And with the Spurs facing the possibility of arriving at a raucous Madison Square Garden in a 2-0 series hole for Monday's Game 3, the Knicks know what to expect from San Antonio in Game 2.
"A desperate team," Mitchell Robinsontold reporters on Thursday when asked what the Knicks are preparing for.
With the benefit of having eight days off after sweeping the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks looked fresh in Game 1, although they were a bit rusty in the first half -- and struggled for the whole game when it came to shooting from behind the arc.
The Spurs, who prevailed over the Thunder in seven games in the Western Conference Finals, had only three days off to prepare. And while their energy level was high, superstar Victor Wembanyama seemed a bit winded down the stretch as New York pulled away.
One big reason for the Knicks' comeback wasJosh Hart, who was one of the most important players on the floor despite scoring only three points.
Hart, whose motor never stops, had 15 rebounds, six assists, four steals, and zero turnovers -- stuffing the stat sheet despite missing a big chunk of the first half because he was in foul trouble.
"His energy is just relentless," Jalen Brunson said about Hart. "It doesn't stop. I mean, he eats candy all the time. That tells you who he is -- he's a big kid with an absurd amount of energy."
As they came away with the win in Game 1, the Knicks' defense tightened up late, giving the Spurs fits.
That included big performances from Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby, and is something New York will have to continue as the series goes forward.
"I think we just tried to be physical and be aggressive defensively," Anunoby said. "We try to make anyone we're playing uncomfortable. We don't want people to be comfortable. Taking up space when you can, always make sure to get a contest, and just fly around -- communicate on defense."
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 26: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 26, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yuichi Masuda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Adjectives that come to mind about Dave Roberts in the media are measured, reasoned, and thoughtful. Maybe a bit verbose or circular, especially when it comes to injury updates.
The point is that it’s rare when Roberts calls out a player, and it’s usually a doozy when it happens. The anger of the quiet person often booms the loudest. When Bob Nightengale of USA Today dropped “’Couldn’t be more lazy.’ Dodgers fire back at MLB payroll crybabies,” one could be forgiven for wondering if the headline was merely clickbait for diplomatic double-talk that did not say anything.
Those fears were dispelled instantly, immediately, and thoroughly. On Wednesday, Dave Roberts was there to take names and chew bubblegum; unfortunately for the targets of his vitriol, he was out of bubblegum:
“My honest opinion is the majority of takes about the Dodgers couldn’t be more lazy…that it’s just about the payroll. It’s about the draft. It’s about layering on where we pick in the draft annually. The player development. How we acquire international talent. How we perform consistently at the major-league level.
“I actually think it’s a competitive advantage in the sense that people feel that way, and not look at themselves in the mirror and see how they can operate things better. So that’s beneficial for us.”
As if to dispel the notion that Roberts had made an accidental remark, he kept talking:
“Having the payroll and the depth that gives you [is] certainly is a benefit. No one’s debating that. But I do think that the players we acquire, how we play the game every night, getting younger players to assimilate in a star-studded clubhouse, that’s important. That’s hard to quantify, but that’s of value.
“If you look at the World Series the last couple of years, there’s a lot of home-grown guys making league minimum that have been on postseason rosters.”
Then, for good measure, Roberts floated the idea of the Dodgers acquiring Detroit Tigers’ ace Tarik Skubal at the deadline.
“They would go ballistic,” Roberts said laughing. “But we would have the prospect capital to do [acquire Skubal]. We are one of the teams that could do that with the Tigers.”
One wonders who “they” are. Whether it’s the rest of the league or the critics of the Dodgers, Dave Roberts was not having it on June 3.
The players aren’t having it either
And lest anyone think it was just Roberts blowing off steam, Miguel Rojas added some justified rhetorical heat, stating it’s not just spending fueling the Dodgers’ success, and the organization’s roster construction is often overlooked:
“At the end of the day,” 2025 World Series hero Miguel Rojas said, “it’s not about wasting money or spending money to buy the best players because that’s not going to guarantee you anything. You can see it. There are another five or six clubs close to us in payroll, and they haven’t accomplished it. That’s why people aren’t talking about them, because they haven’t won. People just talk about us…
…The way they constructed the roster in this organization deserves a lot of credit,” Rojas said. “It’s not just buying the players and spending money on players, it’s having Plan B’s and C’s behind them, and that’s where I feel the organization is not getting enough credit for building a full team that is capable of sustaining so many injuries throughout the season and having guys ready when they get called up.”
Emmet Sheehan also went on the record, praising the Dodgers’ development system:
“Our development system is what gets overlooked,” Sheehan says, “how much time and money they put into finding the right people in the minor leagues to make people better. When I got drafted, I didn’t realize how lucky I was coming to an organization like this. Obviously, they put a lot of money into the team here, which is awesome, but there are a lot of guys that contribute way more than people realize, guys stepping up when we’ve had injuries.”
Even Jack Dreyer chimed in, praising how the Dodgers helped him develop as a bullpen stalwart:
“One of the things that the Dodgers do better than anybody else,” Dreyer said, “is that as soon as you get into that organization, they’re doing everything they can to develop you to maximize your potential. When I first got to the Dodgers organization, I had a long way to go before I had a chance at anything. I think they saw something that even I didn’t see in myself, but they kept fine-tuning, and tweaking, and revamping different things until I got to this point. Every single guy who’s in the Dodger organization is very lucky with all of the resources the Dodgers provide, so I’m very thankful I signed here.”
For regulars at True Blue LA, Roberts and the other quoted players are merely parroting arguments that have been expertly and diligently proffered in these parts for years.
Is it nice to have the indirect inference that various Dodgers players and staff read True Blue LA? Sure. Are we going to belabor what we have previously argued in a bit of self-congratulatory puffery? A little. Pride counts for something around these parts.
After all, the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants are seemingly hellbent on disproving the notion that spending necessarily equates to winning. The Mets look like an unexpected rebuild that has gone horribly wrong, whereas the Giants have somehow doubled down on a posture of masterly inactivity, resulting in one of the worst records in the league with a gaggle of immovable contracts.
The incompetence is almost impressive in its depth and scope.
