“Everyone deals with this,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said Tuesday. “It’s part of a major league season. Virtually every team is going to deal with their fair share of injuries. It’s tough when it happens to your best players. You’ve got to find a way to get through it and guys have to step up.”
Weiss added that Baldwin initially felt a slight discomfort after his second at-bat but not painful enough to warrant his removal.
“He felt a little more after the last at-bat. I took him out of the game after that one,” Weiss said. “Obliques are obliques and they’re never fun to deal with.”
Baldwin has returned to Atlanta, where he will undergo an MRI and additional testing.
The 23-year-old Baldwin has followed a standout rookie season with impressive offensive numbers through his first 48 games. Baldwin began Tuesday with a team-leading .303 batting average and 57 hits, and is tied with Matt Olson with a team-high 38 RBIs.
Last season, Baldwin became the first catcher since Buster Posey in 2010 to win Rookie of the Year. Baldwin hit 19 homers and drove in 80 runs, receiving 21 of 30 first place votes.
Baldwin’s removal coincides with the return of five-time All Star Ronald Acuña Jr. Acuña, the NL 2023 MVP, had been sidelined since May 2 because of a left hamstring strain. He was activated Monday and will hit leadoff as designated hitter on Tuesday.
“I guess, if there is a silver lining, we replace Baldwin with a guy like Ronald Acuña,” Weiss said. “Not many teams get to do that. That’s the good news there. But truth be told — we’re losing arguably our best hitter. Drake has been unbelievable.”
The Braves selected the contract of catcher Chadwick Tromp from Triple-A Gwinnett. Tromp and Sandy León will split the starts at catcher during Baldwin’s absence.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 18: Victor Wembanyama #1 and Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs react during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 18, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game 1 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals between the Spurs and Thunder will go down as one of the most epic playoff games for both the Spurs and NBA — something this rivalry has had a knack for generating over the last 15 years. The young Spurs led most of the time against the defending champions despite no De’Aaron Fox but still found themselves having to overcome their own mistakes to pull it out in double-overtime.
They were able to do so with a series of insanely clutch plays and historic stat lines, all while reaching many milestones both in franchise and NBA Playoff history, and we’re about to go through all if them that I could find (many courtesy of Spurs stat guru Jordan Howenstine). But first, we’ll start with the one that may matter the most when looking at the long-term outlook of this series, courtesy of Michael C. Wright of ESPN:
The Spurs are the fifth team in NBA history to win five of their first six games against the team that owned the best record in the NBA that season. The previous four all won a playoff series against the team that had the best record.
In other words, no team has beaten an opponent in 5 of their first 6 match-ups in a season and gone on to lose a playoff series to them. Of course, there is the added quirk of one of those five games being the NBA Cup Semi-finals, so it’s not like the Spurs swept the Thunder in the regular season or are up 2-0 to start the series, but history is still on their side.
Now we move on to stat milestones specific to Game 1. Without Fox, the Spurs trotted out the youngest starting lineup in Conference Finals history, averaging just under 23 years old. That beat out the Portland Trail Blazers 1977 championship team’s starting lineup by 279 days.
Spurs are rolling out the youngest starting lineup in the all-time history of the NBA Conference Finals.
This was also the Spurs’ first road win in Game 1 of the Conference Finals since 2005, when they beat the Suns in Phoenix Game 1. (We all know how that turned out!)
First time the Spurs have won a Conference Finals Game 1 on the road since 2005.
Last time was when San Antonio beat Phoenix in Game 1 of the WCF 121-114 on May 22, 2005.
Next up is Victor Wembanyama, who finished with 41 points on 14-25 shooting, 24 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks in a career-high 49 minutes of action. He had already become the first player since Chris Webber in 2002 to have double-double at halftime in his first ever conference Conference Finals game with 14 points and 10 rebounds (and the first Spur since Tim Duncan against OKC in 2012), and by the end he was the youngest player to post a 40/20 game in playoffs history, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as well as the second Spur after David Robinson.
Victor Wembanyama is the first player to have a double-double (14/10) in the first half of their first ever Conference Finals game since Chris Webber on May 18, 2002 vs the Lakers (14/10) – exactly 24 years ago to the day.
Victor Wembanyama is the second player in Spurs history to have 40 points and 20 rebounds in a Playoff game. David Robinson had 40/21 against Phoenix in 1996.
But it didn’t end there. He’s also the first player since Dirk Nowitzki in 2003 to have 25+ points and 15+ rebounds in his first Conference Finals game (which was against the Spurs, and some may forget he missed most of that series). He was also only the second player 22 or younger to post 30+ and 20+ in playoff game since the 1976 merger, along with Moses Malone in 1977, and the first to do it in his first Conference Finals game since Wilt Chamberlain in 1960.
Victor Wembanyama is the first player to have 25+ points and 15+ rebounds in their first-ever NBA Conference Finals game since Dirk Nowitzki in 2003.
Victor Wembanyama is the first player to have 30+ points and 20+ rebounds in his first-ever Conference Finals game since Wilt Chamberlain had 42/29 in 1960.@EliasSports
Then we have Dylan Harper, whose rookie star keeps shining brighter the deeper we get into the playoffs. He got the start with Fox out, posting 24 points on 8-20 shooting (albeit 0-7 from three), 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 7 steals. (And perhaps just as importantly, just 1 turnover to help mitigate Stephon Castle’s 11 on the night. If Fox sits again for Game 2 — which may be a strategic move since it’s no longer a must-win game, although I personally take every game extremely seriously — the ball needs to be in Harper’s hands more.)
His 7 steals beat out Dejounte Murray, who had 5 against the Warriors in Game 4 in 2017, for the Spurs rookie record for a playoff game. He also joined some elite Spurs company with Alvin Robertson, Avery Johnson, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard as the only Spurs with 6+ steals in a playoff game.
At the NBA level, he became just the second rookie to record 20/10/5/5 (steals) in a playoff game, with the other being Magic Johnson, and the first to post 20/10/5/7. But it wasn’t just a historic rookie stat line: since steals began being recorded in 1973-74, he joins Larry Bird and Julius Irving as the only players to post that stat line in the playoffs AT ALL!
