Colorado Avalanche (55-16-11, in the Central Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Tuesday, 9 p.m. EDT
LINE: Avalanche -120, Golden Knights +100; over/under is 6
STANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS: Golden Knights lead series 3-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Colorado Avalanche in the third round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Sunday for the seventh time this season. The Golden Knights won the last matchup 5-3.
Vegas has gone 25-14-9 in home games and 39-26-17 overall. The Golden Knights have a 48-7-11 record in games they score at least three goals.
Colorado has a 55-16-11 record overall and a 32-9-5 record on the road. The Avalanche are 31-7-6 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent.
TOP PERFORMERS: Pavel Dorofeyev has 37 goals and 27 assists for the Golden Knights. Mitchell Marner has seven goals and 10 assists over the last 10 games.
Nathan MacKinnon has 53 goals and 74 assists for the Avalanche. Gabriel Landeskog has scored four goals with five assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 8-2-0, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.1 assists, 3.8 penalties and 8.9 penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game.
Avalanche: 6-4-0, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.3 assists, 3.6 penalties and 8.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: Jeremy Lauzon: out (upper-body).
Avalanche: Cale Makar: day to day (undisclosed).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
From the experience of Emery to European-bound Le Bris there are a handful of managers whose work stood out
Promoted through the playoffs, Sunderland began the season as white-hot favourites to go straight back down but never once flirted with relegation and a win over Chelsea on the final day secured Europa League qualification. Their success was rooted in an inspired summer recruitment drive that prompted Le Bris to ruthlessly phase out most of his promotion-winning squad and replace them with a winning mix of raw young talent and seasoned leadership. Tactically flexible and a study in touchline equanimity, the 50-year-old Breton is an expert in tailoring his team’s approach to their opposition but tends to favour lightning-fast transitions before getting the ball wide in matches against teams he expects to beat. Victories at home and away over Newcastle mean his legendary status on Wearside is already cemented and the concern now for Sunderland fans is that executives at more high-profile clubs will have taken note of the stellar job he has done in his two seasons at the Stadium of Light.
Nine-goal and seven-goal thrillers feature with a chaotic denouement at Anfield and a fraught Tyne-Wear derby
It is rare for a centre-forward to score a hat-trick and still be disappointed, but in the 10th minute of stoppage time, Jean-Philippe Mateta has a golden chance to win this pulsating affair for Crystal Palace. He clatters the ball down to South Norwood from eight yards out. Even before that it’s a rollercoaster of emotion for all concerned. Eagles fans fear the worst when their team fall 2-0 behind in the 37th minute after Junior Kroupi’s double. On 63 minutes, Mateta’s first Premier League goal of the season at Selhurst Park sparks home hope after a lengthy video assistant referee check for offside. Five minutes later, the Frenchman stretches to turn in a ball from Daniel Muñoz: 2-2. When James Tavernier rifles a low cross into the six-yard box in the 89th minute, Ryan Christie slams it in, seemingly snatching glory. There is time for Mateta to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot before missing his late chance.
This will be the most-played clip when talking about Victor Wembanyama's Game 4. However, this highlight from the opening minutes of Game 4 better shows what Wembanyama and the Spurs did differently — keeping him around the rim on defense — and why not only is the Western Conference Finals now tied, but the Spurs may be in the pole position to advance to the NBA Finals.
Victor Wembanyama met Chet Holmgren at the rim and said NOPE.
San Antonio adjusted how it handled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, which allowed Wembanyama to stay close to the rim, where he is a defensive force unlike anyone else in the NBA. What the Spurs did in Game 4 shifted the burden onto Oklahoma City to adjust heading into Game 5 on Tuesday.
“I’m not going to get into details, but in general, being more disciplined and just trusting the game plan even more,” Wembanyama said of what the Spurs did differently.
Wemby is selling it short, the Spurs completely altered how they were dealing with Gilgeous-Alexander, and by extension, the entire Thunder offense.
For three games, San Antonio had leaned into a variation of the Lakers' defense on Oklahoma City from the second round. They trapped Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out high, tried to take away driving gaps (even if it meant helping off shooters one pass away) and generally force the ball out of his hands, daring the other Thunder players to beat them from beyond the arc.
It didn't work because the Thunder's role players knocked down shots. Through the first three games, OKC shot 39.5% from beyond the arc. Alex Caruso was 14-of-23 from deep, Cason Wallace was 8-of-17, and big man Jaylin Williams was 7-of-12. In a must-win Game 4, the Spurs went back to a defensive system they were more comfortable with. They left one defender, usually Stephon Castle, on SGA and when the MVP drove, they helped from nearby players. The result was keeping Victor Wembanyama closer to the rim rather than having long close-outs to shooters, and from the opening moment of the game, that paid off. This new system threw Oklahoma City off its axis, and it turned the ball over 20 times Sunday night (and the Spurs scored 25 points off those turnovers).
Playing into this was the Thunder's injuries — the Thunder's second and third best ball handlers and shot creators, Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Away Mitchell (calf), were both out. Gilgous-Alexander wasn't getting much help. Also, in Game 4 the tables turned and the Thunder couldn't buy a 3-pointer, going 6-of-33 (18%) on the night. With Wembanyama playing closer to the rim, OKC shot 18-of-41 in the paint.
The pressure now falls on the Thunder to make adjustments. One of those is relatively simple — just make more shots. The Thunder are better shooters than we saw in Game 4, they just had an off night.
“We’ve played 12 playoff games. When you play 12 playoff games, they’re not all going to be masterpieces,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “As much as you want to win, there’s nights where you just don’t have it for whatever reason.”
The other part may prove more challenging: Get Gilgeous-Alexander the ball with a little more space around him to make moves — and they probably have to do that without Mitchell and Williams. It's a lot to put on Daigneault's plate.
But he's got to figure out before Tuesday. The Spurs look like sharks that smell blood in the water, and this could be a feeding frenzy if the Thunder don't find a solution.
Two deadly strikers, two creative forces and an all-but unbeatable goalkeeper make up our picks for the season
The adulation offers a fine indication of how good the Manchester United captain has been this season. At the start, he was dragging Ruben Amorim’s interpretation of a team through matches and spent the past five months leading Michael Carrick’s unified side. Awards and records keep coming his way; winning the Football Writers’ Association player of the season award was swiftly followed by picking up a record Premier League assist tally of 21 at Brighton on the final day of the season. Considering United were very open to selling Fernandes less than a year ago, one wonders what would have happened at Old Trafford without him. “At one point I was going to leave – I won’t say where – but I would have won many trophies that season. I decided to stay not only for family reasons but because I genuinely like the club,” Fernandes told Canal 11. “But from the club’s side, I felt a bit of: ‘If you go, it’s not really that bad for us.’ That hurts me a little. More than hurting, it makes me sad, because I’m a player they have nothing to criticise me for. I’m always available for every match, I always play, whether well or badly. I give my maximum.” Fernandes brings incredible intelligence and work rate on the pitch, supported by stunning technique that has put him above his United teammates, who all feed off him. It is hard to argue that any other Premier League captain is more influential than Fernandes and United have reaped the awards.
San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, first in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Thunder -5.5; over/under is 215.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Series tied 2-2
BOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs are in a 2-2 series tie in the Western Conference finals. The Spurs defeated the Thunder 103-82 in the last matchup on Monday. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 33 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 19.
The Thunder are 41-11 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City is second in the league allowing just 107.9 points per game while holding opponents to 43.7% shooting.
The Spurs are 36-16 in conference matchups. San Antonio is fourth in the Western Conference giving up just 111.5 points while holding opponents to 45.1% shooting.
The Thunder's 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.8 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Spurs give up. The Spurs average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 fewer makes per game than the Thunder allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Cason Wallace is scoring 8.6 points per game and averaging 3.1 rebounds for the Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 27.0 points and 2.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Wembanyama is averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks for the Spurs. Devin Vassell is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 8-2, averaging 117.3 points, 40.4 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 9.9 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.2 points per game.
Spurs: 6-4, averaging 117.0 points, 49.6 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 8.5 steals and 8.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Ajay Mitchell: out (undisclosed), Jalen Williams: day to day (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).
Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 21: Corbin Carroll #7 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates after hitting a walk-off single during the ninth inning of the MLB game against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field on May 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks won 2-1. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Wait, didn’t I just do one of these? No, seriously. Literally a week ago I was in this space talking about how the Giants were going to see how they measured up against a non-Dodger, non-Padre NL West opponent and a team that had all the scrappiness they’ve craved. So… has anything changed since then?
Nope.
Well, except that Arizona embarrassed the Giants pretty thoroughly, dropping them to 20-30 on the season and compelling Bay Area media to ponder not just on the radio airwaves but in an interview with Buster Posey himself if the team was undergoing a “soft rebuild.” They looked so bad in getting swept by Arizona that people thought it must’ve been intentional.
It turns out that, no, the Giants aren’t doing a “soft rebuild,” they really are bad despite trying.
Oh sure, winning a series against a White Sox team on the upswing is good fun and Rafael Devers’ bat does seem to be swinging back to his career averages, but the hole is pretty deep, and that’s before considering how it’s been endemic within Giants fandom this season to extrapolate a season of success from a win or two. Now, before accusations of simply doing the exact opposite — extrapolating a season of misery from losing streaks — I must point out that the Giants have lost a lot more games than they’ve won and have spent most of this season looking more bad than good, including approximately 117 hours ago against this very team.
In the Giants’ favor is that Arizona did lose 1 of the 4 games they hosted against the Colorado Rockies, so, it’s not like the Giants were gobbled up by a team on a white-hot streak of success. The Dbacks outscored the Rockies 19-9 in those four games compared to 23-8 against the Giants in their three-game series, so, the Giants are kinda-sorta worse than the Rockies at this point.
On May 8, Arizona tied their season low of 3 games below .500 at 17-20 (they started the season 0-3). Since then, they’ve gone 11-4. Ketel Marte (202 wRC+) and Corbin Carroll (198) have led the charge on offense — they combined for 7-for-11 with 5 RBI in today’s 9-1 win over the Rockies, with Marte hitting a pair of doubles and Carroll a pair of triples. So, they’re rolling. The rotation has been strong, with Michael Soroka (1.50 ERA), Eduardo Rodriguez (1.74 ERA), and Merrill Kelly (2.05 ERA) making three strong starts apiece. But, they’ve also played 9 home games during this stretch and are 8-1.
Arizona’s road record on the season (10-14, -16 run differential) might just be how the Giants get some baseball revenge on the snakes. If the Giants keep hitting a little bit more like how they did in the latter two games of the White Sox series, they’ve got a solid shot of winning the series. Here’s a little secret: in the same “Since May 9th” split I used up above to contextualize Marte’s and Carroll’s hot streaks, five Giants have hit above league average (an important note that none of these figures incorporate the latest win):
Luis Arraez, 158 wRC+
Willy Adames, 145 wRC+
Casey Schmitt, 137 wRC+
Rafael Devers, 122 wRC+
Matt Chapman, 110 wRC+
And, as a team, they have a 113 wRC+ Hey! This is all great news! It certainly is the silver lining in what has been a very thick and steady coverage of storm clouds. The question is can the pitching keep pace? It’s Landen Roupp and a pair of TBDs against those three Arizona starters who’ve helped propel them back into the Wild Card chase. They have a 5.02 ERA over these last 15 (and are just 7-8).
Logan Webb is expected to make his return on Wednesday, but you have permission to wonder if Logan Webb is still LOGAN WEBB. Before he hit the IL, I looked at how a guy like him with so many innings on his arm might already have pitched his best games. Buster Posey and the Giants are certainly hoping that’s not the case, and whatever little success the team has this season will be because he’s making regular starts… but who knows? Arizona’s hot, Webb is not. But, it’s also baseball, and one game can turn around a lot of things. But can three games turn around everything?
Series overview
Who: San Francisco Giants (22-31) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (28-24) Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California When: Monday at 2:05pm PT, Tuesday at 6:45pm PT, Wednesday at 12:45pm PT National broadcasts: None.
