CHICAGO, IL - MAY 11: Andrej Stojakovic participates in the shuttle run drill during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 11, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Uhhhhhh.
Andrej might not be coming back.
The Illini wing put on a show Monday night at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. A good week for Stojakovic in the Windy City could push him to stay in the NBA Draft rather than return for his second year at Illinois (and his fourth overall in college).
In the maximum vertical jump, Stojakovic finished atop the leaderboard at 41.5 inches.
While he won’t participate in the 5-on-5 scrimmages at the combine, Stojakovic is making a name for himself with his athleticism, which he flashed at times last year off the bench during Illinois’ Final Four run.
It’d be great to have him back in orange and blue next year, but you can’t blame him if he’s able to assure that he’s a high second-round pick and has a real chance at the NBA.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 11: George Kirby #68 of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on May 11, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mariners 3, Astros 1
When Andrés Muñoz is happy: George Kirby, .17 WPA
When Andrés Muñoz is sad: J.P. Crawford and Brendan Donovan, -.08 WPA
Game thread comment of the day:
I gotta go with BirdNerd’s time to shine. Thanks for making us all smarter!
And BONUS CONTENT because it was too good to pass up:
BALTIMORE — Ryan Weathers got violently ill, had to quarantine from his newborn, lost nine pounds, returned to the New York Yankees rotation with his rotation spot in jeopardy and promptly took a no-hitter into the seventh inning.
Yet all the toil of a turbulent two weeks went for naught.
Gone was the two-run advantage Weathers handed him. Moments later, the Yankees were stewing in their fourth consecutive loss, a 3-2 setback to the offensively impotent Orioles, a team they steamrolled in four games in the Bronx just a week ago.
It was not the outcome the Yankees expected. Nor was it anything Weathers deserved, not at this odd point in his career.
Weathers was working on eight days of rest, because he fell ill the day of his most recent start on May 2. He spent the next couple of days with his insides turned out, leading to the nine-pound weight loss.
A further indignity: Weathers and his wife Thayer welcomed their first child, Paul David Weathers, on April 22. Weathers’ virus meant he had to sleep on a different floor at home than wife and newborn.
“It’s definitely been a couple weeks, for sure,” says Weathers. “But that doesn’t stop me from doing my job.
“My job is to go out and compete and throw up as many zeroes and get as many outs as I can get.”
Adding to the drama: His time in the Yankees rotation was ticking down as he recovered. Left-hander Carlos Rodón returned from off-season elbow surgery on May 10; Rodón’s procedure largely spurred the Yankees to acquire Weathers from Miami in the off-season.
And ace Gerrit Cole has now made five rehab starts and should line up to rejoin the rotation by month’s end.
With his future in flux, Weathers went out and pitched the game of his life – even as he was unaware he was tossing a no-hitter.
He’d never thrown a complete game in 62 career starts and hadn’t thrown more than 101 pitches in a start this season. So at 85 pitches through six no-hit innings, it figured he wouldn’t finish a solo no-hitter.
Yet Weathers bedeviled the Orioles, striking out nine and using an almost equal four-pitch mix of changeup, his sinking and four-seam fastballs and sweeper. The no-hitter was intact until Adley Rutschman – the only Oriole who hit the ball hard off Weathers this night – poked a single to the right of second base.
When Weathers issued just his second walk of the game to Tyler O’Neill, manager Aaron Boone went and got him. With the Yankees suffering three narrow losses at Milwaukee before arriving here, relievers Tim Hill and Fernando Cruz were down.
Headrick was summoned to face the righty-swinging, but .158-hitting Mayo. Boone liked Headrick’s slider against Mayo. Mayo liked the slider Headrick threw him, clubbing it 389 feet out to left field.
A 2-0 lead became a 3-2 deficit. And with the Yankees struggling offensively, that was that.
And Weathers, through little fault of his own, was the losing pitcher.
“We’ve scored zero, three, three, two,” says Boone of the skid that started in Milwaukee. “Pitching’s been there. Continues to be there.