Only two rookies in NBA Playoffs history to have a game with 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 5+ steals:
Dylan Harper becomes the third player since 1973-74 (first season steals were fully recorded) to record 20+ PTS, 10+ REB, 5+ AST, and 5+ STL in a Conference Finals Game!
The Spurs could hardly have asked for a better start to the series. Of course, nothing is set in stone, and they must remain focused and not get too high or confident while working for three more wins because it won’t be easy. Thunder fans will point to how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could have been much better on offense, and they would be right. At the same time, the Spurs certainly could have been better themselves (especially from three, where they shot just 13-43), likely won’t be giving up 21 turnovers again (especially if Fox is back), and it would be a stretch to think the Thunder get 31 points and 8 threes from Alex Caruso again, who is a very erratic shooter.
Regardless, this is just the start of what should be an amazing series. Game 1 has already gone down in Spurs history as one of the best performances we’ve seen (which is saying a lot), but it will only carry so much weight into the future if the Spurs don’t take this series. We can all revel in it today, and then tomorrow, it’s back to work.
Make sure to add any more milestones I may have missed in the comments below! (It’s quite the rabbit hole to go down and almost impossible catch them all.)
Shohei Ohtani, that two-way playing unicorn, may actually get a chance to both hit and pitch when his turn in the rotation comes up on Wednesday vs. the San Diego Padres.
According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani will probably hit and pitch next time he is on the bump amid a season when he is not only struggling for consistency on offense but has also seen his status as both pitcher and hitter become a rare occurrence, with the slugger regularly sitting as DH on days he pitches.
The Dodgers' skipper said on Tuesday that the "plan" for the series finale in San Diego is to have Ohtani hit the same game he is set to start, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.
The news comes during a crucial slate down south for the boys in blue, who find themselves 0.5 games back of their NL West counterparts after dropping Monday's game, 1-0.
The two teams do battle once again on Tuesday night, with the Dodgers' Emmet Sheehan set to pitch against the Padres' Griffin Canning.
Shohei Ohtani stats, record
Ohtani has been dominant on the mound this season, posting a minuscule 0.82 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 50 strikeouts over 44 innings pitched.
To prove he is indeed mortal, Ohtani has had a pedestrian time at the plate in the early goings, at least by his standards.
The DH has an .850 OPS with 7 home runs and 24 RBI through 43 games. By contrast, he enjoyed a 1.180 OPS with 15 home runs during the month of May last season. Though he has picked it up of late, going 5-for-10 and driving in eight over the last week.
Whether he can pick up the pace with the additional ABs on the days he pitches will be answered shortly.
Carmelo Anthony said he wants to "clear the air" with his former Knicks teammate Jeremy Lin more than a decade after "Linsanity" took over New York in 2012.
Carmelo Anthony said he wants to “clear the air” with his former Knicks teammate Jeremy Lin more than a decade after “Linsanity” took over New York in 2012.
During Monday’s installment of the “7PM In Brooklyn” podcast, Anthony invited Lin to come on his podcast to “speak the truth” — but Anthony offered no other explanation.
“Jeremy Lin, I’m giving you my invite to come sit on the couch,” Anthony said.
“Let’s have a conversation, let’s clear the air on a lot of bullshit that’s out there please. And I love what you’re doing right now, man … Come speak the truth.”
NY Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony invites his former teammate Jeremy Lin on his podcast so they can clear the air of any prior misunderstandings
Melo has previously said he believes Lin’s Houston Rockets contract (3 years-$25 million) was “ridiculous” and sources suggested… pic.twitter.com/cxwsRDp2e7
Knicks faithful know that rumblings of a reported feud came about during Lin’s rise to fame during the 2011-12 season.
At the time, Lin led the Knicks to 10 wins in 13 games when he averaged over 22 points and nine assists after the Knicks called him up.
Anthony was dealing with a groin injury at the time.
After that season, Anthony made waves when he called Lin’s Houston Rockets contract offer — three years and $25 million — “ridiculous,” which led to reports that he was jealous of Lin’s fast success and it was disrupting what he was trying to build in New York.
New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin and Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony looks on against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, February 22, 2012. REUTERS
Anthony has discussed the matter on multiple occasions.
During a May 2024 installment of his podcast, Anthony and Baron Davis, who was a member of the 2012 Knicks team, said they were supportive of Lin’s fame behind closed doors.
“People always talk about … nobody liked the Linsanity … personally me, you get what I’m saying? They throw that out there,” Anthony said.
Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony #7 and Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin #7 during the first half on November 14, 2013. Anthony J. Causi
“But people don’t know that, behind the scenes, we were very supportive of this.
“… Linsanity could have been a $100 million business easy and I’m trying to get this through to him,” Anthony recalled. “He was like, ‘Nah, I’m not brought up on that, my parents. But I respected that. I hear that, matter of fact, bring your parents in here, let us talk to them… It was [happening] so fast.”
Davis added, “Yeah, he wasn’t trying to hear that s–t from nobody.”
New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony, right, holds Jeremy Lin’s hand as he leaves the game after fouling out during the fourth quarter of an against the New Jersey Nets on February 20, 2012, at Madison Square Garden in New York. AP
Lin acknowledged “the theory” that Anthony being jealous played a part in his Knicks exit — but declined to “feed the speculation train” in a 2022 interview with the Daily Beast.
“I know, and I’m saying this truthfully, that there were multiple points of opposition completely outside of Melo within what was going on, and once [head coach Mike] D’Antoni resigned, there was already opposition within the organization — whether it was the coaching staff that took over or certain members of the front office,” Lin said.
“But there was definitely, from what I’ve heard or gathered in the few years after, it wasn’t all as rosy as people thought it was. I don’t know who to attribute it to, but I know there were multiple points of opposition.”
Lin had stints with the Warriors, Rockets, Lakers, Hornets, Nets, Hawks and Raptors after going undrafted out of Harvard.
He was part of the 2019 Raptors team that won the franchise’s first championship.
Lin later went on to play for the Beijing Ducks.
Jeremy Lin of Beijing Ducks prepares for free throw during a preseason game against Jilin Northeast Tigers in Beijing, China on October 1, 2019. ZUMA24.com
He most recently played for the New Taipei Kings of the P. League+ in Taiwan, alongside his brother Joseph Lin.
Lin announced his retirement from professional basketball in an Instagram post last August.
