SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 18: Sterlin Thompson #30 of the Colorado Rockies poses for a portrait during photo day at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 18, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With their “Rivalry Weekend” series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field set to begin tonight, the Colorado Rockies have announced multiple roster moves. Headlining the announcement is the news that top prospect Sterlin Thompson (no. 13 PuRP) has been recalled from the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes for his Major League debut.
Thompson, 24, was selected by the Rockies 31st overall in the 2022 MLB draft from the University of Florida. The former Gator hit .332/.424/.524 over two college seasons while playing mostly right field and second base. Since being drafted, the Rockies organization has had Thompson play a plethora of positions—including first and third base—though he has largely settled in as a corner outfielder over the last two seasons.
Spending an entire season with in Triple-A last year, Thompson hit .296/.392/.519 in 120 games with 28 doubles, eight triples, and 18 home runs. The Rockies added him to the 40-man roster over the offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Thompson struggled in spring training with a .270 OPS and only one hit in 19 at-bats. He was assigned back to the Isotopes to start the season, where he has completely caught fire.
Through his first 36 games in Albuquerque, Thompson is hitting .344/.491/.496 with five doubles, one triple, four home runs, and eight stolen bases. He has also drawn more walks (30) than he has struck out (28).
Born in Longmont, Colorado, Thompson will be the first Colorado native position player to debut with the Rockies when he takes the field. However, he is not currently in tonight’s starting lineup.
Thompson will wear jersey no. 30.
In a corresponding roster move, utilityman Tyler Freeman has been placed on the paternity list.
Additionally, the Rockies have placed right-handed pitcher Chase Dollander (right elbow sprain) on the 15-day injured list.
Dollander, 24, was off to a strong start this season with a 3.89 ERA and 47 strikeouts over 10 appearances. He originally worked out of the bullpen as a bulk reliever—usually being preceeded by an opener—but has made his last few appearances as a starter.
On Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Dollander left the game in the second inning with what manager Warren Schaeffer called “right arm tightness.”
Left-handed pitcher Sammy Peralta has been recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque.
The Buffalo Sabres suffered a 6-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 6 of the second round. With this, the Sabres now trail the series 3-2 and are one loss away from being eliminated from the playoffs.
With the Sabres facing a must-win Game 6, it is clear that they should be rolling with Alex Lyon as their starting goalie for it.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen struggled in Game 5 against the Canadiens, as he allowed five goals on 23 shots before being pulled. With this, the 27-year-old now has a 4.20 goals-against average and an .851 save percentage in four games this post-season.
With the Canadiens figuring out Luukkonen in Game 5, it would be wise for the Sabres to go with Lyon as their Game 6 starter. While Lyon had two tough starts for the Sabres this series against the Canadiens, he showed during Buffalo's series against the Boston Bruins that he is capable of being a major difference-maker when playing at his best.
It will be interesting to see which goalie ends up getting the start for the Sabres against the Canadiens in Game 6 from here. Whether it ends up being Lyon or Luukkonen, the Sabres need to play far better in Game 6 if the hope to keep their playoff run alive.
It’s been 13 years since my Chicagoan status officially shifted from South Sider to North Sider. In that time, I’ve learned a lot about our mortal baseball enemies. Most South Siders within the city limits have suffered the unfortunate obligation of being a spectator for a few games at Wrigley over the course of their lives, and for me, it’s been once with a film cast and crew (seated directly behind a rusty column with my co-stars), once when my musical group was in attendance for the game with the Toronto Blue Jays (we were supposed to sing the Canadian National Anthem), and once recently, post–Wrigley-facelift, for a friend’s birthday. For that, I was a willing participant.
My grueling (but necessary) 2025 absence had me pining for baseball, so I was happy to go to a game, even on enemy turf. Baseball is baseball, right? Attending the game decked out in the opposing team’s gear would still render a stain upon my soul, but now it would be easier to scrub out. I ordered a one-use Cincinnati Reds shirt, donned bright crimson nails, and scowled fiercely the entire time, turning my face a nice shade of scarlet to show my Cubs hatred. Did I pop a blood vessel in my eye? Maybe.
The NL Central is crushing, with their last place team boasting a better record than our current winning record White Sox, and I was excited to fly the L. Birthday Boy was the only person in our group who was an actual Cubs fan, so I was in good company: two Cardinals fans, one real Reds fan from Cincinnati (who unfortunately dropped dead when he tried to enter the stadium – RIP John), and one neutral party.
Before our incursion into Wrigley, we stopped a few doors down for ice cream that’s shaped like elotes, to pay tribute to my favorite Comiskulerate Park snack.
Full of novelty ice cream, we arrived at Gallagher Way, the event space abutting the ball park that hosts yoga, game nights, Christkindl Market, concerts and a massive video board that broadcasts mostly Marquee, with free movie nights on some Wednesdays.
