NEW YORK, NY - MAY 25: Nick Lodolo #40 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Monday, May 25, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves rolled into Great American Ball Park on Friday with the most wins in Major League Baseball and the league’s best winning percentage, too. So far, they’ve done nothing in their time in Cincinnati to diminish either count.
Atlanta claimed Friday’s series opener by the score of 8-3 and backed it up with a 5-2 win on Saturday, too. On Sunday, they’ll send Spencer Strider to the mound with a sweep on the mind.
Cincinnati will counter with lefty Nick Lodolo, who has slowly but surely begun to round into form after blister issues caused him to miss the entire month of April while recovering. His most recent outing against the New York Mets saw him finally dial-in the strike zone as he threw 6.0 IP of 6 H, ER, 0 BB, 7 K ball, the lone blemish against him being a 6th inning solo homer by Marcus Semien. Most important, though, were the lack of walks, as he’d walked 8 in just 9.2 IP across his previous two starts.
If there’s ever an indication that Lodolo is ‘on,’ it’s when he’s pounding the zone and not walking a soul, something he made a habit of during his breakout 2025. Cincinnati will hope upon hope that’s what they get from him on Sunday, as a loss would not only result in a sweep at home, but also would sink the Reds all the way back to the .500 mark for the season.
First pitch is set for 1:40 PM ET.
Here’s how the Reds will line up for the finale, with the return of Will Benson to the lineup to start and Spencer Steer again at 2B in lieu of the struggling Matt McLain:
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 17: Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics talks to the media after the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA Finals participants have been decided, but unfortunately the Boston Celtics are not among the participants. In some ways that was expected at the start of the season. In many ways, that is still a stinging disappointment based on how the regular season played out. So all of our attention is going to be focused on the path to getting back to this point in the playoffs and bringing home the trophy once again.
I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I’ve been doing this for a long time and I have no shortage of opinions that I’m happy to share. You know how this works at this point. You share your questions in the comments section below, I copy and paste them into an article and do my best to entertain and inform with my answers.
We can talk about trades, free agency, the draft, and just about everything else you can think of. In fact, feel free to entertain us with your off topic discussion ideas as well.
I’ll give it a few days before answering, so please share your thoughts below. Thanks!
The Chicago Cubs are slight favorites over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday Night Baseball, and I’m willing to lay the short moneyline price.
This is a lefty-lefty starter matchup, but Matthew Liberatore’s quality-of-contact issues create the cleaner scoring path for Chicago. Jordan Wicks brings enough volatility to keep the total pointed Over.
Here are my Cubs vs. Cardinals predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, May 31.
Who will win Cubs vs Cardinals today: Cubs moneyline (-105)
I’m backing the Chicago Cubs on the moneyline and would play it to -120.
Matthew Liberatore’s contact profile is a bad fit against Chicago. His 5.00+ xERA, 9.8% barrel rate, and 43.9% hard-hit rate leave too much room for damage, and the Cubs have made a big jump in both metrics over the last week (5%+ increase in both)
Jordan Wicks is volatile enough to keep this uncomfortable, but the St. Louis Cardinals do not bring the same scoring ceiling. In a near coin-flip market, I prefer Chicago’s offense, especially with the Cubs showing signs of their contact quality turning back up.
COVERS INTEL:The Cubs have an 11.4% walk rate, while the Cardinals' rate is just 8.7%. This is particularly significant with two erratic pitchers on the mound.
Cubs vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-122)
I’m playing the Over because both lefties carry run-prevention risk, and I have a stronger conviction in the total than in the side. I would play this up to -132 at 8.5 and down to +100 at 9.
We talked about Liberatore above, and he’s a threat to give up a crooked number at any time. Wicks brings similar danger on the other side, allowing a .309 xBA, .493 xSLG, and 47.1% hard-hit rate against a St. Louis Cardinals lineup with the seventh-best expected slugging percentage.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 25-20, +4.64 units
Over/Under bets: 29-16, +15.29 units
Cubs vs Cardinals odds
Moneyline: Cubs -115 | Cardinals -105
Run line: Cubs -1.5 | Cardinals +1.5
Over/Under: Over 9 | Under 9
Cubs vs Cardinals trend
The Cubs have cashed the first five innings (F5) team total Under in 15 of their last 20 games for +9.95 units and a 41% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Cardinals.
How to watch Cubs vs Cardinals and game info
Location
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Date
Sunday, May 31, 2026
First pitch
7:20 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Cubs starting pitcher
Jordan Wicks (0-1, 16.62 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcher
Matthew Liberatore (2-3, 4.76 ERA)
Cubs vs Cardinals latest injuries
Cubs vs Cardinals weather
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.
Mason McTavish trade rumours to Ottawa are close to becoming an annual summertime tradition.
They were everywhere last year, and they made sense. McTavish was a restricted free agent and, as the summer heated up, so did the trade chatter around the league. By September, McTavish was still home in Ottawa, skating with the 67's, and waiting for a deal, either by contract or trade.
He finally got one, a six-year contract worth $42 million, which seemed to put questions about McTavish's future to rest for the foreseeable future.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss whether free agent forward Viktor Arvidsson might be a good fit in Ottawa.
Well, not so much, as it turns out.
