PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 06: Brandon Marsh #16 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates an RBI single in the eighth inning against the Athletics at Citizens Bank Park on May 06, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s hard to overstate just how good Brandon Marsh has been so far this season. He was leading all of Major League Baseball in batting average with a .353 mark entering play on Monday. He’s hitting an absurd .519 (14-27) over his last seven games played and his four home runs on the year are already almost half of his 2025 homer total. Not all of this is a small sample either, as Marsh is hitting .317 with an .852 OPS across 518 plate appearances dating back to his return from injury on May 3rd of 2025.
But of course, one caveat with Marsh has always been his struggles against left handed pitching. Since arriving in Philadelphia, Marsh has hit .213 with a .611 OPS against lefties. He was particularly bad against lefties last season, hitting .197 with a strikeout rate of 36.4%. He’s been better so far in 2026, hitting .286 against lefties with a .680 OPS, but it’s been in an extremely limited 31 plate appearances as the Phillies have mostly deployed Marsh as part of a platoon.
Herein lies the problem with that so far in 2026 though. All of the right handed hitters the Phillies have played in left field this season, primarily Otto Kemp and Felix Reyes, have hit a combined .114 with a .318 OPS. Both of those marks are dead last in baseball among right handed hitting left fielders. Their 34.1% strikeout rate is second worst. It’s only been 44 plate appearances, but clearly this is a major weakness with the Phillies roster.
The team has correctly identified that Marsh should be limited against left handed pitching, but for at least the fourth straight season, they’ve also failed to find a competent right handed platoon partner for him. Marsh is likely to start seeing more playing time as an everyday player regardless of the opposing starting pitcher, especially considering rookie Justin Crawford’s own struggles against lefties so far in his young MLB career.
So, should Brandon Marsh start everyday for the Phillies at the moment? It’s not an ideal solution, as again Marsh has been a poor hitter against lefties. But even his poor numbers are a massive upgrade over the current alternatives.
May 1, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo (29) singles during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The overwhelming sentiment surrounding the Orioles’ lineup right now is one of frustration—a frustration primarily aimed at young Orioles who aren’t making the grade. Gunnar Henderson is currently enduring one of the worst cold streaks of his career. Colton Cowser and Coby Mayo both can’t get above the Mendoza line and often look lost at the plate. Dylan Beavers is doing slightly better, but is still struggling to perform at a league-average level.
All of the turmoil and despair surrounding this lineup is what makes the evolution of Samuel Basallo so thrilling. Back on April 13th, Basallo went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in an Orioles win vs. the Diamondbacks. At that point, the 21-year-old backstop was slashing .136/.240/.273 with 15 strikeouts in 44 AB’s. Since then, Big Samuel has been a big problem for opposing pitchers.
In the 21 games since, the rookie catcher is hitting .352 with hits in 13 of his last 15 games. Basallo isn’t sacrificing power to maintain a better average, either. Throughout his hot streak, the 21-year-old is slugging .592 with six doubles, three homers and his first career triple.
It’s not shocking that Basallo is producing at the major league level. You need immense talent to be a Top 10 prospect in all of baseball and make your major league debut four days after your 21st birthday. However, what is suprising is how quickly he’s made adjustments that seasoned big league hitters often struggle to make.
Basallo’s profile—a towering power hitter with a willingness to chase pitches—is often one that takes time to adjust to the big leagues. They’re the type of bats that are used to clobbering fastballs against minor league pitchers, and often can’t lay off good changeups and breaking balls or handle the higher velocities that comes from big league pitchers. Cowser has been a victim of the former pitfall, and he was supposed to have a better hit tool as a prospect than Basallo.
And that’s what Basallo was through the first 150 AB’s of his MLB career. Dating back to his debut last August, the catcher started his career hitting .157 with a near 30% strikeout rate. Sure there were the occassional fireworks—like his walk-off homer agains the Dodgers—but every time he stepped to plate, it felt like a young hitter going through real struggles for the first time in his proffesional career.
Now, Samuel Basall0 at-bats feel like hope. The changes in his approach are so evident that it not only feels like the sky is the limit for the young Dominican, but that other Orioles hitters can make similarly meaningul adjustments. Watch him hit and it becomes clear that he’s no longer trying to hit home runs on every pitch he sees. From April to May, his line-drive rate has jumped from 24.1% to 36%, while his fly ball rate has dipped from 27.6% to 20%. That increase in qualify of contact has seen his average exit velocity for the season jump to 932 mph, 16th-best in all of baseball.
The Orioles’ backstop has also become increasingly patient. His pitches per plate appearance has jumped from 3.54 throughout the first month of the season, to 3.94 since the beginning of May. His chase rate against breaking balls and off-speed pitches have all dropped significantly, from about 41% to begin the season to down to 32% the past couple weeks.
However, it’s one thing to look at his Baseball Savant page and see a bunch of graphs trending in the right direction. It’s another to see him attack a perfectly-executed back door slider and shoot it 106 mph the other way for a double. Please, watch it and then watch it again. You know you want to.
The leaps we’ve seen from Basallo has ramifications for the right now and the long term roster construction for the Orioles. Basallo’s big leap has helped this offsense stay afloat through the unexpected struggles of Henderson and the inability to get any consistent production from the bottom third of the lineup.
The rate at which he’s risen to a prominent position in the lineup also means the Orioles don’t have chase power bats as they continue to try and build a winner in Baltimore. With recent additions such as Tyler O’Neill, Taylor Ward and Peter Alsono, the O’s have made it clear how badly they wanted to add power to this batting order. With Basallo entrenching himself in the 3-4-5 part of the order, it should empower the front office to pursue players who can help raise the team’s on-base percentage instead.
It’s also not purely coincidental that Basallo’s rise has come along side the best baseball of Adley Rutschman’s career. Pairing Basallo with Rutschman allows Rutschman to assume his best role as table-setter and offensive-catalyst rather than primary run producer. It also allows the O’s to keep Rutschman well-rested without having to worry about a decline in production behind the plate. And while Basallo is not the threat to Adley’s futuer with the O’s that many assume, it still undoubtedly provides Adley a push that keeps him locked it in.
There are still players on the O’s playing at a similar level as the young catcher. Ward has exceed every expectation even while under-performing in the powere department. Rutschman and Pete Alonso are both living up to their talent levels. But this is an Orioles team that needs proof of concept that things can go wrong and turn around. Samuel Basallo is that hope.
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 11: An aerial general view during a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros on August 11, 2024 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This post is, I suppose, only really relevant to the subset of you that has MLB.tv and has interest in watching non-Braves games. If that’s you, how do you decide what non-Braves game to watch?
My answer is Stream Finder, which was once called Game Changer and was created by folks associated with Baseball Gauge, before it was acquired by Baseball-Reference. It kind of works less well now than it did before (not much ongoing support, if any), but the idea of being able to flip through games automatically based not only on in-game leverage, but the relevance of the teams, continues to be amazing.
If you’re not using that, what are you using? Do you just have a secondary team to watch, or do you just watch the other NL East teams and hope they lose?
May 11, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka (11) slides into first base safely as Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas (6) attempts to double him up at first base during the sixth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Good morning.
Shawn McFarland writes about a rip-roaring, scintillating 1-0 loss from the Texas Rangers at The Shed last evening.
Jeff Wilson writes that Nathan Eovaldi was scratched pregame to set up last night’s humiliation ritual for the Texas lineup.
Kennedi Landy writes that, even with the bats flailing and failing, the bullpen turned in an excellent performance on short notice.
McFarland notes that while relievers Chris Martin and Robert Garcia are working their way back, Josh Smith — on the IL for a glute strain — has a new pain in his ass with wrist inflammation.
Evan Grant holds a Q&A to discuss Kumar Rocker and Kumar Rocker adjacent topics.
The Athletic's Corey Pronman recently released his latest 2026 NHL Mock Draft, where he made picks for the first round. When it came to the Buffalo Sabres, Pronman predicted that they would end up selecting defenseman William Hakansson.
The idea of Hakansson joining the Sabres' prospect pool is a fascinating one. The first thing that stands out about him is that he is a big, 6-foot-4 left-shot defenseman. With this, he would give the Sabres another defenseman with size in their prospect pool, which would not be a bad thing in the slightest.
Hakansson has the potential to become a solid defensive defenseman in the NHL, so it would be understandable if the Sabres considered selecting him at this year's draft. The potential for him to emerge as a top-four shutdown defenseman is there.
Hakansson played in 22 games this season with Lulea HF of the SHL, where he recorded two assists and a plus-1 rating. He also recorded two goals and four points in 16 games with Almtuna IS in HockeyAllsvenskan.
Ultimately, with the Sabres needing more defensive depth, it would make sense if they picked Hakansson if he is still available once they are on the clock. It will be interesting to see if they do just that.
Davis Martin continues his miraculous 2026 with two splendid starts over the past week. | (Photo by Michael Hirschuber/Getty Images)
The White Sox had a week that could very well be described as average, as they did in fact go 3-3. A closer look of the lost series to the Angels and the series victory against the Mariners will tell you a story of midweek missed opportunity capped on either end with quite the dominant efforts.
What went wrong for the Good Guys this week?
Offensively, there were far too many runners left on base. For those of us that might need a refresher after a long weekend of celebrating the moms in our lives, runners left on base do nothing for the scoreboard.
The woes started during Monday, May 4’s win in Anaheim. José Soriano is officially scared of the South Siders after getting walloped for two starts in a row. Even though the offense would score six runs and the defense shut out the Angels, the team would only go 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and leave 12 runners on base. In a 6-0 win, you can afford to leave a few runners on base.
But leaving runners on base was a huge issue during a 4-3 loss, which is exactly what happened on Tuesday when the White Sox went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and leave 11 on base. Wednesday’s 8-2 loss was capped by seven runners left on base. In fact, with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, the bases were loaded for Edgar Quero … before he grounded out to end the game.
Friday saw five runners stranded in a 12-8 loss to the Mariners. I have not taken a math class in 10 years, but if my math is correct, had the runners not been left on the base paths and they crossed home plate, those two losses become wins.
Contributing to the stranded runners problem is the sheer number of strikeouts this team is continuing to rack up. To date, White Sox hitters are striking out in 28% of the time. Only six teams are striking out at a higher rate, with the Rockies and the Angels leading the pack. The Toronto Blue Jays have almost 50 more at-bats on the season and still trail the White Sox by more than 100 strikeouts.
Strikeouts are a particular issue for one very powerful hitter on the South Side squad, none other than Munetaka Murakami. Fans love him for very good reason, but he also ranks second most among qualified players in strikeouts this season, with 60. He has 173 plate appearances on the year, which means he is striking out a little more than a third of the time he is up to bat. On the flip side of this, because there always must be a positive spin with stars, he has drawn 30 walks, which puts him in the Top 10 of qualified players so far this season. Home runs are fun, but it would be great if Mune could focus on putting the ball in play a tad more than he currently is.
Pitching also had its woes this week.
Erik Fedde’s record dropped to 0-4 after going just 4 2/3 innings in his start, giving up four earned runs along the way. All four runs came via the long ball, thanks to Mike Trout, Jorge Soler and Zach Neto. The righty’s last two starts in April had improved his ERA to the lower half of three, but after this latest effort Fedde is back over three and a half.
Noah Schultz entered Wednesday’s series finale with the Angels hoping to build off of his strong start in San Diego. Instead the 6´10´´ rookie was only able to get through 3 2/3 innings. He exited the game after wearing seven earned runs on seven hits.
Sean Burke was also coming off of his hottest outing of the season, and last Friday’s game was anticipated as a pitching duel. Instead, a total of 20 runs were scored in the game, Burke being on the losing side of things. His 4 1/3 innings resulted in six runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
One of these days, I will start with the good that happened in the week, but today is not that day. If you made it this far, congratulations. It is time to talk about the highlights of the week.
First and foremost, Soriano may be an ace against every other team in the league, but he is not one when he faces the White Sox. He earned his second consecutive loss on May 4 against the Pale Hose after going just four innings and giving up five runs. The final three runs came via back-to-back dingers by Murakami and Miguel Vargas. The fourth was with both of them on Star Wars Day.
Soriano followed up this loss with 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball against the Blue Jays on Sunday; he and his 1.74 ERA will be just fine for the rest of the season, especially knowing he’ll no longer have to face the fearsome White Sox.
It would not be a week if we did not also talk about Mune for more than a split second. A massive amount of strikeouts or not, the dude can rake. As if on cue in the top of the first inning of Friday’s opener against the Mariners, Munetaka hit his 15th of the season to get the scoring going. The Good Guys would not see the winning end of the slugfest, but one can appreciate a great start.
A player I would have never guessed I would be highlighting ever this season is Randal Girchuk, who hit two home runs this week. One of those was an inconsequential pinch-hit long ball in Friday’s loss, but his home run on Sunday tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning before Vargas’ sacrifice fly brought Drew Romo around to score the winning run.
While he had 10 strikeouts this week, Chase Meidroth improved his batting average by a whole 14 points. He is hitting .343 in May, and added a home run to the list in Tuesday’s loss. His middle infield counterpart, Colson Montgomery, is only hitting .176 in May, but he did homer in Saturday’s win, which was fun to watch in person.
I know you are sitting here wondering why I have yet to mention Vargas and his game on Saturday. Well, here I am saving the best for last. May 9 was Game Day for the Girls at the ballpark. It featured many wonderful opportunities for female fans to come out and enjoy a game and other activations. Vargas proved himself to be a girl’s girl and hit not just one but two home runs on Chicago’s road to victory. When the third baseman hit his second dinger of the night, Randy Arozarena didn’t even bother to move from his spot in left field. Vargas now has nine home runs on the year. As of May 10 Vargas, Murakami and Montgomery have more home runs (34) than six MLB teams.
Davis Martin. That is the pitching highlight of the week. The righthander continues to mow down batters and plow through tough lineups. In his rematch with Soriano on Monday, he went seven innings for a third time this season, giving up no runs on five hits, walking none and striking out a career high 10 batters.
Then on Sunday, Martin threw six innings of one run ball, giving up three hits, walking two, and striking out another nine hitters. His ERA is now a stunning 1.62. I really hope he is looking for hotel rooms for himself and his family in Philly for mid-July.
Also getting a nod this week for his pitching performance is Anthony Kay. Last week, there was much discussion about how he was emerging as the weakest link in the rotation. I am not saying he read my article, but Kay did have five strong innings on one run (zero earned), earning Saturday’s win.
The White Sox had an off day on May 11 but will be back at home for the entirety of the week. First up in continuing the homestand are the Kansas City Royals. And this weekends series brings the Chicago Cubs to the South Side for the Crosstown Classic, a matchup that might be more interesting than it has been in recent years.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 06: Morez Johnson Jr. #21 of the Michigan Wolverines attempts a shot during the first half against the UConn Huskies in the National Championship of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a season of genuine highs and lows. On one hand, the franchise made the postseason just a year after winning only 24 games and pulled off an upset of the rival Boston Celtics. The highs didn’t last long, though. They flamed out in four games to the New York Knicks, and yet again, several key players missed long stretches of the season.
Now, fresh off another early exit, the franchise will likely look to this summer to reshuffle the deck. Their financial flexibility hinges on what they do with several key free agents, but they also enter the draft armed with the 22nd pick. The Sixers have miscalculated on several fronts over the years, but the draft has been the most consistent bright spot of the Daryl Morey era.
This draft offers real opportunities to land a player who can not only develop long-term, but contribute immediately. So what exactly do the Sixers need after such an aggressive flameout?
First and foremost, this team simply needs players. Guys who can be on the floor when it matters and hang on both ends. Every prospect is different, and while draft discourse often centers on some version of Fit vs. Talent, especially in the back half of the first round, fit isn’t the priority here. Whoever the Sixers select at 22, whether they trade up, down or stay put, will likely come down to best available. Their lack of depth showed up in the worst ways during their biggest moments, and there’s no shortage of talent they need to add.
The Sixers struggled most in two areas: shooting and rebounding. In the regular season, Philadelphia ranked a measly 23rd in three-point percentage at 34.9 percent. Only two playoff teams shot worse, with Orlando at 27th and Portland at 28th, both at 34.3 percent. Volume wasn’t much better, as the Sixers ranked 22nd in three-point makes. Their rebounding sat firmly middle of the pack at 17th in the league, a problem that compounded in the postseason when they faced the Celtics and Knicks, who ranked third and seventh in rebounding, respectively.
Fortunately, several names in this draft fit the bill on both fronts and can fill either or possibly both needs at once.
If the Sixers were to trade up into the late lottery, players such as Yaxel Lendeborg, Hannes Steinbach and Aday Mara would likely be available and present intriguing options to varying degrees. All three boast a legitimate frame over 6-foot-9 and are capable rebounders with complementary skills.
Lendeborg, despite being considerably older than most prospects, brings a real level of NBA readiness and might be this draft’s best connector, a Swiss army knife who can slot in between talent. Steinbach might be this draft’s best rebounder, and pairs serious post skills and efficient interior work with a high-IQ feel for the game. Mara, meanwhile, has serious skill for a big, with a soft touch, an advanced passing game, and the kind of post-centric offensive game teams can never seem to get enough of. He’s also 7-foot-3, and you simply cannot teach size.
All three bigs should be available anywhere from the 10th pick into the teens. This draft has real depth, however, and there are plenty of other names, and specifically positions, that the Sixers should weigh at 22 and the picks leading up to it.
Karim Lopez, a Mexican forward from the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL, is a high-upside name with a legitimate frame at 6-foot-8 with a 7-1 wingspan to go along with it. Lopez fits the bill as a high-motor, versatile player capable of not only feasting on the glass but pushing the ball up the floor in grab-and-go situations. There is no shortage of refined forwards leading into the 20s either, with names such as Allen Graves, Isaiah Evans, Morez Johnson Jr. and Dailyn Swain all presenting intriguing options with varying skillsets.
Graves in particular gives off shades of Naz Reid or former Sixer Nic Batum. He is a skilled forward who has proven he can stretch the floor, pass effectively, and rebound well as a connective piece. Evans has shown an ability as a microwave scorer, with a quick release and the capability to knock down shots from range. If the Sixers are looking for offensive upside at the forward position, he is a name that could grow in popularity for a team with a longer-view type of selection in mind.
Johnson is a physically imposing forward who can even run some small-ball five, boasting a high motor, elite rebounding ability, and defensive switchability. If the Sixers are looking for a plug-and-play forward to put next to Embiid and shore up their rebounding problem, it is hard to find a better Day 1 name than Johnson, especially if you believe in his ability to grow his offense. Swain presents athleticism and wing versatility, making his mark as an elite slasher with potentially untapped playmaking ability that could slot in well next to Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
Morez Johnson Jr. could be one of the biggest risers in the NBA, and for good reason.
Every draft cycle brings the same chorus of calls for teams to prioritize shooting from day one, and this one will be no different. Despite being a personal skeptic, nobody can doubt Chris Cenac Jr.’s ability to knock down shots from range, especially considering his legitimate big man frame at 6-foot-11.
Stepping away from forwards and bigs, a handful of guards are projected to go in the late lottery and into the teens. One name widely expected to be available heading into the late teens is Baylor’s Cameron Carr, who brings legitimate athleticism alongside his 6-foot-5 frame and 7-2 wingspan. He has shown scoring and shooting growth, presenting a solid foundation as a coveted 3-and-D wing with legitimate rim protection skills at the guard spot. Carr and Edgecombe could form an excellent Baylor Bear duo, giving the Sixers two guards who are above-average rim protectors, a genuine rarity in the NBA.
It’s hard to predict what will happen or who will be available more than a month out, but there is no shortage of names who would help the Sixers and bolster their growing youth movement. Whether they trade up, trade down or stay put at 22, the Sixers will have options.
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Lars Sivertsen, Seb Hutchinson and Sid Lowe as Tottenham draw and Barça win La Liga
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On today’s podcast: the agony continues for Spurs as Roberto De Zerbi says they will fight until the final minute of the season after their 1-1 draw at home to Leeds. It could have been better for Tottenham. They took the lead, a wonderful goal from Matthys Tel who then later connected with an overhead kick, unfortunately not with the ball but with Ethan Ampadu.
Elsewhere, Sid Lowe joins us after a clásico that saw Barcelona win La Liga and to try and unpick the unfolding chaos at Real Madrid. Fights in training, a Kylian Mbappé petition signed by 70m people. Is José Mourinho really the man to come in and steady that particular ship?
Also, Hull City reach the Championship playoff final, more on ‘spygate’, Nigel Martyn for England and we answer your questions.
Chapters:
00:00 - Coming up...
00:45 - 1 point gained, 2 dropped for Spurs?
15:28 - West Ham vs. PGMOL
19:19 - Sid Lowe on Real, Barca and Rayo Vallecano
42:59 - Championship play-offs
51:19 - Beth Mead to leave Arsenal
54:38 - Baz vs. Parakeet
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Stick a fork in them, the Lakers are finally done.
The reigning champion Thunder held off a late rally to sweep the Western Conference semifinals series on Monday night, 115-110.
Arguably the biggest offseason storyline will be whatever LeBron James decides to do: Retire, return to the Lakers, or finish out his career elsewhere. AP
Anybody with two functioning pairs of eyes could see the gap between these two teams. The Thunder are the epitome of modern basketball. They are young, athletic, and deep.
The Lakers, well, they were held together by a 41-year-old and still elite LeBron James, adrenaline and duct tape.
Now that it’s over, uncertainty hangs over the Lakers like a dark cloud.
In a few short weeks it will be the offseason, and with it, comes decisions that could define the next decade of Lakers basketball.
So without further ado here are the five most important questions the Lakers will have to face this offseason:
After the game, James was asked about his future, and he reflected on his 23rd season as a whole.
He talked about missing the first six weeks of the season. He talked about the process, early practices, and pregame routines. He talked about becoming the third option. The preparation. The sacrifice. His family. His daughter. His wife. His sons.
His comments didn’t sound like a retirement announcement. But it also didn’t sound like a player who was fully convinced he wanted to keep doing this.
“I don’t know,” James said when asked if he was going to retire or keep playing.
That means the Lakers are stuck in limbo until he decides.
If LeBron does retire, the Lakers can begin to plan his jersey retirement as they build a roster around Luka Doncic.
If he decides to return for a 24th season, the question becomes whether the Lakers and LeBron can compete for a title together in the brutal Western Conference. Does he return to LA? Or take his talents to another team?
Apart from James, the Austin Reaves sweepstakes will be intriguing to watch as the Lakers are expected to fight to keep him in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
2.) What do you do with Austin Reaves?
This is where emotion and business collide.
Since signing as an undrafted free agent, Reaves has become one of the best development stories in Lakers franchise history.
That kind of money is allotted for superstars and franchise cornerstones. Reaves hasn’t even made an All-Star team. Investing in Reaves means you’re investing in a tag-team partnership between him and Doncic.
Is Reaves really the best player to pair with Doncic?
Both players need the ball and neither is an elite defender. But the Lakers could get sentimental.
Maybe another team like the Jazz, Bulls, or Nets fall in love with Reaves and force the Lakers’ hand. Or maybe there’s other teams that could be involved in sign-and-trade scenarios.
Either way, the negotiations with Reaves will quietly shape the next five years of the franchise.
With the Bucks announcing they’re open to trading star Giannis Antetokounmpo, could teaming up with Luka Doncic and either James or Reaves in LA be a possibility? Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
3.) Should the Lakers chase another superstar?
This one is more fascinating because this is what the Lakers do. They collect stars like Thanos collects infinity stones.
There’s going to be plenty of names floating through NBA circles like smoke: Giannis Antetokounmpo. Kevin Durant. Zion Williamson. Ja Morant. Donovan Mitchell. Or maybe a reunion with Anthony Davis.
But the question for the Lakers shouldn’t just be about whether or not to chase another star, it should be about whether or not that’s the right way to build a roster to beat the Thunder.
OKC didn’t sweep the Lakers because they have a handful of transcendent superstars. They overwhelmed the Lakers because they had waves upon waves of depth.
Unfortunately, the era of simply stacking names and printing championships feels increasingly outdated. The Lakers don’t necessarily need another superstar. They need a roster to compete with OKC.
Rui Hachimura shined in the postseason while Luke Kennard filled in admirably after Doncic and Reaves went down hurt. NBAE via Getty Images
4.) What do you do with the rest of your free agents?
This is where the offseason becomes complicated fast.
Rui Hachimura played himself into serious money. Luke Kennard can still shoot the leather off the basketball. Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart have player options. Jaxson Hayes remains intriguing despite inconsistency.
The Lakers will have a lot of cap flexibility once free agency starts, but many of the best players available will be their own free agents. Do you bring back Kennard? Hachimura? Let them walk?
There will be a lot of smaller roster decisions the Lakers will have to make soon.
Mark Walter remains the biggest wildcard in the offseason as the new owner of the Los Angeles Lakers has some massive decisions to make. Getty Images
5.) What does new ownership want this franchise to become?
Mark Walter did not buy the Lakers to maintain the status quo.
Owners who spend billions arrive with ambition, vision, and ego.
Walter already transformed the Dodgers into the gold standard of modern sports ownership. Data-driven. Aggressive. Ruthless when necessary.
So what does he do to the Lakers this offseason?
Does he empower Rob Pelinka? Does he replace him? Does he bring a president of basketball operations of his own choosing? He’s already started to restructure the front office and more moves seem inevitable.
The Lakers aren’t just entering an offseason. They’re entering a new era under Walter’s ownership.
And how they answer these five questions will determine whether or not Luka Doncic spends the prime of his career competing for championships or being the star of a lackluster version of the Lake Show.
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Let's go! We are back in the black for the first time this year after a +520 Julio Rodriguez jack last night. The train has left the station, and it's time to stack some home runs and MLB player props with the weather turning in our favor.
Andy Pages has an elite matchup in a good park vs. one of the worst starters in the league with a bad bullpen. We're adding him to our slate that already included Aaron Judge and an undervalued Andrew Vaughn.
These are my favorite home run props for Tuesday, May 12.
UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Aaron Judge
+310
Andrew Vaughn
+610
Andy Pages
+540
💲Today's HR parlay
+14570
Home run pick: Aaron Judge (+310)
It’s one of those days where the best hitter in baseball is projecting as +EV to go deep at +240 or better.
Aaron Judge sits right at the top of the home run prop projections at Covers today, and he’ll either face a Baltimore Orioles bullpen game or Trevor Rogers returning from the IL. Either scenario is bad news for the Orioles’ relievers, who are likely going to have to cover plenty of innings.
Only one bullpen has thrown more innings over the last two weeks than the Orioles at 56, and they also own the ninth-worst ERA during that span at 4.66. Their co-closers, Rico Garcia and Anthony Nunez, have both pitched on back-to-back days and are likely unavailable today.
Judge should also benefit from a 7-mph wind blowing out to left field, and Camden Yards still features some of the shortest dimensions in baseball down the lines.
Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, YES
Home run pick: Andrew Vaughn (+610)
Andrew Vaughn has popped up on the projections at Covers for the first time, with a fair home run price around +480 today.
American Family Field ranks as the sixth-best home run park for right-handed hitters, and Vaughn is into his sixth game since missing most of the season, so the rust appears gone. He’s already homered, owns a .880 OPS, and his 35.3% BlastContact rate over the last 14 days ranks second in all of baseball, thanks to an absurd 47.1% SqUpContact rate.
The right-handed bat also gets to attack knuckleballs today, with San Diego Padres righty Matt Waldron on the mound. Waldron’s floater can disappear quickly, and after a strong outing last time out plus a road start here, a rough performance feels more likely than another good one for a pitcher carrying a 7.71 ERA.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Brewers.TV, Padres.TV
Home run pick: Andy Pages (+540)
Let’s head to Dodger Stadium and grab a +540 Andy Pages dinger in one of the best matchups on the board.
Adrian Houser is a Bottom-10 starter who owns the fifth-worst BlastContact%, as hitters are taking aggressive swings and squaring him up consistently. Twenty-one percent of his fly balls are leaving the yard, and his xFIP suggests the damage is sustainable.
The setting also favors home runs with winds blowing out, and Pages has the third-fastest swing on the Los Angeles Dodgers over the last two weeks behind Shohei Ohtani (+235) and Max Muncy (+340). The Giants' bullpen is also one to target for runs these days.
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC Sports Bay Area, SportsNet LA
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 13-67 +0.06 units
Today’s HR parlay
Aaron Judge
Bet Now +14570
Andrew Vaughn
Andy Pages
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 02: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Hugo González #28 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 02, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If there’s one question that has captured the attention of Celtics fans and the greater NBA this month, it has been this one (see title). So I thought I’d pose it to the writers of your favorite Celtics site. Here’s what the staff came up with.
Ian Inangelo
I don’t think I would trade Jaylen Brown for Giannis Antetokounmpo and I don’t think it happens. Brown is at the peak of his value right now after having a First-Team All-NBA level season and it could be smart for the Celtics to sell high on him right now. Giannis is one of the few players in the NBA that I would be willing to trade Jaylen Brown for just because of how talented he is and I think a lineup of Tatum at the 4 and Giannis at the 5 would be an incredibly overpowered duo.
However, for as much as I love the idea of Tatum and Giannis on the floor together, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Brown and Tatum have built in chemistry with years of playing together that could take time to develop with Giannis. Giannis is also on a 1-year deal so Boston would have to give him an extension and the Celtics could be in the same place they are now cap wise with two max contracts and not a lot of depth.
In my mind though, I just don’t think this move happens unless Brown comes out and requests a trade on his own accord. I feel like he’s so intertwined with the city of Boston and the culture of the Celtics that Brad Stevens would only move him if it was a mutual decision. But maybe I’m wrong, Stevens has shown in the past he doesn’t make deals off of emotion (i.e. Marcus Smart) so if its the right decision to improve this Celtics team I think they would trade Brown.
Mark Aboyoun
No. I think we’re being a little too emotional after the elimination. Jaylen hasn’t helped his standing with some poorly timed streams, but trading Brown isn’t the answer, even if it’s for Giannis Antetokounmpo. When Brown and Tatum are both healthy, they’ve proven they’re good enough to win a lot of games together, including a championship. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and I don’t think this situation is dead enough to justify moving on from him.
Grant Burfeind
Why does this feel like I’m being asked whether I’d trade my childhood home for a mansion? You’ve made fun of the mansion for years. Scoffed at it as you walked by. A saltwater pool and a hot tub? Tacky much? But then a real estate agent comes knocking and says, with your childhood home and a few other assets, the mansion could be yours. You’d be ridiculous not to consider it, but the childhood home has brought you memories and joy to last a lifetime. You don’t just shrug that off because the other place has a nicer kitchen.
Okay, I’ve taken this analogy as far as it can go. Back to basketball. I love Jaylen, and there are maybe nine or ten players in the world I’d even consider moving him for. Giannis is one of them. My general trade philosophy is a popular one: in a superstar deal, I want to walk away with the best player. At his best, Giannis is the best player in any realistic version of this conversation.
It would hurt. Brown was the Finals MVP of Banner 18, just had an MVP-caliber season and has become part of the fabric of this era of Celtics basketball. But if Brad Stevens is serious about finding more rim pressure like he said in his end-of-season presser, Giannis is the final boss version of that idea. I tried to rearrange the letters in “we need a gosh darn rim attacker” into Giannis Antetokounmpo and got nowhere, but spiritually, it checks out. Pairing Giannis’ rim-pulverizing, transition-wrecking force with Tatum’s smoother, jazz-like offensive skillset would give Boston a different ceiling than the Tatum-Brown pairing, as painful as that is to admit.
So yes, I’d do it if the framework is Brown plus a couple first rounders (I’m not trying to lose any other pieces this summer if JB is leaving in this hypothetical), especially if the alternative is watching Giannis land with another East contender. The injury concerns are fair, but fear of what might go wrong can’t outweigh the chance to add one of the 75 greatest players ever while Tatum is still in his prime. I wouldn’t trade Jaylen just because the playoffs ended badly. I wouldn’t trade him for a collection of solid role players. But I’d trade him for Giannis.
And for those wondering what you can spell with all the letters of the Greek Freak’s name: “To tie a sunk moon: no gain.” Let that sink in.
Rich Jensen
We’re herd animals, and once there’s a sufficient level of buzz around, say, buying a pet rock, people stop talking about how stupid the idea is, and start talking about what they’ve named their pet rock.
But that doesn’t change the fact that buying a pet rock is stupid.
So it goes with the sudden flood of Jaylen-Giannis trade speculation. Talk of various trade packages has saturated the air so much so that people have seemingly stopped looking closely at where Giannis is at this point in his career, and are exclusively focused on what trade packages for him should look like. The unspoken assumption is ‘well of course, you’d trade for Giannis.’
There are real concerns with Giannis. He missed 46 games last season with a variety of injuries, he seems to have developed a bit of an attitude problem, and I have questions about how well he’d fit on the Celtics.
That’s what I’m focused on, and for that reason, I don’t think dealing for Giannis is the right move for Boston.
Mike Dynon
No, I wouldn’t make that trade. There are the obvious reasons: Giannis’ age (31, vs. Jaylen, 29); his many injuries in recent years; and the fact that even with Giannis on the roster, the Bucks haven’t won a single playoff series in the past four seasons.
So let’s focus on a different reason: How the Celtics are perceived across the league. It wasn’t too long ago that Isaiah Thomas had that heroic season in which he was top-five in MVP voting, persevered through the death of his sister just as the playoffs began, and led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals. At that point, a hip injury ended his season – and then he was traded to Cleveland during the summer.
The Celtics franchise was widely criticized as being untrustworthy, doing wrong to a player who had given his all for Boston. Soon after, the father of superstar Anthony Davis used that episode as the reason his son – who then was trying to force a trade out of New Orleans – would not consider Boston as a potential destination. It was a bad look for a franchise that honestly has never been a magnet for available talent.
Now, after the All-NBA season of leadership that Jaylen just delivered, trading him could harm the “Different Here” Celtics’ culture. Critics (logical or not, there are always critics) could again question the loyalty of the franchise. Some might say that’s superficial, but the Davis episode demonstrated the real consequences. Plus, the actual splitting up of the Jays would let all the hot-takers win, and I’m too stubborn to accept that. Jaylen says he wants to play in Boston for another 10 years, and I believe him. Let’s make that happen.
Jack Anderson
I would trade Jaylen for Giannis. I think what the Sixers series and then Knicks sweep of the Sixers showed us is that the Celtics aren’t good enough as it. Brad Stevens even said so in his press conference.
This is Giannis Antetokounmpo, man. He makes you better than Jaylen Brown makes you. I love JB, he is an awesome player and he and Tatum have had awesome results.
However, the Celtics have to get better, the window is open as long as Jayson Tatum is Jayson Tatum. You have to strike when given the chance.
Trading Jaylen would be sad and I wouldn’t deal him if Antetokounmpo isn’t an option. Yet, if Giannis is an option, I think Boston needs to strike.
Nirav Barman
If I had it my way, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown would be Celtics for the entirety of their careers. At this point, I don’t see any realistic trades that would make me change my mind on that, including trading JB for Giannis. Giannis is the better player – you won’t find any argument from me on that. That being said, big swings like this don’t always yield the expected results.
Giannis, as exceptional as he is, hasn’t had a fully healthy playoff run since 2022. In fact, he’s only played 8 total playoff games since then, 3 in ’23 and 5 in ’25. Playing as physical of a game as Giannis does, and that too as a freak athlete of a near 7-footer, is bound to have some harsh wear and tear over the course of a season, and over the course of a career. He will be 32 next year, He will also be expecting a contract extension while making $58.5M in 26-27 and holding a $62.8M player option in 27-28. The extension would probably be in the range of $65M-70M per year going into his year 36 season. That’s a hell of a gamble to take.
More than Giannis, I think Jaylen’s value on the Celtics is severely understated. We’re talking about trading the longest-tenured player on the team. The guy who has made enormous efforts to take his team to new heights, while also making his mark on the city of Boston off the court. He studied his teammates’ birth signs to learn how to better communicate with them. He takes accountability after each loss, and takes every opportunity to uplift his teammates, whether that be praise or direct coaching. He has made his commitment to the team and its success very clear.
We already know Jaylen fits into the Celtics, including right next to Tatum, who Boston is most definitely focused on building around. Why break up a good thing when you don’t need to? The Celtics over-achieved this season, and fell due to some inefficiency and a lack of experienced depth, or at least a lack of willingness to use it. They can get back to serious contention by tinkering around the edges instead of making drastic changes.
I say no JB for Giannis trade.
Robby Fletcher
As tempting as the prospect of a Giannis-Tatum pairing is, I still don’t see a reason for Boston to break up the Jays. Maybe there’s a time to consider a trade as seismic as that, but I definitely don’t think we’re there yet.
The play of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum this postseason was not my primary concern after the 3-1 collapse to the 76ers, and I don’t think it’s Brad Stevens’ either. We’ve seen a range of extreme highs and stunning lows with Brown and Tatum leading the way, but we know the right supporting cast automatically makes them a contender together in the East.
True, the needs of this current roster align with what Giannis presents: a stronger two-way presence inside the paint. But I don’t anticipate Boston taking that big of a swing to address it. With some wiggle room to evade the repeater tax, along with draft assets and tradeable contracts to work with, the Celtics can still be active this offseason to improve what’s already a pretty promising roster.
I’m mostly expecting a similar core outside of a few new additions in the middle of the rotation. Pair that with a healthy Tatum ready for opening night, and Boston still looks like a legitimate contender entering next season.
A trade notification involving Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo would immediately enter the conversation as one of the most franchise-shifting deals in Celtics history. Do I expect this offseason to produce that reality? Probably not. But it’s intriguing to think about. We’ve seen plenty of summer trade rumors surrounding JB over the years. I’m ready to add this one to the file.
Ryan Paice
As much as it would hurt, I would trade JB for Giannis — if there is some kind of guarantee that he signs an extension to stay in Boston long term. The Greek Freak’s current contract is only guaranteed through the 2026-27 season, as he has a player option for 2027-28 that he will likely decline to seek what could be his last max contract. If the Lakers or Heat play it right, they could have max slots open to sign him when that happens and — no matter how much I think Giannis would like playing in Boston — the pull of LA and Miami on free agents is too strong to ignore when considering moves like this. So, if the Celtics are going to part with their 2024 Finals MVP to get Giannis, Brad better make sure that he’s staying in Boston when his current contract expires.
Cost-wise, I think the C’s can and should do whatever it takes to facilitate a JB for Giannis swap as long as the deal does not exhaust the team’s flexibility moving forward. JB, Max Shulga and a pair of first round picks would work for me. Boston would be able to maintain its shooting depth (as opposed to the White/Hauser/Pritchard idea) and keep a FRP to potentially add onto the newly souped-up core. Despite the fact that Giannis would definitely see time as a 5 under Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics may still need another center — hopefully one who can wrestle with trees like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic — so maintaining assets for such a deal is important.
Overall, the potential in trading for Giannis is just too high to pass up on, even if that means trading one of my favorite players of the last decade. He’d add a much needed interior scoring dynamic, bolster Boston’s defense and make the team an instant title favorite. What more could you ask for?
Jeff Clark
Admittedly, I go back and forth on this topic daily. I would like to say that my final stance is that I would not do it because I want Jaylen to retire a Celtic (but if it happened I would talk myself into it in about .034 seconds). But I don’t think it is that simple.
Sure, we’ve seen Jayson and Jaylen win a title together, so we know that formula can and does work. We’ve also seen them get bounced pretty early in 3 of the last 4 playoffs. So maybe the formula is a little more unstable than we’d like to believe. I very much trust Joe Mazzulla and his system, but also recognize that he’s not flawless and has some work to do on his own game. I think Brad Stevens has a good feel for what this team needs and he thinks we need to put more pressure on the rim. Perhaps that can be accomplished with a focus on play style and a few interchanged pieces. However, it is hard to deny that adding Giannis to a roster with Tatum (who can play with anyone) would unlock a lot of what Brad is trying to accomplish.
The freak sized caveat is “if he’s healthy.” The leg injuries should scare anyone considering this investment. Are we just signing up for the death rattle of his career? Or are the next few years of his prime worth the risk? Can we count on a KG type of impact? Or is it more of a Kemba Walker situation?
Ultimately if I had to choose, I would say I do want to trade for Giannis (but if it doesn’t happen, I’ll be perfectly happy keeping Jaylen). It is a gamble, but fortune favors the bold. Unless it doesn’t. You can see now why I’m a blogger, flip flopping my opinion even in the course of writing one down, and not the GM of our favorite team.
So now the question goes to you fine folks. Would you trade Jaylen for Giannis?
Marco Luciano of the Somerset Patriots reacts during a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on May 1, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Another week on the farm is in the books, and there’s big stories at every level.
In Scranton, a talented roster tries to steady the ship after being depleted due to big league call-ups. A powerful lineup continues to mash in Somerset, while Hudson Valley’s pitching staff continues to round into form. Down at the lower levels, multiple highly-touted pitching prospects made big returns from Tommy John surgery on the road to recovery.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Record: 20-17, 1 GB in the International League East after a 2-3 week against the Worcester Red Sox (Red Sox)
Run differential: +21
Coming up: Home vs. Syracuse Mets (Mets)
It was an uneven week in Scranton as their once-stacked roster continued to be eaten away at, partially due to the MLB team needing injury reinforcements. Spencer Jones was called up mid-week to replace Jasson Domínguez (both started the year in Scranton). Multiple relievers went up and down, Brendan Beck was needed for a few innings in the majors, and Luis Gil was lost for the next six weeks due to a shoulder issue.
Saturday’s game was rained out, but they had ample opportunity to win the series otherwise. They blew a late lead on Tuesday and played an extremely bizarre 12-inning affair on Thursday, which saw emergency catcher Edinson Duran be forced to pitch extra innings due to the roster turnover. He got through 2.1 solid innings before allowing a walk-off home run in the 12th.
With some of their heavy hitters off the roster, the focus has shifted to the likes of recently promoted top prospect George Lombard Jr. and the recently demoted Anthony Volpe. On one end, Lombard is displaying some tremendous plate discipline and hitting the ball hard, but is running into some bad luck. Volpe is struggling considerably, particularly at putting the ball in the air with some mental lapses defensively and on the bases.
Spencer Jones crushes a rocket double off the wall. Anthony Volpe didn’t score here (not sure what he was doing), but Yanquiel Fernández followed with a home run. pic.twitter.com/aGrYzMe0gJ
Carlos Rodón started on Tuesday and had a very uneven final rehab start, allowing six runs in 6.1 innings. Veterans Dom Hamel and Adam Kloffenstein struggled, while Carlos Lagrange continued an up-and-down season by striking out eight in 4.1 innings, but allowed five runs on three dingers. Elmer Rodríguez returned to the minors to make a solid start on Sunday, as he settles back into the next-man-up role.
Yovanny Cruz took the loss on Tuesday, but continued to be effective along with Bradley Hanner in the back of the bullpen. Veterans Dylan Coleman and Rafael Montero, who both started the year on the shelf, have combined to allow just two runs in 11.2 innings with 13 strikeouts. It was only four years ago when Montero was one of the best relievers in baseball for the Astros, and he could be an option at some point.
Record: 15-18, 5.5 GB in the Eastern League Northeast after a 3-3 week against the Reading Fightin’ Phils (Phillies)
Run differential: +26
Coming up: Home vs. Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets)
It was a so-so week down in Somerset, as every single one of their games against Reading turned into a shootout. They scored at least 11 runs in each of the first three games and scored 42 runs in the series, while allowing 33. The offense cooled down towards the end of the week, but it produces some gaudy numbers.
Marco Luciano hit enough that he earned a midweek promotion. Tyler Hardman (10-for-25, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 2B) and Garrett Martin (10-for-28, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB) continued to rake, while Jace Avina (9-for-29, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 3 2B, 3 BB) heated up in a big way after being in a big-time slump to start the year. Jackson Castillo missed the start of the season due to injury, but has an OPS over .900 in 15 games since being activated.
In the rotation, Trent Sellers struggled badly on Tuesday, but the rest of the rotation wasn’t terrible. Cade Smith had his second straight solid start and Xavier Rivas struck out seven in 4.1 shutout innings, while Jack Cebert and Kyle Carr had inconsistent outings, with the latter striking out a career-high eight batters despite allowing four runs.
Gerrit Cole made his latest rehab start on Sunday, and he’s getting closer and closer to being ready. Despite taking the loss, he struck out eight and built up to 77 pitches in a five-inning outing while consistently flashing 96 on the radar gun.
The bullpen was rough this week. Will Brian was off to a fantastic start to the season, but had a disastrous outing in Tuesday’s 14-12 loss. Matt Keating and Michael Arias continue to struggle to put up zeroes, but the team is getting better performances from Geoff Gilbert and Kelly Austin of late. Eric Reyzelman also continues to flash his improved command with 25 strikeouts to just four walks in 13.2 innings. I truthfully think he isn’t far from a big league mound.
Record: 18-14, 2.5 GB in the South Atlantic League North after a 4-2 week against the Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox)
Run differential: +32
Coming up: Home vs. Frederick Keys (Orioles)
Hudson Valley got back to its winning ways this week, rebounding after two early-week losses to win three straight to end the week, allowing just six total runs in its four victories.
Outside of Kaeden Kent, the offense has still been pretty bad. Eric Genther continued to cool off as his lack of slugging continues to be more apparent, and a lot of the 2025 draftees are inconsistent (Kyle West capped off the week with a two-homer, five-RBI day on Sunday, notably). A name to keep an eye on is Josue Gonzalez, who’s now up to a 96 wRC+ with a .221 ISO. The Yankees are really trying to replenish their minor league catching depth, and he could be a big part.
The rotation was absolutely phenomenal this week after Cole’s mediocre start on Tuesday. Luis Serna struggled with command, but worked around five walks to toss five shutout innings on Wednesday. Rory Fox (5 IP, 2 R) had a solid start on Friday, and Franyer Herrera struck out seven in five shutout innings on Sunday. The real highlight of the week, though, was Sean Paul Liñan. He made by far his best start since he was acquired in the Jorbit Vivas trade, tossing six no-hit innings with seven strikeouts in the best start of his entire pro career.
Chris Veach is up to 12.2 shutout innings with 21 strikeouts, Tony Rossi has 18 strikeouts in 11.1 innings, and the trio of Tanner Bauman, Jack Sokol, and Brady Kirtner aren’t far behind in terms of jaw-dropping numbers out of the bullpen. We’re getting to a point where some of them need to be promoted just to see if this isn’t an effect of A-ball hitting.
Record: 15-18, 5 GB in the Florida State League West after a 3-3 week against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (Twins)
Run differential: -26
Coming up: Home vs. Dunedin Blue Jays (Blue Jays)
It was a much better week for the Tampa offense, as they put up at least six runs on four different occasions, but the pitching took a step back as Fort Myers secured a split with two straight wins to end the week.
The two hitters who had the best weeks were Hans Montero and Jackson Lovich, who has rebounded nicely after the first real slump of his professional career. Enmanuel Tejada continues to pace the team with a near-.400 OBP and could be in line for a promotion if Kent is pushed up to Double-A in the near future to open up a spot in the infield.
Tyler Boudreau allowed three runs in 4.1 innings to start the week on Tuesday, Mac Heuer struggled with command in an abbreviated 2.2 inning outing, Justin West struck out eight in a choppy 4.1 innings on Thursday, and both JT Etheridge and Henry Lalane struggled early in their starts over the weekend. There wasn’t much to get excited about in the rotation this week… except for one big rehab assignment.
The team’s sixth-round pick from 2022 Chase Hampton made his first start since August 10, 2024, and just his eighth since 2023. He looked great in three innings for Tampa on Friday, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts and zero walks. You could tell the organization was still high on him when he was added to the 40-man roster amidst Tommy John recovery in the offseason, so he’s a big story to watch going forward.
Record: 5-2, 2 GB in the FCL North after a 3-2 week.
Run differential: +30
The FCL North has been an extremely funny division. So far, the FCL Blue Jays are 7-0, and the FCL Tigers are 0-7, with the FCL Phillies sitting at 2-5. Both Yankees losses are to the Blue Jays, and both Phillies wins are against the Tigers. It’s perfect balance.
The offense has been great to start the season, specifically the likes of Leni Done and Wilberson De Pena, who was acquired for Oswald Peraza from the Angels last July. Last year’s DSL darling, Richard Matic, isn’t far behind. As a note, Francisco Vilorio is currently injured.
Thatcher Hurd and Wyatt Parliament, two 2024 draftees who missed all of last season with Tommy John recovery, have made their pro debuts and look good in a limited sample. Blake Gillespie, who started the year in Tampa before being demoted, and Omar Gonzalez have 19 strikeouts in 12 innings combined.
There’s not too much to talk about yet with this team as we wait for large enough sample sizes for it to matter, but there are certainly players to watch.
Luciano is not legally a Yankees prospect, but considering he’s younger than multiple people we’re keeping close eyes on across the system and has only a handful of big league experience, he counts in my book.
At one point, Luciano was one of the best prospects in the world. Signed for $2.6 million out of the D.R. by the San Francisco Giants in 2018, he was a consensus top-20 prospect in baseball for three consecutive years from 2021-23, ahead of his MLB debut in July 2023 with the Giants. But over a 41-game big league sample in two years, he slashed just .217/.286/.304 with mediocre defense at both second base and shortstop, killing his hype to the point he was DFA’d this past offseason.
After being claimed off waivers by the Pirates and spending a month there before being DFA’d again, he went through the same process with Baltimore before the Yankees gave him a shot in late January. He would get DFA’d by a fourth different team a few weeks later, but he cleared waivers this time, staying in the Yankees’ organization.
After getting a good amount of reps in spring training, he was sent down to Double-A Somerset, the lowest level he’d played at since July 2023. In this situation, you’d love a guy like him to immediately show he doesn’t belong there and that’s exactly what he did.
His stats have been ludicrous to this point, and after Max Schuemann’s promotion and Paul DeJong’s release opened space in the infield, the Yankees suddenly have him one step away from the bigs once again. We’ve seen them rehabilitate former prospects in the past and tweak something with them to get them back on teams’ radars (Blake Perkins, Brennan Davis). Could Luciano be next? That’d be great to see.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: A.J. Ewing #97 of the New York Mets bats during the third inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Clover Park on March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Despite a disastrous 2026 season, Joe Pantorno explained why David Stearns’ job is probably not going to be in danger any time soon.
David Lennon wrote about every bad month for the Mets feeling like an existential crisis.
Abbey Mastracco provided the good, the bad, and the ugly from the team’s 5-4 road trip.
Dan Martin sees the Mets as ‘broken’ and help likely isn’t on the way.
With trade rumors swirling amid the team’s horrid start to the season, Freddy Peralta expressed confidence in the team’s turnaround, adding ‘I love being here”.
However, a changing Mets reality puts Peralta at ‘the top of the list’ for most deadline sales.
Christian Scott’s revamped mix of pitches has led to an electric start to his 2026 campaign.
The Braves activated Ha-Seong Kim and placed Eli White on the 7-day concussion list one day after his incredible, game-saving catch.
Cristopher Sánchez was named NL Player of the Week. Bobby Witt Jr. took home AL honors.
Charlotte Varnes provided some Phillies takeaways, including some bullpen updates and Kyle Schwarber’s start.
Following Justin Crawford’s first major league home run, Todd Zolecki took a trip down memory lane with the first career homer for some Phillies players.
Phillies players are excited to see Ranger Suarez, their former teammate turned rival, as they travel to Boston to face the Red Sox.
The MLB.com staff looked at one thing each club can improve in 2026.
The Dodgers activated Mookie Betts from the IL, five weeks after suffering a strained right oblique, and optioned Alex Freeland to Triple-A.
The Blue Jays made a bunch of roster moves, placing Addison Barger on the IL, recalling Yohendrick Piñango from Triple-A, selecting Yariel Rodríguez to the big league roster, and designating Eric Lauer for assignment.
The Athletics are calling up No. 5 prospect Henry Bolte, one week after recording a hit in twelve straight plate appearances.
The Yankees appear more ruthless than ever this year, despite Brian Cashman rejecting the narrative around urgency.
José Caballero of the Yankees will have an MRI on his sore right middle finger.
Scott Boras believes that Tarik Skubal will have a short rehab and could be back sooner than later.
Nathan Eovaldi was scratched from his start last night due to left side tightness. Texas turned to a bullpen game with Eovaldi sidelined.
19-year-old Padres prospect Humberto Cruz plead guilty to transporting undocumented immigrants and has self-deported amid this plea.
Coby Mayo’s three-run home run with one out in the seventh inning catapulted the Orioles past the Yankees by a 3-2 victory.
The Yankees lost despite Ryan Weathers carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning.
The Guardians defeated the Angels 7-2, as Travis Bazzana’s trained eye continued to aid the Guardians’ offense.
The red-hot Rays stayed…well, red-hot…with an 8-5 win over the Blue Jays. The power of friendship has helped power the Rays to one of their best 40-game starts ever. In the victory, Rays’ speedster Chandler Simpson created a run entirely with his legs.
The Mariners topped the Astros 3-1. On the evening, Julio Rodríguez answered a fan’s call with a batting practice home run, and then did the same during the game.
With the help of a surging Rafael Devers and Willy Adames, the Giants’ offense got back on track with a 9-3 over the Dodgers.
A first inning run held up in the Diamondbacks’ 1-0 victory over the Rangers, as Michael Soroka’s gem and Paul Sewald’s save gave Arizona some payback for the 2023 World Series.
On this date in 2011, Carlos Beltran became just the seventh Met to hit three home runs in a single game, accomplishing the feat in the team’s 9-5 win over the Rockies at Coors Field.
Pace bowler Nahid Rana claimed five wickets as Bangladesh trumped Pakistan by 104 runs in a rain-hit first Test on Tuesday after a thrilling fifth day of batting collapses.
Aaron Judge
Andrew Vaughn
Andy Pages