The Commissioner’s Changing Tune
Contrast the fire coming out of the Dodgers with Commissioner Rob Manfred’s first public remarks since labor talks started, and one has quite the contrast. Watching the Commissioner act as a sock puppet for the owners is not particularly new or generally interesting. But occasionally the act has unintended consequences for those who have been paying attention.
On June 3, the Commissioner held his first press conference since MLBPA and MLB began their labor negotiations. ESPN’s Jorge Castillo reported that once again, the Commissioner repeated the talking point that the Dodgers were to blame for the perceived inequity in the sport:
“I think that the Dodgers understand there is a need to update the overall economic model in the industry and that the upside associated with that, in terms of growing the industry, growing the popularity of the sport, is big for large markets, small markets, owners and players in every way,” Manfred said. “That upside is bigger than any issue that separates us in the bargaining table.”
The Commissioner had previously praised the league’s parity, even as recently as October 2024, during the Dodgers/Yankees World Series:
Naturally, some fans in smaller markets will in turn complain that those teams, and their large payrolls, are the last two standing. But Manfred defended the state of competition and parity across the sport.
“Our record on competitive balance is darn good,” Manfred said. “I just don’t think you can scream about the Yankees and the Dodgers given the matchups that we’ve had in recent years.”
On Wednesday, he flip-flopped faster on that position than a fry cook at the International House of Pancakes during the Sunday brunch rush:
“We have tried mightily over several rounds of bargaining to use a competitive balance tax to address competitive concerns, and sometimes, you got to admit you failed…
…We want to make an agreement. We made a proposal on one set of topics at the outset of negotiations.
I went and said myself: Look, we’re open to whatever ideas people have. But we need a realistic framework that addresses the fans’ concerns about competitive balance, and you just can’t ignore that financial penalties have not gotten it done for us.”
Mockery aside, even if entirely well-deserved for trying to use the Dodgers to distract and enrage the fans of baseball, the Commissioner did say something accidentally revealing, as if accidentally almost having an epiphany before fleeing from it as fast as humanly possible:
“In the context, particularly of the postseason, where you’re trying to generate interest and maximize viewership, I think it’s important to emphasize competitiveness,” Manfred said. “And there are aspects of competitiveness: we haven’t had repeat winners (recently) until the Dodgers.
“When we think about it from a labor perspective, we’re focused on an entirely different part of the calendar. And that’s the offseason, when you’re trying to sell season tickets, and the perception among our fans that’s really strong that we have a lack of competitiveness.”
Fan perceptions do not always motivate major change — not unless they’re having major impacts. Considering MLB’s ratings and ticket sales figures have generally improved in recent years, has MLB identified quantifiable ways that this perception is harming them?
“We actually have spent a lot of time on this topic, and teams that go through periods, particularly longer periods, of non-competitiveness, not only have lower revenues, but they are slower to recover once they become competitive,” Manfred said Wednesday.
He didn’t offer specific figures.
(Emphasis added.)
Teams that are bad tend to make less money and are slower to recover once they actually do something productive? You don’t say. Whether the Commissioner meant to say the quiet, obvious part out loud is an open question; however, a broken clock is right twice a day.
The unspoken conclusion that the Commissioner failed to reach, even though it was right there, is that maybe teams should try more. You know, like San Diego, which just sold for a record amount.
However, that admission would be telling, and a puppet can’t leave its strings, not with the collective puppeteer holding on for dear life.
Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) attempts to steal the ball from New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) in the second half during game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Welcome to a limited series called “Overreactions: Where answers become questions, questions become more questions, and you question your own sanity so much that you slowly convince yourself that Malik Rose could have been an All-NBA point guard if Gregg Popovich had a little bit of imagination.”
It’s a safe place for anxious fans to overreact to every loss, win, tie, and moral victory after every single game in these NBA Finals. And because there are no ties in the NBA, we should add that item to another longstanding list of grievances from NBA fans for Adam Silver. That list includes putting up a statue of Manu Ginóbili plucking a bat out of midair during an actual NBA game and putting that statue out in front of the NBA office in New York, New York.
Today we discuss Game One. It’s time to panic.
10. Jalen Brunson is unstoppable. Kelly Oubre said the hardest part about guarding the Knicks star guard is that big ol’ head. The Spurs could bring out a replica of Rick Moranis’s big (expletive) helmet when he played Dark Helmet in Spaceballs, chase Brunson around the court and try to corral him in it to prevent him from putting 30 points up again, but it’d be no use. The Villanova Knicks will find a way.
9. Karl Anthony-Towns is the only good thing about The Devil Wears Prada 2. Have I seen the second movie? No. Do I love the first movie because I love anything with Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Stanley Tucci? Of course. Will I pay $90 for a babysitter, $40 for two tickets to go see the sequel in a movie theater that smells like the mops are soaked in melted butter to clean the floors or wait until it comes out on streaming where I could just use my wife’s aunt’s mother’s streaming service login? The latter. What does that have to do with KAT’s stellar line of 18 points, 12 rebounds in 34 minutes of bruising play down in the paint? I don’t know. Why is Stanley Tucci so (expletive)ing charming? We just don’t know.
8. De’Aaron Fox will never make another shot in the fourth quarter again. Ever. Ever never ever again. The former (and inaugural) NBA clutch player of the year for 2022-23 season will be forced to return that award just based alone on the cries of angry fans’ reactions all over Spurs Twitter. That’s the only criteria, and frankly the only one we as a society should use to evaluate anything from Fox’s fourth quarter metrics to why penguins cannot fly—because angry people on social media demanded it so. Maybe if penguins paid a monthly subscription to have a blue check mark next to their names, they’d be able to fly off that huge island of ice and hang out in warmer climates like the Kohl’s parking lot in Irving, Texas that has no trees for shade in the heat of summer.
7. The Spurs are going to keep shooting 25% from three as a team. I mean take away Julian Champagnie’s 5-10 shooting from downtown and the team percentage falls all the way down to 18%. Do you know what is the only thing that is higher than 18%? Every single credit card interest rate. So worry not, if the Spurs’ insanely low (almost outlier-ish from a statistical standpoint) three-point percentage doesn’t keep you up at night, those CC APRs should.
