SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 08: A general view of Oracle Park during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants on Friday, May 8, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, and Happy Memorial Day baseball fans!
We’re going to be doing a combined BP for today and tomorrow, due to the holiday. And it is a new week of San Francisco Giants baseball, which means that it’s time to take a look at the week ahead and see what’s on deck.
This week will be a full week of NL West play. The Giants will welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks to Oracle Park this afternoon to begin a three-game series. After an off-day on Thursday, they will head to the hellmouth Coors Field for a three-game weekend series.
Normally, a mid-week series against the Diamondbacks would not get my vote two weeks in a row. But I will never, ever, in good conscience, pick a series at Coors Field. So I guess that’s my pick this week.
Which series are you most interested in this week?
What time do the Giants play today?
If you’re reading this on Monday, the Giants play game one of this series at 2:05 p.m. PT. And if you’re reading this on Tuesday, they play game two at 6:45 p.m. PT.
Happy Monday, everyone, and believe it or not… the last week of May. I’m not quite sure where this year is going, but somehow we are two full months into this baseball season, and unfortunately for some teams, that means it’s time to take a really long, serious look at what they plan to do for the remainder of the season. Predicted contenders may soon become wholesale trading houses (looking at you, Detroit Tigers), while some underdogs are on top of the heap (who saw the Tampa Bay Rays coming?)
Speaking of the Rays, they played an unexpectedly pivotal role in helping Aaron Judge this weekend, as the Yankees’ MVP slugger has been experiencing a home run drought lately. That all ended in a game against the Rays, though.
In other baseball news, the Blue Jays have suffered a spate of new injuries, one of them season-ending. Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole is back in action, and we’ll look at what it took to get him there, and Chris Taylor retired twice this weekend.
May 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer (4) looks out to the field against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images | Anna Carrington-Imagn Images
PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Colorado Rockies have made it one-third of the way through the season. They have gone 21-32, which is 13 games better than they were through 54 games in 2025. They started off well – going 14-18 in the months of March and April – but have cooled off significantly through May.
Over the weekend in Phoenix, manager Warren Schaeffer offered his insights as to what’s been working and what hasn’t.
Early season successes, challenges and surprises
For Schaeffer, the pieces are there. It’s just a matter of the Rockies playing consistently.
“We have a group of guys that compete night in and night out,” he said.
“I know early in the season, our bullpen was one of the best in the league – extremely strong and holding games down at the end. I think the offense was clicking early on and moving the line very well. And I think when we do those things and we get good starting pitching – which we did as well, we kept scores low – we won more ballgames. But it’s a formula that we can do every night. We have the ability to do that every night, and then it’s just a matter of putting it all together.”
The thing that has changed in May, when the Rockies have gone 6-16, is “a lack of offensive execution in big moments,” Schaeffer said.
“I think that has been a consistent theme this month, and also just inconsistency in all three facets of the game – starting pitching, bullpen work and offense. Just inconsistency where we can get better at that. We have the personnel to get better at that.”
The Rockies are 6-9 in one-run games, and 4-7 in two-run games. It’s a matter of executing the little things and getting over the top, which is something they work on everyday.
“It’s a daily grind,” Schaeffer said. “It’s not from a lack of trying and lack of work. We’re just trying to move the ball forward every single day in everything that we do. [We’ve got] great plans of attack against pitchers every night. [We’re] prepared on the pitching side more than I’ve ever seen. It’s just a matter of us learning to put it all together on a consistent basis.”
Baseball is a unique sport because teams play every day, while other sports have more days in between to prepare and practice. But that just means that what the players are working on might take a little longer to show up.
“These guys are working from 1:00 to 5:00 and then play a game at 7:00. That’s a lot of work,” Schaeffer said. “ And sometimes it doesn’t show up, sometimes it does show up that night, and sometimes it’s a process.
“This is a huge process game where each night you have a chance for redemption,” he continued. “You have a brand new opportunity every night, and you put in the work as a man and you know that at some point this is going to pay off. We have a really good ballclub, and it’s just a matter of time before we put it all together.”
However, there have been some early season surprises.
“Troy Johnston has been a really, really nice surprise for us,” Schaeffer said. “On Opening Day, it was borderline if Tyler Freeman was going to be healthy or not and if [Johnston] was going to make the team. And something else happened there, and then he made the club. But he’s been a great surprise.
“TJ Rumfield has also been a great surprise,” he continued. “You never know what you’re going to get out of a guy’s first year in the big leagues. Both of those guys have been incredible surprises on the positive end.”
Over the offseason, the Rockies completely overhauled their front office and coaching staff. They came in with a new plan and vision, and they’re seeing it emerge on the field.
“It’s showing up well,” Schaeffer said. “We’re looking for progress. We’re looking for a focus on winning, and that stuff is still the same. We’re looking to elevate everything we do, and on a daily basis, we’re definitely doing that as a whole. Our message has been consistent, and I think the daily process has continued to be consistent with that.”
But there haven’t been many adjustments just to keep the messaging steady.
“You can’t be wishy-washy in what you’re trying to do and in the message you’re sending to the players,” Schaeffer emphasized. “I don’t think anything has changed in that regard. I think throughout the season, there’s ebbs and flows to certain things at that moment that are important that you address, but the general theme of upholding a high standard and instituting basically a brand new standard is consistent.”
And the communication between the “Big Three” has remained the same, even though they’re all traveling a lot more than they did in spring training.
“I talk to Paul [DePodesta] every day, whether it’s text or calling on the phone,” Schaeffer said.
