gemz, not least for demonstrating the correct use of the sarcasm font.
Same two teams tomorrow, same bat-time (6:40 pm), same bat-channel, and I would not mind at all if it were to be the same bat-result. It’ll be Ryne Nelson taking the mound for the Diamondbacks.
Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) grounds out during the second inning against the Toronto Bluejays at Yankee Stadium, Monday, May 18, 2026.
Don’t expect Jazz Chisholm Jr. to go back to his own pants — or bat.
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The second baseman continued his recent uptick at the plate — all while wearing Giancarlo Stanton’s pants and using José Caballero’s bat.
He had two more hits with the combo in Monday’s 7-6 win, including a go-ahead, two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh that banked off the left field foul pole.
“It will always be [Stanton’s pants] and José’s bat,’’ Chisholm said.
Aaron Boone said he thought Chisholm looked “great” with the mismatched uniform but had a more traditional explanation for Chisholm’s recent improvement.
Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) grounds out during the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, Monday, May 18, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“Jazz started swinging better the last few days,’’ Boone said. “He stayed on a couple [pitches Sunday] against [the] Mets where he drove the ball that way, too.”
And it’s paying off.
“He was missing pitches he usually hits,” Boone said. “Now we’re seeing him come to the level with a really good player. I don’t think he was that far off, but I don’t think he [was] swinging the bat that well.”
As for the change in attire and equipment, Boone said, “Whatever he’s got to do.”
Anthony Volpe is at least giving himself an argument to potentially stick around in The Bronx when Caballero returns from a fractured middle finger. He had two more hits and a pair of stolen bases.
“They’re not an easy club to run against,’’ Boone said of Toronto. “Anthony did a good job of getting both [stolen bases].”
And he’s looked better at the plate after struggling in his rehab assignment in the minors and his first games back in the majors.
Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) reacts after he scores on a SAC fly by New York Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra (25) during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“He’s had more good at-bats,’’ Boone said. “For the most part, he’s controlling the strike zone the last four days.”
Boone said there is a chance Caballero comes off the IL when he’s eligible May 2, as the shortstop has taken ground balls and begun playing light catch after suffering a fractured right middle finger.
Yovanny Cruz, a hard-throwing right-hander, was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Monday.
The 26-year-old right-hander never pitched above Double-A before the Yankees signed him to a minor league contract in the offseason, but his ability to throw 100 mph intrigued the team, and he showed positive flashes in the spring after coming back from a shoulder injury.
His recent results at SWB haven’t been as good, as Cruz allowed a run in each of his last five appearances. Overall, he struck out 23 in 18 innings at Triple-A this season.
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Boone said the Yankees “really like his upside.”
There are command concerns, and Boone noted Cruz had issues containing the running game.
To make room for Cruz on the roster, Elmer Rodríguez was optioned to SWB.
Rodríguez was coming off his most effective start with the Yankees.
“It’s a tough situation,’’ Rodríguez said of being optioned to SWB. “I’ll take the positives out of it, go down there and hope to be back.”
The Yankees began wearing a patch on their uniform Monday to commemorate John Sterling’s career after the broadcaster passed away earlier this month. Sterling’s children and ex-wife were part of a pregame ceremony in honor of Sterling.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz shoots during the first half of a game against the Detroit Pistons at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 21, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Broad stance, elbow secured, ball held high above his forehead, the silhouette of Joe Ingles’ jump shot alone should spark warm memories for those fortunate enough to witness the Aussie’s prime with the Utah Jazz.
With the recent announcement that Jinglin’ Joe would return home to Melbourne United of the Australian NBL, the NBA community solemnly understands that the world’s oldest 38-year-old athlete would ride into the sunset in his home nation. Ingles meant many things to the four teams he played for, but none hold him in higher regard than the Utah Jazz, the organization that he called home for the first eight years of his NBA life, from age 27 to age 34.
