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Friday morning Rangers things

May 28, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) reacts at second base after hitting an RBI double during the third inning against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Good morning, LSB.

The Rangers lost to the Astros last night, 5-1.

Shawn McFarland’s game story discusses the hole that Texas’ starting pitching has been digging in the early going of games.

Kennedi Landry evaluates what’s gone wrong with the Rangers’ season one-third of the way into it.

Skip Schumaker missed the game while attending his son’s high school graduation.

Josh Smith is back with the team after a bout viral meningitis.

Cody Freeman has been activated from the IL and optioned to Round Rock.

Evan Grant answered the questions of exasperated Rangers fans in a live Q&A on Youtube.

And finally there’s a strong chance we look back at tonight’s Nolan Ryan bloody jersey giveaway as the greatest thing the 2026 Texas Rangers offered us.

That’s all for this morning. The Rangers start up a series with the Royals tonight at 7:05 with MacKenzie Gore on the mound for Texas.

Happy Friday!

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Should Detroit Bring Back Patrick Kane On Veteran Friendly Deal?

One of the NHL’s best bargain contracts this past season belonged to the Detroit Red Wings and veteran forward Patrick Kane.

After signing a one-year contract worth $3 million to remain in Detroit, the future Hall of Famer once again proved he can still produce at a high level despite nearing the end of his career. Although injuries limited Kane to 67 games, the 37-year-old still recorded 57 points, production that would typically cost teams significantly more on the open market.

Now, with Kane once again set to become an unrestricted free agent, the Red Wings face an important offseason decision regarding one of their most recognizable veterans.

Detroit appears poised to undergo a roster transition this summer as the organization looks to create opportunities for younger players to secure full-time NHL roles. Several pending unrestricted free agents are not expected to return next season, including David Perron, James van Riemsdyk, Travis Hamonic, and Cam Talbot with Kane expected to be the lone exception.

The veteran winger made it clear in his end-of-season media availability, that he would like to get Detroit over the hump and into the playoffs while expressing interest in returning to the Red Wings and continuing to build on the organization’s system. Still, there are legitimate questions surrounding what his role should look like moving forward.

Some Red Wings fans and analysts believe Detroit needs to find better, more dynamic solutions for its top-six forward group. Former Red Wings forward Darren McCarty recently discussed Kane’s future during a podcast appearance, suggesting the veteran could be more effective in a middle-six role while continuing to serve as a power-play specialist.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

That raises another important question for Detroit’s front office of how much should the team commit financially to an aging player whose role may gradually decrease?

Even if Kane slides lower in the lineup next season, his offensive instincts and experience still provide significant value. Injuries are inevitable over the course of an NHL season, and having a player capable of moving up the lineup and contributing offensively remains an important luxury for playoff hopeful teams.

But at the same time, durability has become a growing concern with Kane having missed 96 games over the past six seasons and will turn 38 years old next November. While his production remains impressive, the physical demands of the NHL continue to become more challenging with age.

For that reason, the most logical path forward may involve a contract structure similar to the one recently signed by longtime former Chicago Blackhawks teammate Jonathan Toews with the Winnipeg Jets.

That deal carries a $2 million cap hit while incorporating performance bonuses tied to games played and offensive production. A similar arrangement could provide Detroit with valuable cap flexibility while also rewarding Kane if he continues producing at a high level.

The Red Wings would retain an experienced veteran capable of helping mentor younger players while still contributing offensively, and Kane would remain with an organization he appears comfortable with as he chases another playoff appearance late in his career.

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Mitchell Robinson hopes to play in Game 1 of NBA Finals after undergoing surgery on broken pinky in Knicks boost

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31), guard Keon Ellis (14), and New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) reach for a rebound during the first half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series in Cleveland, Monday, May 25, 2026. , Image 2 shows Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks boxes out during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 23, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mitchell Robinson injury

There is optimism Mitchell Robinson will be ready to go for the Finals. 

He underwent surgery on his broken right pinky finger, league sources confirmed.

The hope is that he will be ready for Game 1 on Wednesday, though there is still no concrete timeline.

Mitchell Robinson (23) dunks during the first half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland on May 25, 2026. AP Photo/Tim Phillis

And still, it is uncertain how effective Robinson can be if he does play. 

Beyond Robinson, the Knicks lack depth at center behind Karl-Anthony Towns.

Ariel Hukporti would be the likely next option, but he played sparingly in the regular season and so far in the playoffs.

When Robinson missed Game 2 of the second round against the 76ers due to an illness, Hukporti played seven minutes and recorded two points and three rebounds while also picking up four fouls. 

Jeremy Sochan is theoretically another option, though he has been relegated to strictly garbage time minutes since the end of the regular season.

The Knicks could utilize small-ball lineups with OG Anunoby at the five, though that will be difficult against either the Thunder or Spurs, both of whom feature star bigs. 

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson was grabbing at his right hand after going for. rebound during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers on Monday, May 25, 2026. X

If it’s the Spurs, in particular, that the Knicks face in the Finals, Robinson’s availability could be critical.

He was excellent when guarding Victor Wembanyama in the Knicks’ NBA Cup final triumph over the Spurs last December. Robinson spent more time matched up with Wembanyama than any other Knicks defender, per the league’s official tracking stats.

Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31), guard Keon Ellis (14), and New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) reach for a rebound during the first half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference finals playoffs series in Cleveland on May 25, 2026. AP Photo/Tim Phillis

Wembanyama went 3-for-7 from the field and 0-for-2 from 3-point range when Robinson was his primary defender in that game. 