The Padres (29-18) beat the Dodgers (29-19), 1-0 on Monday night. thanks to a first inning home run by Miguel Adujar. San Diego looks to win the series Tuesday at Petco Park.
Los Angeles' five-game winning streak was snapped in the loss as the offense couldn't get going. The Dodgers managed five hits and 10 strikeouts to five walks in the loss. Three of the five hits came from the top of the lineup via Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. The Dodgers are 3-3 since Betts has come back to action.
San Diego is riding a four-game winning streak, their second longest of the season. The Padres offense scored 15 total runs in the two games prior to the Dodgers, but only managed one yesterday. The Padres have now shutout four teams and the following game, San Diego has lost the previous three. Will that streak continue versus the Dodgers tonight?
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Dodgers at Padres
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Time: 9:40 PM EST
Site: Petco Park
City: San Diego, CA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Dodgers at the Padres
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-163), San Diego Padres (+135)
Spread: Padres +1.5 (-122), Dodgers -1.5 (+102)
Total: 8.0
Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Padres
Tuesday's pitching matchup (May 19): Emmet Sheehan vs. Griffin Canning
The Padres’ Miguel Andujar is hitting .298 with 39 hits and 66 total bases over 131 at-bats
The Padres’ Jackson Merrill is hitting .202 with 35 hits and 49 strikeouts over 173 at-bats
The Dodgers’ Andy Pages is hitting .299 with 53 hits and 91 total bases over 177 at-bats
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is hitting .265 with 44 hits and 48 strikeouts over 166 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Dodgers at Padres
The Padres are 21-25-1 ATS and to the Under this season
The Dodgers are 21-27 ATS and to the Under this season
The Padres are 7-4 ATS and 6-5 on the ML as a home underdog
The Dodgers are 14-9 ATS as a road favorite, ranking second-best
The Padres are 6-5 to the Over as a home underdog
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Padres
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday's game between the Dodgers and the Giants.
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.0
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
On Monday night, the Montreal Canadiens, who have an average age of 25.8, became the youngest team to advance to the Conference Final since the Habs in 1992-93. Back then, the Sainte-Flanelle had an average age of, you guessed it, 25.8.
While that’s an interesting similarity with the Tricolore’s last Stanley Cup conquests, there is one big difference between the two editions of the team’s journey in the playoffs. Back then, the Habs had to face the Quebec Nordiques, who were second in the then Adams Division, the Buffalo Sabres, who were fourth in the same division, the New York Islanders, who had finished third in the then Patrick Division, and the Los Angeles Kings, who had finished third in the then Smythe Division.
That year, the Canadiens didn’t have to face the toughest opponents, the Islanders having eliminated the Presidents' Trophy winners, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the second round. The Pens, who had Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, and Rick Tocchet in their lineup, were heavily favored but bowed out of the playoffs in a dramatic Game 7 overtime loss.
This year, the Canadiens have had to face the Tampa Bay Lightning, who were fifth overall in the standings, and the Sabres, who were fourth overall, and they will now face the second-ranked Carolina Hurricanes.
Meanwhile, the other semi-finalists had easier journeys. The Colorado Avalanche faced the 20th-overall Kings, the 7th-overall Minnesota Wild, and will now take on the 13th-overall Vegas Golden Knights. The Knights took on the 16th-ranked Utah Mammoth, the 15th-ranked Anaheim Ducks, and will face the 1st-ranked Avalanche. As for the Hurricanes, they had to overcome the ninth-overall Ottawa Senators and the 10th-overall Philadelphia Flyers and will now face the 6th-overall Canadiens.
If the Canadiens manage to get through the Hurricanes, they will have beaten three of the top five teams in the league in the regular season on their way to the Stanley Cup Final. That would be quite a feat.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 10: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks smiles during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
At long last, the Knicks will play basketball tonight.
Nine days after they finished off the Sixers in a dominant four-game sweep, the Eastern Conference Finals will finally begin, as the Cleveland Cavaliers will travel to the World’s Most Famous Arena for Game 1 tonight at 8pm.
It’ll be a truly massive difference in terms of rest between the Knicks and whoever survives tonight’s game at Little Caesars Arena. Eight days of rest versus just one. It’s a stark enough difference, especially in a playoff setting, that makes you wonder about the age-old debate.
Rest vs. rust. Is it better to get the long layoff, or will the all-around cohesion we saw in the last seven games dissipate with the amount of time off?
The concern is very valid, especially when you look at other sports. In MLB, teams with a bye to the LDS have struggled considerably against fresh teams in the Wild Card Round over the last few years. In the NHL, there’s been a startling trend of teams that sweep series and get a long layoff struggling against teams that have played these prolonged series.
With the #LetsGoBuffalo and #GoHabsGo going to a game 7, I will dig up an old stat from 4 years ago.
Since 2000, teams coming off a game 7 win are 7-1 in the next series vs teams coming off a sweep.
— Stat Boy Steven 🇳🇱🇮🇪 (@StatBoy_Steven) May 17, 2026
But those are different sports. Baseball is a game of repetition, and these guys play every single day. Hockey can be an issue with the physicality and the goaltenders getting too much time off. Basketball is different than both of those stylistically as a sport.
So what does the data say? Do teams with extra rest come out sloppy in Game 1?
The overall verdict? Not really.
Lots of debate about rest vs. rust for the New York Knicks
I crunched the numbers. There's very little evidence that rust is a factor after a hiatus during the NBA Playoffs
Since 2000, there have been exactly 20 instances of a sweep in the second round or later. I decided to exclude first-round sweeps because it may skew the sample size with top seeds who were obvious massive favorites, making it closer to this exact situation.
In those 20 instances, the team coming off a sweep is 12-8, but 8-1 since 2016. Each situation also has entirely different context to one another, so we have to dive deeper.
Teams on 8+ days of rest
Looking back to the sample since 2000, there have been 12 instances in which a team had at least eight days of rest ahead of a conference final or NBA Finals matchup, and those teams are 7-5. What occurred in those losses, you might ask?
