Amed Rosario is in uncharted territory

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 26: Amed Rosario #14 of the New York Yankees hits a two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on May 26, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images

If you asked me what the highlight of Tuesday’s 15-1 drubbing of the Royals was, I’d pick Cam Schlittler’s casual six-inning, one-run start. But a close second would be Amed Rosario’s four-hit, two-homer performance. Ok, it’s important to note that his second homer came against a position player on the mound, poor old Tyler Tolbert. However, there was nothing flukey about the rest of his performance; he was scalding balls all day, with all of his hits having exit velocities exceeding 100 mph. Seriously, just look at all this hard contact:

At first, I thought this was just another entry in the annals of “random backup infielder has great game offensively”. (You will always hold a place in my heart, Jayson Nix on April 7, 2013 against Justin Verlander.) But then I looked at Rosario’s FanGraphs page and did a double take – the man’s running a 130 wRC+!

Granted, it’s only been 31 games and 97 plate appearances, which is far from a representative sample size. Rosario has had 31-game stretches where he was even hotter in the past. If I had to choose between “Amed Rosario is a middle-of-the-order bat now” and “this is just a hot streak”, I’m choosing the latter every time.

However, there’s one crucial detail that gives me pause; the shape of his production is totally new. Rosario’s .261 ISO this year represents not only a career high for him, it’s the highest mark he’s run over any 31-game stretch in his career, ever. That seems to me like it’s a sign that something has changed with him.

There’s also the matter of his platoon splits. Rosario owns a career 121 wRC+ against southpaws and a 84 wRC+ against righties. So, surely his hot hitting so far this year is because he’s being shielded against same-handed pitching, right?

Not really, as it turns out. Of Rosario’s 97 plate appearances this year, 52 have come against lefties and 45 against righties – basically an even split. Of course, since lefties only make up less than a third of MLB pitching, having only 50% of your plate appearances come against righties means that you’re being platooned. However, the fact remains that about half of Rosario’s PAs have come against righties this year. His wRC+ against them? It’s the exact same as his line against left-handers – 130. Uh, I thought he was supposed to be a platoon bat?

This level of performance against righties is unprecedented for Rosario. Unfortunately, FanGraphs’ Player Graphs function doesn’t support L/R splits for wRC+, but for our purposes wOBA works just fine. See if you can spot the year that is unlike all the others in this graph:

So, Rosario is hitting for more power than ever, and he’s hitting righties better than ever. How is he doing it?

The first question is easier to answer: Rosario is swinging the bat harder than ever. That seems to have something to do with his power surge, doesn’t it? Case in point: StatCast’s bat tracking metrics go back to 2023. That year, Rosario’s fast swing rate – defined as the percentage of swings at 75 mph or faster – was 15.2%. In 2024, it was 16.7%. In 2025, it was 29.9%, which was already a pretty big increase.

This year, it’s 44.0%.

Over the course of four seasons, Rosario’s gone from swinging hard about as often as Luis Rengifo to Bryce Harper. I guess that’ll help you hit the ball harder. But what about his disappeared platoon splits? Does swinging faster more often automatically make you a more well-rounded batter? I, uh, have some doubts about that.

Ultimately, I can’t point to a clear-cut reason as to why Rosario is suddenly hitting righties as well as he hits lefties this year. I do, however, have a theory. After many hours of grueling research (read: I floated this topic on the PSA slack and Peter gave me this link), I happened upon this tweet from Driveline Baseball:

Don’t be fooled by the formatting of the twee. The most revealing video, at least in my mind, isn’t the big one on the left but the bottom right one, showing Rosario’s 2025 (blue) and 2026 (red) swing trajectories from various angles. In particular, pay close attention to the bird’s-eye view graphic. Notice how Rosario’s 2026 bat path starts off at a markedly lesser angle than its 2025 counterpart, and remains close to parallel to the front of home plate throughout its voyage through the strike zone? My theory is that this revamped bat path has allowed Rosario to perform well against pitches from right-handers which break away from him, alleviating his platoon splits.

It has been found by past baseball research that pitches that break away from same-handed hitters result in the largest platoon splits. It seems that righty pitchers have taken this to heart when facing Rosario; they’ve fed him more and more breaking balls in recent years, with more gloveside horizontal movement.