JOE INGLES IS UNITED 🔥 810 NBA games. 12 NBA seasons. Olympic Bronze Medalist. One of the greatest Australians to ever play the game. Joe Ingles is coming to Melbourne on a two-year deal. More – https://t.co/yKJekLEb5epic.twitter.com/8qk0llQL4Q
He made a name for himself as a sharpshooter, never more than a catch away from thrusting a dagger into the defense. But as a defensive pest and smiling face in the locker room, it was easy for Utah fans to fall in love with the quirky lefty from down under.
20 years ago, back in the ancient age of 2006, a baby-faced, follically sustainable Joe Ingles laced up his shoes and torched the NBL scene when he scored 29 points in his debut. Outpacing defenders, stapling his foes to the hardwood with stepback jumpers, slamming down thunderous dunks, and adding some gorgeous southpaw three-pointers, lest Ingles appear completely unrecognizable now two decades into the future.
Joe didn’t stick immediately in the NBA, bouncing off the LA Clippers in the preseason of 2014, before getting picked up on a flyer by the Utah Jazz. From there, he would play 79 games (starting 32) in Utah, averaging just 5 points, 2.3 assists, and a steal in 21 minutes of action per night.
He would go on to miss just 1 game over the next three seasons in Utah, becoming a full-time starter by his fourth NBA season, already having crossed the threshold of his lifespan’s third decade.
Many remember Ingles as the man who slayed Oklahoma City’s three-headed dragon of Paul George, Russell Westbrook, and Carmelo Anthony. Through six games in the opening round of the Western Conference Playoffs, Ingles was an integral cog in the Utah game plan, shutting down the All-Star George both in-game and via psychological torment. Canning three-pointers before immediately turning to scream in his adversary’s face — eyes wide, flashing a grin of pure glee. Pestering George off the ball, Ingles gave OKC’s star zero breathing room from start to finish.
All game long, you could read Paul George’s expression: “How on Earth is this guy beating me?”
That was no mystery to the Jazz; Joe Ingles had trapped George in his domain, and now the Aussie was in his element.
Y’all mind if this white boy hablas a little Inglés?
Snapping his wrist like the crack of a whip, Ingles’ distinct load-up netted him a career three-point field goal percentage over 40%. It was in games like this 19-point outburst that Ingles’ portfolio was on full display, where he torched the opposition despite looking like he had just escaped from the neurological wing of a nearby hospital.
Headband Joe remains a legend around these parts, and legend has it that you can still hear the snap of the net when he draws near.
Ingles finished second in votes for the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2021, handing the award to his teammate Jordan Clarkson on live television with a brotherly smile that almost made you wonder if a noogie was on the way once Clarkson collected his trophy.
As a teammate and as a member of the community, Ingles left his mark in Utah. He was outspoken in his support for Autism, sharing his experience raising his son and sharing with the world that support is available, and children with autism are deserving of love and support. Joe and his wife, Renae, have been major promoters for autism awareness since their son’s diagnosis.
This year, the NBA celebrated its third year of autism acceptance month, complete with custom shoes with symbols of support worn by all 30 head coaches across the league.
As a player, as a father (hi there, Paul George), and as an advocate for his family, Joe Ingles’ legacy in Utah is much greater than 8 seasons of basketball, but he proved he was no slouch on the court, either.
Thank you for the laughs and the highlights, Joe.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 18: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder passes the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 18, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Game one of the NBA Western Conference finals is in the books and it was an instant classic. The San Antonio Spurs stole game one against the Oklahoma City Thunder, in double overtime, 122-115 behind a 41-point, 24-rebound performance from Victor Wembanyama.
OWembanyama’s performance will forever be talked about but what will be overlooked is the 14 critical minutes that rookie Carter Bryant played.
To most people, the former Arizona Wildcat’s stats aren’t eye opening, but it’s the stuff that doesn’t show up on the statsheet that he gave. The constant pressure that Bryant applied on NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander forced tough shots and did not allow him to find an offensive rhythm.
Bryant finished the game with just three points, two rebounds, and one assist but every single play came in crucial moments. That’s been his story all postseason.
When Wembanyama was unavailable for Game 3 of the first round series against the Portland Trailblazers, Bryant became the de facto backup center. He played 23 minutes and again only scored three points, but secured six rebounds with four assists and three blocks.
Bryant’s stats are not flashy but the effort and energy that he brings onto the court is what makes the difference. His career high at Arizona was 14 points on two separate occasions and his current career high with the Spurs is 17.
For most players in the association, those career highs would not suffice. However, being with an organization like the Spurs gives him an abundant amount of time to develop where he can eventually earn a larger role in what they are trying to accomplish.
All San Antonio is asking of him right now is to make plays where he can and limit the mistakes, which again is very similar to what Tommy Lloyd asked him to do at Arizona. Up to this point he has done that.
Moving forward, Bryant will still be a key to San Antonio’s current championship hopes. His development will need to show and the experience he will gain will only help that development continue.
Former MLB commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti wrote about baseball that "it is designed to break your heart." The latest instance of that adage holding up took place on Monday, May 18 at Angel Stadium.
Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn was flirting with throwing Major League Baseball's first no-hitter since 2024, only to allow a base hit to the first hitter he faced in the bottom of the ninth inning and then a walk-off home run to the next.
The Los Angeles Angels prevailed, 2-1, spoiling Ginn's no-no bid in an improbably thrilling way.
Ginn, who struck out 10 Angels batters through eight innings, saw Adam Frazier end the no-hit hopes with a line drive single to center field. The next batter, Zach Neto, took Ginn deep to quickly turn the tide on the Athletics.
The win ended a six-game losing streak for the Angels, who were coming off getting swept in back-to-back series by the Cleveland Guardians and Los Angeles Dodgers.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 17: Gavin Sheets #30 of the San Diego Padres reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After losing two of three to the Milwaukee Brewers on the road, the San Diego Padres arrived in Seattle with an offense that lacked thump, as well as production, from the top of the lineup. With Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, and Manny Machado scuffling, the rest of the roster carried the team to a sweep of the Mariners and a 28-18 record, a half-game back of the Dodgers in the NL West.
There is not much to say that is new about the problems the three faces of the franchise are experiencing. Over the 18 games from April 27 to May 16, Machado/Tatis/Merrill had a collective .164/.231/.249 batting line. The doubles that Machado and Merrill hit in Sunday’s game were the first extra-base hits they both had in the same game since April 11 (per Kevin Acee in Padres Daily newsletter).
Here is where the Padres offense stands as of the end of the Mariners series:
It doesn’t make sense that this team is 10 games over .500 and in second place in the NL West, but that is the case. As everyone in sports media keeps saying, this isn’t sustainable. Even manager Craig Stammen acknowledges that to be true.
Lucas Giolito
Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller signed right-handed starter Lucas Giolito to a $1.5 million contract for 2026 with a $1.5 million buyout for 2027 and escalators that could net him an additional $5 million. He signed on April 22 and his contract guaranteed a promotion to the major league team by May 16. He had two starts in Single-A and two starts in Double-A before debuted with the Padres on Sunday against the Mariners. After pitching five shutout innings with one hit allowed, Giolito sat for a prolonged half-inning while his teammates put up five runs in the top of the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, he was not the same guy. After walking three straight hitters, he was removed from the game and was then charged with the three runs scored by the Mariners after his departure. Giolitto got the win after his offense went on a hitting spree (especially Gavin Sheets) and put up eight runs for the game.
Giolito’s performance was all the more impressive considering he hasn’t had anything close to a normal ramp-up to the season. Going unsigned through the offseason and Spring Training, Giolito was on his own to prepare to pitch for a major league team. Staying unsigned until late April, his contract only gave him 23 days to prepare for his debut with the Padres.
His velocity was notably less than his normal 94-95 mph on his fastball (90-92), but his changeup is elite and makes the fastball a playable pitch. He throws those two pitches 85% of the time. In 145 innings pitched in 2025, Giolito threw to a 3.41 ERA, even though his underlying numbers don’t look that impressive.
With time spent working with Ruben Niebla and his staff, and building up his arm, Giolito should get better. His command through the first five innings was remarkable considering his brief amount of prep time.
Gavin Sheets
Since signing with the Padres before the 2025 season, Gavin Sheets has been the power hitter the Padres hoped he would be, in streaks. Always less effective against left-handed pitchers, Sheets has made adjustments during his time with the Padres and continues to improve against righties. Last season his batting average was almost identical between lefties and righties, but his slug against right-handed pitchers was .453 versus .369 against left-handers. He had 17 homers against righties and two versus lefties.
This season, with minimal appearances versus lefties, Sheets is continuing the trend. He is slugging. 596 versus right-handers so far this year (114 at-bats). In 12 at-bats versus lefties, he is slugging .167. Way too small a sample size, but with some of his teammates performing well against left-handed pitching (Miguel Andujar, Luis Campusano) he isn’t going to get many opportunities.
Overall, Sheets has been clutch, with “late and close” hits. He is second behind Xander Bogaerts in RBI; Bogaerts has 23 and Sheets has 21. His nine homeruns lead the team, and his 10 doubles are one behind Andujar.
Sheets was named the National League Player of the Week with these numbers over the Brewers and Mariners series.
Rodolfo Durán
Catcher Rodolfo Durán waited 11 years to get his first chance to play in a major league uniform. With the broken toe suffered by Luis Campusano in the series versus the Giants, Durán was added to the roster and made his first start on May 7 against the Cardinals. He was 0-for-10 before coming to bat in the seventh inning against Seattle on May 16. Durán lined his first hit as a major leaguer into the Padres’ bullpen for his first home run. In his last at-bat in the ninth inning, he was robbed of another home run by a leaping Julio Rodríguez in center field.
Durán will remain with the Padres in place of the injured Campusano, but it is unlikely any other moment will be as memorable as that one for the veteran of four organizations.
A Quiet Assassin
Reliever Bradgley Rodriquez, 22, graduated from the Padres prospect list this month. He appeared in seven games and 7.2 innings for the Padres in 2025 with a 1.17 ERA and nine strikeouts to three walks. In 2026, he has pitched in 19 games (was the opener for two games) and has 22.2 innings under his belt this season. He is on pace to pitch over 80 innings, which would far exceed his 61.1 innings in 2024 in the minors.
It seems likely he will get optioned at some point to give him a break, but the bullpen will be the less for it. His 1.59 ERA includes 18 strikeouts to five walks, and he has allowed no home runs. His effectiveness is only behind Mason Miller and Jason Adam.
Although he has high-leverage stuff, Rodriguez is being brought along carefully. His fastball touches 100 mph, but it is not his best pitch. He has a plus-plus-changeup that he pairs with a slider for 69% of his offerings.
Roster moves and injury updates
General manager A.J. Preller gave an update on the status of Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta in an interview with Ben and Woods of 97.3 The Fan on Friday, May 15. Neither is in a throwing program yet, and he suggested that they would not be until June/July.
It was reported by Kevin Acee in his daily newsletter (via manager Craig Stammen) that Luis Campusano is still unable to come off the IL. His broken toe is still too painful, although he is involved in baseball activities.
The last word on Jake Cronenworth was that he had been referred to a neurologist and is recovering from his concussion under medical care. He did not travel with the team on the latest road trip.
Matt Waldron pitched poorly in his start versus the Brewers on May 12 and then came back and pitched two innings of scoreless relief on May 14. He reportedly came in the next day with a sore upper arm and was placed on the 15-day IL when Alek Jacob was called up to provide extra help to the bullpen. Jacob was sent back down when Giolito was activated.
Jhony Brito has started his rehab from his UCL surgery of last year. He started two games with the ACL Padres and then started for Double-A San Antonio on Sunday, May 17. Brito went four innings with no earned runs allowed. He allowed two hits and had a strikeout, although two unearned runs scored.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 18: Minnesota Twins designated hitter Josh Bell (56) celebrates his solo home run during the third inning of a MLB game between the Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros on May 18, 2026, at Target Field in Minneapolis MN. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It was a stormy night in Minneapolis and no one from Cory Provus to the players on the field thought this game was going to go a full nine innings. The field was a mess, Astros shorstop Jeremy Peña turned the field into his personal slip-n-slide, but no one, and I mean NO ONE, was going to stop these umps from forcing the players out for four more meaningless innings.
But let’s go back to the first inning where we all were thankfully put out of our Simeon Woods Richardson-induced misery. With SWR in the midst of the worst stretch of his career, manager Derek Shelton turned to rookie Kendry Rojas, who immediately showed off why he’s a difficult prospect to figure out. Rojas hit Peña, allowed a single to Isaac Paredes, and walked Yordan Alvarez on four pitches to load the bases with no outs just nine pitches into the game. Luckily, a pop out and a weak line drive double play got the Twins out of the jam without allowing a run.
And then, Rojas was nails. He allowed one hit in the second inning but largely overpowered this veteran Astros lineup all night. Final line: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 runs allowed. His hybrid reliever/starter role, combined with the organization trying to limit his workload, means he isn’t really able to throw more than 50-60 pitches per outing right now, but Rojas showcased exactly why the Twins have been hesitant to move him to relief full time.
On the offensive side, it was all Josh Bell early. Bell got a hanging changeup from Tatsuya Imai in the second that he mashed off the batter’s eye in center. Things were quiet until Bell came up again the fourth inning and went oppo-taco to put the Twins up 3-0. It would have been nice to see the lineup have a better performance against a struggling pitcher, but a win is a win.
After the two hour rain delay, the Twins came back ready to add some more runs. Six straight Twins reached base with one out in the 6th, resulting in three additional runs, but a sloppy send/late hold by third base coach Ramon Borrego resulted in Bell getting caught in no man’s land between third and home and getting nabbed on the bases.
Justin Topa came in and gave up three runs in the seventh inning, as he is wont to do, but you don’t need me to recap why a bad pitcher gave up runs. It should be expected at this point. Eric Orze got the Twins out that jam and pitched a clean eighth, but Yoendrys Gomez got the Twins right back in one in the ninth. Gomez walked notable bad hitter Christian Vazquez on four pitches, got Peña to pop out, then walked Paredes on five pitches to bring up MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez as the tying run. Shelty turned to veteran Taylor Rogers who got Alvarez looking and then got Christian Walker to ground out to end the threat and the game.
Two final notable things from this game. First, Ryan Jeffers left the game in the ninth inning after cracking his bat on a foul ball. Jeffers stayed in for two more pitches but left the game mid-AB. No word on what the potential injury is, but Jeffers is a gamer who wouldn’t leave for no reason. For a team missing Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner recently demoted, and Royce Lewis on the verge of the same, they can hardly afford to have Jeffers miss significant time.
Second, two different pitchers issued four pitch walks to Christian Vazquez. I don’t need to tell anyone around here that walking Vazquez at all, let alone on four pitches, is a demote-able offense. Simeon Woods Richardson is still adjust to reliever life, it appears.
STUDS
Josh Bell: 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
Kendry Rojas: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 R
DUDS
NO DUDS TWINS WIN!!!!
Comment of the game goes to norff for finally making Justin Topa’s role on this team clear.
SEATTLE, WA - MAY 18: Cole Young #2 of the Seattle Mariners and Colt Emerson #4 looks on prior to the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Monday, May 18, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Eric Hiller/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