2003 New Jersey Nets: 10 days of rest, lost in six games to the Spurs (5 days rest) 2005 Miami Heat: 8 days of rest, lost in seven games to the Pistons (5 days rest) 2009 Cleveland Cavaliers: 8 days rest, lost in seven games to the Magic (2 days rest) 2013 San Antonio Spurs: 9 days rest, lost in seven games to the Heat (2 days rest) 2019 Golden State Warriors: 9 days rest, lost in six games to the Raptors (4 days rest)
Of these five occurrences, only one has happened in the last 12 years, and that deserves a big asterisk. The 2019 Warriors were bruised and battered and lost both Klay Thompson to an ACL tear and Kevin Durant to an Achilles tear during the series. Could this theoretically happen to the Knicks, too? Sure, but it deserves to be pointed out as an outlier.
Some recent series victories include the 2024 Celtics (vs DAL), 2017 Cavaliers (vs BOS), and the 2011 Mavericks (vs OKC). But let’s go even deeper to find the series that truly match up.
Big Rest vs Little Rest
To narrow the parameters, we’re going to break down series where one team has a rest advantage of at least six days. The Knicks currently have a seven-day rest advantage, so this will give us the proper comparison we need.
This gives us seven examples since 2001, in which the team with a rest advantage is 5-2. Four of the wins came in just five games, while both losses took at least six games. Let’s look at the full context of these series and evaluate from there:
2001 NBA Finals (Lakers/Sixers) Rest advantage: Lakers +7 (9 to 2) Winner: Lakers, 4-1
After completing a sweep of the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, the Shaq & Kobe Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals in 2001, where they awaited the winner of a seven-game series in the ECF, in which Allen Iverson’s Sixers prevailed over Ray Allen’s Bucks. A quick turnaround for a very AI-centric Sixers squad doomed them from the start against a dynasty in the making.
It probably didn’t help that Philly had played two consecutive seven-game series leading into this (sound familiar?), but this was actually a potential warning for the Knicks as they enter Game 1 tonight. The Sixers actually won Game 1 in Los Angeles against a rusty Lakers squad, but the fatigue caught up to them to win the next four.
If the Knicks lose tonight, this series can be used as an example to stay off the ledge.
LeBron James didn’t have much help in his first stint in Cleveland, but it was fairly disappointing when they lost an opportunity to square off with Kobe and the Lakers in 2009, as Dwight Howard led the Magic to the heights of a young Shaq in the 90s.
This might be a case of a lack of adversity dooming a team. The Cavs started their postseason 8-0 and most of those wins were by double figures, while the Magic gritted out a seven-game series against the Celtics in the second round.
As such, guess what happened when Orlando dragged Cleveland into one-possession games early in the series? The Magic stole Game 1 on a late Rashard Lewis 3-ball and took a 3-1 lead in Game 4 after narrowly surviving LeBron’s heroics late. It all culminated in a six-game series victory where Orlando went 3-0 at home.
2011 Western Conference Finals (Mavericks-Thunder) Rest advantage: Mavericks +7 (8 to 1) Winner: Mavericks, 4-1
Dirk Nowitzki’s redemption for 2006 finally came five years later, when he took advantage of a young and inexperienced Thunder team (that included a certain James Harden) in the WCF to continue a run that would result in a shocking upset over the Heat in the Finals.
A young Damian Lillard battled Dallas to six in the first round before a sweep of the defending back-to-back champion Lakers set up this titanic clash. OKC defeated Denver in five in the first round, but was pushed to seven games by the Grit-and-Grind Grizzlies and entered this series at a tremendous rest disadvantage.
OKC lost Game 1 by nine, but turned around and stole Game 2 in Dallas to even the series and put pressure on the veteran-laden squad. The Mavericks won each of the next three games by just 17 combined points, using their experience to overwhelm a Thunder team that wasn’t quite ready yet.
2013 NBA Finals (Spurs-Heat) Rest advantage: Spurs +7 (9 to 2) Winner: Heat, 4-3
Regardless of the connotation of the superteam Heatles in the early 2010s, these were two stacked rosters that went toe-to-toe in an instant classic of an NBA Finals. A 58-win team against a 66-win team with scores of future Hall of Famers and two of the greatest coaches of all time.
San Antonio had gone 12-2 in a rampage over the Western Conference, only being challenged by the plucky Mark Jackson-coached Warriors in the second round before sweeping the Grizzlies in the WCF. Meanwhile, Miami went 8-1 in the first two rounds before being pushed to seven by Paul George and the Pacers in the ECF, prompting a massive rest differential.
The rested Spurs stole Game 1 in Miami, but this series was back-and-forth the whole way through. It seemed like the Spurs were going to topple the reigning champions in six games, but Ray Allen’s heroics saved the day for Miami and forced a Game 7 that the Heat would ultimately take at home.
Another series involving LeBron, who knew? In the midst of his legacy-sealing 2016 championship run with the Cavs, he faced an extremely similar situation to 2009, where his team was 8-0 entering the conference finals as considerable favorites against a Raptors team that would always be the bridesmaid in the East until acquiring Kawhi Leonard.
Cleveland swept their way here and showed no ill effects of a seven-day layoff prior to the second-round matchup against the Hawks. Toronto gritted through two seven-game series and had a quick turnaround after playing 7 games in 14 days against the Heat in Round 2 (sound familiar?)
The first two games saw the rested team demolishing the fatigued team, as the Cavs won by 50 points combined to take a 2-0 series lead. Toronto was able to pick itself up off the mat to win both north of the border, but got similarly pummeled in the next two games. In Cleveland’s four wins, they outscored their opponents by an average of 26 points a night.
Oh, hey, it’s LeBron again. In their ultimately futile quest to repeat as champions in 2017, Cleveland squared off with an Isaiah Thomas-led Celtics team that featured a rookie Jaylen Brown and didn’t yet have Jayson Tatum. This was an infant version of the perennial contenders we know today.
As usual, a LeBron-led team strolled into the conference finals with back-to-back sweeps over Indiana and Toronto, while the Celtics won a six-game series against the Bulls before a highly entertaining seven-game series against John Wall and the Wizards led to them limping into a matchup with a man who had made the Finals in six consecutive seasons.
Boston did have home-court advantage, but it didn’t matter. Cleveland won by 57 points combined in the first two games in Boston, showing no ill effects from a nine-day layoff. The Celtics stole Game 3 at Quicken Loans Arena without IT thanks to an Avery Bradley buzzer-beater, but the toll came due to a 10-point win in Game 4 and another 30-point blowout in Game 5 to clinch the series for Cleveland.