It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster postseason for Robinson.

His brutal free throw shooting – he is 13-for-43 (30.2 percent) from the line in the playoffs – has allowed opponents to utilize Hack-a-Mitch and force the Knicks to take him off the court. 

He is only averaging 14.2 minutes per game in the postseason, down from 19.6 minutes per game in the regular season. 

Regardless, the Knicks don’t have any replacement for his rebounding prowess and his versatile defense.

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Best NRFI Picks Today: No Run First Inning Predictions for MLB May 29

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With an intriguing matchup on the mound, I'm expecting a low-scoring first inning between the New York Mets and Miami Marlins in their series opener.

That game headlines my favorite MLB picks today for the "no run first inning" and "yes run first inning" markets.

Here are my best NRFI predictions and YRFI picks for Friday, May 29.

Best NRFI/YRFI predictions today

PickOdds
Marlins/Mets - NRFI-145
Cubs/Cardinals - NRFI-120
Royals/Rangers - NRFI-130

Marlins at Mets: NRFI (-145)

A pair of studs take the hill tonight between the Miami Marlins and New York Mets.

Max Meyer gets the ball for the visitors, and he's collected a 2.52 ERA this season. The right-hander has a 9-2 NRFI/YRFI record as well, and he's held the Mets to a .094 average across 32 at-bats.

They failed to score off him in the first last Sunday. 

Freddy Peralta counters for New York, and he hasn't allowed a run in the first inning in 10 straight appearances, and he's up against a Marlins lineup that doesn't often score in the first.

They're also batting just .239 in the opening frame, and he held them scoreless in the first last week. 

I'd play this up to -160. 

  • Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Marlins.TV, WPIX-11

Cubs at Cardinals: NRFI (-120)

Shota Imanaga takes the hill for the Chicago Cubs tonight, and while he's struggled at times this season, the left-hander rarely gets in trouble in the first. 

He owns a 8-3 NRFI/YRFI record, and he hasn't given up a run in the first in five straight. The St. Louis Cardinals haven't scored in the opening frame in nine games and counting.

The hosts will hand Kyle Leahy the ball, and he's also been lights out in the first, with a 9-1 NRFI/YRFI record.

The Cubbies are hitting only .222 in the first inning, and they've scored just 10 times in the opening frame in 2026. 

This is a play I'd take up to -150. 

  • Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: MARQ, Cardinals.TV

Royals at Rangers: NRFI (-130)

The Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers are both struggling to score runs right now, and the pitching matchup here will make it difficult to get things going early on.

Stephen Kolek has a 2.77 ERA, and he hasn't allowed a run in the first once this year across four starts. 

MacKenzie Gore has an ERA over 4.00, but he's usually came out unscathed in the opening frame, posting a 8-3 NRFI/YRFI record in '26.

The Royals' offense hasn't came across the dish in the first in four straight, while Texas has been held scoreless in the first in four of their previous six games. 

I'll confidently ride this pick up to -140. 

  • Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Royals.TV, KDAF-CW33
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
  • NRFI/YRFI picks: 14-24, -0.35 units

What is a NRFI prediction?

NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) predictions add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI pick is a prediction that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're predicting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.

A YRFI pick is the exact opposite. You're predicting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.

NRFI and YRFI picks add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for those looking for a quick resolution.

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Islanders Name Jay McKee Head Caoch Of Hamilton Hammers

The New York Islanders announced on X that they have hired Jay McKee as head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Hammers ahead of their inaugural season.

McKee, 48, was a former 14th overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres in 1995. The left-shot defenseman went on to record 125 points (21 goals, 104 assists) in 802 career regular season games over the course of a 14-year NHL career. 

The first 10 seasons of his career were played in Buffalo before a three-year stint with the St. Louis Blues (2006-09), concluding his NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009-10. 

After just a year remove from the NHL, McKee began his coaching career, first serving as a volunteer assistant coach at Niagra University in 2010-11. 

Despie being on the younger side for head caoches, McKee's got the experience, which includes two seasons as the head coach of the Hamilton Bullodogs (2021-2023), when they were still an OHL team:

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The Hockey News learned that McKee was also a finalist for the Bellville Senators, the Ottawa Senators' AHL affiliate's head coaching gig.

The Islanders, who leave Bridgeport after 25 years, elevated Rocky Thompson to Pete DeBoer's staff, which created the Hamilton head coaching vacancy. 

The expectaion, at this time, is that Thompson's two assistants, David Cunniff and Chad Kolarik, will serve on McKee's staff.

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Should San Francisco Giants move on from Rafael Devers amid struggles?

The start of the MLB season hasn't been kind to the San Francisco Giants and their first baseman, Rafael Devers.

The Giants have a 22-34 record through one-third of the season. Devers, their 2025 splash acquisition from the Boston Red Sox, has had a rather forgetful start to the 2026 season. He's on pace for one of his worst seasons in MLB, since his professional debut in 2017.

Devers is batting .242 with just seven homers in 215 at-bats through 56 games. This season he has struck out 69 times, which is ranked within the top 15 in baseball. His grand slam Sunday in the Giants' 8-5 win against the Chicago White Sox brought a sigh of relief after a sluggish start.

He followed it with a 1-for-3 performance, adding two RBIs in the first game of a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a 6-2 loss on Monday, May 25. He remained in rhythm the following games batting 1-for-4 and adding an RBI despite the Giants losing, 7-5.

He cooled off in the final game of the series against Arizona. Devers was 0-of-4 as San Francisco was swept in the series after a 3-2 loss on May 27.

