San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis Jr. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fernando Tatis Jr. stepped into the batter’s box with the San Diego Padres trailing the Athletics 5-2 in the final game of the series at Petco Park on Sunday. Jackson Merrill and Ramon Laureano were on base after drawing walks and Tatis represented the tying run that could have sparked a ninth inning walk-off win or at least sent the game into extra innings. The Friar Faithful wanted to see their homerless superstar connect on a game-tying home run that would have ended his drought and propelled Tatis to a power surge to end the month. Instead, Tatis hit a 2-0 fastball on the outer half of the plate into right field. Jesse Agler calling the game on 9.3 The Fan, described the ball as high, but not deep and it came down into the glove of Athletics right fielder Lawrence Butler to give San Diego a three-run loss. If you look at the box score, Tatis had a good day at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 but it is the final at-bat that will be talked about more than any other.
The Padres were able to collect nine hits in the game but were unable to push a run across the plate until the bottom of the sixth inning. Miguel Andujar led off the inning with a double and that was followed by a Gavin Sheets groundout, which pushed Andujar to third base. Manny Machado was able to lift a flyball deep into left field that allowed Andujar to tag up and score from third. Xander Bogaerts singled with two outs in the inning and was able to steal second base, but Merrill grounded out to end the inning, one batter later.
San Diego was trailing 4-1 when the Padres came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning. Ty France changed that when he hit a one-out solo home run to right field to make the score, 4-2. A popout by Rodolfo Duran and a groundout by Tatis ended the inning.
San Diego had to claw out of a 4-0 deficit after Michael King went just 3.2 innings and allowed four runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts. It was not what anyone expected to see from King following his fabulous seven-inning start against the Los Angeles Dodgers his last time out. King had trouble throwing his changeup for strikes and he was unable to make the necessary adjustment to get control before throwing 81 pitches and being removed from the game.
The Padres bullpen did well under the circumstances. Ron Marinaccio pitched three scoreless innings allowing one hit, one walk and two strikeouts. Wandy Peralta followed with 1.1 scoreless innings with one hit, one walk and two strikeouts. Bradgley Rodriguez came on in the ninth and surrendered a run one three hits to put the Athletics ahead, 5-2 but he did record three strikeouts while walking one.
Bogaerts and France joined Tatis with multiple hits int the game. They each had two hits, while Andujar and Sheets chipped in with one hit apiece.
The Padres open a series against the Philadelphia Philles today at Petco Park at 3:40 p.m.
As it turns out, the Browns aren't the Cleveland-based sports team having the most warped obsession with analytics.
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, whose team trails the Knicks 3-0 in the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals, came up with an all-time glass-half-full justification for the Cavs' struggles.
Via Matt Clapp of Awful Announcing, Atkinson claimed — with a straight face — that Cleveland is essentially winning.
“Analytically . . . we’re two out of three in the expected [score]. . . . We’ve won two out of the three,” Atkinson said.
The remark immediately flopped worse than SGA.
“I know you’re looking confused," Atkinson said. "But if you believe in process and all that. . . . take that layer. . . .
“I think last night, it was, the expected score was like one point or two. Us shooting way below expected, them shooting way over. I know no one wants to hear that. I think you guys like hearing it. The general public . . . everyone’s outcome-based. Sure. I get that too.”
Yes, the general public is outcome-based. Because winning and losing is based on the outcome.
At a time when the Cavaliers face the nearly impossible task of digging out of a 3-0 hole, they need inspiration. They need confidence. Telling them to buck up because they've analytically won two of the three games that they lost surely won't do the trick.
It would be nice if, in hindsight, this is the moment where blind reliance on analytics jumps the shark. Or, even better, when the shark eats it.
And then Atkinson can claim analytics actually ate the shark. If you believe in process.
It's another week, and it's time to look at home runs differently after a severe cold snap. I'm targeting the best bats in the best form all week, as trying to fade starters and bullpens has not been a winning strategy early in the season. It's time to get another perspective while also using Covers' MLB player prop projections.
The balls could be flying out of Sutter Health Park today, and the market hasn't caught up yet, while Yandy Diaz obliterated Kyle Bradish just five days ago and has a good chance to do it again today.
These are my favorite MLB home run predictions for Monday, May 25.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Julio Rodriguez
+364
Yandy Diaz
+640
Home run pick: Julio Rodriguez (+364)
This one checks a lot of boxes and is a great way to start the week. Julio Rodríguez is in great form with the 18th-best slugging mark in baseball over the last week and the 15th-best BlastContact rate. He went deep yesterday at Kauffman Stadium and has multiple hits in three of his last four games.
He also gets the best hitting environment on the slate in Sacramento, with double-digit winds blowing out to center at 13 mph.
He’ll get a crack at Aaron Civale, who has allowed five home runs over his last two starts. J-Rod has also done damage against the Athletics starter in a solid sample, going 7-for-15 with a homer across 15 at-bats.