2023 NBA Finals (Nuggets-Heat) Rest advantage: Nuggets +7 (9 to 2) Winner: Nuggets, 4-1
There are a lot of interesting wrinkles in this series. Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are getting their era-defining championship against the No. 8-seeded Heat, who were basically Jimmy Butler and a dream at this point. Gotta give credit to Erik Spoelstra for seemingly doing this over and over again.
Denver took down the Timberwolves and Suns in the first two rounds before sweeping the Lakers in the WCF in a relatively competitive series for its length. Miami stunned the top-seeded Bucks in five games before defeating a young Knicks team in six to face Boston in the ECF. It looked like the Heat would stroll to the Finals like Denver, but the Celtics rallied back down 3-0 to force a Game 7 before ultimately falling short.
The quick turnaround didn’t necessarily faze the Heat, who split the first two games in Denver, but the fatigue slowly set in as their offense crumbled to dust around Butler’s brilliance in a series that ended in five games
What’s the verdict? There are obviously different circumstances with every case, but history suggests that rust is not an excuse for teams at this stage in the postseason. You got that extra rest after how dominant you were last round; now you get a chance to prove it.
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 13: Mauricio Dubón #14 of the Atlanta Braves, Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves and Mike Yastrzemski #18 of the Atlanta Braves celebrate in the eighth inning during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park on May 13, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good afternoon, folks. Wondering why it’s a 4:10 pm ET game? Me, too. The best explanation I’ve got for you is this tweet from Marlins beat writer Craig Mish:
Hi Jeffrey. Yes. The Marlins this offseason decided to experiment with a 1 game mid week 4:10 start. It is tomorrow. Naturally attendance is constantly discussed here. This is simply a 1 game test run.
Lucky us, on the other end of this grand experiment. Regardless, here’s hoping the Baldwin-less Braves can even up this four-game set today after last night’s game to forget.
The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers meet at Madison Square Garden for the Eastern Conference Finals. This is the second straight season the Knicks have made the Eastern Conference Finals, while the Cavaliers are here for the first time since 2017-18.
New York averaged 124.3 points per game against Philadelphia and shot 54.5% in the series, plus 44.8% from three. The Knicks are on fire and are the hottest team in the NBA with seven straight wins and six of them coming by double digits. The Knicks are 2-1 against the Cavaliers this season with eight and two-point wins.
Cleveland is coming off a seven-game series win over the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons. Cleveland is 2-5 on the road this postseason, but won the last two in Games 5 and 7 at Detroit. The Cavaliers have won four of the last five games and averages 112.8 points per game in that span. The midseason acquisition for James Harden has paid off. The last time Cleveland made an Eastern Conference Finals was the same year that Harden did with Houston.
Let’s take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Cavaliers vs. Knicks
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Time: 8:10 PM EST
Site: Madison Square Garden
City: New York, NY
Network/Streaming: ESPN
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Cavaliers vs. Knicks
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Knicks (-250), Cleveland Cavaliers (+205)
Spread: Knicks -6.5
Total: 217.5 points
This game opened Knicks -6.5 with the Total set at 216.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Cavaliers vs. Knicks
Cleveland Cavaliers
PG James Harden
SG Donovan Mitchell
SF Dean Wade
PF Evan Mobley
C Jarrett Allen
New York Knicks
PG Jalen Brunson
SG Josh Hart
SF Mikal Bridges
PF OG Anunoby (probable)
C Karl-Anthony Towns
Injury Report: Knicks vs. Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
None
New York Knicks
OG Anunoby (hamstring strain) is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Game 1. Anunoby missed Games 3 and 4 vs the 76ers.
Important stats, trends and insights: Cavaliers vs. Knicks
New York is 51-42 ATS and an NBA-best 30-15 ATS as a home favorite
New York is 50-43 to the Under and 24-21 at home
New York is 21-20 ATS as a home favorite
New York is 24-21 to the Under at home and 16-15 to the Over as a home favorite
Cleveland has the second worst ATS record at 39-56
Cleveland is 10-7 ATS as a road underdog and 8-9 on the ML
Cleveland is 27-21 to the Over on the road
Cleveland is 9-8 as an away underdog
Cleveland is 48-48 to the Under on the season
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s Cavaliers and Knicks’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks’ Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Knicks -6.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 217.5
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo are proud to finally deliver a happy pod on the latest episode of The Mets Pod.
After a week of dramatic wins, which included a sweep of the Tigers, a Subway Series victory over the Yankees, and a 10-run 12th inning in Washington, Connor and Joe recap it all - including notes on Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Bo Bichette, Nick Morabito, Mark Vientos, and more, plus a pitch to the audience to come up with a different nickname for the Mets youth movement that is better than "Baby Mets."
The guys also go deep on the pitching, discussing Clay Holmes' injury, the call-up of Zach Thornton, and what Jonah Tong has been doing Down on the Farm.
The show wraps with a Mailbag featuring questions about the race back to a .500 record and what the lineup could look like once Francisco Lindor returns.
Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 14: Chase Burns #26 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park on May 14, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was not Kyle Schwarber who socked a backbreaking homer off the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night in Philadelphia. That honor went to Bryson Stott, who crushed Cincinnati’s dream of a come-from-behind victory with a 2-run shot off Graham Ashcraft in the Bottom of the 8th inning that turned a 4-3 Reds lead into a 5-4 Phillies victory.
Schwarber, though, will get more opportunities to keep sockin’ dingers on Tuesday against Reds pitching, with rising ace Chase Burns getting the start for Cincinnati in the second game of the series.
Burns enters play on Tuesday having been valued at 2.6 bWAR on the season already, a mark that’s fourth best in all of Major League Baseball and behind only Phillies star Cristopher Sanchez among players pitching in the senior circuit. Burns has been on a particularly brilliant role during the month of May, as he’s fired 19.0 IP across a trio of starts and yielded just a lone earned run in the process. He’s holding right-handed hitters to a ridiculous .124/.143/.169 (.311 OPS) so far this season, though lefties – like Schwarber! – own a much more robust .242/.348/.455 (.802) line against him with 5 of the 6 homers he’s yielded this year.