How do you combat this? Well, one way, it seems to me, might be to “flatten” your bat path as Rosario is doing in 2026 – trying to keep the barrel of the bat as parallel to the front of home plate as long as possible. This would increase your chances of making better contact with, say, sliders spinning away from you, especially if you’re able to catch them out in front of the plate. Lo and behold: it’s still an extremely small sample size, but Rosario’s xwOBACON against breaking pitches from right-handers is by far the highest of his career.

Can Rosario sustain this level of performance going forward? I can’t say for certain. But it’s at least very encouraging that there seems to be real, tangible changes in his approach that are fueling his early-season performance. Keep an eye out for Amed Rosario – he might be playing a bigger role in this Yankees lineup in the coming weeks.

Stanley Cup Odds 2026-27: Hurricanes Favored to Win Over Avalanche

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The 2026 Stanley Cup Final has yet to even begin, but sportsbooks are offering 2026-27 Stanley Cup odds already!

The Carolina Hurricanes, favored to win it all this year, are at the top of the betting board for the 2027 title as well. Close behind are the Colorado Avalanche, whom many thought were the best in the West this year, only to be upset by the Vegas Golden Knights, who are sixth-choice here.

If you're looking to make some early NHL picks for next season, here's our look at the latest Stanley Cup odds for the 2026-27 season.

2026-27 Stanley Cup odds

TeamFanDuel
Hurricanes Carolina Hurricanes+650
Avalanche Colorado Avalanche+700
Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning+1000
Oilers Edmonton Oilers+1100
Wild Minnesota Wild+1200
Golden Knights Vegas Golden Knights+1300
Panthers Florida Panthers+1500
Senators Ottawa Senators+1500
Stars Dallas Stars+1700
Devils New Jersey Devils+2200

Odds as of 5-30.

2026-27 Stanley Cup favorites

Carolina Hurricanes (+650)

The Carolina Hurricanes finally got over their Conference Final curse, making it to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final after faltering in the penultimate round of the playoffs in three of the last four seasons.

The Hurricanes don't play a "fun" brand of hockey, but players who buy into Rod Brind'Amour's system have found success by the dozen. Just look at K'Andre Miller, who went from a New York Rangers afterthought to an elite blueliner in the span of a year.

Brind'Amour likely bought himself at least one more season behind the bench after making it to the Cup Final at long last. As long as the Canes' system stays intact, they'll always be a threat. And if they win it all in 2026, this +650 price will likely vanish. 

Colorado Avalanche (+700)

The Colorado Avalanche looked like a bulldozer heading into the Western Conference Finals, but injuries built up and the Vegas Golden Knights simply overwhelmed them in a series sweep.

The Avs were the darlings of the analytical community this year, at least out West, leading in xGoals% at 5-on-5 and ranking only behind the Hurricanes in Corsi%. 

But you don't need to be an egghead to appreciate Nathan MacKinnon, who won the "Rocket" Richard Trophy this year and is coming back for more in 2026-27.

Tampa Bay Lightning (+1000)

The Tampa Bay Lightning feel like a modern-day hockey version of Gregg Popovich's San Antonio Spurs. No matter how old their stars get, they just seem to re-tool and find ways to be a perennial contender.

The Lightning ranked third in Corsi in 2025-26, and fifth in expected goals. Nikita Kucherov (130 points) was his usual brilliant self, while Darren Raddysh was a revelation on defense.

Count the Bolts out at your own peril.


⚙️ Covers NHL betting tools


2026-27 Stanley Cup prediction

The Avalanche were the victims of some bad injury timing, and a Golden Knights team that got hot at the right time. John Tortorella will likely be back behind the bench for Vegas next year, but how soon will his act wear thin with his players?

I also don't trust the Edmonton Oilers to get back on their feet after a listless end to their 2025-26 campaign. 

The Avalanche have the easier road back to the Final compared to the Hurricanes, so they're the (very, very early) selection.

Pick: Avalanche to win 2026-27 Stanley Cup (+700 at FanDuel)

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Jays Roster Move: Voth DFA, Juenger Up

Mar 11, 2023; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Hayden Juenger (76) throws a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles in the fifth inning during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

This is the stuff that other teams do that I make fun of, but the Jays, after deciding that Austin Voth was the guy that could be the bulk guy yesterday, and when he has a bad game, he gets DFAed. If you believed in him, you wouldn’t let one game change your mind.

Hayden Juenger has been added to the roster.