The +EV dinger carries a fair price around +300. It’s a great number for a late-night Memorial Day bomb.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSCA, Mariners.TV
Home run pick: Yandy Diaz (+640)
There is only one bat with a better slugging percentage over the last seven days than Yandy Diaz, who also ranks 22nd in BlastContact% over that stretch.
He looks fine after missing a game following a pitch off the hand last Thursday and delivered a two-hit day yesterday, including a double, vs. the Yankees. He has gone deep three times over his last seven games with four doubles and just two strikeouts against three walks.
There is a slight chance of rain in Baltimore, but conditions still feature 75-degree temperatures and light winds blowing out. A strong angle here is that Diaz just saw Kyle Bradish in his last start and tagged him for a home run and a double in three plate appearances. Both balls were crushed, with the homer leaving the bat at 111.3 mph and the double at 113.7 mph. That familiarity edge is firmly in Diaz’s favor today.
Diaz has also seen Bradish 22 times in his career and is hitting .455 off him overall. It’s one of the hottest bats in baseball in a matchup he has already handled well, at a strong price point.
Time: 1:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, Rays.TV
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 13-89, -21.94 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 22: Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots the ball against Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 22, 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 Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You might think that after getting traded in a somewhat humiliating fashion, that former Duke star Jared McCain might enjoy his success, and that he might want to rub Philadelphia’s nose in it a bit.
That’s not his style, though. Check out what he says here about Philadelphia and the trade. Previously, he has said that it stung a bit, but here, he clarifies how he feels about Philly, and it’s quite positive. He’s not going to waste a lot of time and energy on resentment. This is remarkably mature for a guy who is just 22.
As a 76ers fan, he says that it’s going to haunt him. He hates that McCain was traded to Oklahoma City, where he’s constantly on the radar. Kennedy hates that he has to hear about how his teammates heap praise on him. He says “…[i]t’s torturous. It’s like if I had a huge scab, but right before it could finish completely healing the wound, somebody rips it off again and pours rubbing alcohol over the entire area. And this happens every couple of days.”
It’s brutal, but it’s honest. McCain has emerged as a critical factor for OKC, and Philly fans will probably have to watch him excel for a decade or more. That’s not going to be fun.
"Pop's been around, like throughout the course of the season, but that was the first time he walked into the locker room, and it was like, 'Nah, that's B.S. That's not how we play basketball.'" Fox said during an interview NBC’s postgame show. "Obviously, he had some choice words for us. That was the first time all season that he came into the locker room right after a game and told us how he felt. And everybody felt that."
When the Mets’ 2026 season began, some fans were more confident than others in the potential of the roster that David Stearns built for the season. Among our contributors, though, nobody was predicting that the team would be this bad. The fact that it’s Memorial Day and we’re looking at trade chips is wild, but here we are.
On Friday morning, the Mets woke up in fourth place in the National League East, having won their series finale against the Nationals the day before while the Marlins lost to the Braves. With a three-game series in Miami starting that night, they had the opportunity to stay ahead of Miami with a series win. They were swept by the Marlins instead, returned to the cellar in the division, and they’re 22-31 and trailing Miami by two-and-a-half games.
It sure seems like the team should prioritize player development rather than pretend a comeback season is in the cards, and to their credit, the Mets have started calling up players from the minors to give them major league experience. It would be surprising to see them fully admit that they are sellers this early in the season, but with pitchers being their best trade chips and the tendency for pitchers to get hurt, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start making moves now rather than at the trade deadline.
The best trade chips
Freddy Peralta: The 29-year-old was one of the Mets’ biggest additions over the winter, and while he hasn’t replicated his sub-3.00 ERA from his career year in 2025, he’s been his usual self. That’s a pitcher who rarely goes much longer than five innings, carries an ERA somewhere in the mid-to-upper threes, and takes his turn in the rotation every time.
He isn’t an ace, as he ranks 34th among 71 qualified starting pitchers in ERA and 45th in FIP, but he’d be useful to a team that has a need in its rotation and a deep bullpen. You’d have to figure the Mets would get at least a decent return, especially if they were to trade him soon, in spite of the fact that Peralta will hit free agency after the season. It doesn’t hurt that he’s on an $8 million salary this year, either.
Brooks Raley: Since joining the Mets ahead of the 2023 season, the 37-year-old left-handed reliever has a 2.26 ERA that ranks fourth in baseball among relievers who’ve thrown at least 100 innings. Yes, he missed a huge chunk of the 2024 and 2025 seasons because of Tommy John surgery, but he looks even better right now than he did in his very good 2022 season with the Rays and in the 2023 season with the Mets.
Like Peralta, Raley is a rental who’s on an affordable contract, having signed a two-year, $6.25 million deal while he was in the midst of Tommy John recovery ahead of the 2025 season. His 1.35 ERA and 2.93 FIP in 20.0 innings this season should make him appealing to a contender.