Lefty Jesus Luzardo will start for the Phillies, with first pitch set for 6:40 PM ET once again. With a southpaw on the mound, the Reds have tinkered with their lineup once again, with right-handed outfielders Blake Dunn and Dane Myers in the lineup. Matt McLain remains in the leadoff spot for a second straight day, and Sal Stewart will get a defensive break as the team’s DH for the night.
In the late hours on the eve of the 2026 NHL trade deadline, the Anaheim Ducks acquired defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a conditional 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick.
The condition on the pick stated that if the Ducks missed the 2026 playoffs, they could elect to send Washington their 2027 first-round pick instead. The Ducks made the playoffs, so conditions were not met, and their 2026 pick now belongs to the Caps.
Carlson (36) was in the final year of his contract that carried an AAV of $8 million.
“I thought this was a time where I looked at giving this group another extra push, another little aid in helping us make this push to where we want to go,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said after the trade. “And so ultimately, if we get into the playoffs and we can have a nice run, I looked at it like this: it's worth it. It's worth it to give this group experience, give them a chance to make the playoffs, and to do well in the playoffs, with the hope that we'll be able to re-sign him when this season's over.”
Carlson was injured at the time of the trade, but wound up playing 16 games for the Ducks down the stretch of the regular season, where he was a fixture on both Ducks special teams units, averaged 24:11 TOI per game, and scored 14 points (3-11=14).
He played all 12 of the Ducks’ games in the playoffs, in the very same role as he did in the regular season, greatly factoring into the franchise’s first series win since their trip to the 2017 Western Conference Final. In those 12 games, playing primarily with partner Pavel Mintyukov, he averaged 24:03 TOI/G and scored six points (0-6=6).
Anaheim’s season came to an end on Thursday in Game 6 of their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights. Carlson played a total of 28 games with the Ducks (including regular season and playoffs), and he will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 if he and the Ducks do not come to an agreement on an extension before then.
Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
“I certainly loved it here, and there’s a lot of moving parts, but I’ve loved my time,” Carlson said during his exit interview. “It’s a special place here for sure, with some extraordinary talent and a bright future. So, that is certainly attractive to anyone, not just myself.”
The Ducks will now send the 18th overall pick in the 2026 Draft and their third-round pick in 2027 to the Capitals. Now that the dust has settled and the landscape is clear, the question of worth comes back to the forefront.
The idea of adding a player of Carlson’s caliber and experience to the Ducks’ roster made perfect sense at the time of the trade. The critiques of the trade lie in the price of acquiring a player on an expiring contract and the fit of said player on the roster he was joining.
Carlson had been Washington’s #1 defenseman for over a decade prior to the trade, was a force on both sides of the puck, and ate minutes on the power play, penalty kill, and at 5v5.
As his career has progressed and he’s found his way into his mid-to-late thirties, Carlson’s mobility has predictably declined, as has his defensive impact, while he’s maintained a high percentage of his offensive prowess.
With dynamic, albeit unproven offensive talents littered throughout their blueline (Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov) and defensive pipeline (Tristan Luneau), adding another offensive-oriented defender raised eyebrows and questions of whether it was the right add for this Ducks lineup.
“The things that I’ve liked a lot about him is he's a very intelligent player, very good puck mover,” Verbeek said of what he adds to his defense corps. “I like how he joins the rush in a real cerebral way. His 5-on-5 numbers this year have been outstanding. So I think moving forward, whether it's a playoff run or a playoff push, 5-on-5 play becomes very important, and it'll be important for our group to make sure that we can keep pushing to make the playoffs.
“When I look at what he's done, I think that was probably the most important part of all. Now, we can distribute the ice time in a different manner. We can get better matchups.
There's a lot that went into acquiring him and allowing us to have different looks, different options for our coaching staff.”
Carlson produced well in the regular season, and his underlying numbers were positive in the playoffs. When he was on the ice at 5v5, the Ducks accounted for 53.36% of the shots on goal, 54.59% of the shot attempts, and 51.55% of the expected goals, despite being outscored 11-7.
He was a key factor on the Ducks’ spectacular power play in their opening series against the Oilers, where they converted on eight of 16 opportunities. He was an important piece on the breakout, executing key first passes out of the zone to spark rush opportunities for his teammates.
However, his impact and the positive aspects he brought to the Ducks were somewhat negated in the Ducks’ next series against the Golden Knights.
Vegas was able to thwart the Anaheim power play, which only converted four goals on 22 opportunities through six games. The Knights played a stingy brand of defense in their end, blocking endless perimeter shots and limiting Carlson’s ability to produce from a relatively stationary position at the point. Lastly, they were able to eliminate his breakout impact, cycle for extended periods of time in the Anaheim zone, and exploit the Ducks’ overall lack of inner slot defensive prowess, an area where Carlson doesn’t exactly thrive.
Hindsight will always be 20/20, and Carlson did inarguably improve the Ducks’ blueline down the stretch of the regular season and into their playoff run. However, one can’t help but wonder if other reportedly available defensemen at the trade deadline, such as Colton Parayko, MacKenzie Weegar, or Brandon Carlo, would have been better stylistic and long-term fits on the Ducks’ back end than Carlson.
Until July 1, the Ducks will have exclusive negotiating rights with their three veteran UFA right-shot defensemen: Carlson, Jacob Trouba, and Radko Gudas. This offseason will provide Verbeek a unique opportunity to address an area of need, both on the roster and on the ice, and decisions made could prove pivotal in determining how they can build off the success of the 2025-26 season and playoff run.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 20: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors greet each other at center court right before they battle each other for the tip-off of the game at Chase Center on October 20, 2023 in San Francisco, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors’ season may be over, but Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs gave fans a moment that felt all too familiar to Dub Nation on Monday night.
Late in overtime during San Antonio’s 122-115 Game 1 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, Wembanyama pulled up from deep near the exact same spot where Steph Curry buried his iconic “double bang” three against OKC back in 2016.
Same spot, same splash 💦
Wemby really pulled up from the same spot that Steph did in 2016!
Their height may be different, but the result was the same… both in OKC, both in epic OT thrillers! pic.twitter.com/mpaZniwJ8I
The similarities were impossible to ignore. Same arena. Same opponent. Same fearless audacity to pull up from well beyond the three-point line with the game hanging in the balance.