Projected starters Monday: Landen Roupp (RHP 5-4, 3.27 ERA) vs. Merill Kelly (RHP 4-3, 5.71 ERA) Tuesday: TBD vs. Eduardo Rodriguez (LHP 4-1, 2.24 ERA) Wednesday: TBD vs. Michael Soroka (RHP 6-2, 3.27 ERA)
Wembanyama played 31 minutes of Sunday's game [Getty Images]
The San Antonio Spurs bounced back in style with an impressive 103-82 home win over the Oklahoma City Thunder to level their best-of-seven NBA Western Conference finals series at 2-2.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who had been critical of his performance in their game three defeat, led from the front with 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals.
"We just responded," said the 22-year-old Frenchman. "It was nothing amazing. It wasn't magic. We just did what we needed to do."
"The series is far from over."
The Spurs built up an early 15-point lead before the Thunder cut the deficit to five with just over a minute remaining in the second quarter.
But the Spurs hit back with seven points before the break, topped by a mid-court three-pointer from Wembanyama.
It was also a solid defensive display from the Spurs with the Thunder's 38 first-half points their lowest of the season.
The reigning NBA champions' game total was also the fewest for the franchise since 2 December 2021, and the lowest in a play-off game since 2020.
With the result virtually decided, Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who top-scored on 19 points, sat out the entire fourth quarter.
No other Thunder player scored more than 12.
Game five takes place on Tuesday (01:30 BST Wednesday) in Oklahoma City with game six back in San Antonio on Thursday (01:30 BST Friday).
In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-0 and can wrap up that series in Cleveland on Monday (01:00 BST, Tuesday), with the NBA Finals starting on 4 June.
The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche have faced very little adversity so far this postseason. They swept the Los Angeles Kings without much ado, and dispatched the Minnesota Wild in just five games. But after blowing a three-goal lead in Game 3 to fall behind 3-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final, the Avalanche are learning just how quickly snow melts in the deserts of Nevada.
This time last week, the Avalanche were a team destined for greatness, and for their second Stanley Cup in five years. Nearly every writer and analyst in the hockey world predicted this series going in the other direction, and for good reason.
What everyone failed to take into account is just how much the Golden Knights thrive on being counted out.
Game 4 of the Western Conference Final is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. PST on Tuesday.
1. Had Us in the First Half, Not Gonna Lie…
When the Golden Knights were down 2-0, Pavel Dorofeyev scored on the power play to cut the Avalanche’s lead in half. Or, at least, he thought he did. Instead, the goal was waved off, and the officials upheld the call on the ice. Just 36 seconds later, Jack Drury scored shorthanded to give his team an insurmountable 3-0 lead.
As it turned out, that insurmountable three-goal lead wasn’t insurmountable in the slightest.
“The period ends,” said Mark Stone following the win. “That’s probably the best thing that happened to us— the period ends.”
In a year where miraculous comebacks were the norm, the Golden Knights did something tonight that they failed to do all season: they came back from a three-goal deficit. And they did so against an Avalanche team that was 52-0-0 with a multi-goal lead.
2. Return of the Cap
Golden Knights Captain Mark Stone returned to the lineup for Game 3 after missing the previous five games with a lower-body injury. He slotted in on the third line with Tomáš Hertl and Colton Sissons and made his impact felt almost immediately. He threw four hits in his 15:45 TOI, jump-started the comeback with his power play goal, and assisted on Hertl’s game-winner.
“He does a lot for our team, on the ice and off the ice,” said Mitch Marner postgame. “His leadership, the intensity he brings to every game… It’s big to have 61 back. It’s great to have him in the locker room.”
Of course, no one is happier about Stone’s return to the lineup than Stone himself.
“I don't like watching, ever,” said Stone following the 5-3 win. “I want to play every game. It’s been an unfortunate part of my career, sitting out. But this time of year, it definitely is harder.”
3. Can We Say That?
Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella had just one thing to say about his team following the 5-3 comeback win.
“This was a game where we showed some balls,” Tortorella said postgame. “I want them to feel it for a little bit, as far as what they just did against a really good hockey club.”
Tortorella was absolutely right. Facing a three-goal deficit against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in the first period, the Golden Knights easily could have folded. They didn’t.
Instead, they chipped away at Colorado’s lead, gaining more and more confidence with every goal. The Golden Knights were an avalanche, and the Avalanche– who were such a powerhouse during the regular season and in the first two rounds of the playoffs– were powerless to stop it.
“We’re a team that doesn’t have any quit,” said Mitch Marner following the 5-3 win. “We want to make sure every game, regardless of the score, we’re fighting and trying to come back.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 24: Keegan Kolesar #55 of the Vegas Golden Knights scores a goal past Scott Wedgewood #41 of the Colorado Avalanche. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Things were supposed to be different as the Western Conference Final series between the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights shifted to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. And for a period it appeared the visitors were back on track, but ultimately a collapse led to a 5-2 loss as the Avalanche are now in a 0-3 series deficit and on the brink of elimination.
The Game
First, the fun stuff.
Gabe Landeskog opened the scoring just three minutes into the game, giving Avalanche fans a sense of relief that the required fast start did, in fact, come to fruition. Four minutes later Nazem Kadri added to the lead on a slick pass from Martin Nečas.
On a Vegas power play it appeared that Pavel Dorofeyev scored as the puck hit off the shaft of his stick. The officials initially waived it off thinking the puck hit his hand. Apparently video evidence as in inclusive so the original no-goal call stood. A break for the Avalanche and they doubled down on it in short order as Jack Drury took the puck shorthanded and made a nice deke to beat Carter Hart to the post. A 3-0 lead and 16-7 shot advantage was just what the doctor ordered for Colorado after 20 minutes of play.
Unfortunately this game lasted longer than 20 minutes as the positives started unraveling almost immediately as the second period began. Mark Stone, just off the injured list himself scored on the power play just 19 seconds into the frame. No time to panic but William Karlsson scored for Vegas four minutes later to officially get back in the game. Keegan Kolesar tipped a Dylan Coghlan shot at the midpoint to tie the game at 3-3 and Vegas didn’t look back.
In the third period Colorado looked cooked as they could only muster seven shots on goal. Vegas got the go-ahead tally as Tomas Hertl walked Sam Malinski and shot the puck past Scott Wedgewood at the midpoint of the period. Colorado received their fourth power play late in the frame but looked laughably disjointed on it. Then, it was only a matter of time before Vegas cashed in on the empty net from Brett Howden to arrive at the 5-2 final score and 0-3 series deficit for the Avalanche.
Takeaways
Injuries will become a major talking point (excuse) moving forward. Despite getting Cale Makar back at clearly less than 100% this contest unfortunately saw Nathan MacKinnon take a puck off of his knee late in the second period. He tried to come back in the third but only lasted a shift until he was put on power play and extra attacker only duty. Val Nichushkin also was absent the entire third period with an undisclosed ailment. There was no update on either player in the post game.
This seemed like the game where things were going right for the Avalanche. With the three-goal lead and a crucial call that went their way, things were unfolding nicely to at least give the Avalanche some much-needed momentum if only for one game. The most alarming part is how that success was so short-lived, they couldn’t even get this game to overtime. Postgame Jared Bednar admitted morale is cratering. Can this team muster up enough moxie to make it a series or is it already over?
Jared Bednar on the team morale: "It's low. It's as low as you can get. … Gotta find a way to get over it."
Sitting courtside for Sunday’s Game 4 win were a group of catholic nuns known as the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, who were decked out in Spurs jerseys and were seen interacting with several players before the game.
Spurs center Luke Kornet even received a blessing from two nuns, which was captured on video and circulated on social media.
Spurs center Luke Kornet recieved a blessing from the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco before the Spurs’ 103-82 win over the Thunder. X @CourtsideBuzzX
The team’s social media channels also posted a video of the basketball-loving nuns chanting “Go Spurs Go!”
The group of nuns used it to better understand and share a common interest with the students at St. John Bosco School.
“Our ministry is with young people, and we need to be able to converse with them and talk to them,” Sister Bernadette Mota told the outlet. “I can talk basketball with the kids and it’s something that I’ve really enjoyed watching.”
The sisters have become tried and true fans since they began cheering for the team, and among some of their favorite players on this year’s squad include New Jersey native and former Rutgers star Dylan Harper, due to his attending a high school affiliated with the Salesian Sisters.
Kornet is also among their favorites.
The Salesian Sisters yelling “Go Spurs Go” before Game 4 on Sunday.
Sister Margaret Natal told the San Antonio Express-News that they pray for the Spurs regularly.
“We keep them in prayer, and it’s not, you know, for them to win,” Natal said. “It’s about good sportsmanship, that they remember who they are. That they are role models. We pray that they play to the best of their ability. We pray that they understand their responsibility.”
Their prayers seemed to be answered on Sunday as the Spurs played to a series-tying victory over the Thunder.
Kornet scored six points on 3-of-4 shooting in 13 minutes on the court.
Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama scored a game-high 33 points on 11-of-22 shooting, along with eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
MIAMI — Marcus Semien’s season hasn’t had many highlights, and these days he stands among the symbols of the Mets lineup’s futility.
The veteran second baseman went 0-for-4 in the 4-0 loss to the Marlins on Sunday that completed Miami’s three-game sweep. Semien’s day was marked by the double play he grounded into in the sixth inning after Brett Baty drew a leadoff walk in a scoreless game.
Semien owns a paltry .552 OPS in May.
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He isn’t alone among the Mets who have underperformed, but the team at least received a semblance of life from Bo Bichette earlier this road trip when he delivered three homers over two games.
From Mark Vientos to Baty, right down the line, the Mets aren’t receiving production, other than Juan Soto’s hot bat. And Soto was scratched from Sunday’s lineup because of illness.
Semien, 35, arrived in the November trade that sent Brandon Nimmo to Texas.
The deal was orchestrated by president of baseball operations David Stearns largely to swap the five years and $102.5 million remaining on Nimmo’s contract for the three years and $72 million on Semien’s, but the Mets also expected some level of production from Semien.
They have not received it.
Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) singles against the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning at Nationals Park. Brad Mills-Imagn Images
“What I am feeling is that I am putting the ball in play, but I am not driving the ball,” Semien said. “I am just trying to do everything I can to be on time, to be ready for high velocity and handle the off-speed they throw.”
Semien overall owns a .214/.263/.297 slash line with three homers.
“It’s been hard for him, but this is a guy that continues to show up and put the work in, day in and day out,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “You hope at some point that he’s going to come out of it. He’s been in this league a long time and there is a reason why we want to continue to run him out there.”
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Mendoza was asked for his concern level that Semien, at 35, simply doesn’t have it any longer.
“I am not worried, because I am watching him grinding behind the scenes,” Mendoza said. “How much he cares and he’s been a really good player, so we trust him. We have got to continue to keep going and support him.”
Anthony Volpe wasn’t in the lineup again for Sunday’s 2-0 win over the Rays in The Bronx as José Caballero manned shortstop, but Volpe should get more playing time on the upcoming road trip.
When the Yankees visit Kansas City on Monday, they’ll face Michael Wacha, a right-hander who is tougher on lefty hitters than on righties, followed by lefties Bailey Falter and Noah Cameron.
And in Sacramento, the A’s are scheduled to throw left-hander Jacob Lopez on Saturday.
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Volpe, according to manager Aaron Boone, just started working at second base, but Boone might keep him at short when he’s in the lineup, utilizing Caballero’s versatility around the infield.
“I expect Anthony to play a lot when we go to Kansas City, as well as [Caballero],’’ Boone said of the infield, which could land Ryan McMahon on the bench.
And while Boone said Volpe could just stay at short, he added, “I do want him working some at second, too.”
Volpe hasn’t played anything but shortstop in a game since 2021, when he was in High-A ball, although he did work a bit at second base before he won the starting job at short in 2023.
Anthony Volpe (11) jumps over Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer (4) as he competes a double play during the first inning of the Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays game at Yankee Stadium on May 20. Bill Kostroun/New York Post
The Yankees traded for Caballero last season with the idea of playing him at different spots, but he’s focused his work at short while filling in for Volpe, who was sidelined by offseason shoulder surgery.
Boone said he expected Caballero to be able to go back to his utility role successfully if called upon.
“That’s one of his superpowers, his ability to move around,’’ Boone said of Caballero. “I have a ton of confidence in José. Wherever we put him on any given day, he has a chance to impact us in a lot of different ways.”
Aaron Judge’s dramatics weren’t limited to his game-winning homer in the ninth.
He also made a diving catch in the eighth that helped keep Tampa Bay from scoring — and he made an uncharacteristic baserunning error in the first.
Judge singled with one out and Ben Rice followed with a shot to right field.
When Ryan Vilade caught it, Judge found himself almost at second base and he was doubled off first to end the inning.
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“Usually any time Ben Rice hits it in the gap, it’s gonna go a long way,’’ Judge said. “I’ve got to keep my head on a swivel. Off the bat, I think it’s gonna be in the gap, I know it’s gonna be a close game and you’re trying to either score or get to third. I peeked up and it was right at him. That was a bad look. I’ve got to clean that up.”
With the Yankees locked in a scoreless game in the ninth, Boone went with lefty Tim Hill instead of closer David Bednar.
With the bottom half of the lineup due up — starting with lefty-swinging Chandler Simpson — Hill whiffed Simpson and then pitched around a walk and a single.
It came after Hill gave up four runs in Friday’s loss.
Gerrit Cole reported no issues after making his first start Friday since his March 2025 Tommy John surgery.
The right-hander was able to play catch and is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday in Kansas City, with Will Warren going Monday and Cam Schlittler on Tuesday.
Since joining the Yankees prior to last season, Cody Bellinger has drawn praise from his coaches and teammates for his defense.
There have been highlight-reel worthy plays and the catch and throw to double off Francisco Lindor at first base during the Subway Series last July that helped end a five-game losing streak — and begin a five-game winning streak.
There’s no telling what lasting impact Bellinger’s heads-up play in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Tampa Bay will have, but it clearly changed the course of a game the Yankees could hardly afford to lose.
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With the Yankees locked in a scoreless game and having lost three straight — as well as all four previous meetings against the Rays this season — pinch runner Oliver Dunn was on second base and Junior Caminero on first with two outs.
With the runners going on a 3-2 pitch from Fernando Cruz, Ryan Vilade singled to left, and Tampa Bay was on the verge of taking the lead before Bellinger — instead of firing home — threw to Ryan McMahon at third base.
It was in time to get Caminero at third, and the tag was applied before Dunn got to the plate, so the game remained tied.
“That was a game-changing throw,’’ said Aaron Judge, who won the game in the ninth with a home run. “It was heads up.”
Cody Bellinger comes up firing and Ryan McMahon makes the tag before the run comes home to score pic.twitter.com/S8QsQ0j7bi
Aaron Boone credited outfield coach Luis Rojas for bringing Bellinger in slightly before the play “with something like that in mind.”
Then Bellinger had to get to the ball quickly and fire to third off the wet grass, and McMahon picked the ball and finished the play.
Bellinger said it was “all [McMahon]. I picked my head up and Mac had a huge target at third. I threw a pretty nasty sinker. He did a great job to pick it and tag him. Once he tagged him, I didn’t think the run had scored.”
Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) reacts after he flies out during the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Bronx, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
A review confirmed the out at third, and that the tag beat Dunn to the plate.
Bellinger called the play “huge” and added he didn’t consider throwing home, knowing the runners would be going on the pitch with a full count.
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“You really don’t have a chance at home,” Bellinger said. “I tried to throw the ball to [McMahon] as best I could. It wasn’t easy out there.”
McMahon called the play “all reactionary.”
“I started to run in to cut off the throw home, and as I was going there, I remembered they were on the run, so I had to go back to third,” McMahon said. “I felt [Bellinger] was pretty close and I was able to get the ball. Knowing we should be down 1-0 and was still tied instead was big.”
The Yankees didn’t score in the bottom of the inning, but Tim Hill tossed a scoreless ninth before Judge ended it with his 17th homer.
“It was a really heads-up, great play by a great defender,’’ Boone said.