“And [Josh] Byrnes, I see him every day when we’re at home, and then every now and then we’ll touch base on the road. He was here in Arizona, but JB is focused heavily on scouting right now. But we have Slack channels and text messages, so there’s a ton of communication.”
Looking forward
There are 108 games left in the season, so a lot can change. But Schaeffer is still looking the forward to “watching these boys grow and play every single day and compete and get better.”
“There’s nothing better for me than to watch guys get better, and as a unit create something special. It’s the same opportunity that we talked about in spring training. It still exists, even though the record doesn’t look like what we want it to right now.
“Every day there’s a brand new opportunity to push something forward, and that’s exciting to me,” he continued, “to watch these guys grow into something special and a winning ballclub.”
But Schaeffer has one message to the fans as the Rockies continue to rebuild and evaluate.
“Know that we’re working hard, and we’re holding a high standard. Everyone here is.”
The Isotopes dropped their series finale in Las Vegas, splitting the series with the Aviators (Athletics). Ryan Feltner made his second rehab start, and pitched solidly. The righty threw five innings, allowing just one run on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts. The Topes’ bullpen struggled, though, as Blake Adams gave up three runs on five hits through three innings with a walk and three strikeouts. But Mason Green blew the save and was saddled with the loss after giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits with a walk and a strikeout in the ninth.
Cole Carrigg (No. 3 PuRP) went 0-for-2 but recorded two walks. Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts, but he did steal a base.
The Yard Goats’ pitching was excellent in the victory over the River Cats (Blue Jays). Konner Eaton (No. 28 PuRP) threw six innings and allowed two runs on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Cade Denton entered in the seventh, and pitched two shutout innings with two strikeouts. Carlos Torres earned his second save of the year, allowing just one hit in the ninth with a strikeout.
On the hitting side, Zach Kokoska went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Braylen Wimmer went 2-for-4.
The Spokane Indians went up 5-1 early, but allowed the Canadians (Blue Jays) to score in five straight innings to overtake them 6-5. Luckily, Alan Espinal singled and stole second in the sixth, and was able to score on a Jacob Hinderleider single three batters later to tie the game. Max Belyeu (No. 15 PuRP) then scored Hinderleider on a sharp grounder of his own, which proved to be the game winnner.
In that first inning, things got started with a Tommy Hopfe solo homer. Then, Roynier Hernandez walked and Kevin Fitzer singled. Espinal walked and then Jack O’Dowd singled to score Hernandez and Fitzer. Robert Calaz (No. 6 PuRP) doubled to score Espinal, and then a bases-loaded walk three batters later scored O’Dowd.
On the pitching side, Jackson Cox (No. 16 PuRP) pitched alright, allowing four runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Nathan Blasick ended up with the win after pitching two innings of relief and allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with one walk and one strikeout. Justin Loer earned the hold with two innings in which he struck out three and did nothing else, and Fisher Jameson earned his first save of 2026 with a clean ninth with a strikeout.
It was a back-and-forth affair in Rancho Cucamonga, but the Grizzlies edged the Quakes (Angels) to move to 25-20 on the season. Every Grizzlies’ starter recorded at least one hit except for Derek Bernard and Kyle Fossum, and Ashly Andujar (No. 20 PuRP) recorded two. The shortstop went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, one run scored and two RBI.
On the pitching side, Marcos Herrera pitched 5.2 innings and allowed just two runs on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Jhon Medina ended up with the win, though, after blowing a save. He pitched two innings and allowed one run on three hits with two walks and a strikeout. Bryson Van Sickle allowed a solo home run in his 1.1 innings of work, but it was the only hit and run he allowed. He also recorded two strikeouts.
The Rockies signed Jack O’Dowd — son of former GM Dan O’Dowd — in the offseason, and he’s been tearing it up in the minor leagues so far. He began the year in Fresno and was promoted to Spokane earlier this week, where he hit two home runs in his debut on Thursday. Thomas Harding caught up with him and discussed his journey to this moment.
The Rockies’ IL filled up this week with players like Mickey Moniak and Brenton Doyle, but yesterday José Quintana left the game in the second inning after feeling pain and “heaviness” in his pitching elbow. He spoke after the game and things don’t look great… but he’ll get imaging today or tomorrow to determine next steps.
Tomoyuki Sugano is a legend in Japan. He had success over the last decade but came stateside because he didn’t want to have any regrets in the latter part of his career. Patrick Saunders also asked Ryan Spilborghs about Sugano, who Spilly described as “the equivalent of someone like Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, or Justin Verlander going to Japan after their elite run in the majors.” So far, Sugano is one of the Rockies’ best pitchers, with a 4-3 record and 3.86 ERA in 10 starts.
Apr 11, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) slides into home plate to score against Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya (9) during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgj Pirates are about to start another big divisional series when they face off against the Chicago Cubs. Pittsburgh is 2-1 this season against Chicago winning the first series.
The first game against each other was on April 10 at Wrigley Field where the only scoring came from a two run home run by Bryan Reynolds. The Pirates then won the second game 4-3 in 11 innings which is just the third extra inning victory for Pittsburgh this season. The third game of the series ended with a Cubs walk off single hit by Carson Kelly.
The largest deficit in that series was just by 2 runs. That shows that these teams are very even and well matched.
That was a big series for Brandon Lowe who had two home runs. It was also a solid series for Brayn Reynolds who had three RBIs.
The Cubs are currently struggling after losing 2 out of three to their rivals the White Sox. They also got swept by the Milwaukee Brewers which at the moment puts them in second place in the NL Central.
The Bucs historically have struggled against the Cubs. The Buccos went just 3-10 vs Chicago last season. In those 13 games in 2025 against Chicago the Pirates did not score more than four runs which they snapped this season after their 7-6 victory.
