Pistons or Cavaliers: Who do Knicks match up best with in Eastern Conference Finals?

As the Knicks patiently await their foe for the Eastern Conference Finals, the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers continue to battle in the second round. Who should New York be rooting for?

When you’re a true contender, you don’t worry about specific matchups as much as overall preparedness for whatever may face you in a postseason run. But both potential rivals offer a unique set of challenges and advantages, so it’s worth exploring to see which might be the better matchup for the Knicks... 

Pistons

The good news for the Knicks is they beat this very team, almost down to the player, last season in the first round. It wasn’t an easy series, with a combined winning margin of eight points that took six games and a slew of clutch playmaking to advance. 

The Pistons haven’t changed much save for a few new complementary pieces and Isaiah Stewart being available. They’re still coming with the rough-and-tumble, grind you down and beat you up style, and are largely reliant on Cade Cunningham's stardom to generate enough offense.

The Knicks have changed, though, coming in with a deeper team of more trustworthy options, and an offense that’s been scorching through the playoffs. New York had an offensive rating of 111 against Detroit last season, and have been converting at 124.8 this postseason, albeit against lower-level defenses.

They’ll have to keep up that level of output to really separate from Detroit. Transition will be their easiest point of attack, so they should continually push the pace like they have been, especially off misses.

In the halfcourt, expect more Karl-Anthony Towns initiation, especially with the stingy Ausar Thompson blanketing Jalen Brunsonand the likelihood of Jalen Duren guarding him on the perimeter -- spacing out their lead shot-blocker. The split actions the Knicks abused the Hawks and 76ers with won’t create as many easy chances against a sharper, more physical defense like Detroit’s, so they’ll have to be ready on their second and third actions.

Defensively, things are simpler. Ignore Thompson when he’s on the court, and don’t let Cunningham get going.

Last year it was OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges who worked to slow Cunningham down, to mixed success. Expect those two to take on the assignment once again.

New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) controls the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden.
New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) controls the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Cavaliers

The Cavs are another former playoff foe of the Knicks, this time dating way back to 2023. They’ve since flipped Darius Garland for James Harden, one last all-in play.

New York has some huge advantages in this potential matchup.

Cleveland has no clear answer for Brunson, is routinely dominated on the interior by the Knicks bigs, and had a massive midseason trade mess with some of their cohesion.

Harden and Donovan Mitchell will be sought out and picked on relentlessly by Brunson, who will otherwise primarily be defended by Dean Wade or Jalen Tyson. They don’t have great options other than throwing aggressive coverages to get the ball out of his hands, but he and his teammates will be prepared to take advantage -- especially when a rotation comes down to one of those star guards again.

Cleveland has been one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in the postseason, though they are making it up with extra possessions on the other end. Expect New York to lean on their big lineups, including Towns and Mitchell Robinson more in this matchup to really dominate the glass.

The Cavs will test the Knicks with their raw talent offensively. If Mitchell and/or Harden are just going off, there’s not much you can do about it. They’ll also be actively hunting Brunson, who needs to keep up his level of defensive intensity.

Mitchell and Harden are also high-level playmakers, so just throwing traps and hedges their way won’t be the easy solution. Towns will have to keep playing the best drop coverage of his life, and be ready to switch onto these guys if he has to.

The Cavaliers' bench is also solid, leaving New York without a clear advantage there. This would likely shape up to be a big Brunson-or-bust series.

Verdict

Does the devil you know beat the devil you don’t? Or is banking on another postseason flameout from Cleveland's star guards burdened with that reputation the hope?

Ultimately, if the Knicks want to win a championship, they’ll have to be ready for whichever team meets them next round.

The Cincinnati Reds bullpen is a mess

CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 09: A Cincinnati Reds mascot stands on the field beofre the game between the Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on September 09, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Aaron Doster/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Visitors to Great American Ball Park on Tuesday night were greeted with a barrage of baseballs in the stands. Unfortunately, none of them were socked by the Cincinnati Reds. Instead, the Reds themselves offered up six homers to the visiting Washington Nationals in a 10-4 drubbing that once again served as a reminder to just how disheveled the current state of the pitching staff truly is.

Starter Brady Singer was on the hook for a trio of those homers, all of which came after he took a hard comebacker off his foot/ankle. He only yielded 3 of the 10 total runs on the night, though, as the latter 7 all came with Reds relievers on the mound.

That’s been the tale of the last few weeks, unfortunately – a beleaguered bullpen tasked with picking up lots of innings after short starts that simply can’t keep runners of the bases, or runs from crossing home plate.

Here’s just a sample of where the Reds bullpen ranks in Major League Baseball relative to its 29 other peers:

ERA: 4.70 (25th out of 30)

FIP: 5.04 (29th)

xERA: 5.36 (30th, with 29th at 4.78)

xFIP: 4.93 (29th)

WHIP: 1.57 (28th)

SIERA: 4.51 (29th)

BB/9: 5.92 (30th)

HR/9: 1.22 (t-28th)

vFA: 93.0 mph (27th)

Oppo%: 20.5% (29th)

GB%: 36.7% (28th, or 3rd lowest)

FB%: 42.3% (28th, or 3rd highest)

Barrel%: 11.1% (30th)

Launch Angle (LA): 16.8 degrees (3rd highest)

**************************************************************************

The top few metrics show you the ends here. As you work your way down the list of places where the Reds bullpen ranks last, or close to it, you stumble face first into the means to the ends.