One of the more pressing issues for the Giants is what's going on with Devers and what to do with him at this point in his tenure. As talented as Devers is, the Giants' record indicates that something has got to change, and you start with Devers. The Giants need to determine whether they will continue to believe in Devers and allow him to shake the funk, or if they will bench him, or let him go altogether.

What should San Francisco Giants do about Rafael Devers' slump?

The Giants and Devers have got to figure this thing out if there's any hope of salvaging an otherwise lost season. It's not the end of the world, yet. San Francisco is 22-34, not the best record by far, almost the worst ... but not quite. All in all, improvement on all fronts needs to be made. The Giants are in a position where they can turn it around now or watch their 2026 season continue to crumble.

There needs to be answers for what to do with Devers. Here are a few options, whether popular opinion, or not.

Continue to play Devers

Everybody goes through a slump, right? Devers is no different. He's going to go through a lull, break out with a couple slugs out of the park and get back into form. Before we know it, this will be something we look back on and say "boy did we overreact."

That's best-case scenario. Sometimes that's how baseball goes — you need more and more games to shake out of a slump. Keeping confidence in Devers will allow him to remain confident in himself, which in turn will eventually translate to the diamond.

Bench Devers

Sit 'em down. Not for good, but with a 22-34 record, why not shake things up for a week to see how things go? USA TODAY baseball columnist Bob Nightengale posed a question that Giants faithful have wondered themselves: Why are the Giants not utilizing top prospect Bryce Eldridge?

Nightengale said it best when he wrote: "It’s like having a Porsche 911 Carrera and being instructed not to exceed 50 miles per hour. It’s getting a custom Armani suit but told it can only be worn at family barbeques. It’s like winning an all-inclusive Tahiti beach vacation for two, but your plus-one is your grandmother."

Eldridge is a 6-foot-7, 251-pound, first-round pick that’s one of the prized young hitters in baseball. Not to mention he's just the tender age of 21. Maybe a first-year skipper like Tony Vitello doesn't want to bring in the young gun in place of Devers, the 10-year MLB veteran. Both also play first base.

If Devers continues to have offensive woes, San Francisco has to look elsewhere and Eldridge could be the answer. At least playing youth will give fans some optimism after an abysmal start to the season.

Trade Devers

This might be the last straw. If the first two options are exercised and there's promise with Eldridge, then the next considerable move would be to see what the demand for Devers is and place him on the trade market. Devers is one of the high-priced players the team would "love to unload," according to previous USA TODAY reports. Devers is the highest-paid player on the team and still has $226.5 million remaining on his contract that runs through 2033.

San Francisco could look for an exit route, especially given his play since he first joined the Giants in a 2025 trade with the Red Sox.

Referring back to the previous options, if Devers is benched and someone such as Eldridge shows potential, or the Giants start clicking, then the move might be to find a new home for Devers. Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer detailed a list of teams that could be potential suitors for Devers that included the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners and Atlanta Braves.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What will San Francisco Giants do about Rafael Devers' sluggish start?

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Winnipeg Could Explore Potential Offer Sheet For Vegas Breakout Star

With the NHL's summer free agent pool shaping up to be one of the thinnest in recent memory, contending teams searching for meaningful offensive upgrades are pivoting their attention toward the trade and restricted free agent markets and one name is beginning to generate serious buzz league-wide.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev is emerging as one of the most coveted restricted free agents available this offseason, and the Winnipeg Jets are among the clubs paying closest attention.

Dorofeyev's ascent has been nothing short of remarkable as the 25-year-old compiled a career-high 35 goals in his first full NHL season in 2024–25, establishing himself as one of the league's most dangerous finishers. 

Over the past two seasons, he has 72 goals and placing him tied for the 15th-most goals in the NHL alongside some of the league’s top offensive talents, including Boston Bruins forwards David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie. Dorofeyev has been a particular menace on the power play, earning 20 of his 37 goals and 10 of his 27 assists with the man advantage this year. 

His postseason performance has only accelerated the intrigue with ten goals and four assists for 14 points through 16 playoff games. Dorofeyev's current contract carries a cap hit of just $1,835,000 and will expired at the end of the season, leaving him as a restricted free agent. His breakout production will command a significant raise and could create an opening for Winnipeg.

The Jets spent last offseason overhauling their forward group following the departure of Nikolaj Ehlers and remained competitive, but offensive consistency proved elusive at times. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and his staff have identified adding a proven scoring winger as a top priority for a team still anchored by veterans Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Josh Morrissey. 

Dorofeyev can work as a legitimate 35-goal threat capable of contributing at even strength and on the power play and would give Winnipeg exactly that kind of impact player.

The financial mechanics of a potential offer sheet are straightforward, if not without cost. A contract in the $4,680,077 to $7,020,113 range would require a first and third-round pick as compensation. A more aggressive offer, in the $7,020,114 to $9,360,153 bracket, would demand a first, second, and third-round selection.

Winnipeg currently holds its own first and third-round picks in each of the next two drafts, giving it the assets needed for a lower-tier offer. The second-round pick situation, however, is worth monitoring as they sent the pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of last year's Luke Schenn deal. That said, NHL teams have reacquired draft picks specifically to position themselves for offer sheet opportunities before, and the Jets could explore a similar avenue if they view Dorofeyev as a legitimate option.

If Cheveldayoff believes Dorofeyev is the offensive catalyst to push the Jets back into legitimate Stanley Cup contention, the price of admission in both dollars and draft capital may well be worth it.