Potentially appealing options
David Peterson: Mets fans might be over the David Peterson experience, but the lefty has started to turn things around after an abysmal start to his age-30 season. Since the first outing that saw him work with an opener ahead of him, he has a 4.08 ERA in 28.2 innings of work. That stretch included one traditional start that went terribly, but his most recent outing was a traditional start that went well. Nobody’s likely to treat him like the All-Star pitcher that he was last year thanks to a great first half, but with free agency looming at the end of this season, Peterson could be appealing to a contender, especially if he strings together a few more encouraging outings.
Luke Weaver: Signed to a two-year, $22 million deal ahead of this season, Weaver would be a bit of an unorthodox trade chip, but the 32-year-old is looking nearly identical to the very good reliever he was with the Yankees in 2024 and 2025. In The Bronx, he had a 3.21 ERA and a 3.58 FIP over the course of those two seasons, and he has a 3.22 ERA and a 3.40 FIP in 22.1 innings thus far with the Mets. Sure, trading him would weaken the Mets’ bullpen for 2027, but if another organization were willing to send the Mets a real prospect to get Weaver now, it shouldn’t be too challenging to find a similar reliever in free agency this winter.
Huascar Brazobán: A versatile reliever who’s been incredibly helpful to the Mets this season, the 36-year-old would be an intriguing trade chip. He’s under team control through the end of the 2029 season, and he’s having the best year of his career thus far by ERA and FIP. Late-breakout relievers are fun players to root for, and it would be a bit of a bummer to see him pitching elsewhere for the next few years, especially if he’s anywhere near as good as his current 1.73 ERA. But if the Mets decided this was a good time to sell high, it would be understandable.
Some long shots
The question here is really whether or not another team sees something in a player who’s objectively been bad that they think they can fix. Marcus Semien looks like he’s toast at the plate, but maybe the glove-first sales pitch that was given to Mets fans at the time the team traded Brandon Nimmo for him can work on another team—if the Mets eat all or the vast majority of the final three years of the seven-year, $175 million deal he signed with the Rangers.
Mark Vientos and Brett Baty are both in their age-26 season, and neither one has done anything to indicate they can replicate the lone two-win season each of them had in the past. Vientos was worth 2.9 fWAR in 2024 as he hit 27 home runs with a 132 wRC+ and had his best defensive season at third base. Since then, however, he has a 95 wRC+, and he’s been worth -0.3 fWAR so far this season thanks to his struggles both at the plate and in the field.
Baty’s success is more recent, as he was worth 2.3 fWAR last year, and he only made 432 plate appearances to get to that point. A small part of the reason for that playing time was the fact that he was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse early in the season, but he was much better after that brief demotion. Still, he’s sporting a 92 wRC+ so far this year and has been worth just 0.2 fWAR.
These are shots in the dark at best, and if any of these three players can be traded, the Mets could benefit from clearing up some of an infield logjam that’s had square pegs for round holes for too long, a problem exacerbated by the deliberate decisions the front office made between the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Now that we’ve properly buried the Minnesota Timberwolves season, I think it’s safe for us to come back to the table and remember the good times. There were 25 of us who pulled up to the dinner table for Canis Pulsus to reminisce.
What were the favorite on and off court memories from the season?
This was arguably the high of the season for the Wolves. After an emotional round one playoff victory over the Denver Nuggets, all odds were still stacked against Minnesota heading into a date with Victor Wembanyama. Then, seemingly out of the blue, the news broke that Anthony Edwards would be suiting up after missing just about one week from an excruciating knee hyperextension.
It looked like it was going to be all Spurs, as Wemby goaltended swatted away shot after shot. However, the Wolves took control in the fourth quarter and survived till the final buzzer sounded. A 1-0 lead against the two-seed Spurs was a surprise to all.
12/19 – Ant returns, hits go-ahead 3 before stripping SGA on prime time; 112-107
Anthony Edwards had missed three games in a row mid-December due to nagging right foot soreness. He had already missed a handful of games a couple months ago with a hamstring issue, so the foreshadowing for later in the season was already showing. However, they had a date on Friday night, prime time, against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
The first time hosting the Thunder since they were eliminated in the 2025 playoffs.
Just minutes into the game, Minnesota fell behind by double-digits and watched their Head Coach, Chris Finch, go on an epic tirade on the officials. From there, it felt like life was injected into the Wolves as they battled back. It all culminated in a series of dramatic Ant plays on both sides of the ball.
3/25 – Wild OT comeback win over Scott Foster and HOU; 110-108
What if I told you the Wolves pulled off the biggest overtime comeback in NBA history against a team they were chasing in playoff positioning near the end of the season while missing Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid? Not unlikely enough? How about Scott Foster going on a personal tirade against the Wolves as well?
This was literally one of the most impossible victories you could think of. It was a total team effort by the rest of the rotation that left Wolves fans in awe.