For a second straight summer, from Pierre LeBrun to Bruce Garrioch, McTavish's name is splattered all over the news as a possible trade chip for Anaheim, with the Senators being mentioned as a possible destination.
But does it make sense? Anaheim just signed the guy long-term. Why would they consider moving him eight months later? And is he the right fit in Ottawa?
Let's dig in.
Anaheim's View
As a team, Anaheim had a fine season. McTavish and the Ducks went out and made the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
But with great money comes great expectations, and McTavish didn't meet them this season.
While the Ducks improved by 12 points in the standings, McTavish had 11 fewer points than he did the year before, dropping from 22 goals and 52 points in his contract year to 17 goals and 41 points this year.
He was also healthy-scratched twice in the playoffs, when it matters most, which is a huge red flag.
Another angle is that the Ducks need help on the blue line if they're going to take the next step. They were loaded this season with good young forwards like Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Beckett Sennecke, along with veterans like Troy Terry, Mikael Granlund, Chris Kreider and Alex Killorn. But they need D.
Finally, GM Pat Verbeek still has to do some financial tap dancing this summer. Both Carlsson and Gauthier are restricted free agents and will be due massive raises. The 22-year-old Gauthier led the Ducks with 41 goals and 69 points. Carlsson was next with 29 goals and 67 points.
The Ducks also have decisions to make with veteran defencemen John Carlson, Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba, who are all unrestricted free agents this summer.
So while Anaheim still values McTavish as an asset, there will need to be some sacrifice and restructuring one way or another. Maybe there's an opportunity for another team to buy low, but that's doubtful.
McTavish's stock dipped this season, but there would still be plenty of teams interested.
Ottawa's View
On the other hand, it's well documented why the Senators might have an interest in McTavish.
He was an outstanding junior prospect, starring for Team Canada at the 2022 World Juniors and leading the entire tournament with 17 points in seven games. He's 6-foot-1, 219 pounds, entering his fifth NHL season, and so far seems to be settling into a 40-to-50-point range. Though an argument could be made that his drop in production last season had a lot to do with missing training camp.
And of course, he has history with Ottawa and the Senators.
He spent last fall skating with the 67's. He's a Carp native. He played for Michael Andlauer and Steve Staios with the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, helping them win a championship.
Oh, and his father is Dale McTavish, who works as a pro scout for the Senators.
Sometimes home cooking and the comforts of home can turn a player around.
The Senators would also like to add another top-six forward. But not if he stays in that 40-to-50-point window he's occupied during his first four NHL seasons.
The Senators had six forwards this year who scored more points than McTavish did. He's certainly a player you'd like to add, any team would. But if you're taking on that salary and giving up important assets, you're doing so with the belief that he can produce 70-plus points, something he hasn't yet come close to doing.
Another forward would be nice, but is it Ottawa's biggest priority? The Sens went cold in the playoffs, but they were the league's ninth-highest-scoring team this season.
Meanwhile, they find themselves in the same pickle they were in two summers ago, needing to rebalance their blue line. With Nick Jensen possibly moving on and Jordan Spence emerging, the Senators are back to having a lot of puck movers, and not enough snarly, hard-to-play-against shutdown guys.
Oh, and the Senators may also need a reliable backup goalie who can play a lot of games. Where starter Linus Ullmark is concerned, as Guy Boucher liked to say, rest is a weapon.
There may be too many things working against the notion of bringing the kid from Carp home. But there are enough things that do make sense that it's worth some creative conversation over the summer.
While the Montreal Canadiens had a deeper-than-expected run in the playoffs this season, their success did expose one crying need: a second-line center. At the start of the regular season, rookie Oliver Kapanen inherited the role because of the team’s lack of options, and for most of the season, he did well.
Playing alongside Ivan Demidov, Juraj Slafkovsky or Alex Newhook, the Finn had a good rookie season, even though he slowed down considerably after the Olympics. In the first 57 games of the campaign, he had 18 goals and 31 points. After the Games, he could manage only four goals and six points in 25 matches.
Given his lack of production at the tail end of the season, it wasn’t surprising that he couldn’t assume a top-six role in the playoffs, and given the lack of options, Jake Evans had to assume the role of second center during the postseason.
While the Ontarian is a good player who can help anywhere up and down the lineup, he doesn’t have the offensive instinct needed to assume such an offensive role. His performance of two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 19 games was remarkable, but had a player with more of a finishing touch played alongside a playmaker like Demidov, they likely would have had more than two goals. That would have proven very helpful as Montreal struggled to generate offense, especially in the Eastern Conference Final.
The answer won’t come internally, at least not for the upcoming season. Michael Hage has opted to spend another year in the NCAA, and it’s unlikely he would have been ready for such a high-profile role in any case. As for Owen Beck, if and when he makes it to the NHL, it’s likely to be as a bottom-six center.
As good a GM as Kent Hughes is, even he would be hard-pressed to find a second-line center on the free agent market. The best center of that free agent market class was going to be Evgeny Malkin, but he has already signed an extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins, meaning the top options will be 33-year-old Boone Jenner, who isn’t a top-six player, or Claude Giroux, who can play both wing or center but is already 38 years old.