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Brew Hoop Community Draft Board: No. 9, Brayden Burries

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 04: Brayden Burries #5 of the Arizona Wildcats dribbles up the court against the Michigan Wolverines in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Talent or fit? It’s the age-old question, at least as far as the NBA Draft is concerned. And with Brayden Burries, a 6’4”, 215 lb combo guard out of Arizona, it raises itself again. Burries is talented, no doubt, but is he talented enough in a draft as deep as this for the Bucks to take him over players who better fit positional needs?

Burries quickly became Arizona’s go-to offensive option as a freshman this season, putting up 16.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, and 1.5 SPG with impressive .491/.391/.805 shooting splits and just 1.5 TOPG, leading the Wildcats all the way to the Final Four. While he did struggle shooting in their loss to the Michigan Wolverines (4/16), the rest of his tournament run was impressive overall:

  • 18 points and five boards against Long Island.
  • 16 and nine against Utah State.
  • 23 and five against Arkansas.
  • 14 and six against Purdue.

Oh, and he did all that shooting a combined 22/38 (58%) from the field.

As an NBA player, Burries will make an excellent backcourt running mate next to just about anyone. He’s a physical defender with enough size and strength to guard both backcourt positions, is disruptive on the ball and in the passing lanes, and demonstrates genuine commitment to the defensive end, drawing comparisons to All-World defenders Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. While he still has a ways to go to reach those lofty heights, the potential is there.

Offensively, Burries’ versatility similarly holds him in good stead, as he possesses the tools to play both on and off the ball. Off-ball, Burries has value as a floor-spacer for others, using his shooting range to open up driving lanes. This same gravity also helps him attack close-outs to get inside the arc, where he’s adept at finishing in the midrange or with either hand at the rim. On ball, Burries is also a capable shot creator, able to get downhill through a quick first step and decisive dribble moves, and uses a variety of gathers—his low “sweep” gather stands out—to create space to finish at or around the rim.

Overall, while Burries has positional and skillset versatility, he’s not a “true” lead guard and lacks the explosive athleticism (aka flashy play) of some of the other top-end talent. His ceiling isn’t projected as high as some of his peers either, likely due to his lack of a singularly elite skill—though if these playoffs are a reminder of anything, it’s that there’s always a spot for players who are multidimensional, able to help a team win in a number of ways.

Burries touched on this himself in an NBA Draft Combine interview, stating that what separates him from the other guards in this class is his “competitiveness… [his] will to win, [his ability] to just guard one through four, [and his] impact on winning outside of scoring.” He also sees himself as “somebody that you want to play with” and cited Jamal Murray and Devin Booker as current NBA players he studies, seeing them as “big guards that can get to their spots… who can guard, impact winning… and can play on the ball, off the ball.”

All things considered, Burries would make a fitting partner next to Ryan Rollins in the Bucks’ backcourt, sharing ball-handling responsibilities while providing valuable shooting and defence. Their skillsets, though similar, would be complementary rather than duplicative—you can never have enough guards who can do multiple things. And should the Bucks bring back Kevin Porter Jr. too—which they must; Milwaukee can’t afford to let talent walk—they would make quite a talented backcourt triumvirate. So, in Burries’ case, it’s not a matter of talent or fit. It’s both.

What do you make of Burries as a potential fit in Milwaukee? Does he form the backcourt of the future alongside Rollins, or is the thought of yet another ~6’4” guard enough to put you off? Add your thoughts in the comments and vote for who you’d take next in our draft.

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Cubs 7, Pirates 2: Pittsburgh-area native Ian Happ does it again

The Cubs broke their long losing streak with a 10-4 win over the Pirates Wednesday, though that game was close until the late innings after the Cubs had taken an early lead.

They followed the same script Thursday, though it took them a while to break through against Paul Skenes. Even so, a 3-0 lead became 3-2 and it felt a bit too close for a while until Ian Happ’s eighth-inning homer keyed a three-run inning, leading to a 7-2 Cubs win over the Pirates. Hey, a baby winning streak, two in a row!

Paul Skenes had no trouble to start things off, retiring 10 of the first 11 Cubs, seven of those by strikeout. The first Cub to reach base until the fourth was Dansby Swanson, who walked in the third.

Pete Crow-Armstrong then singled and tried to stretch that into two bases when Swanson drew a throw to third.

Not a good idea, Pete [VIDEO].

I understand wanting to be aggressive on the bases and the play was, indeed, close. But against a pitcher like Skenes who’s dealing? Why not just have runners on first and third with two out?

Colin Rea was matching zeroes with Skenes, though he did give up a double in the first and walked and hit a batter in the third.

Then Michael Busch walked with one out in the fourth and one out later, Ian Happ singled.

Seiya Suzuki’s single gave the Cubs the lead [VIDEO].

Fact about that run from BCB’s JohnW53:

This was the third time in their eight games facing Skenes that the Cubs scored first. They won both of the previous two, also at Pittsburgh, 14-10 on Aug. 28, 2024, and 4-1 on Sept. 16 of last year. Skenes got the loss in the first game and no decision in the second.

1-0 Cubs was how the game stayed until the top of the sixth. Busch walked for the second time and Alex Bregman reached on a throwing error.

An infield single by Happ and another Pirates error made it 2-0 [VIDEO].

Bregman took third on the play and that was it for Skenes, who threw 103 pitches in 5.1 innings. That’s always a good game plan against Skenes — try to run up his pitch count and get him out of the game as early as possible. He did strike out 10 Cubs. Mason Montgomery relieved Skenes and got Suzuki to hit a ground ball, but Suzuki beat a possible double-play relay and Bregman crossed the plate with the third Cubs run [VIDEO].