6. The nuns are out. They brought us so much luck, charm, lucky charms, and distractions through the Western Conference Finals, and we owe so much to their faith in serving others, selflessness, and humble vibes. But now? After Game One? It’s time to panic and bring in Alex Caruso lookalikes dressed as chupacabras. Nothing says panic like making unholy alliances with chupacabras. Doing all of this nonsensical, downright delusional non-basketball bits won’t guarantee a win in Game 2. No, we just want to let the panic wash over us like a terrifying flashback of every made three pointer that left Alex Caruso’s magical hands in that last series.
5. Blame the corgi. Yeah, the corgi is cute. Like too cute in fact. And it briefly united the world against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending champs, because no one’s going to test the magical clairvoyance of a freakin’ corgi. But fame is a fickle mistress. And no one has more mistresses in the dog world than corgis. You know that meme where the dude is looking at another woman while holding hands with his current significant other? That meme was created by dalmatians as a warning to humans that corgis are coming after humans’ loved ones next. Behind those cute little round eyes is the charm of a certified psychopath. What does that have to do with the Spurs shooting less than 25% from three as team in Game One? Nothing. I just need to blame someone, even a cute, little corgi.
4. Mitchell Robinson broke his pinky at home on purpose. Hear me out. But maybe Victor Wembanyama’s least favorite finger is the pinky. Maybe his least favorite genetically enhanced laboratory mice who try to take over the world are Pinky and the Brain. Insert Charlie Kelly conspiracy meme from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia here. Just maybe, these things were enough of a phobia to distract Wembanyama from taking more shots down low. It’s time to panic, people, so we cannot leave any stone unturned or unblamed.
3. The Knicks are never going to lose another playoff game. Ever. Ever never ever again. This 12-game playoff winning streak will extend into next season and into playoff seasons for the next 10 years. During that time, they will make four more sequels to The Devil Wears Prada, and us NBA fans will be begging Adam Silver to quit rigging the playoffs in favor of the Knicks just so Anne Hathaway can continue to share cameos with KAT. I’m not trying to jinx their streak. I’m legit panicking. Didn’t you read the sixth sentence up there? It’s time to panic and overreact to every little thing. What is a Knickerbocker? Does it translate to “Bane of Spurs’ existence”? Don’t bother googling what a Knickerbocker is AIing it or whatever you kids use AI for today. And don’t bother explaining it to me. I want the smell of panic to linger over us because we’re definitely not going to act like we’ve been here before (6 times). Yes, I remember 1999. But we Spurs fans want to panic. We need to panic.
2. Speaking of panicking over every little thing. Who gave their Spurs court-side tickets to Ben Stiller? I know he’s a Knicks “superfan,” but have you seen The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? It’s a really good movie that was vastly underrated when it came out. I know those big market teams like parading their celebrities around like a proud parent who just saw their kids play little dribblers with no enforced rules for dribbling! Rules are rules, and I just don’t like seeing dual threat actor/director Ben Stiller seeing his favorite team win against our favorite team. If TSLoWM comes on cable, sure, I’ll stop what I’m doing and watch it again because I love that movie, and yes I still have cable. But I don’t have to like it, even if I do like it.
1.It’s time to give up. There’s a scene in Airplanes II: The Sequel where Buck Murdock (played by William Shatner playing Captain James T. Kirk playing Buck Murdock. It’s Kirk Lazarus’s “I’m the dude playing the dude pretending to be another dude” before Kirk Lazarus or reborn Robert Downey Jr. ever existed) gives up trying to help William Striker land the plane because the latter couldn’t find a piece of metal to shove into the control panel. The scene reads as incredulous as Shatner’s acting style. At the first sign of difficulty, he (Buck Murdock) completely gives up and tells everyone to shut it down. He even tells them to go home as he’s packing up his own suitcase while still on the line with Striker (even if the control tower they are all working in is on the moon where the plane piloted by William Striker is about to crash into).
That’s my overreaction. Let’s just give up. What’s a man doing with a bobby pin? 1982 humor. Gotta love it.
Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals is Friday night. Game 1 went to the visiting Knicks, 105-95, on Wednesday night.
The Spurs were in control well into the third quarter leading 67-54 with 5:58 left in the quarter but the Knicks figured things out, flipped the script, and throttled the Spurs from that point forward closing out Game 2 on a 51-28 run over the game’s final 18 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns battled all night and finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists, but it was one of the league’s top closers, Jalen Brunson, who finished things last night scoring 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. Victor Wembanyama scored 26 points and pulled down 12 boards and Julian Champagnie was 5-10 from beyond the arc in the loss for the Spurs.
A couple of key stats to take away from Game 1: assists and turnovers. The Knicks won both categories picking up 20 assists while turning it over eight times. The Spurs turned it over 13 times while totaling 16 assists. Wembanyama had six of the 13 turnovers. New York’s bench outscored the reserves from San Antonio, 28-20. Landry Shamet had 13 off that Knicks’ bench. Dylan Harper came off the Spurs’ bench to pour in 16 of those 20 points for the Spurs.