If the GM wants to help his team down the middle, it looks like he will have to do it with a trade. Last off-season, he addressed a major organizational need by acquiring Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, but he had two enticing first-round picks to work with at the time. This time around, he only has his own first-round pick, and given the team’s deep playoff run, we’re talking about a late pick.
That being said, the Canadiens do have a lot of interesting prospects on their hands. There’s the aforementioned Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, David Reinbacher, Adam Engstrom and, given Jakub Dobes’ performance in the playoffs, could Hughes explore the idea of trading one of his young goalies? It feels like teams could ask, but I doubt the GM will be ready to entertain the idea.
Was the trade that almost came to fruition before the trade deadline for a second-line center? It’s a possibility since Hughes said it would have been a significant deal. He has also said the idea could be revisited in the off-season, but is the GM he was talking with still in post? Brad Treliving has lost his job in Toronto, just like Patrik Alvin in Vancouver and Tom Fitzgerald in New Jersey. It’s a lot easier to pick up where you left off if your potential trading partner is still around.
Who could be a potential target for Hughes? Mason MacTavish from the Anaheim Ducks could be an interesting option. He signed a six-year contract with a $7 M cap hit last offseason, but he didn’t have the kind of season Anaheim was expecting from him, with 41 points in 75 games. He was even a healthy scratch at times. Robert Thomas’ name has made the rounds for some time now, but St. Louis Blues' GM Doug Armstrong is reportedly quite a demanding trade partner.
The most intriguing name on the market has to be Nico Hischier. The New Jersey Devils’ top center and captain is about to enter the final year of a contract that pays him $7.25 M per year. At the end of the next season, he’ll be a UFA. If he doesn’t intend to re-up in New Jersey, new GM Sunny Mehta could be forced to trade him. Of course, if he wants to get a good return, that would likely be a sign-and-trade deal, just like Dobson last season.
At 27, Hischier would fit right in with the Canadiens and bring a wealth of experience. Even if he’s only made the playoffs twice, he has played nine seasons in the NHL. He has never scored more than 80 points in a season and put up 66 points last year, but his production could certainly improve if he played alongside the talented Demidov.
With over four months to work with before the start of the next season, Hughes and Jeff Gorton will have a lot of time to explore various options, and it’s far from out of the question that they could pull the trigger on a deal that none of us saw coming.
Brisbane threw a lot at Fremantle but the visitors had the answers. There’s a whiff of history about this side
“Flagmantle” is no joke now. There are some outstanding teams who haven’t really got warm yet. But the Dockers are the ones with the best and the most even spread of talent. The Dockers are the ones who have met every challenge, who can win in a dozen different ways, and who have reeled off one of the more impressive three-month streaks of recent years. The Dockers are the ones with the whiff of history about them.
A trip to the Gabba is no picnic and there was a view that the visitors could be got at on the weekend. Bookmakers, bless their benevolent souls, installed Brisbane as favourites. Fremantle had been up for a long time, were flying to the opposite point of the country, were missing several of their most important players and were up against a proud, still smarting opponent.
Things have been a little unpredictable lately with the Cubs. They won their least likely to win game in Pittsburgh while winning a couple where the matchup looked decent. So it’s always nice to win one that looks good on paper. Not only did the Cubs win this one, but it was pretty convincing. If you are someone who didn’t think the Cardinals would be good this year, then just about everything that you saw was on display tonight. They had some suspect defense that contributed to a couple of Cub rallies, their pitching was shaky and there was even a pretty sketchy baserunning decision.
On the other side, all of the things that can be good about this Cub team were on display. Ben Brown dominated, throwing seven. Another time, when he pitches this well, he might get a chance to start the eighth inning. His pitch count wasn’t immense and his pitches per inning was actually pretty low. But he’s still building his pitch count a bit and though I didn’t look at a weather report, he did look to have worked up a pretty good sweat and I saw shorts and tank tops at the park all of the way to the end. So I’ll guess it was a late spring St. Louis night where it was a bit hot and muggy. It wasn’t the right recipe for a rare push of a starter into the eighth inning, but it was adjacent.
Behind Ben, the defense made some nice plays to help keep him out of trouble and that pitch count low. And at the plate, the Cubs showed a bit of a relentless approach and a few timely hits. It shows up as just 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position and 14 left on base. But that’s because the Cubs managed 12 hits, drew thee walks, and were aided by three Cardinal errors. That’s a lot of traffic in a nine-inning game. Cardinal starter Kyle Leahy did a nice job escaping trouble in his 4.1 innings of work. The Cubs did virtually all of their damage with one out in this game, with just one run scoring on a sacrifice fly that was the second out of the inning.
Once again, the leverage went away from this game. Jacob Webb got the eighth inning in what was a three-run lead at the time. Daniel Palencia threw the ninth even though the lead was five by the time he got in there. There just haven’t been any save situations.
The team is 25-18 since starting the team at 7-9. It’s been a crazy path to get here, but that 25-18 stretch is more than a quarter of the season and would be a 94-win pace. So that’s a 94-win pace over their last 43 and an 88-win pace overall. If injuries do not derail this team too badly, I still think they can be a 91-win team (splitting the difference between those two numbers). It’s not always a work of art, but this team still does a lot of things well. If this team stays competitive like this, the front office will add at the deadline, even if it isn’t super flashy. The Brewers are definitely good again, but it remains to be seen if they are run away and hide good again this year. Their pitching looks better this year, but their offense doesn’t feel out of this world.