“We gotta get some guys unlocked. We got a handful of guys scuffling.”
None more than Jazz Chisholm, who went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and is in an 8-for-48 slide, with one extra-base hit in that span. He refused comment after the game.
Despite the skid, the Yankees are still 26-16, though they now trail Tampa Bay by two games.
Weathers, too, has a deficit to make up: He has not gained back all of his nine pounds, noting he needed to re-hydrate initially and then coax some food down after a couple days.
“I’m sneaking,” he said of gaining back all the weight he lost off his 6-foot-1, 230-pound frame. “I’m sneaking.”
Just not quite enough to add a historic night to his career.
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 11, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 112-103 in Game 4, riding Donovan Mitchell’s 43 points to a tied series back to Motown.
Cleveland started this game hot. They jumped out to a 14-5 lead in the opening minutes as James Harden poured in 11 of those points all on his own. He nabbed two steals and banged home a pair of triples as the Cavs had their best start to a game this series.
That didn’t last long.
The lead was quickly reversed once Harden went to the bench and the Cavs offense went frigid. Some timely shot-making from Tobias Harris and Caris LeVert allowed the Pistons to change momentum and end the first quarter with an advantage. LeVert started the game with 17 points on 7-12 shooting.
LeVert changed the dynamic of this game. Before his run, the Pistons’ offense was having a difficult time finding support for Cade Cunningham. LeVert not only provided aid but practically took the wheel and started driving this thing himself.
Then the third quarter came, and the Cavaliers gave us another example of how quickly playoff basketball can change.
A dominant 23-o run put the Cavs back in front. Donovan Mitchell erupted for 15 points during that sequence, breaking free from a hellish first half where he only scored 4 points. Mitchell’s scoring was complemented by an elite stretch of defense, with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley shutting down the paint.
The Cavalanche is a real phenomenon and it’s maybe what makes them the most terrifying. Just an ability to absolutely pour it on.
An insane 23-0 run to start the 3rd quarter.
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) May 12, 2026
Detroit made a run to keep it within range through the third quarter. But Mitchell continued to apply pressure until the dam finally broke. He ended the night with 43 points to complement Harden’s double-double.
We have to take a moment to shout out both Allen and Mobley, who seem totally unbothered by Jalen Duren. The Cavs bigs have flipped the script by dominating Duren in the paint, combining for 26 points and 13 rebounds while holding Duren to just 8 points and 2 rebounds.
Still, the story of the night is Mitchell erupting for 39 points in the second half. This team is built around the idea of him being an All-NBA superstar. That looked pretty good tonight.
May 11, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter (32) miss plays a ball during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
The Texas Rangers didn’t score a run but the Arizona Diamondbacks scored one run.
Everything you come to expect from a first inning at The Shed came to pass as the Rangers immediately allowed a first inning run and then wasted a chance for a first inning rally of their own with three consecutive outs with runners in scoring position.
And that was essentially the entire game. No joke. Nothing else happened.
Sure, Texas was put in an unfavorable position with a pregame Nathan Eovaldi ailment forcing them into a bullpen game but that bullpen allowed one run. The pitch totals and inning load is tomorrow’s problem.
Five members of that bullpen combined to produce a game that Eovaldi himself would have been happy with while the lineup collected four hits on the night, only two of which came after the second batter of the evening.
Everyone pinpointed the post-40 game mark for when the Rangers needed to step on the gas and instead, for game No. 41, the engine stalled, exploded, and the car tumbled off a cliff.
Player of the Game: Heaven knows it ain’t anyone from a lineup that let Michael Soroka shut them down for more than six innings.
We’ll go with Peyton Gray who tied Jakob Junis for a Ranger-high 2.2 innings. Unlike Junis, who allowed the first inning run that won the game for Arizona, Gray held Arizona scoreless with a team-high two strikeouts.
Up Next: The Rangers and Diamondbacks are back at it tomorrow night with LHP MacKenzie Gore looking to get right for Texas opposite RHP Zac Gallen for Arizona.