Looking ahead to Game 2, the Spurs will need to take better care of the ball and get the ball to Wembanyama in more dangerous positions as opposed to well behind the three-point line. Expect more offensive sets designed to free him for high-post touches and pick-and-pop opportunities, as well as a greater emphasis on pace to avoid the Knicks’ half-court defensive schemes. The Knicks will look to find ways to pull Wembanyama away from the rim as they did religiously during their push in the second half. Bothered early in the game by the Spurs’ guards, Brunson got what he wanted whether it be a three-pointer or a drive to the rim with Wembanyama not in the lane to affect his shot.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Game 2 Live: Knicks vs. Spurs
Date: Friday, June 5, 2026
Time: 8:30PM EST
Site: Frost Bank Center
City: San Antonio, TX
Network/Streaming: ABC
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NBA Finals Game 2 Odds: Knicks vs. Spurs
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Knicks (+185), San Antonio Spurs (-225)
Spread: Spurs -5.5
Total: 214.5 points
This game sits right where it opened with the Spurs favored by 5.5 and the Game Total set at 214.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups for NBA Finals Game 2: Knicks vs. Spurs
New York Knicks
PG Jalen Brunson (30 points, 2 assists in Game 1)
SG Mikal Bridges (9 points, 3 assists in Game 1)
C Karl-Anthony Towns (18 points, 12 rebounds in Game 1)
SF Josh Hart (3 points, 15 rebounds in Game 1)
PF OG Anunoby (17 points, 3-6 from 3-point range in Game 1)
San Antonio Spurs
PG De’Aaron Fox (7 points, 3-13 from the field in Game 1)
SG Stephon Castle (17 points, 8 rebounds in Game 1)
SF Devin Vassell (9 points, 1-6 from 3-point range in Game 1)
PF Julian Champagnie (16 points, 10 rebounds in Game 1)
C Victor Wembanyama (26 points, 12 rebounds, 6 turnovers in Game 1)
Injury Report: Knicks vs. Spurs
New York Knicks
No injuries to report
San Antonio Spurs
David Jones Garcia (ankle) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Knicks vs. Spurs – Game 2
The Knicks are 37-11 on the road this season
The Spurs are 35-16 at home this season
The Spurs are 57-43-2 ATS this season
The Knicks are 55-42-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 46 of the Knicks’ 98 games this season (46-52)
The OVER has cashed in 47 of the Spurs’ 102 games this season (47-55)
Jose Alvarado scored 7 points off the bench for the Knicks in 11 minutes of Game 1
OG Anunoby scored 17 points in Game 1 making 5 of 12 shots from the field
Julian Champagnie made 5, three-pointers in the first half in Game 1 but was held off the board from beyond the arc in the second half
Luke Kornet did not score and pulled down just one rebound in 10 minutes of playing time in Game 1
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s Game 2 between the Knicks and the Spurs:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Spurs on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Spread
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 214.5
Player Props:
Dylan Harper 13+ Points (-112) – cashed in 2 of the last 3 games (scored 12 in the game where he fell short)
Karl-Anthony Towns 4+ Assists (-133) – cashed in Game 1 of the Finals, twice in the East Final, and in all 4 games in the Second Round
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In Game 1 of the Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals series, Towns was caught telling teammates to keep playing great defense and that the offense will pick up eventually.
“We gotta keep playing defense this way. This will win us the game,” Towns said. “Our offense will always catch up. It did in Game 1 in Cleveland. We’ll be fine.”
"Gotta keep playing defense…our offense will catch up…it always does"
Towns was referring to the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals in which the Knicks came back from a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the Cavaliers to win in overtime.
In a less extreme, but still impressive fashion, Towns and the Knicks made a 14-point comeback in the first game of the NBA Finals on Wednesday to win 105-95.
Tasked with stopping Victor Wembanyama, Towns rose to the occasion in Game 1 with 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) yells during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. AP Photo/Eric Gay
In the 34 minutes the big man was on the court, the Knicks outscored the Spurs by 11 points.
“I don’t know what it was. But I just felt a calm and a peace that I don’t know, had to be coming from the woman above,” he said in an on-court interview after the game.
Towns was referring to his late mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, who died in April 2020.
“In a way I felt like I was seeing her in the stands,” he said.
Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals. NBAE via Getty Images
Towns has been waiting his whole career to play in the NBA Finals, falling in the conference finals the past two seasons.
The former Timberwolves star recorded 10 points, including two 3-pointers, four rebounds and a block in the third quarter as the Knicks began their comeback.
“You just trust your work and you trust your decision-making, and I always say [I want to be] aggressive in play-making,” Towns said.
The Detroit Red Wings could be on the verge of one of the biggest moves in recent franchise history.
According to an explosive new report from NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, longtime Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin, the only remaining player on the roster who played in the franchise's most recent Stanley Cup Playoff appearance in 2016, has requested a trade.
"According to multiple sources, Dylan Larkin recently requested a trade from Detroit," Friedman reported on Sportsnet. "There’s a lot to unpack here. First, should mention that no one would comment. Not Larkin, not agent Pat Brisson, not Red Wings Executive Vice-President & GM Steve Yzerman."
Larkin, a Michigan native who played for the University of Michigan and whom the Red Wings selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft, was named the 37th captain in team history in January 2021.
The Red Wings are currently stuck in the NHL's longest active postseason drought at 10 years and counting.
After the Red Wings missed the playoffs in 2024-25, Larkin openly expressed disappointment that GM Steve Yzerman didn't make a more meaningful acquisition at the NHL Trade Deadline, which may have caused some tension in their relationship.
Larkin, who signed an eight-year contract extension in 2023, still has five years left on the deal with an $8.7M cap hit, and holds a full no-trade clause over the next two seasons; that turns into a 10-team list afterward.
In 808 career NHL games, Larkin has scored 276 goals with 367 assists. His 643 points are ranked 10th all time in team history.
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Hosts hold their nerve on a tricky wicket to reach target
Australia only set 158 despite Josh Inglis’s 65
Pakistan overcame Australian spin on a tricky wicket to win the third and final one-day international by four wickets in Lahore and clinch the series 2-1 on Thursday.
Pakistan had to fight hard on a turning wicket to reach 161-6 in 41.5 overs after Australia had crashed to their lowest ODI total in Pakistan after being dismissed for 157 in 42 overs.
DETROIT, MI - MAY 04: Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) in the dugout during the game between the Detroit Tigers versus the Boston Red Sox on Monday May 4, 2026 at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
While there’s no guarantee that the Tigers will trade ace Tarik Skubal, they would be wise to entertain offers for him heading into the trade deadline. Set to become a free agent in 2027 with a potential lockout on the horizon, Skubal is a tantalizing trade chip — despite an injury* — thanks to Detroit sitting six games out of a postseason spot at the time of writing this. Although the American League has been surprisingly weak this year, the Tigers are just 4-13 against their own division, with all four of their wins coming against the Royals. If the arbitration case between the Tigers and Skubal were any indicator of future negotiations between the two parties, signing him to a free agent deal (and potentially the largest one ever for a pitcher) doesn’t appear to be likely.
The Rays, on the other hand, currently have the best record in the American League and fourth best record in baseball despite their recent minor skid. Not having Ryan Pepiot in the middle of their rotation hasn’t hurt them too much, but relatively strict innings limits to Shane McClanahan, Steven Matz, Griffin Jax, and to a lesser extent Drew Rasmussen should put them in the market for some rotation help as we approach the trade deadline.
Of course any team would benefit from trading for an ace like Skubal, but the Rays would be an exceptionally strong fit given their current place in the standings and their need to supplement the rotation with quality — not just an innings eater.