Buckle up, there’s a wild ride ahead over these last 103 games.
Three Positives:
Ben Brown threw seven innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out six. He looked very good. This Brown with a healthy Justin Steele and Cade Horton is a pipe dream, but it sure would have been interesting.
Pete Crow-Armstrong will have a cycle some day. He had four hits including a double and a homer in this one. He was also hit by a pitch and made some terrific defensive plays. This was his fourth career four-hit game and second against the Cardinals.
Ian Happ had a single and a double and scored a run.
Game 59, May 30: Cubs 6, Cardinals 1 (32-27)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Ben Brown (.280). 7 IP, 23 BF, 3 H, BB, ER, 6 K (W 2-2)
Hero: Pete Crow-Armstrong (.240). 4-5, HR, 2B, HBP, 2 RBI, 2 R
Sidekick: Nico Hoerner (.120). 2-6, RBI, SB
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Seiya Suzuki (-.084). 1-5, 2B, R
Goat: Dansby Swanson (-.065). 0-3, 2 BB, R
Kid: Ian Happ (-.058). 2-5, 2B, R
WPA Play of the Game: With runners on first and second and one out, the Cubs up two, Ben Brown got Ivan Herrera to ground into an around the horn double play to end the inning. (.137)
Cardinals Play of the Game: With the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth, the game was scoreless. Kyle Leahy struck out Dansby Swanson. (.088)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 58 Winner: Ian Happ with 90 of 110 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Michael Busch +21
Ian Happ +10.5
Nico Hoerner +10
Alex Bregman/Brown +9.5
Jameson Taillon/Phil Maton -9
Matt Shaw -10
Dansby Swanson -13
Seiya Suzuki -27.5
Current Win Pace: 87.86 wins
Up Next: The third and final game of this series and an off day Monday after 10 straight games. With a win, the Cubs could win this series and salvage four wins over that 10 game stretch and distributing the four wins just about perfectly if you were only going to win four.
Jordan Wicks (0-1, 16.62, 4.1 IP) makes his second start of the season. He’ll hope to bounce back from a horrible first outing. The Cardinals did better against the Cub lefty Friday than they did against the Cub righty Saturday. Though that’s probably as much a Ben Brown thing as anything. Shōta Imanaga didn’t particularly get shelled Friday, but he did fail to come through in the biggest spots.
The Cardinals have 26-year-old lefty Matthew Liberatore (2-3, 4.76, 56.2 IP) starting. The former 16th overall pick by the Rays hasn’t won since May 7. Over his three non wins, he has allowed 11 runs in 14.2 innings of work. Neither of these guys is throwing well. The Cubs have a .731 OPS against left-handed pitchers, good for 10th overall. The Cardinals are at .689, 17th overall, so a bit of an edge for the Cubs. Liberatore had a really nice start against the Cubs in St. Louis last year and was the winner, allowing two runs over seven.
It feels like a slight edge for the Cardinals, but definitely winnable. Get this one and early win projections off of Fangraphs show the Cubs with a chance at five of six on the upcoming homestand. It’ll be fluid, but right at this very minute, the Cubs won’t face a team with a winning record after tomorrow until they see the Brewers at Wrigley Field on June 26. One team in there, the Blue Jays, is likely to be over .500 by the time they face the Cubs if their recent play is not a mirage.
I like the odds of the Cubs positioning themselves really well with a strong June.
Bryan Rincon of the Reading Fightin Phils is on the bases during a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on April 16, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
We’re almost at the point where you open this page to simply see if Felix Reyes hit another home run. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Buffalo 6, Lehigh Valley 5
Liover Peguero led the way for the Ironpigs, going three for four with a double and an RBI, but shoddy middle relief by Ryan Cusick gave this one to Buffalo. Dylan Carlson had two hits at the top of the order, basically the only life he has shown really since signing a minor league deal with the team in the hopes of cracking the outfield mix. Probably not going to happen.
Oh, and Reyes didn’t homer. Bummer.
Harrisburg 7, Reading 5
Bryan Rincon made his return from the injured list and hit a home run for the Fightin’ Phils, but it wasn’t enough as the Nationals’ affiliate beat up on a Reading bullpen to take the game. Adam Seminaris struck out ten in five innings for Reading, but he also allowed four in those five innings. The Reading offense struck out nine times in this one.
Frederick 3, Jersey Shore 1
Even with center fielder Carter Mathison going three for three and Luis Caucito also chipping in with two hits and an RBI, it was a meager performance for the rest of the offense as they scored a lone run and lost to the keys. The bright spot of the game was the pitching of Luke Gabrysh, who threw five solid, shutout innings, allowing one baserunner on a single hit and striking out six.
Clearwater 6, Dunedin 5
Robert Phelps has been swinging a hot bat with the Threshers and Saturday night was no different. Phelps collected three hits, which included a home run and a double, leading Clearwater to a victory. Will Vierling also had three hits on the evening, one his being a double. The rehabbing Pedro Leon also homered, his on a back to back with Phelps.