Only this time, it was a 7-foot-4 basketball alien doing it.
Wembanyama finished with 41 points and 24 rebounds in the thrilling double-overtime victory, but his deep three quickly became the defining highlight of the night.
And much like Curry’s legendary performance against the Thunder nearly a decade ago, the shot felt like a statement to the rest of the NBA. If there were still any questions about whether Wembanyama had truly arrived, there shouldn’t be anymore.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, May 19th:
The Spurs have their young Steph. The NBA has its new Steph. Someone who captivates fans, motivates teammates, dominates opponents and whose unprecedented impact makes him the envy of every franchise in the league. Someone whose presence ensures generous national-television exposure, year after year.
And Wemby is polishing his star five years before Curry, who turned 27 a month before the 2015 postseason.
From a marketing and promotions viewpoint, Wemby is Steph 2.0 – a foot taller, possessing gifts that can dominate on offense and defense.
Steve Kerr’s decision to return to the Warriors is a fair indicator that Golden State doesn’t plan to rebuild in the near future, but this pick gives it a chance to get younger and deeper. Long-term injuries to Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody mean the Warriors will be extremely light on the perimeter to open next season, which could be a consideration here. GM Mike Dunleavy also told reporters this week that Golden State would consider moving around in the draft.
Burries is drawing looks inside the top 10 but could also end up being the guard who falls. He would be a solid fit for the Warriors in this scenario. His dimensions will play up better on the ball than at the two, but his sturdy build should also help him defend wings. The fact he’s a year older than some of the other freshmen and somewhat caught between positions based on tools makes him more of a back-half lottery option.
Source: Arkansas guard Darius Acuff, Jr., recently met with the Golden State Warriors; GSW currently holds the 2026 NBA Draft No. 11 pick (lottery 1st round) & would almost certainly need to trade up to select Acuff; I'm told his interview w/GSW was "abso-f***ing-lutely amazing!" pic.twitter.com/Ds5wavijlF
Caruso kept shooting and hitting, often enough that it warranted Wembanyama gradually inching closer to him on the perimeter. He tried to weaponize the 22-year-old’s own overzealous tendencies.
“He’s a good player defensively, so he’s trying to make all the plays, and rightfully so. He can make them,” Caruso said of Wembanyama. “So part of that is just being smart about how you attack him. You watch the first couple series that they played, and there’s times where they’re just trying to shoot layups over him, and that’s not how you should play against him, right?
“I’m not gonna give you our game plan, but there’s times to be aggressive, and there’s times to manipulate the defense and get better shots.”
BREAKING: The New Orleans Pelicans are hiring Jamahl Mosley as the franchise's new head coach on a five-year contract, sources tell ESPN. Mosley accepts the Pelicans job after five seasons in Orlando where he guided the Magic to three consecutive playoff berths. pic.twitter.com/MBjDpVG0ra
And somehow, that atmosphere was sitting right here in our own backyard Wednesday afternoon at the Boys & Girls Club Excelsior Clubhouse in San Francisco, where 2K Foundations (the philanthrophic arm of the legendary 2K video game franchise) unveiled a newly refurbished basketball court designed for the hundreds of kids who use the facility every week.
I was invited out to cover the unveiling, which featured appearances from Ronnie 2K, Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard, and GSW champion Festus Ezeli. But as cool as the event itself was, what stuck with me most happened before the ribbon cutting.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
SURPRISE, AZ - OCTOBER 24: Nick Morabito #3 of the Scottsdale Scorpions runs to first base during the game between the Scottsdale Scorpions and the Surprise Saguaros at Surprise Stadium on Friday, October 24, 2025 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Nick Morabito’s father and uncle both played baseball. His father Brian played at James Madison University in the late 80s and early 90s, and his uncle John played at Wake Forest University and then in the Chicago White Sox’ minor league system in the late 80s. With their genetics and coaching, Nick took to baseball, playing little league in and around Fairfax County in Virginia and Washington D.C., and then eventually attending Gonzaga College High School, a private Catholic college-prep school in D.C.
Initially, he was not on many radars, but by the end of his junior year, the outfielder had turned himself into a follow for scouts and evaluators. In 2022, he hit.545 for the Eagles with 10 doubles, 6 triples, 12 home runs, and 52 stolen bases, helping lead them to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and win the D.C. State Athletic Association title. Morabito won the Gatorade Player of the Year Award (Washington D.C.) and truly established himself as a bona fide high school prospect ahead of the 2022 MLB Draft.
With the 75th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, obtained as compensation for Noah Syndergaard signing with the Los Angeles Angels, the Mets selected Nick Morabito. He already had a commitment to Virginia Tech but decided to forgo it after the Mets offered him a $1 million signing bonus, roughly $125,000 over the MLB-recommended slot value of $873,300. The organization assigned the speedy outfielder to the FCL Mets for the remainder of the season and the 19-year-old went 1-22 in his first taste of professional ball.
His poor performance at the end of the 2022 season, coupled with less-than-enthusiastic reports over the winter led many to question why the team had gone overlot to sign him, but Morabito flipped the script when he returned to the field for the 2023 season and began the year hitting .324/.437/.432 in 30 games in the complex, with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run, 11 steals, and 20 walks to 22 strikeouts. He was promoted to Single-A St. Lucie in August and finished the season with them, hitting .286/.403/.378 in 27 games with 4 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 10 stolen bases, and 14 walks to 27 strikeouts. All in all, the 20-year-old hit .306/.421/.407 in 57 games combined, with 9 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 21 stolen bases in 25 attempts, and drew 34 walks to 49 strikeouts, just missing the 2024 Amazin’ Avenue Top 25 Mets Prospects list, garnering one 26th place vote.
Morabito remained in St. Lucie to start the 2024 season, and what a start it was. The 21-year-old center fielder appeared in 24 games for the St. Lucie Mets and hit an impressive .397/.530/.513 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run, 11 stolen bases in 15 attempts, and 18 walks to 18 strikeouts, forcing a promotion to High-A Brooklyn in early May. He stayed in Coney Island for the rest of the season, and while he did slow down a bit, it was more a case of being unable to maintain such a torrid pace rather than looking overmatched. In 95 games, he hit .294/.373/.374 with 15 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs, 48 stolen bases in 59 attempts, and 42 walks to 80 strikeouts, setting the Cyclones single-season franchise record for hits (110) and stolen bases. On the season, he hit a combined .312/.403/.398, with 17 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs, 59 stolen bases in 74 attempts, and drew 60 walks to 98 strikeouts. Leading the system in batting average, on-base percentage, and stolen bases, Morabito won Organizational Player of the Year 2024 honors and was ranked 19 on Amazin’ Avenue’s 2025 Top 25 Mets Prospect List.