*Skubal claims he is “symptom free” following a NanoScope procedure to remove a loose body from his elbow, and is building back up to a starter’s workload, even throwing a 70-pitch simulated game at the Trop this week
What could a potential trade package for Skubal look like?
I think it’ll take one higher tier prospect plus an additional mid-tier guy, and I think just about everyone is available. The market may ultimately prove me wrong, but I think the combination of injury uncertainty and limited remaining control keeps the price below the blockbuster packages often associated with frontline starters.
Given the Rays’ necessity to clear space for their Rule 5 crunch this winter, it’s more likely they consolidate prospects in a package for Skubal rather than trading away current Major League talent, and less likely they would deal from deep in the minors. Accordingly, I’d be surprised to see the Rays entertaining moving Theo Gillen in a package for such a short term rental like Skubal. Few prospects in baseball have seen their stock rise more over the past year than Gillen.
That next tier of Rays prospects contains two guys: Nathan Flewelling and Brody Hopkins. They both have high upside to be above average regulars with several impact tools. I think a trade conversation starts with one of them, but not both, and leans toward Hopkins, who will demand a roster slot next year.
Why not both? Remember, the Rays would be acquiring only a partial season of Skubal, not multiple years of control. Giving up 6+ years of control of both Flewelling and Hopkins would be a significant overpay. That’s not to say that a team won’t have to overpay to get Skubal; starting pitching is usually the most expensive commodity at the deadline. I think it’ll take a mild to moderate overpay to land Skubal, and a Rays’ trade package starts with a player in their top tier of prospects behind Gillen.
After one of Flewelling or Hopkins, the Rays would likely need to add some additional prospect capital. The next tier contains guys who could be solid big leaguers but have bigger question marks in their profiles compared to the previous three guys mentioned. This tier consists of prospects with legitimate major-league upside but either less projection, less certainty, or less positional value than Flewelling and Hopkins. Players in this tier would be:
SS Daniel Pierce
C Caden Bodine
RHP Michael Forret
INF Cooper Flemming
RHP Anderson Brito
RHP Santiago Suarez
RHP TJ Nichols
These guys have varying levels of track record and projection that could help the Rays land Skubal when coupled with one of Flewelling or Hopkins. The Rays may even need to add an additional prospect to their package depending on how the market for starting pitching shapes up this summer. If contenders start losing their frontline starters to injury, Skubal’s price could climb, although probably not as high as what it was heading into this season.
A good rule of thumb for making a trade is that if it doesn’t hurt at least a little, it’s probably not a fair trade. No “Clint Frazier + Miguel Andujar” scenarios here. Giving up Flewelling or Hopkins plus another prospect listed above would absolutely hurt, but that’s usually the cost of acquiring frontline starting pitching in July.
For a Rays team with World Series aspirations and a looming Rule 5 crunch, this is exactly the type of aggressive consolidation move that makes sense to explore.
The NHL’s Stanley Pup, a friendly competition featuring adoptable rescue dogs, will air in the U.S. and Canada on June 8 to celebrate the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.
All 32 NHL teams will be represented by a puppy, many of which will be available for adoption through adoption partner Brandywine Valley SPCA.
The St. Louis Blues’ dog this season is named Jordan Bone-Ington.
The show will premiere on June 8 on truTV and simulcast on HBO Max in the U.S. (8:30 p.m. CT) and on Sportsnet in Canada (7 p.m. CT).
This years event will feature several celebrity appereances, as notable names are Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live, D2: The Mighty Ducks), Flavor Flav, Anthony Anderson (black-ish), Jean Smart (Hacks), Brooke Shields (The Blue Lagoon, Pretty Baby), Kelli Giddish (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), Michael Strahan (Good Morning America), Joel McHale (Community, Animal Control), singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, Kendall Vertes (Dance Moms), Emma Kenney (Shameless, The Connors), broadcasting legend Doc Emrick, Anson Carter, Paul Bissonnette, Liam McHugh and Chris Chelios (NHL on TNT), and Dan Powers and Chris Powers (Empty Netters Podcast).
Meet our representative for this year's Stanley Pup 🦴🐶 While the competition is ruff, we are pawsitive that this puck hound will bring the same dogged determination as her namesake.
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Buffalo Sabres veteran head coach Lindy Ruff exceeded all expectations last season, ending an NHL record 14-season playoff drought and winning the Atlantic Division, which was thought to make him a favorite for the Jack Adams Award, but on Wednesday Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper narrowly edged out Ruff for coach of the year. Cooper led the Lightning to a 50-26-6 record (106 points), three points in back of Ruff’s Sabres.
Cooper received 36 of 99 first place votes, while Ruff received 26, and Pittsburgh’s Dan Muse 18. The criticism of the choice of Cooper, in Buffalo in particular, comes from the perception that his victory was more of a career achievement award for a two-time Stanley Cup winner that had never won coach of the year, while Ruff, who won the Jack Adams with the Sabres in 2005-06, lost out to a coach that he bested by three points in the standings.
There is no doubt that Ruff exceeded expectations more than any other coach in the league, as the Sabres were expected to miss the playoffs for a 15th straight season and was something that seemed likely through the first two months of the regular season. Buffalo’s turnaround, which coincided with the firing of GM Kevyn Adams, started with a 10-game winning streak and resulted in the Sabres posting the league’s best record after December 9.
Can someone make this make sense? Schopp is looking for answers on how the voters decided to go with Cooper over Ruff. #Sabres#NHLpic.twitter.com/UfRgU4ROWh
The perception that Cooper’s win is based more on career achievement than a deserving victory is not accurate. Other than the injury to Josh Norris that kept the Sabres center out two months, and a series of short-term ailments to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis in goal, the Sabres were relatively healthy all season, but that is not to take away from Ruff instilling a work ethic and defensive responsibility from a club that had not shown that under Don Granato.
That is in stark contrast to the Lightning, who may not have led the league in the quantity of man-games lost, but arguably led in quality man-games lost. Two of Tampa Bay’s veteran blueliners; Ryan McDonagh and Victor Hedman, played less than 50 games. Another top-four defender, Erik Cernak missed 21 games. Up front, Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli, Nick Paul and Brayden Point missed significant chunks of the season, with some playing injured down the stretch.
Cooper pieced together a roster on many nights, filling the gaps with free agent unknowns like Charle-Edouard D’Astous and Dominic James, minor-league call-ups Gage Goncalves and Max Crozier, and coaxing career years out of defenseman J-J Moser, and journeyman Darren Raddysh.
While arguments can be made that Ruff was cheated out of the award since nearly one-third of the voters left them off their ballot completely, Cooper was left off more ballots and won on the strength of more first place votes.
TORONTO, ON- SEPTEMBER 10 - Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (5) goes over his ninth inning at bat with Toronto Blue Jays hitting coach David Popkins (79) after the game as the Toronto Blue Jays play the Houston Astros at Rogers Centre in Toronto. September 10, 2025. (Photo by Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
I often wonder about the value of hitting coaches.
I mean, I understand they have a value, and even when things are going poorly, I get that hitters need someone to talk to about their craft. And, nowadays, I feel that they pretty much tell guys the same thing. They, of course, all have their own way of putting it across, but there isn’t any magic anymore.
You won’t find a batting coach like Cito anymore. Someone who teaches pull pull pull to everyone. It just won’t happen. Guys will tell players to turn on inside pitches, but no one will refuse to let batters hit to all fields in batting practice.
Two years ago, we blamed hitting coaches and Don Mattingly for the lack of hitting. Last year, they were hitting better and winning and we gave credit to the new hitting coaches. They were great. This year? Well, the team isn’t hitting, is it the coaches?
I don’t know, I hate blaming coaches for how players are preforming.
Maybe teams should hire a new batting coach every year?
Pitching coaches? I feel safe in saying that Pete Walker is a good pitching coach. Sure things aren’t always going to go well. I think he’s helped enough pitchers that I have faith that he’s good at the job. It isn’t always going to work. And sometimes guys won’t do well with him and then go somewhere else and be great. I don’t think coaching is a one guy fits all thing. I’ve had enough teachers/coaches that i know that some I’ve clicked with and some I haven’t. I have a tennis pro, who every 3 months or so, will send me a note saying ‘do you want a lesson?’. I always take it for granted that he’s been watching me and thinks ‘he needs help’. One time I got the email while I was playing tennis. Anyway, he’s great. He knows I like baseball and soccer and he relates things to those sports. And, I think, for a guy who has taken up the sport at a, let’s say, advanced age, he’s turned me into a decent player.
Victor Wembanyama looked tired. And understandably so. Game 2 will mark his ninth game in 19 days.
That is a more frenetic pace than is often realized, and this is Wembanyama’s first playoff run, as it is for nearly all of this young San Antonio Spurs’ roster.
But desperation can overcome fatigue. These Victor Wembanyama picks expect a balance of the two for both Wemby and the Spurs in Game 2 against the New York Knicks on Friday, June 5.
Victor Wembanyama prop pick for Game 2
Victor Wembanyama best bet: Over 3.5 assists (+120 at bet365)
Maybe the New York Knicks’ defense is truly this good. Maybe it has found some secret this postseason that no team has ever before enjoyed. Maybe.
In the last 12 games, New York has held opponents to 28.8% from deep while forcing those foes to pull up from long range on 46.5% of their shots.
Suffice it to say, the Knicks' defense deserves a bounty of credit, but at some point, an opponent will hit more shots.
There is only one opponent left. The San Antonio Spurs went a gruesome 11-of-43 (25.6%) from deep on Wednesday. Remove Julian Champagnie’s 5-of-10 and the rest of the Spurs hit 18.2% of their heaves from beyond the arc.
Logically, role players like Devin Vassell (1-of-6) and Dylan Harper (1-of-4) should shoot better in Game 2, again at home.
And them shooting better should allow Victor Wembanyama to preserve a touch of energy on the offensive end of the court, playmaking more than driving.
Victor Wembanyama same-game parlay
Wembanyama should also shoot better, though his 2-of-9 from deep in Game 1 would have cashed much of this same-game parlay, regardless. His shot looks tired right now, but he needs to keep chucking from deep.
Frankly, getting to the line 13 times was a means of scoring, but each blow also further exhausted Wemby.
The world may not want to acknowledge his fatigue, but it is still a reality. Debut playoff runs almost always end in exhaustion.
That is part of why Wembanyama has fallen short of this modest points prop in three of his last four games and in five of his last seven. Yet in six of those games, he hit multiple 3-pointers.
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Mar 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates a basket against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images | William Navarro-Imagn Images
His future is going to be not just the biggest question of the Lakers’ offseason, but one of the biggest in the league as a whole. He’s already broken basically every record in terms of longevity while still showing he can perform at a high level this season.
But with the Lakers looking to move into the Luka Dončić era, does it make sense to also take part in the LeBron retirement tour?
Let’s dive into that debate with your questions.
SirTuppy
Is Lebron’s return truly a good and desirable thing or not?
I am aware that this might be a “baiting” topic. So I want to elaborate a bit on this. The question is more… “Can we look at the pros and cons both short term and longer term and do an analysis?”
I think there are fair arguments to be made in each direction, but that this is a hot subject that isn’t always approached with the, um, most gentile nature.
Now, I don’t mean the “no brainer” sorts of stuff. OF COURSE if Lebron decides, “eff it! I’m coming back on the vet minimum!” then, duh, the Lakers want him back. I also don’t mean the “Give me a max contract or I’m out of here!” takes. Because, of course, the Lakers DON’T want him back (or shouldn’t IMO) on that salary.
I want to see the writers of SS&R go deeper. (Yeah, yeah, insert your juvenile puns here on that phrasing.) Because I think there are good, valid arguments to be made for either making a clean, sharp break and moving on…and bringing him back, hoping for better injury luck, and rolling the dice.
But it really also depends a lot on what Lebron is going to push for as conditions. I personally don’t want to see the Lakers do some sort of lopsided, short term trade for some desperate long shot chance at one more title for Bron that leaves us with a long rebuild afterward…but I also don’t want to just assume that the Lakers with Bron back might not have a puncher’s chance either.
So…no clickbait. No ragebait. Give us the good stuff.
So, let’s try to have that conversation with nuance, because I agree that there are multiple ways to come at this from both sides of the argument.
Depending on when you asked the Lakers during the season, their thoughts on LeBron’s future with the franchise would have been different. For much of the first half of the season, all the signs pointed to the two sides going their separate ways this summer.
Then, the team figured some things out heading into March, LeBron looked great as a willing third fiddle and the Lakers played their best basketball of the season. They legitimately looked like a contender for most of the month, including beating the team that is currently up in the NBA Finals in a rout.
For LeBron, when everything else went awry for the Lakers heading into the playoffs, he stepped up in a way that should also provide some encouragement that he has something to offer for a title-contending team.
Now, even taking that into account, there are other things that come with having LeBron on the team. No matter if he’s the best player on the team or the third option, he’s always going to be a focal point. Conversations will revolve around him.
He also brings pressure that will stress-test a team throughout the year. Whether it’s due to reasons on the court or off of it, there will be multiple times during the campaign where the team’s resolve will be tested.
You also have to account for a regular season in which he’s not going to be going all out throughout. He paces himself, which means you’re likely going to lose games in December and January because LeBron is pacing himself for the postseason.
It is also impossible to fully move into the Luka era with LeBron still on the team. Everyone can acknowledge that this is Luka’s team and Luka’s franchise, but with LeBron on the roster, it won’t fully feel like that.
And yet, even with all those qualifiers, he led the team to a playoff series win as the central figure with Luka and Austin Reaves. It truly can’t be understated, even if it came against an underwhelming Houston side, that LeBron still has enough juice to carry a team in the playoffs.
This is not an easy decision. There are pros and cons, as suggested in the comment/question, about parting with LeBron. Is it worth moving on and into the Luka era if it means moving on from a player who is still capable of contributing at a high level?
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 21: LeBron James #23 celebrates with Luke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers following a game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on March 21, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 105-104. 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. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A WorthyGreenJohnson, ScottJabbar
Even at his age, if LBJ doesn’t come back, the team is going to need to replace him as best as possible. No one has more experience, in the regular season or playoffs. He’s provided a steady leadership role for the team as well, one Luka doesn’t match. His all-around play may not be at the level it used to be, but losing him will leave a significant gap on the team’s talent pool.
Replacing LBJ, upgrading the bench, and picking up a good starting wing defender should be our priorities. Secondary should be finding another decent center.
I think one aspect that hasn’t been discussed enough is that, if the Lakers should and do move on from LeBron, there is a huge statistical void that will have to be filled.
Last season, he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game. If you take that off the team, that’s big, big numbers they have to replace. And that’s to speak nothing of the ways he impacts the team outside of the stat line. The knowledge and experience he has is invaluable and irreplaceable.
No one player can replace LeBron statistically. Even if the Lakers replace him in the aggregate, which is how they’ll have to approach things, and are able to find nearly 21 points and over seven assists and six rebounds per game, there are still ways they’re not going to be able to replace him.
And needing to do all that this summer with a free agent market that isn’t exactly brimming with top-end talent makes it more difficult. They could find solutions via trade, but that will be difficult given the other needs the team will also have.
Can they replace LeBron’s production while also finding athleticism on the perimeter while also finding a center option for the future? One player could fill multiple of those needs, but it makes a tough offseason even more difficult.
The Lakers may be better in the long run by parting ways with LeBron and entering the Luka era, but it will also likely hurt them in the short term.
JeffinBranson
I know this is coming straight from Fantasy-land, but if LeBron wants to win one more Championship before he retires, and wants to bring the trophy to the City of Angels, he needs to take a massive pay cut. He already has more money than Bronny’s grandchildren will ever be able to spend. There comes a time when money should be second, behind winning. This is that time. Sign a FA to bring aboard a fix to the biggest team weakness, whether it be center or wing, or maybe both. If not, than don’t look at the Lakers FO like they didn’t try…they are handcuffed by the salary cap and you’re a very big part of that.
Elgin2Luka
I regret that I am not at all optimistic about this off-season. I fear that Pelinka sold us beach front property in Riverside with his talk of “optionality” for this summer. There in is no optionality unless Le Bron walks, and perhaps even AR must be traded. Otherwise, if those things do not happen, which I think they will not, we are not a cap team and optionality is a dead letter. Everyone knows that LeBron will get at least $ 30-35M, and we will be just like last year–hard capped at the first apron with only one of the MLEs. In fact, we’ll be lucky to get our top seven players back, and we may even end up worse off than last year. So LeBron, with apologies, will he stay or will he go? If he stays there will be trouble, as in no cap space. If he goes it will be double, as in what, $100M plus hit to ownership? Guess which door he’s behind. I certainly know which one I fear it will be. And AR’s upcoming contract, with a huge salary increase, exacerbates the situation after this year. So we can’t solve our problems this year if LeBron stays. And even if LeBron only stays one more year, we can’t solve them next year if AR gets a massive new deal.
Stay tuned boys and girls. Will Walter really have the guts to make the hard calls this summer and to make this Luka’s team, right now? Or will he succumb to the LeCashCow? Well, we’ve all got front row seats, and I’ll be back as soon as I get my popcorn.
I’m going to ignore all of the doom and gloom of the second comment because I want to focus a bit on LeBron’s upcoming contract and both of these questions commented on that.
I don’t think LeBron is under any illusion that he’s a massive contract guy anymore. Even if he is, the free agent market is going to let him know that’s the case. The only contending team that could offer him that type of money is the Lakers and they’d be bidding against themselves for that matter.
It’s hard to see a scenario where LeBron’s contract is much more than the mid-level exception — which will be roughly $15 million this year — because that’s what the market is going to dictate. Again, if you think he’s getting more than that, it’s because you think the Lakers are going to cave and just give him a bunch of money.
You can point to how the team handled the end of Kobe Bryant’s career, but I’d argue that…
That was a different front office
That was different ownership
That was a Lakers team set for a rebuild and not one set to contend
I don’t disagree that giving LeBron a deal around $30-35 million basically dooms the rest of their free agency plans. I also don’t think that he is getting that deal.
Now, on the flip side of that, I’m not ever going to criticize someone for taking money. If the Lakers offer LeBron $30 million, my anger would be at the front office, not LeBron. By the same token, I’m not going to tell or expect a player to take less money to be competitive.