The performances helped Ramon Marquez, who started and threw 4 1/3 innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on only three hits, striking out seven and walking one batter. A solid performance from an interesting arm.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Kevin Alvarez #11 of the Houston Astros throws to the infield during the third inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (23-33) lost 9-1 (BOX SCORE)
Weiss started for Sugar Land but struggled allowing 5 runs over 3 innings of work. The offense got on the board in the 4th inning on a Nelson RBI single. The pen allowed a few more runs and the offense was quiet the rest of the way as Sugar Land fell 9-1.
Ryan Weiss, RHP: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Joey Mancini, RHP: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Sam Carlson, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Jayden Murray, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (23-27) lost 1-0 (BOX SCORE)
Gillis started for the Hooks and pitched well allowing 1 run over 5 innings while striking out 4. The pen pitched well too getting a scoreless inning from Chirinos and 2 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts from Rodriguez. Unfortunately the offense struggled collecting just five hits as they were shutout in the 1-0 loss.
A+: Asheville Tourists (11-38) won 10-8 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got on the board in the first inning on a Powell solo home run. In the 2nd inning, they scored 6 more runs with 2 runs on an error, Thomas 2 run triple and Moss 2 run single. DeVos got the start and was solid allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, over 5 innings of work. The offense got 3 more runs in the 5th scoring 2 on an error and one on a Daudet RBI groundout. The pen allowed a few runs but held on for the 10-8 win.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (22-28) won 17-7 (BOX SCORE)
Carrera got the start for the Woodpeckers and went 4 innings allowing 5 runs. The Woodpeckers offense got on the board in the 3rd on a Huezo sac fly. In the 5th they got 3 runs on a Newman 2 run home run and Huezo solo home run. They got 2 more runs in the 6th on Salas and Sierra RBI singles. The offense blew it open in the 7th scoring 8 runs on an Alvarez RBI single, Janek RBI double, Salas 2 run double, Sierra 2 run double, a run on an error and a Huezo RBI triple. in the 8th, Sierra connected on a 3 run home run. MacRae allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, in relief and Cassedy closed out the game with a scoreless 9th as the Woodpeckers won 17-7.
Note: Alvarez is hitting .421 over his last 10 games.
Blue Jays vs Orioles best bet: Ernie Clement Over 1.5 total bases (+130)
Ernie Clement continues to be one of the Toronto Blue Jays' most reliable hitters, owning a .296 average, while recording a hit in 12 of his last 13 outings — with eight extra-base hits in that stretch.
His production against the sinker and slider only strengthens my conviction in his base total tonight.
Baltimore Orioles starter Kyle Bradish uses a sinker+slider combination, accounting for 81% of his pitches to right-handed batters.
Clement profiles extremely well against these pitches, owning a .348 average with a .522 slug-rate against them.
Additionally, Bradish has been victimized by opposing hitters when he’s pitching within the strike zone with an 89% zone-contact rate. Not only does Clement own a 93% zone contact rate this season, but he also owns one of the highest out-of-zone contact rates as well.
I’d play this to +110.
COVERS INTEL: Clement’s consistency at the plate has resulted in a 185 WRC+ over his last 13 outings, averaging 2.3 total bases per game.
Blue Jays vs Orioles same-game parlay (SGP)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has reached base 20 times in his last nine games, including a 4-for-5 game last night. He profiles well against the sinker as well, so I expect him to be on base often again. He’s come around to score seven times in that stretch.
Daulton Varsho is another Blue Jay who profiles well against Bradish’s sinker-slider mix. Varsho enters the matchup with extra-base hits in consecutive games and owns a .333 batting average against those pitches this season.
Blue Jays vs Orioles SGP
Ernie Clement Over 1.5 total bases
Daulton Varsho Over 0.5 hits
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 0.5 runs
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Blue Jays vs Orioles home run pick: Daulton Varsho (+440)
Bradish ranks in the 49th percentile in opponent hard-hit rate (38.9%), resulting in home runs in back-to-back starts, and has been taken deep six times over his last seven outings.
Six of those seven homers have come against his sinker/slider combination, a pitch mix Varsho has hit well this season.
He’s my home run pick for today’s afternoon affair.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 27-30, +1.10 units
SGPs: 11-46, +2.60 units
HR picks: 9-46, +2.3 units
Blue Jays vs Orioles odds
Moneyline: Toronto +110 | Baltimore -130
Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-180) | Baltimore -1.5 (+155
Over/Under: Over 8 (-115) | Under 8 (-105)
Blue Jays vs Orioles trend
The Toronto Blue Jays have covered the run line in 13 of their last 17 games (+11.10 Units / 49% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Orioles.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Orioles and game info
Location
Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD
Date
Sunday, May 31, 2026
First pitch
12:15 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock, Sportsnet
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Spencer Miles (2-0, 2.16 ERA)
Orioles starting pitcher
Kyle Bradish (2-6, 3.86 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Orioles latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Orioles weather
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.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 24: Ha-Seong Kim #7 of the Atlanta Braves in action against the Washington Nationals in the eighth inning at Truist Park on May 24, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a three-game absence, Ha-Seong Kim returns to the Braves lineup for Sunday afternoon’s series finale in Cincinnati.