The Tuesday night first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 7:05 pm CDT and you can catch it on the Rangers Sports Network.
You wouldn’t think there would be any competition in terms of hostile crowds for the Giants than the one they will face for four games this week at Dodger Stadium.
“I had never heard that, ever,” outfielder Heliot Ramos said.
Things have gotten so dire in San Francisco that a historically cordial home crowd voiced its frustrations at multiple points in the team’s ugliest loss in an eyesore of a season.
“What would you do?” manager Tony Vitello said in reaction to the rarely heard boobirds. “I think it got to the point where it wasn’t an acceptable effort.”
Heliot Ramos celebrates a solo home run. AP
At the quarter mark of the season, there haven’t been enough acceptable efforts from a team that expected to compete for a playoff spot. Only thanks to a walkoff win in extra innings the following day did they begin Monday outside of the cellar in the NL West.
Time is running out fast to turn things around.
By the time the Giants return home from their first of two 10-game road trips this month, it will be Memorial Day weekend — traditionally an important inflection point in the MLB season.
By then, with about a third of the season behind them, teams have typically separated themselves into contenders and pretenders. The Giants, at this point, are squarely in the latter camp.
Consider this a make-or-break road trip.
“What would you do?” manager Tony Vitello said in reaction to the rarely heard boobirds. Getty Images
“I think this is going to be a good road trip,” Ramos said.
They’d better hope so.
Facing four games against the Dodgers, three more against the AL West-leading Athletics and a third series against another divisional foe ahead of them in the Diamondbacks, the Giants have already dug themselves a deep enough hole — they can’t allow it to get any bigger.
Sunday’s win staved off the distinction of holding the worst record in the majors — the Mets, Rockies, Angels and Astros were all either a half or full game worse — but their amount of stinkers like Saturday’s left them with the game’s worst run differential (minus-48).
In MLB’s wild-card era (since 1995), only a handful of teams have been able to recover from a start as poor as the Giants. Just six have won 16 or fewer of their first 40 games and went on to make the postseason, most notably the 2019 World Series-champion Nationals.
Extend that out to 50 games, where the Giants will be at the end of this road trip, and the list narrows to just three teams with 20 or fewer wins — the position the Giants will be in if they don’t win at least half their games during this stretch.
“This thing is about winning series,” Vitello said. “If you just break our season down into series, you win the first and you win the third, the second one was an embarrassing loss. But it’s not a slam dunk contest. You don’t get extra value or not based on how the win or loss went.”
Not only had the gap between them and the Dodgers grown to eight games entering Monday, they have to make up seven games and overtake as many teams just to get themselves into the picture for one of the NL’s three wild card spots.
A successful series in Los Angeles would go a long way to making up their deficit in the NL West. That could prove difficult for an offense that has scored the fewest runs in the majors, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani and Blake Snell expected to oppose them.
Heliot Ramos hitting an RBI double. AP
“As a team, we’ve just been trying to find momentum,” said Ramos, who scored the winning run Sunday when Jesus Rodriguez snuck a soft line drive into right field in the 12th inning. “I think we haven’t played our best baseball yet. I think that’s it. (Bad) stretches are going to happen.”
The walkoff win against the Pirates offered some signs for optimism. They got strong efforts from members of their struggling bullpen, including two scoreless innings from lefty specialist Ryan Borucki against a pocket of righties. Rafael Devers and Willy Adames both collected hits and the rest of their lineup provided enough timely knocks.
Could that be the kind of win that finally kickstarts some of that long-lost momentum?
“The last game was really reassuring of what we can do,” Ramos said. “It’s comforting for us to just know that we can carry that from one series to the next.”
San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos and Willy Adames celebrate a home run. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
That hasn’t been the case so far this season.
San Francisco has ended its previous two home stands on positive notes, too. In April, they shut out the Phillies in back-to-back games, extended their winning streak to three games in their first game on the road against the Orioles and proceeded to lose their next four contests.