Morabito began the 2025 season with Double-A Binghamton and remained there for the entire season. Appearing in 118 games, he hit .273/.348/.385 with 27 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, 49 stolen bases in 60 attempts, and drew 47 walks to 115 strikeouts. After the season ended, the organization sent him to the Arizona Fall League, where he appeared in 17 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions and hit .362/.450/.464 in 69 at-bats with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 16 stolen bases in 19 attempts, and drew 10 walks to 15 strikeouts. He was ranked 15 on Amazin’ Avenue’s 2026 Top 25 Mets Prospect List, and began the season assigned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets. He hit the ground running in his first taste of Triple-A baseball, hitting .300 in the month of April, but slowed down as May progressed. Prior to his promotion, the outfielder was hitting .253/.364/.390 in 41 games with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 14 stolen bases in 16 attempts, and drew 21 walks to 40 strikeouts.
The 5’10”, 180-pound Morabito is solid and thick, but quick-twitch speedy and athletic. Year after year, the Mets have tinkered with Morabito’s set-up at the plate. After changing it during the 2025 season to have him more square at the plate, and then closing him up during the Arizona Fall League, Morabito is now standing fairly open, with his hands at his eyes and his bat head angled almost perpendicular to the ground. The slight leg lift that he began using in the AFL remains, as opposed to the toe tap he used throughout the 2025 season in Binghamton, but even with the slight leg lift, his load and weight shift are still minimal and his mechanics at the plate have very little wasted movement.
He is quick and direct to the ball with a level, flat swing plane. Morabito is capable of hitting the ball hard- during his time with the Syracuse Mets, statcast radars tracked 18 batted ball events resulting in exit velocities over 100 MPH and 39 resulting in exit velocities over 95 MPH, roughly 33% of his registered batted ball events- but because of his swing path, he is hitting the ball on the ground more often than not. Morabito had a 23.6% line drive rate, 51.9% groundball rate, and 24.5% fly ball rate upon his promotion, which is in line with his career data; in 2025, he had a 24.1% line drive rate, 53.9% ground ball rate, and 21.9% fly ball rate, and in 2024, he had a combined 24.9% line drive rate, 55.0% ground ball rate, and 20.1% fly ball rate. Most concerningly, Morabito has been absolutely unable to elevate fastballs of any kind, averaging a 3-degree launch angle against them. Against breaking and off-speed pitches, Morabito has had a bit more success elevating them, but even still, he is averaging a 10-degree launch angle against all secondary pitches, still highly suboptimal.
On the whole, Morabito has struggled against fastballs, hitting .197/.340/.316 in the limited data of his month-plus in Syracuse this season. He had his most success against breaking balls, hitting .315/.383/.500 against them. Against fastballs, his swing typically seems be late, going back up the middle or to the opposite field, but against slower secondary pitches, he is pulling the ball more.
Allowing Morabito to succeed, such as he has, with his batting profile and spray chart, is his elite speed. The outfielder’s calling card are ground balls that are legged out for hits, keeping his minor league batting average and BABIP inflated. A true plus runner, Morabito has posted 90th percentile outcomes in various speed-quantifying metrics over the years, and leverages that speed into extra bases when the ball is put into play, leading the system in stolen bases (129) since being drafted in 2022.
A shortstop for the majority of his high school experience, Morabito began playing the outfield late and was drafted as an outfielder. Despite having experience, he has not played in the infield since turning pro save a handful of games where he manned second base in 2023. The majority of his playing time has come in center, where he has shown the ability to be an above-average fielder. Morabito is not graceful like many of the great center fielders, but he has above-average range and can cover a lot of ground. His arm is fringe-average for the outfield, but his glove work is sure. Over the years, Morabito has improved as a defender, learning on the fly. As long as he remains a plus runner, he will have the ability to play center, tracking down balls and correcting himself with “brute speed” when the technical aspects of the position allude him.
Jalen Brunson may be an undersized point guard, but the New York Knicks’ lefthander keys NY in nearly every matchup. How he fares in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers may determine the series.
These Jalen Brunson picks expect him to start the Eastern Conference Finals aggressively, the last round putting plenty of material on film for him to study.
Jalen Brunson prop pick for Game 1
Jalen Brunson best bet: Over 6.5 assists (+110 at bet365)
Jalen Brunson and Cade Cunningham look like completely different players. The New York Knicks’ point guard is listed at 6-foot-2, charitably, while Cunningham is an athletic 6-foot-6.
But both their offenses rotate around them. Brunson’s usage rate of 30.3% this season barely trailed Cunningham’s 30.5%. Brunson shoots and scores more while Cunningham moves the ball a bit more often, but the ball is in their hands one way or another at rates that near the top of the league.
Cunningham regularly got inside the Cleveland Cavaliers’ defense last round. That is the defensive cost of a starting backcourt of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. Cunningham then frequently moved the ball. That is the defensive perk of a starting frontcourt of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
Brunson should see similar assists opportunities in this series.
Jalen Brunson same-game parlay
Cunningham also chucked quite a bit against the Cavaliers. He averaged nine 3-point attempts per game in the final three games and seven attempts per game through the seven-game series.
Compared to his regular-season rate of 5.7 3-point attempts per game, those numbers stood out.
Now realize, Jalen Brunson attempted 7.1 threes per game this season and has hit 40.9% of his attempts in the playoffs.
This Cleveland defense should provide Brunson looks anywhere but the rim, and he will gladly take those.
He will stray from the rim on both ends of the court, though, given the Cavaliers’ quality post presences and, quite frankly, James Harden’s physical advantages on the glass compared to Brunson’s.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Bet Nowsupimg src="https://images.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/2/bet365.png?width=75&height=undefined" alt="bet365" width="125" height="36"/sup
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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.
(@ItsKingSlime) 