The Reds are walking more batters than anyone else, while also allowing opponents to barrel balls more than anyone else. The balls that are hit are hit with one of the highest launch angles in the game – good for the batter, bad for the Reds. The Reds are also extremely fly-ball prone (while playing in the worst possible ball park for that to be a trait), and opposing batters are turning on them more (read: pulling the ball) than almost any club in the sport.

Cincinnati’s also throwing it up there slower than their collective bullpen has for most of the last handful of years, even when they sported soft-tossing Brent Suter down there.

Some of this would be fine if, say, they were sporting an elite K/9. Serving up the occasional dinger is OK if there’s nobody on base and you’re fanning just about everyone else. However, the bullpen sports just a 9.07 K/9 (12th overall) that’s too middling to make up for the copious walks and frequency of having balls squared up against them, too.

The frustrating part is that you can’t even simply pin this on their closer being hurt, nor can you bank on this improving drastically the moment he’s inserted back into the mix. Emilio Pagan was a big, big part in all of this (though far from the only one), and the in-house replacements don’t necessarily figure to be instant improvements if given the chance, either.

So, how the Reds go about fixing this remains to be seen. For now, all we know is that how it’s been simply can’t keep being status quo if this club has any expectations of October baseball.

Minor League Recap: Kahlil Watson and Ralphy Velazquez both go yard

Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Columbus Clippers 5, St. Paul Saints 10

Clippers fall to 20-20

Kahlil Watson’s hot streak continued, as he went 2-for-5 with a home run and a double. He has straight up been obliterating baseballs lately.

Angel Genao also continues to rake at Triple-A, going 2-for-4 with a double.

Starting pitcher Ryan Webb got absolutely annihilated, allowing eight runs on six hits with three walks and a strikeout in just 0.2 innings.

Tommy Mace came in with 2.1 innings of scoreless long relief, but the damage had been done. Jack Leftwtch also had 2.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Akron RubberDucks 6, Chesapeake Baysox 3

RubberDucks improve to 18-16

Ralphy Velazquez did it again, this time blasting an opposite field home run off a tough left-handed pitcher to the deep end of Akron’s park. Velazquez went 2-for-5, raising his batting average to .312 and OPS to .935. He doesn’t have much left to prove at Double-A.

Also having a strong game was Nick Mitchell, who went 3-for-5 with a triple and a double. Jake Fox also impressed by going 2-for-4 with a double. He’s batting .328 while repeating at Akron and appears to have figured the level out finally.

Wuilfredo Antunez reached base twice, going 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.

Starting pitcher Cam Favors was rock solid, allowing one run on seven hits with three strikeouts and a walk in 5.0 innings.

A rehabbing Shawn Armstrong allowed one run on one hit and one walk in his lone inning of work while striking out a pair.

Lake County Captains 9, Dayton Dragons 3

Captains improve to 16-17

Lake County’s offense did a great job of showing its patience, scoring nine runs on nine hits with eight walks.

Dean Curley had a strong game, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk.

Aaron Walton also had himself a day, going 2-f0r-3 with a home run, a stolen base and two walks.

Esteban Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk while Bennett Thompson walked twice and Tommy Hawke went 2-for-5.

Starting pitcher Jogly Garcia allowed three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and a walk in 4.2 innings.

Melkis Hernandez was sensational in long relief, tossing 4.0 shutout innings with five strikeouts and a walk on two hits to earn the win.

Hill City Howlers 4, Wilson Warbirds 2

Howlers improve to 19-15

Dauri Fernandez was a terror on the basepaths Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with a walk and three steals, raising his season total to 17.

Robert Arias also stole a base after walking (his 16th). Jose Pirela went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two steals while catcher Ty Howard got in on the action, getting hit by a whopping three pitches and stealing a base.

Jhorvic Abreas went 3-for-4 from the bottom of the batting order.

Starting pitcher Aiden Major allowed two runs on two hits with four walks and two strikeouts in 4.0 innings.

Zane Petty followed with his best outing of the season, tossing 4.0 scoreless frames of one-hit ball with three strikeouts and one walk. Luke Fernandez finished off the victory with a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second save.

ACL Guardians 5, ACL Mariners 7

Guardians fall to 5-3

A rehabbing Gabriel Rodriguez looks like he’s about ready to return action. Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with a double and two walks on Tuesday.

Catcher Gustavo Baptiste had a great game, going 3-for-4 with a stolen base. Angel Abreu went 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base and Reiner Herrera walked twice and stole two bases.

Starting pitcher Alejandro Rivera impressed, striking out eight batters and walking zero while allowing two runs on three hits in 4.0 innings. The Guardians seemed well on their way to winning until reliever Diovel Mariano allowed five runs without getting an out in the bottom of the eighth inning.

A.J. Ewing had himself quite the major league debut

A.J. Ewing celebrates in a home white Mets uniform

With the way the Mets’ season has gone, you can forgive folks for not being exactly sure what to make of A.J. Ewing’s call-up. After all, Ewing had played just 12 games at Triple-A before getting promoted. And while he moved up three levels last season, starting the year in Single-A and ending the year in Double-A Binghamton, there have been plenty of examples of players called up far too early or for whom the transition to the majors never quite clicked.

While one game is never exactly a portent for a career, it is hard to image someone looking more comfortable, confident, or like he was exactly where he belongs than Ewing did in his first game at Citi Field.

Ewing went 1-for-2 with three walks, a triple, a stolen base, two runs batted in, and two runs scored. His one out was a long fly ball to the warning track. He looked comfortable in center field, and he didn’t look remotely phased at any point in the game.