This is going to be the first time this season that these two teams will meet at PNC park. In 2025 the pirates only won one game vs the Cubs at home.
Carmen Mlodzinski, Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler and Paul Skenes are the set starters for the four game series. It is very important for the starting pitching to step up and produce. Ashcraft’s last performance where he threw 7 innings and had nine strikeouts and just 1 earned run is a very good sign for Pittsburgh.
This is going to be a tough series because of the lack of success the Pirates have had throughout the years against the Cubs. It is important for the Buccos to at least take two out of three against what is arguably their biggest divisional rival.
BALTIMORE – Summer in the D is glorious, as a winter’s worth of chill finally gives way to warm days, late sunsets and good times in the Motor City. And when the Detroit Tigers return home to Comerica Park on Tuesday, May 26, the temperature is forecast to hit 82 degrees, a perfect prelude to Michigan’s high season.
If only the Tigers could so easily flip the switch on what was supposed to be a similarly sublime season.
Instead, a series of calamitous events, paired with abominable play, has this anticipated juggernaut fighting for survival. The final season for two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal before he hits free agency took a jarring turn when the lefty was shelved May 4 with bone chips in his elbow that required surgery.
What happened since has been more dispiriting.
The Tigers lost 16 of their next 18 games, tumbling into the American League Central cellar, creating the impression they collapsed in the wake of their ace’s ailment.
More accurately, a handful of ailments, along with a roster not constructed to withstand them, has had a cascading effect. Fifteen Tigers are on the injured list, most in the majors after reliever Brant Hurter landed there Sunday with lumbar spine inflammation.
And the setbacks seem to get more macabre.
Sunday, the club lost for the 21st time in 28 road games when closer Kenley Jansen gave up a two-out, two-strike three-run ninth inning homer, his third walk-off blast yielded in this young season. The Tigers recovered to win the nightcap and gain a doubleheader split against the Baltimore Orioles, snapping an eight-game losing streak
And with that, they packed their bags and headed home, admittedly in an odd spot: Just as the city comes to life, the Tigers are forced to adopt an unexpected mantra.
Not dead yet. We swear.
“I want to keep encouraging these guys that No. 1, the season is not lost. The division has not been won,” manager A.J. Hinch insisted, on a day the Tigers fell 10 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Guardians. “The playoffs have not been named.
“All the goals you had as a team, eight weeks ago, are still available to you.”
It’s just awfully hard to see from here.
Detroit is 21-33, with only the Los Angeles Angels sporting an inferior record in the AL, and its 8-21 road record is the worst in the major leagues.
Center fielder Matt Vierling was a member of both the 2022 Phillies who started 21-29 and reached the World Series, and the ’24 Tigers who sold off parts at the trade deadline, were eight games under .500 on Aug. 10 yet rallied for a wild card and reached the AL Division Series.
While there’s no Knute Rockne speech to be given – the club’s performance after Skubal’s injury would’ve made such eyewash even sillier - Vierling says he’s made a point to pull teammates aside on the team bus, at dinner, in quiet moments in the clubhouse to keep the road ahead in sight.
Even if the current ride is bumpy.
“It’s difficult when you lose one guy, you lose two guys, you lose five or six,” says Vierling. “Kind of like a ‘Whoa, OK.’ The whole dynamic changes with everything. Unfortunately, that did happen to us.
“But that doesn’t have to define our season. It might define what’s going on right now, but we still got plenty of time left. Miss those guys a ton, and I know when they’re back, they’re really gonna help us.”
Yet the pain has yet to abate.
'It's been awful'
Gleyber Torres was an All-Star last year, and while his final numbers weren’t gaudy, his presence in the Tigers lineup balanced their offensive diet. He’d posted a .389 on-base percentage through 32 games this year when, two days before Skubal’s prognosis was revealed, he injured an oblique muscle.
He is nearing recovery, but the Tigers’ struggles without him has made it harder to watch.
“It’s been awful,” Torres said Sunday, now traveling with the team after getting treatment at the club’s Florida complex. “Being injured is no fun. At the beginning I thought it would be a short period. I feel frustration because I feel I can’t do anything for the team.
“When I was in Florida I see the game but I don’t be around the boys. Now I’m here and just feel whatever they feel right now.”
“It’s awful.”
Torres’ absence has been felt throughout the lineup. When he occupied the No. 2 spot on most nights, catcher Dillon Dingler typically batted fifth or sixth – and flourished, with a.257/.330/.495 line, an .850 OPS, six homers and 23 RBIs in 29 games.
In the 18 games since Torres’ injury? A .194/.279/.400 line, with four homers and eight RBIs.
“Even on his bad days, he’s going to find a way to get on base or get a hit. That’s very, very stable in the top third of the order,” says Hinch of Torres. “Everything changes when you lose someone of Gleyber’s presence. And we have to overcome it.
“We need somebody to get hot or get on base a little more to create good things in the absence of someone as talented as Gleyber.”
That won’t be Kerry Carpenter, sidelined with an AC sprain in his left shoulder, nor veteran Javy Báez, out indefinitely following a grim ankle injury.
Given all the absences, all too often it’s fallen to a dazzling rookie to lead them.
Kevin McGonigle: Indispensable rookie
Jumping Kevin McGonigle from Class AA all the way to Detroit wasn’t necessarily in the master plan. Yet the manner in which the 21-year-old handled himself in spring training – at the plate and in every facet that makes a big leaguer – left them little choice.
And he’s justified their decision almost every day.