The Pirates, though, made it close in the bottom of the sixth. Bryan Reynolds, always tough on Cubs pitching, homered, his 14th all-time against the Cubs. Two more hits, including an RBI double from rookie Tyler Callihan off reliever Hoby Milner, made it 3-2. The second run was charged to Rea, who overall I thought threw pretty well. Here’s a summary of Rea’s outing [VIDEO].

Caleb Thielbar threw a scoreless seventh, striking out two, and then the Cubs blew the game open in the top of the eighth — all with two out and nobody on base. Bregman singled and Happ followed with his 12th home run of the year [VIDEO].

That ball was crushed! [VIDEO]

Here’s a cool field-level view of Happ’s homer [VIDEO].

The Cubs were not done in that inning. Suzuki singled and pinch-hitter Michael Conforto walked. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch, and as ball four was thrown to Miguel Amaya, the pitch got by Pirates catcher Henry Davis and Suzuki scored to make it 6-2 [VIDEO].

Trent Thornton threw a 1-2-3 eighth, all on ground outs, and the Cubs then extended their lead in the top of the ninth. PCA walked and Nico Hoerner singled. PCA drew a throw again when he tried for third, and this time he was safe, with Nico taking second.

Then this happened [VIDEO].

Bregman hit a grounder to second and the Pirates threw home to try to get PCA. He was called out, but the call was overturned on review to make it 7-2. You can see PCA’s right hand touch the plate just before he was tagged

Thornton allowed a leadoff single in the ninth, then got a double-play ball and this fly to deep right field to end the game [VIDEO].

Nice work by Thornton, who got six outs on only 22 pitches. He’s become a real asset in the bullpen.

More on this win from John:

With their win Thursday night, the Cubs are 164-156 since 2000 in games immediately after ones in which they had scored at least 10 runs. They are 4-2 this season.

The Cubs averaged 12.02 runs in the double-digit games, then 4.83 in the next games, including 6.66 in the wins.

Here’s Happ on his home run, on facing Skenes and about Rea’s game [VIDEO].

Happ appears to be starting one of his hot streaks. He went 5-for-11 in the last two games in Pittsburgh with two home runs and seven RBI. Also, this fun fact about Happ:

Here are Craig Counsell’s postgame comments [VIDEO].

The win put the Cubs in second place in the NL Central, half a game ahead of the Cardinals (despite having one more loss) and four games behind the Brewers. And they’ll have a chance to put more distance between themselves and the Cardinals beginning tonight, as they open their first 2026 series against their division rivals in St. Louis. Shōta Imanaga will start for the Cubs and Andre Pallante goes for the Cardinals. Game time is 6:15 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.

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Should the Phillies begin contract extension talks with Jhoan Duran?

May 23, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) reacts after a strike out to end the game for a win against the Cleveland Guardians at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Jhoan Duran has been every bit the elite closer he was advertised as since arriving in Philadelphia last year. In 40 appearances since joining the Phillies at the trade deadline last season, Duran is 27 for 30 in save opportunities with a 1.93 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. He’s off to a great start so far in 2026, as Duran is a perfect 11 for 11 in save opportunities and sports a 1.62 ERA through 17 appearances. He’s been especially dominant since returning from the injured list on May 5th, as he has allowed two runs across 10 appearances on 7 hits with 18 strikeouts to 5 walks. 

Naturally, whenever a trade acquisition has been this good with a new team, the idea of a contract extension will inevitably be brought up. Duran is currently under team control via arbitration through the 2027 season and will be eligible for free agency at age 30. He is making $7.5M this season, a nice increase from the $4M he made in 2025. An extension is at least partially on Duran’s mind, as he declined an invitation to pitch in the World Baseball Classic due to his lack of long-term security. 

So what would a Duran extension look like? A few recent reliever deals may help paint a picture. Edwin Diaz signed a five year, $103M deal with the Mets prior to 2023 and opted out of the final two years of the deal to hit free agency last offseason. That’s when he agreed to a new three-year deal with the Dodgers worth $69M. That Dodgers deal effectively added an extra year to his original Mets deal and an additional $31M, bringing the total value to $134M over six years for an estimated average annual value of $22M. Josh Hader signed a five year, $95M contract with the Astros prior to 2024 that will pay him an estimated $19M a season. Diaz was 29 when he signed his original deal with the Mets and was 32 when he signed his new deal with the Dodgers while Hader was 30 when he signed with the Astros. 

Using those two as a barometer, and assuming Duran continues on his current pace, we can expect that a Jhoan Duran contract extension would cost at least $20M a season and be around five years in length. A five year, $100M+ deal for a reliever may seem terrifying, but that is now the going rate for closers of Duran’s caliber. If the Phillies want to lock up Duran and officially make him a part of their future pitching core with Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, it will behoove them to move sooner rather than later before the closer market balloons again. That is before even factoring in the unknown status of MLB’s financial system in the next CBA.

So, should the Phillies begin negotiations with Jhoan Duran over a contract extension? If so, what contract would you offer? Or should they let him play out his current team control and address it later? 

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MLB News: Tarik Skubal trade rumors, MLB CBA proposal, Gerrit Cole, Paul Skenes

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal watches a play during the seventh inning between Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Happy Friday, everyone. It’s been a rough week to be a Tigers fan, and with the two upcoming series against the White Sox and Rays the Tigers are going to need to fight for every potential win. I never thought I’d say that about the White Sox, but they’ve just had their first winning month in almost three years and don’t seem like they plan to slow down any time soon.