They took two of three from the Dodgers earlier this month and won their final two games against the Marlins. They hit the road and lost all six games they played — without homering.
Entering Monday, they had lost their last seven games away from Oracle Park.
This time around, at least, the road atmosphere could provide a respite of sorts from the pressures of playing in front of a fanbase whose patience has run thin.
That doesn’t mean they won’t hear their fair share of boos inside their archrivals’ ballpark.
“Hopefully it’s the good ones,” Ramos said. “When we’re winning.”
Los Angeles, CA - March 31: Shortstop Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out Gabriel Arias (not pictured) of the Cleveland Guardians at first base in the fifth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants come to Dodger Stadium for the first time in 2026—Mookie Betts returns from the injured list.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: (L-R) Manager Warren Schaeffer #4 and bench coach Jeff Pickler #61 of the Colorado Rockies look on from the dugout during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on April 11, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It seems impossible, but one year ago today, the Colorado Rockies fired then-manager Bud Black and named third-base coach Warren Schaeffer their interim manager.
As Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta said at the press conference introducing Schaeffer as permanent manager,
“I certainly explored the idea [of exploring other managerial candidates],” he told the media. “I thought it was important to do that and talk to a lot of people about different potential candidates, but ultimately, this is where I landed. And it was pretty quick. I mean, I would say even a week in with the number of people that I had spoken to, both in the organization and outside the organization, about ‘Schaeff’ it became pretty clear to me that this was a good direction to go.”
Whether or not this was the right decision was a subject we’ve written about a lot (see here, here, here, here, and here, for example).
Despite the change, the Rockies still finished 2025 with a historically bad 43-119, and while they are better in 2026, many of the problems remain.
So, Purple Row Night Owls, here’s the question: How would you grade Warren Schaeffer’s first year as the Rockies manager?
Vote in the poll, and explain your evaluation in the comments!
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 04: Trevor McDonald #72 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the San Diego Padres in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park on May 04, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants head south today to begin a four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers this afternoon.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Trevor McDonald, who will be making his second start for the Giants this season. His first start was in the team’s 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres last Monday, in which he allowed just one run on two hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings.
He’ll be facing off against Dodgers right-hander Rōki Sasaki, who enters tonight’s game with a 5.97 ERA, 6.81 FIP, with 26 strikeouts to 15 walks in 28.2 innings pitched. His last start was in the Dodgers’ 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on May 2nd, in which he allowed three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks in six innings.
The Hall of Fame coach alluded to as much on Monday, May 11 when he went onto X (formerly Twitter) to question why there is pushback on March Madness expanding from 68 to 76 teams on both the men's and women's side of college basketball starting this upcoming 2026-27 season.
"When I hear people are upset the NCAA expanded to 76 teams, I think "why and who cares?" The best teams advance and more teams get to experience the greatest tournament on earth," the St. John's basketball coach wrote on X.
When I hear people are upset the NCAA expanded to 76 teams, I think “why and who cares?”. The best teams advance and more teams get to experience the greatest tournament on earth.
The expanded tournament won’t impact the first round or any that follow, since games will still tip off from noon to midnight ET on that opening Thursday when 32 teams take the floor. The real impact will come in the days leading up to the first round.
On the men's side, the First Four will expand from eight teams playing four games in Dayton to 24 teams playing 12 games across two sites. Dayton will remain a host for the play‑in round, while the NCAA will announce the second location at a later date.
The 73-year-old Pitino isn't one to be shy about giving his opinions on NCAA-related topics and the current landscape of college basketball. He told a group of reporters, including USA TODAY Sports, at the 2024 Big East Media Day that he wanted college basketball to create 18- to 20-team "super leagues" to "combat football" at the then-height of conference realignment, which was triggered by football.
The May 11 social media post also isn't the first time Pitino has expressed his pro-expansion thoughts. He told CBS Sports' Matt Norlander at Big East Media Day in October of 2025 that expanding the field "can only help" and he'd be on board for it.
"What makes the difference?" Pitino said. "I don't think it could hurt, it can only help. Anytime you get more teams, more excitement, more TV coverage, more things to speak about, more athletes participating, it can only be a good thing.
"For people who say, 'No, we got to keep it.' C'mon. I was around when I think it was 24, 32 (teams) whatever it was. ... In this situation, you talk about eight more games. ... It doesn't hurt anything. It only helps. ... What bad could come from it?"
Pitino has led St. John's to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments (after being left out of the tournament in 2024 as a bubble team), and has led six different programs — others being Kentucky, Louisville, Providence, Iona and Boston University — to the NCAA Tournament.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 11: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on before batting against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 11, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sometimes you just have to tell yourself it’s a long, long season. These are one of these days.
After a mildly depressing sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend, the Yankees’ offense looked to break out against a pitching staff with considerably less firepower, one which they dominated last week in a four-game series at Yankee Stadium. With a depleted bullpen, they needed both length from Ryan Weathers and some offense to give the high-leverage guys some rest.
It all started according to plan with six no-hit innings by Weathers and an early home run by Ben Rice, but a perpetual struggle with runners in scoring position carried over from Milwaukee, and the O’s capitalized on their only real traffic of the night, stealing a 3-2 heartbreaker over the Yankees to mark their fourth consecutive defeat.
A trend in the first couple of innings for the Yankees’ offense was to make Brandon Young work, which is what they did in the first. Rice ripped a single after getting it to 3-2 and Cody Bellinger drew a two-out walk, only to be stranded by a weak fly ball from Jazz Chisholm Jr. Weathers got things started by working around a leadoff walk to put up a quick zero.
Both pitchers worked 1-2-3 second innings, but Young wasn’t as fortunate in the third. After walking Trent Grisham with one out, Rice worked another three-ball count before getting a 3-1 sinker up and driving it to left-center field for a home run into the bullpen. His 13th of the season, it put the Yanks up 2-0 in the third.
Weathers continued to be absolutely brilliant. He retired 13 consecutive hitters at one point, only getting into a tad of trouble when he walked Coby Mayo with one out in the fifth. He was able to get to scoring position after a mental blunder by Rice trying to turn a double play, but Weathers was able to strand that first real threat.
Aaron Judge led off the sixth with a double and got to third on a Cody Bellinger groundout to chase Young. Despite being in a prime tack-on scoring position, one-time Yankee farmhand Dietrich Enns struck out Chisholm and got a soft groundball out of Ryan McMahon, in which he had to bail out Pete Alonso at first base from a truly awful toss to first that would’ve been a run-scoring E3.
After another scoreless inning by Weathers, the Yankees once again stranded a runner at third following a one-out double by Max Schuemann when Grisham and Austin Wells both grounded out. The recent injuries, coupled with some deep slumps, have made this lineup a lot easier to navigate for a manager who has a lefty to deploy.
The Orioles didn’t have a hit through six innings, but just as Michael Kay started to talk about potential history afoot, Adley Rutschman fought off a 1-2 changeup out of the zone into right field for a leadoff single in the seventh. Tyler O’Neill worked a gritty walk with one out to finally chase Weathers. Brent Headrick came in to face the struggling Mayo, and he got revenge after getting spiked by Schuemann a few innings prior, golfing a fly ball into the left field seats for a crushing, go-ahead three-run homer.
It ruined a really great outing by Weathers, who only surrendered one hit on soft contact and walked O’Neill in a long at-bat after six no-hit innings. He has two runs on his ledger, though it was at least Headrick saddled with the loss.
After Headrick finished the inning, Rico Garcia tore through the heart of the Yankees’ order in the eighth. He was a Yankee very briefly during the summer last year, so it may hurt to see this guy utterly dominating for a division rival, but considering he was cut by the Mets twice last year as well, we aren’t alone in feeling left out.
Camilo Doval tossed a pretty solid bottom of the eighth to give the bottom of the order a chance in the ninth against Anthony Nunez. McMahon put a charge into the ball with one out, coming oh-so-close to a game-tying home run, but hit it to the (slightly) wrong spot and also a bit too high, allowing O’Neill to make a jumping catch.
Paul Goldschmidt extended the game with a two-out single and was pulled for José Caballero, who’s battling a finger issue. Despite that, the Yankees had him try to steal second to get in scoring position for Schuemann, but he was thrown out in plenty of time to end the game in 1926 World Series Game 7 fashion.
The Yankees will look to even this three-game set at Camden Yards tomorrow night at 6:35 pm. It’ll be Will Warren against a pitcher to be determined (likely Trevor Rogers back from illness). The offense is in need of another breakout and more eyes will be watching.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 30: (L-R) Team Owner Ryan Smith of the Utah Jazz talks with CEO Danny Ainge and President of Basketball Operations Austin Ainge during warmups before their game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Delta Center on January 30, 2026 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 Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It happened. The Utah Jazz moved up in the NBA Draft Lottery. After three years of soul-searching, serial-killer-esque bulletin-boarding, and mass panic flowing through the bloodstream of every resident in the greater Salt Lake City area (you remember), all of the tanking has been worth it. An empty viewing experience, hoping your team loses every one of 246 regular-season games, is not good for the spirit, nor is it healthy for a fanbase to see its star players build a white picket fence and lay brick and mortar around their designated seat on the bench.
By any measure, AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson will be the number-one pick. It’s an inevitability, like eating a second potato chip or some vaguely successful movie from the 2000s getting a sequel and/or reboot (looking at you, The Devil Wears Prada 2: It’s All Gucci, Fam, or whatever that movie is called).
This year’s number-two pick is practically as valuable as the one above it.
Though BYU’s star holds the edge, Peterson is likewise considered to be a player of number-one quality. A potential All-NBA mainstay, with an annual appearance on MVP ballots. On the SLC Dunk Draft Board, we ranked Dybantsa and Peterson 1A and 1B, respectively, for one simple reason: they’re both so darn good.
So drafting second overall is almost a blessing. You get all the excitement of picking a potential franchise cornerstone, and none of the pressure of “picking the right guy”. Whether Washington takes Dybantsa or Peterson, Utah can lean back in the tranquility of their war room and take whoever remains.
This year’s number-two pick is practically as valuable as the one above it. That’s a rare luxury.
Of course, our relaxation was rudely interrupted by rumors of a shakeup in the order, as Jake Fischer’s conversation with Michael Winger, president of the Wizards, sparked a thousand aggregations.
[Winger] insisted that this is ‘not a savior moment’ for Washington, given that the franchise just traded for two former All-Stars in Trae Young and Anthony Davis on top of the slew of recent lottery picks it already has accumulated. He added that, in accordance with Wizards general manager Will Dawkins’ prospect evaluations, Washington will not rule out a move downward if Dawkins determines there are two or three players that the Wizards are eager to come away with.”
Ryan Smith’s comments on the Pat McAfee Show only tossed lighter fluid onto the already-aflame dumpster of draft speculation.
“It would be irresponsible if everything wasn’t on the table,” Smith told McAfee on ESPN, though noting that the decision would be Austin and Danny Ainge’s to make.
"Danny Ainge and Austin have a pretty good track record with how they handle the lottery..
I’m here to plant my flag in the earth. Utah Jazz, do not trade up.
Draw the shades. Lock the doors. Disconnect the phone lines. Unplug the internet router. Sequester whoever you must to absolutely ensure that the second overall pick does not leave the premises of the Delta Center until it’s announced over the podium at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. You cannot go wrong with either Darryn Peterson or AJ Dybantsa, so don’t waste your assets when you’re already guaranteed a chance with either of them.
Peterson slots perfectly alongside Keyonte George in the starting lineup, standing at 6’6” in shoes with a scorer’s mentality and a demonic streak on the defensive end. The Kansas star could effortlessly round out Will Hardy’s starting 5, with Ace Bailey the first man off the pine.
If the Jazz want to step up, it will cost them dearly. How far would you go to jump from 2 to 1?