McGonigle leads major league rookies – a fine class this season – in hits (55), doubles (12), batting average (.282) and OBP (.386) and is one of five major leaguers with more walks (31) than strikeouts (30).
Still, it has not been an entirely linear elevator to what should be an All-Star Game appearance.
McGonigle has just two extra-base hits in his past 106 plate appearances, his OPS dropping from .963 on April 25 to .796 through Sunday.
Still, his OBP has remained steady in that span – getting on base at a .356 clip even as his slugging has dissipated – and Hinch has admitted the club can’t afford to manage his workload in his first 162-game campaign.
On a largely veteran team, he’s been objectively its steadiest performer.
“His overall contribution demonstrates that he belongs,” says Hinch. “When players – especially hitters – get here, they want to feel that they belong. We want to look at how they respond. Same approach, same demeanor, same reaction to success and failure.
“How he’s overcome making mistakes, how he has drawn walks where normal, young hitters are going to be anxious and overswing, he’s demonstrated that he belongs as a big leaguer. He’s a mainstay in this lineup and sometimes you have to remind yourself, he’s 21 and didn’t play Triple-A.”
Especially in his ability to meet the moment. Some 250 family and friends made the roughly 90-minute drive from his hometown of Media, Pennsylvania to see him play at Camden Yards.
He led off the May 22 series opener and clubbed the first pitch for a home run.
“Advanced is one of the perfect words for it. Mature is another really good word for it. His personality – to be 21 and doing that is insane,” says Vierling. “His baseball sense and what he’s doing on the field is pretty incredible. Every single time he goes up there, I feel like he’s going to hit a ball hard, he’s going to walk, he’s going to work a long at-bat.
“I haven’t really seen much like him since I’ve been in the big leagues.”
McGonigle is 52 games into his career and clearly has a decent handle on the cat-and-mouse tango that goes on in the big leagues. The book is out on him, and he has not folded.
McGonigle ranks in the 97th percentile in both chase and whiff percentage, a startling level of discipline for such a young hitter. His compact 5-9, 187-pound frame should only add strength as he gets older.
Yet he’s more than holding his own already.
“To be able to compete at the highest level of the game is awesome,” McGonigle tells USA TODAY Sports. “I go out every day trying to stay consistent with mindset stuff and trying to help the team win.”
While he’s arguably been their most reliable player, McGonigle still leans significantly on veteran sounding boards. A big league indoctrination amid a season gone sideways is far from optimal.
The Tigers’ collective woes probably provided the more profound teaching moments.
“The biggest thing they help me with is tell me this is a game of failure. As a team you’re going to fail. As a player you’re going to fail,” says McGonigle. “But the way you stay in this game for a long time is how you respond to that.
“Everyone in here is ready to keep fighting, keep trying to win baseball games and I think we’re going to be in a good spot at the end of the year.”
Learning to take a punch
But at some point, they have to start winning.
Sunday, Baltimore’s Colton Cowser joined Atlanta’s Matt Olson and Cincinnati’s Nathaniel Lowe as lefty sluggers with walk-off homers against Jansen, who ranks third all-time with 483 saves. He was stewing after the Game 1 loss, saying he should’ve “died with my cutter” rather than throw a flaccid two-seam fastball that Cowser drove out to center.
It was the two walks that preceded Cowser’s blast that were less forgivable, the sort of carelessness the club cannot afford in these dire straits.
“We just gotta keep climbing that tall mountain,” says Jansen, “and get on top. It’s one pitch I wish I could’ve taken back.”
Another regret in a season full of them. Yet perhaps the injury report will be kinder soon.
Skubal, thanks to the innovative NanoScope procedure, is returning far sooner than anticipated. He’s thrown bullpen sessions and could possibly face hitters next week in Detroit; Justin Verlander, the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer, is in a similar spot in his lengthy return from left hip irritation.
And in Game 2 Sunday, right-hander Troy Melton made his season debut after suffering elbow inflammation during spring training, earning the win with 5 ⅔ effective innings. Dingler washed away the bad vibes with a first-inning two-run homer. McGonigle contributed a two-run, left-on-left single off a lefty.
“We talk about this game being full of adjustments. Here’s a 21-year-old showing you how to do it,” says Hinch of McGonigle. “He loves his at-bats. He’s locked in his at-bats. And we love it when he’s at bat, too.”
Yet the Tigers will need this summer to be far more than the continuing saga of the McGonigle Chronicles. The reinforcements will need time to ramp up, even as the club desperately needs wins.
The goal remains not to enjoy the summer warmth, but stick around for the weather to turn again, in autumn, for the third consecutive season.
“We had the biggest punch in the face a few hours before this game,” says Hinch after the club salvaged the back half of the doubleheader.
“Our guys just stashed it away and went right back into game mode.”
BOSTON, MA - MAY 2: Mascot Lucky the Leprechaun of the Boston Celtics waves a flag before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics, we are reminded, were 3-11 against the best teams in the league during the past season.
This is, at first glance, a problematic record for a franchise that won 56 games who many considered to be a contender. It suggests that the team has an obvious problem in need of a fix.
It also requires just a smidgen of context.
Of those 14 games, only three were played with Jayson Tatum, and of those three, Jaylen Brown was missing for all of one game (vs. the Knicks) and most of the another (Spurs). The only game where the Celtics had a healthy lineup was a win against the Thunder that ended their 16-game winning streak.
There’s also the matter of clutch performance.
During the past season, the Celtics were abysmal in clutch situations. They were 16-17, ranking them 19th in the league. Clutch performance and performance against the best teams in the league go hand-in-hand. You are typically not going to blow out one of the league’s top teams.