In the meantime, Detroit’s downward trajectory coupled with Tarik Skubal’s speedier-than-hoped recovery timeline means it’s time to start heating up the hot stove, because rumors are swirling. Should the Tigers sell in the hope of being competitive in the future, or should they hold on and try to hope for a comeback this season? Only time will tell. Skubal has to get healthy first.

And healthy is something the Tigers don’t know much about this season. They have yet to go a single week this year without having a player on the IL, and this week is no different. Fingers crossed things start turning around.

Detroit Tigers News

  • While Tarik Skubal is still getting back into the swing of things, he’s on track to return as soon as everything looks good. Of course, with the Tigers flagging miserably since he’s been gone, the trade rumors are still swirling at an all-time high. Mark Feinsand at MLB dot com looked at what insiders were saying about the likelihood of Skubal being moved this season. The consensus among the unnamed AL executives quoted in the article is that a lot will depend on whether the Tigers feel they are truly out of contention. If they believe they have a shot at the postseason, don’t expect Skubal to go anywhere. One exec said about a trade:

“I always think there is a chance, but they would have to feel confident that they aren’t going to be able to go on a run… And that the return would be significant enough to wave the proverbial white flag.”

AL Central News

  • The Guardians have a new minority owner.

MLB News

  • I had no idea there was lore behind the Red Sox playing “Sweet Caroline.”
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So … is Coby Mayo good now?

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: Coby Mayo #16 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a two-run home run against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park on May 17, 2026, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Back in February, Jordan Westburg got a double-whammy of bad news: after suffering an oblique strain, he started feeling elbow discomfort, only to learn he’d partly torn his UCL—a bad injury, under any circumstances. Most people figured that Jordan Westburg was gone for this calendar year (this even before it was announced in May that he’d have season-ending elbow surgery), and someone had to step into the void at third base.

The obvious candidate to replace him: 24-year-old Coby Mayo, a power hitter who rose through the farm system as an infielder, though he’d lately switched to first base. A career .905 OPS hitter in the Minors, Mayo had the bat to fill the gap left by Westburg, a point his Grapefruit League performance made emphatically: Mayo hit .389 with a 1.039 OPS in spring, striking out just four times in the process. Now, with Westburg sidelined indefinitely, this looked like his chance.

Well, just because you need a hero doesn’t always mean you get one.

This, at least, is what we were saying for the first two months of the season.

From late March to most of May, Mayo was hitting .174/.242/.321, striking out in over 30% of his plate appearances, with a 41% whiff rate on curveballs. The line was bad enough that when Westburg’s injury was upgraded to season-ending the first week of May, the news was greeted with something like dread, because at this point, the conversation around Mayo (and Colton Cowser, for that matter) suggested less that they’d be rotation saviors or stalwarts, and more that is was plausible they should be optioned. At one point in early May, Mayo had gone 4-for-35 over a 13-game stretch. The prospect bloom, it seemed, had finally and definitively come off the rose.

Yet it’s now late May, and, I’m pleased to report, something seems to have shifted in Mayo’s offensive approach.

Over the last 14 days, Mayo has hit .292/.393/.458, with an .851 OPS. He homered last night, the only Orioles run plated in a 2-1 loss to Toronto, and of six home runs he’s hit on the year, three have come since May 11. Over the last seven days, the numbers are even more eye-catching: .429/.500/.571 (in two games, owing to time missed with a back injury). Yes, it’s a fragile, fledgling little Oriole of a sample set. But the recent results aren’t coming out of nowhere, either.

Statcast data shows that the gap between Mayo’s surface stats and his quality of contact has been wide all year. His average exit velocity of 91.1 mph is in the 85th percentile of hitters, and his hard-hit rate of 45.3% 80th: such contact usually produces sluggers, not .195 hitters. In other words, Mayo has been hitting the ball hard into outs at an unusual rate, and the recent results may simply reflect some of that contact luck normalizing.

There’s also reason to think the improvement is at least partly behavioral, not purely luck. Mayo spent the offseason at TBT Training in Boca Raton doing something he’d never done before: grinding specifically on off-speed pitches. He and his trainers cranked a pitching machine to extreme movement profiles, using foam balls to simulate the nastiest sliders and curveballs major league pitchers could throw. “That was the first time I really went into the offseason and grinded like that with off-speed,” Mayo said in spring training.

For a while, the payoff of such work was pretty hard to see. A 41% whiff rate on curveballs told us as much. But Mayo seems to be trending in the right direction: in the month of May, his BA on breaking balls has leapt 80 points, despite seeing even more of the pitch. What’s more, nearly half of his hits this month have come on breaking or offspeed pitches. Perhaps he’s adjusting, and pitchers will conclude they can’t just feed him junk anymore.

Anyway, irresponsible article headline aside, we’ll need a lot more evidence before we proclaim a total rehabilitation of Coby Mayo. But at least things are looking better. The whole team, it appears, was cold at the plate in April, but they’ve hiked their batting average as a unit nearly thirty points in the last two weeks. For Mayo, the underlying tools visible in his Statcast data all year are starting to flash.

At any rate, a 6’5” right-handed hitter with plus-plus raw power, a 45% hard-hit rate, and a demonstrated willingness to do the work on his weaknesses is not a player the O’s should give up on in late May of his age-24 season, not with Westburg gone for the season and no one really knocking on the door.

The Orioles, to their credit, haven’t. Mayo’s manager Craig Albernaz has been explicit about the philosophy: “You sucked today, you’re gonna play tomorrow.” That kind of patience from a coaching staff is exactly what the young Mayo needs to break through the wall.