Not taking anything away from Carson Benge’s home run on Opening Day or Nolan McLean’s eight-strikeout performance against the Mariners, but something about Ewing’s debut felt different than those. Part of it is that last night’s game was the first time this team has looked like a formidable team in weeks, but there’s more to this than what the other guys on the roster did.

Ewing took some very close pitches with men on base for walks last night, pitches that many of his teammates probably wouldn’t be able to lay off. He had a Soto-like calm when watching a borderline pitch into the catcher’s glove, where he knew that the pitch might be close but it was going to go his way.

Then there was the confidence with which he stole second base in the sixth inning. After diving back in after Burch Smith threw over, Ewing took a walking lead before absolutely sprinting to second, losing his helmet in the process, but beating the throw comfortably.

But his first big league hit is really where Ewing showed just how much he belongs here. A stand-up triple is rare, but a stand-up triple on a ball that touched the infield dirt is something I’m not sure I’ve ever seen before, but especially not by a kid in his fourth career plate appearance.

Pick your factoid of choice: the first Met to reach base four times in his first game since Kaz Matsui in 2004, the youngest starting outfielder (21 days and 276 days old) since Fernando Martinez in 2009 (at 20 years and 228 days old), the only player since at least 1900 to walk three or more times in his MLB debut with a triple or multiple RBI, one of four players in the last 25 years to have one game with a triple, stolen base, and two walks younger than 22 (alongside James Wood, Ronald Acuña Jr, and Francisco Lindor), and the first ever Met to hit a triple in his MLB debut.

No matter how you slice it, Ewing’s debut was a memorable night for the Mets. Here’s to many, many more memorable nights.

Astros Prospect Report: May 12th

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 19: Will Bush #56 and Jason Schiavone #55 of the Houston Astros pose for a photo in the dugout prior to the game between the Miami Marlins and the Houston Astros at Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (19-21) won 8-6 (BOX SCORE)

Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning on a Nelson solo home run. They scored another run in the third on a double play. Alexander got the start and went 5 innings allowing 3 runs. In the 5th, Strahm connected on a 2 run home run. The offense continued to add runs getting 3 runs in the 6th on a Winkler RBI single and Strahm 2 run single. Alexander would add a solo home run in the 7th inning. Maldonado allowed a few runs in relief but Santa tossed 1.2 scoreless innings as he closed out the 8-6 win.

Note: Santa has a 1.53 ERA this season.


AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (15-19) lost 2-0 (BOX SCORE)

Nezuh started for the Hooks and pitched well tossing 5 scoreless innings while striking out 3 batters. Hader made a rehab appearance and struck out one over a scoreless inning. Perez struggled in relief allowing 2 runs as the Sod Poodles took the lead. The Hooks offense was quiet on the night collecting just four hits as they were shutout in the 2-0 loss.

Note: Nezuh has a 3.86 ERA this season.


A+: Asheville Tourists (8-26) lost 13-11 (BOX SCORE)

Rodriguez got the start but struggled allowing 9 runs over 2.2 innings. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Call 2 run home run. They got 2 more runs in the 3rd on a Nunez 2 run double. Ogando allowed 4 runs in relief as the Spartanburgers took a 13-4 lead. The offense got one back in the 6th on a Walker RBI single. In the 9th, the offense rallied for 6 runs on a Thomas RBI single. Schiavone 2 run double and Brutcher 3 run home run but that was it as Asheville fell 13-11.

Note: Thomas is hitting .302 this season.


A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (13-21) lost 7-2 (BOX SCORE

Beck got the start for the Woodpeckers and pitched well allowing 1 run over 4.2 innings while striking out 7 batters. The offense took the lead in the 7th scoring 2 runs on a Wakefield sac fly and Flores RBI single. Verdugo relieved Beck but struggled allowing 5 runs over 2.1 innings. Cassedy allowed a run in the 9th and the offense was scoreless the rest of the way as they fell 7-2.

Note: Beck has 26 K in 20.2 innings this season.


Today’s minor league starters:

SL: TBD – 8:05 CT

CC: Bryce Mayer – 11:05 CT

AV: Yeriel Santos – 10:05 CT

FV: TBD – 6:05 CT

Giants completely change celebration after thrusting backlash

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Giants outfielders bow after their win over the Dodgers on May 12, 2026, Image 2 shows The Giants' celebration on Monday night went viral
Giants celebration change

LOS ANGELES — A day after the Giants made waves with an explicit celebration, their outfielders couldn’t have rung in a second straight win over the Dodgers in more of an opposite fashion.

Out with the hip thrusts, in with the bows.

“I like that,” manager Tony Vitello said after the 6-2 win Tuesday. “I like that, for sure.”

The skipper had his eyes elsewhere after the final out, but when informed of the respectful gesture that took the place of the barely-safe-for-work one from the previous night he provided his stamp of approval.

Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos converged with Drew Gilbert in center field, where the players dropped their gloves, placed their hands on their hearts and bent at the waist before joining the high-five line.

The change came after a team meeting where, among other topics, there was some disapproval expressed over what occurred on the same real estate the previous night.

Harrison Bader, Gilbert and Lee locked arms in a group hug and hip-thrusted five times, though the former two looked to be more enthusiastic about it than the latter, who eventually attempted to wiggle away.

“There was a meeting today,” Vitello said. “But that was a side note. It was a fun meeting. … We just need everybody on board [and to] kind of trust the overall process and approach we’re trying to take.”

Giants outfielders bow after their win over the Dodgers on May 12, 2026. Jomboy/X

Their original celebration went viral overnight, and by the time the team returned to Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, they were doing their best to divert attention toward their play on the field.

Before the game, Bader declined to comment on what took place the previous night and Gilbert said they planned to switch things up.

It didn’t take long for them to get another chance, with some apparent influence from Lee, whose Korean culture uses the gesture as a greeting and a sign of respect.

Vitello, in fact, has taken to bowing toward Lee, for which he expressed appreciation to The California Post.

If Monday’s act left Lee feeling uncomfortable, he didn’t show any indication the following night. He was about as animated as ever upon reaching second base after doubling home two runs in the seventh.

With Ramos hyping him up from a few steps in front of the dugout, Lee yelled and used an uppercut to punch the air with his right arm.

The Giants’ celebration Monday night went viral. NBC San Francisco/X

“The one thing about Jung Hoo … each day you’re around him, you realize how competitive he is,” Vitello said. “Maybe he doesn’t verbalize it as much and he’s not the quickest guy to slam his helmet or anything, but he is ultra competitive. … It’s fun to see that emotion.”

Yankees vs. Orioles prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 13

The Yankees (27-16) and the Orioles (19-24) wrap up their three-game series at Camden Yards this afternoon. The threat of rain has pushed the start time to 1:05P Eastern, so let’s dive in quickly.

 

New York snapped their four-game losing streak last night with a 6-2 win. It has been a rare occurrence when the Yankees have not relied on Ben Rice or Aaron Judge to carry the offense but last night was one such night. Paul Goldshmidt homered on the first pitch of the game and Trent Grisham hit a three-run shot in the third to spark the offense. Will Warren allowed just two runs over 5.2 innings to earn his fifth win in six decisions this season. Samuel Basallo and Tyler O’Neill drove in the O’s runs.

 

The Yankees send Max Fried to the bump today. The ace has been special most days this season allowing three or fewer runs in seven of his nine starts. He will be opposed by Kyle Bradish of the Orioles. Bradish has only allowed more than three runs in one of his eight starts, but he has only lasted beyond the fifth inning in three of the eight.

Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.

 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

 

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Orioles

  • Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
  • Time: 1:05PM EST
  • Site: Camden Yards
  • City: Baltimore, MD
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Amazon Prime Video, MASN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Orioles

The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: New York Yankees (-194), Baltimore Orioles (+159)
  • Spread: Yankees -1.5 (-115), Orioles +1.5 (-105)
  • Total: 8.5 runs

Probable Starting Pitchers: Yankees vs. Orioles

Pitching matchup for May 13:

  • Yankees: Max Fried
    Season Totals: 58.2 IP, 4-2, 2.91 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 48K, 18 BB
  • Orioles: Kyle Bradish
    Season Totals: 41.0 IP, 1-5, 4.83 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 45K, 22 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. Orioles

  • Gunnar Henderson is 0-8 in this series and 8-48 (.167) in May
  • Pete Alonso snapped an 0-11 string with a hit last night
  • Aaron Judge has hit safely in 3 games (4-10) with 1 HR
  • After opening the month of May with 9 hits in his first 22 ABs, Ryan McMahon is 1 for his last 15.
  • Austin Wells is 4-30 (.133) in May

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Orioles

  • The Yankees are 13-10 on the road this season
  • The O’s are 11-12 at home this season
  • The Yankees are 24-19 on the Run Line this season
  • The Orioles are 19-24 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 26 times in Orioles’ games this season (26-17)
  • The OVER has cashed 18 times for the Yankees this season (18-24)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Orioles

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

 

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

 

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Yankees and the Orioles:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Run Line
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play of the Game Total BUT is recommending a play on the Yankees Team Total OVER 4.5.

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Snake Bytes 5/13: Spoilt Milk

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 12: Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks leaves the game during the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on May 12, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Diamondbacks News

Streak of Dominant Starts Ends with Gallen Loss to Rangers
Zac Gallen surrendered seven runs, all earned, in only 4 1/3 innings. On the other side, Mackenzie Gore pitched the longest outing of his career, eight innings of dominant one-run ball.

Diamondbacks Trade Alek Thomas to Dodgers
The Dodgers take on all of Thomas’ $1.45 million contract and also send back minor league outfielder Jose Requena

Why Arizona Made Move to Trade Thomas to Dodgers
It should come as no surprise that the answer comes down to money.

Diamondbacks Upcoming Schedule Provides Massive Opportunity
After going 20-20 over the course of the season’s first 40 games, the Diamondbacks are now entering a 37-game stretch that might well define the remainder of the season. During the stretch, the Snakes only have seven games against teams with a winning record.

Other Baseball News

Guide to MLB’s Looming Labor Battle: CBA, Salary Cap and More
The next round of MLB labor negotiations officially began Tuesday with the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association exchanging opening presentations more than six months before the December 1 expiration date of the current collective bargaining agreement.

Paul Skenes Once Again Flirts with No-Hitter
It really is just a matter of time right now.

Teruaki Sato Looks MLB-Bound in Superstar Form
Teruaki Sato has forged himself quite the resume, even forcing his way into a stacked WBC lineup for Japan – the only non-MLB player to hit in the top-six for the baseball powerhouse.

Common sense says that things like this should be reviewable, even if not explicitly provided for in the manual.

PWHL expanding to Las Vegas and Hamilton next season

The PWHL is officially expanding to Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ont., for the 2026-27 season, the league announced Wednesday.

The Las Vegas franchise, which The Athleticreported on Tuesday, will play its home games at T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights. The rink has a capacity of 17,500 for hockey and boasts one of the best atmospheres in the NHL. Hamilton will play at TD Coliseum, which recently underwent a $300 million renovation.

Vegas and Hamilton follow Detroit as part of the PWHL’s second wave of expansion, which could include a fourth franchise. The three new teams will join the league’s eight current markets in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Boston, Minnesota, New York and Seattle.

The PWHL hosted a successful neutral-site game in Hamilton in January, with 16,012 fans at TD Coliseum — the third-largest “Takeover Tour” crowd of the season. There is a school of thought that a team in Hamilton could siphon support from the league’s Toronto franchise, which plays just 40 miles from TD Coliseum. However, according to the league’s press release, over 70 percent of Hamilton’s “Takeover Tour” ticket buyers purchased their first-time PWHL game ticket, “underscoring the league’s opportunity to reach a distinct audience,” even with two other teams located in Ontario.

There’s a chance Hamilton could draw some Toronto Sceptres fans from the Greater Toronto Area, but the city is also within commuting distance from southern Ontario cities such as St. Catharines, Kitchener, Waterloo and London.

“The response we saw during our Takeover Tour game at TD Coliseum made it clear that fans in the region are ready to rally around a team of their own,” said Jayna Hefford, the PWHL’s executive vice president of hockey operations.

Hamilton’s expansion effort was made in partnership with Oak View Group, which operates TD Coliseum, and the city of Hamilton. The league will continue to operate under its single-entity ownership model, where Mark Walter — the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers — and his wife, Kimbra, own the PWHL and all of its teams.

Expanding to Las Vegas is somewhat of a departure from the norm for the PWHL, which launched its first three expansion teams in markets that were part of the “Takeover Tour.” Still, according to Amy Scheer, the league’s executive vice president of business operations, “Las Vegas is ready to welcome and champion a PWHL team of its own.”

Las Vegas has rapidly become a hub for major professional sports. According to the PWHL’s press release, since the Golden Knights’ inaugural season in 2017, youth hockey participation in Nevada has surged, particularly among girls and women, by 600 percent.

“From the staggering growth of youth hockey participation to the passionate support for the Golden Knights and Aces,” said Scheer, “the Las Vegas community has enthusiastically embraced both hockey and women’s sports.”

The PWHL’s expansion to Vegas also widens the league’s footprint to the American Southwest. According to the release, the city’s accessibility, hospitality infrastructure and world-class facilities make Vegas a “strong long-term fit for the PWHL.” The Golden Knights and MGM Resorts International, which is a part owner of T-Mobile Arena, supported the league’s expansion efforts to Vegas.

“The arrival of the PWHL in Vegas is a milestone for women’s hockey and our entire community,” said John Penhollow, the Vegas Golden Knights president of business operations. “We’re proud of how far youth hockey has come locally, and even more excited about the path forward and opportunities ahead for future generations.”

As part of Wednesday’s announcement, the league revealed each team’s official colors and said team names and logos will be announced at a later date. Hamilton’s team colors will be gold, maroon and cream; Vegas will wear green and gold.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Toronto Sceptres, Minnesota Frost, Vancouver Goldeneyes, New York Sirens, Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Seattle Torrent, Boston Fleet, Sports Business, Women's Hockey, NHL, women's sports

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Maple Leafs fire coach Craig Berube after two seasons

The Toronto Maple Leafs brought Craig Berube in as coach in 2024 because of his championship pedigree.

But he was fired after his second season in Toronto with the Maple Leafs missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

"Craig is a tremendous coach and an even better person," new GM John Chayka said in a statement. "This decision is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig. We are grateful for his leadership, professionalism and commitment to the Maple Leafs organization and wish Craig and his family nothing but the best moving forward."

The May 13 move follows the March 30 firing of general manager Brad Treliving and gives whoever's hired a clean slate at coach.

Berube, who won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, got the Maple Leafs to the second round last season before losing to the Panthers in a Game 7 rout at home.

This season was always going to be tough because they lost free agent Mitch Marner in a sign and trade. But the Maple Leafs hovered around .500 before getting to eight games over in mid-January.

The Leafs had eight consecutive losses coming out of the Olympic break. After a 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators in which the Leafs were badly outshot on Feb. 28, Berube pointed to his heart and to his head and said of the players, "They've got to bring the heart and the competitiveness that's needed."

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube looks on from the bench during the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Scotiabank Arena.

The Maple Leafs were sellers ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. Scott Laughton was moved to the Los Angeles Kings, and Bobby McMann went to the Seattle Kraken. Nicolas Roy was moved to the Colorado Avalanche a day earlier.

Captain Auston Matthews was limited to 60 games, including having his season end on a knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim's Radko Gudas.

But the team's biggest problem was defensive play as the Maple Leafs gave up the second most goals in the league.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Craig Berube fired as Maple Leafs coach after not making playoffs

Chris Newell can’t avoid Drillers’ loss

Aug 12, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Los Angeles Dodgers hat and glove in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Three one-run losses and a blowout win for the Ontario Tower Buzzers—that’s how the day went in the Dodgers’ minor league system.

Player of the day

While the first-place Drillers might not have gotten the result they wanted in a loss against the Cardinals, it most certainly didn’t come due to a lack of trying from Chris Newell. The right-fielder finished his game with three hits in four at-bats and stole two bases without getting caught once.

While Newell hasn’t had what one may describe as a memorable campaign, the twenty-five-year-old could be heating up with this being his second three-hit performance in as many games.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Despite tossing eight scoreless frames in between the second and ninth innings, the Comets couldn’t produce enough offensively to grab a win on the road. Instead, they lost it 2-1 in walk-off fashion on an RBI single from Sterlin Thompson.

The weird thing is that it wasn’t a particularly dominating day from the Isotopes on the strikeout side, with only five, but they managed to hold off the likes of James Tibbs III and Jack Suwinski hitless.

Double-A Tulsa

Different kind of game, same kind of result. The Comets dropped one 7-6 to the Cardinals as the struggles of Maddux Bruns showed up once again. The once very promising left-hander saw his ERA balloon to 11.68, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) with just as many walks, earning only one out in the process. Interestingly, Bruns didn’t even have the shortest outing of a pitcher involved in this game, as Christian Ruebeck opened the game and didn’t record a single out.

Despite the six runs, it wasn’t necessarily the most productive of days for the Drillers’ offense as a whole. Chris Newell recorded half of the team’s six hits and their only two stolen bases. Five of those runs came in the third inning, later held in check by the Cardinals’ bullpen.

High-A Great Lakes

In the battle of hits over walks, walks won as the Whitecaps beat the Loons 4-3 on a day in which their pitching staff allowed three hits and eight walks, a direct contrast with the Loons’ 10 hits and two free passes. Great Lakes threatened to take the lead late in this one, but they had the wrong part of the order up as Eduardo Guerrero and Samuel Muñoz stranded the tying and the potential go-ahead runs on the basepaths in the eighth inning.

Jacob Frost came into this game with an undefeated 5-0 record,but ended up suffering his first loss of the year, allowing two runs in 3.2 innings, with three walks and four strikeouts. On a positive note, middle infielder Nico Perez hit his sixth home run of the season, finishing the game three for four.

Single-A Ontario

The day was salvaged by the Tower Buzzers, who crushed the Giants en route to a 9-2 win, despite 13 strikeouts. Emil Morales went two for four to elevate his season batting average to .333, while shortstop Joendry Vargas and first baseman Easton Shelton both left the yard.

With starter Cam Leiter covering only a pair of scoreless innings, the bulk of the game was left for reliever Mason Estrada, who earned six strikeouts in four innings and set up a calm finish for Jhonny Jímenez.

Transactions

The Ontario Tower Buzzers activated shortstop Kellon Lindsey. Outfielder Alex Thomas was assigned to the ACL Dodgers, who activated second baseman Reyli Mariano.

Tuesday’s scores

  • Albuquerque 2, Oklahoma City 1
  • Tulsa 6, Springfield 7
  • Great Lakes 3, West Michigan 4
  • Ontario 9, San Jose 2

Wednesday’s schedule

  • 9:00 a.m. PT: Tulsa (Patrick Copen) vs. Springfield
  • 3:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Sterling Patick) vs. West Michigan (Ben Jacobs)
  • 5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Cole Irvin) at Albuquerque (TBD)
  • 6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (Isaac Ayon) vs. Rancho Cucamonga (TBD)

Cavaliers vs Pistons Props & NBA Playoffs Game 5 Best Bets

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Things are supposed to be easier for the No. 1 seed, right?

The Detroit Pistons have found themselves in two tight series to start the NBA Playoffs. This Eastern Conference semifinal set with the Cleveland Cavaliers is knotted at 2-2 as it swings back to Motown for Game 5 tonight.

Our Cavaliers vs. Pistons props dissect the individual efforts for both teams, giving you my best NBA picks for Wednesday, May 13.

It's all part of our full Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions for this pivotal clash.

Best Cavaliers vs Pistons props for Game 5

PlayerPickbet365
Cavaliers James HardenOver 2.5 threes+115
Pistons Tobias HarrisUnder 18.5 points-105
Pistons Jalen DurenYes - Double-Double+130

Game 5 Prop #1: James Harden Over 2.5 threes

+115 at bet365

Lost in the glow of Donovan Mitchell’s 43-point explosion in Game 4 wasJames Harden’s 5-for-9 night from beyond the arc.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' veteran guard is starting to find his range after a 1-for-11 start to the series from distance. He dialed in for 3 of 7 3-pointers in Game 3 and continued to cook in Monday’s victory.

Two of those triples were on pull-up jumpers with the Detroit Pistons playing passing perimeter defense, and the other three makes were generated in dribble-drive kickouts to Harden’s waiting hands. 

All five 3-point makes were graded as “open” to “wide open” with seven of his nine 3PAs coming without a defender within at least four feet. In the first two games in Detroit, Harden just wasn’t getting that same space (or making his shots), going 1-for-7 on those graded attempts.

Projections for Game 5 have Harden’s treys ranging between 2.4 and 3.0, with the majority of models at 2.9 or higher. He’s bagged three or more 3-pointers in six of his 11 playoff games.

Game 5 Prop #2: Tobias Harris Under 18.5 points

-105 at bet365

Pistons veteran forward Tobias Harris has stepped up in the postseason, serving as one of the biggest surprises. 

With Jalen Duren struggling, Harris is averaging more than 20 points in the playoffs after putting up just north of 13 per game in the regular season. 

That hot streak has boosted his points props from 13.5 O/U to 18.5, with Harris playing Over his scoring total in the first 10 postseason games before coming up short of his inflated total in Game 4.

Harris, who is shooting almost 47% from the field in the tournament, finished 6-for-17 with 16 points on Monday, going Under his closing total of 18.5 points. He played 36 minutes despite suffering a hip injury in the most “old man” way ever: getting crossed up by Mitchell midway through the first quarter.

Regression is ripe for Harris at this point in the postseason, and a lingering hip injury is just the spark to start that slide. His player projections all come in south of his current O/U of 18.5 for Game 5, with a low of 14 points.

Game 5 Prop #3: Jalen Duren – Double-Double 

+130 at bet365

Duren stands 6-foot-10 and weighs 250 pounds. That makes his postseason disappearing act all the more puzzling. How could someone so big just… POOF!... into thin air?

Duren, who averaged almost 20 points per game in the regular season, is struggling to score double digits in the tournament. He’s also having a tough time with the Cavaliers’ lengthy frontcourt, drawing more whistles (8) than total rebounds (6) the past two games.

A return to the Motor City sparks the Pistons’ big body, who averaged 20.3 points and 11.4 boards inside Little Caesars Arena this season. 

The potential for boards is there for Duren, who’s been in position for 31 rebounding chances the last two contests but has secured only six of those misses. And while he’s not shooting at his normal volume, he is making what he’s taking the past two games: shooting 9 for 16 from the floor.

Duren has stayed Under his scoring prop in all but one of the Pistons’ 11 playoff games and is 2-9 O/U versus his rebounding totals. His player projections are tough to trust at this point, but all forecasts call for 10+ points and 10+ rebounds in Game 5.

Duren recorded the fifth-most double-double efforts in the regular season, and the “Yes” option in this market is now paying out at plus-money, something you’d rarely see with his props. Asking for 10 and 10 seems realistic, even with his current struggles.

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Dodgers vs Giants Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 13

The Giants beat the Dodgers on Tuesday, 6-2, and the series is 2-0 in favor of the San Francisco. The Giants are now 4-1 against the Dodgers this season.

Shohei Ohtani will take the mound for Los Angeles. The Dodgers are 2-4 in his six starts this season, but he's allowed two or fewer earned runs in all six. Ohtani hit a two-hit game in yesterday's loss, including a home run, which may have snapped his hitting slump. This is only the second multi-hit game of the 10 games.

The Giants are 4-4 in Robbie Ray's eight starts this season and allowed two or fewer earned runs in six of those. San Francisco is 4-1 over the last five games and won three consecutive games. The current three-game winning streak ties a season-high for San Francisco as they've outscored their opponents, 22-11 in that span.

Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Giants at Dodgers

  • Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
  • Time: 10:10 PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium 
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Giants at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-246), San Francisco Giants (+199)
  • Spread: Giants +1.5 (-105), Dodgers -1.5 (-115)
  • Total: 7.5

Probable starting pitchers for Giants at Dodgers

  • Wednesday's pitching matchup (May 13): Shoehi Ohtani vs. Robbie Ray
  • Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani

2026 stats: 37.0 IP, 2-2, 0.97 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 42 Ks, 9 BB

  • Giants: Robbie Ray

2026 Stats: 45.2 IP, 3-4, 2.76 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 47 Ks, 18 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not!

  • The Giants’ Luis Arraez is hitting .303 with 47 hits and 58 total bases over 155 at-bats
  • The Giants’ Willy Adames is hitting .222 with 37 hits and 51 strikeouts over 167 at-bats
  • The Dodgers’ Andy Pages is hitting .318 with 49 hits and 84 total bases over 154 at-bats
  • The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is hitting .240 with 36 hits and 44 strikeouts over 146 at-bats

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Giants at Dodgers

  • The Giants are 19-23 ATS this season
  • The Dodgers are 19-23 ATS this season
  • The Giants are 21-18-3 to the Under this season
  • The Dodgers are 23-19 to the Under this season
  • The Giants are 6-3 ATS as a road underdog this season and 5-3-1 to the Under
  • The Dodgers are 6-15 ATS as a home favorite this season and 11-10 to the Under

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Giants

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Dodgers and the Giants.

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 9.0

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Yankees Rivalry Roundup: Rays survive in extras over Jays

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 12: Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates an RBI sacrifice fly against the Toronto Blue Jays during the tenth inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on May 12, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Yankees broke their losing streak on Tuesday, besting Baltimore 6-2 thanks to a five-run third inning. Trent Grisham punctuated the rally with a three-run blast off of Trevor Rogers, who has looked nowhere close to the dominant form he displayed for the O’s in 2025. The rest of the league was back in action after most were traveling on Monday, so we’ve got a full slate of games to cover today.

Tampa Bay Rays (28-13) 7, Toronto Blue Jays (18-24) 6 (10 innings)

For a while, this looked like a one-sided affair. The Rays built up a 5-0 lead midway through the seventh inning thanks to a flurry of hits early, a wild pitch with a runner on third in the sixth, and a solo shot from Ryan Vilade in the seventh. Shane McClanahan was keeping Toronto under wraps on the other side, allowing just a single hit through five innings of work before Casey Legumina came in and got around a leadoff hit in the sixth. Legumina stayed in for the bottom of the seventh, however, and the game flipped on its head in a hurry.

Ernie Clement got aboard on a single, but it came between a flyout and strikeout to put Toronto an out away from wasting one of the few chances they’d gotten to this point. Instead, they rattled off a double, walk, single, and another double to plate four runs, and then a fielding error allowed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to reach and the tying run to cross the plate.

With nothing going in the eighth or ninth, the Rays entered extra innings and promptly retook the lead thanks to a Taylor Walls single. After a walk and wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position, Jonathan Aranda lifted a sacrifice fly to give them a huge insurance run. The Jays managed to score their ghost runner on a sac fly in the bottom of the 10th, but could manage only a walk against Garrett Cleavinger as he secured the save.

Other Games

Philadelphia Phillies (20-22) 2, Boston Red Sox (17-24) 1: The first two innings brought all of the offense Philly would need, as Kyle Schwarber hit a solo shot in the first and Bryson Stott crushed an RBI ground-rule double in the second. Boston struggled to find an answer against Zack Wheeler, getting shutout until the seventh inning when a trio of singles brought home one run. With runners still on the corners Wheeler shut the door, getting Marcelo Mayer to ground out. The Sox then threatened against Jhoan Duran in the ninth, getting two aboard with one out, but Duran recovered by striking out Ceddanne Rafaela and getting Mayer to ground it to second.

Cleveland Guardians (23-21) 3, Los Angeles Angels (16-27) 2: The Angels managed to double the Guardians’ hits, but Cleveland made the most of their opportunities: Angel Martínez hit a solo shot in the third inning, Patrick Bailey drove in a run in the fifth on a grounder, and Brayan Rocchio lifted a sacrifice fly in the seventh. The Angels cut into the lead with a sac fly and solo shot of their own in the sixth and eighth innings respectively, but they went down in order in the ninth.

New York Mets (16-25) 10, Detroit Tigers (19-23) 2: The Tigers briefly held a 2-0 lead in this game, getting a Dillon Dingler solo shot and a sac fly in the second inning. That was short-lived, as the Mets put up runs in every inning except the first and fifth as they scored 10 unanswered to pull off a blowout win.

Seattle Mariners (21-22) 10, Houston Astros (16-27) 2: The Mariners’ quest to pull back to .500 is nearly complete after they got a huge win on Tuesday. Cal Raleigh broke out of his extended slump with a 2-for-4 night, scoring three runs, and Randy Arozarena and Dominic Canzone both launched homers to lead the way for the offense. Bryan Woo tossed six innings of two-run ball for Seattle, striking out nine while allowing four hits and a pair of walks.

Texas Rangers (20-22) 7, Arizona Diamondbacks (20-21) 4: Joc Pederson got the Rangers off to a strong start, leading off with a homer, and the hits kept coming from there. Texas added one in the second and third, and blew the game open with a four-run fifth jumpstarted by a Brandon Nimmo triple. Arizona didn’t go down quietly, rallying for three runs in the ninth inning with three-straight walks to start the inning, but they couldn’t get runs across without using up outs in the process.

Pistons vs Cavaliers Game 5 Round 2 NBA Playoffs predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets on May 13

The Cleveland Cavaliers tied up the season series with a 112-103 Game 4 win at home. The series turns back to Detroit for Game 5 and a chance for either team to set themselves up for a closeout Game 6.

Cleveland has gone 6-0 at home in the playoffs, but 0-5 on the road. The Cavaliers have lost by double digits in three out of five road games and averaged 100.2 points per game on 42.2% from the field and 28.6% from three. Luckily, Donovan Mitchell has found his footing with 35 and 43 points in the last two games on 26-of-50 shooting from the field (52%) and 20-of-23 from the free throw line (86.9%).

Detroit is 5-1 at home in the playoffs and won by double digits in four out of six games. The Pistons are shooting 38.2% from three at home in the playoffs and average 108.2 points per game. Cade Cunningham averages a team-high 23.5 points per game in the series, but Caris LeVert led the Pistons in scoring with 24 points in Game 4.

Let’s take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Cavaliers vs. Pistons

  • Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
  • Time: 8:00 PM EST
  • Site: Little Caesars Arena
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game Odds: Cavaliers vs. Pistons

The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Detroit Pistons (-175), Cleveland Cavaliers (+145)
  • Spread: Pistons -4.5
  • Total: 212.5 points

This game opened Pistons -3.5 with the Total set at 211.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups: Cavaliers vs. Pistons

Cleveland Cavaliers

  • PG James Harden
  • SG Donovan Mitchell
  • SF Dean Wade
  • PF Evan Mobley
  • Jarrett Allen

Detroit Pistons

  • PG Cade Cunningham
  • SG Duncan Robinson (questionable)
  • SF Ausar Thompson
  • PF Tobias Harris
  • Jalen Duren

Injury Report: Pistons vs. Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers

  • None

Detroit Pistons

  • Kevin Huerter (hip) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 5. Huerter missed Game 4.
  • Duncan Robinson (back) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 5. Robinson scored 4 points in Game 4.

Important stats, trends and insights: Pistons vs. Magic

  • Detroit is 49-44 ATS 
  • Detroit is 49-43-1 to the Under
  • Detroit is 25-21 ATS as the home team and 21-20 ATS as a home favorite
  • Detroit is 25-21 to the Under at home
  • Detroit is 22-19 to the Under as a home favorite
  • Cleveland is an NBA-worst 38-55 ATS
  • Cleveland is 47-46 to the Over
  • Cleveland is 25-21 to the Over on the road
  • Cleveland is 9-6 to the Under as a road underdog

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s Cavaliers and Pistons’ game:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons’ Moneyline
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Pistons -4.5 ATS
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 212.5

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) 
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) 
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)