In 2024-25, Boston was the best team in the league in clutch performance. They were 24-11—appearing in about as many clutch situations as this year’s team—but they had several advantages going for them, not the least of which was Jayson Tatum. Tatum was Boston’s leading clutch scorer, and while the presence of Jrue Holiday and other veterans can’t be discounted in terms of ‘keeping cool’ and setting up the offense, the reality is that the Celtics lost 30% of their clutch scoring with Tatum’s injury. From last year to this, Boston’s clutch scoring went from 10.0 points in the final five minutes to 8.2.
Defense doesn’t really enter into the picture, as Boston’s clutch defense actually improved from the prior season to this one. Two seasons ago, Boston was allowing 8.7 points during clutch time, and that was down an entire point to just 7.7 this season.
The problem the Celtics had against the best teams in the league is reflected in their struggles to score during clutch situations in general.
And that is tied to the fact that the Celtics were missing Jayson Tatum.
It’s also tied to the relative inexperience of key rotation players for the Celtics.
For example, second year player Baylor Scheierman appeared in 14 clutch situations, and averaged two and a half minutes of clutch time play, which meant he was on the court for half of the typical clutch scenario in 14 of the team’s 33 clutch games. Neemias Queta, in his first year as a starter, logged 2.6 minutes per game in 25 appearances. Sam Hauser logged 2.6 minutes as well, in 22 appearances, and Jordan Walsh logged 2.2 minutes in 13 appearances.
Contrast that with the 2024-25 stats, which saw Scheierman appearing in just two games, Queta in 10, and Hauser in 13. Jordan Walsh appeared in only one clutch game.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MARCH 08: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket between Baylor Scheierman #55 and Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter at Rocket Arena on March 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 109-98. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now, this is potentially an argument for the C’s bringing in an experienced veteran, but ultimately, if you want to stay a contender in this salary cap era, you need to grow your own talent, and that means putting them in challenging situations and letting them develop. There’s a balance to be found here, and there are personnel decisions that need to be made based on what guys like Mazzulla and Stevens see in terms of the potential of these players, but with all this in mind, the main thing going into next season when it comes to clutch situations is having a fully healthy, fully integrated Jayson Tatum.
In his end-of-season wrap-up, Brad Stevens mentioned that the C’s needed to get better first looks, and that the C’s needed to get better at attacking the rim. Now a strong measure of that is going to come from a more confident Jayson Tatum, but I think some of it is also going to come from the growth and development of Hugo Gonzalez. I think that, like Scheierman, he’s preparing for a sophomore leap.
Mind you, I think the C’s would benefit from a veteran addition—but I tend to think that smaller moves will suffice.
We also need to talk about coaching.
But before we do that, it’s good to remember is that this was Joe Mazzulla’s fourth year as a head coach — the fourth year for a coach who is not yet 38 years old.
It’s a bit early, in my opinion, to declare him a ‘regular season only’ coach.
One of the things about Mazzulla that I think he needs to work on is the dichotomy between saying things like, “there’s no difference between a preseason game, regular season game, playoff game,” and shortening his rotation to the point where key players from the regular season barely saw enough time on the court to get into a rhythm during the playoffs. The attitude is there, but the actions need to back it up.
I don’t think that the C’s need to make major changes in the coaching staff. I don’t necessarily think that the C’s have any weaknesses that can be cured by adding different voices to the bench. I think the weaknesses that were on display in the C’s losses to the Sixers come down to failure to prep and failure to adjust. Now adding a skilled X’s and O’s guy might help somewhat, but the important thing is not bringing in an X’s and O’s guy — it’s being willing to listen to that guy when he’s saying something that goes against your first instincts. It’s also Mazzulla owning the mistakes he made during the Sixers series. From what I’ve seen, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.
The reality, from my perspective, is that the Celtics are a lot closer to the top than certain stats from the regular season indicate—specifically their poor clutch play and their record against other contenders.
I also think that the best takeaway from the first-round loss to the Sixers should be a wakeup call to Joe Mazzulla and I think he’ll respond well to it. I don’t think that this loss revealed major structural issues with the lineup—but I do think it revealed some flaws in Mazzulla’s approach to playoff ball that he might have been able to shrug off after the loss to the Knicks last season.
Understand, I’m not saying that no changes need to be made to the roster or the coaching staff, but I’m saying that the right changes might not be as drastic as the ones that have been bandied about in this unexpectedly early off-season.
Cleveland is Guards Balling its way to the top of the American League.
The Cleveland Guardians are slowly taking command of the AL Central and quieting every foe in their path, most recently outpitching the Philadelphia Phillies in a tightly-contested three-game series in which their starting pitchers held Philly's sluggers to three runs in 18 ⅔ innings pitched.
The effort began with Gavin Williams' 11 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings Friday and finished with Patrick Messick's 5 ⅔ shutout innings Sunday as the Guardians won an entertaining series - and zoomed to No. 7 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.
After quieting Philadelphia, Guardians starters rank sixth in the majors with a 3.46 rotation ERA. Perhaps of greater import, they're second in innings pitched, their 307 IP trailing only Seattle. That will go a long way toward preserving a bullpen in which closer Cade Smith has nailed down 18 of 20 save chances.
Sprinkle in just a dash of timely offense, and Cleveland has won 11 of 13, establishing a 4 1/2 game lead over the Whtie Sox in the Central.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Atlanta Braves (-)
Unstoppable for five weeks, Matt Olson in a .161/.224/.226 rut with one homer in 67 plate appearances.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MAY 24: Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots a free throw during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals on May 24, 2026 at Paycom Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs weren’t fooling around on Sunday, and really took it to Jared McCain and the Oklahoma City Thunder, 103-82.