But if Washington goes all alt-rock on us and dodges Dybantsa, you won’t hear any teeth gnashing in the Beehive State. A player who has spent his last two years of life living in Utah, Dybantsa would be a gigantic 6’9” shooting guard, making the Jazz perhaps the tallest starting 5 in NBA history.
And both players could someday be MVPs.
Call me overzealous, but adding either player to an already dangerous core of George, Bailey, Markkanen, Jackson Jr., Kessler, Sensabaugh, and Williams makes the Jazz a top-four team in the Western Conference next season. This was the ultimate goal of the tank all along, right?
Washington’s asking price will be very high — this ain’t no Zaccharie Risacher draft pool, God rest his soul. If the Jazz want to step up, it will cost them dearly. How far would you go to jump from 2 to 1? A future first-round pick? Two? Ace Bailey? Why give Washington anything when you get an elite prospect either way?
Again, I urge you: don’t you dare trade up, Utah.
Sarah Todd stepped in to stamp down any rumors of interest on both Utah’s and Washington’s end. “When they say things like ‘yeah, we’re going to be willing to listen to offers for the pick’, they can’t say anything else, right?”
“Both AJ and Darryn Peterson look like they have the potential to be MVP-type players. […] The Wizards are not going to disappoint their fans; they’re going to pick number one. The Jazz are probably not going to disappoint their fans; they’re going to get an excellent player with the number-two pick.”
Stay out of your own way, Utah, and stay on course. Pick second overall and leave the NBA Draft as a winner.
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.
Then, soon after the lefty’s no-hit bid ended in the seventh inning, the Yankees coughed up the win, too, in large part because of a lineup that has gone quiet.
Minutes after the no-hitter was wiped out, so was the Yankees lead, as Brent Headrick relieved Weathers and served up a three-run shot that lifted the Orioles to a 3-2 win Monday night at Camden Yards.
In agonizing fashion, the Yankees (26-16) suffered their fourth straight loss — a stretch in which they have scored just eight runs, with their lineup held in check once again Monday after a quiet weekend in which they were swept by the Brewers.
Ryan Weathers throws a pitch during the Yankees’ May 11 game. AP
Ben Rice was responsible for the only runs against the Orioles (19-23), crushing a two-run shot in the third inning.
The Yankees had outscored the Orioles 39-10 in a four-game sweep in The Bronx earlier this month but could not pick up where they left off, mustering only five hits against Brandon Young and three relievers.
“We’ve got to get some guys unlocked,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We’ve got a handful of guys that are scuffling, and we’ve got to get a little more competitive up and down the lineup as we hit this little rough patch during this week.”
The game ended with José Caballero — who will undergo an MRI on Tuesday morning on an injured right middle finger but was cleared to enter the game as a pinch runner — getting thrown out trying to steal second base.
The Yankees went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. responsible for half of those empty at-bats on a night when he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
The second baseman, who entered his contract year with lofty expectations for himself, is now batting just .201 with a .603 OPS through 41 games.
Coby Mayo connects on a home run during the Orioles’ May 11 game against the Yankees. Imagn Images
The typically accessible Chisholm declined to speak with reporters after Monday’s game but is expected to do so Tuesday.
“You sense guys feeling it when you’re a month-plus in and you’re not doing what the back of your baseball card is,” Boone said. “So it’s part of it. Probably feeling that a little bit, probably pressing a little too much, trying to do a little too much. He’s going to get it going. I have no doubt about that. But sometimes you’ve got to slow things down first and have some small successes to get you going again.”
Coby Mayo rounds the bases after homering during the Orioles’ May 11 game against the Yankees. Imagn Images
The lack of offense ensured that Weathers had little margin for error, spoiling another strong pitching performance in which he struck out nine and walked three across 6 ¹/₃ innings.
Adley Rutschman broke up the no-hit bid with a single to lead off the seventh, and one out later, Weathers walked another batter on his 101st and final pitch of the night.