It’s nice if a player does take a discount to help the team win, but it’s not their job to take less money and if I was in their shoes, I can’t say I’d be willing to take less money to compete. This is life-changing money, even if LeBron is a billionaire. He came from nothing. I’m not going to criticize or expect him to take less.
Having said that, it is substantially easier to build a title-contending team if LeBron takes significantly less money, obviously. I’d question how much he wants to bring a title to Los Angeles on his way out, since he already brought the city a title. I doubt those are his motivations.
There was also the comment LeBron made about when he would decide his future. He gave a timeline of late June through August where he would make his decision. The Lakers aren’t going to wait on him, so if he wants to make a decision after the beginning of July, then he’s returning to the Lakers on a minimum. I’m not reading too much into that for now, but it did pique my interest.
If you want to make the case for why he would stay in Los Angeles, I think a more compelling argument would focus on the family roots he has in the city. Does he really want to relocate his family again for what will likely be a one-year retirement tour? Does he want to live alone during that time if they remain in LA?
Considering how much he speaks about his family and how close he is to them, I venture to think neither of those are options desires.
If I were to guess, I think LeBron is back in Los Angeles for one more season next year. I genuinely do not know what the contract will be. I don’t expect it to be north of $20-25 million because that really starts to handicap the Lakers this summer.
What I do know, though, is that moving on from LeBron this summer is going to create even more holes for the Lakers to plug in an offseason with plenty of them already.
It’s safe to say Air Corgi’s NBA Finals appearance didn’t go the way Spurs fans probably hoped.
Air Corgi — real name Lilo — is a dog with 1.6 million followers on TikTok who predicts the outcome of several sports games by pushing a ball down stairs into a basket, was in the building for Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs in San Antonio on Wednesday night.
But after the Knicks downed San Antonio 105-95 in thrilling fashion Wednesday night, Lilo is 0-for-1 on her NBA Finals prediction after picking the Spurs to win the opener and ultimately the series in seven games.
Viral sensation and TikTok-famous dog Air Corgi made an appearance at NBA Finals Game 1 Wednesday night. Corgi incorrectly predicted the Spurs to win Game 1.
Corgi’s prediction ruffled some feathers on X, with some even joking the dog was fraudulent and mentioning how she incorrectly predicted the 2025 NBA Finals by picking the Pacers to win in six games.
Despite her prediction, Corgi still received a standing ovation from fans in the second quarter Wednesday night and was lifted in the air.
San Antonio’s video scoreboard even showed a dog bouncing a ball into a basket, mimicking what Corgi does on TikTok.
Even with some calling her a fraud, Corgi pulled off a remarkable feat last month.
She not only correctly predicted the Spurs would beat the Thunder in seven games in the Western Conference finals, but correctly predicted the outcome of every single game.
The dog also correctly picked the Knicks to beat the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, though she predicted a six-game series instead of the eventual sweep.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 30: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals and teammate James Wood #29 celebrate a win over the New York Mets after the ninth inning of a game at Citi Field on April 30, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Heather Khalifa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday voting opened for the All-Star game. It is insane that we are already this far into the season, but here we are. The Nationals have two players who deserve to start in Philly next month. Through the first two months and change, CJ Abrams and James Wood have done enough to earn a starting nod.
With the Nats on the upswing, our fans need to have their voices heard. We need to stuff the ballot box to make sure our guys get in. In the past, we have seen Nats players get robbed of starting this event due to players from bigger market teams. This year we need to vote! Here is where you can go vote.
Even after the sweep against the Marlins, the Nats have still scored the most runs in all of baseball. Abrams and Wood have been the drivers of this well oiled machine. Interestingly, Wood has been the man at the top of the order, while Abrams has been the run producer in the middle. Abrams is more of your traditional leadoff type, while Wood is your prototypical middle of the order bat. However, with their roles reversed, both have excelled. Wood is first in baseball in runs scored, while Abrams is second in RBI’s.
I actually made a ballot myself, which had Wood and Abrams starting. Curtis Mead also made my lineup, but if I put my bias aside, Max Muncy probably deserves it over him. If I had a re-do, Matt Olson would also be at first base over Bryce Harper. With the game being in Philly, I wanted to put someone on the Phillies in there, but Olson is the more deserving candidate.
When you look at the offensive metrics, it is clear that Wood and Abrams are deserving. Wood is 8th in baseball with a 158 wRC+, while Abrams is 11th, with a 152 mark. While Abrams is behind Elly De La Cruz and Otto Lopez in WAR, I still think he deserves a starting nod for a couple reasons. The first is that De La Cruz is going to miss time with an injury, which should help Abrams. In the case of Lopez, Abrams is just 0.1 wins behind him, and I prefer the explosiveness Abrams provides at the plate.
For Wood, the case is very straightforward. He is third among outfielders in WAR, and has been one of the best hitters in all of baseball. I also believe that Wood can be a star attraction in the game. His freakish size, power and athleticism is breathtaking at his best. He is the kind of player you want in an All-Star game. Who doesn’t love to see a giant hit balls 115 MPH.
James Wood hits an absolute rocket to the stands 😮
Wood and Abrams are not the only candidates the Nats have, but they are the only ones who I think will end up getting in. Curtis Mead has had an incredible breakout season, and he is certainly a name who should receive some consideration. However, his lack of name brand value and the fact he was not playing every day until recently is likely to hold him back.
A couple other players who deserve shoutouts are Brad Lord, Keibert Ruiz and Cade Cavalli. All three are long shots, but have been excellent this season. Ruiz had a monster month of May, and if he has another great month, his name could be in consideration. Lord does not have a flashy job in the Nats pitching staff, but he has been amazing in his multi-inning relief role. Cavalli is certainly a long shot, but if he catches fire in June, he could have a chance due to his strikeout numbers and low FIP.
At the end of the day, I think Wood and Abrams get in, and at least one will start. Both have put up ridiculous numbers, and have put the league on notice. Abrams has taken his game to another level this season. He is on pace for 32 home runs and 125 RBI’s as the Nats cleanup man. That is an All-Star shortstop if I have ever seen one.
Outside of this past series against the Marlins, the Nats have provided fans with more joy than anticipated. We need to repay them for their hot start. James Wood and CJ Abrams should not be overshadowed by players from bigger markets that are not as deserving. Make sure to make your voices heard and vote!