Juenger has a 3.15 ERA in 17 games, 20 innings, 22 hits, 8 walks and 23 strikeouts. Hayden was on our ‘Just Missed Out’ list on the Prospects list this year. Tom wrote:

Hayden Juenger was a sixth round pick back in ‘21. He popped onto lists by jumping all the way to AAA in his first full pro season, working as a multi-inning reliever. Things have stalled there, though. He gets some strikeouts, but walks too many and generally hasn’t found the consistency he needs to join the major league staff. He deserves a nod here because, with a nice rising fastball that sits 94, a promising cutter and a good change-up he has the repertoire to work as an MLB long reliever. So far this season he’s shelved his slider and emphasized the cutter, which has helped him avoid walks so far.

Welcome Hayden.

Today’s lineup:

How AJ Dybantsa Fits With Trae Young and Anthony Davis

Mar 16, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) dribbles as Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard (3) defends during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images

The dream scenario for the Washington Wizards isn’t simply landing AJ Dybantsa, assuming he is the No 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The dream scenario is landing Dybantsa while already having established stars around him. If the Wizards enter the 2026-27 season with Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and Dybantsa, they would have one of the more fascinating roster constructions in the NBA.

The fit is not perfect. No roster is. But there are compelling reasons why Dybantsa could thrive alongside both veterans.

How Dybantsa Fits With Trae Young

The biggest advantage Trae Young provides is that he immediately removes pressure from AJ Dybantsa as a primary scoring option.

Most No. 1 picks enter the league expected to become the primary offensive creator on Day One. Look at John Wall back in 2010-11. Wall delivered, sure. But it took several seasons before the Wizards returned to the playoffs.

That often leads to inefficient basketball, forced shots, and growing pains. Dybantsa would not face those challenges to the same degree.

Young remains one of the NBA’s elite playmakers. His ability to run pick-and-roll, collapse defenses, and create open shots would give Dybantsa easier scoring opportunities than most rookie wings receive.

How Dybantsa Fits With Anthony Davis

If Young helps Dybantsa offensively, Anthony Davis helps him defensively.

One of the biggest challenges for young players is learning NBA defensive rotations and responsibilities. Even highly regarded prospects make mistakes. Rotations are missed. Assignments are blown. Screens are miscommunicated.

Davis has spent his entire career covering those mistakes. Even in his 30s, Davis remains one of basketball’s premier defensive anchors when healthy. His rim protection allows perimeter defenders to play more aggressively, knowing they have elite help behind them. At least when he’s healthy.

That is particularly important for Dybantsa. Rather than immediately defending forwards who would regularly be stronger than him, Dybantsa could focus on guarding wings and developing his individual defense immediately while building his physical strenth. Davis would handle much of the heavy lifting inside.

Offensively, Davis also complements Dybantsa’s skill set. Davis does much of his damage near the basket, while Dybantsa projects as a versatile wing capable of scoring from multiple levels. Their offensive games naturally occupy different areas of the floor, reducing overlap.

And again, is Dybantsa likely the No. 1 pick?

Well duh. At -390 per FanDuel, he’s the runaway choice. Even Dybantsa himself says that he has no intent of dropping down. So whether the Wizards, Jazz, or some other team has that pick, Dybantsa wants to be No. 1.

The Biggest Questions: Timing — and will Davis be a Wizard this fall?

Dybantsa’s fit itself is not the primary concern. The timeline is. Young and Davis are at the latter stages of their primes. Dybantsa hasn’t played in an NBA game yet. The Wizards have to determine whether they can compete for championships in the next several years before Davis, in particular, begins to decline significantly, when healthy.

That creates some urgency. The front office would need to build a capable supporting cast quickly while Dybantsa develops into a star.

Finally, we have to consider whether Davis will even be a Wizard past this June or even Young for that matter. Getting the No. 1 pick helps. Getting past the “deconstruction” stage helps. But again, Davis and Young aren’t getting younger and the Wizards need to make a significant move up the standings to keep their veterans content, if not happy.


From a pure basketball perspective, the fit works. Young would make Dybantsa’s offensive development easier as a point guard while Davis would provide defensive stability from the post and veteran leadership. Dybantsa would fill in as the rookie small forward who can play either forward spot or swing to guard in a larger lineup.

The Wizards’ challenge would be to maximize a possible championship window that may last only a few seasons, as Dybantsa begins ascending toward his prime while Young and Davis are at the end of theirs.

Texas Rangers lineup for May 30, 2026

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 29: Nicky Lopez #33 of the Texas Rangers bats against the Kansas City Royals at Globe Life Field on May 29, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Texas Rangers lineup for May 30, 2026 against the Kansas City Royals: starting pitchers are Kumar Rocker for the Rangers and Seth Lugo for the Royals.