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What’s Mike Yastrzemski been doing with his copious free time?

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 23: Mike Yastrzemski #18 of the Atlanta Braves runs to first against the Washington Nationals in the third inning at Truist Park on May 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images

More of a silly one today than anything else.

Mike Yastrzemski started off… poorly… with his new team. He had a 71 wRC+ through April 15; it dipped to 60 by the time April ended. On May 9, he was down to 46. And then, some stuff happened. He hit two homers, amid six total hits, over his next six games, only four of which were starts. Then, a few days later, he had a huge, 3-for-3 with a homer and a double game against the Marlins. His wRC+ wasn’t fully recovered, but it was up to 91 for the season.

That was about a week ago. Since then, the Braves have faced a bunch of lefties. Since then, Yastrzemski has had all of six PAs. Two series, six games, only four games in which he even appeared, one (bases-loaded, go-ahead) walk, one hit. He’s up to a 93 wRC+.

But, what has he been doing with his free time, since the universe has conspired to make sure the Braves face seemingly every lefty pitcher in existence?

Note: yes, this post has mentioned Yastrzemski’s outputs and their upswing, but his inputs have been sadder. On the season, he is outhitting his xwOBA by over .020, which is not inspiring given that his xwOBA is so low. His xwOBA was .259 through the May 9 nadir mentioned above. He then posted a great .377 xwOBA in his charged-up ten game stretch.

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Twins vs Pirates Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Minnesota Twins continue an extended road trip as they face the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight to begin a weekend series. 

With flamethrower Jared Jones making his long-awaited return to the mound, my Twins vs. Pirates predictions and MLB picks see him hurling Pittsburgh to a victory

Who will win Twins vs Pirates today: Pirates moneyline (-134)

Taj Bradley and Jared Jones are similar in that they're both uber-talented hurlers under 25 who miss a ton of bats. They also have the same Achilles heel — allowing too much loud contact, and too frequently in the air. 

Only one lineup is poised to exploit this flaw, however. The Pittsburgh Pirates have a 112 wRC+ against RHP in the last 20 days, while the Minnesota Twins are well behind with an 86 wRC+.

Pittsburgh’s 40% hard-hit rate will make noise against Bradley’s second percentile average exit velocity and 18th percentile hard-hit rate. I'd play this to -140.

Covers COVERS INTEL:Jared Jones strikes out 9.76 batters per nine innings. He’ll find strikeout aplenty against Minnesota, which has the third-highest K% (24.6%) and third-lowest contact rate (73.6%) over the last 20 days.

Twins vs Pirates Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-130)

Both starters have nasty stuff, so this is a pitcher’s delight. Bradley has a 108 Stuff+, while Jones can touch 100 mph with his heater. 

The Twins’ 30.1% hard-hit rate over the last 20 days is the third-worst in the Big Leagues, so they don’t appear equipped to punish Jones’ proclivity for allowing loud contact (eighth percentile hard-hit rate when we last saw him in 2024).

The total is inflated due to the weather (high 70s, winds of 8-10 mph blowing out), but PNC Park has the second-lowest park factor for home runs, which mitigates that concern.

JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 16-17, -5.53 units
  • Over/Under bets: 26-9, +16.54 units

Twins vs Pirates odds

  • Moneyline: Twins +115 | Pirates -135
  • Run line: Twins +1.5 (-180) | Pirates -1.5 (+150)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5

Twins vs Pirates trend

The Pirates are 12-6 in their last 18 games against right-handed starting pitchers. Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs. Pirates.

How to watch Twins vs Pirates and game info

LocationPNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
DateFriday, May 29, 2026
First pitch6:45 p.m. ET
TVApple TV
Twins starting pitcherTaj Bradley
(5-1, 2.77 ERA)
Pirates starting pitcherJared Jones
(0-0. 0.00 ERA)

Twins vs Pirates latest injuries

Twins vs Pirates weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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MLB Lineup Report: Travis Bazzana at leadoff, Curtis Mead bids for everyday playing time

The 2026 MLB season rolls on, and there's plenty of lineup movement to track as we set our fantasy lineups. Let's get right into it.

⚾️ Baseball is back on NBC: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Ryan Waldschmidt climbed from ninth to fifth/sixth this week. Nolan Arenado is managing a groin issue but bats cleanup when healthy. Ildemaro Vargas remains an everyday player.

Athletics

Carlos Cortes leads off against righties but platoons versus lefties. Henry Bolte has started 12 of 16 since his call-up, all in center field. Lawrence Butler has become essentially a bench player.

Atlanta Braves

Atlanta has faced four straight lefties entering Friday, with Mauricio Dubón hitting second against each. Ha-Seong Kim has drawn 12 starts in 16 games since his reinstatement from the IL, all at shortstop.

Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore has seen a ton of lefties lately, which is throwing things off. Samuel Basallo rarely starts against them. Colton Cowser has at least begun playing against most right-handers. Jackson Holliday has been in the lineup for two of six lefties since making his season debut.

Boston Red Sox

Marcelo Mayer has shifted to shortstop with Trevor Story (hernia) out for a while. He still sat against the most recent lefty. Ceddanne Rafaela has moved up to the two-hole lately.

Chicago Cubs

Pete Crow-Armstrong jumped to leadoff last Saturday and has hit there against the past six right-handers Chicago has faced. Moisés Ballesteros is back to taking most of the starts at DH over Michael Conforto. Keep an eye on Conforto, who has hit very well in limited action this year.

Chicago White Sox

The White Sox are settling into Antonacci/Murakami/Vargas/Montgomery/Meidroth as a consistent top five. Not much changing elsewhere.