On a night when he was without Fernando Cruz or Tim Hill because of recent workloads, Boone had the lefty Headrick and righty Jake Bird warming but called on Headrick to face the right-handed hitting Coby Mayo, who had been struggling.
Boone said it was a better matchup than if he used Bird because he knew the Orioles would pinch hit a lefty.
Headrick has been one of the most dependable Yankees relievers this season and had stranded all 14 runners he inherited before Monday.
But that changed when he hung a slider to Mayo, who crushed it for a three-run shot — the second straight appearance in which Headrick allowed a homer after not giving up any through his first 20 appearances.
Weathers, who is battling with Will Warren to keep his rotation spot once Gerrit Cole returns from the injured list (likely by the end of this month), was left to pick up the pieces.
“It was cool, but I wish we would have been able to pull out a win,” Weathers said of the no-hit bid that he did not know about until he came out of the game. “We got a good ballclub, so we’re going to get some more wins.”
The Mets are calling up top A.J. Ewing, their most exciting prospect right now, per a report by Will Sammon. The 21-year-old was drafted by the Mets in the fourth round in 2023, and he’s been even better this season than he was in his breakout year in the minors last year.
After finishing the 2025 season in Double-A Binghamton following two promotions earlier in that season, Ewing started this season back in Binghamton. But after hitting an outstanding .349/.481/.571 with two home runs and twelve stolen bases, he was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse.
Since that promotion, Ewing has appeared in twelve games at the highest level of the minors, and he’s hit .326/.392/.435 despite not hitting a home run yet at the level. He’s stolen five more bases since that promotion, too, giving him a total of 17 steals in a season that’s only seen him be caught stealing once.
There’s no word yet on who the Mets will cut to make room for Ewing on the active roster, but given the putrid state of the major league lineup, there are plenty of options. He’s played center field the overwhelming majority of the time this season, but he has played a good amount of second base in his professional career. He’s logged innings in both outfield corners, as well.
Spanish-language play-by-play announcer Rene Cardenas (left), of the radio station KWKW, listens as baseball player Don Drysdale, of the Los Angeles Dodgers, talks about pitching strategy, Los Angeles, California, 1959. (Photo by PhotoQuest/Getty Images) | Getty Images
René Cárdenas, the Dodgers first Spanish-language play-by-play broadcaster when they moved to Los Angeles, died on Sunday at age 96.
Cárdenas started with the Dodgers in 1958, and helped train Jaime Jarrín, who joined him in the booth one year later. After four years in Los Angeles, Cárdenas moved to the expansion Houston Colt .45s, and also called one year of games for the Texas Rangers before returning to call Dodgers games from 1982-1998.
We mourn the passing of René Cárdenas, who in 1958 with the Dodgers became the first full-time Spanish-language broadcaster in MLB history and would ultimately spend 21 years behind the mic for Los Angeles. We send our condolences to his loved ones.
“Rene was a true pioneer in our industry,” said Hall of Famer Jaime Jarrin, the legendary former Spanish voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers. “He played a predominant role in my start as a baseball broadcaster.
“I learned a lot from him and from Jose el Fat Garcia, both of the land of Ruben Dario. Rest in peace, my maestro and friend Chelito Cardenas.”
After the initial run with the Dodgers, Cárdenas called games for the Astros from 1962-75 and again in 2007-2008, including some television broadcasts in 2008. In 2024, he was inducted into the Astros Hall of Fame.
Per his profile in the Astros Hall of Fame: “During his illustrious career, Cardenas also called high-profile events in other sports, including the famous Muhammad Ali-Jimmy Ellis heavyweight boxing match that took place in the Astrodome in 1971.”
“It was an honor just to be nominated,” Cardenas says of his consideration for a place in baseball’s shrine. “There are a lot of people who would like to be in. It’s a very exclusive club.
“[But] I’d love to be elected while I’m alive, not after I’m dead. That’s no fun.”
Cárdenas was inducted into the broadcasters wing of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in 2002 and is also in the Nicaragua Baseball Hall of Fame.