Texas scored a lot of runs yesterday and won a game. They will try to do that again today.

The lineup:

Pederson — DH

Jung — 3B

Nimmo — RF

Burger — 1B

Duran — SS

Osuna — LF

Jansen — C

Lopez — 2B

Helman — CF

3:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -119 favorites.

Mets' Tobias Myers will be on more of a 'scripted' throwing program during minor league stint

Looking to bring in a fresh bullpen arm prior to Saturday afternoon's game against the Marlins, the Mets decided to option right-hander Tobias Myers down to the minors

The decision was a tough one with Myers being such a valuable piece for this pitching staff, but having an option remaining made him the odd man out this time around. 

“Not an easy decision given how important he’s been,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Opener, multi-inning guy, high-leverage, can get the last three outs -- it’s just the situation we were in pitching-wise heading into today’s game.

“He’s one of the guys with an option, the other two are available today -- we told him you’re going to be back here soon and he understood, obviously not happy about it, but it’s the situation we’re in and he’ll be back here.”

The versatile reliever has hit a bit of a rough patch on the mound of late as well, giving up runs in five of his last seven appearances to bring his ERA to 4.05 for the season. 

Myers will look to turn things around in Triple-A, though, on more of a regulated program.

“It’s just going to be more scripted,” Mendoza said. “Where if you’re going to go and throw 35-45 pitches, then he’s able to get the three or four days after that, something that at this level with the competition you aren’t able to do.

“Then once his 15 days are up and we have to make that decision, he can either go and continue to get stretched out or go back into the role we’ve been using him in -- he’s very versatile and an important player for our team.”

Braves hope to take series in Cincy behind Martin Perez

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 19: (Editors Note: Digital toning has been applied ) Martín Pérez #33 of the Atlanta Braves walks off the field into the dugout during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on May 19, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Braves have a chance to win their series against a solid Reds team in Cincy with a win tonight and give them a chance for another Sunday sweep.

Martin Perez takes the mound for Atlanta and he is posting near-career-best numbers through 46.2 innings, with strikeout and walk rates that near his career highs and a 3.80 xFIP to pair nicely with his 3.83 FIP at the age of 35. He’s chucking a 5 pitch mix of relatively slow pitches that generally have decent movement and it’s getting the job done for that fifth starter spot. This is a dangerous ballpark for pitchers though, ranking as a top 5 offense-friendly ballpark and especially susceptible to home runs.

The Reds will start veteran Brady Singer, who is having his worst major league season so far this year, with a 6.52 FIP and 4.46 xFIP on 46.0 innings. Given his home ballpark, I would trust xFIP to be more accurately representative than FIP, but that would still be a career-worst xFIP. It’s not hard to see why, as his fastball velocity is down nearly a full MPH from last season and his strikeouts have cratered to by far a career low rate of 6.65 per 9 innings. At only 29, Singer may be hitting the cliff early or this may be a blip on an overall solid mid-rotation starter career. Let’s hope this swoon lasts at least one more game and Atlanta can take advantage. Singer relies heavily on his sinker and slider, with a sweeper, cutter, and four-seamer sprinkled in. All of his pitches have been hit varying degrees of hard this year, but he does still have good extension and historically his slider has been fairly effective. What he is doing well this season is limiting walks, so the Braves should look for all of those pitches he’s throwing in the strike zone and look to hit them hard, particularly the sinkers. If they can do that, they should find success against Singer in this small ballpark.

Game Info

Game Time: Saturday, May 30th, 7:15 pm EDT

Location: Great American Ball Park, , Cincinnati, OH

Watch: FOX

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

GameThread: Tigers vs. White Sox 2:10 p.m.

May 29, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Zack Short (15) hits a sacrifice RBI against the Chicago White Sox during the tenth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

Detroit Tigers (22-36) vs. Chicago White Sox (30-27)

Time/Place: 2:10 p.m., Rate Field
SB Nation Site: South Side Sox
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup:Game 59: LHP Framber Valdez (2-3, 4.28 ERA) vs. LHP Anthony Kay (4-1, 3.96 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Valdez1161.018.78.649.54.080.6
Kay1152.116.59.742.65.210.2

Lineups

TIGERSWHITE SOX
Kevin McGonigle – 3BChase Meidroth – 2B
Dillon Dingler – CRandal Grichuk – RF
Matt Vierling – CFMiguel Vargas – 1B
Riley Greene – LFColson Montgomery – 3B
Spencer Torkelson – 1BEdgar Quero – C
Jahmai Jones – DHDerek Hill – CF
Wenceel Perez – RFLuisangel Acuna – SS
Hao-Yu Lee – 2BAndrew Benintendi – DH
Zack Short – SSSam Antonacci – LF

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Why was Abner Uribe suspended while Pete Crow-Armstrong was only fined?