▶ RELATED: Check out this week’s Waiver Wire Watch!

Cincinnati Reds

Lots of cycling through leadoff options this season, with Blake Dunn the latest attempt. JJ Bleday is an everyday fixture. Nathaniel Lowe is hot at the plate but no longer plays against every righty now that Eugenio Suárez is back.

Cleveland Guardians

Travis Bazzana has taken the leadoff role against righties while we wait to see whether it sticks versus lefties too. Brayan Rocchio keeps performing well but stays stuck at the bottom of the order.

Colorado Rockies

Jake McCarthy is back to leading off against righties with three games at Coors this weekend, though Robbie Ray starts for the Giants on Sunday. Tyler Freeman is settling into a 2-4 slot most games while TJ Rumfield keeps batting third or fourth.

Detroit Tigers

Dillon Dingler hasn't sat since May 3. Colt Keith and Zach McKinstry are in strong-side platoons. Otherwise, things are steady.

Houston Astros

Yordan Alvarez missed his first game of the year Sunday with a minor back issue. Taylor Trammell has hit cleanup against the past two right-handers faced, which tells you the state of this lineup. Braden Shewmake and Nick Allen are getting time at second and third, as is Isaac Paredes, of course.

Kansas City Royals

Incredible health and consistency here. Garcia/Witt/Vinnie/Sal are the 1-4. Carter Jensen bats fifth against righties with Jac Caglianone hitting sixth.

Los Angeles Angels

Nolan Schanuel (ankle) is on the IL, so Vaughn Grissom has taken over at first base and bats third. Jorge Soler remains locked in at cleanup. Zach Neto and Jo Adell have played every game.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Andy Pages has moved inside the top five. Mookie Betts has hit cleanup in two straight. There's been some jumbling, with Max Muncy having missed four games and Teoscar Hernández (hamstring) now headed to the IL.

Miami Marlins

Jakob Marsee has settled into the five-hole vs. righties with sporadic starts against lefties. Lots of consistency. Owen Caissie keeps platooning. Joe Mack has worked exclusively behind the plate since his call-up, with no looks at DH.

Milwaukee Brewers

Christian Yelich moved to leadoff against the past two right-handers, but it's the same top four, just shuffled. Andrew Vaughn is the odd man out against righties.

Minnesota Twins

Luke Keaschall has started three of the past six, with Orlando Arcia taking the 2B reps in the other games. Brooks Lee is the new two-hitter. Austin Martin has been in the lineup 15 times in 17 games.

New York Mets

Carson Benge has led off every game since May 12. A.J. Ewing has sat just once since being promoted that same day. Brett Baty and Mark Vientos are getting their chance as lineup regulars amid all the team's injuries.

New York Yankees

Paul Goldschmidt has started seven straight, with Ben Rice getting more time at DH. José Caballero has started four of five since returning from injury, while Anthony Volpe has manned shortstop in three straight entering Friday.

Philadelphia Phillies

Bryson Stott has started against five of the past six lefties. Adolis García has slid to the bottom third of the order.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Spencer Horwitz has taken the leadoff spot against righties, while Konnor Griffin held the role against the most recent lefty faced. "The Password" has started six of 10 since being recalled, while Esmerlyn Valdez has already been optioned back to Triple-A.

San Diego Padres

Fernando Tatis Jr. is up to 22 starts at second base and 31 in right field this year. Gavin Sheets mostly hits third while Miguel Andujar bats inside the top five. Ramón Laureano still plays most days but is starting to bleed reps here and there.

San Francisco Giants

Willy Adames has led off in six straight as the Giants open a three-game set at Coors on Friday. Bryce Eldridge has started 14 of 22 since being recalled, including six of the past seven. Casey Schmitt keeps bouncing around but is mostly in left field with Heliot Ramos (quad) and Jung Hoo Lee (back) both sidelined. Schmitt's playing time should be safe regardless given he's been the team's best hitter.

Seattle Mariners

Colt Emerson has started all 10 games since his call-up, including eight at third base. He's hitting eighth or ninth but drawing the nod against every lefty. JP Crawford hasn't played anywhere but shortstop yet. Brendan Donovan's eventual return from a groin injury is the thing to watch on the playing-time front.

St. Louis Cardinals

The usual 1-4 of Wetherholt/Herrera/Burleson/Walker has combined to miss just seven games this year. Bryan Torres has started in left field all six games since being called up from Triple-A. Lars Nootbaar (heels) could make his season debut next week.

Tampa Bay Rays

Richie Palacios has moved up to fifth against righties with Jake Fraley (hernia) out for a while. He platoons, with Cedric Mullins starting more against lefties. Chandler Simpson remains the primary leadoff man against righties but hasn't swiped a bag since May 11, sitting at 14-for-22 on the year.

Texas Rangers

Andrew McCutchen was designated for assignment, so we'll see who platoons with Joc Pederson, who's leading off against righties. Alejandro Osuna has climbed to second with Wyatt Langford (forearm) and Corey Seager (back) both hurt. Ezequiel Duran shifted to shortstop full-time once Seager went down.

Toronto Blue Jays

Nathan Lukes came off the IL this week and went right back to the top of the order against right-handers. Plenty of consistency otherwise, given how long they've been without Alejandro Kirk (thumb) and Addison Barger (elbow).

Washington Nationals

Curtis Mead has started seven of eight, hitting second against southpaws and third against righties. The added opportunity has coincided with Brady House being optioned to Triple-A. Dylan Crews has played all but one game since being recalled, typically batting fifth or sixth.