Kim, who has struggled to generate momentum with a .095 batting average and no extra-base hits in 12 games and 42 at-bats after starting the season on the injured list, is getting another chance to break out after a breather of sorts to work out of his slump. He’ll hit eighth and play short.
That doesn’t come at the expense of Jorge Mateo sitting, however. Mateo, who has been filling in for Kim, will be the designated hitter for the second time this week to keep his productive bat in the lineup. Mateo is 6-for-16 (.375) with four RBIs in the last four games and delivered his third homer in Saturday night’s win. He’ll hit just ahead of Kim in the seventh spot in the lineup.
Austin Riley is also back in the lineup, hitting sixth and playing third after missing his second start of the season on Saturday. That moves Mauricio Dubon, who filled in on Saturday, back to left field.
Chadwick Tromp is also getting his turn at catcher and hitting ninth in the series finale as Atlanta goes for a sweep to complete what would be a 5-1 road trip.
Braves starter Spencer Strider (3-0, 3.46 ERA) has faced the Reds three times but hasn’t done so since 2023. That limits the number of current Cincinnati players who have faced him to just five. Nathaniel Lowe has a team-high six at-bats against the right-hander but only one hit (.167). TJ Friedl (2-for-3) and Eugenio Suarez (2-for-4) have had more success in a smaller sample size, with Suarez providing the only extra-base hits off Strider in a pair of doubles.
Overall, Cincinnati’s hitters are a combined 7-for-18 against Strider (.389) with four RBIs, seven strikeouts and one walk.
The Reds are moving JJ Bleday up three spots to the three-hole of the lineup after he provided their only real offense of the game with a two-run homer in Saturday’s 5-2 loss. Slugging rookie Sal Stewart drops a spot to the cleanup role.
Additionally, leadoff hitter Blake Dunn moves from right field to center, replacing TJ Friedl, who will sit. Will Benson — who is in a 2-for-23 slump — gets the start in right and will hit eighth. P.J. Higgins also replaces Tyler Stephenson behind the plate for his seventh start of the season, hitting ninth.
Reds starter Nick Lodolo has one career start against the Braves last year, giving him a limited but scattered experience against the Braves’ current hitters. No one has more than four at-bats against him (Kim, 1-for-4) and no one has more than one hit or one RBI off him.
Riley has a double and Michael Harris II has a triple, as Braves hitters are a combined 5-for-24 against Lodolo (.208) with three RBIs, 10 strikeouts and two walks.
The smoldering Ronald Acuña Jr., who has four homers in the last three games, has never faced Lodolo.
The Philadelphia Phillies face the Los Angeles Dodgers this afternoon in a series-deciding game.
My Phillies vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks have Yoshinobu Yamamoto cruising with his splitter-lead approach against a Philadelphia lineup struggling at the dish.
Who will win Phillies vs Dodgers today: Dodgers -1.5 (-108)
World Series hero Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws his splitter more than any other pitch for a reason — it’s devastating. Opponents have a .173 average and .219 wOBA against the offering.
The Philadelphia Phillies have the fourth-worst runs above average per 100 splitters seen (-1.76), and the third-lowest wRC+ (76) and highest strikeout rate (25.2%) against right-handed pitchers in the last 20 days.
Yamamoto will cook with his splitter, while the lineup behind him (league-high 121 wRC+ in the L20) will tag up Andrew Painter (5.40 ERA). Given the discrepancies in starting pitching and hitting, I’d play this up to -120.
COVERS INTEL: Philadelphia has the sixth-lowest contact rate and the eighth-highest O-Swing rate in the last 20 days. Yamamoto will pile up whiffs (78th percentile) against this ice-cold lineup..
Phillies vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (+107)
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I’ve recommended the Under in the first two games of this series, and both hit, so let’s go for a third.
Philadelphia has cashed the Under in eight consecutive games, scoring no more than four runs in any of those games and posting a league-worst 55 wRC+ and .251 wOBA.
The Phillies have the best bullpen SIERA (2.31) in the last 20 days, and the Dodgers have the third-best FIP (3.13).
I have to bite with plus money available on the Under and multiple data points pointing in that direction.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 19-18, -3.36 units
Over/Under bets: 28-10, +17.41 units
Phillies vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Phillies +185 | Dodgers -225
Run line: Phillies +1.5 (-110) | Dodgers -1.5 (-110)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Phillies vs Dodgers trend
The Phillies are 1-7 straight up and 2-6 against the run line in Andrew Painter’s last eight starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Phillies vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Sunday, May 31, 2026
First pitch
4:10 p.m. ET
TV
NBCS-Philadelphia, SportsNet-Los Angeles
Phillies starting pitcher
Jesus Luzardo (4-4, 4.38 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (4-4, 3.09 ERA)
Phillies vs Dodgers latest injuries
Phillies vs Dodgers weather
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.
In the NHL playoffs, the difference between advancing and going home is often not talent—it’s timing.
If the Colorado Avalanche decide to move on from Jared Bednar, the most obvious replacement may already be sitting in the same conference.
Former Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch stands out as a natural candidate. In many ways, he mirrors Bednar: calm, composed, and analytically driven. But there is one trait where he has separated himself in a way Colorado has increasingly struggled to match—how quickly he adjusts when a series changes.