Yesterday was an annoying baseball day. The Cubs lost to the Cardinals after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning. They were one run short of tying the game in the ninth, because the BABIP gods were apparently a little annoyed at Nico Hoerner and Phil Maton keeps throwing in relatively close games for #reasons. Shōta Imanaga decided to keep pace with Jameson Taillon on the home run front, surrendering two of his own today. Including a long fly ball to former Cub Nelson Velázquez in his first MLB at bat since 2024 and you know what? Good for Nelson [VIDEO]:

But the loss was maybe the least annoying Cubs adjacent thing Friday because we also learned that Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe would be suspended a game after a… shall we say, colorful, celebration in the direction of the Cardinals dugout:

I really went back and forth on whether I should show that celebration. Ultimately, I decided I should not. It’s easily searchable, most of you have probably already seen it. I don’t have a huge problem with it, but I know enough people do that I am not going to thrust that onto people without warning. In fact, it’s very similar to an editorial decision I made on this very site last week when I opted not to share video of the incident between Pete Crow-Armstrong and a White Sox fan in the outfield at the recent Crosstown Classic. As I said at the time:

The video of the exchange is uncomfortable viewing and it seemed like an ill-advised engagement with a fan from my vantage point. The full picture matters here: a female White Sox fan began booing Crow-Armstrong and yelling “you suck” when he was just feet away after he missed a potential highlight-reel catch, and PCA responded with a profane and frankly crude verbal comeback that he acknowledged immediately was indefensible in terms of word choice. Crow-Armstrong apologized Monday for his language, saying he didn’t think “any of the women in my life would think I would say those kinds of words regularly” and adding that he was bothered by the idea of young kids seeing the exchange on social media. That’s a start, but honestly, it’s pretty clear he does use those words to at least some women who aren’t in his life, and that’s a double standard that is more than a little troubling.

In that piece, I noted that the line between what PCA did towards the fan wasn’t that far away from other fan interactions that have resulted in suspensions. I also shared, cautiously, that I thought MLB had probably gotten it right. What PCA did was distasteful and indefensible, but a fine rather than a suspension seemed appropriate, although reasonable people clearly may disagree. In the poll attached to that earlier article, the vote was split about 50/50 between suspension and not for PCA.

I’m just not sure how whatever governing body that made the decision to fine PCA looked at what Uribe did towards another team (not the fans) and finds that to be worthy of a suspension rather than a fine. If anything, Uribe’s gesture, while crude, seems squarely within behavior that is also actively being celebrated in the game when the Giants outfield does it.

I’m sure there is some explanation forthcoming, but honestly, even the potential explanations feel a big cringy as I consider them. For example, it was widely reported that Brewers manager Pat Murphy was visibly annoyed with Uribe and called the situation unacceptable. That’s a different public-facing reaction than what Cubs manager Craig Counsell said regarding PCA.

I’m sure some fans will read this and groan internally. I’ll be honest, I wish we weren’t talking about this even anymore too. But I also think it’s important to call out decisions that seem unfair on their face, even when my favorite team got the better end of the deal.

Regardless of any explanation that might be forthcoming, the discrepancy in punishment here is honestly not a great look for a league that presumably would like the punishments they mete out to players appear to be equitable, measured and fair.

Game Thread: Tigers (22-36) at White Sox (30-27)

Newcomer Jacob Gonzalez, writing down the combination to his locker? | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Last night’s victory for the Sox was certainly exciting, what with tying the game in the ninth on a misplayed squeeze bunt and then winning on a walk-off homer in the 10th. But it was also pyrrhic, since Munetaka Murakami injured a hammie trying to beat out a double play throw in the third inning and wound up on the IL.

Murakami is expected to be out four to six weeks, so the Sox called up Jacob Gonzalez, who seems to have remembered how to hit and has been smashing the ball in Charlotte. With Murakami out, Gonzalez is expected to take over at short, with Colson Montgomery moving to third and last night’s hero, Miguel Vargas, shifting to first. That will wait at least a day, because Gonzalez isn’t in today’s starting lineup.

The pitching matchup is a battle of veteran lefties, with Anthony Kay going for the Sox and Framber Valdez for the Tigers. Valdez is having by far his worst season since 2019, with a 4.28 ERA and 1.33 WHIP, but he was sharp last time out, holding the Orioles to two hits and one run over six innings. He’ll face a Sox lineup that has historically hit him well, especially Edgar Quero (5-for-6 with four RBIs).

Kay faces a Detroit team with an injured list that is probably the best team in the AL Central, but an active list that is the worst, with four of today’s starters hitting worse than .200 and two more barely better. Kay has had an excellent May, giving up only six earned runs in 27 1/3 innings over five starts.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Central on a perfect baseball day, with partly sunny skies, temps in the mid-sixties, and wind blowing left to right with gusts to 21 mph to keep things interesting. Usual broadcast suspects.

Warriors’ Best Performances of ’25-26: Gui Santos made history vs Nets

There are nights where a player goes off and you spend the next morning explaining it away like, the opponent was tired, the shots were lucky, or the defense missed a rotation. Then there are nights where the performance arrives attached to a story that earns its own weight, and March 25th was completely, unmistakably the second kind.

On Latino Heritage Night at Chase Center, with the Warriors dragging themselves through the seventh game of an 11-day road stretch across seven cities, Gui Santos delivered the best game of his NBA career, scoring 31 points in a 109-106 comeback win over the Brooklyn Nets. The box score is glowing but it isn’t the point.

Steve Kerr described his team afterward as looking like they were “running in mud,” and if anything that undersells how lost Golden State looked for three quarters. They turned the ball over 26 times, matched a season high, trailed by as many as 13 points, and spent most of the night looking like a group of professionals who desperately needed sleep, a home-cooked meal, and maybe a long conversation with a therapist.

Santos looked like the only person in the building who didn’t get that memo. While the offense was discovering new and creative ways to give the ball away, he was quietly assembling something complete: catch-and-shoot threes, post work against bigger defenders, free throws drawn in traffic. He touched every part of the offensive toolkit and used all of it correctly, which is the difference between a hot streak and a replicable performance. Hot streaks are accidental while what Santos put together that night had a structure to it.

Fifteen of his 31 points came in the third quarter alone, on 5-of-7 shooting with three threes knocked down, and the Warriors were still trailing when it was over. He was just out there working, cashing every opportunity the defense handed him with the calm focus of someone who had decided, somewhere between warmups and tip-off, that this night belonged to him.

The coaches watched it happening in real time and responded accordingly. When Santos caught the ball in the post, the sideline was already on its feet calling out to him: go to work Gui, go to work, do what you do. He said afterward that hearing that changed something. “When you listen to that, you say ‘ok now I can go.'” And that is exactly what he did, finishing the night 11-of-16 from the field, 4-of-6 from three, and 5-of-8 from the line against a defense that had no answer for a version of Gui Santos nobody had quite seen before.

After the game, Santos called his family, and that is where this story becomes something bigger than a career high. He became the fourth Brazilian after Leandro Barbosa, Anderson Varejão, Nenê Hilário to score 30 or more points in a game.

How cool for it to come on Latino Heritage Night in front of a sellout crowd at Chase Center, while coaches screamed encouragement from the sideline and an exhausted Warriors team quietly rode his shoulders through a comeback they probably had no business completing. Gui Santos, the Brazilian wing who spent the better part of his Warriors career as a project and a promise, had walked into a piece of basketball history he didn’t even know existed until he was already standing inside it. That is bigger than a career high!

Pirates demote Esmerlyn Valdez, but showed promise for the future

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 26: Esmerlyn Valdez #55 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a two-run home run in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on May 26, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Esmerlyn Valdez may have had a short first stint in the Major Leagues, but he showed signs of what could be to come for the Pirates outfield.

Valdez made his MLB debut on May 22 against the Toronto Blue Jays and reached base on a walk.

He didn’t record his first career hit until two days later, notching it in style.

The 22-year-old power hitter smashed his first-career home run on Sunday, a two-run shot off Chase Lee. Valdez displayed opposite field power and helped the Bucs to a 4-1 victory and salvaged one game in the three-game set.

Valdez homered again two days later against the Chicago Cubs, his first long ball at PNC Park. 

That home run was even more impressive, taking Jordan Wicks deep to the Cubs’ bullpen in the first inning. 

Valdez became the seventh Pirate in the Modern Era (since 1901) to hit two home runs in their first four career games.

The last to do so? Former first-rounder and top prospect Austin Meadows in 2018, who was dealt at the trade deadline to Tampa Bay in a package for pitcher Chris Archer.

Meadows was the first to achieve the feat since Dick Stuart in 1958. Valdez joined Meadows, Stuart, RC Stevens (1958), Dino Restelli (1949), Wally Westlake (1947), and Walter Mueller (1922), per Luke Henne of Pirates PR.

Valdez was sent back to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday. With Konnor Griffin dealing with a low-grade muscle strain in his forearm, the Pirates recalled infielder Tyler Callihan and demoted Valdez to create room on the roster.

In 16 at-bats, Valdez only hit .125. He earned two home runs and five RBIs in a small sample and displayed the immense power he has in his frame.

Valdez hit 10 doubles and 10 home runs in the minor leagues before being recalled.

The No. 9 overall prospect in the Pirates system also has pro experience playing at first base.

This is likely not the last we hear of Valdez this season, and his rapid rise through the minors. 

Pittsburgh continues to fight through a tough NL Central race, with all five teams over .500 on Saturday. 

Spurs vs Thunder Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for Game 7

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As the series shifts back to Oklahoma City, the Thunder return home with a Game 7 on their hands against the San Antonio Spurs, with our NBA player prop projections identifying several strong value spots on the board for tonight's thriller.

By breaking down the data and comparing it to the latest market lines, we’ve uncovered where the strongest betting edges lie for this pivotal matchup.

These Spurs vs. Thunder predictions are driven by numbers instead of guesswork.

If you’re building your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Saturday, May 30.

Spurs vs Thunder computer picks for Game 7

Spurs SpursThunder Thunder
Wembanyama u26.5 points 
-125
Gilgeous-Alexander o30.5 points
-112
Castle o6.5 assists
-135
Holmgren o8.5 rebounds
+105
Vassell u2.5 3-pointers 
-120
Caruso o1.5 3-pointers 
-165

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Spurs Game 7 computer picks

Victor Wembanyama Under 26.5 points (-125)

Projection: 25.79 points

The Oklahoma City Thunder have slowed things down to the seventh-lowest pace in the league over their last 25 home games.

This sluggish tempo should limit overall possessions for the San Antonio Spurs and put a dent in Victor Wembanyama's offensive production. It's a style that plays right into OKC's hands, as they've dominated at Paycom Center with a stellar 6-1 home record during this postseason run.

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Stephon Castle Over 6.5 assists (-135)

Projection: 6.59 assists

Stephon Castle has been an absolute assist machine throughout this series against the Thunder. Castle has cleared this line in four of the six games against OKC, while narrowly missing the mark in the other two.

With San Antonio's season on the line and a ticket to the NBA Finals within reach, expect Castle to be locked in as a primary facilitator.

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Devin Vassell Under 2.5 3-pointers (-120)

Projection: 2.44 3-pointers

The Thunder have been absolutely brutal on opposing small forwards this year, holding them to a mere 25.5% shooting from beyond the arc—the second-lowest mark in the league.

While Devin Vassell has defied this difficult matchup by sinking two or more 3-pointers in every single game this series, OKC will undoubtedly sell out to run him off the perimeter tonight.

Expect a heavy defensive focus as the Thunder look to snap Vassell's streak and keep him from clearing a prop line he has already cashed in four of the six games.

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Thunder Game 7 computer picks

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 30.5 points (-112)

Projection: 31.61 points

The Thunder check in as the league's third-highest scoring offense over their last 20 games. They are also projected to see an uptick in total possessions tonight by sharing the floor with a fast-paced Spurs squad that ranks 10th in tempo on the road this year.

Furthermore, this matchup offers an excellent opportunity to get to the free-throw line — something Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has done masterfully all series. San Antonio has been highly generous in that department lately, allowing opposing starting point guards to attempt a whopping 4.4 foul shots per game over the last 10 contests, the 10th-highest mark in the NBA.

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Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds (+105)

Projection: 8.55 rebounds

It's time for Chet Holmgren to step up in a major way. While he has looked more like himself on the glass over the last two games against the Spurs, it is non-negotiable for him to hold his own against Wemby if Oklahoma City wants to return to the NBA Finals.

Holmgren has managed to clear this rebounding prop in three consecutive games, and the Thunder will need that momentum to continue if they hope to secure a Game 7 victory.

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Alex Caruso Over 1.5 3-pointers (-165)

Projection: 1.56 3-pointers

The Thunder have been highly aggressive from deep over their last 25 home games, ranking 10th in the league in 3-point attempts.

Alex Caruso has been as reliable as they come on both ends of the floor especially from the perimeter, where he has knocked down three or more triples in four of the six matchups in this series.

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How to watch Spurs vs Thunder Game 7

LocationPaycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
DateSaturday, May 30, 2026
Tip-off8:00 p.m. ET
TVNBC/Peacock

Not intended for use in MA.
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Mets option Tobias Myers to Syracuse, call up Cionel Pérez

Relief pitcher Tobias Myers #32 of the New York Mets pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 10th inning at Chase Field on May 08, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mets defeated the Diamondbacks 3-1 in 10 innings.

If you enjoy playing Immaculate Grid, well, the Mets really are the team for you. The Mets have optioned right-handed pitcher Tobias Myers, who’s worked out of the bullpen and as an opener for them since joining the team alongside Freddy Peralta, to Triple-A Syracuse. And they’ve called up left-handed pitcher Cionel Pérez, yet another fringe major league arm, to take his place on the active roster.

To call up Pérez, the Mets had to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, and they’ve designated fellow left-handed reliever Anderson Severino for assignment.

As has been the case with plenty of other relievers in the David Stearns era, you figure Pérez isn’t long for the major league roster. In 16.0 innings with the Nationals this year, he has a 6.19 ERA with an awful 15.1 percent walk rate and more walks than strikeouts. Having spent most of this season with the Washington organization, he’s put up a 2.57 ERA in six appearances with Syracuse since joining the Mets, but his 16.1 percent walk rate in that limited sample in the minors is even worse than what he had done in the big leagues.

Myers, meanwhile, has been highlighted as a significant addition in the aforementioned trade with the Brewers that was headlined by Peralta. But it’s been a relatively rough go of it for him in his first 20 appearances as a Met, as he has a 4.05 ERA and a 4.47 FIP, both of which are worse than his career norms.

Last but not least, Severino has a 1.31 ERA and a 3.31 FIP in 20.2 innings with Syracuse this season. His only major league experience came in 2022 with the White Sox, and before this season, the 31-year-old has spent the entirety of his professional career in the Yankees and White Sox organizations.

Kyrie Irving reveals how he feels about Knicks reaching NBA Finals — with shoutout to ‘bonkers’ fans

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Kyrie Irving, Image 2 shows New York Knicks players celebrate winning the Eastern Conference Finals, Image 3 shows Kyrie Irving on a Twitch stream

Kyrie Irving is looking forward to the NBA Finals.

The former Nets guard said in a Friday Twitch stream that he was “excited” to watch the Knicks in their return to the NBA’s biggest stage, and gave a shoutout to the orange and blue faithful as well.

“The Knicks making the Finals is OD… a lot of those Knicks fans in New York are gonna go bonkers, man,” he said.

“It’s gonna be one of those ones. You just gotta gear up for it if you’re on the East Coast, man. They done made it to the NBA Finals, they done earned their ticket, they did everything that they could in the regular season to prepare.”

The 34-year-old Irving, who was with the Nets from 2019-23 until he was traded to the Mavericks, also praised Jalen Brunson as a “great” point guard who has “great pieces around him.” The Knicks are in the Finals for the first time since 1999.

Kyrie Irving said he was “excited” to watch the Knicks in the NBA Finals Twitch/Kyrie Irving

Irving, who missed all of this season following an ACL tear in March 2025, also gave a positive update on his injury status.

“I am definitely close to being over at 100 percent in terms of my ACL recovery,” he said on the Twitch stream.

“It’s been a while now…I’m so grateful that I’ve had the time to heal and just experiment with my body more on the court and off the court in the weight room and just pushing myself to the limit.”

Irving will team up with reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and veterans Klay Thompson and Khris Middleton once he is able to get back on the court.

Knicks celebrate after winning the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Four of the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2026 at Rocket Arena NBAE via Getty Images
Irving is helped off the court after tearing his ACL in March 2025. AP

The Knicks, meanwhile, are waiting to learn their Finals opponent after sweeping the Cavs in the Eastern Conference finals.

The Thunder and Spurs will face off in the West’s Game 7 on Saturday night with a spot in the NBA Finals on the line.