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Former Red Wings Assistant GM Pat Verbeek Nominated For NHL’s Top Front Office Award

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On Tuesday, the NHL announced the three finalists for the 2025-26 Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award, which is presented annually to recognize the league’s top general manager.

Included in the nominees is a name that fans of the Detroit Red Wings are very familiar with. 

Former NHL forward Pat Verbeek, who played 135 games in a Red Wings uniform from 1999 through 2001 and later served as assistant general manager under Steve Yzerman, is up for the award thanks to his work as GM with the Anaheim Ducks. 

Also included were Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin, who acquired defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks in a bold mid-December trade, along with Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland. 

Guerin also served as general manager for Team USA during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, resulting in the first gold medal victory since the 1980 Miracle on Ice. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

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Verbeek served under Yzerman as assistant GM of the Red Wings from 2019 through 2022, and was also assistant GM and Director of Player Personnel under Yzerman with the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2012 through 2019, as well as their Director of Professional Scouting.

Prior to that, he worked as a pro scout with the Red Wings from 2006 to 2010. 

Red Wings Prospect Carter Bear Proving He's Built For The Big StageRed Wings Prospect Carter Bear Proving He's Built For The Big StageAfter scoring twice in Game 2 of the WHL Finals for the Everett Silvertips, Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear is now up to three goals in his last two games.

He was named GM of the Ducks in February 2022 and has stockpiled some of the most exciting young talent in the NHL, along with a solid mix of veteran players.

Last season, the Ducks improved by 21 points, along with another 12 point improvement this season.

They won their first Stanley Cup Playoff series since 2017, and are two victories away from a berth in the Western Conference Final. 

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With Sixers seeking Morey's replacement, here's what will be on new leader's plate

With Sixers seeking Morey's replacement, here's what will be on new leader's plate  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Daryl Morey’s first draft night with the Sixers is a great illustration of how rapidly things can change in the NBA.

Back in 2020, Morey selected Tyrese Maxey, Isaiah Joe and Paul Reed. He traded away Al Horford and Josh Richardson, acquired Danny Green and Seth Curry, and set the Sixers up nicely for an Eastern Conference-best 49-23 regular season.

We’ll see what sort of transformation Morey’s replacement has in mind. 

The Sixers announced Tuesday night that Morey is out as the franchise’s president of basketball operations. Bob Myers will “lead the process of identifying a new leader of basketball operations and oversee the department in the interim,” the team said in a press release. There will surely be some urgency with the NBA draft set for June 23 and June 24. Free agency will begin the next week. 

As far as the roster-construction task ahead, there’s multiple massive positives. Tyrese Maxey is a 25-year-old superstar lead guard and VJ Edgecombe just had a fantastic rookie season alongside him. Joel Embiid and Paul George each played integral parts in the Sixers’ historic comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against the Celtics in Round 1 of the playoffs.

Even with the age, injury and contract concerns surrounding George and Embiid, it’s a strong group. All options should be on the table for whoever steps into Morey’s shoes, but the Sixers’ situation would not appear automatically hopeless if the team built around the same foursome. 

“With the hesitation that in the NBA, things happen, we have some players who are as close to untouchable as you might have in this league in Tyrese, Joel, VJ, Paul,” Morey said on Feb. 6. “We like our core. We really think it’s a very good core.” 

Of course, the long-term commitments to George and Embiid have serious downsides. Embiid’s optimistic about his left knee, but the 32-year-old big man’s norm has been a strange storm of injuries. George turned 36 during the playoffs and most late-30s NBA players are decidedly past their primes. 

Going a bit further down the Sixers’ roster, there is not a ton to like. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes were the two other Sixers to average over 13 minutes in the postseason. Both will be unrestricted free agents this offseason. After them, Andre Drummond, Adem Bona, Dominick Barlow and Justin Edwards were the only players to get any time in head coach Nick Nurse’s playoff rotation. 

“We feel like we’re a deep team,” Morey said in February. “Again, people might not agree, but we do feel like a deep team. In fact, there are many people who are writing that we’re a deep team, so it wasn’t just our opinion. I do think Nick … is using our players in an optimal way to win games. You for sure always want more good players than bad players. We still have two roster spots. … So we’ll continue to look to add in that marketplace as well, but we do feel like we’re a deep team.”

The Sixers sent second-year sharpshooting guard Jared McCain to the Thunder at the trade deadline and did not make any dramatic upgrades with their open roster slots. They converted Barlow and Jabari Walker from two-way contracts to standard NBA deals. Dalen Terry also got a standard spot by the end of the year. Morey signed Cameron Payne post-deadline but waived the veteran guard after he suffered a late-season hamstring injury.

In recent years, Morey’s Sixers were often inferior in the long-range shooting department. They finished the 2025-26 season ranked 23rd in both three-point frequency and three-point accuracy, according to Cleaning the Glass. Defensive rebounding also jumps out as a major roster weakness. 

The Sixers did nothing to address any of those holes at the deadline and the Knicks exposed them with a second-round series sweep over an exhausted, overmatched team. In addition to the trade market and free agency this summer, the Sixers own the 22nd overall pick in the draft via the McCain trade.

The team has remained unable to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs during managing partner Josh Harris and co-managing partner David Blitzer’s run at the top of the organization. Sixers fans have had plenty of valid sources of displeasure since Harris and his ownership group bought the team in 2011.

Notably, Embiid went out of his way before the deadline to comment on the Sixers “ducking the (luxury) tax the past couple of years.”

With Morey out and his replacement pending, that storyline certainly hasn’t disappeared.

“I understand the perception,” Morey said at what wound up being his final Sixers press conference. “I hope to defeat it by finding a deal that I can go to ownership and say, ‘We think this move is the right move to do for that and create those apron issues,’ but I haven’t been able to recommend that move yet.” 

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Royals vs. White Sox game 42 thread

KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 05: Stephen Kolek #32 of the Kansas City Royals warms up in the bullpen prior to the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

It’s time for baseball! After a Monday off day, the Royals are in Chicago to play the White Sox. Stephen Kolek is back for another start, in place of the injured Cole Ragans. While it stinks for Ragans, it is nice to see Kolek get some more chances, as he has looked pretty good so far.

Welp, Salvador Perez is hitting cleanup, dragging his .233 OBP along with him. Perez wasn’t in the lineup on Sunday, so there was maybe some hope that he’d be further down the lineup when he reappeared. The answer is: no. I’m sure that won’t negatively impact the game at all tonight, but we’ll quote these sentences and see if that’s correct truly or ironically.

White Sox lineup

Looks like it’s AAPI heritage night in the Windy City tonight. So, if you’re a member of the Asian American-Pacific Islander community, a particular warm greeting to you tonight as we prepare for some baseball.

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Troy Melton’s rehab moves to Toledo, Casey Mize and Will Vest throw bullpens

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 28: Casey Mize #12 of the Detroit Tigers gets set to throw a pitch during a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on April 28, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/IOS/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Detroit Tigers tend to keep their injury reports as quiet as possible. That makes it difficult to interpret how things are actually going with various injured players. Zach McKinstry was on the injured list for a few weeks for what was described as hip/abdominal inflammation. Turns out it was a Grade 3 oblique tear off his pelvic bone. The inflammation was just the byproduct of a much gnarlier injury. So, it’s best to wait until we get details as to the level of rehab work each player is doing. On Wednesday, we got some pretty good news on that front.

The two most promising notes, are that both Casey Mize (groin strain) and Will Vest (forearm inflammation) threw bullpens on the Tigers’ off day in New York on Monday. Mize’s outing was a live BP session, compared to a regular pen from Vest, so that’s a pretty good sign that Mize is pretty close to going out on a rehab assignment or possibly even just rejoining the Tigers straightaway. Vest may be a little longer, but as a reliever, the pace of his work can accelerate quickly back to the major leagues. The question is how both responded physically after their work on Monday, and we’ll have to see how quickly their next steps come to have a good guess at that.