A surface-level argument would dismiss Knoblauch because he has not yet won a Stanley Cup as a head coach, and default to Bednar as the safer option. But that ignores how often modern playoff series are decided after they reach equilibrium, not before.
When The Game Stops Looking Like Plan A
Knoblauch’s coaching identity was shaped in Edmonton, where he quickly established himself as a steady but responsive bench boss. He took over the Oilers in November 2023 after the organization parted ways with Jay Woodcroft, stabilizing a team that had drifted early and reshaping it into a legitimate contender.
From there, his approach has been consistent: stay with a plan until the game proves it needs to change.
As ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark noted, coaching at this level requires balancing “the macro view -- looking at the totality of a team -- while blending in the micro,” where “those real-time, in-game decisions can be the difference between being a winning franchise or one that wonders what would have been if better choices had been made.”
That philosophy is built around flexibility. As the piece puts it, “It’s about having confidence in Plan A. But it’s about having even more confidence in knowing when to shift away from Plan A in favor of Plan B, Plan C or an entirely different plan altogether at a moment’s notice.”
Players noticed it quickly.
Former Oilers forward Connor Brown described Knoblauch as “a pretty analytical guy and pretty composed,” adding, “I think he sees it clearly in these high-pressure situations. I think his judgement is pretty clear.”
Defenseman Darnell Nurse echoed that same idea more directly: “He has a knack for making adjustments at the right time and not making an adjustment just to make one.”
The emphasis isn’t on constant change—it’s on restraint with purpose.
Control Without Panic
The most noticeable trait behind Knoblauch’s bench is what doesn’t happen: overreaction.
Even when games swing early or momentum shifts quickly, the response is measured rather than emotional.
That steadiness has translated into a team that tends to stabilize games rather than spiral in them. The changes come, but they come with intention.
It’s not about reinventing the system mid-game. It’s about recognizing when the game has already changed. For instance, perhaps Jared Bednar should have started Mackenzie Blackwood in Game 3. And when Brock Nelson struggled at second-line center, maybe the adjustment should have come sooner—shifting Nazem Kadri back into a role he’s far more accustomed to handling.
The Avalanche Question That Never Goes Away
For Colorado, the conversation has never really been about talent. The roster has remained one of the league’s most dangerous for years. The question has been what happens once opponents adjust and the series tightens.
In 2019 against San Jose, Colorado pushed the Sharks to seven games in the second round, but the series swung late as the Sharks found ways to counter and close it out.
In 2021, the Avalanche opened with two wins over Vegas before the Golden Knights adjusted, evened the series at 2–2, and ultimately took control to win in six.
In 2023, Colorado’s first-round series against Seattle became another example of a tightly contested matchup where momentum shifted as it progressed, with the Avalanche ultimately falling in seven.
In 2024, Dallas proved able to counter Colorado’s attack structure over the course of a six-game series, and in 2025, another extended battle with the Stars again highlighted how quickly series can turn once adjustments begin to dictate play.
Early control hasn’t been the issue—sustaining it has. Against top-tier opponents, Colorado has at times been outmaneuvered by coaches such as Peter DeBoer on multiple occasions, and more recently John Tortorella, who stepped in as a late replacement in Vegas following the firing of Bruce Cassidy. A sweep at the hands of the Golden Knights only intensified those concerns and raised further questions about whether a different voice behind the bench is necessary.
That is where Knoblauch’s profile naturally enters the conversation.
His time in Edmonton eventually came to a close after a first-round playoff exit to the Anaheim Ducks in 2026, a disappointing finish to a productive three-year run. But even as the results fell short at the end, the coaching identity that defined his tenure had already been established long before that final series.
One of the clearest examples came in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against Florida. Edmonton fell behind 3–0 in the series, but didn’t collapse. Instead, the structure shifted—matchups changed, lines were adjusted, and the game gradually tightened.
The Oilers forced a Game 7 before losing 2–1.
The result didn’t change the outcome, but it did reveal something more lasting: the series stayed alive because they didn't stick to the game strategy.
That is the thread running through Knoblauch’s coaching profile—less about dominance, more about adaptation under pressure.
And in the modern NHL, where series often turn once they reach 2–2 and become tactical rather than technical, that trait carries weight.
Because at that stage, the question isn’t who has the better roster.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 30: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres reacts to a home run during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Diego Padres have had an abundance of problems lately. Their offense has been rough, to say the least. Their starting pitching doesn’t look particularly great. But their bullpen has locked it down. On Saturday against the Washington Nationals, they did not.
After Michael King pitched six beautiful innings, he returned for the seventh and struggled. After giving up a leadoff single to CJ Abrams, José Tena reached on a fielder’s choice that failed to record the out. King lost control after that, issuing a walk to load the bases with no outs before hitting Dylan Crews with a pitch to make it a one-run game.
King likely should have come out before that ever took place, but with the bullpen taxed from Friday’s series opener and King sitting at a low pitch count, he continued to pitch and it led to the monstrosity that would eventually play out.
Bradgley Rodriguez came in and had the worst outing of his MLB career. He induced a ground ball from Drew Millas that should have been a double play. However, Xander Bogaerts failed to touch second base and Crews slid hard into the bag, forcing Bogaerts to fall over.