White Sox fans, I hate to say it, but the space is remarkable and the vibes are immaculate when Cubs fans and bar crawlers are absent. It activates a deep longing for the Ishbian Sports complex of our idealistic fantasies, only ours conceptually has a better common space and a pedestrian-only footbridge across the Chicago River, serving to link New-New Comiskey with the new Chicago Fire stadium of our dreams. (Yes, I acknowledge that our current field is beautiful, clean, and fun, but the land is bought and it’s likely happening, so you bet I’m taking my kayak to the future River of Dingers and fishing out some Montgomery balls). [yes, I know, phrasing.]
In my teenage years, I’d frequent the Wrigleyville neighborhood to visit The Metro, which has since undergone a deep makeover, from gutter punk drug haven to a revamped, Evanston-meets-Bourbon Street barfly bonanza. To say it’s transformed dramatically in the past decade would be an understatement. Once upon a time, the confines weren’t just friendly, they were philanderous, like that sinister coworker staring at you from the unlit corner at the corporate holiday party and wagging his eyebrows in a way that makes you keep a hand over your drink for the rest of the night. Now, they’ve overcorrected, and I feel like I don’t belong in this corporate stronghold without my White Sox evening gown and opera-length pinstripe gloves. A place can’t be too clean, but it can be too corporate.
Do I miss the losing era Wrigley, filthy with hammered non-fans? Almost, but no. There’s nothing wrong with using a baseball field as a bar and casually observing the game. If you’re having fun, great, I’m glad, but please don’t argue baseball unprompted with a passing White Sox fan on the street while not even knowing who’s pitching that day. Andstop pissing on my car just because you forgot to unload your bladder into the crumbling trough, while I’m parked with flashers on Clark to pick up my Big Star, Andy. And while we’re at it, have some self respect and trim your beard, you fucking walnut.
Now that it’s clear that I may dislike the Cubs, let’s continue the journey. Walking into Wrigley with a ticket for the nosebleeds had me climbing the recently-renovated stadium steps, and I’m happy to report that I neither have tetanus, nor did I fall into a crack in the cement and become a part of the stadium forever. In fact, the rust was gone, structures appeared sound, and it didn’t smell like piss where I was seated. I could even see my neighborhood.
I can’t report on whether men still have to pee in a trough, because this wasn’t an undercover operation.
My group was also surprised to learn that Wrigley has finally entered the 1990s era, and installed a real electronic screen. Unfortunately, it was obscured by a pole. That’s two for three, Wrigley, and one of those times, the director sprung for the good seats.
At least they painted over the rust.
With the Cincinnati Reds putting up a fight, my friend talking trash in my ear, and my husband almost choking on one of his five hot dogs while cheering for the Cardinals for some reason, I noticed something in Wrigley that I’d never seen in my previous accursed visits: The only time the volume was burgeoning around me was when they played the Riders of Rohan theme for a walk-up song on the organ (amazing), and again for the Wendella Boat Race on the big screen (which we couldn’t see). There were thousands of empty seats, but that wasn’t as notable as the lack of enthusiasm. It wasn’t raining or unseasonably cold, and both teams were fighting for the top of the division at the time. And although I actively try to ignore the Cubs, I knew more about them than anyone around me. As I noted the plentiful Reds hats encompassing me, and even a few White Sox hats, it hit me: The prophecy had been fulfilled.
Flash back with me to 2016. Wrigley Field was in the middle of renovations. I was beginning to learn the truth about my nearby neighborhood and its dearth of Cubs fans, punctuated by the astounding sea of White Sox hats signaling to me like beacons in the night. Between the renovations, the corporatization and the World Series win breaking both the tension and the “lovable losers” spell, the Cubs weren’t as fun to the casual fans anymore. It seemed that winning had ended the enchantment for those who don’t love baseball. This isn’t an indictment on fans who left due to the owners’ beliefs, and in fact, I salute you. It appeared that the fans who stuck around seemed bored, despite the great baseball being played.
In my 13 years here, I’ve met a lot of neighbors and have made a lot of North Side friends. White Sox fans, let me tell you that I know two Cubs fans who live on the North side, and one of them worked for the Cubs and moved here from the suburbs. The other is Birthday Boy, who is immune to criticism (but just for today). The actual fans love watching a winning team, and I respect them. They’re few and far between.
Then I thought back to living on the South Side. I knew more Cubs fans who lived on the South Side than I do living a stone’s throw from enemy territory. Granted, none of them knew what a base or a ball was, but they definitely knew how many beers they could drink to get just below the legal drinking limit. This is not to shame ballpark attendees who don’t know baseball, because I’ll always reiterate that gatekeeping is silly and baseball games are fun and should be enjoyed by everyone. However, is it a coincidence that they feel safer going to Wrigley because they don’t have to watch the game? They can do the wave (fine) and make cup snakes in the bleachers (genuinely funny) and eat hot dogs (obviously) in a place that doesn’t pressure them to know what’s going on with the game. They’re invited to the post-game drunkard jubilee on Clark, the bane of any North Sider’s existence, to forget everything they just witnessed. They don’t have to go straight home like we do, because there’s not much to do in the area after a ball game on the South Side, and I wish that weren’t the case.
Maybe the casual Cubs fans like hanging out outdoors with large groups of people who get excited, and being fans of a consistently losing team felt better because there was less pressure to pay attention. Darker still, a portion of these spectators could also feel seen among the flagrant functioning alcoholics, wasted at noon on a weekday and stopping me on Sheffield to tell me that the White Sox suck, even though that year, the White Sox were amazing and the Cubs were atrocious. That’s right, Naperville Nate, in 2021 the White Sox won their division and the Cubs finished fourth in theirs, and just because you’ve never been farther south than Soldier Field doesn’t mean the neighborhood is unsafe, you useless sackbag.
So South Siders, before you judge a North Sider by their zip code, keep in mind that a lot of them are in baseball purgatory. Welcome them with open arms. Forgive. Be like da pope.
Cubs fan friends and neighbors who don’t abuse the sidewalks and actually like watching the ball game, I hope you have a great time this season. I’m glad there are less attendees and less drunkards (for now), but I doubt you can count on that continuing with a tight division with great teams. There are also those Cubs fans who jumped ship due to the Ricketts’ political donations, and I greatly respect that and welcome you to the Black and White side. We’ve had some scrappy winning baseball in the month of May, and while our future is still unclear, the White Sox are playing good baseball. At the risk of sounding like a casual Cubs fan, this team is fun to watch even if they won’t win a World Series this season.
We ended up leaving the game early while the Reds were still ahead, and although I eventually learned the outcome of the game, I like to pretend that it ended in Cincinnati’s favor.
South Siders, I can’t recommend going to Wrigley at any time during the baseball season, and I hope we give it to the Cubs during this first Crosstown Classic series. But if not, at least we can say that our team still has a soul.
The first installment of this year’s Subway Series will look a little different as both sides are dealing with some injuries and sporting some new faces.
Nevertheless, there will still be some big names on the field this weekend, like Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger for the Yankees and Juan Soto for the Mets.
On top of that, the Mets will also have two rookies, who have taken the team by storm over the past week in Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing, play in the weekend’s festivities for the first time in their careers.
Not only have Benge and Ewing never played in a Subway Series before, which can be said about a couple of other first-time Mets, but they’ve also never faced the Yankees before and are excited for the opportunity to take on the crosstown rivals.
“I’ve been told that it’s really exciting and that the atmosphere in here is a lot of fun and I’m just excited to play,” Ewing said, fresh off his incredible first series in the big leagues.
“I feel like I expect a lot of fans. A lot of fans and some fun baseball to be played,” Benge added. “... They’re one of the better teams in the league so to be able to go out there and compete is always fun.”
While Benge has been with the club since Opening Day, Ewing was promoted at the beginning of the week and his arrival spurred a series sweep of the Detroit Tigers with the Mets’ offense, scuffling all year at that point, scoring 22 runs in three games.
They enter Friday’s weekend series winners of three out of their last four series played.
“I think we have a lot of momentum, we have a lot of energy right now,” Ewing said. “The guys are excited and I’m excited as well."
But the team’s recent turnaround hasn’t just been Ewing’s doing. Over his last 15 games, Benge is hitting .321 with a .802 OPS and has a hit in nine of his last 10 games.
It was his walk-off single in the 10th inning on Wednesday that won it for the Mets, scoring the ghost-runner Ewing from second base.
“You can’t shy away from those moments,” Benge said. “... Being able to build off that [sweep] and just keep going in our season. We dug ourselves a hole, but I’m sure everyone in here believes we can get out of it, so just building game after game and hopefully things will turn the right way.”
So, with both youngsters playing in their first Subway Series, have either of them gotten any advice for the big weekend?
“Just play your game and don’t change,” Ewing said.
The Yankees'rotation took a big hit on Friday whenMax Fried was placed on the 15-day injured list.
The team announced an MRI and CT scan on Thursday, followed up by an examination by team physician, Dr. Chris Ahmad, revealed a left elbow bone bruise that will sideline Fried for some time.
“I'm definitely bummed that I'm going to have to be missing some time, but overall happy that it doesn't look like it's going to be anything serious, no surgery required or anything like that," Fried told reporters ahead of Friday's series-opener with the Mets. "The long-term outlook still looks good.”
Fried added that the ligament "looks good," and they are going to let the elbow "calm down" and manager Aaron Boone said that imagining results was "in some ways good news."
The Yanks announced that renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache would also review the imaging taken on Thursday, which Fried called "due diligence" on the injury. "We're optimistic about it," Fried said.
The cub added that Fried will undergo repeat imaging in "a few weeks (or when asymptomatic) to further determine when Fried can resume throwing." No timetable for a specific return or a rehab scheduled was indicated at this time.
"We're just gonna focus on the healing, kind of a wide range of recovery," Fried said when asked about a timetable. "We're gonna focus on my treatment and how I'm recovering with things. And as soon as I'm asymptomatic and feeling good, get more imaging just to clarify it and then, hopefully, start throwing immediately and get back as soon as possible."
Boone added that "long-term, feel like we're in an ok spot, so we'll just kinda listen to the body here over the next days and weeks and see what ultimately that timeline leads to."
Asked specifically about whether that range could be in the four-to-six or -eight week ballpark, Fried said he didn't want to give a specific time.
"We're looking at a little bit of an ambiguous timeline just understanding that everyone's bodies are gonna heal differently," the left-hander said. "If it's a shorter timeline and I'm feeling good, then I'm gonna do everything I can to get back out there.
"But also give the grace of, if it needs a little bit more time, being able to do what I need to do to make sure I'm healthy, that this never happens again. And when I come back, it's for the long haul."
A corresponding roster move was not immediately announced.
Fried left Wednesday’s outing in Baltimore due to elbow soreness after allowing three runs on five hits and a walk while throwing just 61 pitches (34 strikes) across 3.0 innings of work.
The left-hander wasn’t exactly sharp in his last time out either, giving up five runs on six hits and three walks over six innings in a loss to the Brewers.
Fried told reporters postgame that he wasn’t too concerned and was hoping to be able to toe the rubber his next time around; however, that will not be the case.
It will be a significant loss, as Fried has been a workhorse atop New York’s rotation, pitching to a 3.21 ERA and 1.005 WHIP while throwing a league-high 61.2 innings over his first 10 starts.
The good news is that the Yanks could receive a boost to the front of their rotation as Gerrit Cole is closing in on his highly anticipated return. Boone said Friday that the right-hander would still need two more rehab starts, and they would not accelerate his timeline due to Fried's injury.
Fried will be placed on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow bone bruise, which was the “initial finding” from a Thursday MRI and CT scan, the Yankees said Friday.
That diagnosis comes with the caveat that the team also sent the imaging to noted surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, which Fried described as “due diligence” rather than a concern there may be a more serious injury, as the Yankees ace said his ulnar collateral ligament “looks good.”
For now, Fried figures to at least miss a month, though he said the timeline was “ambiguous” because he will be shut down for at least a few weeks or when he is asymptomatic, at which point he will undergo repeat imaging to determine whether he can begin throwing again. Typically for pitchers, the time of no-throw is equal to the time it takes to build back up.
Max Fried left Wednesday’s game early due to injury. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Definitely bummed that I’m going to have to be missing some time, but overall happy that it doesn’t look like it’s going to be anything serious,” Fried said Friday at Citi Field. “No surgery required or anything like that. Never want to go on the IL and miss games, but also understand that the long-term outlook still looks good.”
The Yankees will need someone to replace Fried in the rotation by Tuesday – likely to be prospect Elmer Rodríguez, though the Yankees had not yet finalized that as of Friday. It will not be Gerrit Cole, at least not yet, as the former AL Cy Young winner is likely to make two more rehab starts finishing off his comeback from Tommy John surgery, the next one coming on Saturday at Triple-A.
While rotation depth is an area of strength for the Yankees — they just got Carlos Rodón back from the IL last weekend, with Cole coming soon, Rodríguez and Carlos Lagrange waiting in the wings at Triple-A and Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers all pitching well in the big leagues — losing Fried for any time is still a blow. After leaving Wednesday’s start against the Orioles after just three innings because of elbow soreness, Fried had a 3.21 ERA and a 1.6 bWAR, the leader of a rotation that had been the backbone for the Yankees’ strong start to the season.
“It kind of is what it is right now,” manager Aaron Boone said. “In some ways, good news in that the ligament’s in good shape and just a matter of how the timeline’s going to shake out. Long-term, feel like we’re in a good spot. We’ll just listen to the body here over the next days and weeks and see what ultimately that timeline leads to.”
Fried said the injury was caused by “hyperextending” and “the banging of the two bones” around the elbow.
“Just irritated it a little bit, pissed it off,” Fried said. “Now I’m going to let it calm down and get back to it.”
While Fried hopes he can return “as soon as I possibly can,” he also indicated he would be honest with how he was feeling so it does not turn into something bigger by coming back too soon.
“If it’s a shorter timeline if I’m feeling good, then I’m going to do everything I can to get back out there,” he said. “But also, give the grace of if it needs a little bit more time, being able to do what I need to do to make sure I’m healthy, that this never happens again and when I come back, it’s for the long haul.”
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Fried mentioned fine-tuning his mechanics to avoid something like this in the future, but he will largely be relegated to getting treatment in the coming weeks before he can ramp back up.
“Every day it’s going to get better,” he said. “But just knowing the risks of pushing it with that sort of thing, you don’t want to push it too far because then it can get pretty bad.”
BOSTON, MA - MAY 2: The sneakers worn by Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers before the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 12: Will Warren #29 of the New York Yankees warms up in the bullpen before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 12, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
RememberBobbyMurcer asks: Should Boone consider giving more starts to Escarra given how poorly Wells is performing on offense at the 1/4 pole?
No, I don’t think it would be beneficial to give more leeway to J.C. Escarra over Austin Wells for a few reasons. At the top of the list, catcher is a unique position that has to account for how well the pitching staff is working with the catcher, and Wells is a key component in the Yankees’ staff being among the best in baseball thanks in no small part to his 97th percentile framing. As for their offensive performance though, nothing Escarra has done in his limited opportunities would give Aaron Boone and company any indication that he’d hitter better: Escarra owns a 47 wRC+ and has struck out at a 23.4 percent rate compared to just a 6.4 percent walk rate, while Wells has a much-closer-to-passable 70 wRC+ and a 15.8 percent walk rate alongside similar strikeout numbers. I don’t think we’ll ever see the Wells that hit for an .800 OPS or better down in the minors as a Yankee at this point, but I do think that he’ll turn his performance at the plate around enough to not be deadweight while orchestrating exceptional numbers for the staff at large.
BetweenThePinstripes asks:The NL currently appears to have stronger teams and greater depth than the AL. For a long time, this balance of power was reversed. Why this recent shift?
The interleague records don’t lie, do they? Outside of the Giants and Marlins, who have gone a combined 6-18 against AL teams this year, every other NL team has either a winning or even record in interleague play thus far, of which there’s been a lot with the more balanced schedules that MLB has concocted over the last couple of seasons. Perhaps that leveling of the schedule has revealed strengths in the NL that were getting ignored for the biases of media outlets that favored the likes of the AL titans the last decade or so, and perhaps the introduction of the full-time DH to the NL has also altered the equation as NL teams can more reliably shop for big bats in free agency with the thought process of having the position as a fallback in the twilight years of a big contract.
The money is, I believe, the biggest factor to consider here. Six of the top ten payrolls in the league belong to NL franchises, with both of the outlier big spenders in the Dodgers and Mets belonging to them. The Yankees and Blue Jays come next with the Phillies in a similar stratosphere as them, and Atlanta a step below that, before it goes down another peg for both the Astros and the Cubs, before we see a glut of teams hovering around the $200 million threshold. The arms race for the top spots in the NL are more competitive right now, and that fuels the need for more depth and a bigger disparity between the haves and have nots, even if some of those teams like the Mets and Phillies have been bad to start the year.
86w183 asks:The Yankees have two choices: one, send Weathers or Warren to the bullpen. The obvious choice would be Weathers who has never thrown 100 innings in a season and threw just 38 1/3 last year. He’s already up to 45 this year. Warren on the other hand threw 166 last year. Two, trade one of them for bullpen help. If they could get Jhoan Duran for Warren that would be very tempting.
Max Fried’s health may not necessitate either of these options, as the team awaits news on his elbow after leaving his latest start early, but if he remains in the rotation after a short IL stint at worst then the first option will be the one the Yankees pick. The Yankees dealt from their starter surplus two offseasons ago to get Devin Williams for Nestor Cortes Jr., and while Cortes had a lot of success in New York I think the writing was on the wall that he wouldn’t remain a key component of the rotation for long. Warren, on the other hand, is an ascending pitcher with a future that looks a lot brighter than sitting at the bottom of most rotations — it’s only in one where former Cy Young contenders are abundant that he sits as low as he does currently.
You don’t trade a pitcher like Warren away for a reliever, even one as good as Duran with another year of control after this season. If Warren were still a prospect that hadn’t touched MLB, or at most gotten a cup of coffee at the level? Then I could see the argument, but Warren has already proved that he belongs and is currently working on proving that he could be among the better pitchers in the league. The team will probably target bullpen help with an aggressive tone this year, and they may even go after Duran if Philadelphia is offering him (currently I wouldn’t bet on it), but this isn’t a situation where dealing from a surplus to get a need makes sense. The team has prospects to spend, and they should do so if they aren’t going to contribute this season.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 13: Sandy León #9 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a single in the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park on May 13, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves are running Sandy Leon out at catcher and Jose Azocar in right field against Connelly Early and the Red Sox in game 1. Spencer Strider will start the game for Atlanta. Austin Riley is batting fifth, facing a lefty starter in Early, with Michael Harris and Ha-Seong Kim behind him. It would be good for the right-handed hitters and Drake Baldwin to carry the load tonight, facing a lefty, as Drake Baldwin has crushed lefties this season.
The Red Sox are hitting their star bat so far this season, Wilyer Abreu at third and starting in right field. Willson Contreras bats cleanup and starts at first base.
On the latest episode of The Hockey Show, discussion about the Stanley Cup Playoffs collided with a panel-wide review of a new, steamy hockey love show that started streaming this week.
Show hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork got into a pair of coach firings that went down in the past few days, as Craig Berube was shown the door in Toronto and Kris Knoblauch was ousted in what appeared to be a very sloppily-handled situation in Edmonton.
They also got into the Vegas Golden Knights eliminating the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, and then afterward appearing to ignore their postgame media responsibilities.
Speaking of the Ducks, this week’s guest is an Anaheim die-hard and was at Game 6 at the Honda Center, and that’s comedian Brad Williams.
Brad divulged his thoughts on the Ducks season and his outlook for the team in the coming seasons.
This week’s wins and fails included a heroic effort by Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson to shield an opponent from injury, Jim Nill not being included among GM of the Year finalists for the first time in forever, some experts on pronouncing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s name and the Edmonton Oilers.
Also on this week's show, Rose gave the boys some homework: watching the first episode of Off Campus, the new hockey-love show on Amazon Prime.
They gave their full review, which you can check out along with this week’s full show and interview in the videos below:
May 12, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson (6) celebrates with teammates including forward Josh Doan (91) after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period in game four of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The time for talking, practicing and poring over game film is over as far as Sabres coach Lindy Ruff is concerned.
With Buffalo facing elimination for the first time this postseason, Ruff told his team to avoid the rink Friday, meet at the airport and contemplated canceling the skate the next morning in Montreal with his message essentially being: Show up and play.
“I know the pressure they’re feeling. I know how much they care. I just feel a day away from the rink, not coming here, is a good thing,” Ruff said.
“We need to move on. There’s only one game that counts, and that is the game tomorrow,” he added. “We have to play on our toes. We got to play to win. Can’t be afraid.”
Game 6 at Montreal on a Saturday night
The Sabres trail 3-2 in their second-round series against the Canadiens, with Montreal hosting Game 6 on Saturday night (8 p.m. EDT, ABC) in what should be a raucous atmosphere. Aside from it being the Canadiens’ first Saturday night game of these playoffs, it also falls on Canada’s Victoria Day holiday weekend.
“We’ll see what tomorrow brings,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said Friday. “I feel that you just stay present where your feet are and take care of that. I think it helps sustain even keel and just focus on the process and prepare.”
The Canadiens have yet to lose two in a row this postseason, but are 1-1 in series-clinching games. In their opening series against Tampa Bay, Montreal lost 1-0 in Game 6 at home before a 2-1 win in Game 7 at Tampa Bay.
“It’s the hardest game. Any time a team’s got it’s back against the wall, that’s when they’re desperate,” defenseman Alexandre Carrier said. “We just got to stick to our game plan and really do what we do best.”
The series winner advances to play Carolina, which has swept both of its playoff series, and been off since a 3-2 overtime win against Philadelphia on May 9. The East final will start either next Tuesday or next Thursday.
Leading 3-2, Buffalo allowed Montreal to score three times over the final 12 minutes of the second period.
Buffalo has combined for just nine goals in its past four games after a 4-2 win in Game 1. More worrisome is allowing 19 goals over the same span.
Regular-season leading scorer Tage Thompson, who was stopped on a breakaway early in the second period, has two goals and two assists in the series. Fellow first-line forward Alex Tuch has been blanked in all five games, and acknowledged playing poorly on defense.
“I’ve got to bear down. I’ve got to be better. I can’t play the way I’m playing right now,” Tuch said. “But I’ve got to move past it.”
Goaltending is a question mark. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was pulled Thursday after allowing five goals on 23 shots through two periods. Alex Lyon mopped up, allowing a goal on three shots in his first appearance since losing the starting job following a 6-2 loss in Game 3.
Ruff doesn’t comment on his goaltending plans. And should the team not practice Saturday morning, the Game 6 starter won’t be revealed until shortly before puck drop.
Passing up chances
Among Ruff’s other concerns is Buffalo either passing up scoring opportunities, or failing to finish when getting shots on net. This was especially the case in the first period, when Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes looked shaky after allowing three goals on four shots.
“We thought we let them off the hook,” Ruff said. “Probably there were four or five opportunities to get the puck there quicker last night that could have kept them in chaos.”
Ruff turned the attention to whatever bright sides he could find.
The Sabres are 4-1 on the road this postseason, including a series-clinching 4-1 win at Boston. There’s also the reality of Buffalo being one of five teams still in contention.
“We get to go to Montreal in Game 6 in the middle of May,” Ruff said, noting it’s a message he intends to share with his team. “I think we’ll all be evaluated on what this game looks like. Just bring your best.”
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 13: Keibert Ruiz #20 of the Washington Nationals high fives Victor Estevez #7 of the Washington Nationals as he rounds third after hitting a home run in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on May 13, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Coming off a 14-run loss is never how you want a series to end, but the Nationals should be content with taking the result of their Thursday night contest against the Cincinnati Reds after winning the first two games. A Luis Garcia Jr. and Daylen Lile takeover saw them glide to a 10-4 victory in Game 1, with an extra innings Lile home run and PJ Poulin appearance coming to the rescue in Game 2.
Baltimore has gone 2-2 through their 1st 4 series in May, most recently taking down the Yankees at home. They’ve shown flashes of brilliance and of dysfunction, and the Nats will look to capitalize on the latter in a 3-game set this weekend.
Game 1 – Friday 6:45 PM EST
WSH: RHP Zack Littell (1-4, 6.94 ERA)
BAL: RHP Shane Baz (1-4, 5.48 ERA)
After two decently successful outings as an opener, Littell finds himself back in the rotation for the series opener. It’s been a far cry from the steady starter that Washington was expecting to get when they brought him in, and he’s heavily struggled to miss bats. Navigating through Baltimore’s hottest hitters will be a challenge, but going up against a fellow scuffling starter makes this matchup more bearable on paper.
Baz was Baltimore’s big trade acquisition over the offseason, but he hasn’t come close to meeting the expectations placed on him. He’s given up 5 earned runs in each of his last 2 starts, with a staggering 8 walks allowed. The Nats need to be patient with him early, and force him to fall back into the command issues that have plagued the start to his Orioles’ tenure.
Game 2 – Saturday 4:05 PM EST
WSH: RHP Cade Cavalli (1-2, 4.02 ERA)
BAL: RHP Chris Bassett (3-2, 5.21 ERA)
Cavalli remains as frustrating as ever, with his two 10-strikeout performances to end April followed up by just 2 and 4 Ks respectively, as well as failing to complete 6.0 innings in either appearance. He hit three Miami batters his last time out, a number that needs to be severely limited against Baltimore if he wants to give the Nats a good chance to win.
It’s been a tale of two extremes for the veteran righty so far in 2026, having allowed 1 or fewer runs in 4 starts this season, while giving up 4 or more in his other 4 starts. His flip-flopping nature through the first 2 months of the season is a trend that the Washington lineup should look to continue, after he was stellar against the Athletics in his last start, throwing 6.0 innings of 1-run ball.
Game 3 – Sunday 1:35 PM EST
WSH: RHP Miles Mikolas (1-3, 7.00 ERA)
BAL: RHP Brandon Young (3-1, 4.15 ERA)
It’s hard to find definitive positives with how Mikolas has thrown the ball in his age-37 season, but one thing that can be said is that his ERA has lowered in every start he’s made since April 8th. While neither was spectacular by any means, his two outings in May have been serviceable, throwing a combined 8.2 innings and giving up 3 earned runs. Asking too much out of him is far from realistic at this point in time, but an adequate appearance that gives the offense a chance to get going would certainly be welcomed.
A disastrous end to the month of April for Young has been followed up by a pair of above average starts to begin May. Neither the Marlins nor the Yankees were able to fully pounce on the 2nd-year righthander, and Washington is next in line to attempt the same feat. Nothing he does is noticeably special, but hitters have generally been unable to put up crooked numbers against him, outside of one 10-run meltdown complements of the Astros.
It’s do-or-die for the Detroit Pistons, who have to steal Game 6 on the road to keep their season alive.
On the flip side, the Cleveland Cavaliers are one win away from closing the door at home and booking their first Eastern Conference Finals trip since 2018.
Coming off a tough Game 5 loss, Detroit enters on uneven footing, and our Pistons vs. Cavaliers predictions & same-game parlay see Cleveland handling business and finishing the job in front of their home crowd.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have flipped this series after falling behind 2-0, now sitting just one win away from the Conference Finals.
At Rocket Arena, they’ve been nearly unstoppable as they rank top three in points, three-pointers, offensive efficiency, offensive rating, and fewest turnovers at home during the playoffs.
Cleveland is also a perfect 6-0 on its home floor this postseason, underscoring just how dominant they’ve been in front of their own crowd.
SGP leg #1: Cavaliers team total Over 106.5
The Cavaliers’ 120.4 offensive rating at Rocket Arena ranks third-best among all playoff teams, while their 118.0 points per game on their home floor sits second overall.
More importantly, this hasn’t been a one-game spike or matchup-driven anomaly — Cleveland has scored at least 107 points in every home playoff game so far, showing a clear and repeatable trend of elevated efficiency in front of its own crowd.
With the series shifting back to a familiar setting and a chance to close things out in Game 6, that baseline production feels like the floor rather than the ceiling.
SGP leg #1: Donovan Mitchell Over 26.5 points
A major reason for the Cavaliers consistency is the home-road split from Donovan Mitchell, who has been significantly more comfortable and efficient at Rocket Arena this postseason.
Mitchell is averaging 30.2 points per game at home on an impressive 50.8% shooting clip, compared to 22.3 points on 40.2% shooting on the road.
That gap is not just minor variance — it reflects how much cleaner his looks have been in Cleveland, where the spacing, rhythm, and early-clock opportunities all come easier within the Cavaliers’ system.
Get Zak Hanshew's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Pistons vs. Cavaliers predictions for Game 6.
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The journey from Ron Artest to Metta World Peace is a great redemption story, and on Friday morning inside City Hall, the Los Angeles City Council officially celebrated “Metta World Peace Day,” honoring the former Lakers champion for his mental health advocacy.
The recognition came after Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez introduced a resolution declaring May 15 as “Metta World Peace Day” throughout Los Angeles during Mental Health Awareness Month.
The journey from Ron Artest to Metta World Peace is a great redemption story. David Buchan for Ca PostLos Angeles City Council officially celebrated “Metta World Peace Day,” honoring the former Lakers champion for his mental health advocacy David Buchan for Ca Post
Artest was suspended 86 games after the infamous “Malice at the Palace” brawl in 2004, still the most notorious fight in modern American professional sports. The Nov. 19 game was between the Pacers and Pistons. Artest sparked the brawl by committing a hard foul on Ben Wallace at the end of the game. As he was lying on the scorer’s table, a fan hurled a beer at him, and Artest charged into the stands to fight the fans.
For years, that moment defined him.
But Artest rebuilt his career, eventually arriving in Los Angeles in 2009 to become a crucial piece of the Lakers’ championship team that season alongside Kobe Bryant.
Artest will forever be remembered by Lakers fans for scoring 20 points in Game 7 against the Celtics, including burying a late 3-pointer that helped secure banner No. 16.
But what Artest is being celebrated for came after the buzzer.
In his postgame news conference, Artest, who changed his name to Metta World Peace legally in 2011, famously thanked his psychiatrist.
Former Lakers player Ron Artest helped lead the franchise to title No. 16. NBAE via Getty Images
“Mental health affects all of us. But too often, people don’t talk about it,” World Peace said. “I want to send a clear message that it’s OK to go to therapy, to ask for help and to take care of yourself.”
Soto-Martinez said the honor reflects the city’s effort to normalize mental health conversations.
“As someone who goes to therapy myself, I know how critical it is to care for your mental health,” Soto-Martinez said. “Having a role model like Metta speaking openly about his journey helps break that stigma and encourages people to seek help.”
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SAN FRANCISCO – A cursory comparison of the rosters in these NBA playoffs and that of the Warriors sends a message that Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy doesn’t seem to concede.
Golden State’s aging core is surrounded by young players Dunleavy says he believes in but generally can’t match the length and athleticism of most teams in the league. Asked about the roster, his replies could be taken two ways.
If he really believes what he says, it’s delusion.
If not, it’s shrewd deception.
“This just isn’t about the roster, frankly,” Dunleavy said on Friday, referring to the 37-45 season that fell short of the playoffs. “I don’t think we came up short because of the talent on the roster. It was injuries and things we could control.”
Whoa. Stay healthy and reduce turnovers and, voila, the Warriors still would be playing? If Dunleavy really believes this, he has not been watching the same playoffs as the rest of us.
A Warriors fan must hope he is being deceptive, or at least coy. It’s a real possibility. Kind of shrewd.
We won’t know, however, until we see what kind of offseason Dunleavy and his front-office cohorts are able to cook up.
We do know he left plenty of room for interpretation.
“The top priority is to take care of the ball, limit turnovers,” Dunleavy said. “And then, after that, we’ll try and get better in every which way. We took the most threes in the league last year, so we definitely want to have as many guys as we can that can make shots. Athleticism helps for sure. I mean, having two wings like Jimmy (Butler III) and Moses (Moody) that will be out to start the season, that’s a huge hole in generally your most athletic position.
“We’ll always look to add athletically, length, size, skill, all those things. Watching the playoffs, you learn a lot. You see the teams where they’re at, where you need to go.”
Watching the playoffs reveals how far the Warriors – even with Stephen Curry still playing at an elite level – are away from competing with such championship contenders as the San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks and, of course, defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
It’s also evident that Golden State would struggle to keep pace with the Minnesota Timberwolves or Cleveland Cavaliers. And, for that matter, Denver, Portland, Boston and Atlanta, all of which were ousted in the first round.
The Warriors are coming off a season that was a few wins above mediocre before it was broken in the second half by injuries to Butler and Curry, whose absences left the roster without top-end talent for more than two months. Their 10-22 record over the final 32 games – a dead tie with the woeful Sacramento Kings – was telling.
Yes, turnovers, reasonably costing the Warriors six to eight games, were fatal. Only the Wizards, Nets and Blazers committed more, but Portland used size and athleticism as an antidote to finish five games better (42-40) than Golden State.
And yet, Dunleavy stressed turnovers over all else. He referenced them, directly or indirectly seven times in his 21-minute news conference.
“I think moving forward this summer we can get better, and that’ll start in June with the draft,” Dunleavy said. “Having the 11th pick and the 54th pick are two ways we could definitely add to the roster and improve. And then we’ll roll into free agency and see what we can do there.
“But I think a big focus will be on internal improvement, and that’s something we discussed with Steve.”
There was scant acknowledgement of the team’s acute need for athleticism and length. No explicit talk of a possible trade, the surest route to a younger star capable of making instant impact – something which Dunleavy surely knows is required for the Warriors to stay afloat without until Butler anticipated midseason return.
That assumes Jimmy won’t be traded, something for which there is no assurance. Dunleavy said three months ago that that trading Butler was not in the plans, but plans often change.
“Do we need to get better roster-wise? I think so,” Dunleavy conceded. “But we didn’t get to a point where we played a team where their roster is better than ours. So, that reason we’re more focused on stuff that we can control.”
In short, turnovers. The top priority.
If Dunleavy thinks Golden State can expect an appreciably better outcome next season by running it back with a few moderate tweaks, this is delusional enough to draw laughter from the Thunder and Spurs, lords of the Western Conference.
It’s hard to conceive of any roster upgrade that doesn’t include an All-Star caliber sidekick to join Curry leaving the Warriors looking much better than they did in their last seven games, five of which they lost.
It’s possible Dunleavy was using his time as a smoke screen. GMs in every sport do it all the time. They posture and promote those on the current roster, knowing some of them are available via trade. Certainly, that is the case with the Warriors.
We could know in the weeks to come, certainly by mid-July. But we won’t have our final answer until Golden State convenes for training camp in September.