After his tremendous performance Friday, where he lit San Antonio up with 24 points, McCain got just 4 Sunday night, and shot just 1-10 overall.
Despite the big win, Mason Plumlee again got a DNP for the Spurs.
With the win, San Antonio ties the series, 2-2.
On Monday, the New York Knicks get a chance to close out Tyrese Proctor and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Game time is 8:00 p.m.
The BBC’s triple threat has been a hit on Match of the Day while TalkSport’s Sports Bar fits these football times
With Gary Lineker gone after 26 years, the BBC opted, in replacing a big beast, for a triple threat for Match of the Day duties. Lineker’s dad jokes are gone, and so is the going off-piste on social media controversy, now that three of the most solid pros in the business have the anchor. Not that the game’s big issues are sidestepped, each of the trio is a fully trained-up broadcast journalist with an attendant wealth of experience. If in “Chappers”, there is a residual, clubbable blokiness and the trademark giggle of the former Radio 1 sidekick, both of his co-hosts are just as happy to join in the fun. Both Logan and Cates possess the icy, sardonic armoury to cut Micah Richards and Alan Shearer down to size when required should the incumbent, top-band pundits get ahead of themselves. All three have even been known to get Danny Murphy laughing. The revolving cast has supplied a largely seamless transition, and in lowering the heat on a BBC forever targeted by certain vessels, a definite success.
Once upon a time, the Philadelphia Flyers were among the favorites to sign Mitch Marner in free agency. Not everyone supported the idea at the time, and now that stance looks foolish.
At this time last year, the Flyers had the second-best odds to land Marner, now 29, on the open market, behind only the Chicago Blackhawks, who had every incentive to break the bank to improve Connor Bedard's supporting cast.
Marner instead had his rights traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Vegas Golden Knights for forward Nicolas Roy, a 28-year-old center coming off a 31-point campaign.
Marner then signed a very modest eight-year, $96 million ($12 million AAV) contract with Vegas, and the rest, as they say, is history.
With two assists against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final on Sunday night, Marner is now up to seven goals, 14 assists, and 21 points in 15 playoff games.
For his career, the former No. 4 overall pick is now up to 84 points in 85 playoff games. Not bad for a player who had a reputation for being a playoff choker.
And for the Flyers, this is just another case of missed opportunity.
Repeating the Roy-for-Marner trade would have likely required them to part ways with someone like Noah Cates or Ryan Poehling; the latter was later packaged for Trevor Zegras instead.
Heading into this offseason, Flyers general manager Danny Briere stated outright that the team believed more players would be available in free agency, but Jack Eichel, Kirill Kaprizov, and Artemi Panarin all took themselves off the market with contract extensions throughout the year.
So, the Flyers missed out on Marner, if they were ever in on him, and the Maple Leafs opted to send him to the Western Conference.
That scenario could very well play out again this summer, with big-ticket RFAs like Jason Robertson, Pavel Dorofeyev, and even Adam Fantilli potentially there for the taking.
But, to put into perspective how rare Marner's situation was, 2027 unrestricted free agents include Nikita Kucherov, Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Nico Hischier.
Kucherov is the only superstar forward in that group, and Hughes may be the only one who ends up on a new team, more than likely joining forces with Hischier on the New Jersey Devils.
Now that Marner and former Flyers John Tortorella and Carter Hart are within one win of reaching the Stanley Cup Final, now is a good time to reiterate that the Flyers must be opportunistic to be successful in their rebuild.
If there’s one thing the Western Conference finals has taught us, it’s that there’s an enormous chasm between the teams in the penultimate round of the playoffs and the NBA’s other 28 ballclubs, including the Lakers.
The Thunder and Spurs have depth. They have stellar perimeter and interior defenders. They have multiple lasers. They have superstars. They have 10 players who are starring in their roles.
The Spurs have Victor Wembanyama, but San Antonio also has depth that features 10 players starring in their roles. NBAE via Getty Images
How do the Lakers catch up?
The Lakers are in a unique position. The Thunder and Spurs tanked before arming themselves with draft picks and orchestrating smart trades to climb back atop the league. That’s not an option for a Lakers franchise that has won 17 championships and has no patience for losing seasons.
Even Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka laughed that off as a potential strategy.
“It’s not the Lakers’ way,” Pelinka said after the team was swept out of the second round of the playoffs by the Thunder. “We have to find sustained excellence, so it does create at times a thread-the-needle [situation] where you gotta find a way to have championship rosters every year.”
So, that raises an interesting question.
If the Lakers can’t follow that model to build a contender, what should they do?
LeBron James and Luka Doncic shaking hands during a playoff game. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Should they hunt for another superstar?
Should they devote their resources (three first-round picks and up to about $55 million in cap space this offseason) to getting great role players?
This much is sure: Superstar chasing doesn’t equate to title winning.
The Lakers learned that firsthand after they blew up their 2020 championship roster to acquire Russell Westbrook, and they also let Alex Caruso walk in free agency in 2021.
Without guys who could defend and space the floor with 3s, such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Caruso, the Lakers were a top-heavy mess that didn’t become competitive again until they dealt Westbrook ahead of the 2023 trade deadline.
Austin Reaves patting LeBron James on the back. AP
The Lakers don’t need another star.
Of course, if they can get a generational superstar who’s still in his prime like Giannis Antetokounmpo, the aforementioned sentence goes out the window. If you can get Giannis, you get Giannis.
But that’s a big “if.”
And if they can’t get him, they shouldn’t go after another superstar.
Instead, if they can retain their Big Three of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James, as Pelinka has made clear is his goal, they should focus on filling in the margins. (Reaves and James are both about to become unrestricted free agents.)
The Lakers already have proof of concept that the combination works.
LeBron James stands on the court in the closing minutes of Game 4 in a second-round playoffs series against Oklahoma City. AP
After James embraced becoming the Lakers’ third offensive option, they went on a 16-2 run this spring. Doncic played at an MVP level. Reaves looked like an All-Star. And James was arguably the best “role player” in the league.
But any illusions that they were real title contenders was shattered in a 43-point loss to the Thunder on April 2, in which they lost Doncic (hamstring) and Reaves (oblique) to injuries.
The Lakers showed a lot of grit by getting past the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs without Doncic and with Reaves only playing in two games.
Against the reigning champions, the Lakers fought like heck even though they were without Doncic, but their opponent was simply in another weight class.
The Thunder have two-time NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but OKC also has 10 players starring in their roles. NBAE via Getty Images
In every contest besides Game 4, the Lakers unraveled in the second half under tired legs, while the Thunder seemingly weren’t even winded.
James, who tried to carry the team on his 41-year-old shoulders, didn’t mince words about what went wrong.
“… We fought and we played to the maximum ability of our team,” James said on the podcast, “Mind the Game,” that was released Thursday. “But ultimately, if we’re being completely honest, we were out-talented.”
The Thunder had 13 guys who were playing to their best ability. The Lakers struggled to have six.
The Lakers need guys like Caruso, who went undrafted and pours his heart into every possession. They need guys like Ajay Mitchell, who was drafted in the second round and proved he can be a laser under the brightest of lights. They need guys like Isaiah Hartenstein, who was also a second-round pick and has transformed into a pit bull in the paint.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso reacts after a play against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of Game 4 in the Western Conference finals. AP Photo/Eric Gay
The Lakers need to take a page out of the Thunder’s book.
Their focus needs to be on depth, not glitz.
When Thunder GM Sam Presti had a goldmine of picks during the franchise’s rebuild, he chose to focus on fortifying the edges of the roster instead of securing a superstar.
That philosophy has paid dividends.
That’s where the NBA is headed.
That’s how the Lakers could start nipping at the heels of the Thunder and Spurs.
This offseason, the Lakers need to find the diamonds in the rough. They need to add effort guys. They need to bolster their defense. They need more 3-point shooting. They need 10 guys they can trust to play playoff minutes.
They need to find the type of players they let slip through their fingers when they were hellbent on star chasing.
In a city that prioritizes star power, they need to embrace a completely different philosophy.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 24: Stephon Castle #5 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrate during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 24, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. 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
“Experience does not matter.”
This was Devin Vassell’s response to the question, “What do you and the Spurs think you’ve learned about yourself this season?”
You can no longer say they have exceeded expectations. You can no longer say they are ahead of schedule. You can no longer say that they are a couple of years away.
The Spurs have been clear for quite some time. They have all bought in. And now fans are buying in.
After 62 regular season wins, a Defensive Player of the Year honor, a Sixth Man of the Year award, a five-game series against the Portland Trail Blazers, and a six-game series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Spurs are tied against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
After the Game 4 throttling, Victor Wembanyama referred to winning “six more wins” before he relaxes. He’s not comfortable with just taking this series, he’s focused on winning it all.
In the four games thus far, the Spurs have found success when limiting the productivity of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Not an easy task as SGA just picked up his second consecutive MVP trophy as well as his first ever Clutch Player of the Year honors.
In Game 1, the Spurs executed a defensive strategy on the Thunder’s star guard that stifled his shooting as well as his passing, producing turnovers which led to the double-overtime victory.
In Games 2 and 3, the Thunder adjusted by exposing the open man when SGA was double teamed. High percentage shooting from beyond the arc gave the defending champs a one game lead.
Last night, the Silver & Black altered its defense to double SGA closer in, cutting off the passing lanes, which suffocated OKC’s offense and leaving an abysmal 18% from three-point range.
The Spurs are also limiting fouls to Gilgeous-Alexander, another difficult task. He’s still making his way to the line, but is unable to sustain the level of calls he earns when paired with taking a tumble.
Earlier this season, Victor Wembanyama stated he was interested in ethical basketball. The young superstar elevated the term into the lexicon of basketball conversations. By comparison, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been accused of foul baiting and playing for the call.
The series features two of the youngest and most talented teams in the league, both with longevity in its plan. And they play two entirely different styles of basketball.
What the Thunder are doing won them a title last season. But the Spurs have found success in implementing their game, tuning out questionable calls, and allowing their talent to set the tone.
So perhaps Devin’s comment is almost fully correct.
Experience does matter. And the Spurs continue to prove that they internalize their experiences and process solutions at a rate that many have not seen before.
The question remains — will this be enough to overcome the obstacle of the Oklahoma City Thunder?
We get one step closer to answering that question on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.
Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
May 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate their win against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Results
Monday: Brewers 9, Cubs 3
Tuesday: Brewers 5, Cubs 2
Wednesday: Brewers 5, Cubs 0
Thursday: Off Day
Friday: Brewers 5, Dodgers 1
Saturday: Dodgers 11, Brewers 3
Sunday: Dodgers 5, Brewers 1
Division Standings
Brewers 30-20
Cardinals 29-22 (1.5 GB)
Cubs 29-24 (2.5 GB)
Reds 27-25 (4 GB)
Pirates 27-26 (4.5 GB)
Last Week
Brewers: 4-2
Cardinals: 2-3
Cubs: 0-6
Reds: 3-2
Pirates: 3-3
Top Pitching Performance of the Week
As Jason said last week, this is becoming the “What impressive performance did Jacob Misiorowski pull off last week?” feature. He put together another great start, this time going six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts against the Cubs, allowing just three hits and a walk. He still hasn’t allowed a run since April 25, meaning it’s been a full month since an opponent has scored on him.
Misiorowski’s performance was perhaps not even the best of the week, though, as Kyle Harrison turned in seven scoreless frames against the Cubs, striking out 11 and allowing just two hits and a walk. Logan Henderson also went five scoreless with seven strikeouts, allowing two hits and three walks in a win over the Dodgers.
William Contreras had a big week offensively for the Brewers, putting up a team-high 10 hits, slashing .455/.478/.591 with a homer, three RBIs, five runs, and a steal. That included back-to-back three-hit games in wins over the Cubs and Dodgers on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.
Shoutout to Jake Bauers, whose on-base streak reached 22 games on Friday night before coming to an end on Saturday. That also pushed him to a 12-game hitting streak, a career-high mark in his seventh MLB season.
The Brewers had a fairly quiet week on the transaction front, as the only swap they made was recalling right-hander Carlos Rodriguez on Sunday morning, sending lefty Robert Gasser back to Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move. Gasser made two starts in his latest big-league stint, spanning 8 1/3 innings with six earned runs and seven strikeouts against the Twins and Dodgers.
Right-hander Peter Strzelecki, who was selected on May 16 before being designated for assignment the next day, cleared waivers and was sent outright to Nashville. Instead of accepting the demotion, however, Strzelecki opted for free agency, signing with the Yankees on a minor league deal. He’s now with their Triple-A affiliate.
In the injury update category:
Right-hander Quinn Priester, who had already had a short rehab stint in late April/early May, is back on a rehab assignment. He gave up five runs in just three innings on May 21 with Nashville, as his fastball sat 92-93 mph, still slightly below the 93.5 mph average we saw a year ago. He’s currently listed as an early June return, meaning we can expect at least a couple more rehab outings.
Lefty Jared Koenig threw a live batting practice on May 20, and a decision on a potential rehab assignment is now pending.
Right-hander Brandon Woodruff simulated two innings in a 30-pitch bullpen on Monday before throwing 50 pitches in a live BP on Friday, hitting 94 mph on the radar gun.
Outfielder Brandon Lockridge got the stitches on his right knee out on Tuesday and is still slated for a mid- to late June return.
Left-hander Rob Zastryzny and outfielder Akil Baddoo are also on rehab assignments with Nashville.
May 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García (53) reacts after striking out to end the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
That’s a big side of offensive ineptitude the Phillies delivered this weekend. Now, luckily, they get to move out west and play two teams playing good baseball, including a juggernaut. Cool.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Jack Wenninger #92 of the New York Mets throws a pitch during the first 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
Jack Wenninger allowed four runs over five-plus innings, matching the total he had for the entire month of April and more than he had in the entire month of May coming into this contest. The offense kept the team in the game, with Ryan Clifford adding another double and home run to his total for the season, but the team had trouble getting men in scoring position and driving them home.
The one run that Syracuse scored in the fourth was all that was needed to win this one. Joe Geber and the bullpen combined to shut the Herd out, scattering a pair of hits and three walks over seven innings. The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth when Ryan Clifford hit his tenth homer of the year, and technically second on the afternoon.
Bryce Conley and Joe Whitman traded zero after zero, both pitchers throwing scoreless inning after scoreless inning. Conley ended up throwing 5.0 scoreless innings, scattering 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4 while Whitman went 6.0 scoreless, allowing 2 hits, walking 2, and striking out 8. In the top of the seventh, Binghamton finally put something together. Jose Ramos led off the inning with a solo homer, and the blazing hot Nick Lorusso followed one batter later with a solo blast of his own. The Rumble Pony bullpen wasn’t able to keep the shutout going, as Dan Hammer put a baserunner on third that a Brian Metoyer wild pitch brought home, but they still got the job done.
A shutout is a shutout, even if it’s only seven innings. The Cyclones nickel-and-dimed the Renegades, logging three hits and drawing seven walks en route to a series split. Brady Miller started this one after the rain finally cleared after about 45 minutes after scheduled gametime, but only threw five pitches before being removed from the game due to some kind of injury; he showed no apparent pain or issues when warming-up or throwing those five pitches, but Eduardo Nunez saw something that concerned him and removed the right-hander from the game. Tanner Witt and the rest of the Brooklyn bullpen, rested thanks to Saturday’s cancelled game, ended up pitching seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and four walks, giving the offense more than enough support to get the win. And here’s something you don’t see everyday: stealing 4 bases is impressive enough, two separate players doing so? Most impressive.
St. Lucie held on and secured the win by the skin of their teeth, staving off a ninth inning rally. Antonio Jimenez, back from the developmental list, doubled in a run to put St. Lucie on the board in the third and the team scored two more in the fourth. The Cardinals chipped away, scoring a run apiece in the sixth and seventh, but both runs were negated in the bottom of the eighth, when St. Lucie put up a two spot. If they hadn’t, the Mets would’ve lost this one, as Joe Scarborough had problems in the top of the ninth. A single and a double between a flyout and a groundout put men on the corners, and then an overturned strike call led to a walk that loaded up the bases. Shortstop Ryan Weingartner hit a ball into left-center that luckily ended up turning into a ground rule double, scoring two runs but keeping the tying run on base. With a blown save staring him in the face, Scarborough hunkered down and got third baseman Brayden Smith to weakly fly out to center to end the game.