Relievers Beau Brieske and Connor Seabold have both moved their rehab sessions from Single-A Lakeland up to Triple-A Toledo, indicating that they’re both close to returning to action, though Brieske is on the 60-day injured list and not eligible to return for roughly two more weeks either way.

The same holds true for right-hander Troy Melton, who was shut down in spring camp at the beginning of April with forearm inflammation. Melton’s velocity has been good in short outings in Lakeland, and he certainly appears to have avoided any of the sinister consequences that sometimes follow from forearm inflammation. He won’t be eligible to return for two more weeks, giving him time to build up his innings and get dialed back in should the Tigers expect him to take a spot in the rotation. It’s still possible that a Mize return could have them using Melton in some kind of a hybrid role out of the bullpen, helping to cover innings until Justin Verland potentially returns to action. Or, they may just send Melton out as a full-time starter. We’ll see how they progress his rehab work in Toledo to gather what role they’re expecting him to fill.

Justin Verlander also threw a bullpen on Monday, and in his case it sounds like he’s been throwing well, but still recovering too slowly in regards to the hip injury he’s dealt with since the first week of the season. We’ll just have to see the rate of bullpens ramp up before he’s ready for a rehab assignment in Toledo. He was moved to the 60-day injured list to open Gage Workman’s spot over the weekend, so either way he isn’t eligible to return until the beginning of June.

In other news, Javier Báez has started a hitting progression. That too is a good sign, although with a high ankle injury, we’ll be looking for him to play defense and run the bases before he’s close to a return to action. That still seems more like 2-3 weeks away.

Gleyber Torres is hitting, fielding, and running the bases already, so would seem to be a lot closer to returning to action after a mild oblique strain.

Finally, Jackson Jobe threw a bullpen on Monday as well, and has now been on a pretty regular schedule with his bullpens as he gets closer to a return from last May’s UCL reconstruction surgery. His timeline is probably still a month away from starting to build up workload towards rehab work in June and possibly July, but at least all the progess with Jobe has been at the most optimistic curve in the typical 12-16 month timeline to return from Tommy John surgery.

In a final bit of news, Gary Jones has been named the new manager of the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. Jones has coached on A.J. Hinch’s staff since 2022, when he was the first base coach. He’s also served as the third base coach as well as coaching outfield for the Tigers. He’ll take over from interim manager Mike Hessman, who has run the show for the past week since Gabe Alvarez’s termination for an HR violation.

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Jason Collins, 13-year NBA veteran and first player to come out as gay while playing, has died at 47

NBA player Jason Collins marches in the Gay Pride Parade in Boston

NBA player Jason Collins marches in the Gay Pride Parade in Boston, Massachusetts June 8, 2013. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL POLITICS SOCIETY)

Reuters

Jason Collins, the 13-year NBA veteran player — who is more famous as the first pro athlete to come out as gay while still playing in any major American sports league — has died at age 47, his family has announced.

"We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma," his family announced in a statement, mentioning the brain tumor he has been battling for years. "Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly."

"Jason Collins' impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador. Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.

"On behalf of the NBA, I send my heartfelt condolences to Jason's husband, Brunson, and his family, friends and colleagues across our leagues."

Collins had an impressive NBA career. He and his twin brother Jarron Collins first came to prominence when they dominated Southern California high-school basketball together at Harvard-Westlake — having twin 7-foot future NBA players on a high school team wins a lot of games — before choosing to attend Stanford together. There, the Collins brothers helped lead the Cardinal to the Elite Eight one season and the Final Four the next.

Jason Collins was selected No. 18 by the Houston Rockets in the 2001 NBA Draft, but was traded on draft night in the deal that also brought Richard Jefferson to the New Jersey Nets. Just a couple of years later, in 2003, he was the starting center on a Nets team led by Jason Kidd that reached the NBA Finals.

Collins earned a reputation as a physical, rock-solid defensive center whom opponents and teammates respected. He went on to play 13 NBA seasons for the Nets, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Hawks, Celtics and Wizards. His reputation was that of a "pro's pro" and the kind of player that coaches and GMs wanted in their locker rooms.

However, for many — especially casual fans or people who don't follow sports at all — he is remembered as the first person to come out as gay while playing in a major professional American sports league. Here is what he wrote at the time:

"I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay. I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different.' If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."

As he was with his sexual orientation, Collins was very public with his diagnosis of glioblastoma, a very aggressive form of cancer in the brain. He talked about his treatment plans, trying to balance fighting the disease and quality of life.

Collins is survived by his husband, Brunson Green, parents Portia and Paul Collins, and brother, Jarron Collins, who has served as an assistant coach in the NBA, most recently with the New Orleans Pelicans.

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Jason Collins, NBA's first out gay player, dies aged 47 of brain tumor

Brooklyn Nets center Jason Collins warms up before an NBA basketball game in New Orleans on 24 March 2014.Photograph: Jonathan Bachman/AP

Jason Collins, the retired NBA player who made history as the league’s first openly gay athlete, has died after a short battle with stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, his family announced on Tuesday.He was 47.

“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” Collins’ family said in a statement released through the NBA. “We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

Collins, who came out in 2013 while still actively playing in the NBA, had been under treatment for a brain tumor. The average prognosis for glioblastoma with radiation and chemotherapy is about 11 to 14 months, he said in an essay published by ESPN last year. In the essay, Collins revealed he had traveled to Singapore to receive experimental treatments currently not available in the US.

“As an athlete you learn not to panic in moments like this. These are the cards I’ve been dealt,” he wrote. “If that’s all the time I have left, I’d rather spend it trying a course of treatment that might one day be a new standard of care for everyone.”

He drew parallels between sharing his cancer battle and coming out as gay. “Your life is so much better when you just show up as your true self … this is me. this is what I’m dealing with,” Collins wrote.

Collins first spoke out on his sexuality in a 2013 essay for Sports Illustrated. “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” it began.

At the time, there were also no active gay players in the other major American sporting leagues.

He played for 13 years in the league across several teams, including the Boston Celtics and New Jersey Nets, before retiring in 2014.

Just last week, Collins received the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit. He was too ill to attend and his twin brother, former NBA player Jarron Collins, accepted the award for him.

“I told my brother this before I came here: he’s the bravest, strongest man I’ve ever known,” Jarron Collins said while accepting that award.

Associated Press contributed

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Anthony Volpe brought back by Yankees after Jose Caballero goes on injured list with broken finger

BALTIMORE — Anthony Volpe’s demotion to the minor leagues lasted just a week, and the shortstop rejoined the New York Yankees on Tuesday after José Caballero was diagnosed with a broken right middle finger.

In the midst of a four-game losing streak, New York recalled Volpe from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before Tuesday night’s game at the Baltimore Orioles and placed Caballero on the 10-day injured list.

“He’s had a number of at-bats and a lot of reps down there, a lot of playing time, kind of a more than a full spring training,” manager Aaron Boone said of Volpe. “So hopefully, he’s ready to go and come up here and be a spark for us.”

Volpe arrived around game time and was in the Yankees dugout in the early innings. Max Schuemann started at shortstop for a second straight game.

Boone made it apparent Volpe will get most of the playing time at shortstop until Caballero returns.

“Yeah, I would expect him to,” the manager said. “I would expect Anthony to play a lot.”

A Gold Glove winner as a rookie in 2023, Volpe had surgery Oct. 14 to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He began a 20-day minor league injury rehabilitation assigning on April 14 and was optioned to the RailRiders on May 3 — day 20 — after hitting .250 (11 for 44) with one homer and six RBIs in 13 minor league games.

He hit. 167 (4 for 25) with two doubles and two RBIs in five games with Scranton, leaving his overall minor league stats this year at .221 with one homer and eight RBIs in 18 games.

Because his optional assignment at Scranton was less than 20 days, he will be credited with major league service during that time period. He remains on track to be eligible for free agency after the 2028 World Series.

Volpe, 25, was New York’s starting shortstop from 2023-25 but struggled at the plate, hitting .222 with 52 homers, 192 RBIs and 70 stolen bases over three seasons. His .212 average last year was 144th among 145 qualifiers, his play hampered after he hurt his hurt his left shoulder on May 3.

Caballero was hurt diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt by Milwaukee’s Abner Uribe during the ninth inning of Sunday’s 4-3 loss at the Brewers, even though he was wearing a sliding mitt. He pinch ran in the ninth inning Monday night and was thrown out attempting to steal second for the final out in the Yankees’ 3-2 defeat to the Orioles. Plate umpire Nic Lentz called Caballero safe but was reversed in a video review as a Yankees’ loss ended with a caught stealing for the first time since Curtis Granderson against the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 9, 2011.

Acquired from Tampa Bay last July 31, the 29-year-old Caballero started 39 games at shortstop and is hitting .249 with four homers, 13 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

Boone expects Caballero’s time on the IL to be brief, and indicated he will reclaim the starting job at shortstop when he returns.

“Hopefully it’s just the 10 days,” Boone said. “Just depends on how he heals up over the next few days. He’s got a small fracture in there. Tendons, ligaments all good.”

Caballero tried to convince Boone he would be able to play after a few days off, but the manager didn’t accept the argument

“We just didn’t want to risk him doing something more to it where it becomes something he had to deal with all summer,” Boone said.

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Jason Collins, first openly gay NBA player, dies at 47 after glioblastoma battle

Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in NBA history, has died after a battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma. He was 47. 

“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, as died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” his family announced in a statement released by the NBA. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.” 

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver remembered Collins for the lives he changed.  

“Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,” Silver said in a statement released by the league. “He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador. Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.” 

“On behalf of the NBA, I send my heartfelt condolences to Jason’s husband Brunson, and his family, friends and colleagues across our leagues,” Silver added.

Collins revealed his diagnosis publicly in December 2025 in a first-person essay for ESPN, describing an aggressive brain tumor that had spread across both hemispheres in a butterfly pattern. Standard chemotherapy did not work on his form of glioblastoma, forcing him to seek experimental treatment at a clinic in Singapore.  

He had married his husband, film producer Brunson Green, in May 2025, just months before his symptoms began.  

Collins came out in April 2013 in a first-person cover story in Sports Illustrated, becoming the first active athlete in any of North American’s four major sports to publicly identify as gay.  

“Your life is so much better when you just show up as your true self,” Collins wrote in his final public essay.  

His best statistical season was 2004-05, when he averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. 

The biggest moment in his career, however, was not measured in game statistics. On Feb. 23, 2014, Collins stepped onto the court at the Staples Center for the Brooklyn Nets against the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming the first openly gay athlete to play in a game in one of the four major professional sports leagues. He wore No. 98 that night, a number he chose to honor Matthew Shepard, whose 1998 murder helped lead to the passage of landmark hate crime legislation. 

Jason Collins at NBA Cares Legacy Project Dedication at the Weingart YMCA.

Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA for six teams; the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards. He averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in 735 career games. Drafted out of Stanford by the Houston Rockets as the 18th overall pick of the 2001 draft, Collins' rights were immediately traded to the New Jersey Nets.  

He retired in 2014 and went on to serve as an NBA ambassador.  

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jason Collins, first openly gay NBA player, dies after cancer battle

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Former Nets center Jason Collins dies from brain cancer at 47

Former Nets center Jason Collins has passed away at 47 after a battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma, his family announced.

Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA from 2001 to 2014, including eight with the Nets organization.

In 2013, he became the first active, openly gay player in NBA history and from all four major American sports. 

Collins was drafted by the Nets with the 18th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft out of Stanford and helped the team reach back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. The big man spent the first seven seasons of his career in New Jersey before playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, and Washing Wizards.

He returned to the Nets in 2014 following their move to Brooklyn, playing 22 games during the 2013-14 season. For his career, Collins averaged 4.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game over 735 contests.

Collins announced his cancer diagnosis in December 2025 and tried experimental treatments in Singapore over the winter, allowing him to return home and be active, per ESPN. Although, the disease recently returned and he died peacefully at home surrounded by family.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver released a statement on Collins' passing and thanked him for making the league more inclusive.

"Jason Collins' impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.”

Below are Collins' family's and Silver's full statements:

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Game 42 Game Day Thread – Arizona Diamondbacks @ Texas Rangers

May 11, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Brandon Nimmo (24) makes a catch of a batted ball by Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll during the sixth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Texas Rangers

Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 7:05 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

The Shed

RHP Zac Gallen vs. LHP MacKenzie Gore

Today’s Lineups

DIAMONDBACKSRANGERS
Ketel Marte – 2BJoc Pederson – DH
Corbin Carroll – RFBrandon Nimmo – RF
Geraldo Perdomo – SSCorey Seager – SS
Nolan Arenado – 3BJosh Jung – 3B
Ildemaro Vargas – 1BEvan Carter – CF
Lourdes Gurriel – LFEzequiel Duran – 2B
Gabriel Moreno – CAlejandro Osuna – LF
Jose Fernandez – DHJake Burger – 1B
Ryan Waldschmidt – CFKyle Higashioka – C
Zac Gallen – RHPMacKenzie Gore – LHP

Go Rangers!

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Cavaliers vs Pistons Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NBA Playoffs Game 5

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Has this series really gotten underway? As the saying goes, it doesn’t truly begin until a road team steals a win.

The Detroit Pistons came out strong early, but the Cleveland Cavaliers answered with back-to-back victories once the series shifted to Ohio.

While my Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks aren’t quite strong enough to side firmly with either team in Game 5, they do point toward another standout showing from Donovan Mitchell on Wednesday, May 13.

  • UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & +1400 SGP.

Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5 prediction

Who will win Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5?

Pistons: Until a road team wins in this series, do not expect one to. That was the exact rhythm of the Cavaliers’ first-round series win, and for now, expect that to continue. This second round should gift us at least one Game 7.

Cavaliers vs Pistons best bet: Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points (-105)

Donovan Mitchell takes some flak for being on so many 60-win teams but never reaching a conference finals. If the Cleveland Cavaliers fall short of the Eastern Conference Finals this year, do not blame Spida.

Mitchell has cleared this prop in three straight games, most notably scoring 39 points in Monday’s second half.

Will he stay at that kind of rate? Almost certainly not. But Mitchell is carrying Cleveland’s scoring load no matter what the Detroit Pistons’ defense tries.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Mitchell is already a volume scorer, taking 20.0 field-goal attempts per game in the regular season. That has jumped to 21.7 this postseason and 23.3 in this series.

Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5 same-game parlay

Mitchell is not moving the ball much this series, a reflection of Detroit’s defense. While the bulk of Cleveland’s roster struggles, Mitchell understands the better scoring option is to simply keep the ball himself.

He has cleared this modest assists prop in just one of four games, averaging 2.75 assists per game. Yet, as his scoring became more efficient in the last two games, it helped spur them both Over their totals.

Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP

  • Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points
  • Donovan Mitchell Under 3.5 assists
  • Over 212.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Spida at The Rim

 

Donovan Mitchell’s long-range shooting has fallen off in the postseason, down to 32.3% from 36.4% in the regular season. Worse yet, he has shot just 12-of-39 from beyond the arc this series, 30.8%. Yet, he is scoring in bunches.

As absurd as it may seem, this exact same-game parlay cashed in Game 3, Mitchell hitting just 2-of-8 from deep yet scoring 31 points.

Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP

  • Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points
  • Donovan Mitchell Under 2.5 3-pointers
  • Over 212.5

Covers NBA betting tools

Cavaliers vs Pistons odds for Game 5

  • Spread: Cavaliers +4 | Pistons -4
  • Moneyline: Cavaliers +150 | Pistons -180
  • Over/Under: Over 212.5 | Under 212.5

Cavaliers vs Pistons betting trend to know

The Pistons have won the first half outright in 29 of their last 40 home games while the Cavaliers have lost the first half outright in 18 of their last 30 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Pistons.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5

LocationLittle Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
DateWednesday, May 13, 2026
Tip-off7 p.m. ET
TVESPN

Cavaliers vs Pistons latest injuries

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Game Thread: Royals (19-22) at White Sox (19-21)

Munetaka Murakami celebrating while trotting around the bases after a home run.
Munetaka Murakami has homered in his last eight series openers, the most in MLB history. | Getty Images

The South Siders have won three of their last four series and will finally be playing a division opponent as they kick off a three-game set against the Royals. Not having competed against an AL Central team since they split a four-game series in Kansas City last month, the Good Guys have a chance to make some headway in the division, only a game and a half back from the Guardians.

Opening up the series on the mound for the Sox is righthander Erick Fedde, making his sixth start of the season. Fedde has overall been solid in 2026, holding a 3.79 ERA and 1.132 WHIP in 38 innings, but he has struggled with serving up home runs in his last two starts, both against the Angels: three long balls led to four runs in his 4 2/3 frames last Tuesday, and he also surrendered two bombs the start prior. If there’s a bright side to allowing too many home runs, it’s that Fedde seemingly gives up more solo shots. Knock on some wood, folks.

Fedde will still need to maintain control and do his best to keep the ball from leaving the park, as sluggers such as Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel García, and Vinnie Pasquantino pack a tough punch right at the top of the lineup. While Pasquantino has gotten off to a slow start this season, he has a .500 batting average and 1.064 OPS in 10 lifetime at-bats against Fedde, including a round-tripper. Witt has actually had a hard time against the righty, holding just a .334 OPS in 12 chances.

Kansas City Royals starting lineup:

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Though he began the year on the IL with an oblique strain, righthander Stephen Kolek made his 2026 debut last week and will be making his second start tonight on the South Side. His 4.50 ERA highlights the three runs allowed in his six innings, though he allowed just four hits, didn’t walk anybody, and struck out three. But a middle-inside sinker that didn’t break was his biggest downfall, which led to Rhys Hoskins taking him deep for three tallies. Luckily for Kolek, his teammates bailed him out with a pair of homers to take the lead back and still get him the win.

Kolek relies most heavily on his 94 mph four-seamer, as well as his 93.6 mph sinker, but he has started to leverage his changeup more this season, which has worked well for him thus far. In 2025, Kolek tossed the change just 11.6% of the time, but opponents were whiffing at a higher rate than the rest of his go-to pitches with just a .049 batting average, and a somehow lower weighted on-base percentage at .042.

What is unfortunate for Kolek, however, is that the two, three, and four hitters for the South Siders — Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, and Colson Montgomery — have combined for 34 home runs, which is currently greater than the combined totals for six whole teams. Another special tidbit is that Murakami has homered in the first game of the last eight series, and will be going for nine tonight.

Chicago White Sox starting lineup:

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Be sure to tune in to CHSN to see if Mune can extend his streak — the most consecutive homers in series openers in MLB history — and jump back to the top of the home run leaderboard alongside Kyle Schwarber and Aaron Judge. You can also listen in at ESPN Chicago AM 1000. Let’s hopefully start this series off on a high note.

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GameThread: Tigers vs. Mets, 7:10 p.m.

May 10, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Matt Vierling (8) hits a triple during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images

Detroit Tigers (18-22) vs. New York Mets (15-25)

Time/Place: 7:10 p.m., Citi Field
SB Nation Site: Amazin’ Avenue
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Jack Flaherty (0-3, 5.56 ERA) vs. RHP Freddy Peralta (2-3, 3.12 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Flaherty834.029.516.032.65.290.1
Peralta843.123.29.743.73.20.7

Lineups

TIGERSMETS
Kevin McGonigle – SSCarson Benge – RF
Matt Vierling – CFBo Bichette – SS
Colt Keith – DHJuan Soto – LF
Riley Greene – LFMark Vientos – 1B
Dillon Dingler – CMJ Melendez – DH
Wenceel Perez – RFBrett Baty – 3B
Gage Workman – 3BMarcus Semien – 2B
Spencer Torkelson – 1BA.J. Ewing – CF
Zach McKinstry – 2BFrancisco Alvarez – C

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