4/25 – Emotional Ayo 43-pt game overshadows Ant & DDV injuries in gm 4; 112-96
It wasn’t surprising to see this game pop up on the list. However, it was also hard to vote for this knowing what happened early on. The Wolves lost Donte DiVincenzo, who Finch and his teammates call “the heart and soul” of the team, for likely a calendar year in the opening quarter. To add injury to injury, Anthony Edwards also took a nasty looking fall on his one healthy leg that would bury most mortal men.
It seemed like Minnesota’s season was over in the first half.
Enter: Ayo Dosunmu. Acquired just about two months ago, Ayo threw on his cape and ripped the heart out of the Denver Nuggets. His career-high 43 points was tied for second-most in franchise history. It was certainly a night to remember at Target Center. For better or worse.
4/30 – Jaden finishes off DEN with the game of his life in gm 6; 110-98
Speaking of ripping the heart out of the Nuggets, let me introduce you to one Jaden McDaniels. “Slim,” as his friends know him, had talked some serious trash truth to the Nuggets all series. After Donte and Ant went down in game four, both Nuggets players and fans had a lot to get off their chest at Ball Arena in game five. It was a drubbing by Denver which seemed to be an ominous sign for the next two games.
Wrong.
Jaden single-handedly cooked the Nuggets on both ends of the floor. He scored a career-high 32 points including clutch baskets to end the series. It felt like the dawn of a new era as McDaniels was in full bloom. Was this the precipice of him becoming the second star that we’ve all been waiting for?
We’ll talk more about Jaden McDaniels below, but he was far from the only player who took it to Denver. Rudy Gobert’s defensive performance against Nikola Jokić was a huge talking point. We already mentioned Ayo Dosunmu’s epic single-game accomplishment. TJ Shannon had two strong games to wrap up the final games. Even Mike Conley looked revived.
This series helped the Wolves improve their all-time postseason record against Denver to 13-10, including 3-1 series advantage.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 22: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses for a portrait during production day on September 22, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Return of the black tree jerseys
Wolves fans have been calling for the return of the iconic black tree jerseys ever since the cursed 2018-2019 season. It was a season that most fans wanted to forget, but Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez were able to finally bring them back to life this year. They also had a matching throwback court to boot. Just excellent stuff all around.
The second-most voted non-basketball memory was…
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. – APRIL 2026 Kevin Garnett acknowledges the crowd at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., on Sunday, April 12, 2026. Behind Garnett is his daughter Kavalli. The Hall of Fame forward and all-time franchise leader in nearly every major statistical category walked into the arena after player introductions, receiving a roar from the crowd and patting his heart with his hand. Garnett, who had a falling out with previous owner Glen Taylor after his career was over, reached an agreement last year with the team to serve as an ambassador. His No. 21 jersey will be retired at a later date. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans, final regular season game. (Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images
KG’s return to the franchise
Perhaps the only thing more anticipated than the return of the black tree jerseys was the man who memorialized them himself, Kevin Garnett. News started to leak last year that the new ownership group was working on bringing KG back into the fold, but it finally came to life during the last game of the regular season. It was a meaningless game as far as the standings go, but I certainly got teary eyed when they played another KG tribute video, during his walkout to a standing ovation, and also when tipoff was delayed due to Anthony Edwards going to dap him up.
This will never get old.
The most voted non-basketball memory was…
Jaden McDaniels: “They’re all bad defenders.”
What else more is there to say? This will truly go down as one of the most iconic moments in Wolves lore.
Full results:
What do you most hope the Timberwolves do this offseason with their roster?
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MAY 15: Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on from the bench during the third quarter of a game against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Target Center on May 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Trade Julius Randle (92%)
All but two voters hope the Wolves trade Randle this offseason. It’s easy to see why, given his lackluster performance in the postseason and usual up-and-down performance during the regular season. There’s been lots of chatter about what exactly was impacting Julius and if the trade rumors from the Giannis saga really affected him that much.
Either way, there’s clear issues with the current roster construction and shedding Randle for someone else.
Other top voting answers were locking up Ayo Dosunmu, who essentially came at the cost of Rob Dillingham and everything Connelly gave up to acquire him.
Full results:
What non-roster thing do you most hope the Timberwolves do this offseason?
Sep 29, 2025; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly speaks to the media during media day at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Retain front office (56%)
There’s been quite a few franchises that have made significant changes to their front offices. Tim Connelly’s name has popped up quite a bit, though there hasn’t been any true reason to believe he would be leaving any time soon. He should be due up for a contract extension soon so hopefully ownership prioritize that as well.
Micah Nori continues to be an assistant coach that pops up among head coaching searches around the league. It seems just a matter of time before he moves on as well, but retaining him for another year would be good for the Wolves.
Full results:
How satisfied or dissatisfied were you with the final result of the 2025-2026 season?
Slightly satisfied (48%)
Less than a quarter of voters were dissatisfied with the season. Many fans have voiced that the regular season didn’t meet expectations, but they were a surprising success in the postseason given all the injuries. Overall, a satisfied season is still a satisfied season.
Full voting results:
What are you most excited about during the offseason?
DALLAS, TX -DECEMBER 25 : Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks and Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talk late in the second half at American Airlines Center on December 25, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Free Agency (36%)
This isn’t a make or break offseason for the Wolves, but they may be just a couple seasons away from that. It seems like the days of “one-way, high usage power forward next to Ant” may be over. It’s almost becoming commonplace to hear the Wolves among possible destinations for high-profile NBA players.
Will Tim Connelly continue to hunt for guys like Giannis, Kyrie, and Kawhi.
Full voting results:
My current feelings on the direction of the Timberwolves are…
SAN ANTONIO, TX – MAY 4: The Minnesota Timberwolves huddle before the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Round Two Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Very optimistic (44%)
Even though the season came to a crashing end, we’re still in the “Golden Era” of Timberwolves basketball without an end in sight. Sure, the ascension of the Spurs and dominance of the Thunder continue to loom large, but Ant and the core has yet to hit their prime. There’s still plenty of reason for optimism moving forward.
May 24, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Texas Rangers second baseman Justin Foscue (14) chases a ball during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images
Good morning.
Shawn McFarland writes that with Josh Jung the latest infirmed, the Texas Rangers were forced to get creative with their lineup in Sunday’s finale. That creative lineup struck out 16 times and the Rangers were nearly perfecto’d as they were swept by the worst team in baseball.
McFarland writes that a discouraging 3-6 road trip against the three worst teams in baseball ended in appropriately depressing fashion with a walk-off error.
MLB dot com’s Courtney Hollmon notes that things could have been worse as Jung’s shoulder issue doesn’t appear to be serious.
McFarland writes that in Texas’ never-ending quest to get their actual full lineup back, Wyatt Langford has shown improvement in his rehab while Corey Seager has hit a snag.
And, the folks at ESPN check in on the standings filled with bad teams and disappointments as we’ve reached the season’s one-third mark on Memorial Day.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 7: Tyler O'Neill #9 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during the second inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on May 7, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Amongst a roster of underperforming hitters, Tyler O’Neill‘s poor season has managed to stand out. Brought in prior to the 2025 campaign to be a veteran power threat, the now-30-year-old has spent most of his Orioles stint either on the IL or scuffling at the plate. For an Orioles team that needs to do whatever it can to win games, it’s tough to justify a place in the lineup for the high-priced outfielder.
As of this writing, O’Neill is in the midst of an 0-for-16 stretch that has brought his season batting line down to .146/.262/.225 with two home runs, seven RBI, 12 walks, and 25 strikeouts. His 47 wRC+ is the worst on the team, and is down near the bottom of the entire league.
The first month of the season wasn’t great for O’Neill. He had a .640 OPS and went on the IL for a bit. But that was world’s better than the .360 OPS he has so far in May.
And forget about him being a viable option against left-handed pitching. That has been a disaster as well with O’Neill hitting .051./.140/.051 against southpaws this season. But he has been decent against righties (.220/.350/.710), so maybe there is a path for him as a reverse splits option? The Orioles don’t seem to think so. They pinch hit him for Colton Cowser on Sunday evening to face a lefty out of Detroit’s bullpen. O’Neill struck out.
Now, in analyzing O’Neill this year you have to consider his health. He went on the IL in mid-April with a concussion, suffered after fainting while “extremely dehydrated” on an off day. Prior to the concussion, O’Neill owned a respectable, albeit underwhelming, line of .241/.353/.345 (.698 OPS). Since being activated on April 25, he is hitting .100/.217/.167. It may not be as simple as saying that the concussion is why O’Neill has performed so poorly, but it probably hasn’t helped.
We do know that the effects of a concussion can linger. Heston Kjerstad suffered a concussion in July of 2024. It took months for him to even get back on the field, and it seemed like he was still dealing with the effects for much of 2025, though the Orioles were not transparent about the specifics of Kjerstad’s health. Back in 2023, a bout with vertigo cost Ryan Mountcastle a month of games, and he needed more than two weeks of minor league rehab in order to get back to game shape. Vertigo and concussions are not the same diagnosis, but they can be related.
There has not been reporting that indicates O’Neill is still battling his concussion in any way. But we do know it is his second concussion as a big leaguer, the other coming back in 2023. Usually your brain needs longer to recovery from subsequent injuries. And while he did miss more than two weeks of action, he did not go down to the minors for any rehab games. It would be normal and understandable if he was still trying to get himself right.
Now, we must also admit that O’Neill’s first season in Baltimore was disappointing too. He hit .199/.292/.392 a season ago and played in just 54 games due to multiple IL stints. Those injuries were neck inflammation, left shoulder impingement, and right wrist inflammation.
And it’s not as if O’Neill has been the most dependable player in his career. He’s been worth -0.6 bWAR this season, was worth -0.6 bWAR last year, and accumulated just 0.3 bWAR in 2023. He was solid for Boston in 2024, producing 2.9 bWAR, which earned him his current contract with the Orioles. Right now, that looks like an anomaly that the Orioles bought high on, and it is entirely possible that he just isn’t very good anymore.
That contract pays O’Neill $16.5 million per year for three years. It runs through the end of 2027. According to Spotrac, he is the third-highest paid player on the Orioles roster after Pete Alonso ($31 million) and Chris Bassitt ($18.5 million).
The combination of a big salary and poor results has fans clamoring for O’Neill to be released. That ire is understandable, but unless O’Neill is also a locker room liability (it doesn’t seem that he is), it probably isn’t happening in-season.
The Orioles other outfield options aren’t great. Dylan Beavers has no timeframe for his return from a right oblique strain he suffered a couple of weeks ago. Those tend to linger. Tommy Pham, now 38 years old, was signed to a minor league deal last week. That feels like an indictment of their confidence in the likes of Ryan Noda, Johnathan Rodriguez, or Jud Fabian to come up an fill the need. Reed Trimble is back on the IL for the second time this season and has played just three games at Triple-A in 2026. Kjerstad is rehabbing in Norfolk, but has just a .630 OPS down there, though he feels like the most logical replacement.
Right now, the Orioles must just feel like O’Neill’s potential to rebound and be at least close to league average is better that what most other internal options can provide. That isn’t a crazy perspective to take, even if you may disagree with the conclusion. Also, releasing O’Neill is final. If you let him go, he won’t be coming back. Whereas other members of the big league squad with minor league options could be yo-yo’ed back and forth without anything being lost.
O’Neill’s long-term standing with the organization does feel shaky though. Two consecutive, injury-riddled, poor seasons feels like the type of player to get the boot next offseason. Waiting until the winter to pull the trigger on such a move is just easier. It would give the team time to sort out their plans on the grass, and they would also only be swallowing one season of dead salary rather than a year and a half. That sounds trivial, but teams often care about the optics and financials of these moves.
So, what can be done in the meantime? The Orioles need to put their best foot forward. This version of O’Neill does not provide that, at least not on a regular basis. But releasing him right now seems unlikely. If it’s possible, a return to the IL followed by a week or two in Norfolk could be best for everyone. It would relieve some pressure on O’Neill and give the Orioles room to bring up someone else that might have a chance to be a net positive in the short term.
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 27: Honor Guard performs 3 Shot Volley before the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on May 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A very low-effort question for when folks should probably be anywhere else but here… especially given the off-day, even if it is a U.S. federal holiday and all.
Which is really the question itself. It’s a holiday, which usually means MLB has a full slate of games, often afternoon games. Yet, MLB does not have a full slate of games, with four teams off. The Braves are one of those four. Last year, on Memorial Day, MLB had six teams off, and the Braves were one of those. Basically, for scheduling purposes, MLB doesn’t treat Memorial Day as a special occasion, but just a semi-regular Monday that includes some travel days. I say semi-regular because while there are more day games, it’s not overwhelmingly day games. Labor Day this year is similar, with a handful of teams off, though there are more day games. (Juneteenth is on a Friday and the Fourth of July is on a Saturday, so hard to talk about other holiday schedules this year.)
Anyway, does it strike you as odd that MLB didn’t make a concerted effort to have a full slate on a federal holiday? Or, that the Braves have somehow been off two Memorial Days in a row?
We’ve reached the point where I feel like I’m part of the problem. Not as far as the on the field product of course. What is happening there belongs to this team and this front office. But I feel like a very small part of some of your fandom. Right now I feel about like I told you that it was okay to cross the street and you were hit by a car while crossing the street. For what little it’s worth, I’m blindsided too.
I’ve used the story of Lucy moving the football so many times in the past. But I think almost always, it was a story about an individual game. I don’t think I’ve ever felt a whole season was Lucy moving the football. A few days ago, I was reminded for the first time of the 2021 Cubs. But even there, as I said it, I thought it was just a shadow of a memory. Even when that season was going good, it wasn’t going as good as this season was when it was going good.
It feels completely in possible that the 2o-3 stretch that is literally the best stretch of Cubs baseball any of us have ever experienced was literally fools gold. Even as I type it, it’s impossible to comprehend. The gold standard of recent Cub teams, the 2016 team, had a stretch of nine losses in 10 games as part of a 5-15 stretch. So there is precedent for a good Cub team going through this. But at this point, we are further back than square one. Whereas that team had clear championship aspirations and all kinds of good will built up, this one has used up all of its currency.
I’m not one really for histrionics or hyperbole. Obviously, there are more than 100 games left in this season. If the season ended right now, this team would hold the last wild card spot. They are obviously very much alive for that pursuit. I still think that this team likely ends up there. But, I am 100 percent a realist. I would not have entertained a world in which this team was a seller at the deadline this year and I’m seeing that as a very real possibility right now. I knew that the injuries to the pitching staff had completely undermined what this front office was trying to do. But I thought there was enough depth to survive it, even if it diminished the upside for this team.
It is no longer out of the question that this team is a seller. Stunning. This team has now lost seven games in row in which the Fangraphs Cub schedule win probability showed the Cubs favored to win. That by itself is staggering. They are headed on a road trip now where the initial impression is that they lose five of seven. Edward Cabrera is lost to them for this road trip. Losing five or more games doesn’t seem insane. If that happens, this team comes home out of the Wild Card position. I’m not sure it can perpetuate the consistent winning baseball to overcome a scrum to land in one of those Wild Card positions at this point.
I seriously can’t remember a quicker rise and fall in the years of my baseball fandom. I could draw some comparisons to the Bears teams of the late 80’s. But this is just flabbergasting. Suddenly, I hope that in a few weeks I look back and laugh about the last Sunday in May when I jumped ship prematurely. How did we get here?
Three Positives:
Michael Busch had a single, a two-run homer and drew a walk.
Pedro Ramirez got his first big league start and marked it with a double, an RBI, a run scored and even drew a walk.
Pete Crow-Armstrong had three walks and a sacrifice fly. He drove in one and scored another.
Game 53,May 24: Astros 8, Cubs 5 (29-24)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Carson Kelly (.130). 2-4, R
Hero: Pete Crow-Armstrong (.111). 0-1, 3 BB, SF, RBI, R
Sidekick: Michael Busch (.064). 2-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI, R
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Shōta Imanaga (-.520). 6 IP, 26 BF, 7 H, BB, 7 ER, 6 K, HBP (L 4-5)
Goat: Michael Conforto (-.118). 0-4
Kid: Seiya Suzuki (-.094). 0-4
WPA Play of the Game: The Cubs were leading by one when Jeremy Peña singled with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth. Two runs scored and the Astros would go on to score five. (.253)
Cubs Play of the Game: Pedro Ramirez batted with runners on the corners, the Cubs down one in the second with one out. He doubled and a run scored to tie the game, on the way to three runs for the Cubs. (.129)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 52 Winner: Colin Rea received 66 of 90 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Michael Busch +17
Michael Conforto/Nico Hoerner +12
Trent Thornton +7.5
Shōta Imanaga +7
Ryan Rolison -8
Phil Maton -9
Matt Shaw -10
Dansby Swanson -11
Seiya Suzuki -22.5
Current Win Pace: 88.64 wins
Up Next: The Cubs travel to Pittsburgh for four games, starting with a Memorial Day afternoon game. The Pirates won Sunday and are 27-26. Ben Brown (1-2, 2.09, 38.2 IP) has started two of the last three games that the Cubs have won. That despite the fact that he lost to the Brewers in his start, allowing three runs in five innings. He battled in that one and has looked great as a starter. No pressure, but this team really needs Ben to step up in this spot.
The opposition is 27-year-old Carmen Mlodzinski (4-3, 3.96, 50 IP). The competitive balance pick of the Pirates in the 2020 draft (30th overall) out of South Carolina has won his last two starts, beating the Cardinals and Rockies. He’s had three very good starts in a row after three rough ones over the last two weeks of April and first week of May. Back on April 10, he held the Cubs scoreless over 5.1 innings in Chicago.
It doesn’t get much better after this. Find a way. Stop the skid.
Jul 13, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott (5) steals second base ahead of the tag of he San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) during the fourth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
The Phillies are headed out west this week to take on the Padres and the Dodgers. They aren’t exactly playing the greatest baseball right now at the plate, so playing two teams as good as them isn’t promising. However, the Phillies have at times risen to their competition on the west coast, particularly when playing these two teams.
Let’s not talk about Arizona and San Francisco.
So, what are your expectations while they are out west? Do you see the team getting up for the games and playing/hitting better, or will it be a slow, painful, tiresome watch? At least in San Diego, they should have the pitching advantage most games and the Padres are probably a worse offensive team than the Phillies. In Los Angeles, well, at least they’re going to have Zack Wheeler throwing in one game.
NL Central rivals collide this afternoon as the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers begin a three-game set at American Family Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. ET.
With Jacob Misiorowski on the hill, my Cardinals vs. Brewers predictions are targeting Milwaukee to take the series opener.
Who will win Cardinals vs Brewers today: Brewers moneyline (-210)
The Milwaukee Brewers send their ace to the hill this afternoon in Jacob Misiorowski, who sports an impressive 1.89 ERA and a 4-2 record. He has been absolutely lights out this month, throwing four straight scoreless outings.
Misiorowski's ERA is 2.04 at home, and he's historically had success against the St. Louis Cardinals, though the sample size is small. Across 33 at-bats, they're hitting just .212 off the right-hander.
On the other side, the Brew Crew will face left-hander Matthew Liberatore, who has given up four earned runs in back-to-back starts.
Overall, he has a 4.70 ERA, and Liberatore's ERA is above four on the road. Milwaukee has a 16-11 record at American Family Field, and it's won three of its last four meetings with St. Louis at home.
COVERS INTEL: Misiorowski has posted a career-best 2.12 FIP this season through 10 appearances.
Cardinals vs Brewers Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-105)
While Liberatore has had his struggles lately, there have been a few solid starts for him over the last month as well.
Before surrendering four earned on the road to the Athletics, he only allowed two earned in each of his previous two starts away from St. Louis, and the Brewers aren't exactly coming in hot, scoring four runs against the Dodgers across Saturday and Sunday.
Misiorowski's case here is clear. He rarely gives up runs, and the Cardinals offense is inconsistent. They're losers of three of four, and St. Louis scored only eight runs combined in those defeats.
Two of the last four meetings have also cashed the Over.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 16-11, +5.54 units
Over/Under bets: 15-11, +1.09 units
Cardinals vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Cardinals +122 | Brewers -163
Run line: Cardinals +1.5 (-120) | Brewers -1.5 (+120)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-118) | Under 7.5 (-104)
Cardinals vs Brewers trend
Six of Milwaukee's last 10 games have cashed the Under in total runs. Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Brewers.
How to watch Cardinals vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Monday, May 25, 2026
First pitch
2:10 p.m. ET
TV
Cardinals.TV, Brewers.TV
Cardinals starting pitcher
Matthew Liberatore (2-2, 4.70 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Jacob Misiorowski (4-2, 1.89 ERA)
Cardinals vs Brewers latest injuries
Cardinals vs Brewers weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MAY 24: MacKenzie Gore #1 of the Texas Rangers prepares on the mound during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 24, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Angels 2, Rangers 1
I will take the blame for this one.
You see, on the Yahoo sports app on my phone on Sunday there was a blurb about the Rangers/Angels game that said “Don’t expect a lot of scoring in this duel between two lefty aces.”
I screenshotted it and posted it, saying that the two “lefty aces” were MacKenzie Gore and Reid Detmers. Much hilarity, right?
And so what happens? Reid Detmers goes out and carves up the Rangers. After a 1-2-3 first, he allows a leadoff homer in the second to Jake Burger, then retires the next 21 batters he faces in a row.
Detmers strikes out 14 batters while retiring 24 of 25 batters faced. It is one of teh most dominante performances of the season.
And MacKenzie Gore, meanwhile, also allows just one hit and one run. He does it in six innings, though, and only strikes out seven while walking two batters.
See what happens? I make jokes, and the universe decides to mock me.
Now, you may think that I’m not so important that the universe would go out of its way to make this happen just to mock me. And that is a reasonable point.
However, what if I am that important? Or what if my consciousness is breaking off into the particularly strand of universes that involves being mocked? Have you thought of that?
The ninth inning also seemed designed to mock Rangers fans in general, should we wish to take a particularly solipsistic view of the universe.
Two outs in the ninth, and the Rangers get their second baserunner of the game. They follow it up with their third and fourth baserunners of the game, bringing up Jake Burger, with the bases loaded, the person responsible for their one run of the game. Jake Burger, in position to give the Rangers the lead.
And he strikes out.
Then the bottom of the ninth, Gavin Collyer…
I will say, as an aside, the decision to use Gavin Collyer in that situation was surprising to me. Collyer was just called up, and had pitched the day before for Round Rock.
Collyer strikes out a batter, gives up a single, hits a batter…
Collyer, I will note, has now hit four batters on the season. That’s a lot for someone who has faced just 57 major league batters. Nathan Eovaldi has hit 5 batters this year, and no one else on the team has hit more than two.
Collyer does his job and gets a weak roller right to Justin Foscue. Foscue, who had spoken the day before about feeling bad for getting picked off yet again on Saturday and letting the team down, has an easy 4-3 double play ahead of him.
He steps on second, bobbles the transition of the ball from his glove to his throwing hand, then rushing the throw, putting it into the dirt. Jake Burger doesn’t scoop it. Pinch runner Donovan Walton scores from second. The Angels walk it off.
How does one, as a fan, even react to a loss like that?
I don’t know the answer to that.
MacKenzie Gore maxed out at 96.7 mph with his fastball, averaging 95.6 mph. Jakob Junis hit 93.1 mph with his sinker. Gavin Collyer’s fastball touched 97.2 mph.
Jake Burger had a 101.9 mph fly out and a 101.1 mph home run. Justin Foscue had a 101.4 mph fly out. Sam Haggerty had a 100.0 mph ground out.
Julio Rodriguez
Yandy Diaz
COVERS INTEL: Misiorowski has posted a 