It only got worse from there. Manager Craig Stammen received the first ejection of his Padres tenure before Rodriguez walked in another run. An out was finally recorded with James Wood striking out and it seemed like the damage might finally be over.
But then Luis García Jr. hit a single to score two runners, making the score 6-3, Washington. Daylen Lile grounded into an RBI force out and Abrams came back up to finally end the inning by striking out. It was a dismal performance from Rodriguez in what has been a phenomenal rookie year thus far.
However, with all that in mind, the Friars slugged three homers and one of them was Fernando Tatis Jr. to end his season-long drought. Good things did happen for the Padres, but that one inning cost them the game. They’ll face off today in the rubber match against the Nationals.
Taking the mound
Zack Littell (WAS) v. Griffin Canning (SD)
Littell was a surprising signing by the Nats this offseason. The righty spent more time on the free agency board than most expected and had to settle for a one-year, $7 million contract with the club.
He hasn’t exactly rewarded that, posting a 5.23 ERA in 53 1/3 innings. But Littell has looked good lately, giving up just three runs over his last 17 innings pitched.
Despite Canning having a phenomenal outing in his last start, he lost because San Diego failed to score a run against the Philadelphia Phillies. Across 6 2/3 innings, Canning only surrendered three runs.
He’s looked better lately after getting off to a rough start. Canning has been saddled with a 7.54 ERA that doesn’t tell the whole story. He’s had some tough luck with balls in play but has performed serviceably. He shouldn’t have any trouble limiting this Washington lineup.
Batter up!
It was beautiful to see Tatis break his homerless streak. It’s been rough going, but the slugger has heated up lately. Tatis is batting .481/.548/.630 with an OPS over 1.000 in his last seven games. Here’s hoping the home runs come in bunches.
Fernando Tatis Jr., 2B
Gavin Sheets, 1B
Miguel Andujar, DH
Manny Machado, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Jackson Merrill, CF
Ramón Laureano, LF
Nick Castellanos, RF
Freddy Fermin, C
Machado, despite his lack of hits (.178 batting average), managed to mash his team-leading 10th homer of the season in Saturday’s game. He owns a .333 career average against Littell (12 at-bats).
The Padres have historically hit Littell well, with a combined .338 batting average and 1.148 OPS against the righty (74 at-bats). If they can rake against him today, a San Diego series victory would be markedly easier.
Relief corps
With the bullpen taxed after Friday’s game, the Friars only used Rodriguez and Wandy Peralta to finish out the game. That ended with an uncharacteristic implosion, but it shouldn’t today.
The Padres have plenty of options to turn to if Canning falters. Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, Ron Marinaccio, Yuki Matsui, Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon are all available to pitch in relief. If San Diego can clinch the rubber match, Miller will surely come in to pitch the save.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 30: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals bats during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Legitimate signs of hope have been few and far between for Washington Nationals fans since the storybook title run in 2019. Pieces being sold, starting pitching being a revolving door of mediocrity (at best) and inconsistency, and the lack of a true team identity for much of the 2020s.
2026 wasn’t viewed as a turning point going into the season. A makeshift bullpen, a rotation with some steady pieces but lacking star power, and an offense that could flash potential but still contained too many questions to be counted on. Flash forward to today, the Nats are sitting one game over .500 at 30-29 on the last day before the calendar flips to June.
The bullpen continues to leave a lot to be desired, the rotation has just two starters posting a sub-4.00 ERA, and top prospect Dylan Crews, once projected to be one of the driving forces in the lineup, has bounced between AAA and MLB.
But, with all of that being said, the Nats just continue to get it done.
They have gone 4-0-1 in their last 5 series, with a chance to improve to 5-0-1 in the series finale against San Diego on Sunday. Foster Griffin and Cade Cavalli’s return to extended big-league action has anchored the top end of the pitching staff. Multiple relievers have put together runs of being late-inning options who can be counted on.
However, the star of the show is the offense. James Wood continues to be everything Nationals’ fans could’ve hoped for and more, and CJ Abrams is not far behind him. Joey Wiemer and Keibert Ruiz have provided sufficient depth when called upon, and arguably the biggest surprise of the season, Curtis Mead, has yet to stop hammering baseballs whenever given the chance.
Whether it’s offensive explosions, gritty pitching performances, or just doing whatever is possible to add to the win column, the Nats keep doing it.
Fans are back in the stands, with some even bringing the widespread “tarps off” trend into the bleachers. The farm system is producing new developmental success stories left and right. The coaching staff seems to be building a culture worth believing in. Baseball in the nation’s capital is as exciting as it has been in years.
While the National League continues to flex its muscles as the more competitive half of MLB in the standings, the Nats have kept themselves squarely in the middle of the playoff race as the season continues into its middle stages. Sitting 2.0 games back of a playoff spot and 4.0 games clear of the team closest following them, the Miami Marlins, Washington hasn’t wavered as the contenders begin to separate themselves.
A lot can happen from now until the start of October. Seasons can collapse, trades can shake up the foundation of the league, and teams can cement themselves as true competitors as the postseason inches closer. What category the 2026 Washington Nationals will fall into remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain. This team refuses to roll over and accept its presumed identity as a rebuilding franchise.
In a sport where the impending Summer can fuel electrifying stretches from the unlikeliest of places, why not the Nats?
COVERS INTEL:
